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What documents to carry in your go bags?

Jonnie PekelnyContributor - September 30, 2020

I’m wondering what documents folks are putting in their BOB and Get Home bags. Here are my thoughts of what I’ve seen so far. Starting from a list I found in the BOB section of this website, with my comments:

A list of important people and their contact/location information — check

Birth certificate — my birth certificate is in Russian, so I doubt it would be useful

SSN card — really? We should carry our original SSN card? What if it gets lost?

Passport — I carry an expired one, so my current one is available for other things. Is that okay?

State ID — check: it’s always in my wallet.

List of financial accounts and credit card numbers — don’t forget the expiration and CVV codes as well as the phone numbers for your providers — Really? Is it a good idea to carry all your account numbers with you? What if someone sees them or steals them?

Titles/deeds — what kinds of titles or deeds?

Anything proving parental relationships, especially if adopted or different last names — not really applicable to me.

Pictures of important people, both for morale and to give to others for recovery/reconnection — are we talking about people we live with, or important people in general?

Health, homeowners, auto, life, and other major insurance policy numbers and phone numbers — check

Important medical history, medication (with dosage), and allergies
Living will or Do Not Resuscitate instructions — check

…..

Are there other kinds of information? What about pet-related info?

Broadcastify – listen to police and emergency scanners

matthew.Contributor - September 29, 2020

A seperate thread about emergency notifications reminded me how useful Broadcastify.com can be. For those unfamiliar, it’s a website that streams police and emergency scanners. It doesn’t always work great, but I often tune in when I hear sirens in my neighborhood. I doubt it’s as good or reliable as an actual police scanner, but it’s free and can be accessed with a smartphone. It’s an information source that is worth bookmarking…

https://www.broadcastify.com/

How will you get notified?

doommunky - September 29, 2020

How will you get notified when something happens in your area? How will you stay tuned to updates?

I’m currently signed up for my county alert system, so I hope I’ll get a text if something is going down, but I’m not sure I will hear it if I’m asleep.

I’m also realizing a neighborhood or street text group may be super helpful.

Based on the helpful social media thread recently I’m collecting a list of social media accounts in a notes doc on my phone I can check if something is going down.

How will you a) hear about local emergencies and b) stay tuned to updates?

NewsScenarios

Firearms storage for BOBs

kismet - September 27, 2020

I’m curious how people are balancing safety vs quick access for firearms intended for a BOB (in The Prepared’s layout, this would be a level 2 bag item). We’ve decided to go with compact handguns for our L2 bags, though I suspect the answers would mostly be similar if people are using a compact long gun or large format pistol like a PC Charger or AR-7 or 10/22 Takedown.

A non-exhaustive list of variables to consider:

Gun location: In the safe? Dedicated quick access box (e.g. GunVault) near the bag? In the bag? Somewhere else? Presumably always holstered, whether loaded or not. Status: Loaded? Unloaded? Loaded but with an empty chamber? Magazines: In the bag? If not in the bag, located where the gun is? Loaded? Unloaded w/ a box of ammo? Ammo in a vacuum bag with a dessicant?

Some concerns:

Time taken to head out the door Risk of theft Risk of unsafe access by the untrained Maintenance burden (e.g. cycling out ammo, magazines, etc)

While we don’t have children and the corresponding safety concerns to contend with, others surely will, so it’d be interesting to hear suggestions for both scenarios.

AdviceGear

Ready for Our First Bug Out

Barb LeeContributor - September 24, 2020

We’re in the middle of hard-hit Clackamas County in Oregon, which is entirely under wildfire evacuation alert. We’re in a Level 1 area but Levels 2 and 3 are closing in rapidly! We’ve lived in this area 47 years and never has there been such a threat in that time! So, uh, no, we didn’t truly have a plan.

But we’ve had enough warning to gather up all our cool camping gear and all the necessaries for ourselves, two horses, a dog and a neurotic cat. We’ll head to a friend’s farm. Making mental notes of what we coulda-shoulda-woulda and what we’ve done that’s repeatable. Regardless of the outcome, the truck and horse trailer will stay packed as is until the crisis is over. Fortunately, the old truck is so rarely used anyway, we have to keep it on a trickle charger!

Anyway, all the good stuff I’ve learned here and elsewhere is spinning around in my brain and this is a great shakedown, if it had to take place at all. Some folks have been awakened in the middle of the night and told to leave NOW!

Seatbelt customized for pregnant women

Liz Klein - September 24, 2020

Found this on Reddit and thought it was a great example of a piece of equipment being modified to suit different body types.

Is this something new or have these been around for a while and I happened to miss it?

