SHTF: Strange places to stock up - Part Three

SHTF: Strange places to stock up - Part Three

Here's the deal. You are away from home, let's say in a strange town on vacation or business trip. Maybe you are across town in a neighborhood you are not familiar with. Anyway, the radio comes on and says "The end is here". Nuke attack, martian invasion, zombies, you name it.

You know you need food and water if you are going to get home. Also, you want to build some stocks for what will happen in the coming days. However, you don't know where the closest grocery store is. What to do?

You need a list of alternative and strange places to get supplies when you need them in a scenario like this. Today's idea - the office supply store.

Office Max, Office Depot, etc. Now bigger is better, but a FedEx/Kinkos will do in a pinch.

For instance, go to the office superstore and check the back section. There are cases of water, snack foods, coffee, tea, sugar and other stuff offices put in the break room.

There is also trashbags, paper towels, toilet paper, soap and cleaning supplies out the wazoo. Same idea. They are for stocking the office. However, they are also survival supplies.

And then the batteries, flashlights, fire extinguishers. Some stores even sell tools for fixing stuff around the office. There may not be any tents or foul weather gear, but there are often plastic sheets and related material for covering desks or furniture. These can be doubled as emergency shelters if need be.

What if FedEx Kinkos or UPS store is available? My F/K store has snacks, candy, even beef jerky at the check out counter. They also have a limited supply of bottled water and energy drinks for late night presentation cram sessions.

An office supply store can be your best friend if the poop hits the fan unexpectedly. Keep it in mind.

SHTF: Strange places to stock up - Part Two

SHTF: Strange places to stock up - Part Two

So, the poop has made the fan smelly and everyone else is heading for the grocery stores or Sam's Club to clean them out. Where can you go? Yesterday, we considered the toy store of all places, today we look at another, yet less off the beaten path place for stores after the SHTF.

The drugstore.

Sure, there will be folks piled up at the subscription counter to get another 30 days of anti-anxiety meds or blood pressure pills, but today's drugstore is a great place to get lots of other goodies.

Food - The CVS, Walgreens or Rite-Aid always has a huge stock of food, including canned and other shelf stable foods on hand. There are lots of those little cans with pop tops which can come in handy if one is on the move on foot and traveling lite.

Besides the food aisle, there are edibles throughout the store; at the check out line, gift rows, etc. Get a handbasket rather than a bulky cart and load up.

Don't forget; drug stores have a huge diet section. That means protein bars and some things not found at a traditional grocers like body building supplements - lots of calories and proteins.

Water - Water, the staff of life, is in the drug store as well. Bottles and jugs. But there is also bleach and iodine handy in the drugstore, useful for sanitizing more down the line.

Hardware - gloves, basic tools, batteries, flashlights and other basics can be found now at the modern hardware store.

Obvious - take advantage of the hardware store for a large selection of things found there in large amounts; multi-vitamins, first aid supplies, OTC (over the counter) medicines, baby supplies, and of course drugs (with prescription).

So, the poop hits the fan and you are on the road or five miles from home and need to resupply. Rather than deal with that panicking mob outside the Safeway, go two doors down to the drug store and get what you need in short supply.

Good luck,

Prepare: Emergency Evacuation Supply List

I hate the idea of having to evacuate from my home due to an emergency. Where I live, there is little chance of a wild fire driving me from home, but there are other scenarios to consider. First, a sudden alien invasion. Or a nuclear attack. I think an enemy invasion force would give me plenty of time to get ready. But let's consider something with little notice or warning.

Here is my Emergency Evacuation Supply List and Plan

If I had to get the family out of Dodge quickly, I would depend upon the family car. I keep it at three quarters full at all times. I keep the following in the car -

1 empty five gallon gas can
1 inverter
1 set jumper cables
1 CB radio + antenna
1 set of FRS radios (less than one mile range)
1 set of basic hand tools
Generally a case of water, but sometimes less in the summer when it can go bad
1 jug anti freeze
1 quart oil
1 standard blue tarp

I would add to the car at least 3 more gas cans (probably tied to roof and filled at nearest station), some larger tools like a shovel, an empty bucket, some trash bags.

Next, I would add food and water. As many cases of water as doable.

For food, it would be empty the pantry of ready to eat foods like cans, heat and serve meals, protein bars, candy and so on.

Next would come the big ice chest with a layer of ice on the bottom. Milk, lunch meat, cheese and what not on top. That goes in the car too.

Each member of the family gets one soft sided duffle type suitcase. Put enough clothes and shoes for 3 to 5 days. Make sure there is extra underwear and socks.

Next comes the stuff bag. This hold toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags and diapers.

Next comes the emergency bag. A shoulder bag with medical supplies and small backup foods like protein bars.

Next are guns. Shotgun goes on the front dashboard or in front of front seat passenger. Hand guns are worn by adults. All carry spare ammunition and more ammunition and long guns are stored in back.

The dog is going to have to find a way to ride in the back with the stuff or at the kids feet in the back.

Once everything is loaded, I will put the bike carrier on the rear hitch. It will hold four bikes. The bike trailer folds and is on the roof.

The first stop will be for gasoline if possible. If not, we ride on what is in the tank and the one full can (five gallons) in the garage now.

I keep maps and routes in the car already. I have no plans to stick to a major interstate or find myself blocked by FEMA troops directing me into a camp for my own "safety".

The key at this point is to have somewhere to go until thing blow over or a place to start over. That is where skills and supplies come in handy.

Think about the recent adaption of the movie 'War of the Worlds' with Tom Cruise. He left New Jersey for Boston. There is a brilliant move. Leave one big crowded place for another. Yes, they wandered through the country, but the plan was to get to a city where mom was.

The guy was caught with his proverbial pants down. You have to be ready for an emergency evacuation with supplies, a survival mindset and a plan. Otherwise, you end up running around the house looking for batteries and mustard.