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The Prepared “app” for your phone

Jay ValenciaContributor - September 24, 2021

My 12 year old daughter saw me browsing this forum on my phone and asked what I was doing. I explained it was a forum that I’m a member of and what we talk about here. She then asked if it was an app and I told her that they don’t have an application but I can access it from my phone’s web browser. This smart little girl then taught me how I can make it into a sort of app that I can access from my home screen. I’ve been playing around with it for the past two weeks and it has been extremely helpful.

Here’s some instructions on how to make this forum into something called a web app.

1. Open up https://theprepared.com/forum/ on your browser

2. Click on the side panel which is usually three dots

3. Select ‘Add to home screen’

4. You then name your new app something you want

Here’s what it looks like on an iPhone

I’ve made a folder on my home screen with a link to The Prepared’s main page, the forum, and the blog. It’s been rather handy to just click on this button and be taken directly to the forum or blog so that I don’t miss anything.

Let’s hear your prepper/survival stories!

Mike Hill - September 23, 2021

I want to hear your stories about when you have used your preps, when you have survived a situation, or just anything along those lines of Prepping Stories.

I personally haven’t survived any major disaster or had to heavily rely on my preps (that’s why I want to hear from you guys), but I do appreciate my Get Home Bag in my car. So many times I’ve needed a snack, a band-aid, some tylenol, or a piece of rope and I’ve been able to go in there and have it when I needed it. My friends at work knew they could come to me for anything, and 90% of the time, I did have it.

U.S. government debt ceiling / technical default

Seasons4 - September 23, 2021

Greetings, everyone. I’m curious to hear any thoughts on the risk of a U.S. government technical default if the debt ceiling isn’t raised. I’m not an expert in this field, and I’m using terms loosely. I realize that every year the same situation occurs. My thought is that the current political environment might make this year *not* business as usual. Are you making any changes in financial preparedness given your assessment of this risk? Thanks, and thanks to everyone involved in this website.

Morbid humor helps us cope

CR - September 22, 2021

So, it’s no coincidence that EMS and military personnel employ gallows humor as a coping mechanism. If it’s ok I think it would be cheering to share some lighter fare to counteract the bad news we prepare for? Here’s my contribution for today, hope others will share some!

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/27/61/c8/2761c8792913a58df247e4c789132c4b.jpg

Household items rationed

Bob - September 22, 2021

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/costco-warns-customers-over-toilet-paper-delivery-delays

Good morning,

Above link is a reminder to prep.

All last week, Aldi discount grocery had shortages of pizza.

All this stuff is not high tech nor subject to foreign supply sources.

Again: prepare now.

COVID-19 vaccine passport

Bob - September 21, 2021

https://apnews.com/article/business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-0ba36f8d413ed199697f2e8a17199988

Good morning,

It’s for domestic use also.

This “document” is the future. The reports say it’s already required for some restaurants.

From what I understand, it now requires a third shot/jab.

I seek the passport for actual travel overseas.

Do note this “passport” effectively defeats much of the terrorists efforts in re their plans to do harm to our society.

All this is in development. Recommend continue to think about this program. Wouldn’t be shocked if Walmart and other big box stores starts to require vaccine passports.

Some interesting Prepper Quotes

Bill Masen - September 21, 2021

Some quotes are just good common sense, some slightly extreme ( but not neccessarily wrong) All are food for thought.

Prepper Quote 1 Never become a refugee, or give up your liberty for a meal.

Prepper Quote 2 Never speak with the media.

Prepper Quote 3 Opsec and Persec above all else.

Prepper Quote 4 Two is one, one is none.

Prepper Quote 5 The Government is not your friend.

Prepper Quote 6 Civilisation is only 3 days of missed meals away from anarchy.

Prepper Quote 7 Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

Prepper Quote 8 Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.

Prepper Quote 9 Prepping is about PREparing for emergencies.

Prepper Quote 10 Remember when disaster strikes the time to prepare has passed.

Prepper Quote 11 Before entering / leaving a premise ,stop look and listen for threats.

Prepper Quote 12 Being self sufficient is the best form of insurance.

Prepper Quote 13 A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.

Prepper Quote 14 Prepper EDC gear is NOT optional, except for victims.

Prepper Quote 15 When possible always know of MULTIPLE ways out of a Mall / Office/ Building etc.

Prepper Quote 16 If TSHTF then main roads are to be avoided at all cost.

Prepper Quote 17 During a crisis ALWAYS continiously monitor multiple news sources.

Prepper Quote 18 Theres no harm in hoping for the best, so long as you prepared for the worst.

Prepper Quote 19 Your ESSENTIAL EDC gear goes on your person, never in a bag.

Prepper Quote 20 Prepping is simply taking insurance to the next level.

Prepper Quote 21 Better to be a warrior in a garden, than a gardener in a war!