Gear

A water-filled dam you can deploy yourself to stop flooding

Conrad B - September 23, 2020

I’ve seen images like this in a lot of prepper groups:

And it got me looking around for products that might do something similar. I’d seen an inflatable version before, but I found this American-made water-filled alternative called the Aqua Dam and wanted to share. Thought it was pretty smart and potentially effective at minimizing the impact of flooding.

I’ve got nothing to go on beyond the video though. What do you think?

Gear

New Fictional Book – “Total Power”

Steve_Holden - September 22, 2020

I’ve been a fan of the Vince Flynn series with Mitch Rapp. Vince pasted away in 2013 but the series continues under the impressive Kyle Mills. The newest novel is about a total power grid take down. (https://www.vinceflynn.com/mitch-rapp-19) … I thought folks of this site might find it interesting given the gravity of the U.S.A. power grid being offline for more than 1 year. It has started to get my wheels turning.

Best safety Goggles for Covid?

LG - September 22, 2020

I’m a teacher and my district is about to move from virtual to in-person learning. My school was renovated several years ago and the new windows don’t open (though I’m glad to have windows). I’ll be wearing a mask but I’m wondering if anyone has advice on wearing goggles/safety glasses as additional protection.

I own Pyramex I-Force safety goggles that I use when out in the yard mowing etc but I’d like some that are, if not more feminine, at least less “goggly.” Then again, I’d rather wear goggles than get Covid.

Are safety glasses with side shields worth it if there isn’t an actual seal around your eyes? If so, what type safety glasses would you recommend?

AdviceGear

Preparation resources for Asian Americans?

mopdx - September 21, 2020

Has anyone in this wonderful community come across and recommend any preparation resources that address preparation challenges for Asian Americans (and other People of Color)?

Being based in Portland (Oregon) in midst of the wildfire smoke crisis–and reading confirmed reports of armed vigilantes setting up illegal checkpoints in nearby rural towns–has made me acutely realize that being a person of color can be dangerous when traveling through the countryside during emergency evacuations. I’m beginning to realize that my evacuation strategies may have unique challenges, and that I’ll need to adjust accordingly.

I haven’t been able to find much on the topic–searching for “Asian preppers” returned links to articles about working in an Asian restaurant kitchen, or SAT preparation strategies, but nothing related to emergency preparedness.

By the way, I do appreciate The Prepared’s site and forums for being very inclusive and welcoming. And the site contents have motivated me to start assembling a BOB.

Advice

More than one cell phone?

Seasons4 - September 20, 2020

I recently replaced a cell phone without ending service yet on the clunky predecessor. Then I wondered if maybe I should have two working cell phones (different phone numbers) in case I lose one or in case the cell phone service providers’ equipment is on different towers. If one tower (or equipment) failed, there would be a back up. (I also have basic radios as a back up.) If money were not a limitation, would you have more than one working cell phone? Thanks!

Advice

Testing HF Ham Radio Propagation with WSPR

Josh CentersContributor - September 20, 2020

When you first set up an HF transceiver, your biggest concern is if anyone can hear you. There is a neat digital mode called WSPR, created by Joe Taylor, who holds a Nobel Prize in physics. To use this, you need a way to connect your radio to a computer so you can use the WSJT-X client, which can do several digital modes including WSPR.

Once you’ve set it up, it pretty much runs on its own. WSPR sends out a small digital signal. Other WSPR clients can receive that signal and report it on the Internet.

Now here’s what’s cool: you can visit an online map like the one at WSPRnet and see WSPR signal propagation around the world. Each station is pinned with its callsign, so you can see just how far your signal reaches. I learned that my little 20-watt Xiegu G90 can reach all the way to Antarctica and New Zealand from my home in Middle Tennessee.

You can filter the map by the band, time sent, and callsign, so you can test out different things and compare.

Made in the US vacuum sealer?

Adam J - September 20, 2020

We are looking for a vaccum sealer, but are dead set on not buying from China. This is challenging right now, but we will not compromise. Can anyone point us toward a vacuum sealer that will likely see moderate use that is Made in the US?

iFixit makes world’s largest medical repair database for free

Bradical - September 20, 2020

I’m not super familiar with iFixit but thought this was cool. They organized 200 volunteers and gathered 13,000 different repair manuals for equipment that hospitals use, then made it available for free online:

https://www.ifixit.com/News/41440/introducing-the-worlds-largest-medical-repair-database-free-for-everyone

Although these aren’t the most important documents you’d want to have saved for a knowledge library, if you’ve already got the basics covered this could be interesting to add to your collection. Super unlikely, but how cool would it be to be able to fix a ventilator or something in a SHTF environment!

News

12 volt charging from Jackery 240 or other ones

Rudy - September 19, 2020

Hello.

