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Surviving The Coming Cataclysm HOW TO PLAN FOR AN EMERGENCY |
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Surviving The Coming Cataclysm HOW TO PLAN FOR AN EMERGENCY |
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HOW TO PLAN FOR AN EMERGENCY | PREPAREDNESS | SURVIVE IN PLACE | HOW TO GET OUT ALIVE
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HOW TO PLAN FOR AN EMERGENCY CONTENTS
First Considerations
First and for most,
you need to know what it is you want to do. Nowadays, no continent on Earth is safe from catastrophe, and the same can be said for most U.S. states. In 2004, over 300,000 people lost their lives in South Asia from the most devastating tsunami on record. A year later, here in America, New Orleans was all but destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Just a few months ago, Southern California was devastated by the worst wild fires in our nation's history. On top of that, over a million people had to be evacuated, which was the largest evacuation of U.S. citizens since the Civil War. Then a severe ice storm shut down power across the Midwest, leaving over a million people without heat and electricity for a number of days. A few lost their lives. Our planet is clearly going through perilous changes. The fact that the polar ice caps are melting, and the fact that the weather is getting more severe all around the globe — well, it looks like disasters are going to become more commonplace — and kill a lot more people. If your area is hit by a major disaster, there's a good chance that you won't have any access to emergency supplies, and what stores do stock essential supplies are likely to be quickly sold or even taken by looters, as tens of thousands of people in nearby communities literally break down the doors of stores to get their hands on food and supplies. Here is a list of items we believe it would be smart to have on hand. Not only should you have these on hand, but explain to your family members where they can find these items in your house (should something happen to you). You Need: 1) Large Supply of Bottled Water, and the knowledge to procure water from contaminated sources. Two of the most common methods for procuring drinking water from contaminated sources are called "distilling" (which involves boiling water and collecting the steam in a "run-off" that then drips clean water into a separate container); the other method is called "filtering", which involves pouring water through a manufactured or home-made "filter" system, in an effort to remove contaminates. Before disaster hits, do some research online, and learn "how to distill water" and "how to filter contaminated water". Then practice these methods at home with your family. When shopping for bottled water, look specifically for "Food grade" water storage containers. These range in size from 1 gallon to 5 gallon jugs, to 55 gallon barrels and 250 gallon and 500 gallon mega-size containers (see link labeled "Water Storage Containers" at the top of the page). 2) Non-perishable Food - This refers to any food that does not need refrigeration and is packaged, canned, or bottled in a way to provide a long shelf life. Be sure to check expiration dates (see link labeled "Food Supplies" at the top of the page). 3) Candles / Wooden Matches / Lighters - (Candles, such as Sterno's 60 Hour Emergency Candle) are specifically made to burn for longer amounts of time than traditional decorative candles. Like bottled water, it's good to have a large supply of emergency candles, wooden matches, and lighters. A few weeks down the road, candles are likely to become your only light source, especially if firewood runs low and those wind-up emergency flashlights stop working. 4) Light weight Axe - Firewood is the most obvious source to provide heat during cold temperatures, and as long as you have a good axe, you can turn just about anything into firewood. Even if you don't have a fireplace, you can still build a makeshift fireplace or wood stove in your backyard out of rocks and mud (usable once the mud dries). You can also use a patio fire pit, as commonly sold at home improvement stores, such as Lowes and Home Depot. (If you build an outdoor fireplace, remove the grill from the oven in the kitchen of your house, and use it for outside cooking, in conjunction with your firepit.) Choose an axe that is both heavy duty, and light weight, because you may end up carrying it in a backpack over long distances, and the less it weighs, the better. 5) Propane for Cooking - There is something even more useful than firewood (in the early weeks of disaster), and that is propane. Propane is the most obvious fuel source to keep on your property, and most people who own a bar-b-cue usually have one multi gallon propane tank tucked underneath or to the side. In preparing your home for disaster, if you have the money to spend, consider buying and filling five to ten of these. Or better yet, just as RV owners do, you can buy propane tanks that are extra large in capacity, and hold a lot more propane than typical 13 gallon bar-b-cue tanks. Propane is a great survival tool in emergencies because it can be used for both cooking and heating (but I suggest it only be used for cooking, and that you get your heat from other sources, such as warm clothing and warm blankets; this way you use as little propane as possible, making it last longer). Be sure to store any propane in your garage, or in a shed, or outside under a tarp – don't store it in your home, as it can have a slow leak and poison the air. Rather than use propane to fuel a full size bar-b-cue, I suggest you buy a much smaller compact propane stove, as commonly used for camping, as the right stove will be much more efficient, and use the least amount of propane. 6) Propane Camp Stove - As propane is the most common fuel used in outdoor bar-b-cues, a smaller two burner camp stove is best, for emergency purposes. When selecting a camp stove, choose one that can handle repeat long term use.
