MESSAGE FROM TESS
We are in the 21st week of our 52-weeks to preparedness. This week we will be focusing on the importance of having an emergency fuel supply. Having fuel on hand for given disasters assists in you having your basic needs met and provides power to electrical appliances, and tools. Further, because storing fuel for short or long-term emergencies can be problematic due to urban fire regulations, I will also suggest some safety guidelines to follow when storing fuel, products to purchase to keep your fuel storage viable and alternative means to storing fuel.
Remember to turn to Ready Nutrition’s food storage calculator [1] to get a customized chart of how much food you need to store for your family. And if you need to look at any of the older issues of Get Prepped, you can view [2] them at Ready Nutrition. I am working on putting a button on my homepage for easy access to previous issues, so stay tuned.
This week has been a whirlwind for me. A few months ago, I entered an writing contest at Modern Survival Online [3] and found out earlier this week that I had won 2nd prize in the contest. The article I submitted was about preparing medical packs for emergencies [4]. Being prepared for these types of emergencies is a subject very important to me and I was pleased that the word could get out further. I am also scheduled on Monday to do an interview on societal and economic collapse with Erich “Mancow” Muller [5]. I normally do not like to talk about such dooming scenarios, but our economy is not thriving as it should be, and I believe in getting as many people prepared for the unexpected as possible.
If you haven’t already, follow us on Twitter [6] or see what we are doing on Facebook [7]. I love to interact with the preparedness community, because, after all, we are all in this together! Don’t forget to share the prepared love and invite your friends and family to read Ready Nutrition [8] and help build our community.
Thank you for taking the time to better prepare yourselves for life’s unexpected disasters, and especially for being a part of this amazing community.
Regards,
Tess Pennington
PREP OF THE WEEK
Week 21 of 52: Emergency Fuel Supply
When a disaster threatens a given area, fuel is one of the first emergency prep items people begin stocking up on. Fuel helps power you through an emergency by providing means to keep warm, cook, and supply emergency power for generators, appliances and electrical tools. When choosing which types of emergency fuel to store, consider the following issues:
- Any dangers the fuel may pose by being stored.
- How much fuel needs to be stored for the given emergency.
- What appliances or tools the fuel needs to provide power for.
- How long the fuel will stay viable for.
- How it needs to be stored for safety reasons.
Because storing fuel for short or long-term use presents its own set of unique challenges, ensure that you safely store your fuel supply by following these safety regulations [9].
When storing certain fuels, you will need to use a stabilizer to prevent the fuel from separating. Some of the most popular fuel stabilizers are Sta-bil [10] and Pri-G or Pri-D [11]. Both are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased online or at most super centers. Most preppers like to have enough fuel on hand for at least a 72-hour period. To be on the safe side, plan on storing enough fuel to last under your predicted worst case scenario. Put some thought into which type of fuel you can store for this minimum period of time.
If fuels are to be stored for emergencies, then it will need to be stored in containers that prevent evaporation and prevent the signs of fuel phase separation. If the storage container is made of plastic, ensure that the container is made of durable HDPE with barrier materials to eliminate hydrocarbon emissions, has an airtight seal to reduce spills when not in use and has a pour spout that controls variable flow, has automatic venting and automatic locking when lever is released. Plastic is permeable and the fuel can seep through, however; some preppers have found that metal fuel cans are best. Some preppers suggest using auto grade silicone to coat their metal cans in order to preserve them longer.
The six most popular fuel sources to store are listed below. To learn more about these popular fuel types, how long they last and how to appropriately store them, click here [12].
- Firewood
- Gasoline
- Diesel fuel
- Kerosene
- Propane
- Solar power
You are probably wondering how much fuel you should store for a disaster. The answer is largely dependent on what you plan to use the fuel on during an emergency and how long the disaster will last. If you wanted to only run a generator with gasoline to power your home and appliances during the day, plan on using 1-2 gallons of fuel per hour. In a 72-hour emergency where you are reliant on yourself to provide power, plan on needing at a minimum 48-gallons of fuel.
Those who live in apartments or duplexes will probably not be allowed to store any types of fuel in or around the buildings due to the close proximity of living. Fuel dealers in your local area can tell you about the EPA and regulatory issues associated with storing fuel in a tank on your property. Contact them for this information as well as a host of other useful information about fuel storage.
