Prepping Fail | TheaterFire

[-]

Proof_Junket_5516@reddit

People underestimate how fast panic changes everything. Even a basic checklist can make a huge difference.

[-]

Hey I get it my area gets power outages a lot normally they happen in the spring. No factor lanterns, huge battery from anker and a jet boil I’m good. But over the weekend I lost power and it was cold as fuck. So now im looking into ways to keep an area in my apartment warm. I’m down for suggestions btw.

[-]

nsphilip@reddit

Sometimes it's about not losing heat as much as it is about generating heat.

[-]

mountainsformiles@reddit

Mr. Buddy heater (propane) or a kerosene heater for use indoors. Make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector just in case.

[-]

toolateforRE@reddit

“Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from making bad decisions”. - Mark Twain

[-]

nelark23@reddit

Fail up

[-]

bablevestorta@reddit

This is actually a really important thing, yes. It's best to have your gtfo bag taken apart and put back again a few times a year. I like to look at each item carefully and think about what that certain item is good for and more. Imagine a few extra situations that could go wrong, like flood at the door, live wire hanging in the street, etc.. That will help to figure out what is missing a little bit easier :)

[-]

Legnovore@reddit

That's why they call it PREparation. From the Latin "pre paratus", ready beforehand.

[-]

In-Hell123@reddit

I think you raise a really good point, we should probably try like a drill or something and test the methods we have not just plan and wait without any training or testing.

[-]

HumbleTrack7642@reddit

I've been planning a whole weekend off-grid (bugging in). I plan to cook in the backyard over a fire, have my kids practice first aid and CPR, use only solar lamps etc.

[-]

Present_Figure_4786@reddit

We had an unexpected power outage. My daughter was surprised how quickly I had everything taken care of. Only downfall, my 79yo mom was stuck in the lift chair with the footrest extended. She said she was prepared because she went to the bathroom right before the power went out and would be set for hours.

[-]

Adorable_Dust3799@reddit

One good trial is turn off every breaker for a weekend every month. Once you have the fridge figured out i personally think it's fine to leave just that on but that's me. Maybe alternate one weekend a month with a camping trip you don't pack for, go-bag only.

[-]

shortstack-42@reddit

I just raided my go-bin for a clean shirt because laundry. Thank you for the reminder. Sticky note was just added to the basement door to repack a clean shirt once clothes are dry. It’s way too easy to raid your preps and forget…

[-]

Mission_Reply_2326@reddit

Also- keep a good pair of walking shoes WITH SOCKS IN THEM next to the bugout bag.

[-]

cofeeholik75@reddit

Use daylight savings days to check/update/replace stuff.

[-]

zachol@reddit

Feels like if you have preps you should test them like twice a year. Go somewhere, pretend you're camping, get a hotel room, throw everything out on a bed or a campsite, visualize what you'd be needing, read all the expiration dates, pack it back up and write down stuff that you think you're missing.

Same kind of thing with cycling stored water and digging through your pantry. Twice a year drain and refill water tanks, get the camp stove out and cook a basic meal, plug the fridge into the backup battery and see how quickly it drains, etc etc.

[-]

warriorspork@reddit (OP)

I actually spread everything out last night while I was repacking the bag and I definitely am missing some important stuff. Some of my food was out of date (only by a month but still) and I definitely need to get the water situation sorted out.

[-]

zachol@reddit

It's also good to have it as a travel bag. Like I had a family medical emergency a couple months ago and ended up taking the SUV and "car camping" at rest stops (instead of scrambling for a plane ticket), it was really helpful to make me reassess the go bag, and I was luckily in a position to stop at cities and fill out some missing stuff since it wasn't like a big public emergency with everyone else also panicking.

That's why I mention the hotel, sometimes it's nice to pair it with "a trip" even if the trip doesn't mean anything. Although that's definitely assuming you can afford a "random trip" and a hotel stay, that could be a waste of money. Go to a relative's house maybe, or the family cabin if that's a thing.

