The Core

Brad said:

I can see two types of Prepper threads:

1. Soft Prepper - breakdown in global trade, shortages that are not life threatening but change lifestyle. Breakdown in trust in financial institutions .  At it's worse the soft prepper scenario is a bit like what happened to the Russians after the fall of the USSR or the Great Depression.  Life and govt still clanks on but there are big disruptions in jobs, currency, finances, ownership, pensions etc.

2. Hard Prepper - real dramatic breakdown in govt and civil order.  Like giant solar electromagnetic pulse scenario that RC talked about previously. Food, fuel, water, services shortages that could threaten life and health.

I hope people have things to say about broad issues like these but sometimes prepping needs careful thought on a much smaller scale.

I've just had an experience where I wish I'd been better prepared. My mother-in-law had a bad fall and we left home on short notice late at night. We ended up going to Winnipeg and spending a couple of days in hospital waiting rooms while she got a pacemaker.

What does this have to do with prepping? Well, I was only partly ready to leave on short notice. There was I, 300 miles from home, with cables and chargers for all my devices but no gloves or scarf. Not smart for late October! We didn't have blankets or winter gear in the vehicle, either.

My purse wasn't big enough to carry a water bottle, snacks, an iPad or a book, things one is apt to want during long hours of waiting. I was wishing for a tote bag. And what about purse security during naps? I was wishing for a waist pack. And a pillow! Small things can make a big difference to comfort and security. If you have them with you, that is.

... to be continued ...

<added>

>lists

I'm finding that bastardizing Grocery Shopping Apps such as 'Our Groceries' into general-duty reminder lists works well for me.   I haven't done a Grab & Go list but it would work in lieu of a cloud-kept list.

>> sustainable supply of drinking water

A note from cold country: Protect your water filters from freezing. Residual water within the filter would expand as it turned to ice and likely damage the filter's functionality.

>> Buy stuff and dedicate it to a bag.

Yes.

I was well organized in some ways, but I'll be adding the above-mentioned things to my grab-and-go.

The vehicle was full of gas, so we could set out without hesitation. I keep some cash for grab-and-go so we'd have been okay if there was a problem with credit cards. That amplifies the purse security issue, though.

One detail that worked well was that I had the app for my favourite hotel chain on my iPad mini. When we decided to find a hotel instead of spending Tuesday night at the hospital I was able to book a room with just a few clicks.

>eneloops
>solar

First, they make led bulbs to retrofit the old camping lanterns and road emergency lights you likely have stashed around the house. Convert them. One of those old 6v camping lanterns will run for hours & hours if only powering an led.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003MP8MGO/

I'll post separately about standby battery power.

>water
>solar
I wanted a cheap-ish solar bilge pump for when boats are on trailers in storage. For K.I.S.S. I want NO battery required, though.  It doesn't
have to pump much or often, just when enough condensate collects.

First attempt (last year) failed --couldn't get the pump to run without a battery & controller in the system.

Ordered this 2.5 watt fountain kit:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GDUV2W0/

and a float switch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013XSDREQ/

In full sun, it pumped more than 5 gallons an hour. It will only lift the water about 3 feet, but that's just enough to get it out of
the bottom of the bilge and to the scuppers.

It doesn't escape me that 3 of these daisy-chained as lift stations would provide a reservoir to flush my downstairs toilet.

>coat

I **HIGHLY** recommend getting a fleece cape or poncho that stays in the car. Grey or some other dirt-hiding color. Something like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/L-L-Bean-Polartec-Fleece-Grey-Hooded-Cape-Poncho-Wrap-Three-Button-Front-/222193465325

You can sometimes find them cheap at Wallyword or Target.  I can't tell you how many times I've gone to get one of these capes because the restaurant or waiting room is being kept at freezing.

I recommend a cape rather than a coat because it spreads out to make a blanket.

Though not mentioned, get a couple of $1 plastic rain ponchos. The best/smallest pak I've found so far is at truck stops.  Came in handy at Hanoi, had 2 in my back pocket.

>pillow
We keep a dogbone-shaped travel pillow in the car.  I just upgraded my u-shaped airline travel pillow to the best/plushest I could find. I hadn't thought of putting one in my backsack for vehicle travel.

So why would folks wish to PREPARE?

Here is a LIST to discuss. (These are in MY order and MY phrasing) NOT a perfect list…

## Natural events:
Floods kill more people and cause more damage than anything else.
Yellowstone Caldera – My personal favorite 
New Madrid &/or San Andreas faults
CAT 4 or 5 Hurricane
EMP – not manmade

## ManMade events:
Economic collapse brought on by factors such as China’s debt bubble, other debt bubbles created by the Fed, BOJ and Euro Central Banks
World War 3 or other Middle East debacles
EMP – Nuclear
Pandemics – that’s a FUN one

### Civil Unrest brought on by any or all of the above.

Here is a video worth viewing - imo
Not a pretty picture...
https://news.fastcompany.com/leaked-army-video-shows-a-future-of-urban-hellscapes-4023336

From Ralph

http://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-2403-6-reasons-why-new-civil-war-possible-terrifying.html