The Doomsday Prepping Crash Course (6 page)

Storing fuel whether it is gasoline, diesel, or propane comes with unique challenges.  Gasoline is perhaps the most difficult to store because it is so combustible.  Many municipalities have ordinances in place that restrict exactly how many gallons of fuel you are legally allowed to keep on hand.  They do this for safety reasons as most people don't have the proper facilities to be able to safely store large quantities of gasoline or diesel fuel.

Whether you are storing gas or diesel, the important thing to keep in mind is that it does have a shelf life.  Like other perishable items, the shelf life of fuel can be prolonged if it is stored properly.  Ideally, fuel will be stored in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated area (Never Indoors).  Before storing any gasoline or diesel fuel, a fuel stabilizing additive such as STA-BIL should be added to it.  This additive is designed to prolong the shelf life of the fresh fuel you are storing for up to a year or more.

Propane is perhaps the easiest of fuels to store as you can safely store it in very large propane tanks.  Depending upon where you live, you may be able to rent a 300 – 500 gallon propane tank from your local propane distributor.  Propane has a much longer shelf life than gasoline or diesel but it's still advisable to consult with your propane supplier to find out how long they recommend storing it.

Warning
:
Consult with your local authorities about how much fuel you are legally allowed to store and how it should be stored in your area. 

The Importance of Having the Right Tools on Hand

When that dreaded doomsday eventually does come around, having a good supply of tools on hand will be very important.  Some of the most basic tools to keep on hand are hammers, axes, hatchets, and shovels.  With these simple hand tools, you can do everything from burying solid waste and garbage to building a shelter.

The last thing you want to be doing during an emergency is trying to fashion makeshift tools out of items that you happen to scavenge.  You may find yourself with no other option than to fashion makeshift tools but without some basic hand tools, doing that may be very difficult.

In addition to the tools already mentioned, you should have a set of mechanics tools that includes wrenches, sockets and ratchets, pliers, screwdrivers, and more.  You never know when you'll have to repair something that you need to survive.  Having the tools on hand that will enable you to perform the repairs that you need to make will make surviving much easier.

Even if you aren't a skilled mechanic, you'll need to have tools on hand.  With a little ingenuity, you'll be able to figure out how to do some basic repairs but if you don't have the tools on hand, you'll be out of luck.

You may find that you can track down someone who is mechanically inclined enough to do the necessary repairs for you.  It's likely that you'll be able to barter their mechanics skills for something that you have that is of value to them but without the right tools, they won't be able to help you even if they wanted to.

Perhaps some of the most important tools that you should have on hand are good quality knives.  Survival experts love to debate about what the ultimate survival knife actually is.  The reason they spend so much time arguing over this issue is that there isn't one particular best knife.  Some knives excel at performing delicate tasks like skinning game while others excel at tasks like chopping and hacking.  Instead of trying to settle on just one knife that will work well in every scenario, you should have several in your collection.  Then, you'll be able to choose the best tool for the job at hand instead of trying to make one tool do every job.

Storing good quality knives is important but regardless of how well a particular knife has been made, it won't stay sharp forever.  You should plan on your knives becoming dull as you use them and include a good quality knife sharpening kit with your emergency supplies.  Here's another skill that you should develop
before
you need to rely on it.  No matter how fancy the knife sharpening kit you buy is, it takes a skilled hand to sharpen a knife properly.  Spend the time now to learn how to do this right ahead of time.  It's a skill that won't cost you anything to learn and you'll be glad that you did so when you have the ability to put a razors edge back on your trusty old skinning knife.

While we're on the subject of tools that would be handy to have on hand, let's not forget the ever popular multi-tool.  Leatherman, Gerber, and many others make very good multi-tools.  These tools are like having a tool box in your pocket!  They can be used for so many tasks that everyone should have one.  Once you buy one and start using it, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. 

When it comes to purchasing multi-tools, it's worth the money to splurge on the name brand models.  Don't make the mistake of buying one of the really cheap knock offs and thinking that it will perform on par with a good quality name brand multi-tool.  These knock offs might look similar in appearance but most of them really are just pieces of junk.  They aren't built nearly as well and oftentimes they'll break when you are really counting on them to work.

Money Saving Tip:
Yard and garage sales are great places to find used tools for sale.  It's better to buy quality used tools than low quality new tools.  Many of the popular wholesale tool stores carry low quality tools at very attractive prices.  Those unbelievably low prices can quickly turn into nightmares when you realize that the tools are so low in quality that they aren't able to perform their intended job. 

Another great place to find quality used tools is Craigslist.  Due to the tough economic times that many Americans are currently facing, a lot of mechanics are being forced to sell off their good tools for pennies on the dollar just to make ends meet.  For this very same reason, pawn shops are often good places to find great prices on high quality used tools.

Communication Devices That Will Work after Doomsday

History has proven that when natural disasters hit, the communications grid is often one of the first things to go down.  Most preppers plan on the land lines and cellular phone networks being down for an extended period of time after doomsday comes calling.

While traditional communication services will likely be of no use to us, there are still some basic things you can do to maintain some ability to communicate with your immediate family, friends, and the outside world.

One of the simplest types of communication devices that will still work after doomsday are two way radios or walkie talkies.  The two most popular types are FRS (Family Radio Service) or GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service).  These little two way radios are inexpensive and can be purchased at most major sporting goods stores as well as many supercenter type of shopping stores.

These radios will provide line of sight communications and are typically limited to within a few miles of effective range.  They transmit at low power levels but they can still be very useful short distance communication devices during emergencies.

