This what it looks like.  If you'd like me to build you one, the cost is $299.00.  More pics to follow:

Solar Generator

Several months back Ted Koppel released the book, “Lights Out”.  His book explores what it would be like to have a nationwide electrical blackout for a lengthy period and the result of an in-depth look into the vulnerabilities of the nation’s power grid.  More than one reviewer called the book “scary”!  

I have written a few times on the loss of electricity and how to survive a grid-down, experience.  I own a backup generator, but they require fuel.  It is neither practical nor safe to store the amount of fuel needed to see one through a lengthy power failure.  I have calculated I have enough fuel on hand to keep my refrigerator and freezer running until the food contained therein is depleted.  

I have always thought solar energy was cool, but here on the Southern Oregon Coast, sometimes our days are “sunlight hindered” if you get the hint.  I have had some free time on my hands recently and stumbled across a set of online plans for a solar generator I thought was not only practical, but affordable.  This unit is portable, self-contained and capable of light duty usage.  

I based my unit on a Plano toolbox, available at most hardware stores.  The toolbox is built from heavy-duty plastic and seemed big enough to duplicate the plans I had seen online.  I ordered all the components from Amazon.com and in a few days the parts began to arrive.  In true “Tim Taylor” fashion I didn’t precisely follow the online example in that, instead of a 10 watt solar panel, I ordered a 20 watt unit.  After all it wasn’t that much more expensive and we all can use more horsepower. Right?  Instead of one, 12 volt, 18 amp, sealed lead acid battery, I ordered two.  Increased storage capacity you understand.  Then I added a 500 watt inverter and a solar charge controller.  I also added a 12 volt plug-in that looks like a cigarette lighter receptacle and a USB receptacle.  Those I mounted in the lid of the toolbox for ease of access.

After spending a few hours in my shop and three days sitting cross-legged on my living room floor, I have all the pieces assembled and wonder of wonders:  It works!!  Lights light up and when I plug my cell phone into a USB port, the phone goes “ding” and it charges.

As an interesting side note, I plugged a 60 watt floor lamp into the inverter.   The inverter has a readout that lets you know how many watts you are pulling.  The readout boldly proclaimed, “60 watts”.  I unscrewed the incandescent bulb and screwed in an LED bulb, the display:  3 watts. Besides the light is brighter than the regular bulb.  So if you’re agonizing over spending the extra for LEDs, go for it.  They will easily pay for themselves in time and (I haven’t tested this yet) but they seem to last longer than either the compact (spiral) fluorescents or the old school incandescent bulbs.

Please know, this won’t power up your microwave, blow dryer or any major appliance.  It will keep your phones charged, your laptop, tablet, toothbrush, bluetooth speaker, goTenna, battery operated power tools and nearly any other rechargeable device in your inventory.  

My total cost was in the neighborhood of $200.00.  I picked up all my wire and connectors at the local hardware store.  For now this is a work in progress so I will undoubtedly keep fine-tuning for a bit longer.  Also understand, I am not an electrician, but if you have questions about how I did it and where I got the plans, send me an email at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.

Listening to Venezuela

Ask any prepper why they prepare and you’ll get a variety of answers:  Societal collapse, major natural disaster, zombie apocalypse (whatever that is), or nationwide economic breakdown.  If you’ve been following international news, you are probably aware the (socialist) economy in Venezuela is in free-fall.  According to the Associated Press, shortages now top the nation’s list of concerns, even more than safety.  ATM limits of $8.00 per day have not kept pace with triple-digit inflation.  Long lines at pharmacies, banks, gas stations and even the mortuary don’t compare to the lines at grocery stores.  When the grocery supply trucks fling open their doors, no one knows if they will contain pantry staples or dog food.  Identification cards with fingerprint verification are used to monitor grocery purchases and shoppers are restricted to one shopping trip every eight days.  Are you getting the picture?

So what are they really short of?  Everything actually, but primarily, food.  On one hand the Venezuelan government is telling people that it’s illegal to hoard food, and at the same time they tell the citizenry they need to grow their own food. There was no exception or provision for those living in urban apartments.  (Check out my blog entries on growing sprouts in a quart jar.)  Then there’s the shortage of hygiene items.  Laundry soap, toilet tissue, toothpaste, feminine items and paper towels.  The list goes on and on.