Warning about Lawlessness - In the event of a catastrophe, looters may be out scavenging for propane tanks, so keep yours well hidden, as much as possible. If you're doing any outside cooking, keep in mind that the smell of your food can drift for a far distance, catching the attention of scavengers, who (in the wake up lawlessness) may be willing to kill or seriously injure you, to take any and all water, food, and other supplies you have on your property. 7) First Aid Kit - Make sure you have a well stocked first aid kit, which are commonly sold at drugstores and back country stores. With your kit, be sure to include a generous supply of Ibuprofen (pain reliever and fever reducer), and antiseptic spray for burns, stings, and cuts. Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are also recommended by some, for washing out wounds, in preparation for bandaging. Anti-diarrhea medication is also recommended, as there is a chance you may eat contaminated food or drink contaminated water at some point, and suffer from it. 8) Radio and batteries - A small emergency radio is good to have around; if news is still broadcasting you can pick up reports to find out how the rest of the nation is faring during this time of devastation. A radio is only as good as the amount of batteries you have to power it, so keep a generous supply. Nowadays, there are emergency radios for under $50 that do not need batteries, but have a wind up dial that you crank, to generate power for up to 30 minutes or more. It might be smart to have both, this way if the wind up dial ever breaks, you still have a back up radio with batteries. 9) Flashlight / Lantern - it's good to have 2 - 3 flashlights on hand, that are heavy duty and can withstand moisture and being dropped. Headlamps are even better, as you can wear them around your head, which frees up your hands for other use. Today there are lanterns and flashlights that don't need batteries; like the emergency radios mentioned above, these usually generate power by a wind up dial, and some smaller flashlights you activate by "shaking" for a short period of time. As it's not known how reliable these devices are with repeat use, I suggest that you have both battery operated flashlights / headlamps, in addition to the wind up flashlights and wind up lanterns. 10) Heavy Duty Tarp - Tarp is sold in most home improvement stores; choose a dark color that doesn't stand out (in case you ever have to hide out in the forest), and have 3 - 5 tarps of various sizes. Tarp can be used for a number of things – from building shelters in the forest, to building shelters underground. Rain Catch -Tarp can also be used as a "rain catch" for catching rain water, for drinking. Lay the tarp out flat, and then hoist it into the air from all four corners, so it sags in the middle; this is where water from any rain will collect. Warm Room - Tarp can also be used to help insulate a "warm room", which is a room that is set aside in your house where all family members can meet together at night, to conserve body heat. Just as children like to build "forts", choose one room in your house that you can seal off at night, and build a "fort" inside. Stuff a bath towel or blanket under the door crack to keep the cold from coming in and to keep body heat from escaping. Also, hang up towels and blankets over the window, and even seal off with tarp and duct tape to help keep warmth from escaping at night through the window pane. Now that you have a "warm room" sealed off in your house, build a "children's fort" inside (out of tarp and blankets) that is big enough for your family to then crawl inside and sleep in. This is almost like the "igloo" such as Eskimos build in the freezing snow of Alaska. You'll find that your body heat from you / your group will help keep this space at a warmer temperature than the rest of the house. 11) Bowie Knife - A good knife is an essential, and is going to cost some money. When choosing a knife, look for one where the blade runs to the bottom of the handle; and make sure that the store that you're buying it from understands that you intend to do a lot of wood carving with it, so you absolutely need a knife with a handle that won't fall apart with repeat use. (If by chance you have to flee your home and community at some point, a good Bowie knife – also called a "Survival knife" – can be used to carve a long bow, for bow and arrow hunting like the Indians of early America. For this reason, as well as for cutting up and carving game that you've killed (such as deer or elk), it is very important that the handle of your knife be exceptionally durable.)