Another option is to purchase HAM radios.  A HAM radio requires a license to operate but the advantage they have over FRS type radios is that they can broadcast at much higher power levels.  Many preppers migrate toward the HAM radio option for its increased power and versatility.  With a good HAM radio, you can broadcast and receive messages on a wide variety of frequencies which makes them the most versatile type of communication radios to have on hand.

While we’re on the subject of communication devices, we should talk briefly about emergency radios.  Having a good emergency radio on hand means that you’ll be able to receive important broadcasts and news from your local authorities.  There are several types of emergency radios to choose from but one very important feature that you should look for is a hand crank.  If you purchase an emergency radio that has a hand crank, you’ll be able to charge it up any time you need to and position yourself to receive any important news that the authorities happen to be broadcasting. 

Another very handy device to have on hand would be a portable programmable scanner.  With a scanner, you can preprogram your local emergency frequencies into it which could help you keep up to date about what is going on in the area that you are trying to survive in.

Keep in mind is that you'll need a way to power these devices since the electrical grid will likely be down.  Make sure that if you'll be including these devices in your prepping plans that you have some way to charge the batteries that they need to run on.

Preparing To Have Electricity after Doomsday

One thing that most preppers agree on is that there is a very high likelihood that when doomsday hits, the electrical grid will go down for some period of time.  This means that if you intend to have any form of electricity, you'll need to be prepared to generate it yourself.

Don't let the idea of generating your own electricity scare you.  There are a few very easy to use options when it comes to generating electricity on a small scale.  Perhaps the most popular is to purchase portable solar panels with integrated rechargeable battery packs that can be used to charge small battery powered electronic devices.

There are even backpacks that have solar panels integrated into them for charging portable electronic devices that you can purchase.  One important thing to keep in mind is that it's easier to conserve electricity than it is to generate it.  This means that the electronic devices you plan to stock up on in your prepping supplies should be very efficient.  For example, if you plan to store flashlights, be sure that they use the super-efficient LED bulb technology and that they run on rechargeable batteries that you can charge with your portable solar charging system.

Another option is to keep a portable gas or diesel powered generator on hand.  Honda makes some small portable generators that are very fuel efficient.  For example, their EU2000i model will run for about 10 hours on a mere one gallon of gasoline.  When gas will be in short supply having a portable generator that is fuel efficient will really pay off.

As long as we're talking about having electricity after doomsday, it's important to bring up the possibility of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) being the cause of doomsday.  Many preppers believe that a massive solar flare from our sun is due to hit the Earth soon.  They also believe that this solar flare will cause an intense EMP to strike the earth.  Scientists predict that if the EMP pulse is strong enough, it could destroy the electrical circuitry of most, if not all, unprotected electronic devices.

What then is a "protected device"?  Well, in order for the sensitive circuitry in electronic devices to be protected from the effects of an EMP, it must be adequately shielded.  This can be accomplished by storing the devices in a specially insulated box called a "Faraday cage". 

This is simply a box or enclosure that is constructed of a conductive material and insulation.  The theory is that since the contents are insulated from the conductive material that forms the outside of the box, they will be protected from any EMP pulses.  This sounds quite technical but really it's not.  As a matter of fact, there are plenty of free plans available on the Internet that show you exactly how to construct a homemade Faraday cage with materials that are commonly available at your local hardware store.

The three main takeaways from this chapter are: First, make sure that you prepare for a way to charge batteries with some form of alternative energy source. Second, make sure the electronic devices that you plan to use are energy efficient and that you have rechargeable batteries and chargers for them stored away. Third, make sure that you store these devices in a Faraday cage to ensure that if a solar flare or a nuclear e-bomb were to cause a massive EMP, your devices will still be able to be used afterwards.

Keeping the Lights on When the Power Goes Out

Let's face it. If you find yourself faced with the challenge of trying to survive after doomsday, it's going to be a scary time.  Your world will be turned upside down and anything that can provide comfort will be very important.  Believe it or not, something as simple as having light during the night can be very comforting.  Of course you'll need light just to perform simple tasks after the sun goes down but just having something to take the edge off of the darkness will do wonders for your morale.

One option is to go old school and use oil lamps.  Oil lamps have been used for hundreds of years as a source of light before the electric light bulb replaced them.  One advantage of oil lamps is that they'll burn for quite some time without using much oil.  The problem with oil lamps, however, is that they can pose a fire risk if they are bumped and knocked over.  They also aren't ideal for carrying around to provide light in different locations.  Simply put, they do provide light but they're not really a good replacement for a flashlight.  Despite their limitations, it's probably a good idea to have a few of these old fashioned lamps packed away with your emergency supplies.

Another option is to purchase hand crank flashlights.  These flashlights have a crank that you turn for a couple of minutes and when you've finished cranking, an internal battery will be charged up enough to provide light for a few minutes.   They usually come equipped with LED bulb technology which makes them bright enough to use but since the LED's don't use much electricity they remain lit for quite some time between cranking cycles. 

The advantage that these flashlights have over oil lamps is that they are easy packed around from job to job without you ever having to worry about spilling the oil or starting a fire.  They can also produce a directional beam of light so that you can aim the light exactly where you need it.  With some models, you can adjust the beam and they'll double as a small battery powered lantern.

A third option is to stock up on solar powered lights.  The price of this technology has come way down in recent years and the quality of these devices has improved quite a bit as well.  You can purchase a solar lighting fixture that has a small solar panel that is tethered to the fixture by a long cord.  This would make it possible to mount the solar panel outside in the direct sunlight and then to mount the lighting fixture inside to provide interior light exactly where you need it.  It's true that these solar lights are designed for outdoor use but when you're in survival mode, with a little bit of creativity, you can make use of them indoors quite easily.