Are you prepared?

[jsteinhauer]

What if the proverbial shite hit the fan, in a non-apocalyptic sort of way. I mean, forget "The Road" or "The Road Warrior". But let's say, pandemic flu. It's a lunchtime conversation. If things get too bad, it's pretty hard to be prepared. In a BIG state of emergency, if you are too prepared, the authorities will come and commandeer your stuff for the greater good. So let's just say you need to survive a mild disaster.

Do you have enough food, fuel, water, ammunition to get by for several weeks?

Two years ago we had to arrays of photovoltaic cells installed. We have battery backup, and we are grid-tied. If power goes out, about half the house is backed up (refrigerators, water pump, septic pump included), and if we are frugal with electricity, it will last about three days. A full day of sunlight recharges completely. We have enough food to last I would estimate a year. Canned, pickled, dried and my supply of malt barley, which right now is about 400 pounds. In desperation, I would eat some of it. I can still make beer at room temperature, too. If really desperate, we can get water from the Big Lake. It tastes good. We are a little short on ammo, if things get really bad. But I sort of think, if you need to reload more than 7 or 8 times, it's so bad, that it might not be worth surviving.