Preps you thought were overkill… until they weren’t?
Posted by Extension_Health1849@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 168 comments
used to think some stuff in my setup was borderline paranoia. Extra water storage beyond a week, backup lighting in every room, multiple ways to cook food… felt like I was cosplaying doomsday.
Then we had a random 3-day power + water outage in my area.
No chaos, no panic, just flipped systems and kept moving. Neighbors were scrambling for bottled water and candles, while I was rotating stored water, running a small cook setup, and charging devices like it was normal life.
Biggest realization: the “overkill” preps are the ones that remove stress when things go sideways.
For me, the MVPs were: • Stored water (way more than I thought I’d need) • Headlamps > flashlights (hands-free matters more than you think) • Simple food that doesn’t need babysitting to cook
Curious what others here have that felt excessive at first… but ended up proving its worth when it actually counted?
babathejerk@reddit
Combat medicine. Put a hatchet through my foot and knew how to handle it.
Nuclear_Wolffang@reddit
Pun intended?
brainproxy@reddit
Hard to tell if they will say. Depends on if he’s buried it or not.
Autobotnate@reddit
I’ll never run out of toilet paper again. Also bidet.
Extension_Health1849@reddit (OP)
Facts. People laugh at TP preps till shelves go empty overnight.
Bidet is the real cheat code though, cuts your TP use way down and you’re not stressing if supply dries up. It’s one of those low-key preps that pays off immediately, not just in emergencies.
Hygiene is one of those things that’ll wreck morale fast if you ignore it.
Most-Property8195@reddit
Hand held camping bidet...basically a squirt bottle.
TanksFTM@reddit
Recently bought one, along with a 5Gal heated portable shower with spray nozzle.
Most-Property8195@reddit
I have one that connects to propane. I use it to wash the dogs too.
Dramatic-Effect-6586@reddit
Can you share the product?
Most-Property8195@reddit
The company is Gasland. Got from Amazon
the_lovely_otter@reddit
Adding this to my prep list!
summonsays@reddit
Yeah during COVID we didn't have TP for 3 months in local stores... Our personal supply got pretty low but it went ok. Now we have waaay more than we need. But I'd rather have it than the empty space.
dawn_thesis@reddit
hey, how did you handle the toilet situation when the water was out?
TanksFTM@reddit
I bought a camp toilet with about 500 attachable WAG bags. I assume I'll be around my home if SHTF happens, so it makes sense to have this ready when the water stops working.
Extension_Health1849@reddit (OP)
5 gal bucket, trash bags, little bit of sawdust after each use. Kept it simple.
If there was still some water left I’d do an occasional flush, but once it was gone, bucket system. Not glamorous, but it works.
dawn_thesis@reddit
ah, yeah. i was hoping you'd found some miracle way to keep a toilet working :D
i don't have a dog, but i have a supply of doggie bags.
CosmicUdder@reddit
Welp, you’ve just given me a reason to keep my ridiculous stash of scented doggie bags.
dawn_thesis@reddit
i use mine for collecting my food waste before it goes to municipal compost, but they can do double ~~doodie~~ duty
CosmicUdder@reddit
🤣🤣
TripodP@reddit
Bought a bidet at the beginning of COVID after I sent wife to BJs for two cases of to. Had my friends knowing I was a prepper asking for tp cause were using much because of the bidet
Own_Papaya7501@reddit
This is all AI slop.
gu-laap@reddit
This is a bot??? Obviously uses ChatGPT style text
Hom3ward_b0und@reddit
I bought one of those bidet plastic water bottle attachments/covers. Had to do number two in a not so ideal location and it helped a ton along with wet wipes.
Traditional_Fan_2655@reddit
Until the power is out. I haven't figured this out without turning on and off a bank.
Iartdaily@reddit
My kids installed a bidet for me when I had rib surgery and couldn’t reach around. Best thing ever.
rmwg@reddit
Rib surgery 🥴 ouch!
Iartdaily@reddit
Slipped rib syndrome- sucks. Both sides.
xenobit_pendragon@reddit
I don’t think your kids installed it for you, I think they installed it for them. Win-win though.
Pretzel387@reddit
I'm absolutely building a TP pile. BUT, I have kids in diapers. If SHTF and we do run through the whole TP stockpile, then I'm already prepared to do cloth diapers; I think the prospect of laundering ass rags (we have a gazillion soft microfiber wash cloths so those will work) is less awful knowing that I'm definitely going to have poop laundry to deal with either way.
wakanda_banana@reddit
How many packs should we be prepping with?
ResolutionMaterial81@reddit
My BIL used to snicker at prepping, til the COVID quarantine hit him with his pants down (literally & figuratively)! 🤣
He actually called my wife to apologize & wished he had stocked up before the "Great TP Drought of 2020"!
I didn't need to as we already had cases in storage.
PrepperBoi@reddit
Can you make the bidet run off a tank of water to the side of your toilet?
SpeciousSophist@reddit
Dude that's not nearly sufficient. everyone's house already has a walk-in bidet. You don't need TP or a toilet even.
That's why I have 6 showers in my 3 bedroom house--real prep:
Wiley_Jack@reddit
Waffle-stomp FTW
Locksmithbloke@reddit
Handstand, amirite?
