I have a vector unit I'm trying to use to heat a small built on room that's not insulated. The unit it's self is outside we have a length of dryer hose poked into the window.

The unit is new. We ran it overnight outside in the yard as advised to burn off fumes and funky smells.

Hooked it up to heat the room tonight and the unit has still filled the room with a bad smell.

Wtf is going on with it. Is it exhaust coming through the outlet? Do we just need to let it run outside longer to burn off more? Does it ever stop smelling bad? Are these fumes harmful?

🥲

IMO way more likely end of the world scenario than a zombie apocalypse or foreign invasion.

This book is dry AF but critical for any serious US based prepper.

Hello, I am an American who plans on moving to Europe. I was wondering, what, if any, are good countries in Europe to live in in the event of an economic collapse, WWIII, Civil unrest, etc.? Thank you!

Hey everyone, I’ve been thinking about the various factors that could potentially disrupt society as we know it. Given the unpredictability of our world—from natural disasters to technological threats—I wanted to share a ranked list of scenarios based on their likelihood and potential impact. Here’s what seems most probable to least, though all are worth considering for preparedness strategies:

1. Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and tornadoes frequently occur and can devastate local or regional areas, demanding significant emergency responses and recovery efforts.

2. Pandemics: COVID-19 has shown how quickly infectious diseases can spread, severely disrupting health systems, economies, and daily life on a global scale.

3. Cyberattacks: Our growing dependency on digital infrastructure makes us vulnerable. Attacks on critical systems like power grids, banking, or government services could lead to widespread chaos.

4. Economic Crises: Financial instability, whether through recessions, crashes, or inflation, often leads to unemployment, social unrest, and broad societal distress.

5. Climate Change Impacts: The escalating effects of climate change, including rising sea levels and extreme weather, threaten food production, water supplies, and could ignite resource-based conflicts.

6. Terrorist Attacks: Although less frequent, acts of terrorism disrupt lives, instill fear, and can have far-reaching effects on national stability.

7. Geopolitical Tensions: Increasing rivalries or conflicts between nations, or significant diplomatic failures, could lead to larger conflicts affecting global peace and security.

8. Infrastructure Failures: Aging or failing infrastructure, especially in critical areas like transportation, water systems, or energy, poses significant risks if suddenly damaged or destroyed.

9. Nuclear Accidents or Proliferation: Though the probability is lower, the potential fallout from nuclear incidents or the spread of nuclear capabilities remains a severe global threat.

10. Social Unrest: Driven by issues like inequality, political polarization, or civil rights violations, social unrest can escalate quickly, leading to destabilization and conflict.

Preparing for these scenarios isn’t about fear-mongering; it’s about understanding potential risks and enhancing our resilience against them. What do you all think? Are there other scenarios you’d consider more likely or pressing than these?

I'd found a great deal on some commercially canned pickles yesterday and stocked up on the minimum needed to get the deal (I could have gotten more, but I'm a one person household and don't go through THAT many pickles on my own). When I went to put them away today (and rotate the stock I already had), I found that the open jar I'd had in the fridge had lost color (so they were very pale) and had a very sketchy taste. Another jar I had in the cupboard, untouched, had that same pale color and seemed to have unsealed of its own accord. Both jars were immediately drained and dumped because I wasn't about to use them even thought they might technically have been edible.

Definitely rotate the stock you have, see what you use, what you don't, maybe find a different place to store things, and definitely don't forget about air movement as some things need that to keep their freshness.

It is entirely possible I just don’t get the intricacies of modern plumbing, so please feel free to correct me. In a shtf/ anarchy situation, I am assuming that the people who make sure that water is running to buildings would probably not be coming into work, so where would the water from sides of buildings be coming from? Are there water reservoirs under certain buildings? What is the point of carrying one for a situation like that, if plumbing and water would probably be shut off during an anarchy situation? For other situations I could see a purpose I guess, but I see a lot of people talking about having one in their shtf preps which I don’t get. Sorry in advance if this is a very dumb question.

So this is a bit of a reminder post/rant then anything. Living in remote northern Canada we are prone to wildfires at a ever increasing rate. Starting on friday the city of Fort Nelson was forced to evacuate due to wild fire. Many other towns across northern Canada are facing same threats and evacuations. Historical droughts and high winds (gusts up to 70km) are driving them ever faster. if i had one thing to take away from this, is that human kindness and strength within a community are the best tools. Due to the rural communities fuel and transport are essential to this evacuation. ESS being over 400kms away ! I don't live in the evacuation areas but get to sit idly by and watch the local news and Facebook explode with information. Some helpful some not But thats not the point here. Point is, watching the community work together to save themselves and the animals within. there are alot of posts from people offering shelter, food, water, and other supplies out of their own pockets. Horse trailers for cattle and horses alike. Free camp grounds with full hookups. Dog and cat shelters with food, One company even offering free gas !! The company is about 100km (if i remember correctly ) from Fort Nelson.... within the communities taking the evacuees they are also offering free activities as well. Free public pool swimming, hair salon cuts, kids activities etc. Alot of this is without government support. Im not putting down government support. They have many more services that I can count for this. but to watch the communities come together is so heartwarming. So when we prep we need to remember to include the wider community. Even if its just donations of extra gear. It can go a long way, and don't be afraid to ask for help, when we all survive we all win

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2191-SW-Zack-Wheat-Dr-Polo-MO-64671/252368496_zpid/

How do you think it would handle up?