Have a new dc/dc 20 amp battery charger. Would like to connect it to my starter motor battery at the input of the charger then have the output go to a cigarette lighter socket, which will charge a jackery 240 portable power station. Will also use a 12 volt wire at D+ to sense ign on.

Is this a feasible use of this Renogy 20 amp charger?

Thank you , Rudy

Advice

Which microorganisms does hand sanitizer work on?

Jay ValenciaContributor - September 18, 2020

I’ve gotten so used to using sanitizer at this point that I was kinda surprised to learn that it’s effective on a bunch of stuff.

The image below is from Popular Science and lists very clearly which bugs hand sanitizer kills and which it doesn’t. Thought it was kinda cool.

Sleeping bag

MarcusAurelius - September 18, 2020

Hi all,

I looked for a review on this topic and didn’t see it. Does anyone have any suggestions for a compact and lightweight sleeping bag (emphasis on the former)? I’d like it to be rated to 15 or 20 degrees Fahrenheit. 45 degrees wouldn’t be warm enough, but I understand that there’s going to be a tradeoff for a compact bag

Thanks in advance.

Gear

Possible food/supply shortages…

chicksnhens - September 17, 2020

What types of food/supply shortages/interruptions are you seeing in your area?

I live in New England. We had a few good weeks where everything seemed close to normal around here in terms of supplies and food availability at the stores. Delivery and curbside slots are now easily available too.

But today I went to pick up my grocery order and half of what I ordered wasn’t there. For example, I ordered 2 jars of pasta sauce and got only 1, I was only able to get one apple (who wants to buy a single apple?), and a bunch of items had strangely low restrictions on things like baby food jars (2 max) and yogurt pouches (2 max). It was like shopping in mid April all over again. Last week my grocery store had no strawberries whatsoever, which is bizarre for midsummer.

We are doing well in our region in terms of controlling covid transmission and re-opening businesses, so the low inventory is unlikely due to panic shopping…

School Ventilation

Jesse Smith - September 14, 2020

I don’t really know if this is totally appropriate for this forum, but I’ve been getting a ton of questions about school ventilation and filtration systems. So I made a video that outlines these systems Hopefully this helps parents and school staff work to verify the function of these systems in their school districts. Feel free to post any questions specific to this issue. If there’s even slight interest I’d like to do some stuff shortly on measured flow and filtration with simple devices you can readily install in your kid’s classroom.

Advice

Helmets anyone?

Matt Black - September 13, 2020

Hi, all. I hope you’re all doing well.

I’m just starting the process of researching helmets, but want to know if anyone else is already ahead of the game in this department. Specifically, I’m looking into NIJ-level helmets (see body armor). I am, of course, thinking in terms of a SHTF scenario, not so much paintballs and protests.

What manufacturers, distributors, or other information have you found in the way of civilian-accessible helmets?

Thanks in advance.

Advice

Sealing mylar

Grey Lady - September 13, 2020

OK, help a n00b out. I have an iron, of the “hey I have an interview tomorrow let’s make the suit look nice” variety. I want to do some mylar bag/bucket sealing using this tool and some O2 absorbers. I’ve asked some mylar bag sources and they say my iron won’t work for their bags; some other sources just aren’t responsive (understandable – it is 2020 after all).

Any ideas what mylar bag sources I’ll be able to seal with my existing iron, those of you who may have done this before? Bonus if they actually have bags to sell me right now. 😬

Gear

Confused about half mask sizing, filters and cartridges

Jonnie PekelnyContributor - September 12, 2020

I am bout to venture into the world of non-disposable respirator masks. I’ve been reading this TP page https://theprepared.com/gear/reviews/best-gas-mask-respirator-survival/ and decided that I want to get the recommended 3m half mask. That’s as far as I was able to get before getting confused.

First of all, I’m unclear about how to figure out the mask sizing. It says that most people should use a medium size, but there’s no sizing guide anywhere that I can find. (I think of myself as having a large head).

More confusingly, I got hopelessly lost in trying to figure out the cartridges and filters thing. First of all, I don’t have a clear understanding of how these things even fit on the mask, so I don’t know exactly even what shape I’m looking for. Some filters come as simply soft disks. Can I fit those on the half-face mask? Other things come as cartridges and I am having a hard time figuring out all the variants or what would actually work. I did try to find the filter and cartrdige types that the mask description recommends, but I wasn’t able to track them down.

I will say that what I want right now is just an N95 filter, or whatever the equivalent of that is. My most immediate problem is the incredible amount of smoke pollution in California. The air is very, very bad. I’ve never been able to wear a conventional, disposable N95 masks. I get massively uncomfortable in them right away, so I’m hoping that these half-face respirators will be better. Right now my priority is to have something I can use for the smoke when I go out that will also maximize my ability to breathe easily. For that reason I don’t want to go up to N100. As for preparing for other kinds of chemical or whatever emergencies, I will need to deal with that later. So, given that, what filters would I be looking for?

