OT: Emergency Kits

[StainlessSteelCynic]

I hope that you and yours are ok!

Longest I have ever dealt with no electricity was three days. Thank God it was in the middle of Winter, and a nasty snow/ice storm. Did not have to worry about food spoilage. Had plenty of wood for the fire place. Other wise, it was get down, stay down, stay warm, watch over wife and kids.

My $0.02

Mike

Thanks for the well wishes and yeah, we've got through without any injuries to people, pets or property so far. There's still storms in the area and we lost electricity for a few hours again last night. Some people in the worst hit areas have lost roofing and trees have been blown down onto fences, sheds and houses causing damage. The power company is still busy with repairs to the electricity network.

Somewhat ironically, I bought the generator months back because due to some repairs, my house was going to be without electricity for six days.
At the time I thought it would be a used for the week and then the gen would go into long term storage.

I even considered replacing it with something smaller because I didn't think I really needed a generator with the capacity to run a house but as it turned out, a few months later I needed it again.
Just goes to show that anything can and does happen so some prior preparation makes a big difference.

[pmulcahy11b]

HMMM...Emergency Kit...

Grab my data drives (I don't keep my data in the C drive itself). Lots of dog food and water. Winston, Sam, and Cody's medications. And our medications.

Next, it will be just what I can grab out of the closets, kitchen cabinets, and refrigerator/freezers. The cold stuff will go into a large cooler with lots of blue ice to keep it cool.

And any sort of evacuation we might have to do will probably involve a Chinese Fire Drill on our part, because we really don't think of it much. And it will also involve a crammed-full minivan.

[weswood]

Ever try to shit in the woods without it That crap that comes in the MRE packages don't... cut it.

Man. I've used shirt pockets, the elastic cut off my socks, paper towels. MRE TP is a luxury compared to some things I've used.

This was back in the day when i was a meter reader for the local electric company. You might end up miles from where you parked your truck and God alone knows where the nearest store or gas station was.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

In FL in 2004 we got hit by no fewer than four hurricanes in the space of six weeks. There were sections of the Orlando area without any power whatsoever for three, four weeks. We went to visit friends a few days after the 2nd or 3rd one but due to the trees blown down throughout downtown Orlando we couldn't even make it in to their neighborhoods.

In my neck of the woods we were only without power for 12 hours or so. We're right on a main trunk line so it was not a long time at all before power was restored, but at the time we were on a pretty puny generator (900 running watts, 1000 starting which is a useless figure).

On the other hand, my dad (God rest his soul) brought a "portable" (on a trailer that could be hauled by a truck) 1 megawatt generator from his place of work and provided his neighborhood with power for the time they were down.

Anyway, we ourselves had the traditional "Florida supplies": flashlights, candles, bottled water, gas for the generator, easy-to-prepare food (canned Ravioli anyone), a small fridge for our daughter's milk...

But all that's outside the realm; we didn't have a "go bag" although we probably should.

[boogiedowndonovan]

I live in earthquake country, they sell earthquake kits that have food, water, crank radio, flashlight, first aid kit, gloves, mask, Leatherman tool etc. All packed in a backpack. Doesn't sound too different than what everyone else has. I did supplement it with a crank cell charger extra food, idoine tablets and some other stuff I can't remember.

Also have important docs like passport and extra cash in a double ziplocked bag. But I like Paul's idea so I might scan and save them on a usb drive or something.

[DocSavage45B10]

The quiet grunt of desperation as you realize that you're god knows where in Iraq with your BDU trousers and MOPP suit around your ankles, your rifle across your boots, you're squatting over a cat hole you just dug with your e-tool, which you bent because the soil here is an inch of fine powder over sandstone bedrock... and you don't have any TP...

Priceless.

Man. I've used shirt pockets, the elastic cut off my socks, paper towels. MRE TP is a luxury compared to some things I've used.

This was back in the day when i was a meter reader for the local electric company. You might end up miles from where you parked your truck and God alone knows where the nearest store or gas station was.

[TrailerParkJawa]

At the moment I don't have much in my car cause I had take out some stuff to carry my bicycle and other cargo. ( I have a subaru wagon). But typically I do stock the car with items for a very short term emergency.

