• Rob T Firefly@lemmy.world
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    19 days ago

    I grew up with food insecurity being a regular thing. Even though my wife and I are, fortunately, both doing reasonably well professionally and have no trouble affording or obtaining groceries, my wife has been very kind about my ingrained need to make sure our well-stocked pantry still contains the big packs of dried rice and dried beans I’ve been conditioned to always have on hand in case things get That Bad again.

  • CrazyLikeGollum@lemmy.world
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    19 days ago

    Just all of my entertainment is stored locally, either on my NAS, or in the form of physical media (books, blu-rays, physical games), so I’m prepared for a long term internet outage. I can also run everything in the house from battery backups and a generator for about three days or possibly up to a week if I immediately turn off everything that’s nonessential. Longer, if I’m in a position to get additional fuel for the generator.

    I also live in an area that’s prone to earthquakes so I have a total of two weeks worth of nonperishable food and water split between the bedroom, office, and main living area of the house. Along with first-aid kits, Tylenol, ibuprofen, emergency blankets, and spare cold weather clothes.

    I’m generally pretty well prepared for the major emergencies that can happen in my region of the world. Those being prolonged internet/cell outages, power outages, and earthquakes.

      • CrazyLikeGollum@lemmy.world
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        19 days ago

        Pretty sure the term “prepper” is just shorthand for “doomsday prepper” or something to that effect. People who think the collapse of civilisation is, if not imminent, a strong possibility within the next human lifetime and are preparing for that.

        I am definitely not that. I just take precautions against the specific emergencies that occur where I live with a level of regularity.

        Blizzards knock out power for hours sometimes into a day or two once or twice a year. We have multiple earthquakes a day, typically in the M1 to M3 range, but M7+ are once a decade events, M9+ are once are century events. Being ready for reasonable natural disasters isn’t prepping, it’s just smart

      • Shiggles@sh.itjust.works
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        19 days ago

        Where do you draw the line? I don’t even live somewhere where it would be reasonable to expect a major disaster, yet I’ve got some water and non perishables set aside “just in case” alongside a crank powered radio and that sort of stuff. It wasn’t that big of an investment, but if there’s some mega blizzard or whatever I’ll be much better off.

  • Tar_Alcaran@sh.itjust.works
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    19 days ago

    Well, I live 5 meters under sea level. The most realistic disaster to happen to me would involve a giant crushing wave of water, and there’s not much you can do to get out of that.

    But since I like backpack hiking, and buying in bulk is cheap, I have something like a month of food, some lifestraws, some water, extra cooking gear, etc.

  • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.org
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    19 days ago

    A water outage lol.

    Last Christmas eve, my meter froze and the water company didn’t consider it an emergency since it wasn’t a geyser. I didn’t have water for 3 days until it thawed.

    Now, I keep several days of water jugs in the basement just in case. Also, my water company sucks.

    • PetteriPano@lemmy.world
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      19 days ago

      Can’t live without water. Our guidelines are to be prepared to be self-sufficient for up to three days in an an emergency.

      I used to have a 20l jug of water on standby, and I’ve had to resort to it twice in eight years because of one planned and one unplanned outage. For the unplanned one my municipality eventually showed up with a water truck on our street so we could refill.

      Now I keep 50 litres and I have a well with my neighbours which I use mostly for watering the garden, but it’s potable. In a prolonged power outage situation I might have to scurry over to the neighbour with a battery and an inverter to keep the pump going.

      • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.org
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        19 days ago

        Yeah, I’ve got four 55-gallon rain barrels I use for watering outside (and I guess flushing if it comes to it). Unfortunately, this summer was a full-on drought and they were kinda useless (though my area did get several days of drizzle during Helene and they finally got filled up).

        I live in the 'burbs so can’t drill a well, unfortunately.

  • Rentlar@lemmy.ca
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    19 days ago

    On solo outdoors-y trips I pack twice as much food and water as I need, a rescue whistle and I inform a trusted relative before and after a remote trip who can get in touch with emergency services if I don’t call back by the morning after.

    At home I honestly would be screwed by an earthquake or major catastrophe… at least I have an up-to-date fire extinguisher and first aid kit in a readily accessible area.

    • AA5B@lemmy.world
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      19 days ago

      But fire extinguishers expire 🤦‍♂️. After I got frustrated by my attempts at preparation always being expired, I discovered fire blankets (I think that’s what they’re called. Now I have them on a hook next to my stove so I can easily smother any fire …best of all, they never expire!

  • fart_pickle@lemmy.world
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    19 days ago

    Well, it’s more than one thing but I don’t consider myself as a prepper.

    • I have a few months’ worth of food both frozen and canned/dried/long lasting.
    • I have enough of flour to bake a bread for a year.
    • I have enough toilet paper, toothpaste, shower gel, soap, cleaning supplies, etc. to use it for 6ish months.
    • I grow my own veggies. Between October and May I don’t buy any veggies and for the whole year I don’t buy spring onion, radishes and herbs.
    • I know how to fix things.
    • I know how to cook.
    • I have several flashlights and radios with a crank (no battery needed).
    • I’m about to install solar panels, wind turbine and rain water collector.
  • Cruxifux@feddit.nl
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    19 days ago

    I have a generator and several heaters, as I live in Canada and own a contracting business. I also have neighbours who prep and have urban chickens, and since I have guns and they do not and am also much stronger than them they are my doomsday back up plan.

  • Tazerface@sh.itjust.works
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    19 days ago

    We prep based on whats happened or likely to happen.

    The most common thing where I live is a power outage. Usually only lasts a half day. Once it was out for 3 days. We have a generator and the gas station isn’t too far away.

    As for a water outage. Usually, we get a letter stating when the water will be out but not always. We have buckets to fill. A couple of times I’ve gone to the store and brought home a couple of water cooler jugs.

    We always keep extra food on hand.

    I mostly prep for digital disasters. Data loss, identity theft, internet outage.

  • RoboRay@lemmy.world
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    19 days ago

    Food distribution breakdown. I have 30 days of non-perishable food stored in the basement.

    Also 4000 rounds of .223 and 3000 rounds of 7.62x39 in sealed ammo cans in the basement in case that isn’t enough food.

  • dumples@midwest.social
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    19 days ago

    I live in the upper Midwest so I pretty much always have supplies in case we get snowed in. When there’s a big storm on the radar we get specific meals for 2+ days. It never really keeps us trapped instead for more than a few hours

  • Jourei@lemm.ee
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    18 days ago

    I fiddle with batteries and very small scale solar. My inverter should be able to handle running my fridge for a few hours.