How long would you be able to comfortably survive if the stores and gas stations were all closed? You need to have enough food to live comfortably for AT LEAST one month (I will try to convince you that an even longer term supply is a good idea but we have to start somewhere).
Food and water are two main issues and we discuss them at length elsewhere on this site. But there are many other things we buy at stores. (Keep track of everything you vuy outside the house for a week or month if you aren’t convinced).
Gas supplies can be disrupted by weather far away as well as world events. And once a “Run” starts on gas, the lines get long quickly and the pumps run dry. If you need gas to evacuate you could be out of luck. It is a good habit to keep your vehicles fairly full of gas at all times in case of a sudden emergency. I try to keep my tanks at least 3/4 full unless I am travelling a very long distance in the same day in shich case I refill at 1/4 tank. Overnight I try to always have at least 3/4 full.
In addition, it is a smart idea to have a tank of gas stored outside at your home in 6 gallon gas cans (the red plastic kind). Gas can keep for about a year without adding stabilizers so just be sure to use your “spare gas” every 6 months or so and refill the containers. You chould have enough to fill the tanks of each of your vehicles one time.
In a major disaster you might be on your own for a long while. And there might not be any emergency services (police, fire, medical) available to you. You need to strive for self-sufficiency in this situation. And the only way to be able to do this is to plan ahead to have everything you need.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s amazing how people adapt and also how people pull together when disaster strikes.
What happens when you’re well-provisioned and your good neighbours aren’t, and disaster strikes…? Maybe I need 6 months supplies!!
martin-wright.com
From Change Management to Spontaneous Change
I never really thought about disasters until last year during the big Flood here in Fargo, ND. We had to think of all these things, granted we could prepare because we knew it was coming.
Robert Martin
http://www.carbuyinghq.com
This is, in my opinion, a very important and timely topic. There are frightening economic storm clouds moving in.
That is interesting. If you think about it having gas for your car is probably over looked when preparing for a survival situation
Jose Escalante
http://www.JoseEscalante.com
I’m with Jose, here, on this one, Rob. The OTHER topics of food, water, and having food that be eaten without having electricity or gas, I have and had thought of.
The 3/4 tank of gas at most times I simply had NOT thought of. EXCELLENT point. Something I will take of in the next 24 hours.
Indeed, I remember the gas station lines in the 1970s.
I wouldn’t be able to evacuate without that. We do have bicycles which enable us to go a bit further for basic life without utilities though….
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Single Baby Boomer Dating Success Expert
Rob,
Some good ideas. The extra gas is an area I need to work on.
Remember the movie The Road Warrior? Mad Max would be proud of you.
Lynn Lane
http://www.Warriorofsuccess.com
Store gas in Jerrycan’s made out of steel. Be very careful in their storage since there are a lot of bad things that can happen when you have a large amount of gasoline stored on your property. If you have an outbuilding that is a better place.
Don;t tell your neighbors about your provisions and, if times are tough do not let on about how well you are doing. People will act in unexpected ways and you are in danger of losing your stuff or worse. Remember. There are people who will kill you for $20. These people will have no problem taking your stuff when times are hard.
First order of business, get a gun. Ideally three, a shotgun, handgun and rifle.
Steve Chambers
Business to Business Sales Training Expert
I’m blogging today from my bunker… LOL Great Advice
http://www.salesjunkie.net
Hi Rob – I have to agree with the others about keeping my gas tank filled. I usually fill it up and when the light comes on I refill. In the winter it is a different story. I try to keep at least 1/2 tank at all times. I never know which snow bank might stop me here in the midwest. A good idea to keep in mind.
Vicki http://www.bridalthreadshq.com
I dunno Rob. You’ve got me thinkin’.
My mind would have never gone there on it’s own.
I believe your basic concept is true… that the veneer of civilization can be easily stripped away in catastrophic situations.
Mr. P
BusinessAndMarketingMakeover.com/blog
Thanks for the survival tips.
Here in Texas we are well prepared for the hurricane season.
Terry
http://www.terrytom.com
Wow. This is a good topic. It’s a bit unnerving to consider what things would be like if all of our comforts were for some reason unavailable. A question that comes to mind, though, is where should we store all of this stuff? In a garage, or a basement, or a crawl space (if the house doesn’t have a basement), or somewhere else?
Health, Fitness for Working People — Darryl Pace
I think you’re teaching me to be paranoid! lol just teasing – I’m already paranoid! I can’t imagine storing that much food and water. I have no attic, no garage, and not much of a basement. This is interesting.
Lisa McLellan
Babysitting Tips, Babysitting Services – Babysitters, Nannies, and Au-pairs
Get the root cellar dug. Ok, get your husband to dig. Go deep it gets cold in your hood.
Garden going??
You have really made me think. I am even worse than waiting for the light to come on to get gas now that we have that little digital gage that tells me how many miles I have left before I run out of gas…
Good advice and looking forward to more. I always picture those traffic jams you see in the movies where everyone tries to get out at the same time and therefore everyone is stuck together…and doomed. Perhpas we all need motorcycles?
Jen B
The Harwood Center – Tinnitus, Chronic Illness, Fears, and Anxiety
I have a store of basic food but it wouldn’t last us a month. You are right of course we need at least a month, preferably six. This could be done by rotating the supplies so we use the oldest first. The things I think our family would miss most would be rice and bread because we go through those fastest.
Keri Eagan
Anything Alternative
Despite the hassles of living in a city, the benefit is if anything is going to get turned back on, it will be in the city . . . well, in the highest tax area of the city. My community chose to make itself self sufficient almost 90 years ago. Dallas rejected us so we have our own waste water/fire/police/services. Not quite what you’re going for, but as close as I’m likely to get for a while. Thanks for the things to consider.
Pushing companies from good to great, Kate
I want to go camping…
Greg Dougall, Intellectual Property Pioneer
Generators. We all need generators.
Healthy Living, Katie
Camping is a great excuse to prep. Document a day and see how much water, electric and gas you use. Eyes will be opened, plans made, yet will you act?