posted
Many of us write pieces about the start of disasters, the collapse of civilizations.
We tend to have small disasters hit our areas all the time. If one has a chance, here is something that could help all of us. What is run out of in grocery stores almost immediately? What is there a lot of?
I remember from a few hurricanes that have come here, prepackaged foods go fast. Ready to eat or heat and serve stuff that can stay on shelves disappear quickly. Canned meats go fast.
My question is, what about spices, condiments, and other seasonings?
My thought is that if I was going to live off the land for any length of time, I will want all the flavorings I can get my hands on. That way I can make even card board and leather jackets taste good. Most people are going to be after actual food to tide them over until things calm down.
If something comes to your area, take an extra trip to the grocery stores before they close and see what is left, and report to us.
posted
I will never forget this one blizzard back in the 90s - we were snowed into our house for over a week. The night before, as I was walking into a 7-11 to get something to drink, a woman came running in, shouting at the top of her lungs, "Milk! Milk! Do you have any milk? I must have milk!" (I thought she was crazy at the time, because I didn't know we were about to have a blizzard.)
Apparently there had been a run at the grocery stores, with tons of people stocking up on milk for the anticipated blizzard. And I suppose milk would store really well when you could just plunk it outside into a 6-foot snow drift
posted
Been there, in the aftermath of hurricanes, where it was impossible to get many things, particularly if that thing had to be kept cold. I muddled through...and also took the time to pre-buy some things to keep me going. A certain amount of canned goods...perishables in the days before...gas tank filled in the days before...pre-made sandwiches in an ice chest...like I said, I muddled through.
(In some ways I was lucky. In the most serious hurricane I've been through [Charley], the power went out, but came on the next day...the stuff in my refrigerator didn't even have time to get warm.)
posted
Milk, bread, beer and bottled water fly off the shelves here at just threat of a hurricane or snow/ice storm. Three days after one hurricane a woman offered an acquaintance of mine twenty dollars for six pack of beer. She had just bought the last one, and apparently all the stores were sold out.
Batteries and flashlights go fast too. Usually I can find lots of AA, AAA batteries, but no D!
Another thing people tend to forget is that when the power goes out, you can't use an ATM or credit card (unless the store you're shopping at is willing to use the 'old fashioned' copy of your credit card method). Hurricanes and ice storms can knock power out for days....Power crews work first to turn on power to grids with hospitals or that have other critical services.
posted
You can get flashlights you can crank by hand and recharge---Faraday flashlights, they're usually called---I've got several, but I think I'd like a couple o' lanterns along the same lines. Haven't seen any, but they may be out there.
My main inconvenience was not having enough light to go around during the hurricane blackout. I sleep days and work nights (when I'm working), and, so, I was up when it was dark, and, believe me, without electricity, it's dark.
*****
I'm concerned with another trend. TV broadcasting has gone digital---but my main way of keeping track of the hurricanes as they passed by was my tiny Sony pocket-sized TV. I haven't seen a digital pocket-sized, though I'm told there's at least one model available. (Nor have I seen anything I could plug into my iPod, which would be really handy.)
I saw a comment from some FCC official saying "most people get their news from the radio." (That's a lie.) But radio is also going digital, more slowly than TV---and the few digital radios I've seen were too high-priced for casual purchase. If disaster strikes again---how will I be able to keep track?
Printer-friendly view of this topic