[-]

mopharm417@reddit

I had my go bag at tornado shelter once. It was a (small) bus of special needs kids, some national guard members, and me at the armory (it was a storm shelter). Everybody else was at the fire department shelter. (If I'm surviving a tornado, it's gonna be at the armory!)

Anyway, the caretakers wouldn't accept my granola bars for the kids. They may have if it lasted longer.

But I wished that I had something fun to entertain. Maybe an inflatable beach ball or something.

[-]

popasquatonme@reddit

Failure is how we learn 👍 no shame, just learning

[-]

sooz1966@reddit

What was missing? Would be good to elaborate.

[-]

Powerful-Rip-3512@reddit

I had a fail where an intruder came to my house and I grabbed the unloaded gun, luckly they ran but it was a home invasion attempt by someone who had been in my home as a guest and came to rob me.

I ended up moving away.

[-]

warriorspork@reddit (OP)

That's so scary!!! I'm glad it all turned out well in the end though.

[-]

PurpleCableNetworker@reddit

Take it as a lesson, find what didn’t work, and move on. None of us are fully 100% prepped for everything. The good thing is - you figured this out before it was go time.

This a great lesson that I can assure you - you will never forget. It scared you just enough to where your next generation of preps will likely be tested before you every out them into rotation. Glad everything worked out in the end.

[-]

TargetOfPerpetuity@reddit

You gotta make mistakes to quit making mistakes.

Prepare. Respond. Evaluate. Prepare.

[-]

MrD3a7h@reddit

Prepare

Respond

Evaluate

GOTO 10

[-]

MoInSTL@reddit

It was scary yesterday! My NOAA weather went off and after a couple of seconds the sirens blared. The rain came down hard and the wind was brutal. My fail was not pulling out a rain poncho from my preps and trying it. I did set it by the door and had a heck of a time getting it out of the package and on me. By the time I did the sirens stopped. I now have it on a coat hook by my side door with my coats. My house is on a slab but my neighbors across the street have a basement. I would have been drenched crossing the street.

The weather was nuts yesterday. Give yourself a break. Between the wild weather and adrenaline it's a good lesson. It sounds like you learned it, so time to address and move on. Be kind to yourself. You got this.

[-]

steampunkpiratesboat@reddit

I am very prepared for snow storms I should probably work on getting my summer stuff around

[-]

capilot@reddit

Everybody should try camping in their back yard for a weekend, using only the contents of their go bag.

[-]

warriorspork@reddit (OP)

That's not a bad idea! I don't have a backyard but there's nothing to say it couldn't go to my parents' lol

[-]

ughhhhwhocares@reddit

It’s only a mistake if you make it twice.

[-]

CanIOverThinkIt@reddit

I love testing my preps .. I have 3 boys that we added as a fun adventure.. Random announcement, we got to go.. grab your go bag. Get your family comfortable with the grab and go as "but I want my toys" can put you in danger.

[-]

warriorspork@reddit (OP)

Thankfully I do not have children to worry with. I have a cat, but I wouldnt be able to take her into the shelter and she has a better chance of surviving in the apartment than in my car in case of a tornado. As much as it pains me to say that.

[-]

IGetNakedAtParties@reddit

What gear was missing? Better to have duplicates of the exact model you regularly grab IMO

[-]

warriorspork@reddit (OP)

I was missing my backpacking stove, but I found that. I was also missing one of my first aid kits, an entire folding hand saw, my folding shovel, and a slew of other stuff. I will now proceed to tear my apartment apart to try to find this stuff, simply because I'm broke and cant afford replacements

[-]

somethingwholesomer@reddit

My friend I would not be wasting time looking for those items in an emergency. Take the go bag as is and gtfo

[-]

mediocre_remnants@reddit

Why do you need all of that stuff for a tornado shelter?

If I was packing a bag for a tornado shelter, it would mostly be extra clothes, hygiene stuff, snacks/water, documents, and entertainment. Then the other basic items like first aid kit, flashlight/headlamp, and radio.

But I can't imagine what you'd do with a folding shovel or saw.