I would LOVE it if some kind soul who understands these maks and filters better than I do would explain to me what to look for.

AdviceGear

New to Prepping & specific questions re CA/fire strategy

mseg77 - September 11, 2020

I just joined, but the general idea has been “top of mind” since Feb/March, here in CA specifically COVID related, but also civil unrest/race relations/political instability, and now, it’s “fire season” and we are in Elk Grove (15 mi. south of state Capitol, Sacramento).

We are approx. 30 miles (as the crow flies) from the southeasternmost edge of what is known as the LNU Fires Complex, started 4 days ago and already at 220k+ acres. [https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/17/lnu-lightning-complex-includes-hennessey-gamble-15-10-spanish-markley-13-4-11-16/] and [https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#t:adv;d:2020-08-19..2020-08-20;l:countries,street;@-121.8,38.3,10z .] Links provided for reference and because if you just “googlemap” it, doesn’t show the actual fire AREA covered, just a flame icon inside the area. Edited map attached below (showing locations/landmarks/distance) for clarity.

The whole state received (yesterday or the day before) a general “EVERYone should be ready to grab & go” from OES, because of how wide-spread all the (then 367 separate) fires are, rapidly changing-conditions and already-strained resources. Sidenote/perspective: a close friend of mine was a Paradise resident, she and her family very narrowly escaped with their lives but lost their home, pets, all but the clothes on their back.

We have had food/supplies well-stocked since early March (still do). I know I’m “skipping” steps (in that I’m NOT generally, financially/legally etc prepared), but the potential to have to USE the preparedness as it relates specifically to fire, now, within the next (hours? week(s)?) has kicked me into high gear, taking steps last night/throughout TODAY to work on the OTHER, more “immediate” stuff [list/organization TO create BOB & car bag, etc., + home & self defense I delayed before on (window film & fortified door jams/sliding door & window locks to supplement alarm & dog, shotgun + pistol)]… and I apologize, because I know this is both HIGHLY specific and a little all over the place… but this forum seems like possibly the best resource to get (smart/rational/helpful) feedback.

There are not currently any Evac Orders OR Warnings, for us right here, right now. It’s hot (been 100+ all week), 35% humidity, not too windy (3-4 mph currently), but possibly more lightening forecast for Sun-Tues. I have subscribed to and have all the push notifications (email, text & phone from CalFire, CAOES, SacOES, SacPD, EGPD) set up so I can hear if warnings/order happen/are issued.

But I’m not relying on JUST the notifications/warnings/orders, I’m not “waiting” for that. I’m checking (regularly, but not obsessively) to see if the fire moves significantly or quickly this way. If we need to evacuate, all of Yolo County + at least City of Sacramento (so, potentially 700k+ residents…) will have needed to do so first/as well… and they’d be headed this way (and/or onto same routes I’d be). Does it seem reasonable to have as a “go now” trigger, the following:

If fire continues to spread east, and gets as far as the “Deep Water Channel”, GO soon (as in, within the hour?); If it gets to/approaches the west banks of the Sacramento River, GO IMMEDIATELY; If it gets as far as I-5, it’s too late to get out mainly because of the mass exodus traffic that (potential evacuation would cause) and options limited to soak what I can outside and surface streets to whatever “localized” Evac Center.

So… what do the experienced preppers say? Am I over-thinking it/should I wait until/if there is an official warning/order? Are there vital things I’m not taking into consideration? Am I not planning to GO soon enough?

THANK YOU for any input/direction/suggestion/feedback.

AdviceScenarios

Suburban and Rural Preppers, Your Thoughts on SHTF & City People?

Matt Black - September 10, 2020

I currently live in a modest sized city of ≈500K. One of my plans involves BO-ing beyond my metropolitan area (≈1M, total). I have some questions for the suburban and rural preppers here:

It goes without saying that I don’t expect any answers here to be definitive or even representative of subjective thoughts. I’m merely attempting to gain a baseline understanding of what might be encountered and how successful those encounters might be.

What are some thoughts/tips/advice you might have for preppers that are bugging out who simply want to pass through your town or village?

Knowing that an event just took place, how might you handle someone travelling by foot through your back property (perhaps at the far edge) who appears to just be passing through and is showing no signs of threat or interest?

If you and I met in your small community, what might be the best way to communicate to you that I have no interest in your, your supplies, or gear?

What might be the best way for me to maintain my ability to defend myself while not being threatening to you?

What is the best way, as a traveler passing through, to approach you and initiate a conversation about bartering?

Thanks in advance for all your input and advice. I look forward to it.