Starting My SHTF List!

[Colorado Luckydog]

I already have every piece of camping gear known to man. I also have plenty of guns and ammo. (Trust me!) What I don't know, is how long to prepare for. I have land back in Oklahoma but that would be a last resort to go back there. If I could make it back there I should be fine depending on what kind of shit hit the fan is happening. I have a well so there should be plenty of water. Game and fish or plenty. I think I will plan on 3 months of survival and be prepared to make the journey back to Oklahoma if needed. Here's the beginning of my list.

1. A Plan (that's what I'm beginning now)
2. Water
3. Food
4. Fuel (propane and gas) (enough gas to make it back to Oklahoma)
5. Medical Supplies
6. Communications (I need to do some homework on this)
7. Transportation (I have this covered with 4x4 truck, car, atv, and a trailer)
8. Power (I have a small generator but would like to add a bigger one, and I have a ton of rechargable batteries)

This is the begining of my list and the start of making a plan. I'm not sure why I'm posting this. Maybe I'm looking for ideas or just thinking outloud. Thanks for any input.

[Wulf202]

You're off to a good start!

On the fuel storage, blitz plastic cans suck ass, find good mil surplus cans. Invest in stabil fuel stabilizer and double dose the stored stuff. I just got done burning gas that was almost 3 years old that had been double dosed with stabil and it burned fine.

Instead of getting a bigger generator consider a solar backup system or just how to use what you've got, most of the time a small genny will work if you use it carefully.

[M2MG]

I was wondering what kind of list this was going to be. A list of things to buy, or a list of people to..... Never mind, good luck with your planning.

M2MG

[BigBear]

It's the Bucket List.... hehehe

[theGinsue]

You're off to a good start!

On the fuel storage, blitz plastic cans suck ass, find good mil surplus cans. Invest in stabil fuel stabilizer and double dose the stored stuff. I just got done burning gas that was almost 3 years old that had been double dosed with stabil and it burned fine.

Instead of getting a bigger generator consider a solar backup system or just how to use what you've got, most of the time a small genny will work if you use it carefully.

Good info on the gas cans! Thanks.

Another thing to consider about generators is that they make noise that shouts to others "Here I am and I have stuff you can kill me to take".

[68Charger]

Another thing to consider about generators is that they make noise that shouts to others "Here I am and I have stuff you can kill me to take".

so do lights on after dark, if you're in the scenario where nobody else has power...

[Colorado Luckydog]

Lots of different situations and shit to think about.

[rforsythe]

Out of curiosity, what do you *need* a genny for? I'm having a hard time coming up with things that couldn't be handled with solar chargers or hand-crank-type items, or done with less convenience but less/no power usage. That includes everything on your list at the top. You won't run a house on it, but then again do you really need or want to? And +1 on staying inconspicuous, which means making as little noise as possible, and not being the one glowing room in a sea of darkness. Also gen's need fuel, which would likely become a highly sought-after commodity (along with food and water). Learning how to get along without it means you're that much less dependent on something you may not be able to reliably find, especially if you're trying to make it several hundred miles.

Just my $0.02 though, this is a good forum with lots of solid advice. Enjoying reading it.

[refryguy]

so do lights on after dark, if you're in the scenario where nobody else has power...

I've invested in some really good solar cells. I use big yacht DC batteries and keep them charged with a couple of 120volt 12 amp solar cells. It keeps my heater, lights, and water pump in my trailer running all night and day. I can also run TV's, laptops, etc with no problems. If its really cold the blower motor on the heater takes a lot out of the batteries but usually lasts until day time then recharges pretty quick.

[nakedhunter]

My opinion is if there is an issue that requires people to be on their own for 3 months, it's going to be a lot longer than 3 months... At least a year.
Otherwise 1-3 month supply for a bug-in, but get it packed good enough to bug-out if you really have to.

My thoughts on some of your beginning list:
If you are thinking a deep SHTF, don't forget your seeds.
Go with non-GMO. Especially if you have land, your temporary food supply will run out quicker than you think.

Communications - as mentioned if EMP oh well with anything that was not Faraday caged. But good ol' CBs are my first choice otherwise, still millions of them out.

Medical supplies - make sure you have training for whatever you have. Don't plan on taking out an appendix in an emergency with all the cool supplies if you have no training - dead is dead.

Generators - I can't recommend any higher than a couple honda eu2000i generators with a parallel power kit. A lot lighter to move around over a 4k and you can use individually when needed without going through the gas or parallel them for the 4k. Plus the built in inverter is basically needed nowadays for anything electronic (plus these are pretty darn quiet).
But I would agree if you can go solar once you get where your going but it should already be there - toting around panels large enough to do much will be hard.

Remember the rule of 3's: 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter (in extreme enviros) 3 days without WATER, 3 weeks without food, and of course 3 months with "companionship".
Water is much more needed than food short term.
Get a water filter device - I like the Katadyn Pocket: 13,000 gallons on 1 filter.

Blankets - not just to keep warm but if you are running lights you can use cheap blankets nailed, taped, etc over the windows. You can pick up 12 wool & fiber blend LARGE blankets for cheap.

Tents, sleeping bags, etc. of anything you would take camping.

Fuel - for gas cans I would also highly recommend finding surplus wedco military cans - the NON-CARB compliant, they don't make them anymore for the U.S thanks to the enviro freak regs.
Get the stabil and store the gas if you can. If you wait to go fill your cans up when you need them - you won't be getting any gas.

If you have pets - don't leave them out of the plan. Dog food, etc.

Hopefully some of that will help you with your a beginning of a plan...