[-]

warriorspork@reddit (OP)

Those are items more for if a tornado actually hits us, and the bag isnt just for the tornado shelter, it's for other possible disasters as well. It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

[-]

Capstonelock@reddit

I agree - I've spent a lot of time travelling for work so I have duplicates of most essentials. Never need to pack (e.g.) a pair of glasses or a cutlery set because they're in my bag already.

[-]

GreasyRim@reddit

When I go hiking or camping, some of my go back moves into my hiking pack. If I get home late or too exhausted to repack it, I leave it on the seat of my truck or in my office chair to remind me. We had a tornado warning and one touched down like 10 miles away and half my go bag was in my truck. not bad, it was still available, but it was a reminder to tighten up.

[-]

AlphaDisconnect@reddit

I am a huge shelter in place fan. But that is just me. I dont go until the roof is gone. And things have settled. And everything broken. Super typhoon approved.

[-]

Adorable_Dust3799@reddit

Same, so i prep for power and water outages. What was comfortable the first day of the power outages was no longer fun 3 days later.

[-]

Adorable_Dust3799@reddit

We had 5 separate 3-5 day power outages last January and every single one had me running to get stuff i didn't know i needed. What you think will be fine for a day often isn't when it's 5 days.

[-]

ltpko@reddit

Me too me too. Would’ve been hosed had it hit us because this instant cold weather was not something I had planned on. Snacks, water, cat food with bowls, quart of chicken feed (only 3 ladies), first aid kit, headlamp, set of vehicle keys, extra set of summer clothes at the ready. However, I had not gotten the stuff out of the safe or secured the animals had it been more than just sirens. I did get the animals secured, but I was soaking wet standing in the kitchen when the sirens went off. Something I had said I was going to add and still haven’t were work gloves and safety glasses in case I needed to pick up debris.

You live, learn, and hope for the best while prepping for the worst.

[-]

Ubockinme@reddit

Go home Dorthy, you’re drunk.

[-]

Prestigious-Copy-494@reddit

Thanks for the reminder! I need to make a new one.

[-]

Casiarius@reddit

Why were things missing?

Although my bug-out bag is unusually large and comprehensive (being housed in a suitcase) I have a bad habit of looting it if I can't find some tool or supply around the house. So, I have a box of duplicates of the most-looted items night next to the bag so I can loot without actually opening the bag. Having spares IS prepping after all.

[-]

warriorspork@reddit (OP)

I'm not entirely sure, since the go bag stays by the door and zipped up. It's very possible I or my roommate looted it for stuff and just forgot.

[-]

PrisonerV@reddit

Having been through 100s of tornado events (that amounted to nothing, like I know someone who was in a tornado but that was 1975), I keep my cold beer in the fridge in the basement.

[-]

warriorspork@reddit (OP)

Big shot behavior!

[-]

CompetitiveFact9822@reddit

What happened? What was missing and why?

[-]

lawndragon@reddit

At least things turned out okay. I had a tornado come within one mile of me in 2016.there was a lot of damage done. But not to where I was living at the time. I started working on making the hall closet done up right so I'll have a tornado safe room. Then I moved into town. Another tornado in 2018.we all need a get out of town plan for times like that.

[-]

069420@reddit

Happens, can't be a prepper if you've never been unprepared before

[-]

Inner-Confidence99@reddit

Yep, did the same. By this afternoon I will have bags situated and marked for what’s what.

[-]

Appropriate-Age-6837@reddit

Yeah, so sad 😔

[-]

DannyWarlegs@reddit

It happens man. I failed before too. But thats how I made sure the next 2 times I didnt.

[-]

warriorspork@reddit (OP)

We live and we learn! I'm glad I got lucky. I know some folks aren't so fortunate.

[-]

Appropriate-Age-6837@reddit

I absolutely will, thank you. I'm trying to add something every month. And are thinking about the prep al.ost every day, bit I know Im not ready- ready. I already have a lot, but not ready-ready.

[-]

warriorspork@reddit (OP)

Yeah I went ahead and rapacked my bag when I got home and came down off the adrenaline of seeing a literal funnel cloud go over my head. I realized that a lot of the preps I keep in that bag are just downright MIA. So I have to go tear apart my apartment soon to find them.