Newbie getting started

[Bigfoot]

I have been wanting to prepare for awhile now and just havent done much except a few survival items but now it is time to get serious since I just got married and need to look after my wife. My biggest fear is the grid going down since I live in an apartment and in the suburbs of a major city. Here is what I have :
Security: I have plenty in the gun and ammo dept. I think I am in good shape for security except I am about to buy my wife a 22 caliber handgun to begin her firearm training. I will have her gun by July. I believe that training her is my next step for security.
Food: Im working on it now. I have 10 1/2 gallon jars of rice 6 1/2 gallon jars of beans. 18 mountain house meals plus some canned goods and our normal food. My goal by the end of this month is to put another 40 lbs of rice in jars again and a 40 lb bag of beans plus buy a few of the larger cans from mountain house of chix, ground beef and sliced beef. After I get those secured then I need to work on the next step. ???? Need help on that.
Water: I keep no less than 50 to 55 gallons of water in plastic bottles of various sizes and I have a zero water filter. Im thinking I need a berkey water filter next. My bug out bag has plenty of iodine and water treatment tablets plus a katadyn water filter.
Power: Lacking for now!!! However I plan on buying a solar generator in the next 4 to 5 weeks. Bluetti AC200P and a faraday bag for it. Ive got lots of batteries in 2a 3a D from costco. I have a few lanterns and flashlights but could use a little more. I keep 12 long term candles for power outages. Need more of course. I have one solar powered bank charger for phone.
Shelter: Not good since we live on the first floor of an apartment. I am an avid camper and outdoorsman so living in a tent is no problem for us. However my best friend has a property west of austin that we have as a last resort bug out location. I do need to keep gas stored in case we need to make it out there without gas available.

Oh yeah when I first started out thinking I wanted to be a prepper I did what everybody else does which is build a bug out bag first. I actually almost used it once when hurricane harvey hit us. That made me realize what I really need in that bag which is clothes, hygiene, food, knife, and water purification.

This is my start so any advice and constructive criticism is welcome.

 

[Bigfoot]

I forgot first aid which I do have a dedicated first aid bag that needs some improvement.

 

[Schattentarn]

Welcome Bigfoot. Suggestion: bump your wife's gun up to at least 32 caliber and much better yet to 38. A 22 just does not have the stopping power necessary. At least that is what my local gun store advises.

 

[Proud Prepper]

Add seasoning, salt pepper, garlic, bullion cubes etc.., siege, honey, soy sauce, vinager, coconut oil, flour, pasta etc.. Your location keeps you from storing what you should.


Defitnetly get a Berkey. Gallon size containers are great. Your location limits your storage.


That's a great start. Don't forget power for cooking and warmth. If you have a balcony or small yard, a cooking fire pit or propane grill is great to have.



I would store enough gas with stabilizer or use and replace every 4/5 months, to reach your friends property. I would see about storing some supplies at your friends property.

Welcome from a top secret location that only 175 people know about.


Move to better rural location as soon as possible.


Security: I have plenty in the gun and ammo dept. I think I am in good shape for security except I am about to buy my wife a 22 caliber handgun to begin her firearm training. I will have her gun by July. I believe that training her is my next step for security.

Good job on security.


Food: Im working on it now. I have 10 1/2 gallon jars of rice 6 1/2 gallon jars of beans. 18 mountain house meals plus some canned goods and our normal food. My goal by the end of this month is to put another 40 lbs of rice in jars again and a 40 lb bag of beans plus buy a few of the larger cans from mountain house of chix, ground beef and sliced beef. After I get those secured then I need to work on the next step. ???? Need help on that.

Add seasoning, salt pepper, garlic, bullion cubes etc.., siege, honey, soy sauce, vinager, coconut oil, flour, pasta etc.. Your location keeps you from storing what you should.




Defitnetly get a Berkey. Gallon size containers are great. Your location limits your storage.

That's a great start. Don't forget power for cooking and warmth. If you have a balcony or small yard, a cooking fire pit or propane grill is great to have.