The Gerber LMFII was designed in conjunction with military and military instructors to be used in any survival situation. 12) Hiking Boots - Like your bowie knife, expect to spend some money on hiking boots. You want a pair that are going to last you, and not fall apart if by chance you end up wearing them for two years or more straight. When selecting a boot, let the store know that you need a pair that is built to withstand heavy hiking, and that is the least likely to need any repairs on the trail. You want a boot where the bottom sole is "stitched" to the rest of the boot, instead of simply glued to it, which is how most cheaper boots come. 13) Compass - If you have to flee your community, or if you've simply taken to nearby forests to hunt and fish for food, a good compass and knowing how to use it is an important tool to have. Some compasses even come with a built in thermometer and signaling mirror, which can help you out in a survival situation. 14) Bear Pepper Spray - Whether it's wild dogs that have gotten loose, or cougars or bears that have strayed down into your community – pepper spray that's strong enough to ward off Grizzly bears – called "Bear Pepper Spray" for it's strength – can prove to be a life saver. Consider buying 3 - 5 large bottles, or one for each member of your family. You can also use it to fend off looters (as long as they're not pointing a gun at you).
15) Cold Weather Sleeping Bag - To make sure that you're protected by any exceptional drop in temperature, you should consider buying a sleeping bag that can hold up with repeat use, and will keep you warm to twenty degrees below zero. Depending on where you live in America – you'll probably want to go even colder than that.
16) Cold Weather Parka and Snow Pants - Since you might find yourself out in cold weather during the day time, as you collect firewood, help out neighbors, and hunt and fish for food, it's important to have the right coat and pants that can withstand the elements, especially snow and slush. As an added bonus, if you have to flee your community, you can even sleep in your coat and pants, if they're layered right and / or rated to keep you warm enough. 17) Personal Hygiene Items - In preparation for a widespread disaster, and the possible collapse of government and our entire economy, you should be aware that the next time you go shopping at a supermarket, it could be your last. If the economy falls, stores are going to fast run out of food and supplies, and without new shipments coming, there will be no more stores to buy from. Not only is your money likely to be useless, but the items that you do need are going to be in high demand, which probably means very hard to come by. Stock up now on toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss (the last thing you want to have happen is a dental emergency, when there are no more dentists available), bar soap for bathing, shampoo, bleach, bleach wipes (very handy), and laundry detergent. If you minimize your use of these items, you can make them last many months. 18) Outdoor Clothing - If disaster strikes, there's a good chance you won't be reporting to work in an office downtown, but you may find yourself helping out neighbors and others in your community by building shelters and reparing houses that may have been damaged. With this in mind, be sure to have clothing that can handle being outside in the elements. Consider stocking up on clothing that's geared for heavy use, such as that sold by outdoor clothing stores, such as Carhart. Have an assortment of pants, sweat pants, sweatshirts, hooded sweatshirts, thermal underwear, and a few pairs of wool socks. If you can afford to buy more than the average person, don't hesitate to do so. When preparing for a natural disaster or large scale terrorist attack (such as a nuclear detonation in a nearby city), there's no such thing as being over-prepared. Buying More than You Need - Helping out other people in need – especially in an emergency, such as a widespread natural disaster – is the right thing to do. Be generous with what you have, and generous with what you know. Be prepared to teach your neighbors some of the methods you should start teaching yourself, such as how to distill water from contaminated sources, as