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$185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up

 
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$185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
$185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters:

$600 for a complete set up including fuel for heater/stove and also getting a real Cassette Toilet
(stop getting water to flush your damn toilet!)

-----------------------------------

For $185+- plus the fuel for your heater and stove you have covered the basics of the equipment you NEED for surviving a few days without electric or water service. That is well within the budget of most families


Water: $35

Get one of these BOB bags and put with your emergency preps – a water bag you put in your bathtub and fill up when you think you might be losing water, holds 100 gallons. $35
example: [link to www.amazon.com (secure)]


Cooking: $20

Single Burner Butane Stove is my #1 choice, use it when go trunk camping since easier to use than anything else. $20
(I do have both a 2 burner Coleman dual fuel stove AND a Coleman Stove/Oven combo that they only sold for a short time – both work great, but the single burner butane stove is just easier to use).

Get your Butane Canisters at Asian Supermarkets – 1/3 the price of Wally World or other camping /hardware stores, about $1.25 to $1.50 each or so around here at the Asian markets
example: [link to www.walmart.com (secure)]


Heat: $130

Kerosene Heater – round ones are about the best imo for most uses since little smell as long as you keep them cranked up to high and let them fully burn the kerosene – about $130 is the proper price
(will use 5 to 6 gal/day so need to get your kerosene AHEAD of time, minimum of 2 days imo, 5 days worth is safer – need to store OUTSIDE in an outside shed imo)
example: [link to www.menards.com (secure)]

ALWAYS start and stop Kero heaters OUTSIDE … that is when they outgas kero fumes which is when most of the smell (95%) is generated

Also have at least TWO battry powered carbon monoxide detectors with GOOD batteries. Have one low and one mid level in case CO starts to accumlate. Also crack a window for fresh air.


EXTRA ITEM!!! Toilet Facilities: $120
Why is everybody collecting water to flush their toilets? TOO much work!!

If you don't want to worry about water to flush your toilet add to your emergency supplies a FLUSHING Cassette Toilet (makes going to the batheroom EASY for women doing a #2 easy for men).

*NO carrying water to flush your toilet.
*No power required.
*Just give the pump a couple of pumps after going and voila, bowl is clean flushing it from the liquid storage tank.

Keep a couple of bottles of RV Anti Freeze around for charging it up if the weather is below freezing. Get the one with the biggest holding tank you can ... so you don' t run out of sewage storage capacity before you can empty it. This one, with a 5.5 gallon detachable (for emptying) storage tank is what I would recommend (Thetford is know for quality in this arena) . Be sure to get the camping toilet paper to use - camping section of Walmart ... dissolves much better which makes emptying easy - $120
example: [link to www.cabelas.com (secure)]


Extras you may not think about ahead of time:

* Paper plates, plastic silverware, plastic cups, paper coffee cups - so don't have to wash dishes
* Coffee filters for strainig water - for non potable use obviously
* Garbage bags and Paper Towels


Of course any food, fuel for the heater and stove, and the extras mentioned above are separate from the equipment cost. Even adding those in (including 30 gal of Kerosene + six 5 gallon kerosene containers) you are only adding about $250 -$300 to the cost of the equipment not counting food.

$600 ... plus food. Easily doable on any middle class budget. Throw in a couple of good tarps and if you are out of a flood zone and don't get hit with a hurricane or tornado you have covered 90% of what you need to survive the better part of a week with NO outside services for most situations.

One further item, if you want ... for keeping cell phones charged. Get and plug in a computer battery backup box, but DO NOT connect any computers etc to it. Leave it TURNED OFF. Turn it on when you want to charge up cell phones, turn it off when done. Will easily charge MANY cell phones for a long period of time. (these run $65 to $200 depending upon the size you get ... a smaller one is probably fine for a couple of weeks of use charging cell many phones)
Anonymous Coward
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02/19/2021 08:15 PM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Having a hot shower/hot water is a big plus, although you can heat water on the kerosene stove but these are really slick

[link to www.joolca.com (secure)]
T-Man
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02/19/2021 08:18 PM

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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
cool thread :)
Anonymous Coward
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02/19/2021 08:22 PM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Great post OP! We have two Water Bob's, one for each bathtub. They used to be easy to fond online, but as of a few months ago, it was difficult. Have not looked since them. They are an awesome item to have.