Prepper Quote 22 It is easier to prepare and prevent, than to repair and repent .

Prepper Quote 23 Preparation through education is less costly than learning through tragedy

Prepper Quote 24 Expect the best but prepare for the worst.

Prepper Quote 25 Prep and Survive , Adapt and Thrive.

Is anyone else watching the Las Palmas volcano on Gran Canaria ?

Bill Masen - September 21, 2021

I have had this specific volcano on my watch list for over 20 years, since two documentaries reported on it ( Nat Geo and Discovery). Dr Simon Day and other vulcanoligists reported that because of flaws and cracks on the side of this steep volcano that if it erupted in a certain way, that because of the cracks and fissures it could trigger an enormous landslip on the volcanoes flank. And this landslip would likely create a tsunami of immense proportions..

If I remember rightly the local islands would be wiped out in minutes, the east coast of Africa within an hour, Spain and Portugals coast within a couple of hours. the southern UK and Western French coasts would be inundated in around 4 to 5 hours, and the east coast of the US within 7 to 9 hours.

The volcano last erupted about 1971 IIRC and has just started erupting again. its destroyed dozens of homes so far, but I’ve seen nothing about the fractures / cracks etc.

Have you checked your batteries in your device lately?

Bigwig - September 21, 2021

I have a shelf full of flashlights and lanterns, most stored with batteries. I don’t want to have to find and load some batteries during a power outage. As such, I periodically check the batteries in these and other battery-powered devices to see if there are any issues, especially ones that I don’t use very often. I did find one light with batteries that had obviously leaked and was corroded. I was able to clean it out and salvage the light.

Do you regularly check you batteries in your devices?

Advice

Reducing weight and bulk on prepackaged self-care, health and hygiene items in the BOB?

Jonnie PekelnyContributor - September 20, 2021

I am kind of in awe of hardcore preppers who can make a go of it with next to nothing in their BOB. I am on the opposite end, which is too bad, because I have foot problems and the weight of the pack exacerbates them. I realize that I need to start looking for a way to shave off ounces and inches from my BOB stash.

One problem for me is that I have a number of self-care items that I feel I need, even in an emergency. The latest example for me is foot cream. I use a very specific type of foot cream nightly on my heels. If I skip a few days my heels start cracking painfully. This makes walking hard. I don’t want that to happen in a bug out situation. But the cream is a b**** to pack. Even the three oz. variety is pretty bulky and not that light-feeling. So, I’m actually wondering how people pack creams and other similar self-care items? Do you take it out of its original bottle and put them in something else? It seems ridiculous to pack multiple tubes and bottles of stuff. I might as well take my medicine cabinet!

Europe facing double whammy over energy

Bill Masen - September 20, 2021

Gossip has it that this fire means there may not be enough power available in the south east if the weather turns bad, Apparently everything is at capacity in the power system now. Plus there is a natural gas shortage across the EU, both issues driving up energy prices very quickly.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58579829

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/expensive-winter-ahead-europes-power-prices-surge-2021-09-10/

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/13/europes-gas-shortage-could-make-the-whole-world-pay-more-to-get-warm-this-winter.html

If there ever was a good example to develop back up preps for our homes this is it. Far to many of our utilities are operating near capacity and are under prepared for trouble ( like the TX power stations last year.

Unexpected link between natural gas and food prices.

Bill Masen - September 20, 2021

Well here is something I did not know, C02 as a byproduct or fertiliser production is used in the humane slaughter of animals and extending the shelf life of food products.

Sooooo in the UK a surge in natural gas prices and shortages of supply has caused two masive fertiliser plants to simply stop production which means theres a shortage of C02

https://www.gbnews.uk/news/government-says-energy-security-is-absolute-priority-amid-gas-price-spike-and-drops-in-russian-supply/129335

AA batteries for HT ham radios (particularly Baofengs)

Jonnie PekelnyContributor - September 19, 2021

For those of you who use AA battery packs as backup power supplies for your HT radios, particularly Baofengs, what kinds of batteries do you use? Alkaline? Disposable lithium? Rechargeable? How long do they batteries tend to last when powering the radio? (I realize this is dependent on the usage, but some idea would be helpful.) How many sets of batteries do you carry for your radio?

Advice

Utilities shut off – Do you know what to do?

Bigwig - September 18, 2021

Recently I came across a video that demonstrated how to shut off the water at the street using a street key. It reminded me that I should have that capability. What about other utilities?

Water – We have city water which has the meter inside and two ball-type shut-off valves. Every six months, I take my family down to the basement and let them turn off/on the water to the house (they are not mechanically inclined). As far as the shutoff at the street, the city will be marking where the street shutoff is and I will be purchasing a street key to allow me to shut the water off at the curb if a disaster struck. I’ll probably also get a silcock key that I could use to get water at a business in an emergency. Gas – I know they make specific tools for gas shutoff, but what cheaper alternatives would you suggest? I suppose I could use an old crescent wrench, but interested in other ideas. Electricity – I have a 4-pole breaker to shut off the power to the house. From the outside, I suppose I could pull the meter head.