well as how to make home-made water filters (which I link to at the top of this article) for procuring water that's safe to drink. While you're taking steps toward preparing for disaster, most people aren't, and when disaster strikes, they are simply not going to be prepared. Many are going to be without food and water and other items essential to survival. Helping Friends, Family, and Neighbors - Please keep that in mind, and as much as possible, consider buying more than your family needs, so you can help out your neighbors (in addition to friends and family that may live nearby) when disaster finally strikes. They're going to need food and water also. Consider sharing this article with them, and talking about some of the basic steps every person should take in preparing their home for an extended emergency, where the electricity is down indefinitely, and there is no tap water, grocery store, or gasoline available for transportation. 19) Hiking Backpack - Things might get bad. Really bad. You and your family might have to flee the area; in fact you might have to flee the entire state. If you still have a vehicle, and you have a full tank of gas, and there's still a road to drive on – great, you're in luck. Start driving and get out of dodge. But at some point you're going to run out of gas, and any gas station you come to is likely to be closed and out of operation. When that happens, strap on your hiking backpack, and start walking. Have a detailed map of the state, and a detailed map of the U.S. and Canada. No More Road? Just Follow the Railroad Tracks - If for some reason it's not safe to travel by road, you can always travel by walking alongside railroad tracks. Make sure you have a specific map that includes railroad track routes, and then consider following one or more (make sure you have a good compass, and know how to use it before hand). Railroad tracks criss-cross the continent (many in North-South and East-West directions), and may provide a safe passage should roads ever be un-safe to travel by. No matter where you are in the United States, the smartest destination for fleeing the nation is to go NORTH, and into Canada, and head for the foot hills of the Canadian Rockies; you may even make it to Alaska. In a worst case scenario, that's why it's important to have a full size backpack, as commonly used by hikers and the military for multi-day hikes. If in a disaster situation you ever have to flee your community – and have to leave your car behind – having a hiking backpack means you and your family can strap essential survival gear onto your backs, and make your way to safety. When Disaster Strikes - Quite a few people recognize that natural disasters have been occurring more and more frequently in the world. Around the world, the weather has gotten worse, and natural disasters have gotten bigger and killed more people. (Hurricane Katrina wiped out New Orleans, and the 2004 Tsunami killed over 300,000 people in South Asia). Most recently, the California wild fires forced the evacuation of over a million people from their Southern California communities, as thousands watched their homes and the surrounding hills go up in flames. Nashville Tennessee has experienced the worst flood in 100 years. This winter, over a million people were left without power across the Midwest states, as much of the nation suffered a deep freeze and a large amount of snowfall where temperatures plunged well below zero. Without electricity to power there homes, many of these people had no heat, no light, no way to cook, no hot water, and a few lost their lives. Luckily, the power came back on a few days later. Surviving the Collapse of Civilization - What You Can Learn from Hit Television Shows Like Lost and Jericho Total social breakdown. Complete loss of civil infrastructure. No police. No military. No fuel. No food. No power. Major cities gone... Have you caught an episode of the hit CBS television show Jericho? Basically, the show's premise is that several of America's major cities have been devastated by nuclear weapons.
Thus, the world - as we all know it - has in essence broken down. Communication with other towns and our own government is lost; heat and electricity are at a minimum; and food sources are a problem.