Butane stove - Check.

Kerosene heater - Forgot about those! Excellent heat source.

Toilet - Excellent idea!

We have a solar powered charger for our phones and other items that will plug into it, like rechargeable flashlights. We still rely on battery flashlights though.

Thank you for this OP! Such well thought out and helpful information!

hf

:fivestars:
Anonymous Coward
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02/19/2021 08:26 PM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
bump
T-Man
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02/19/2021 08:28 PM

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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Great post OP! We have two Water Bob's, one for each bathtub. They used to be easy to fond online, but as of a few months ago, it was difficult. Have not looked since them. They are an awesome item to have.

Butane stove - Check.

Kerosene heater - Forgot about those! Excellent heat source.

Toilet - Excellent idea!

We have a solar powered charger for our phones and other items that will plug into it, like rechargeable flashlights. We still rely on battery flashlights though.

Thank you for this OP! Such well thought out and helpful information!

hf

fivestars
 Quoting: CoffeeDoom


what kind of solar powered charger do you have?
Anonymous Coward
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02/19/2021 08:32 PM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Great post OP! We have two Water Bob's, one for each bathtub. They used to be easy to fond online, but as of a few months ago, it was difficult. Have not looked since them. They are an awesome item to have.

Butane stove - Check.

Kerosene heater - Forgot about those! Excellent heat source.

Toilet - Excellent idea!

We have a solar powered charger for our phones and other items that will plug into it, like rechargeable flashlights. We still rely on battery flashlights though.

Thank you for this OP! Such well thought out and helpful information!

hf

:fivestars:
 Quoting: CoffeeDoom


what kind of solar powered charger do you have?
 Quoting: T-Man


One of these little things: [link to www.amazon.com (secure)]

We actually had to use it when we had the last ice storm and power went our for about 24 hours and it worked like a charm!
linda***

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02/19/2021 08:32 PM

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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Thanks op! Valuable knowledge!
T-Man
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02/19/2021 08:34 PM

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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Great post OP! We have two Water Bob's, one for each bathtub. They used to be easy to fond online, but as of a few months ago, it was difficult. Have not looked since them. They are an awesome item to have.

Butane stove - Check.

Kerosene heater - Forgot about those! Excellent heat source.

Toilet - Excellent idea!

We have a solar powered charger for our phones and other items that will plug into it, like rechargeable flashlights. We still rely on battery flashlights though.

Thank you for this OP! Such well thought out and helpful information!

hf

fivestars
 Quoting: CoffeeDoom


what kind of solar powered charger do you have?
 Quoting: T-Man


One of these little things: [link to www.amazon.com (secure)]

We actually had to use it when we had the last ice storm and power went our for about 24 hours and it worked like a charm!
 Quoting: CoffeeDoom


oh yea those are nice :D i used to have one of those.
now i have this one

https://imgur.com/cU9tWda
Anonymous Coward
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02/19/2021 08:35 PM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Great post OP! We have two Water Bob's, one for each bathtub. They used to be easy to fond online, but as of a few months ago, it was difficult. Have not looked since them. They are an awesome item to have.

Butane stove - Check.

Kerosene heater - Forgot about those! Excellent heat source.

Toilet - Excellent idea!

We have a solar powered charger for our phones and other items that will plug into it, like rechargeable flashlights. We still rely on battery flashlights though.

