Lights out in Mid-Atlantic

[faith]

I haven't read any type of prepper articles in a long time and have gotten very lax.
I got a wake up call from my kid brother who is one of the 1/2 million without electricity down in the mid-atlantic. He is in a small apt with 2 dogs in 103 degrees. No one in my family listens to me about anything so he has no extra water, flashlights, gas, nothing.... right now he has running water but some in his area do not. I don't know if I told him the right thing but i said to take a cold shower and then fill up the bathtub in case the running water stops and he will have a supply for various things. He thought that sounded nuts.

Anyhow, I decided to get back to prep mentality in my own simple way and don't have the vocabulary or expertise that others do. I have a few dumb questions and will probably have more as I continue to read these posts. I'm a city apt dweller and the only way to store water that i know of is in the typical plastic gallon jugs. I've had some of these since '08. Some i've had to throw out cause they split and leaked, many are still ok with the water evaporated by half. If in emergency I can still drink this water in these plastics since 2008? I will replace them this week but I can still drink the water, correct?
I saw a good post where the guy keeps a lot of cool things on his keychain but refers to key 'fob'. What is fob?
I'm not sure what a mag lite or led light is but will start by going to the neighborhood hardware store and asking.
This heat is scary...

[Brent H]

i said to take a cold shower and then fill up the bathtub in case the running water stops and he will have a supply for various things. He thought that sounded nuts.

He sure is right about that -- there's nothing nuttier than having spare water on hand.

[Goldhedge]

waterBOB Emergency Drinking Water Storage

fob1    [fob] http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fob?s=t&ld=1031
noun
1. a small pocket just below the waistline in trousers for a watch, keys, change, etc. Compare watch pocket.
2. a short chain or ribbon, usually with a medallion or similar ornament, attached to a watch and worn hanging from a pocket.
3. the medallion or ornament itself.

Origin:
1645–55; origin uncertain; compare German dialect Fuppe pocket

[dacrunch]

waterBOB Emergency Drinking Water Storage

Well, fine if you have a spare bathtub...

Meanwhile, looks like you'd have to build a plywood frame for the bag if you only have one tub, and still want to take showers...

[faith]

Well, fine if you have a spare bathtub...

Meanwhile, looks like you'd have to build a plywood frame for the bag if you only have one tub, and still want to take showers...

it's a rough call i think. since many people down there in certain parts have no running water and I was afraid it could happen to him as well, I was thinking along the lines that he can take a shower, then fill up the tub for the day, coast is clear at night and he still has running water, let it out, take his shower, then fill it up again. Repeat until the electricity is back on, which they are being told could be five days....

[AG Stacker]

...the only way to store water that i know of is in the typical plastic gallon jugs. I've had some of these since '08. Some i've had to throw out cause they split and leaked, many are still ok with the water evaporated by half. If in emergency I can still drink this water in these plastics since 2008? I will replace them this week but I can still drink the water, correct?

I wouldn't. Why wait until "this week?" Why not do it now? Is there something special about one day this week that isn't today? Just spending 5 bucks will get you a few gallons and put you on a better position than you're in now.

I'm not sure what a mag lite or led light is but will start by going to the neighborhood hardware store and asking.

When are you doing this? Today? If yes, good job. Google is your friend.

You can go to a Menards/ Home Depot/ Lowes and buy a 5 pack of flashlights and a 36 pack of AAA batteries for $20



A little time preparing will turn a potential catastrophe into a mere inconvenience. You don't need a $1,500 generator or a $400 water purifier to be secure. Sure those help, but you can get a lot of bang for your buck if you're smart about it.

There is a post (perhaps stickied) on one of the forums here titled something like "what hace you done today" in reference to preps. That is the right idea. Do it gradually. If you buy a years worth of food that all expires at the same time, what happens when you don't use it? Buy incrementally. Buy every week. You like mac & cheese because you eat it once a week? Buy 2 packages instead of 1 and in 10 weeks you'll have 10 spares.


And seriously ... go buy some water. Why would you wait?

[Cigarlover]

He sure is right about that -- there's nothing nuttier than having spare water on hand.

I hate to say it but sounds like when the water is no more he will wait it out until the Gov arrives to save the day.

[earplugs]

next time you talk to him, tell him to wait while you put a comforter around yourself cuz it's too cold in your house..