With all of that going on, Jericho, Kansas is on its own. A small town left to fend for itself. And with the social structure of the United States completely broken down, there are many both inside and outside of the town that would do harm to their fellow man in order to better their own lives. So what should those living in Jericho, Kansas do? For a different
reason, the survivors of a plane crash on NBC's hit show
Lost find themselves without any contact with the
outside world. With little food, no social structure or
shelter, and concerns regarding their safety, the survivors
at first find themselves grasping at straws. Why bring up two fictional shows? Simply because there is always at least a shred of truth to be found in fiction. Heck, some of humanity's greatest inventions and discoveries actually emanated from science fiction stories (cloning, for example). Thus, television shows like Jericho and Lost can help shed some light on how we might best react to such a situation. Still, television
shows will hardly tell us everything. In fact, no one can.
Why? Simply because when it comes to total social breakdown,
the variables are so numerous that a one size fits all
approach just doesn't work. Therefore, it might be best to
break things down according to the factors people in such a
situation might have to consider. After a woman broke into a Japanese kindergarten back in 2001 and injured a female teacher with a knife, there was a public outcry. Simply put, the kinds of violence that have become, unfortunately, somewhat commonplace in the United States had never been so in Japan. Along with this, Masao Omura, a criminal psychiatrist at Nihon University in Tokyo, said the following after the event. "Socio-political and economic instability trigger psychological instability or uncertainty, and all this, I believe, is contributing a great deal to the rising brutal crime (in Japan)." Unfortunately, if daily stresses and events of the world today can set off psychological instability, so, certainly, can a mass issue that causes our social networking and power structure to collapse. Understatement of the century, right? Thus, in order to
keep civilization civilized, people would need to do
everything in their power to bring stability back. That
would involve some priority considerations. Find food and water - If you are someone that believes the world is on the doorstep of Armageddon or could be in for some tough years ahead, you may want to plan for this one in advance. If everything breaks down, one of the first things you'll need is an immediate supply of food and water. Best case scenario: you thought about this before the problem and have emergency supplies on hand at your home and / or office. This will help you get through that first week or two. If not, this could conceivably become the first order of business. Sustain yourself for long enough to come up with a plan. By the way, in speaking of a long term plan. . . Find a group ( if there is one available to you )- Under circumstances where complete social chaos is reigning, you might not want to be by yourself. First, there's physical safety in numbers ( on Jericho there have been several situations where outsiders have come to the town intent on doing folks harm; on Lost, of course, there's the Others). Regardless, a group will help you protect your family and yourself when and if further danger arises. Beyond that, group membership will help to meet your need to belong later. That's right, like the world famous psychologist Abraham Maslow has indicated, all human beings need to feel as if they belong and are safe. Regardless, look to those you can trust: people within your own neighborhood, for example. Further, if the availability is there - as in the case of Jericho, Kansas - look to your town. Pick a leader - Football teams need a head coach and some assistants. Without this, any player or coach will tell you that chaos would reign. Every form of government also has a set of leaders. Don't believe - even for a second - that you can survive chaos without installing some kind of power structure. Everything that is civilization tells us different. Further, by implementing a power structure of sorts, you'll have in essence brought some order to the chaos, even if only within your own group. Therefore, small groups would be wise to elect a leader early on ( this will be easier within groups that truly know one another ). Further, plans regarding the future power structure should be made at this time ( will there be voting? ). Such discussions might serve to quell the jealousy of those who are not elected to lead. Bigger groups could go the democratic route and have mini parliament of sorts, if they chose. Or perhaps an elected official might serve the purpose ( like a town mayor ). Protect yourself from the elements with a shelter - Do you still have a house? If so, great! If not, look for natural shelters ( like the caves in Lost ). Or if no manmade or natural shelters are available, consider building some ( like the contestants always do on the hit CBS show Survivor ). By the way, do this quickly. Further, if total social breakdown occurs in an area where the elements are a big problem, this may need to be your first order of business. Heating and cooling - Is the electricity working ( not in Jericho, Kansas, it isn't )? Are there any heat sources available? If not, we're talking fire. Which of course requires something to burn. It would be smart to
