Preparing a Disaster Kit

A Post Script to my Vietnam memories note: Don't place your vote here, but email me at sgtalusmc@yahoo.com with a "yes" or "no!"

Hi,

You know I go to the Veterans Administration for a host of problems, most from the mine explosion I was in while in Vietnam. I see mental health practitioners on a regular basis along with my physician.

It has been recommended by them that I write my Vietnam experiences. It is supposed to help ease the stress I carry around. They say it can be for my personal use, or better, let people that I care about read this memoir. The help you can give me is help in deciding whether I should make it a public blog, or just keep it to myself. Some of these experiences were funny, some ridiculous, and some sad. Most of the time in a combat area is tediously dull, punctuated with moments of exhilarating terror.

I wish there would never be a war, anywhere! Maybe that will come through as I write my experiences. Maybe it will help other people that have loved ones in a war zone. Maybe it could influence one or more politician to keep us out of a war!

On the other hand, I might show too much of myself. Maybe I'll sound silly, or bragadocios. Maybe, after all this time no one will care. Although, one evening at Uncle Sam Siciliano's with the Pasquarosa's I was grilled by them about Vietnam. I have also been interviewed for the Vietnam project that is recorded in the Library of Congress. The last I checked it was not posted there yet, but it is a 20 minutes interview where we got to tell a few of our experiences. Obviously, one can't tell the whole story in 20 minutes. These events makes me think there is still some interest.
Anyway, please tell me what you think. I will attempt to reconstruct my eleven (11) months in Vietnam from memory regardless of how I record it. THANKS!

Hi,

You know I go to the Veterans Administration for a host of problems, most from the mine explosion I was in while in Vietnam. I see mental health practitioners on a regular basis along with my physician.

It has been recommended by them that I write my Vietnam experiences. It is supposed to help ease the stress I carry around. They say it can be for my personal use, or better, let people that I care about read this memoir. The help you can give me is help in deciding whether I should make it a public blog, or just keep it to myself. Some of these experiences were funny, some ridiculous, and some sad. Most of the time in a combat area is tediously dull, punctuated with moments of exhilarating terror.

I wish there would never be a war, anywhere! Maybe that will come through as I write my experiences. Maybe it will help other people that have loved ones in a war zone. Maybe it could influence one or more politician to keep us out of a war!

On the other hand, I might show too much of myself. Maybe I'll sound silly, or bragadocios. Maybe, after all this time no one will care. Although, one evening at Uncle Sam Siciliano's with the Pasquarosa's I was grilled by them about Vietnam. I have also been interviewed for the Vietnam project that is recorded in the Library of Congress. The last I checked it was not posted there yet, but it is a 20 minutes interview where we got to tell a few of our experiences. Obviously, one can't tell the whole story in 20 minutes. These events makes me think there is still some interest.
Anyway, please tell me what you think. I will attempt to reconstruct my eleven (11) months in Vietnam from memory regardless of how I record it. THANKS!

Sometimes I wet the bed and it smells like asparagus

I used to store (in AZ) water & food. I don't even have the big tanks/bins any more! When we would get snowed in in N.AZ I learned fast to never run out of TP! It also takes a good bit of snow to melt for water! I was also younger then/provided for 2 and 4 legged creatures. Yhere was a man in central AZ who literally taught survival classes for city slickers and gun was not on his list of items I just cannot find where I put that info or if it moved to NV w/me from AZ. quite a bit did not.AZ Republic newspaper had a few articles on him too. When he lived in a yurt not many people were and I know one class he taught too was utilizing road kill.The non edible sort. If we/usa ever have bad/big nuke event I will I think just go sit outside...otherwise need to be able to is under 5 mins grab&go I think I do not believe you would have time to methodically gather in 10 mins or so I think actual time frame would be much less. so survive initial thing fast - then become fully dressed/footed and scavange - like our ancestors hunters/gatherers -most likely knives/fishing stuff/snares/fire making things handier.Maybe if handy or can find an ax would be helpful. I know I could only carry about 2 cross body bags weight of my one purse.So my own limitations would limit what I could carry very far for sure! I do have wool socks/pants/sweaters as I know wool is warm even wet. If things happen when asleep tho whole diff scenario! I don't own PJ's or gown of non itchy wool to sleep in! Are such things even made??I have had both a heat stroke(AZ)& hypothermia(donnerspass area)neither good.Now I know tho! If I slept hard maybe I could just sleep thru a disaster&wake when things OK?

Can't the GOVERNMENT just do these things for us?????????????

Check out survivalblog.com it is the best info source on the net

Turn off the water supply comming into the house, turn off the water heater, and you have about 40 gallons of drinking water that can last for awhile. If it's an old water heater, the water will be a little salty, but it's still ok.

Another vote for firearms.

Guns... Lots of ammo, so you can keep the supplies you have stored. You can never be too safe...

Unless I'm planning on running for president after the disaster, why is the birth cert important?

I've only skimmed these comments, and may have missed it, but nowhere did I see anyone mention obtaining pure water through the use of a solar still. Every bug out kit should contain a folding shovel, heavy plastic sheeting (6 feet by 6 feet) plastic tubing (surgical grade, but that for an aquarium will do in a pinch) and a collection unit (cup or small can).