I also have labels for all of the shutoff valves throughout the house (mostly in the basement).

Do you know how to shut your utilities off? Do others in your household know?

AdviceSkills

How do I care for potted apple seedling during the upcoming winter?

Olly Wright - September 17, 2021

I have a 3-4 month old, 5-6 inch tall, apple seedling that I started growing from an apple I ate, and am worried on what to do with this little guy during the upcoming winter. I live in a 5b growing zone if that helps.

Here are the options I’m thinking about:

Should I plant it in the dirt outside and let it do it’s best to survive? Store it in a garage that isn’t as hot as inside my house, but not as cold as it would be outside. The garage doesn’t have any light however. But if it loses it’s leaves for the winter, it probably doesn’t need light. Bring it inside my house and keep near a sunny window. This may be too warm for it and not put it into a dormant state. Make a small DIY greenhouse around it outside and try and insulate the pot as much as possible with bubble wrap.

I’ve read that apple trees need to go into a dormant state during the winter, so I’m thinking it needs to be cold so it can lose it’s leaves, but not too cold that the roots freeze.

Do I still water it during the winter like I have been during the summer?

This is the first apple tree that I’ve taken cared of, and I don’t know much about how to make them happy. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated! Teach me how to raise this.

Then just for fun, here’s some pictures of it over the past few months.

Advice

Canadian ranchers range management during drought

Bill Masen - September 16, 2021

The Canadians are trying techniques to improve drought management in the prairie.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-58573877

Safely dealing with urban sewage during a disaster

GMTII - September 14, 2021

Hello. I’m new to the site and recently found an acute need to upgrade my preparedness. I moved to a flood prone urban area with an inadequate sewer/water system.

Flood waters are a combo of actual rain, raw sewage backed up from the sewer system, and the various chemicals and oils from flooded cars.

In a worst case scenario I would be walking through 12 in + of this stuff to get to safety. I also need a way to purify the municipal tap water for drinking. These events damage the water system and boil water warnings can last many days and are issued too late. I think it’s best to assume tap water is contaminated with whatever is in the flood waters as soon as the weather hits.

I have several days water in the recommended containers but that’s too heavy if we have to evac on foot.

What do you think on best PPE for wading through it? I currently have waterproof boots on order but will need something more substantial.

How about purifying the water if we have to leave home? I have a MSR Guardian Gravity purifier but it isn’t rated for chemicals. Maybe adding P&G Purifier of Water solution as an initial step?

At home I would also use a ZeroWater which has a good profile for removing various heavy metals/chemicals.

Thanks a lot. I look forward to being part of this helpful community.

How Japan is beginning to rediscover self reliance

Bill Masen - September 14, 2021

An Interesting short show on how Covid appears to have become the tipping point for many urban professionals who are now looking more into leaving the city and becoming self reliant in the Japanese countryside, the countryside in itself has beeen becoming ever more depopulated through urban migration since the end of WW2.

I see the beginning of similar changing perceptions occuring in Europe and America.

My, how times and attitudes have changed.

Bill Masen - September 14, 2021

Soooooo I just read this insightful article from the TP blog.

https://theprepared.com/blog/new-statistics-on-modern-prepper-demographics-from-fema-and-cornell-university/

And it got me thinking about how WESTERN values, judgements and opinions have changed since 1990.

Back then at the collapse of the Cold war and Soviet Union we holier than thou westerners looked down our collective noses at how the proletariat of the eastern block lived.

“Har Har Har look at those agricultural Lada cars, they have no fuel injection, no ICE or onboard computers, their suspension systems travel 8 inches to cope with the dreaful roads, isnt it funny watching them being repaired in a barn with a hammer and chisel.”

” My god look how these peasants live compared to us sophisticated westerners with our modern apartments, electronically managed homes, electrically heated homes, air con in everything with our 24/7s, Deli’s, Coffee bars etc on every corner. “

“Just look at the eastern Europeans with their log piles, wood burning stoves, vegetable gardens,fish ponds, smoke houses, pigs, goats, chickens and cattle. They are having to grow and preserve their own food, they are generating their own power, digging bore holes and wells and having to rely on wind pumps to bring the water up. Just look how primative they are with no doctors in the community, everyone has to have self reliance skills because they cannot rely on the state or the system.”

My how we laughed and mocked those easterners who were NOT reliant on just in time deliveries, supermarkets, cops on speed dial, home with only occasional mains utilities.

