Please give web links or book titles for SHTF or WROL preparation.
We live in an affluent neighborhood 20-30 miles N-NE of downtown Dallas. Our daughters are living in campus housing in Austin (200 miles away) and Stanford (1,700 miles away).
For a middle-age couple and 2 daughters in college, what would be the minimum amount of canned/dry food, clean water, gasoline, medical supplies? How long should we plan for before help arrives (from the government?? -- They didn't do much during Katrina)
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We have NO hunting skills or "wilderness survival" skills. The closest we get to hunting for food is deciding whether it's Outback or Red Lobster for dinner :-(
If we were starting from scratch, with exactly a 12-month time-frame, what stockpile would we need? How many handguns or rifles and what calibers would we need (assuming SHTF or WROL happened during school breaks).
If SHTF happens while school is in session, how does the kid from California get to us? We assume it will be a game-time decision whether we drive to Austin (and back) or the kid goes to us.
Note: We already have a 9mm Beretta 92FS and Taurus 1911 45 ACP (and about 1k rounds for each). And I reload both calibers for practice.
Thanks!!
Best answer:
Answer by Boooorrrriiing!
Go and take some hunting classes while you can. There is plenty in Texas. Really it isn't that hard. Just take time out of your busy life style. Plenty of guides on how-to's.
Also if you don't have any .22 rifles. Get a few. Those would be handier than those pistols. The pistols are only ok for close encounters which you don't want to be having anyway. You can use the .22's for hunting small game.
What do you think? Answer below!
I am not sure that you could count on the government. It depends upon how much S you expect to HTF. She might end up walking from CA. It might possible that two of you could not defend your house. I would have a lot of .22 lr and at least a rifle and handgun that will shoot it, if you have to go mobile. I doubt if you and your wife could pack several thousands of rounds each for 9mm, .45 ACP, and .223.
ReplyDeleteFirst get food and supplies for 6 months and a back up generator for freezers etc.
ReplyDeleteA well or water jugs is excellent. Use freeze dried food like mountain home etc. that last upto 25yrs shelf life unlike MRE's that are good for 3years.
get leds that have long battery lifes
have a safe room in your house reinforced.with phone to neighbors to hold out against superior odds. and emergency radio etc. Knives, first aid kit, TP, Paper plates, forks spoons camping gear.web gear holsters etc; bullet proof vest.
Get calibers that are universal that the military uses,
get a good standard ar-15 223 and plenty of 223 ammo and federal match small rifle primers about 5,000 and about 1,000 rounds or more of 223 55gr fmj ammo like american eagle or winchester usa and about 12, 50cal ammo cans.and at least 10 30 round magpul magazines.and or beta mags
The AR rifle you get should have a flat top free float tube like a Yankee hill machine upper and a Rock River lower or Dpms . Get a good red dot sight and at least a 4 power scope such as aimpoint and vortex scopes, etc.
next get a good 12 gage shotgun like a remmington tactical 870 pump and a couple cases of double oo buck. or number 1 buck. Also get some slugs.
Get a 9 mm 124 grain fmj rounds american eagle and at least 10 mecgar mags they are the best high capacity mags made.
Optional get yourself a Fulton armory Titan 308 rifle flat top m 110 or dpms like an ar and some ammo in a 16 to 20 inch heavy barrel, not bull barrel for penetrating large targets 150 fmj american eagle rounds or 168 long range tipped match type ammo in 18 or more length barrels
Store these rounds and mags in the ammo cans up off the floor in a dry area on 2x4's
Get a Fort Knox or other good safe for your belonging and get some silver and gold coins and cash not in a bank for about 6 months. Ammo use 9mm, 223, 308 and 12 ga Thats what the military uses so should you and teach everyone to use the weapons. Keep so many mags loaded ready to go and in ammo cans. Springs will not wear out when loaded that is a myth. Load one bullet less than mag capacities.
Nice new weapons rock rive pds rifle and compact optional pds pistol. or standard flattop ar .
Do not get odd piston rifles because parts may be hard to find and get some good cleaning supplies like
Ballistol universal cleaning and oiling shooters choice or Hoppes. Get rifle cases for your weapons or two in one case. Have some storage cans and a moblie can or two if you have to take alittle of every thing with you fast. Dont waste your time on 22s they are pretty ineffective. you can get some 9mm rifles also.
If you have a ruger 10/22 and some high capacity mags its OK. as a backpack rifle to make someone mad or for the kids to shoot.
There are tons to this question. So I will add some web sites to answer much of what you want to know. I have prepared for shtf for over 40 years. I now live in Alaska where we have our own gardens, small livestock and all the things we need to live independently for as long as we would like. What’s expensive is the supplies, gear and firearms, that I accumulated over the decades. When you stock up on food supplies rotate it. I mean use it in part of your everyday meals and keep restocking new. This way you keep fresh goods. And when you do store things like flour, rice and other dried food in food grade 55 gallons drums make darn sure to test how dry it is and that there isn’t any insects in it. Its sad when you open a big drum of flour and thousands of tiny bugs can be seen on the surface. We put up hundreds of pounds of salmon, halibut, shrimp, crab, moose meat and deer meat each year. Some is frozen, dried, smoked or caned in mason jars. You can learn these skills but you must have the equipment such as a pressure cooker, smoke house, knives, butcher paper, plastic wrap etc etc. I bleach all working surfaces and instruments or grinders. So keep lots of bleach on hand it has many more uses.