Shelter: Not good since we live on the first floor of an apartment. I am an avid camper and outdoorsman so living in a tent is no problem for us. However my best friend has a property west of austin that we have as a last resort bug out location. I do need to keep gas stored in case we need to make it out there without gas available.

I would store enough gas with stabilizer or use and replace every 4/5 months, to reach your friends property. I would see about storing some supplies at your friends property.
Welcome from a top secret location that only 175 people know about.

Good luck, your off to a good start.

 

[Kevin L]

The best way to prep (in my opinion) is to stockpile knowledge and education over hoarded stuff.

Take courses in small engine repair, first aid, rappelling (especially in the urban environment that you live in), veterinary stuff, and so forth.

You can--in some community colleges--actually become an LPN (licensed practical nurse) for the same amount of money that one would spend on some types of assault rifles.

All of the advice and book learning that one has access to on the Internet is great, but I believe that every person's situation is unique and different . . . so what works for me may be very bad and wasteful for you, and vice-versa.

Keep in mind that we almost always think that we need more than we really do. Prepping is not about maintaining our wasteful Western lifestyle of instant gratification but, rather, keeping alive and healthy under adverse conditions.

We must become accustomed to the idea that austerity and delayed gratification will become the norm, and that we will have to depend upon ourselves for things that are normally taken care of by the State.

I was a relief worker after Hurricane Andrew, and it was frightening to see how quickly people devolved. People were looting for luxury items (like stereos and televisions) that were not neccesary for life.

So, if you want to prep, start by joining a gym, getting educated, and deciding how you will live with no Internet, cable television, and so forth.

Survival will be hard work, and part of prepping should be getting in shape, losing excess weight, getting dental work taken care of, and having all vaccines up to date.

Decide how you will function without your vices. Giving up alcohol and tobacco will allow you extra funds to buy canned foods and other supplies . . . and will beone less thing to worry about after the s----t hits the fan.

 

[Trihonda]

Welcome.. lots to think about, and there’s a lot to do. You’ve made a good start, but you’re far from prepared.

i think you’re limited by a number of things.. location, storage, etc. apartment and urban survival are tough. Hard to store enough food and supplies in an apartment, unless you’re willing to take over a good part of a bedroom. I think your 1/2 gal jars need to be replaced with 5g buckets with Mylar sealed food (rice, beans, salt, oats, grains, etc). I also think you need water sourcing... filters are required. You can make your own Berkey style filter easily with 5gal buckets (check out youtube).

you live in an apartment, in an urban environment.. you don’t have a very secure location if the SHTF. You need people to stand watches, and a defensible location. not sure of the viability of your buddies place, but I’d consider making that a priority, maybe storing food there (If he had the extra room?). Safety in numbers is a key consideration... surviving on your own, camping, is not a long term solution (At least not while toting around a ton of 1/2g jars of food.

i echo what others have said, about studying, learning, developing skills needed to be self reliant. Skills are a much better way to make sure people want you around post SHTF...

again, welcome!

 

[Proud Prepper]

The best way to prep (in my opinion) is to stockpile knowledge and education over hoarded stuff.

Take courses in small engine repair, first aid, rappelling (especially in the urban environment that you live in), veterinary stuff, and so forth.

You can--in some community colleges--actually become an LPN (licensed practical nurse) for the same amount of money that one would spend on some types of assault rifles.

All of the advice and book learning that one has access to on the Internet is great, but I believe that every person's situation is unique and different . . . so what works for me may be very bad and wasteful for you, and vice-versa.

Keep in mind that we almost always think that we need more than we really do. Prepping is not about maintaining our wasteful Western lifestyle of instant gratification but, rather, keeping alive and healthy under adverse conditions.

We must become accustomed to the idea that austerity and delayed gratification will become the norm, and that we will have to depend upon ourselves for things that are normally taken care of by the State.

I was a relief worker after Hurricane Andrew, and it was frightening to see how quickly people devolved. People were looting for luxury items (like stereos and televisions) that were not neccesary for life.