Hey preppers, I’m pretty new to this. So I wanted to ask, if there is nuclear war and I’m in the bunker, do I need to have my water in stock for like 6 months? Or do I need to get it from somewhere else?

Also I wanted to ask how toilet works done there in bunker. Thanks for all the answers :D

Ideally at least as good as William Forstchen One Second After or James Wesley Rawles Survivors?

This has been weighing heavy on my mind for over a year and with the solar flares I’m really wondering if now is the time to make the purchase. Does anyone have advice?

I'm planning on buying an AR15 soon but I don't know what barrel length is best. So far I'm interested in either 20in,18in,or 16in but I don't know what is best for SHTF

EDIT:It's for self defense/guard duty since I'm in a Prepper group of 20 (mix of singles and families but grew up with everyone) I also as stated below I live in the Missouri part of the Ozark Mountains (more like big hills) which is also heavily forested and thick with brush but it also has wide open swaths of farmland in the Springfield Plateau region due to it being flater then the Salam Plateau (Where I am). Google Ozark Mountains and the pictures you'll see are of my plateaus environment

I guess this is a newbie question. I just bought 14 #10 cans of [various]. So assuming the #10 cans are freeze dried, and then vacuum sealed with O2 absorbers, and are then good for 25 years.

I read everywhere that once opened, they're only good for 1 year.

Why can I NOT open the can, split into four portions, put into mylar bags and O2 absorbers, and then vacuum seal? Why wouldn't they still be good for at least 10-15 years? They're still FREEZE-DRIED. What if i additionally put into 5 gallon food grade buckets?

I've read until I'm blind and can't figure out WHY the longevity wouldn't be maintained 25 years (or at least 10 years...

I understand that once opening, the contents are again exposed to O2. But, if resealed as described, O2 again removed, why are they then dead on arrival, so to speak.

What am I missing?

Thanks all.

What does you guys think about Parcil Safety gas masks ?

How do they hold up against Avon & Mira ?

I talked with my friend about food when SHTF. I suggested rats and pigeons, but she said they are full of disease. I understand rats can be dangerous, but I thought people already eat pigeons? even on normal situations?
So can we eat rats and pigeons, and if not what small mammals and birds CAN we eat? We live in belgium, near france. the enviroment is city surrounded by agriculture.

I am starting a new job that will involve significantly more travel. Some by car. Some by air. Most in the US. Some in Mexico and Europe. I am a fan of one ish bag travel so I cannot pack much. I am looking to make my life more comfortable for 24-48 hours if I am stranded in a rental car/airport. What should I have with me at all times no matter where in the world I am?

Bit of a thought experiment really: Imagine you were on holiday abroad when a localised disaster hits your home country to the extent that it might be reasonable, or impossible, to even return (civil war, terrorist attack disabling all infrastructure, zombie apocalypse, whatever).

The situation in your home country, if you were there, is however survivable - at least to the extent your current preps would allow and in whatever form ordinary society does continue to function.

Which scenario would you prefer to find yourself in? Stuck amidst some near apocalyptic scenario but in your home and with your preps, or marooned in a foreign country with nothing but what you had with you? Is there a tipping point where the latter becomes preferable, and what does it depend upon?

[I will confess this thought train is a result of watching 28 Days Later, a zombie apocalypse film localised to the UK because the rest of the world just immediately quarantines the whole island, but hopefully I've managed to somewhat normalise it in my writing]

Relatively new-ish to prepping. I'm currently unemployed, but my wife works full-time, and makes enough to cover our daily expenses. So, we're on a budget until I can find work.

Prepping goals, for now, are really just being comfortable in an extended power outage situation. We live in New England, so we've not had to deal with too many weather-related emergencies, but we have had instances of several hours to days without power for storms, downed trees, etc. They're predicting a bad summer with lots of hot days and stormy weather, so I wanna make sure we have SOMETHING to get us through, even if it's a bit on the cheaper side.

Ideally, these are the items and devices we would want/need in a normal power outage scenario*: • both of our smart phones • laptop(s) • Nintendo switches • a small fan • a lamp with an led light bulb

*With light to moderate use over 1-3 days on a single charge.