Thank you for this OP! Such well thought out and helpful information!

hf

:fivestars:
 Quoting: CoffeeDoom


what kind of solar powered charger do you have?
 Quoting: T-Man


One of these little things: [link to www.amazon.com (secure)]

We actually had to use it when we had the last ice storm and power went our for about 24 hours and it worked like a charm!
 Quoting: CoffeeDoom


oh yea those are nice :D i used to have one of those.
now i have this one

[imgur] [link to i.imgur.com (secure)]
 Quoting: T-Man


Now THAT is a solar charger! Now that I know the one we have worked, I might get one of those bad boys! Thanks!!

hf
Anonymous Coward
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02/19/2021 08:37 PM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
I have a way better idea, shit in a hole, $600 worth of potatoes and good insulating clothing, but the wife would never stand for that would she
Anonymous Coward (OP)
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02/19/2021 08:57 PM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Purifying Water: $40

OK ... you need more SAFE water to drink? PITA I know, but you can get more SAFE water to drink (at least filtering out the bacteria) for a reasonable price.

For years I recommend the Katadyn Base Camp system, what I personally used in the wilderness for many years - NO MORE!! AVOID IT LIKE POISON!! You used to be able to use a top quality Ceramic Filter with it - but now they only have crappy paper filters that clog up almost instantly and wear out with just a few hundred liter instead of 8,000-12,000 gallons with the ability to be cleaned if they clogged up.

I would now recommend the Sawyer Products BAG gravity flow system with a CERAMIC filter that is good for 100,000 gallons.

Fill the bag with water (only 1 gallon of water at a time - sorry) and let gravity do it's trick flowing the water down into your collection bag or pot (always toss away the first gallon or so you filter). The Sawyer CERAMIC filter (which can be cleaned) has an extra small 1 micron pass through so it is going to filter out almost anything bad in the water except viruses and chemicals.

Like any ceramic filter water purification system get the water as clean as you can before putting it through the filter so the filter doesn't clog up.

Cost ... a major league expense at $40!!

example: [link to www.amazon.com (secure)]
Imlay

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02/19/2021 09:07 PM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
bump

For Texans
We're king of the beasts but we're hardly civilized.
Anonymous Coward (OP)
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Purifying Water: $40

OK ... you need more SAFE water to drink? PITA I know, but you can get more SAFE water to drink (at least filtering out the bacteria) for a reasonable price.

For years I recommend the Katadyn Base Camp system, what I personally used in the wilderness for many years - NO MORE!! AVOID IT LIKE POISON!! You used to be able to use a top quality Ceramic Filter with it - but now they only have crappy paper filters that clog up almost instantly and wear out with just a few hundred liter instead of 8,000-12,000 gallons with the ability to be cleaned if they clogged up.

I would now recommend the Sawyer Products BAG gravity flow system with a CERAMIC filter that is good for 100,000 gallons.

Fill the bag with water (only 1 gallon of water at a time - sorry) and let gravity do it's trick flowing the water down into your collection bag or pot (always toss away the first gallon or so you filter). The Sawyer CERAMIC filter (which can be cleaned) has an extra small 1 micron pass through so it is going to filter out almost anything bad in the water except viruses and chemicals.

Like any ceramic filter water purification system get the water as clean as you can before putting it through the filter so the filter doesn't clog up.

Cost ... a major league expense at $40!!

example: [link to www.amazon.com (secure)]
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 79096761


correction ... .1 micron size filtering

Yes there are other bag water purification systems out there but ALWAYS check out what type of filter they use and how many gallons or liters they will filter before they are no longer usable. MOST of the supposedly "highly rated" systems out there are only good for a few hundred liters which works out to 200 to 300 gallons. The Sawyer system filter, as long as you can keep it clean, (easier than with any paper cartridge system) will go for many TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GALLONS!

As noted in the past I used the old Katadyn system with a ceramic filter but they no longer sell that. This is the best replacement to that system, though the other components of the system, such as the bag, are not nearly as robust as the Katadyn system was.

One can also build a container to container system on your own using Dalton ceramic filters and filter holders (Dalton filters are the best out there imo) but that is going to be MUCH more expensive AND it is a non-portable system once set up (I do have two of those I built up for myself).

The best current commercially available LONG DURATION system out there is this Sawyer one. And yes, you can get replacement filters for it.