So, if you want to prep, start by joining a gym, getting educated, and deciding how you will live with no Internet, cable television, and so forth.

Survival will be hard work, and part of prepping should be getting in shape, losing excess weight, getting dental work taken care of, and having all vaccines up to date.

Decide how you will function without your vices. Giving up alcohol and tobacco will allow you extra funds to buy canned foods and other supplies . . . and will beone less thing to worry about after the s----t hits the fan.

Yeah if you have the time for it. This is great advice for long term prepping, if you have a few years before a major SHTF event. Do what your doing asap.
NOT ALL vaccines should be up to date.

 

[Kevin L]

Yeah if you have the time for it. This is great advice for long term prepping, if you have a few years before a major SHTF event. Do what your doing asap.
NOT ALL vaccines should be up to date.

Which vaccines are you concerned about?

After SHTF, people will be under considerable stress (which weakens the immune system), hygiene and water supplies will be questionable at best, and access to decent food may be sporadic and unreliable. There will also be very limited access to medical care.

Under these conditions, disease will flourish. Any possible vaccine should be up to date . . . especially because a disease that's inconveinient before a disaster can easily become life-threatening under the conditions I described.

What's with the resistance to vaccines?

 

[Bigfoot]

Welcome Bigfoot. Suggestion: bump your wife's gun up to at least 32 caliber and much better yet to 38. A 22 just does not have the stopping power necessary. At least that is what my local gun store advises.

I agree that the mouse guns (22 25 and 32) are not the best calibers for self defense. But a 22LR is perfect for beginners and she enjoys shooting that round. Hopefully one day I can move her up to a 38. I have had my eye on a walther PPK for some time now in 38 so that may be in the future for sure. But teaching her on a 22LR will make things much easier for her to learn. I know i wouldnt want to get shot with a 22lr. MY 1st goal is to teach her everything about a DA/SA pistol and how to use it properly and to be able to load it and also clear any malfunctions while firing. After that we move on to the next step. Whatever that is. Baby steps for now. Lots to catch up on.

 

[Bigfoot]

The best way to prep (in my opinion) is to stockpile knowledge and education over hoarded stuff.

Take courses in small engine repair, first aid, rappelling (especially in the urban environment that you live in), veterinary stuff, and so forth.

You can--in some community colleges--actually become an LPN (licensed practical nurse) for the same amount of money that one would spend on some types of assault rifles.

All of the advice and book learning that one has access to on the Internet is great, but I believe that every person's situation is unique and different . . . so what works for me may be very bad and wasteful for you, and vice-versa.

Keep in mind that we almost always think that we need more than we really do. Prepping is not about maintaining our wasteful Western lifestyle of instant gratification but, rather, keeping alive and healthy under adverse conditions.

We must become accustomed to the idea that austerity and delayed gratification will become the norm, and that we will have to depend upon ourselves for things that are normally taken care of by the State.

I was a relief worker after Hurricane Andrew, and it was frightening to see how quickly people devolved. People were looting for luxury items (like stereos and televisions) that were not neccesary for life.

So, if you want to prep, start by joining a gym, getting educated, and deciding how you will live with no Internet, cable television, and so forth.

Survival will be hard work, and part of prepping should be getting in shape, losing excess weight, getting dental work taken care of, and having all vaccines up to date.

Decide how you will function without your vices. Giving up alcohol and tobacco will allow you extra funds to buy canned foods and other supplies . . . and will beone less thing to worry about after the s----t hits the fan.

This is probably the best advice I will receive. Luckily my vices are very few so alcohol and tobacco were given up back in my 30's when a hangover only lasted to the next morning. Preparing mentally is hard work but in my opinion I think you have given the "best advice" there is.

 

[Bigfoot]

thank you!!

 

[MOS0231]

Welcome Bigfoot.

You seem to have a good idea of what you want and where you may have holes in your preps, some of which are out of you control (i.e. apartment location).