1. Pocket knife or leathermen
2. Light sleeping bag
3. Small candle and matches
4. $2-$20 in change or small bills
5. 1-2 small bottles of water
6. Flashlight
7. Chem light
8. Mirror


The basic idea is to handle being stuck on the road for a single night or if I'm almost out of gas to have some change to put in some gas and mabye get a taco at jack & box.

[bobcat]

under the drivers seat: an ammo can survival kit good for 3 days in moderate weather.
in the back: a standard tool kit, adjustable link type fan belt, spare tire, 5 gallon fuel can, and a jack

if its a long trip i'll have my portable hide site(long term E&E/survival kit) a 5 gallon water can, and at least a case of MRE's in the back as well

not to mention the M1911 i always carry.

[Targan]

not to mention the M1911 i always carry.

So you have a permit to carry or are you permitted to keep a firearm in your vehicle in your state

[Panther Al]

So you have a permit to carry or are you permitted to keep a firearm in your vehicle in your state

Concealed Carry in a vehicle is a very touchy thing: in a few places where CC is allowed, doing so in a car isn't allowed, but most are coming around to allowing it.


While I as well swear by a Kimber Ultra Carry 1911, following the lead and the suggestion of some LE folks back when I was in the upper midwest I took advantage of a neat little loophole.

You see, about everywhere, the laws say you can't carry a loaded rifle in your vehicle. And while a Pistol is handy, it is always better to use a rifle when you can. Crappy as 5.56 is, its still better in most places than even the .45.

So what you do, is buy - for example - A SiG P556. Its one of those 5.56 AR's that has been built as a 'Pistol'. 99% of the time, those sorts of Pistols are crap: the only way to make them work is attach a sling, and push hard forwards on the grips in order to get a stable shot off. Now, it helps if you have a fore-grip - but thats very illegal. So is attaching a folding stock.

Unless you get a SBR permit.

Now, the loophole is that federal law says than anything under 26" that isn't a registered machine gun is considered a pistol. Even if the P556 is given the SBR (Short Barrel Rifle) treatment, its still a pistol. So, a folding stock P556 with fore-grip and 30rd Mag, is a pistol - and can be kept concealed and loaded in your car within easy reach.

I'll take that over a .45 anyday in any situation that isn't tailor made for pistols only... and maybe even then.

[bobcat]

the only downside to that is the consequences of ever using an registered NFA weapon for self defense. even if you win the criminal action the civil action will destroy you. thus an AR15 in the back is a safer option from a CYA stand point. granted im not a lawyer so consult yours and get his professional opinion.

[Panther Al]

Depends a lot on the location: Where I was there has been more than a few SBR's involved in shootings: But all the owners was careful in the use of force and the civil bits was all non-starters.

Gotta love cell phone camera's.


And even then, if you are in an area where the law and the lawyers work more for the crooks than the good guys, don't bother with the SBR route. Even using a sling press the P556 is still a lot more accurate and capable than a Pistol in a lot of places.

Your milage may vary of course.

[Tegyrius]

the only downside to that is the consequences of ever using an registered NFA weapon for self defense. even if you win the criminal action the civil action will destroy you.

Can you cite any case in which civil action has resulted from the use of an NFA item in what was otherwise a "clean" defensive shooting

- C.

[Panther Al]

Can you cite any case in which civil action has resulted from the use of an NFA item in what was otherwise a "clean" defensive shooting

- C.

I can't think of any - but then I don't follow the courts nor have I been involved in any civilian shooting incidents myself.

In the three occasions where I have heard of SBR's being used, two times was inside the owners home against multiple armed assailants, and the third was a classic clusterfuck that could have been avoided - but the shooter covered his bases with said camera phone. Being off duty LE helped I imagine as well.

[Tegyrius]

Now, the loophole is that federal law says than anything under 26" that isn't a registered machine gun is considered a pistol. Even if the P556 is given the SBR (Short Barrel Rifle) treatment, its still a pistol. So, a folding stock P556 with fore-grip and 30rd Mag, is a pistol - and can be kept concealed and loaded in your car within easy reach.

Al - citation My reading of BATFE regs and rulings suggests that placing a formerly pistol-configured weapon on the NFA registry as an SBR (e.g. Form 1 registration of an AR or SIG 556 pistol) makes it legally a rifle, not a pistol, because the Form 1 records the act of "manufacturing" the SBR. It may be possible to return it to legal "pistol" status by (1) removing it from the registry and (2) removing the stock, but I wouldn't want to gamble on that.

- C.