have a plan for dealing with this. Are you in danger? - In other words, are people walking down your road with guns intent on stealing or otherwise doing harm to you? Obviously, if this is the case, then defending yourself becomes first priority. Perhaps it's an opposing military; perhaps it's our own citizens trying to better their own situation. Regardless, here are some ideas to consider. Fortify your area - There are all types of things you could try. You could line cars, busses, or trucks around you for protection. You could try to build a wall if time permits. You could even attempt to build a fort of sorts. Here's the problem with all of those ideas. They let people know where you are. Thus, the best course of action would likely depend on the situation. If you're a relatively large group that has weapons and capability, doing some fortification work may not be a bad idea. However, if you're a small group that wants to remain nameless, the last thing you may want to do is line a bunch of trucks around four houses, particularly if there are groups out there to fear. After all, fortification strategies like that tend to scream, here we are! In such situations, search for natural barriers to live near ( lakes, mountains ). These won't bring any obvious unwanted notoriety. However, keep in mind that if you live near fresh water, expect others to eventually come calling ( food and water would, of course, be of paramount important to survivors of social breakdown ). Collect weapons - This is an obvious one. Just remember that if someone wants to be a part of your group, their weapons are too. It can't just be a band of individuals. Remember the power structure - When it comes to military maneuvers, a power structure is absolutely of paramount importance. In fact, when you're electing or deciding on a group leader, their ability to lead you in a military sense should be high on the list. This leader, if they're worth a grain of salt, will devise a guard schedule. If there is any truly conceivable danger at all, a watch should always be put into place along with a way for the guard to contact others without alerting attention to him or herself. Finally, think long term when it comes to food - How are you going to sustain yourselves in the long term? If there is true social chaos that could go on indefinitely, this needs to be considered in great detail. Some things to think about are: A. Rationing the food
you have. In sum, total social breakdown has never happened in the United States. During periods of specific social unrest, this country has always been able to recover. Regardless, there could be any number of situations that could change America's luck. Terrorists, a nuclear war, the consequences of global warming, etc. Further, total social breakdown can occur in other ways ( think Lost ). So are you ready? Would you know what to do? Here's what's certain. This article is only meant to get you thinking in the right direction. If the real thing were to ever hit, survivors would have to do a lot of thinking on their feet. Of course, if you thought some of this through before the event, that might save some time and effort... That's for you to decide. But what if the next disaster is so widespread that the power doesn't come back on?  If you live in the city and
there is a catastrophic type disaster - you will probably need to get
out of it. Especially if power is out for extended periods or major
damage. If you plan to leave the city:YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE AS MANY ROUTES OUT AS POSSIBLE.
YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE ROUTES TO SAFE-PLACES IN THE CITY
3. IF YOU HAVE SCHOOL CHILDREN, MAP ROUTES FOR THEM b. the more supplies and routes you have the more choices you have on little notice. c. the more first aid, basic and secondary treatments you know the better. d. the more you practice the easier to make decisions in emotional circumstances. e. KNOW HOW FAR YOU ARE WILLING TO GO. (Will you carry a weapon for self-defense? For hunting for food?) Not a pleasant thought but necessary. f. Know the capabilities of those who will travel or be under your care. Not only how far can they walk or ride, but what skills they have. (Someone who has medical knowledge can be a benefit, as can someone who has hunting skills, someone who has plant and other food gathering skills, someone who has map reading skills etc.) Plan on having each person in your group learn some of these skills. Even young children can take part. Make it a family project and practice them while camping or hiking. g. Do not forget your pets. Do plan on extra water for them - but most pets can eat what humans eat so don't burden yourself trying to carry dog food or cat food. Pet birds can ride on your shoulder or should be set free as other critters may need to be also. (It may mean a death sentence for them, but if you leave them in their cages it surely would be a slow and painfully cruel death sentence.) Your animals can also be used for carrying items. Big dogs can carry packs or be trained to pull small wagons. Horses, and other such larger animals can also be useful - but that goes without saying. h. Even if you plan to stay where you are, the following items will fulfill your needs for an emergency plan. You have the luxury of not having to worry about how much weight you can carry - and you may not need emergency rations for as many days. If you plan that you will not receive outside help, have power or medical aid, nor have the ability to purchase items for 3 - 5 days, any help arriving earlier is a boon. You must remember to have at least 1 gallon of water for every one of those days per person in storage. (Water can be stored for up to 6 months in a unbreakable container before having to be purified or recycled.) Try and stock as many or all of the items listed below as you may not be able to sleep in your home but have to camp out in the yard or in one of the your in town safe-places. Keep these items OUT OF YOUR HOME AND IN A PLACE WHERE YOU WILL KEEP YOUR MAIN PACKS so that you can get to them if your home or apartment building is unsafe to enter.
