Sorry for the black pill… but there’s really no other way to address this issue. we NEED to be prepared for the worst case scenario even though we may not ever get there. And those who have not yet prepared, let’s help them out.
Here’s why one needs to be prepared for the worst…
US gas prices projected to hit over $300 a barrel https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russia-warns-west-300-per-barrel-oil-cuts-eu-gas-supply-2022-03-07/
Hungary cut off world wide wheat supply https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSL5N2VA3WO
Wheat price is SOARING! https://www.ft.com/content/e6a28dd9-ecea-4d67-b6b5-a50301b731b2
Broken supply chain in the US https://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/written-materials/2021/06/17/why-the-pandemic-has-disrupted-supply-chains/
Empty grocery store shelves https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2022/02/03/empty-shelves-this-is-what-kprc-2-viewers-said-theyve-missed-the-most-at-stores/?outputType=amp
Prices going up https://www.forbes.com/sites/shelleykohan/2021/12/10/costco-prices-up-over-45-yet-demand-remains-strong/amp/
Stock markets going absolutely fucking wild (and these clowns trying to justify it 😂😂) https://www.barrons.com/amp/articles/things-to-know-today-51621599477
Huge housing disruptions https://www.forbes.com/advisor/mortgages/homes-for-sale-hit-record-low/
Expect more power outages more frequently https://www.texastribune.org/2021/04/15/texas-ercot-blackouts-summer-climate/amp/
Near Impossible to buy a car due to chip shortage AND inflation https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/inflation-new-used-car-prices-2022/
Money printers go brrrrrrrrr https://www.seattletimes.com/business/as-the-federal-reserves-money-printer-quiets-markets-shake/?amp=1
The rich just getting richer https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/billionaire-wealth-covid-pandemic-12-trillion-jeff-bezos-wealth-tax/
Precious Metals hitting highs. Gold over $2k https://www.kitco.com/market/
Our dollar is trash https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/investors-bet-on-more-dollar-weakness-11606386601
And I can go ON AND ON AND ON AND ON!!!
I think it’s time we help each other with preparing for potentially the worst. I believe we will jump into a severe depression, so our commodities may actually end up being tradable goods and benefit us.
Please contribute information for our fellow community members who may not understand much about prepping. I will comment below as well.
Don’t stock water, stock water purification
But could it not be finite or become contaminated??
I guess it depends where you live. I just see a lot of peepers being hung up on storing water in Massive amounts and it takes up a lot of room, most aren’t storing enough to last more than a month tops, and good luck taking it with you in an emergency at 8 lbs a gallon. Obviously store some water, but having good filters, that you can take with you is key. My good hiking filter can do 10k gallons and is the size of a water bottle. Water can also go bad if you don’t rotate it or treat it for storage.
https://www.berkeywaterfilter.com/
I've had a berkey for a long time. Highly recommend. Gravity filtration so it takes time yes....
Yup I use my berkey filter for my brewing water. It’s fantastic.
They are bad ass. Nice. My brother has one, but since I am on a good well and have holding tanks, I never got one. This being said, I just asked for one for my birthday just in case. Lol.
Hopefully you have spare filters for yours. Also, if you have to filter turbid water, you should pre-filter through a sand (or DE) filter, then run through the Berkey. It will make the filters last a lot longer.
I love our Berkeys, the filters ... yea they are 😳 $$
How long do the filters last? I see a bunch out of stock, any recommendations?
Can you share what kind of water filter bottle you have please? And what other type of water purification is good? Can I go to a store to get or do I need to purchase online?
Sorry I'm new to prepping and it gets a little overwhelming. We've stocked up some on can foods, rice, pasta, flour, sugar, some water & paper products. And each time we run into the store we grab a little extra over the counter meds. Have walkie talkies, small radio, matches, lighters, fire starter, ponchos, emergency blankets, flashlights, and first aid kit (which has the basics). I'm sure I'm forgetting some things.