Preps To Buy:
- Multiple amounts of plastic or metal fuel storage containers
- Seasoned fire wood (ample supply)
- Fuel of choice to run generators, appliances, provide electricity for 1-3 month duration (if legally allowed to do so)
- Fuel for cooking (ample supply)
- Alternative cooking source (a solar oven, Korean cook stove, Volcano Stove, reflector oven, Dutch Oven, Rocket Stove, propane grill or stove)
- Propane (one weeks worth)
- Long burning jarred candles (unlimited amount)
- Extra wicks for candles (can be purchased at Amazon or Ebay)
- Matches
Action Items:
1. Read about the different types of fuel and decide which fuel choice(s) is best for your family.
2. Find an appropriate area outside of the home where the fuel can be stored.
3. Ensure that you rotate your fuel regularly and check to make sure there are no signs on leaking.
WHAT WE’RE UP TO
In Our Home:
A few months ago, I discussed how important it is to be physically fit so that, when a disaster occurred you would be able to handle the physical demands associated with disasters. Well, I took my own advice and decided to make a commitment to exercise daily for at least 20 minutes. I am happy to report that I have lost weight and increased my workout time to 60 minutes instead of 20 minutes. I have found that my body is much stronger than it has been in a long and I am making better food choices. The best part is I have loads of energy and can keep up with my kids. The kids are also interested in becoming more physically fit. My son has asked to join a kids marathon hosted by the city we live in. So, being fit is contagious! Make a commitment to yourself to get physically fit in order to increase your strength. You may need to rely on that strength during a disaster.
Family Preps:
Did you know that shooting guns is a depreciating skill? During the hot summer months, I took a break from going to out the shooting range. I went back this week, and I noticed a difference in my aim. Now that the weather has cooled off, I am going to make myself go to the shooting range regularly. This is a skill that I want to stay on top of!
In the Garden:
I created a pizza garden this week and planted all the vegetables and herbs needed to create a robust sauce and toppings for an artisan pizza. My 5-year old asked if we could plant a pepperoni plant too. It’s interesting that most, if not all of these plants are companion plants for eachother and will actually help eachother grow. I can’t wait to make this pizza!
RECENT ARTICLES
25 New Ways to Use Coffee Filters [13]
The 6 Most Popular Types of Fuel to Store for Emergencies [12]
SHTF Survival: Clay Pot Refrigeration [14]
STATS AND FACTS
Preparedness is something we shouldn’t take likely. There are times when emergencies can arise with little or no warning, and being prepared for them ahead of time can make a big different. In an article at Popular Mechanics [15], the author outlines a few unknown facts about preparedness that could help many of us prepare more accordingly:
1. Nearly 770,000 Americans live near a volcano. Heavy ash falling after an eruption can cause serious lung irritation and shortness of breath (especially for people with asthma), as well as corneal abrasions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that people living in volcanic regions keep N-95 respirators and eye protection on hand for themselves and their families
2. Each year, 36,000 people are injured by chain saws.The risk of injury greatly increases after a natural disaster, when bent, pinned branches from downed trees can strike people with enough force to cause injury or even death. To safely remove a pinned tree limb, don’t cut right through it–instead identify the maximum point of tension, then shave the underside of the area with the chain saw to allow the branch to release the tension slowly.
3. Batteries can last 10 times longer in LED flashlights. Light-emitting diode (LED) flashlights–such as the SureFire L2 LumaMax ($175, top)–are 70 percent more efficient than incandescent models. And unlike bulbs, LEDs have no fragile parts, so they can better withstand shock. That makes them a smarter choice for an emergency kit.
4. More than 67 percent of respondents in an ASPCA survey said they’d refuse to evacuate without their pets. The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006, passed after Hurricane Katrina, requires authorities to include pets in evacuation plans. Most Red Cross shelters won’t take pets, but will help people make arrangements with local animal shelters. The Humane Society of the United States suggests packing a disaster kit for pets that includes ID, immunization records, food, medication and photos.
LETTERS TO TESS
One of the perks of my job at Ready Nutrition is to address questions and/or concerns that you may have with your prepping endeavors. Feel free to ask anything that is on your mind because no question is too big or small. You can email questions to: getprepped@readynutrition.com [16]
This week’s question addresses oven canning:
Hello,
I recently read an article stating that “oven canning” was a viable way
to store grains, dried beans, rice and the like. Do you have any
info on that?
Thank You,
Chapin
Answer:
Hello,
You asked a great question! Oven canning is something that my great-grandmother did.
From what she told me about it, she filled her clean jars with whatever she was going to can and placed them in a preheated oven (the oven temperature was about 250 degrees). When the oven was preheated she would turn the oven off and let the jars sit in the oven for at least 1 hour. When she would take the jars out of the hot oven they were all sealed. She liked this way of canning because it was so convenient.
I must admit, that I have never tried this method of canning, and from what I have read on the subject, it is more “controversial” compared to the traditional methods. To answer your question though, I don’t see why a person wouldn’t be able to store grains, dried beans, rice, etc using this method. There are a lot of preppers who put their grains and beans in the oven at a low temperature to kill off any insects or eggs that might happen to be on them, so I’m sure that you would be able to do this and the grains and beans would be fine. Let me know how it turns out!
Thanks,
Tess