Note to self:

[conuly]

Just because it's a good idea, and I've been recently reminded of it, pick up a goodly amount of nonperishable foods, including water. And soap. Can't go wrong with extra soap. Or maybe soapless cleaners...

Come to think of it, we could probably use, like, band-aids or something. If a disaster should strike, it'd be really embarrassing to have to go next-door and say "Can we get some band-aids? I just got a papercut, and it really hurts." Though they *do* say that laughter is healing....

So, like I was saying. Some dried beans, some canned beans, a lefty can opener (safe from 87% of all thieves!), some ramen noodle soup, lo though I loathe the stuff, because it's cheap, some pasta, some ice cream so that when the power goes out I have an excuse to eat it, what else?

Comments

[moggymania.livejournal.com]

Are most can openers unable to go both directions or something? I switch hands and directions on ours at random. I'm not even sure which hand configuration is considered right-handed or left-handed, come to think of it.

[conuly]

I'm unable to use a righty can opener with my left hand in the normal position - it slips off the can after one and a half rotations of the knob, if I'm lucky. And to do it with my right hand is nearly as bad, I get two and a half rotations. The only way to use a non-electric righty can opener is to twist my hand around.

[(Anonymous)]

Those dried foods are all good and fine... but keep in mind one of the most biggest problems in a disaster - water. You'll need it to drink, as well as cook most of those dried foods. In addition you need energy (electricity or gas usually) to heat the water - I wouldn't bet on the gas still being on...

Just mentioning :)

[conuly]

I'm sure I mentioned gallons of water.

[conuly]

And you don't actually need to cook these dried foods. Just soak 'em for hours. Then you get bean sprouts.

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

If you're stocking up for a disaster, you might want to get some candy and some over-the-counter common meds. Candles of course. Maybe some rice. Maybe some charcoal, if you've got room and need a fire for warmth or cooking.

[sparkofcreation.livejournal.com]

And all the batteries in the world, and a battery-operated radio. You can use candles instead of flashlights, but a battery-operated radio is huge. Remember Hurricane Gloria? How else did we know when it was safe to return to our houses (they'd gone around with loudspeakers on the tops of police cars telling us to evacuate, but obviously they can't do that telling people to return).

[conuly]

A crank-operated radio, you mean, and a crank-operated flashlight.

[conuly]

In a pinch, one can even use crank-operated cell phone rechargers.

[adiva_calandia]

I'd say soapless cleaners. If you're in a disaster situation, you want to save your water for, y'know, drinking. :) And on that note, what we do is every time we finish a 2-liter bottle of soda, we wash it out and refill it with water. Saves a little money; but then, I don't know if y'all are the types to be buying 2-liter bottles of anything on a regular basis.

You might want to include, I don't know, multivitamins or something in that list?

[conuly]

Good point. And fiber pills, and mouthwash.

[kittiethedragon.livejournal.com]

I'm a classic paranoid, so I keep dried, compressed, high-carb food bars. Water purification, a solar panel that charges both AA's and cell phones, an M7 Bayonet because GOOD knives are handy (Not that bendy kitchen ware or usless 440 stainless steel. Pocket knives are not survival tools). Lessee, I also have a full first aid kit, know basic first aid upto and including setting bones and making splints. I've been wanting to pick up a revolver, but it's pretty much a lost cause in NYC. Frankly, I've only gone to short extents to prepare, because I don't really see New York getting through a suvival situation. Just not really gonna happen, it's too densely packed, the need for emergency rations alone would cripple any aid attempt.

[conuly]

Time to resort to cannibalism...?

In that situation, actually, some seeds and a boat mightn't be a bad idea. Getting to one of the little islands around the city that most people don't know about, but which can house a small family....

Of course, everybody with a boat would have the same bright idea.

[kittiethedragon.livejournal.com]

Catch the current, head towards sandy hook, find aid.

[conuly]

That is a very good idea, thank you.

Could also head to Fresh Kills. Not much aid, I suppose, but it'd be *very* underpopulated and, trust me, there's edible stuff growing there. Most of it is just wetlands.

[moggymania.livejournal.com]

Are most can openers unable to go both directions or something? I switch hands and directions on ours at random. I'm not even sure which hand configuration is considered right-handed or left-handed, come to think of it.

[conuly]

I'm unable to use a righty can opener with my left hand in the normal position - it slips off the can after one and a half rotations of the knob, if I'm lucky. And to do it with my right hand is nearly as bad, I get two and a half rotations. The only way to use a non-electric righty can opener is to twist my hand around.

[(Anonymous)]

Those dried foods are all good and fine... but keep in mind one of the most biggest problems in a disaster - water. You'll need it to drink, as well as cook most of those dried foods. In addition you need energy (electricity or gas usually) to heat the water - I wouldn't bet on the gas still being on...

Just mentioning :)

[conuly]

I'm sure I mentioned gallons of water.

[conuly]

And you don't actually need to cook these dried foods. Just soak 'em for hours. Then you get bean sprouts.

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

If you're stocking up for a disaster, you might want to get some candy and some over-the-counter common meds. Candles of course. Maybe some rice. Maybe some charcoal, if you've got room and need a fire for warmth or cooking.

[sparkofcreation.livejournal.com]

And all the batteries in the world, and a battery-operated radio. You can use candles instead of flashlights, but a battery-operated radio is huge. Remember Hurricane Gloria? How else did we know when it was safe to return to our houses (they'd gone around with loudspeakers on the tops of police cars telling us to evacuate, but obviously they can't do that telling people to return).

[conuly]

A crank-operated radio, you mean, and a crank-operated flashlight.

[conuly]

In a pinch, one can even use crank-operated cell phone rechargers.

[adiva_calandia]

I'd say soapless cleaners. If you're in a disaster situation, you want to save your water for, y'know, drinking. :) And on that note, what we do is every time we finish a 2-liter bottle of soda, we wash it out and refill it with water. Saves a little money; but then, I don't know if y'all are the types to be buying 2-liter bottles of anything on a regular basis.

You might want to include, I don't know, multivitamins or something in that list?

[conuly]

Good point. And fiber pills, and mouthwash.

[kittiethedragon.livejournal.com]

I'm a classic paranoid, so I keep dried, compressed, high-carb food bars. Water purification, a solar panel that charges both AA's and cell phones, an M7 Bayonet because GOOD knives are handy (Not that bendy kitchen ware or usless 440 stainless steel. Pocket knives are not survival tools). Lessee, I also have a full first aid kit, know basic first aid upto and including setting bones and making splints. I've been wanting to pick up a revolver, but it's pretty much a lost cause in NYC. Frankly, I've only gone to short extents to prepare, because I don't really see New York getting through a suvival situation. Just not really gonna happen, it's too densely packed, the need for emergency rations alone would cripple any aid attempt.

[conuly]

Time to resort to cannibalism...?

In that situation, actually, some seeds and a boat mightn't be a bad idea. Getting to one of the little islands around the city that most people don't know about, but which can house a small family....

Of course, everybody with a boat would have the same bright idea.

[kittiethedragon.livejournal.com]

Catch the current, head towards sandy hook, find aid.

[conuly]

That is a very good idea, thank you.

Could also head to Fresh Kills. Not much aid, I suppose, but it'd be *very* underpopulated and, trust me, there's edible stuff growing there. Most of it is just wetlands.