I think I read somewhere that stored properly MREs have a shelf life of 5-7 years, 10 max.
Like SMS said staples, stored properly, will last forever. FD/DH stuff will last 15-30 years.
If you want to do this and still appear sane to your family, start out by stocking what you already eat ... buy 2 or 3 of things you usually buy 1 of ... buy the big package of beans (all different kinds) and a big package of rice (or Minute Rice) every time you go to the store. It doesn't take long to add up ...
Go to amazon and pick up this book Just In Case If I had bought this book first I could have saved a TON of money on books ...
And hang in there ... I used to think GC was bat-s*%( crazy ... then we were without power for a week (ice storm in 2007) and if it hadn't been for the generator I wouldn't let him buy because "we didn't need it" (he traded a rifle for it) and the MREs I would "never eat" I would have frozen to death hungry ... lol
I keep many meals stored in little brass containers. They'll bring down the most delicious and freshest meat available. My stash includes many useful calibers, ranging from 22LR all the way up to and including 45-70. Some come in plastic containers as well. My stash is limited to only one gage of those plastic containers, though.
Woody
Woody
lol ... I see what you did there!
Query me this:
Where, praytell, do people plan to bug out TO? If the SHTF, the place to be which is the most defensible, is your home, be it a house or apartment. The correct concept for most people, seems to me, is the "BIR" (the "Bug-IN Room") in your house, not the "BOB". Unless you have a secondary home/ranch, the BOB is nonsense from the get-go - ain't it? What am I missing?
ok, cjjtulsa beat me to it - ditto.
Where, praytell, do people plan to bug out TO? If the SHTF, the place to be which is the most defensible, is your home, be it a house or apartment. The correct concept for most people, seems to me, is the "BIR" (the "Bug-IN Room") in your house, not the "BOB". Unless you have a secondary home/ranch, the BOB is nonsense from the get-go - ain't it? What am I missing?
ok, cjjtulsa beat me to it - ditto.
assuming the Gov isent locking down the city, thats a reason enough to leave. upon declaration of a national emergency all constitutional law is suspended.
theres other SHTF type scenarios like a house fire, earth quake (google New madrid fault) and of course tornados.¨
heres my bag
First Aid Bag Advil, lip balm, sunscreen, bug spray, hand sanitizer, triple antibiotic. Prescription meds, Band-Aids, Medical Tape, antiseptic wipes, 1 razor
¨ TOILETRIES
Wisp toothbrushes ,deodorant, toilet paper, camp soap, wet wipe's nail clippers, tweezers, Q tips,
¨ led flash lights (2 recommended) 10 12hour glow sticks
spare batteries
knives
50/50 para cord (2 25ft sections)
fire starting, at least 2 methods Lighters 2, Magnesium starter compass, Cash
¨ hand warmers, 6 sets USB drive with personal Info.
¨ iphone charger
¨ Kel Tec Folding Rifle
¨ My Vacuum sealed cloths. Underwear, jeans, socks, tee shirts Hat.
¨ Wife and daughters Vacuum sealed cloths
¨ Laminated or waterproof list of contacts and numbers
¨ MREs or hi calorie bars/non perishable FOOD
¨ Water filter cup
¨ Sterno can 1
¨ Map
¨ Flask W/ Whiskey
¨ 24s of aluminum foil for cooking
¨ 4 Glock .40 cal mags/ loaded
¨ beef jerky
¨ 6 Zip Ties
¨ 12v power inverter
¨ rain ponchos
¨ solar powered battery source
¨ Vaseline soaked cotton balls
¨ Plastic ware (sporks)
¨ Deck of Cards
¨ Two way radios
¨ Ipod
¨ headphones
theres other SHTF type scenarios like a house fire, earth quake (google New madrid fault) and of course tornados.¨
heres my bag
First Aid Bag Advil, lip balm, sunscreen, bug spray, hand sanitizer, triple antibiotic. Prescription meds, Band-Aids, Medical Tape, antiseptic wipes, 1 razor
¨ TOILETRIES
Wisp toothbrushes ,deodorant, toilet paper, camp soap, wet wipe's nail clippers, tweezers, Q tips,
¨ led flash lights (2 recommended) 10 12hour glow sticks
spare batteries
knives
50/50 para cord (2 25ft sections)
fire starting, at least 2 methods Lighters 2, Magnesium starter compass, Cash
¨ hand warmers, 6 sets USB drive with personal Info.
¨ iphone charger
¨ Kel Tec Folding Rifle
¨ My Vacuum sealed cloths. Underwear, jeans, socks, tee shirts Hat.
¨ Wife and daughters Vacuum sealed cloths
¨ Laminated or waterproof list of contacts and numbers
¨ MREs or hi calorie bars/non perishable FOOD
¨ Water filter cup
¨ Sterno can 1
¨ Map
¨ Flask W/ Whiskey
¨ 24s of aluminum foil for cooking
¨ 4 Glock .40 cal mags/ loaded
¨ beef jerky
¨ 6 Zip Ties
¨ 12v power inverter
¨ rain ponchos
¨ solar powered battery source
¨ Vaseline soaked cotton balls
¨ Plastic ware (sporks)
¨ Deck of Cards
¨ Two way radios
¨ Ipod
¨ headphones
My bag is only to get me back to the house if I happen to be "out and about" when I see a bunch of balloons go floating past ...
Oppppps ... that is not entirely true. We have three bags ... one in each vehicle. If something were to happen to make the house uninhabitable (like the neighbor's 50 year old oak tree falls on it or a tornado blows the roof off or the damn thing burns to the ground) we can grab all three bags and have a week's worth of clothing, copies of all our important papers and essentials all in one place.
Now if the zombies come, well ... that's a different story ...
Well I have 4,700 acres with only one other house within a mile of the properties borders, my lake house is on the property but I won't go there. I have spot picked out that is on top of a hill with a natural cave that is big enough for me to walk in and store supplies in (I have already placed a door on it, it is a large log), it is flat at the top of the hill and it has trees covering the borders of the flat land and extends out for about 80 yards in all directions except for one, the forest just continues here for miles. It has a 10 foot rock cliff on two sides of the hill with a natural 'staircase' leading down to the lakes surface, this can be easily hidden from the shore. I can see for about 6 hundred yards into land before another hill blocks my view, and I can see across the entire lake to the other side. My house on this property is at least a half mile from this location, the house can only be seen from the lake, and to get to the house from the lake you must pass in my line of sight. I have almost 400 heads of cattle on this land but they are in the middle of the property and can't be seen from either the road or the lake, they can provide milk and be food if the need arises. About 300 yard from my location (NE if directly in front of my hill was N) is a hidden alcove of the lake that is about 20 feet deep, great fishing there. About 200 yards in front of my hill (N) is a large pond with a stream that runs through it, that is stocked with catfish. 900 yards to the W is a completely inclosed pond stocked with Bass and ducks and geese land here very often. The forest has deer and many other creatures living in it. This all exists right now and I would have to do nothing but get there.... I will go there because I can control the area. I grew up on this land, I know this land and I have camped on this land during all 4 seasons and I know I can survive here. My BOB will help me get there if I must go there. I do not plan on going there unless I have to. I will stay at my home until I can no longer stay safe there, then and only then will I make my way to my secondary location on my property.
My BOB is mainly for when I have to leave my apartment for 3-7 days for what ever reason. be it fire, earthquake, flood, war, or anything else. But if I must leave and find a place to hold up for any length of time I will use this bag to make my way to that hill.
Now I do agree that if you have no place to go (unless you have a large wooded area around you) then best place to go is home.