Sorry I didn't get this mentioned in my post #1
Anonymous Coward (OP)
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02/19/2021 10:12 PM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
For the West Coast Crowd

bump
Anonymous Coward (OP)
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02/19/2021 10:52 PM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Additional Prep Item

AM/FM/Weather Radio with Flashlight and crank - $18


Another item you may want to consider for your Disaster Preps is this little battery powered (3 AA), also hand cranked, AM/FM/Weather Radio with Flashlight. It also has a port for recharging your cell phone, but I don't know how well that works. (imo avoid the solar powered version since apparently it does NOT take batteries)

I keep mine on a shelf in the bathroom where I can grab it immediately either for use as a flashlight or to flick on the weather radio or regular radio in an emergency (such as tornado warning combined with a power failure).

The FM radio is sensitive, the AM radio so so but OK for the local stations and for higher powered stations up to 100 miles away at night. Flashlight has 3 LED and is bright. Radio is not up to the quality of my Sony, Grundig, or Tecsun radios, but those cost 5x to 10x more and don't have Weather Radio frequencies or a Flashlight.

Nice small radio/flashlight for home or to keep in the glove box of your car (2/3 the size of a paperback book)

example: [link to www.walmart.com (secure)]

AM/FM/Weather Radio with Flashlight $18 at Walmart
Asymptote

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02/19/2021 11:05 PM

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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Additional Prep Item

AM/FM/Weather Radio with Flashlight and crank - $18


Another item you may want to consider for your Disaster Preps is this little battery powered (3 AA), also hand cranked, AM/FM/Weather Radio with Flashlight. It also has a port for recharging your cell phone, but I don't know how well that works. (imo avoid the solar powered version since apparently it does NOT take batteries)

I keep mine on a shelf in the bathroom where I can grab it immediately either for use as a flashlight or to flick on the weather radio or regular radio in an emergency (such as tornado warning combined with a power failure).

The FM radio is sensitive, the AM radio so so but OK for the local stations and for higher powered stations up to 100 miles away at night. Flashlight has 3 LED and is bright. Radio is not up to the quality of my Sony, Grundig, or Tecsun radios, but those cost 5x to 10x more and don't have Weather Radio frequencies or a Flashlight.

Nice small radio/flashlight for home or to keep in the glove box of your car (2/3 the size of a paperback book)

example: [link to www.walmart.com (secure)]

AM/FM/Weather Radio with Flashlight $18 at Walmart
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 79096761


If you can crank to charge the batteries without using it would be great... Don't think I've seen one that does that. Ever seen one like that? (I might absentmindedly crank it when just sitting around if there's nothing else to do)
Approaching the line

"Be wary of mathematicians, particularly when they speak the truth." - Augustine

I sign all my Karma

Polymath supreme

BTW.... Any grammatical errors (or incorrect words) are due to Spellcheck fucking hating me.....did you see, it auto fucking capitalism the word Spellcheck
Anonymous Coward (OP)
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02/19/2021 11:41 PM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
I just gave it a shot. Yes you can crank it to charge up the internal rechargable batteries. The crank worked pretty well. After cranking for a minute or so the radio ran fine as did the flashlight. There is an outside LED indicator light that indicates if you are cranking fast enough btw.

I did not measure the time of how long the radio would run for each minute of cranking but if I get the chance I will check that out and post in this thread. I also do not know how long the rechargable batteries will hold a charge once they are (crank) charged up

The radio also has a place so you can plug in a cord to charge the internal rechargable batteries ... but the connectors they provided with the radio only fit the connection that takes power OUT of the unit (ie: for charging a cell phone), they did NOT provide the connector needed to charge up the rechargable batteries. (The input and output voltage is that of a standard phone charger fwiw).

Remember this unit also holds 3 regular AA batteries inside so normally you wouldn't need to crank it at all unless those batteries were dead and you didn't have any others to put into it.

If you don't have a battery powered transistor radio for both AM/FM and Weather Radio Frequencies this is a good reasonably priced option imo.
Midwest Skeptic  (OP)

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02/20/2021 08:15 AM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Additional Prep Item

AM/FM/Weather Radio with Flashlight and crank - $18


... Nice small radio/flashlight for home or to keep in the glove box of your car (2/3 the size of a paperback book)

example: [link to www.walmart.com (secure)]

 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 79096761


If you can crank to charge the batteries without using it would be great... Don't think I've seen one that does that. Ever seen one like that? (I might absentmindedly crank it when just sitting around if there's nothing else to do)
 Quoting: Asymptote


OK, starting with the rechargeable batteries totally dead I cranked it for 1 minute then turned on the radio and it played for 4 1/2 minutes before dying with the volume at a small room filling level.