[NOTE: You can use and old refrigerator or large container as a storage
area. Halfway or almost all the way bury it in your back yard without
the lid. Take a nice piece of wood or plastic and make a water proof
cover over the top of the chest. Plant flowers around it or place a
birdbath or decorate with yard statues. Inside, you can store your
waterproofed packs and sleeping bags, your med. kit and other items with
little worry of water, insect or vermin damage. If you have a wood shed
or other small building they could be ideal for storing. Use BIG plastic
garbage cans with locking lids as your storage bins. They are almost
completely water proof - still waterproof by wrapping tarps and plastic
bags around your packs and clothing. Other options are, keep them in
R.V.s, fifth wheels, or barns.]EMERGENCY FOOD, PACKS, CLOTHES AND MONEY If you have
done any research on this - you probably have suffered STICKER SHOCK on
just how much 'they' want for emergency foods and supplies. You do not
have to spend a fortune to supply yourself and family in case of an
emergency! There are a few tricks to it though.
FIRST - Consider again those in your family. (If you are single or have
a small family, you might want to combine with another small family or
with some very close friends.) Do they have medical needs? Meds.?
Glasses? These need to be duplicated and put into your Main Emergency
packs.
[The main packs should be placed outside the home in a storage shed,
waterproof chest container that is away from your home building and
other major buildings. The Main packs will contain those most important
items that will be carried no matter what! Or used whether you stay or
leave your home. Each member of your family or group should have a PACK
even the littlest tiny baby.]
Along with these packs you will have put copies of your family records,
some sort of ID (which you should doubly protect from moisture), the few
books you will need, again - protected from moisture and your medical
kit which will be a pack by itself and marked as such. Each person
should put their medicine in their own packs. Same with eye glasses or
other such items with their personal stuff.
Let us talk of the pack itself. INVEST IN A GOOD HEAVY DUTY BACK PACK
for each member of your family or group. Take your time and come up with
a pack big enough to carry your main pack items (some of the older may
need to take some of the younger stuff) but not so big that you can't
carry it. Make sure it is well balanced. You might want to pack it and
go on a hike several times with it until you find the best balance. The
pack should be waterproof - and be made of a material that won't wear
out fast or invite critters of the insect or animal kind. (In other
words, can you spray it with repellents and such?)
It is important to not have a pack just with clothes, just with dishes,
just with any one item. If that pack got separated from the others.
Lost, destroyed, along the way EVERYONE would be without. By everybody
carrying their own items, if someone losses their pack - the others can
share until the pack is found or replaced. In other words DON'T PUT ALL
YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET!!!!!!
You will need to carry in your individual main pack:
CLOTHING Clothing can be expensive, so be smart. Go to
K-mart or other like clothing chain and purchase plain, ordinary sweat
pants and shirts in various sizes and colors when they have a sale. You
can often find them for $4.00 to $6.00 for pants or shirts on sale. A
really good sale, even cheaper. ALWAYS BUY THEM LARGER THAN YOU WOULD
NORMALLY USE THEM as they will shrink and you may end up layering them.