In the Marines we looked at it like this:
-Food: Not only what you have on hand (rice, beans, freeze dried etc), but what can be harvested in the immediate area, be it hunting/gathering or growing your own (rabbits, gardens). Due to your location, might be a bit limited on the small livestock and gardens.
-Water: You seem to have that one covered, but Murphy is always lurking.
-Shelter: This one is not only your living space, but clothing. How did you fare in the TX Arctic Blast? Any lessons learned there? In Shelter I also include how to heat or cook food.
-Security: Not just the things that, "SQUEEZE TRIGGER! GO BANG!" but how to harden your position/apartment. I also include any medications and your physical fitness as security. Mental security too. I read more than a few reports of people who were without power for a week during the TX Arctic Blast, no internet, phones/tables dead, some had to creative of how to keep themselves entertained and not getting into a funk. Now imagine that in a grid down situation for a year or longer.

I agree with Kevin L in regards to knowledge. Never too late to learn. Get the practical application too.

Hope this helps.

 

[Oddcaliber]

Welcome from Louisiana. I'm in pretty much the same situation you are in. Living in an apartment sucks for storage but I find room for my preps. If the wife can hit with a 22 that's better than a miss with a 44. Gradually move her up to what she can handle effectively. 38 special is a good choice. Cover the basics, beans bullets and bandages and learn how to use what you have. Plenty of good people and knowledge here.

 

[Schattentarn]

Experts in the shooting world say technique trumps technology. You guys are making that point also. It is a great point.

 

[Dracos]

This is probably the best advice I will receive. Luckily my vices are very few so alcohol and tobacco were given up back in my 30's when a hangover only lasted to the next morning. Preparing mentally is hard work but in my opinion I think you have given the "best advice" there is.

Do your best. Never give up. Thems that don't die have children don't also.

 

[Dracos]

Welcome Bigfoot.

You seem to have a good idea of what you want and where you may have holes in your preps, some of which are out of you control (i.e. apartment location).

In the Marines we looked at it like this:
-Food: Not only what you have on hand (rice, beans, freeze dried etc), but what can be harvested in the immediate area, be it hunting/gathering or growing your own (rabbits, gardens). Due to your location, might be a bit limited on the small livestock and gardens.
-Water: You seem to have that one covered, but Murphy is always lurking.
-Shelter: This one is not only your living space, but clothing. How did you fare in the TX Arctic Blast? Any lessons learned there? In Shelter I also include how to heat or cook food.
-Security: Not just the things that, "SQUEEZE TRIGGER! GO BANG!" but how to harden your position/apartment. I also include any medications and your physical fitness as security. Mental security too. I read more than a few reports of people who were without power for a week during the TX Arctic Blast, no internet, phones/tables dead, some had to creative of how to keep themselves entertained and not getting into a funk. Now imagine that in a grid down situation for a year or longer.

I agree with Kevin L in regards to knowledge. Never too late to learn. Get the practical application too.

Hope this helps.

What an incredible well prepared person giving good advice to a fellow survivor!

 

[jontte]

welcome from Fin,
with that first aid bag, hope you know how to use the stuff too?

have you scouted out what you have in your surroundings?
any places for supplies? just in case a good paper map where you mark out specific places..

 

[Bigfoot]

Luckily I live on a golf course and keep a bucket of balls so I may be able to play a little and if things do go bad quickly I will be out night hunting my area with a crossbow (which I still need to buy). I live just south of houston in Dickinson so lots of woods around and plenty of game believe it or not. I have been watching a hog every night about 150 yards off the main road. I figure if things do go bad the animals will be taken out but I will get a few before they are gone for sure.

I have taken a first aid class but it isnt enough. I do keep a sas medical book in my first aid bag for reference.

Thank you MOSO for mentioning security. I have put a lot of thought in to defending my apt and thankfully it will be easy to do. The door is always the easiest entrance in an appt but I have a wall just 3.5 ft from the door that I can brace things against to make that door rock solid. I will definitely scrounge some wood for my 2 windows. If things go really bad we will sleep in a corner where gunshots through the window will not reach us and keep our stuff packed up and ready to go at a moments notice in case of fire.

