Cosmoline
Member
Katrina has prompted me to completely overhaul my earthquake kit. I'm expanding it to two sealed plastic totes, each wrapped with bungee cords. In addition, a bug out pack will be in my truck. The contents of this kit were informed by my years off-grid.
First, the food box.
One "roughneck" plastic tote w/ lid, standard size.
Two bungee cords to seal it
Two boxes, Sailor Boy brand pilot bread (exp. approx end of Mayan calendar)
Tea bags in box
Extra water, one gallon sealed in original plastic container
Beef jerkey, sealed (exp. 2008)
Four power bars (exp. 2007)
Six tins, King Oscar Brisling (exp. 2007-2008)
Six containers, standard SPAM (exp. 2008)
One tin of hard candy sealed
Molasses, sealed
Salt, iodonized, sealed
Pepper, sealed
Electrolyte solution, one bottle sealed in original container
Canola oil, one small bottle sealed in original container
Crisco, one small tin with factory seal
One sealed bag, shag pipe baccy
Spare pipe
One sealed tin, powdered goat milk
One large container, instant oatmeal
Raisins, large container sealed.
Liver pate, three tins sealed
4x lighters, high-quality
Can opener/bottle opener
+seven gallons water stored in heavy duty plastic container
+water filtration pump (still shopping for a good one)
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Now, some of my reasoning behind this somewhat unorthodox and low-tech food box.
--Everything in it can be eaten without being cooked. This is why dry rice, dry beans and similar items are left out. With luck I'll have someplace to cook and the required heat source, but I'm not relying on it.
--There is more emphasis on high-fat foods and oil than traditional food kits, which tend to be very lean. My experience is that esp. in the cold your body will burn an amazing amount of energy during a SHTF situation. It's not the time for lean meats. Spam, sardines, and plenty of oil and crisco fuel the fire.
--The insant oats can be mixed with water, molasses, oil, raisins and whatever else is on hand to make a high-fat, ultra-high-carb goo that tastes pretty good. Heated it's even better.
--Most of the food is packed with key vitamins and minerals, esp. those we tend to lose lots of during a crisis. Mine is also vitamin-A and D heavy due to the climate here. The sardines and pate aren't typical fare for most folks, but they're both excellent sources of minerals and vitamins along with protein and fat.
--Why the pipe and 'baccy? Simple. My direct experience has been that a few small luxuries can help calm and center the mind even when everything is falling apart.
--I stow lighters in each kit, because again in my experience you can never have enough.
Next up, the survival/heating part of the kit.
First, the food box.
One "roughneck" plastic tote w/ lid, standard size.
Two bungee cords to seal it
Two boxes, Sailor Boy brand pilot bread (exp. approx end of Mayan calendar)
Tea bags in box
Extra water, one gallon sealed in original plastic container
Beef jerkey, sealed (exp. 2008)
Four power bars (exp. 2007)
Six tins, King Oscar Brisling (exp. 2007-2008)
Six containers, standard SPAM (exp. 2008)
One tin of hard candy sealed
Molasses, sealed
Salt, iodonized, sealed
Pepper, sealed
Electrolyte solution, one bottle sealed in original container
Canola oil, one small bottle sealed in original container
Crisco, one small tin with factory seal
One sealed bag, shag pipe baccy
Spare pipe
One sealed tin, powdered goat milk
One large container, instant oatmeal
Raisins, large container sealed.
Liver pate, three tins sealed
4x lighters, high-quality
Can opener/bottle opener
+seven gallons water stored in heavy duty plastic container
+water filtration pump (still shopping for a good one)
---------
Now, some of my reasoning behind this somewhat unorthodox and low-tech food box.
--Everything in it can be eaten without being cooked. This is why dry rice, dry beans and similar items are left out. With luck I'll have someplace to cook and the required heat source, but I'm not relying on it.
--There is more emphasis on high-fat foods and oil than traditional food kits, which tend to be very lean. My experience is that esp. in the cold your body will burn an amazing amount of energy during a SHTF situation. It's not the time for lean meats. Spam, sardines, and plenty of oil and crisco fuel the fire.
--The insant oats can be mixed with water, molasses, oil, raisins and whatever else is on hand to make a high-fat, ultra-high-carb goo that tastes pretty good. Heated it's even better.
--Most of the food is packed with key vitamins and minerals, esp. those we tend to lose lots of during a crisis. Mine is also vitamin-A and D heavy due to the climate here. The sardines and pate aren't typical fare for most folks, but they're both excellent sources of minerals and vitamins along with protein and fat.
--Why the pipe and 'baccy? Simple. My direct experience has been that a few small luxuries can help calm and center the mind even when everything is falling apart.
--I stow lighters in each kit, because again in my experience you can never have enough.
Next up, the survival/heating part of the kit.