“Hah, we have perfectly manicured lawns instead of Veg gardens, We have Poodles, Pekinese and electrically heated and filtered pools whilst they keep chickens, rabbits and pigs. We have boundless supplies of fresh water from the Rockies to water the Napa valley and to keep the golf courses in vegas lush and green”. We tamed our wilderness and turned our forests into parks whilst those ignorant peasants woodlands are used to get firewood, make charcoal, still full of Deer, Wild Board, Turkeys, Grouse, Pheasant, Bears, etc. Heck they dont even have power distribution pylons and masts supplying power 24/7/365 they way we have, They have to be ready to weather frequent power cuts. they are so backward in places they have to make their own diesel and alcohol to power their primative cars.

They are so primative and backwards they have learned NEVER to rely on the State, Government or System to keep them fed, watered, illuminated, cool, warm, healthy, clean and mobile…

Is that a worm I see turning? 🙂

Ideas on carrying ID in your bug out bag

Jonnie PekelnyContributor - September 14, 2021

I pack and expired US passport in my BOB and also have my driver’s license in my wallet, which I carry in my pocket. I’ve been thinking though that ID is so important, I should add it to my flash drive, which I also carry in my BOB. On the other hand, I don’t want my identity to be stolen. What do you do for ID in your bug out prepping?

Flu season almost upon us

JennyWren - September 14, 2021

Well folks, it’s that time of year again. Got a letter from my doctor to book a flu vaccine. It’s free for me this time as I now am in the at risk age group (according to the govt) so I went online and have it booked for beginning of October. I was offered an earlier appointment, but wanted to give my body’s immune system chance to calm down after the ravages of Covid before I give it another dose of info to read. I’m also considering paying for the Pneumonia vaccine.

Anyone else had the call yet?

Video, Bugging out of coastal cities by boat.

Bill Masen - September 14, 2021

An interesting take on Urban prepping in which being able to safely flee a city in a disaster is portrayed as being ” Insurance” ( for the wealthy) rather than prepping. I suppose it does open up some options and alternatives for the community at large to consider, especially as so many users of TP are urban preppers? Second part looks at those converting old silos into redoubts, a tad OTT for me.

Small solar set up for short term emergencies

JennyWren - September 13, 2021

For some years I have had a couple of small solar powered set ups. One is a 12V system, the other 5V.

The 12V consists a 25W 12V solar panel, 20W 12VSealed Gel Battery A 200W inverter. It’s a basic set up that provides sufficient power to illuminate the shed where it resides and I can also use it to charge my laptop, travel kettle and a few other small items.

The 5V system is more portable and I use it when I go camping.

This consists 28W 5v folding solar panel, 2, 20,000mAh power banks an assortment of usb friendly leads to charge any number of usb items, including phone, tablet, I run lights and a fan off the power banks. The power banks are really handy for camping and one lasts me a week.

Neither were particularly expensive to buy and both have proven handy.

Thinking about the temperature sensitive medication, you could run a small electric cooler or one of those mini fridges from the 12V version.

Any question s, ask away and I’ll do my best to answer them. 🙂

Gear

Realities of living underground

Carter Murphy - September 13, 2021

A lot of preppers fantasize about underground shelters, whether as an emergency-only bunker or a daily home that is both safe and more eco friendly. But it seems that, like most things, fantasy is different from reality.

Found this interesting post where a family moved into their dream underground home, but turned out not to like it. Here’s their reasons why:

Scenarios

Dutch oven cooking

Barb LeeContributor - September 12, 2021

I’m not an expert with a Dutch oven (camp oven) but I’ve got a good command of the basics. I’ve recently revived my “hobby” of cooking in a Dutch as I prepare one-pot meal “kits” from dehydrated and canned foods. Last night I took it all to the outdoors, and what a success!

There doesn’t seem to be a lot of discussion on the use of a Dutch oven here on TP, at least a search didn’t reveal much. I can’t think of a better cooking option during a power outage (as long as you can source fuel – we stockpile charcoal, but would have a supply of hardwood as well). You can cook almost anything in a Dutch – roast, bake, simmer, fry on the upturned lid. And you can use it in almost any weather, as long as you can keep it dry and sheltered from wind.

The fuel required depends on the size oven one is cooking in, and how long a cooking time. Last night I used a 10″ oven to cook a four-serving casserole, the fuel consumption was 20 briquettes, and with the “kit” (1 pint jar hamburger, and packets of dehydrated veggies, spices and topping), the cooking length was two refreshing beverages. Meal preparation time was almost nil, which doesn’t include the time spent in the separate operations of preserving and assembling the ingredients.

My long term goal is to hone my baking skills, maybe try stacking the ovens (did that only once) and continuing to find and “kit up” meals that are quick to prepare and require minimal fuel. (And taste great!!)

So, any other Dutch oven aficionados out there? Is there a place in your preps for this remarkable tool?

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