Im an avid pig hunter, camper and ex fishing guide so my outdoor skills are honed. My favorite type of camping is in cold weather so the storm was no problem for us. I have propane stoves and 2 mr buddy heaters and plenty of propane it was just like our last camping trip to inks lake when it got down in the lower 20's in january. I live in houston but I hate the heat. Bring on the cold. I will be busting ass this summer and trying to get things up to my first level of preparedness by September. After that regroup take a look at my preps and try to get an honest assessment of what I need to do next.

 

[Bigfoot]

Thanks again for yalls experience.

 

[Dani]

Welcome to the forum. You are not too far away from me with just a few hours. I would suggest start growing a "garden" even if it is in raised beds of your porch area. Herbs to add into your beans and rice would do a lot for moral. I have a "kitchen garden" off my back porch in raised beds that has the majority of my herbs along with a few tomatoes and peppers. Just a suggestion since you live in an apartment. I would just try to utilize everything I could at this time. I would also look into bulk buying of seeds. Check out your local feed stores to see if they sell in bulk. It is much cheaper buying that way. Store them in the freezer. If you have to go out to your buddies house, that is just a benefit and you can "repay him" for the safe harbor.

 

[Bigfoot]

I wish I had a geen thumb but I do not. I kill every plant my mom gives me from her collection. She has a green thumb and a garden so that is probably the best I can do. Scrounge off of her.

 

[Kevin L]

Remember that prepping isn't just about guns. I collect guns, so I have more than I need. Try--if you can--to experiment with small, portable solar panels that can be hooked up to a battery charger.

Some of the modern nickle-metal hydride and rechargable lithium ion batteries can be recharged over 500 times . . . if they are used correctly and treated well.

I can keep my AAA, AA, A, C, and D batteries charged up. I also have rechargable CR2 and C123 batteries for my tactical flashlights and the laser/light combo that's mounted on my Glock 19.

Stock up on extra diabetic supplies (if that applies to you), and a D.C.-powered thermoelectric cooler coupled with solar panels and lead-acid batteries. Insulin--if stored properly--can last up to two years. If you're a diabetic (or a beloved family member is a diabetic), then you know which supplies to stockpile.

None of these measures--taken together--run more than $1,500.00 or so . . . and anyone who's handy with electronics and has a tenacious hunger for the best bargin could slash this expense considerably.

Consider Craig's List "freecycle."

I love freecycle. I have gotten totally functional bicycles, excellent and well-fitting hiking boots, and many other necessities for free.

I love freecycle, as I think it cuts down on landfill, and is better for the environment.

I hope this helps.

 

[Dani]

I would suggest you at least try to grow what you can right now, Your mom does so you must have some of her genes in you too. This would be a major boost for your family and once you get the basis down, you would do much better out "in the wild" so to speak. If you dont have mom's green thumb, learn the how to's now because time is running out and is very important, at least for me. ONCE YOU GET THAT DOWN, LEARN HOW TO PRESERVE YOUR EXTRAS. You have the opportunity to grow year around in this area, Even in the heat of the summer dry beans are always a great option,

 

[Bigfoot]

I never said prepping was about guns. I actually lost all of my guns in a boating accident.

 

[Kevin L]

I never said prepping was about guns. I actually lost all of my guns in a boating accident.

I understand.

I've heard stories of people assembling Glocks from %80.00 receiver, only to turn them in at gun buy-backs just so they could get a piece of paper with an official record to justify why you might be short by several guns, let us say.

I have--lately--been practicing with my compound bow. I studied a form of Japanese meditation (in college) involving the bow and arrow . . . along with the religious and spiritual aspects of it, and it was extremely interesting.

I have found that most of these principles apply equally to the compound bow.

I do plan on adding a comprehensive hunter's compound crossbow to my collection, along with more mechanical broadheads and graphite-composite quarrels.

 

[MOS0231]

What an incredible well prepared person giving good advice to a fellow survivor!