Why sweats? Sweats are easy to wash (You may be doing your washing by
hand and drying them on a line.) They dry quicker and easier than blue
jeans or other clothing and without that mildew smell. They can be worn
by anyone. (Even children can wear adult sizes if need be because they
can push up legs and pull the draw string tighter.) Sweats are warm when
it is cold, and cool (because they breathe) when it is hot. AND you can
layer them and not be restricted in your movements. SWEATS also roll up
small and take little space in your pack and are light in weight. NOW
DON'T YOU JUST LOVE THEM! Love T-SHIRTS too cause they can go as under
layer or as a light weight shirt in hotter weather. They also roll up
small and are lightweight and cheap. Don't forget sweat shorts!
The one negative about sweats (also a positive) is that they are very
absorbent which makes them not so good in the rain. SO - wrap each set
in a garbage bag and place them in your pack. The garbage bag then makes
a GREAT CHEAP raincoat for those rainy days! Just cut a hole for your
head and arms and continue to march. If you get too wet - change into
another pair of sweats, wrap them back up in the garbage bag, use the
new garbage bag from the new sweats as a raincoat. The next time you
stop or do laundry, pull the wet sweats out of the bag, wash, dry and
pack in a new garbage bag. (Now, ain't I smart! :-) )
A few other items are:Socks.
Two kinds are recommended. Cotton tube socks and 100% wool socks (wool,
though itchy, keeps you warm even if they get wet). Several good pairs
for each member is recommended.
At least two good pairs of shoes. Sneakers are good and cheap if you
don't buy the name brands. But they can get wet. So I recommend 2 pairs
of sneakers and 1 good pair of knee high rubber boots. (Get those black
farmer type boots.) These will roll up pretty small and are not any
heavier than a good hiking boot and you can go to many stores and buy
them for less than $20.00. I picked up a new pair just a while ago and
bought them on sale for $9.99. Do not scrimp on socks and such, as your
feet are your friends! (They take you everywhere you want or need to
go!)
Other clothing items are a good jacket and coat. Wool is good as it will
keep you warm even if it is wet. I recommend purchasing a good wool
insulated hunting shirt (You know, the plaid ones) since you can always
double or triple on sweats. (Buy it BIG). Also purchase a light weight
jacket that will keep you warm. The newer ski-jackets are all made to be
light weight, but heavy duty warm. Buy them off season on sale. (Again,
give yourself plenty of room to move around in it if you are layering.)Bandannas.
Purchase a bunch. They can cover the head for warmth, tie back long
hair, be used as a sweat band, be soaked in water and worn around the
neck as a coolant, be used for private stops ;-) and be used to blow
your nose. Very handy. They roll up small are cheap and extremely light.
(Women, they can be used as sanitary napkins. Just triple fold, you can
even use moss or other clean vegetation as absorbent. NOT POISSON IVY!
Place the bandanna around the absorbing material and have at least two
layers next to your skin.) They wash easily and cleanly and dry quickly.
Don't be grossed out guys!
Remember: Your clothing needs to be easy to wash, dry, carry, pack and
without being too heavy or bulky. Undergarments, gloves and a stocking
hat and/or rain hat completes the clothes items.To review. Each person's Main pack then should contain these clothing items:
Here you will benefit by purchasing one of
those military type kits - A GOOD STRONG ONE - per each family or group
member. It should have a plate/bowl with full assortment of utensils
that fold up in the middle of the plate and bowl. Then purchase a strong
metal cup that can be tied to the outside of each pack by a strong
bungee strap and used for drinking along the way. Try to have a least
one extra set for each 4 persons in your family or group. Everyone
carries and is responsible for their own eating and drinking utensils.
It is best to color code packs with a person. You can even go as far as
color coding clothing, sleeping bags, mats, tents and all other items so
the 'blue' person had all their stuff marked or is blue and so on. (This
is helpful with younger children - and for us confused adults too! ;-) )BEDDING AND SLEEPING BAGS
MONEY PORTABLE KITCHEN
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