You are in the right track. Don’t forget lots of Bleach (unscented), it can be used for water purification, decontamination, sterilization, ..... it’s the duct tape of chemicals. And cooking oil goes fast. Gotta have oil. For the water filters, just search Katadyn and check out the options. There are other great brands too, but this is what I use. Cheaper ones for in car (or a lifestraw) and a more expensive ceramic one for hiking and shtf. The ceramic filter is cleanable so it will last forever if you take care of it. You get what you pay for, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
I use a Berkey water filter.
If you have children, I recommend something comforting for them. I keep a bag of dumdum lollipops in the basement because if we have a weather emergency, that's where we go to wait it out. Maybe a bag of those little round peppermints? Peppermint is supposed to be a good stomach soother as well (but also a choking hazard for little ones, so maybe peppermint sticks or lifesavers).
Go to the dollar tree if you have one and make a medical kit. They have everything from asprin to ace bandages and you can get all the necessities
You'll need a minimum of 1 gal/day pp. I recommend a Big Berkey with spare filters. Very simple to operate. Also the Mini-Sawyer filters are good if you are on the move. Heck, even a LifeStraw has its place. There is no one solution. Also, read up on using bleach to purify water. I've done it and it works well. I stored 8 X 55 gal drums of water for 10 years and it was fine.
Great point! I’ll need to acquire one
I bought an extra 1.5 L bag filtration system for hiking. In winter I can melt snow, in summer I can use the stream. I have two now so three liters drinking water available every day. Twice a day if I filter into other storage containers. They roll up and pack super small so one in in the go bag at all times.
What filters are u buying ? Thank you so much
Berkey water filters. All you need is a mud puddle and you have drinking water with these things. There are filter straws you can drink straight from a puddle or a creek. After a water filter, do food. Canned is easy and cheap and easy to rotate our. Freeze dried and dehydrated is great, but it's expensive. Pasta, rice, sauce, gravies, canned chicken, tuna and spam are basic proteins that go a long way. Mylar everything and it will last for years. Even cannes food. Myasthenia can of spam was 6 years past the expiration date, and it was fine.
Rain water purification made easy
Buy a big ass agri tank
Paint it black (so light cannot penetrate, thus algae can grow)
Build proper stand/structure to elevate tank
Buy or make charcoal filters
Utilize PVC to add piping, or install a bottom spout (taster' s choice).
Unscrew top, toss in chlorine tablet.
Boom, start collecting rain water to use for everything.
Adjust formula and methods to suit individual needs.
Go to the prepper sites. They have quantities of bleach to water ratio. Bleach will be needed in many instances. Remember if power goes down, so will sewerage pumping. Go out now and get a port a potti or look around where you will dispose of it. Cholera is real and deadly. There are two very important thing. Clean teeth TWICE a day. Clean hands especially after going to bathroom, before meals etc. Especially monitor children and make it clear to teens just how important it is to do this.
Ordinary bleach. No additives, no scents...just chlorine bleach.
Look up a table right now to figure out how much per gallon based on what percentage bleach you have and how long to let it sit.
It’s nice to buy bottle that dispenses in drops, and write the common conversions on side of it. Even a visine sized bottle can hold enough bleach to purify a sizable amount of water.
Also, when you get/find important information like this, print it out and keep it with the supplies it pertains to. We might be without power or internet access, so having hard copies of important stuff will be vital.
Or realize how much water a persons actually uses, even if trying to conserve. It goes real fast.
If you can run your house on solar, with battery B/U and/or with a generator, would your work only issue come in if you had to leave it? We are stocked for a year. Almost there for the animals. Have non drinkable water stocked for toilets and such. But your right, water dies become your issue. Also prescription meds, if there is a restriction on them.
Both. A water supply will get you through until you have a source of water that can be purified. If the water is tainted with chemicals, most likely, the filter isn't going to get it out. Learn how to pre-filter turbid water. Learn how to use bleach to purify water. Learn how to build a still.
Very true. Pre filtering your water will increase the lifespan of your filters.
I’m going to make the assumption that a still is usable for more than alcohol. Can you please elaborate?
Steam vaporization aka still, is the only way to get completely pure water. It’s not recommended using alcohol still for water.
Ok- water still is different. Thanks!
Great point. Thank you.