ReplyDeleteAnd when you buy gear by quality, a cheap electric generator won’t last long. Learn how to store gas with a stabilizer additive so it won’t go bad. Learn how to make your own fuel like methane gas and alcohol.
>All your gear has to be mobile< This is very important. You need either a pickup truck, buss, car pulling trailer or some sort of transportation to haul all you tools, food and gear the hell out of Dodge! You may never need to. But if you must evacuate the area, you have to have the means. And you have to get out of there before they set up road blocks or rioting in the street starts. Have a remote area designated as a safety meeting spot. When the time comes tell your loved ones to get their @ss there now. Find an area far away from any major population area where water and game are plentiful. You have to consider that in many upscale neighborhoods looters will be on that as soon as they can. That would be a very dangerous place to be. If you lived off in the country that would be a different matter. Remember; more people per mile = more S hitting the fan. People who decide to stay in their home in a populated area are risking the lives of their family needlessly. Homes can be replaced lives cant.
Long term survival;
http://www.tacticalintelligence.net/blog/shtf-survival-qa-a-first-hand-account.htm
Here is a pdf from FEMA about stocking up for a disaster;
http://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/f&web.pdf
If it gets real bad and you loose all your supplies and shelter the following survival information can save your life. Survival topics;
http://www.survivaltopics.com/
Edit; I love this subject and would be glad to answer questions you may have, feel free to email me
There are some important preparations to be made besides laying in your arms and food supplies.
ReplyDeleteGet as up-to-date as you can with vaccinations. If you haven't already done so, get your tonsils and appendix removed. These can be as fatal as a bullet if things go as badly as people expect.
Learn some mechanical repair skills. You never know what's going to break. Carpentry, electrical, and plumbing repair could be especially valuable.
Your daughters may be on their own, because bad things don't always wait for school breaks. Advise them to pick their friends carefully to optimize their chances of surviving whateveer may happen.
How long should we plan for before help arrives (from the government??
ReplyDeleteThat question really caught my eye...... The last thing you want is "help from the govt"...... When a government agency says there here to help - It usually a way to help screw you over some how.... I learned this from just being in business for 30 years......
Look here to understand......
http://www.frfrogspad.com/disastr.htm
Guns?... How many?.... Don't go nuts on this.... Remember - if you have to move an arsenal of firearms will not be easy to move to.......
Look here for more clarity on the subject of guns and other stuff........
http://www.rapidtrends.com/surving-argentinas-economic-collapse-part-1-3/
The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks is a good SHTF book. I am not sure of exact titles, but there are millions of books out there that are designed for wilderness survival.
ReplyDeleteAs to a stockpile you will needs tons of food, water, and other life necessary supplies. Personally I would stockpile on canned goods, peanut butter, and honey. Why? Canned goods stay good for a long long time, plus you can eat them straight from the can. The other two? I've done some research and both last a very long time (honey possibly indefinitely) plus peanut butter contains lots of good things and it doesn't take much to fill you up.
As to weapons I would get each of your party a primary firearm, a melee weapon, and a sidearm. As to specifics, I would go with .223 Remington (5.62x45mm NATO) it's light on both weight and recoil, yet still packs a killer punch. However one of you should carry a shotgun and perhaps get one scoped .223 rifle. As to handguns get two more either in 9mm or .45 ACP then you could share ammunition between the two 9mm and two .45s. For melee weapons perhaps a knife, machete, or crowbar. The last one can also be used to pry open doors or other objects if you ever have to.
As to ammunition about 500 rounds per rifle and 250 per handgun.
You'll have to read more up on it for some other details.
If your kids are in school then I doubt that they'll be getting back to you. If it's some sort of world-wide thing like you see in apocalypse movies or some total governmental collapse, everyone will be running and the streets and airports will be clogged. What to do in this case?
Get another smaller house or apartment in both Austin and in CA, stock each of these with supplies and have your kids go here when the shat hits the fan.
I could say more, but I'm out of time.
Well i dont know much about shtf but you may wanna get a rifle even if its a cheap one such as a mosin nagant or an sks
ReplyDeleteFirst off no one here knows your budget. You can spend $ 300 or $ 30,000. Every cent should be spent wisely. The more you can save the more you can buy. You can buy wheat at Walmart for around $ 13 for a twenty-five pound bag or you can buy a fifty pound sack at your local MFA for around $ 8.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to food storage, don't buy things your family won't even eat. My wife picked up several cans of homey that was on sale. Neither of us will even eat the stuff. It was money wasted and we donated them to the local food bank.
If you decide to buy one of those food kits off a site like eBay or Amazon realize that they base the amount of food on the serving size. Almost no one eats the serving size. Look at the side of a box of cereal. It will say serving size 1 cup. One cup of cereal isn't much at all. A 2000 calorie a day diet is a starvation diet if you are worried or working your butt off. Just something to keep in mind.
Don't go nuts with the firearms. At one time I had more than 30 in my house. I slowly came to realize that I had more money stuck in guns than my car cost me. A couple of handguns and a couple of small caliber rifles is fine. Toss in a shotgun and you have more than you can possibly shoot at one time anyway.
Since you aren't hunters don't even bother learning. If it comes right down to it in a SHTF situation everyone and their brother will be trying to take game and the animal population will dwindle pretty darn fast anyway. I can't tell you how many people I've seen post saying they will head for the woods and live off the land. Far more than the 'land' can possibly support on a daily basis.
I suggest you visit Youtube and search for some videos. Just type in words like prepper and food storage. If any of them are trying to sell you something take it with a grain of salt.
I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.