How do you prepare against a nationwide shutdown?  Almost the same way you would prepare for any other disaster. With an economic meltdown, there will be little damage to the physical infrastructure.  But every other system, service and supply line will be crippled. Think of what’s on your shopping list and consider what all you would run short of if you couldn’t go to the store for a month, or longer.  Some of us go to the store every day to buy groceries for dinner.  Few people think ahead with no concern for anything ever going wrong.  I wonder if those folks in Venezuela thought their government would somehow make it all okay and ensure their needs were met as always? Many of us in the U.S. are exactly of that opinion.  We relax in the comfy hammock of government oversight and so-called consumer protection, not suspecting how fragile that entire house of cards may be.  Check your pantry, storage closet and supplies to see if you have on hand what what you’d need to survive a protracted period.  If you’re an urban apartment dweller, your needs and plans will differ from those of us in a rural setting.  Urban folks, need to decide to either “shelter-in” or to bug out.  Make your plans now!  City folk need to understand when there are shortages, there will always be those who are not shy about crossing the line to forcibly take what they need.

The phrase, “May you live in interesting times,” seems to be seeking fulfillment these past months.  Increased racial tensions, attacks on police officers, attempted coups, and terrorist activity across the globe make for a pandemic of global instability.  If you think this doesn’t affect you and the security of your loved ones, then snuggle down into your little hammock of denial and trust the government to meet your needs.  

As always, send your comments and questions to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  

Jump Starting Your Food Supply

    Whenever a person thinks of prepping, the first topic that usually comes to mind is food.  What to store, how much to store, how to store, and which store to go to?  There are all kinds of food packages you can purchase.  You can get a year’s supply of dehydrated or freeze-dried fare for $4,000 or a 72 hour kit for one person at WalMart for $64.00.

    I’m going to give you a list of items you can buy at your local grocery store, things that you would probably have on hand anyway.  The dehydrated kits you buy generally tout a 25-year shelf life.  So the normal things you purchase, should be rotated out every few months or so.  One rule of thumb when it comes to storing up food is;  buy food that your body is accustomed to eating!  During a disaster, your system will be on overload anyway, and there is no benefit to introducing a whole new menu to your gastric system in a time of crisis.  

    Some people lay in backpacking freeze-dried food to be eaten when the time comes.  That is all well and good, unless you have never tried those entrees and you experience a revolt of sorts when you’re already stressed out anyway.  Store food to which your body is already accustomed!   

Here’s the beginning of a shopping list:  (The second half will come next week.)

1.  20 lbs of rice.  Rice seems pretty boring, but it is filling, nutritious and adaptable to a wide variety of entrees.

2.  20 lbs of pinto beans.  Beans are also a valuable part of every storage plan.  Combined with rice they fulfill a protein need in your menu.

3.  20 cans of vegetables.  Green beans, peas, corn and canned tomatoes are a good start.  Buy what you already eat and enjoy.

4.  20 cans of fruit.  Peaches, pears, pineapple, fruit cocktail, all to your taste.  

5.  20 cans of meat.  Chicken, tuna, shrimp, salmon, vienna sausages, beef stew and don’t forget Spam.  Those square cans fit really well on the shelf and if it’s fried, you can make the kids believe it is “camping bacon.”  It worked for my kids anyway.  I even recently found some canned roast beef.

6.  4 lbs of oats.  A warm bowl of oatmeal can be a welcome meal any time of day.  Topped with some canned fruit, it makes a refreshing treat.

7. 2 (or more) large jars of peanut butter.  A good source of protein and surprisingly filling.  Tastes good too!

8.  Pick up a supply of powdered drink mix.  Tang, Crystal Light or similar product.  Make sure it’s loaded with vitamin C.

9.  5 lbs of powdered milk.  It’s great protein and is loaded with other nutrients.  It’s filling and can be used on that oatmeal as well.

10.  5 lbs of salt.  Salt is an essential for survival as well as a food enhancer.  Our bodies need salt to survive.