Alternatively, we would also like to eventually buy a solar panel to be more self-sufficient and prepared during a more serious or longer scenario.

For now, I'm prepping with smaller, weather-related or localized emergencies in mind, BUT I want us to be able to have a way to sustain power completely off-grid for a while in a shtf situation, if that should happen.

Budget is anything less than $150-200.

Found this on Amazon and not sure if this is good for what we want or if someone else on here has suggestions for one they use and love.

EDIT: changed the budget range to give us more options for power.

Hey I just thought you’d enjoy this. I’m a chef and started a new job recently with some friends who run a catering business and we just got a new kitchen. Today one of the stoves was acting up and they didn’t have a screwdriver. I keep a leatheman in my car. The other guy was shopping all day and his phone died, I had a battery pack in my backpack.

When I got home my wife was making pasta sauce but realized we didn’t have any pasta. I keep 20lbs upstairs in my zombie food stash. I am at Aldi after dinner shopping and a lady lost her bumper in the lot, I duct taped it up for her cuz I keep a roll in my trunk.

4 way prepping win!

I've come to understand that gas masks and beards just generally do not go well together. I was wondering if something like a latex scuba hood would be able to he worn under a gas mask and create a seal.

Currently on day 2 of my 22 day Japan trip I’ve been planning for a year and have spent thousands of dollars on.

I’ve been yapping about solar storms and how were due for a big one to anyone and everyone who would listen over the last couple years. I have prepared for it - at home. I can’t believe it’s actually happening right now.

Should I just accept my fate at this point if something were to happen? I have power bank, don’t know how useful it would be. Is there even a point to attempting to prep here?

Hey yall. Examining my situation since joining, I came across an issue I always had to deal with. There is very little storage space in my house. Today I will be specific to the pantry which is an old furnace/heater space above air intake.

Dimensions( a rough guess): 2 1/2 ft wide, liitle less than 5 ft in height, and 1 1/2 ft depth. There are 5 shelves, 2 have height space for regular bottle of ketchup or tall box of sugar. The rest have enough spacing height-wise for two normal food cans.

This was fine for us to start but now with 3 kids and prepping in mind, I've gotten stuck in making sure its stocked with needs. Trickest part are the restrictive diets 2 of us have.

I have come to stack as much as I can and use the depth space as much as I can.

What would you do to maximize this space? Other thoughts or ideas are welcome. Also, since I am still learning Im not entirely sure what needs to be stocked in terms of quantity and/vs actual food in pantry.

For those curious about a Carrington Level Event there’s a Japanese movie called Survival Family about it, was actually informative and a bit humorous while serious. It’s also very different than American films with no one having guns or trying to kill people with raider groups.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=R7hFFVotGpA0Rie6&v=WhSOYyBjetY&feature=youtu.be

It has English subtitles

Let me know if you think this is accurate or your thoughts the movie

Let's say cell service is down due to solar flares.

I have family members living close by and would keep communication with them.

Would walkie-talkie be a good alternative?

I wanted to make a list of cheap items which are staples in the ultralight backpacking community, and may be useful to some of you with an emphasis on bugging out or getting home. Packing light and cheap is a criminally underrated skill, in my opinion. These are all products that I have experience with, so feel free to ask me any questions, and let me know if anything should be mentioned.. I hope that this information is of some use to someone here.

emergency bivvy: Sufficient for staying alive overnight in most climates. I've slept overnight in this bag alone down to about 35°f. Not the best night's sleep, but nowhere near freezing to death.

[Sleeping pad](https://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-Lightweight-Backpacking-Inflatable-Mattress/dp/B07YP8MLNN: This is the best budget pad I've found. My wife has taken her's out for quite some time with no problems. Bring a repair kit in case of punctures/tears.

[Silnylon tarp](https://www.amazon.com/LiteOutdoors-Silnylon-Tarp-Ultralight-Backpacking/dp/B07XTQ99K2: This tarp fits two comfortably. Learn a few configurations and you can adapt it to most any situation. A cheap silnylon tarp can really let you down in the field. This one is tried and true, and very affordable for the quality.

[Braided mason line](https://www.amazon.com/Orange-Mason-Line-String-Construction/dp/B0B61ZYFB3: Much lighter/cheaper than Paracord. Great for shelter and strong enough to hang heavy objects like food bags and backpacks. Available at your local hardware store. Must be braided, not twisted.

[Polycro ground cloth](https://www.amazon.com/Duck-286218-Shrink-insulation-Crystal/dp/B000NHW2Z6: A virtually weightless ground cloth. Can be used over and over as long as you don't step all over it with your shoes.

[Gerber Dime](https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Dime-Multi-Tool-Green-31-001132/dp/B007BKLB8C: The tiny pliers are great for field repair and splinters. The scissors are also very handy. Bought mine used on eBay for $10 and it saves my ass regularly.