I do not know if I would go that far.
I know more than some, less than others.
I have done more than some, less than others.
The important thing is to be brutally objective in assessing oneself in their knowledge, preps, training, and passing on that knowledge to others.
No one is born an expert in anything (except eating, pooping, sleeping, and crying). That comes with time and experience.
Took me no small number of years to get where I am today.

 

[MOS0231]

Luckily I live on a golf course and keep a bucket of balls so I may be able to play a little and if things do go bad quickly I will be out night hunting my area with a crossbow (which I still need to buy). I live just south of houston in Dickinson so lots of woods around and plenty of game believe it or not. I have been watching a hog every night about 150 yards off the main road. I figure if things do go bad the animals will be taken out but I will get a few before they are gone for sure.

I have taken a first aid class but it isnt enough. I do keep a sas medical book in my first aid bag for reference.

Thank you MOSO for mentioning security. I have put a lot of thought in to defending my apt and thankfully it will be easy to do. The door is always the easiest entrance in an appt but I have a wall just 3.5 ft from the door that I can brace things against to make that door rock solid. I will definitely scrounge some wood for my 2 windows. If things go really bad we will sleep in a corner where gunshots through the window will not reach us and keep our stuff packed up and ready to go at a moments notice in case of fire.

Im an avid pig hunter, camper and ex fishing guide so my outdoor skills are honed. My favorite type of camping is in cold weather so the storm was no problem for us. I have propane stoves and 2 mr buddy heaters and plenty of propane it was just like our last camping trip to inks lake when it got down in the lower 20's in january. I live in houston but I hate the heat. Bring on the cold. I will be busting ### this summer and trying to get things up to my first level of preparedness by September. After that regroup take a look at my preps and try to get an honest assessment of what I need to do next.

What are the walls of you apartment like?
Frame and stick?
When I was a volunteer firefighter, in some structure fires, going through the front door was not an option.
You would be amazed what axes, sledges, or a really big chainsaw can do on modern construction (frame and stick) homes.
Heck, even water.

 

[GaRp58]

No one is born an expert in anything (except eating, pooping, sleeping, and crying). That comes with time and experience.
Took me no small number of years to get where I am today.

So far you have gotten lots of info and advice Bigfoot. Listen to each and every piece, decide how it applies to you and your situation--at the moment-
Remember how well our soldiers are supplied with the best of weapons, equipment and clothing in all weather environments around the world, OK? They still die at the hands of the weather, bad plans, bad orders and bad decisions made above their heads over bad info and other problems. Even the best prepardness can meet a loss, accept the fact and move on. Each situation you have met in your life, you have mastered and learned from to get to where you are NOW: (like MOS 0231) it is ok to make mistakes, if you learn from them...if you do not learn anything, then you are making another mistake...try not to repeat your mistakes, this steals your energy, time and money.
#you are on the right road, prepping is a marathon and not a sprint...#
The only thing I could add to the other comments would be to get your wife to take a look and make a test fire of a Ruger .32 Magnum. I have found out that it hits harder than a .38, but does not kick as much, so as to let her get a second round downrange and on target faster to the reduced hand position recovery...with silver tips or Glaser safety slugs, she would get more knock-down with less stress for herself...live free, Gary

 

[Bigfoot]

What are the walls of you apartment like?
Frame and stick?
When I was a volunteer firefighter, in some structure fires, going through the front door was not an option.
You would be amazed what axes, sledges, or a really big chainsaw can do on modern construction (frame and stick) homes.
Heck, even water.

Typical construction for this area. 2x4 construction with thin 1/2 in sheetrock walls. Luckily the exterior is brick. I will go down fighting if they start coming through the walls. They will definitely meet a hail of bullets. Which reminds me that I probably need some type of bullet proof vest for my wife and one for me also.

 

[jontte]

if / when you get some bullet proof stuff, take your time to get accustomed with it, you'll be amazed how much you need water when wearing those things,

when I had one of my reserve traingings the instructor could tell pretty accurately when you did your service from the shooting stance, when I did mine ; no vests ,so it was something I had to learn again with the vest, whole new moves so you don't get stucked at some mag pocket with your rifle butt,
much work,but fun anyway..