    You don’t need to fill this shopping list all at once.  Watch for sales.  Pay attention to the “buy one, get one” promotions.  Use coupons.  One reader told me she saved several thousand dollars in just one year by using coupons.  At the same time she built a substantial pantry for use in a disaster.  

    As always, send your comments and questions to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  

Jump Start Your Food Supply

Part II

    Last week we began a shopping list of groceries to get started with your food storage plan.  These are everyday items you can buy at any food market.  All the experts recommend storing food with which your body is already familiar.  In the event of a disaster, everyone’s system is under stress and introducing strange food into your diet will only serve to sideline you at a time when you need to be 100%.  

    Don’t try to do this all at once.  Watch the sales, shop the bargains and buy what you know.  You can get the dehydrated meals if you like, and they will keep you alive, and they do look good stacked in your pantry, but I’m willing to wager that you’ve never tasted them.  

    If you missed last week’s column, you can check my blog (see below) in a few weeks for a complete list.

11. 10 lbs of pancake mix.  Buy the “just add water” variety, such as Krusteaz. Simple to make, easy to fix and everybody’s familiar with hotcakes.  Don’t forget a jug of syrup

12.  2 lbs of honey and 2 jars of jam.  Everybody needs a little sweetness.

13.  10 lbs of pasta. Again, easy to fix, familiar to everyone and a great comfort food.

14.  10 cans or jars of spaghetti sauce.  Goes great with the pasta.  Cheap and satisfying. It’s not homemade, but it does dress up the pasta.

15.  20 cans of soup or broth or soup mixes.  The beauty of soup is that they are a budget friendly, all-in-one meal solution and most require only water for preparation.

16.  1 large jug of cooking oil. Olive oil, vegetable oil, coconut or some other cooking oil, but definitely get some.

17.  Spices and condiments.  “Spice” up your pasta and oatmeal with some of the spices you already have in your cupboard and are accustomed to using, but lay in some extra.  Garlic, pepper, tabasco, all your favorites.

18.  5 lbs of coffee and 100 tea bags.  For some of us life just isn’t life without our coffee.  Tea can be therapeutic and soothing as well.

19.  2 large bags of hard candies.  Peppermints, butterscotch and lemon drops can go a long way toward making a hard situation bearable.

20.  Flashlight and extra batteries.  Lots of extra batteries.  Ok, I know, this isn’t edible.  But you can never have enough flashlights and batteries.  

    Now I know what you’re saying.  There are a lot of essentials I forgot.  Remember this is a “starter” list.  Some might say we need flour, wheat, yeast, and other baking necessities.   Quite frankly a whole lot of folks today don’t have a clue what to do with flour, nor do they have an oven that works without electricity.  Those things,  and others,  are important and should be a part of every food plan so don’t pass them up for your comprehensive plan.

    As always, send your questions and comments to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  

Grown-Up Skills

    A recent posting on Facebook pointed out that thirty percent of college freshmen didn’t know how to boil an egg, 52% of American teens can’t change a tire, and 70% had no idea how to sew on a button.   

    A quick online search found a 1933 Harper’s magazine article titled “Skills Every Man Should Know.”  Eighty years later the list is a bit out-dated, listing items such as, How to Dance, How to Drink (yep you heard it right), How to Swim, Ride a Horse and the list goes on.  Certain European countries historically required driver’s license applicants to demonstrate their ability to change a tire and clean spark plugs.  Most countries no longer require these skills with the wane of 2-cycle engines and modern tire quality upgrades.

    I have a friend who calls the handyman to hang a picture in his office.  I don’t necessarily advocate that every person be proficient in handyman skills depending on their individual situation.  If you live in the city, you might not need to have chainsaw skills, nor have developed the ability to do your own fix-it jobs around the house, but in the event of a disaster, Y.O.Y.O.  (You’re on your own.)  It will be difficult to hire someone to screw plywood over your busted window, or to repair your fractured plumbing.  You get the picture.  