[Tent stakes](https://www.amazon.com/MSR-Groundhog-Stake-6-Pack-Regular/dp/B006ZC5KLG: Ground Hogs are the best, imo. Learn to use the grooves to quickly cinch your lines down.

[Trail runners](https://www.amazon.com/ASICS-Gel-Venture-Running-Shoes-Black/dp/B0B486C4LX: They say two pounds on your feet is the equivalent of ten pounds on your back. I've been backpacking in cheap Asics for years now. When they fall apart, I glue them back together. Great for any terrain, and they dry out fast.

[Cook pot](https://www.amazon.com/Stanco-GS1200-Non-Stick-Grease-Strainer/dp/B000MVTIOQ: A flemsy aluminum pot, meant to strain grease. A great budget alternative to the pricey titanium. I used the same one for several years.

Cat food stove: An empty can of cat food and a hole punch are all you need to make this stove. Make a windscreen from aluminum foil. Burns denatured alcohol and HEET (yellow). This was my go-to for a long time, before I switched to the [BRS](https://www.amazon.com/BRS-BRS-3000T-Ultra-Light-Titanium-Miniature/dp/B06XNLSNFR

[Mora Companion](https://ragweedforgestore.com/products/mora-companion-leaf-green?variant=44181535359205: If this knife were twice the price it would still be worth the money. Not a full tang, but very light, and perfectly sufficient for batoning, in my experience.

[Leukotape](https://www.amazon.com/Leukotape-Corrective-Taping-1-5-Yards/dp/B008FNHF8O: Great for foot care. Cut out a circle and slap this onto the part of your foot that's rubbing. Catch it early. This is preventative . If you put it on a blister you'll be in trouble.

[Chapstick](https://www.amazon.com/ChapStick-Moisturizer-Original-Tubes-Protectant/dp/B07GVPQXRF: Great for chaffing crotch, thighs, pits, etc. Those small problems become big problems after a few miles, if left untreated.

[Trekking poles ](https://www.amazon.com/Cascade-Mountain-Tech-Aluminum-Collapsible/dp/B01L5YWW7I: You can find these at your local Costco, or buy them online. The only pair of trekking poles I've ever owned. They take the impact off your knees and the weight off your legs. They help you cross creeks and build shelters. They splint broken limbs. You can fix a headlamp to the top and stick it in the ground to light your camp. Make a drying line by the fire to hang your wet gear. It goes on and on.

Please don't tell me that bugging out is a dumb idea. I'm not here to make the case for or against it. I'm just saying some of this info may be useful to people who plan to set out on-foot and don't have much experience walking long distances and sleeping outside. Or maybe folks that don't want to spend a ton of money. Wishing you all the best!

I live in a little piece of America where we rarely have crime. It just doesn’t happen, like the worst crime is usually like a purse snatch or the occasional fight at the bar from out of towners. I am properly prepared for small level situations and can self sustain for several weeks. I see a lot of posts about weapons and have never seen the need for one and look down on those that do, I have been in some places in the past most people would feel like they needed a gun and there was never a situation it would have been helpful. What more could be suggested to help me if heaven forbid things go beyond just a “Tuesday” prep and actually escalate?

Please direct all questions, comments, and discussions regarding the Solar Storm/CME to this thread. Posts prior to this won't be deleted- future ones will be removed and re-directed to this thread.

For the most current forecast: https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/

Short info: It's likely a G4 on the G1-G5 scale. Aside from radio blackouts in regions, it's not likely to affect the power grid. G5 is the scale (with no upper limit,) that the Carrington Event was on. So, unless it's a G5, we likely won't see significant effects. Even then, a low-level G5 (like this would be) isn't of much concern.

Looking to find others to share local advice and keep a look out for good deals on gear

This is that FOMO event that keeps me tied to checking the news every day, even though I hate scrolling through the daily clown world stories. We know this cluster of solar flares will hit tonight and into tomorrow. It could be a nothing-burger event or it could be a major event that results in a grid down scenario for months, maybe over a year. We have a whole house backup generator that runs on propane. I know, that’s prepping for Tuesday and it has saved us during major weather-related disasters that disrupt power for a week. We live rural.

I’ve been reading up on how to prepare for this solar event, and almost everyone who seems to know what they are talking about say to shut the main breaker off. I know how to shut the transfer switch manually for the generator, but I’m worried about doing that and messing up the generator by going to sleep and waking up to a Carrington event with the generator battery dead since within 8 hours of the generator being off, it will die. I guess my question is what’s the best move? Just flip the main breaker but leave the gen tied to the grid? Or manually flip the switch and risk the battery?

Severe solar storm expected with anticipation of impacts on communications and navigation. Would like to hear what everyone is thinking about this and what they are doing to prepare.

One question I have is what options there are to keep cell service working in event of an outage - I don't have Starlink at this stage (but will def get it ASAP)