Bugging in

[ChrisS]

I know some of you have "bug out" bags and "get home" bags, but do any of you have bugging in plans?
I'm trying to plan out my "bug in" storage, incase of a snow storm that knocks out my power. My house is fully electric and I can't have a generator cause I rent.

[OctagonGecko729]

Well, it all depends on how long you plan to bug in for. Typically a storm is only going to disable power for 1-8 weeks, for the BPs your going to need 40 hour heat packs (you do the time calculations). Your also going to need feeders if you have younger BPs so I'd either breed rodents or have some method to preserve F/Ts and heat F/Ts when the power is out. Heating the rodents is probably easier then preserving because you could just use the heatpacks.

As for yourself, you really won't see killer temperatures in NC for humans. It gets cold in the winter but thats nothing that bedding materiel, sleeping bags, and sharing body heat can't solve. Heat can be dangerous if your older or super young but you can still live through even the worst heat waves so long as you have plenty of water, stay out of the sun during the day, and do light work only. For water your going to need many many gallons for 8 weeks worth, just for yourself. Regular white rice is a really good food to store (just be sure to store it in metal buckets, damn rats ), you can prepare it with just water and no heat but it will take a few hours to soak up the water. You can supplement the rice with canned foods. I'm not sure how you feel about personal security but a firearm or two would be a good idea. So is a medium-large dog although they can not be counted on to protect you.

[ChrisS]

My snakes will be safe as I have colubrids and the are brumating anyways. But I will have to do some sort of heat as I have a 2 year old. I've been thinking about using propane as a heater and to cook on. I have a small store of rice beans and assorted canned veggies. No dogs cause I rent and I'm not allowed any, and I've been looking for a gun.

[youbeyouibei]

If you use the propane idea, be sure to ventilate. CO poisoning isn't a good thing. Chlorinated water is potable for up to a year. If you buy the five gallon jugs at Lowe's, Walmart, wherever and have enough on hand to last you 3 months, you'd be fine. Cycle them through (use the "oldest" ones first and replace them with the "newest" bottles) and you'll be fine on that, depending how many people you're looking to keep hydrated and for how long. Figure out the calculations, add some for evaporation/cooking, etc. and you'll know how many jugs to have. A trashcan root cellar would be handy to have and it's cheap. If you have a garden (I know you said you rent, wasn't sure if that was an option or not) or even a small vegetable tray in a window or outdoor space, it's a great way to store veggies/some fruits for a few months or up to several years, depending on the plant. Food dehydrator, plenty of .22 LR ammo and a gun or guns to shoot, a copy of "The Encyclopedia of Country Living". A .22 is fairly quiet, accurate enough for small game and large if it came down to it and you hit them right and the ammo is so cheap you can buy several thousand rounds for the price of a case of center fire ammo. Maybe extra gas on hand that you cycle out similar to the water; you could charge necessities via your car if you have an electric inverter or if whatever you're charging would plug into a cigarette lighter. There are all kinds of web-sites that have lists/recommendations for that type of thing, depending on if you're bugging out or in. Some of them are hilarious to read (for instance, when the Mothership comes back, some of them aren't leaving!) and others have some really useful information and resource recommendations.