    I recall some years ago, we were in a caravan headed to Mexico to help some folks.  One of the vehicles lost the lights to their cargo trailer.  I handed my son a screwdriver, knife and a roll of electrical tape.  He got right on it.  The car’s owner asked, “How did you learn to do that?”  I looked at him with a look of, “doesn’t everyone know this?”  No, not everyone does.  Some think these skills are beneath them.  Some think these things are too difficult to learn, and yet some think they will just magically learn this stuff when the time comes.  

So if there’s a chance you might need a chainsaw, get one and learn to use it.  How about a battery powered drill for screwing that plywood over your window?  Some basic PVC plumbing pieces and a can of glue will make you a hero when the pipes break.  

    First aid skills are always in need during a disaster.  What you know may save a life, maybe even your own or that of a family member.  Now’s a great time to upgrade your knowledge.  Check out the training available on www.redcross.org.  Take a look at your first aid kit, make sure it’s well-stocked.  

    If you lack skills, then it is important you connect with your neighbors and combine your resources.  I’m willing to bet there’s someone in your neighborhood that has the skills you may lack.  Mapping your neighborhood will not only help you get acquainted, but will combine the skills and knowledge of your neighbors in the event of a disaster. If you want more information on Mapping Your Neighborhood, contact me by email and I will forward information to you.

    As always, send your comments and questions to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.

...five smooth stones

No conversation involving Disaster Preparedness is complete without at a mention of the topic of guns.  I usually purposely avoid the subject because of strong feelings on both sides of the issue.  But let me draw a line here;  I am a former police officer (15 years), Air Force veteran (Vietnam) conservative, Republican, Christian, NRA member, and (these days) infrequent hunter.  I am also aware that in the event of disaster the police, fire and other first responders are going to have their hands full with someone else’s emergency.  That, coupled with the lack of restraint  of a certain criminal element during times of distress makes a very good case for gun ownership.  

So now comes the part where you choose a firearm.  I have compiled a list, not of specific brands, but of general types.  If you are entirely opposed to the concept of responsible gun-ownership, then read no farther and remember to call 911 when you need help.

First, a good all-purpose firearm is a shotgun.  A .12 gauge shotgun can handle a wide range of ammo, smaller “shot” for small birds and animals, rifled slug for deer and larger game, and 00 buck for home defense. Few sounds strike terror in the heart of bad guys like the sound of a shell being “racked” into the chamber of a .12 gauge shotgun.   Second, a good quality .22 rifle.  Many good brands are on the market and even though there has been a shortage of ammunition the past couple of years, it still is a great all-purpose firearm for a wide range of needs.  Small game, inexpensive target practice and in many cases, personal defense.  Next, a good hunting rifle.  Most of us get our preferences from our dads, 30-30, .270, 30-06, 308, and 7mm are all popular calibers for hunting deer, elk or even bear.  The bolt-action is the most popular and most reliable. So if your preparedness plan includes hunting for your fresh meat at up to 300 (or more) yards, start doing your research and choose what hunting rifle fits you best.

    Mention of the next two always stir up controversy.  First is a good quality handgun.  Handgun ownership requires training, practice and responsible behavior. Your choice of handgun depends on your purpose for carrying.  Do you intend to buy a handgun for the purpose of concealed carry? (Check on local laws.)  Do you intend to just take it to the range for target practice, or will it rest in a secure location in your home ready to repel a home-invasion?  Be sure to get advice from more than one person as everyone has their own opinion regarding which one to purchase. There are decisions to make like which caliber, which style and whether or not you need a revolver or semi-auto pistol.  Some people actually know what they’re talking about while some only have an opinion based on purchase price and possibly a one-time experience.  

Lastly, when all chaos and lawlessness breaks loose in your neighborhood, there’s nothing that compares with a military-style semi-automatic rifle.  The most popular models are either based on the AR-15 originally designed by Armalite or the AK Russian version designed by Dr/Gen. Kalashnikov.  A man with a rifle has options.  The AR fires an intermediate power cartridge useful for longer range engagements and devastating at close ranges.  Commonality with most law enforcement and U.S. Military.  Easy to obtain parts and accessories.  Lightweight, with low recoil and very accurate.

As always send your comments, arguments and politically correct rationale to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  Dave Robinson is the Postmaster in Bandon, Oregon, and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” available on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com, and other online booksellers.