This radio also takes 3 AA batteries so operating off of regular batteries I would expect it to play for many many hours. The rechargeable feature though is nice in the event the regular AA batteries are dead.

Last Edited by Midwest Skeptic on 02/20/2021 08:18 AM
Midwest Skeptic
Midwest Skeptic  (OP)

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02/20/2021 09:53 AM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Summary of recommended items needed to provide for you and your residence for most situations:

$35 . Water BOB (100 gallon) [link to www.amazon.com (secure)]
$20 . Butane Stove [link to www.walmart.com (secure)]
$130 . Round 23,000 BTU Kerosene Heater [link to www.menards.com (secure)]
$120 . Flushing Cassette Toilet [link to www.cabelas.com (secure)]
$40 . Water Purifying System (good for up to 100,000 gallons) [link to www.amazon.com (secure)]
$18 . AM/FM/Weather Radio, battery powered [link to www.walmart.com (secure)]
$90 . Kerosene Containers six 5 gallon blue [link to www.menards.com (secure)]
$105 . Kerosene 30 gallons@ $3.50/gal (currently $3.35 at the pump here)
$27 . Butane canisters - 18 @ $1.50 each (Chinese supermarket pricing)
$23 . Toilet Paper (3 packs of 8 rolls rv/camping type) for cassette toilet [link to www.walmart.com (secure)]

___________________
$608 TOTAL for all the items above for prepping.

Edited to add:
$3 . Kerosene Siphon Pump (safest way to fill kero heater) [link to www.homedepot.com (secure)]
___________________
$611 Adjusted TOTAL


The above will provide for what you would need to prep for in most emergency situations for 5 to 7 days for the protection of life and home that are separate from items you already own (add two large size tarps to the above if your don't have them). (I assume everybody has at least one decent size cooler, most probably have more than one, flashlights, plus their own personal clothing, coats, gloves, and shoes)

In addition as noted in post above Paper Goods are a great addition since it gets rid of having to wash dishes You may already have those around the house. (Also remember you can cook things on top of the kerosene heater if need be)

Last Edited by Midwest Skeptic on 02/20/2021 12:04 PM
Midwest Skeptic
Midwest Skeptic  (OP)

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02/20/2021 10:22 AM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Going to bump this back up one last time since I added a nice summary which some might like to see (and maybe use for rounding out their personal preps)

bump

Last Edited by Midwest Skeptic on 02/20/2021 10:23 AM
Midwest Skeptic
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02/20/2021 10:29 AM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Having had experience with a cassette toilet, I much prefer just digging a hole. For comfort, a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet seat and some cat litter. Dump contents into hole.
Midwest Skeptic  (OP)

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02/20/2021 10:48 AM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Having had experience with a cassette toilet, I much prefer just digging a hole. For comfort, a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet seat and some cat litter. Dump contents into hole.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 3569297


Used cassette toilets on two different sailboats over the years, sometimes the only "facility" available for a couple of days. Worked fine for me on both boats. Easy to use and easy to empty. Of course both of them were top end units which may be why (the one linked here is from one of the best manufacturers)
Midwest Skeptic
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02/20/2021 11:03 AM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Mylar, emergency blanket material. I buy it by the 100 ft x 5 ft rolls. It is a must have if you live in an apartment or no access to any heat source. I use it on the farm for many many things. I make a tent over the chicken roost and line the walls to reflect heat and light in the barn, the well house and pipes, so many many uses. You can make an emergency indoor tent warming area, use it under you or make a bag out of it for emergency body heat. You can make a solar cooker, warmer and water heater. Use it for reflective light in an indoor growing room. It helps to ripen fruit on the trees and protects sensitive plants over winter, protects new plants and boost seedlings. I use it under and around my outdoor swimming pond to warm the water in my cold climate. You can never have enough and always finding new uses for extra heat and light in my cold dark long winters, harsh and short growing season.
Anonymous Coward
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02/20/2021 11:03 AM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Going to bump this back up one last time since I added a nice summary which some might like to see (and maybe use for rounding out their personal preps)

bump
 Quoting: Midwest Skeptic


Here in Oklahoma, I have been using up my stash of quick homemade fire starters to get the wood stove cranked up in the AM's. Easy to make and uses resources a lot of folks just trash:

Save old toilet paper rolls. Save the used wax from old candle stubs or from (as in my case) used scented candle wax.

Used candle wax cubes stuffed into the middle of the double toilet paper rolls (the bent inner one keeps the cubes in place). Add one of these to a tinder pile, or two of these to a stack of small logs and (almost) instant crackling fire.
Anonymous Coward
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02/20/2021 11:05 AM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
kerosene is expensive. id get a cheap generator and run a few space heaters
Anonymous Coward
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02/20/2021 11:10 AM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Think about the minimal requirements for camping. When campings while you do not need propane stoves though they are helpful as good dry wood may be an issue, if tht is the case, you likely will be very cold.

You need a way to make fire and cook. This means you need two large cooking pans called stock pans. One is for heating water so you can purify it and for cleaning up and washing. Another is for meals.

Not only that, you need a cooler and a large water container to haul water some distance so it both have to be portable. What I recommend you do is have plastic storage bins to make us, but get actual containers and use a garden cart (not a wheel barrow as they are practically useless with heavy items).

You want to rig up a way to heat up items on a campfire with a grate and you ideally want to cook on coals for even cooking long term. Propane will run out pretty quickly. You also want a dutch oven or even two of them.

These items really make a difference. If your disaster lasts even one week, you will be roughing it just like you would be camping.

Having these sorts of things then translates to inexpensive family vacations and that is your future.
Anonymous Coward
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02/20/2021 11:16 AM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Helpful thread, thank you.
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02/20/2021 11:19 AM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
I also take 1tbsp psyllium husk powder daily, it 99% removes the need for toilet paper by gelling everything inside of you up like jello.

The first square of tp almost never shows anything, it's magical.

I haven't bought toilet paper in over a year.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 80071194
France
02/20/2021 11:21 AM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
If you had canning gear, you could can pork loin which is always inexpensive, then even if you had no power, you would have canned inexpensive meat that was vatly superior to spam.

This means you could grow tomatoes and can them as well.

If you have pinto beans, canned corn, flour and baking powder to make tortillas, some blocks of Velveeta cheese, some homemade salsa from those tomatoes, one's family can live on that. It is nutritionally complete and doesn't taste bad.

You could can fruits as they come in your garden and from your trees and in trade from your neighbors.

A lawn is utterly useless versus a garden with vegetables, herbs, and fruit. This next decade will be very difficult to get through otherwise.

A smart person with a hand grinder could mill flour and corn meal. And they are not expensive. If you had a meat grinder, you could make hamburger that is higher in quality plus sausage and you control the fat content.
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02/20/2021 11:30 AM
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Re: $185 to provide the basic equipment you need for MOST disasters: $600 for a complete set up
Going to bump this back up one last time since I added a nice summary which some might like to see (and maybe use for rounding out their personal preps)

bump
 Quoting: Midwest Skeptic


Here in Oklahoma, I have been using up my stash of quick homemade fire starters to get the wood stove cranked up in the AM's. Easy to make and uses resources a lot of folks just trash:

Save old toilet paper rolls. Save the used wax from old candle stubs or from (as in my case) used scented candle wax.

Used candle wax cubes stuffed into the middle of the double toilet paper rolls (the bent inner one keeps the cubes in place). Add one of these to a tinder pile, or two of these to a stack of small logs and (almost) instant crackling fire.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 70426113


I make mine out of dryer lint and the paper tube. You can also add old dryer sheets to the tube also. Rather than throwing these things away ... recycle and use to start your fires.





GLP