The general principal is to use condensation to provide about a quart of fresh, pure water per day, depending on conditions. There's only so much water one can carry, and purification tablets will eventually run out. The information at the link explains how to build a still.

http://www.ehow.com/how_12584_make-solar-still.html

Also, it wouldn't be a bad idea to watch shows such as "Dual Survival" and "Survivorman." In nearly every episode, these men show ways in which to collect and purify water, aside from giving sound advice and excellent survival tips. You'd be amazed at what my little family has learned.

its coming folks

FEMA should not be willing to give so freely their advice. Three days of food will not be enough because the plan is to starve us out as long as they can. Those who get desprete will be draged to concentration camps and dealt with there at least those caught out of their hiding places. Dont listen to Fema, they are liers planning our demise.

From the above, you'd be better off trying to pack a Walgreen's or a Cabella's into to your survival kit, and with the same success. All the above is very nice, but show a little practicality here. First, do you really need it? Was Curad around in 4000BC? And yet, somehow, human beings managed to survive without it. Food, yes; clothing, yes; water, absolutely, above and beyond anything else--lack of water will kill you more quickly than any other concern if you were healthy to start. But the rest is of variable necessity, and we can't take everything "just in case". I won't knock anything off the list, but think about what you choose. Do you know how to use it? Does it have multiple uses? Is it something you can fashion out of material that is easily found whereever you might be? (No need for skewers if any old stick will do!) Will you die without it? (Literally, not figuratively.) Can you transport it if you have to move? Please, don't weight yourself down with crap of questionable utility, when in a time of disaster it's far more life preserving to move quickly, be adaptable and think on your feet. In one story about Japan, I read where a 79-year old grandpa sucessfully got out of the house with his family during the earthquake--only to perish by drowning in the tsunami when he ran back in to find a photo of his grandkids. Wish lists and sentimentality are all well and good, but did he really need it to live? What will his grandkids say when they are old enough to understand? Wouldn't they have preferred to have him around as they grew up, instead of him losing his life over something that wasn't vital and he could possibly have come back for later? Pack a car emergency kit with as much as you can of what you need--they've been doing that in the Pacific Northwest for years, and pack the most esential of the items in it into backpacks and other readily hand-transportable containers for you and your family members. (Don't forget your pets!) Split up as much as you can between packages of items like petroleum jelly, aspirin, and flares--things not everyone needs all of the time but are useful to have. Include lists in each person's portions--preferrably waterproof or laminated paper, and check the lists frequently to make sure everything you've decided you need is there and ready. But always be prepared to lose things or have to abandon them in times of crisis, and make sure you and your family know what items they cannot absolutely live without, and what they can toss aside if the situation deteriorates and you have to run for your lives. Don't risk death for the sake of the SPF 30 cream.

So, you will also need an extra small house in which to store all of this stuff.

I have been working on getting prepared for an earthquake or other disaster, so far I have 5 each 7 gallon water jugs so 35 gallons of water, I have 3 each 5 gallon propane jugs plus a few of the regular 16 ounce camping propane tanks a new camp stove with an adapter to hook to the 5 gallon tanks, I bought a case of fire starter for my fireplace and I have lots of firewood, so if there is no power thus no running my furnace I can still keep warm my master bedroom also has a wood burning fireplace and it really warms up my room good. I have 3 each 5 gallon gas cans full of gas so 15 gallons of gas to run my generator or to put in my truck if I had to get out of town. I have a 12 pack of double roll toilet paper (as long as my wife doesn't find it and bring it in the house) I have a freezer full of deer meat and antelope plus a lot of sturgeon, I can keep frozen with the generator so lots of meat to bbq, I have some canned food but I am working on building that up even more, I am getting ready to plant a garden (as soon as all the rain stops) I have a lot more stuff I need to get but the point is at least I am getting started, I am a big time deer hunter and fisherman so I am quite comfortable at " roughing it " so obviously I am well armed and prepared to defend myself as well from looters but I also keep in mind that I want to have enough to share with my neighbors who may not be as well prepared. of course my bible and a well stocked heart full of Gods word yep that's me I am ready to " cling to my guns and my religion " for when all that hopey changy stuff runs out

All great advice, just like to add after having survived hurricane Fran in 1996 that left us without anything for almost 3 weeks...if you can afford a small generator and a few days supply of gasoline its a life saver, not just for yourself but for quite a few people. Our neighborhood was trapped in by 100's of trees fallen and we managed to keep everyone warm and dry and with food for the duration. You dont realize how much you depend on power until its gone.

Should an earthquake take place during the night and your home is not destroyed, it is a good habit to have a pair of hard soled shoes under your bed so you don't have to walk on broken glass from shattered windows. If your home is still able to be lived in, keep rolls of thick plastic that can be cut to cover your windows and taped in place with duct tape. One could also pre cut the sizes in advance and mark them. It could mean the difference of being able to stay in your home or not. A 72 hr. kit is essential. I have a folding luggage carrier with wheels next to my kit. It includes a small one burner camp stove and fuel canisters, among other things. I store my kit next to an outside door. Go through your 72 hr. kit once a year and rotate your food. Plan a menu for 3 days for the number of people in your house. Put water in 2 liter soda bottles. Change the water once a year as well as flash light batteries. Get a solar powered radio. This all takes time and money, but do a little each month until you get it done.

Before any disaster, you should take all of your VERY important documents and copy them to a cd or dvd. Label it and put it in your kit in case your home is destroyed...like many of my families were in hurricane Katrina. It took them the longest time to get copies of insurance polices, birth and death certificates, marriage license, etc. They took their kit with they, but forgot about these papers. It won't take much space and it save you a lot of grieve in the long run if something happens.