XRlagniappe@reddit
I had a stockpile of toilet paper and paper towel that I would buy from a warehouse store. I would just buy some every time I went. Then the pandemic hit. I eventually had to go to the store but it was a while. I was also tracking our usage.
My wife just said to me one day I'm not going to question your purchase and storage habits, especially when it comes to toilet paper and paper towel. I guess she never mentioned it too me but must have thought about it.
Unusual_Specialist@reddit
Double prepared for a shitty situation. I call that a power play.
MerelyMortalModeling@reddit
A power splay if you will.
ResolutionMaterial81@reddit
Well, my wife & immediate family believed my backup power system to be overkill...until it wasn't.
https://www.reddit.com/r/preppers/s/oeuWQcw1jN
Personally I have LOTS of preps & knowledge I hope are never used for the purpose intended, especially pertaining to nuclear threats.
But occasionally they get used anyway. Such as the week before last when a relative doing a federal inspection in an (abandoned?) Warehouse with a plethora of radiological warning signs. He was concerned about contamination (No PPE or monitoring equipment available) & the risk of bringing home any contamination back home to wife & family. Had him come by, checked him thoroughly with one of my Radiacodes & put his mind to rest. Slightly elevated level on his shoes, but basically normal background radiation. He had washed his hands thoroughly when leaving the facility.
dawn_thesis@reddit
Hey can you go into more about this radiological warning signs story??
ResolutionMaterial81@reddit
Basically that is all I know. He reached out to me & didn't go into the details of the site. I'm just glad I could assuage his concerns as it was a "nothing-burger".
That being said, I recently watched the Netflix mini-series on the 1987 Goiânia Cesium-137 fiasco! That was in the back of my mind as a highly unlikely, but possible "Worse Case" scenario!
If I had his job (mainly inspecting cargo at ports, etc), I ABSOLUTELY would have one of my Radiacodes on an stealthy ankle strap (connected to my smartphone app & a Bluetooth earpiece). I also believe every Customs Inspector & TSA dealing with people/cargo should be similarly equipped.
Night_Sky_Watcher@reddit
There are passive radiation detectors at some truck inspection stations. The one on I-40/I-75 near Oak Ridge, Tennessee, can detect the radioactivity of potassium-40 in a load of bananas.
Way-Solid@reddit
They have something like that. I came back to the US from Mexico and set off the counters. Was whisked into a holding room and throughly searched including my luggage. Realized while this was happening that I had a nuclear stress test the week before the trip and luckily could prove it using my patient portal! Only took About two hours to get through customs and that’s with Global Entry.
ResolutionMaterial81@reddit
Cool story! Did you ever have any issues subsequent to this...as being flagged for enhanced screening?
While there are radiological detectors in the wild, I was stressing EVERY Customs/TSA official that could encounter radiation dealing with people or cargo should be so equipped.
Way-Solid@reddit
No never targeted for advanced screening. My only other issue was coming into BWI from Europe and was pulled out of customs because the was a N Ireland bomber with my name. Again another holding room as they double checked my credentials. I had a job where I was traveling globally and must have been on some lists but nothing that ever affected me.
Night_Sky_Watcher@reddit
Normally that wouldn't be allowed to happen without proper monitoring or PPE. If he was doing it for a contractor company, corners were definitely cut. I occasionally visited contaminated DOE facilities, and we were always properly dressed out and wanded for stray contamination at point of exit.
k8ecat@reddit
Wondering if you have a suggetfor backup power for someone living in an apartment? We have a way to step out to the roof but I can't put a generator there. Are there ways to put out a solar array and hook it up to my apartment?
ResolutionMaterial81@reddit
It really depends on what you are wanting to support & for how long. Also if "Balcony Solar" is allowed?
I have several Balcony Solar setups for our Vacation Condo designed to support the refrigerator, strings of USB LED Lighting, Fans, etc.
k8ecat@reddit
Thanks- I will look into this.
ResolutionMaterial81@reddit
Catch the sales if possible.
dawn_thesis@reddit
balcony solar! most US states are considering legislation to make plug-in solar easier for renters.
otherwise, do like me and build an r/offgrid r/solardiy system. i get \~1/3-1/2 of my total electricity usage from some smallish panels (125 ecoflow portable bifacial, do very much recommend) and a battery bank.
ResolutionMaterial81@reddit
Nice! 👍
Crazy how much the Ecoflow 220W Bifacial Solar Panels have come down in price since I bought mine in 2022! 🤯
k8ecat@reddit
Thanks I'll check it out.
Ryan_e3p@reddit
A portable/folding panel, you can probably find in 200W. That will do a decent job at charging a battery bank. Put it on the patio or deck, recharge during the day, take it back in at night.
k8ecat@reddit
Oh okay. I will see what I can find.
sasquatch_melee@reddit
More than anything I think the benefit has been convenience. I rarely have to run out urgently because we ran out of something. Anything important I probably have it on-hand and then have time to replace it.
Water is the only not used daily item I've had to dip into. Went into a boil advisory because of a water main break. My RO system probably would have cleaned up the water enough but we just drank the Costco gallon jugs I had and replaced them on the next trip.
My next preps will probably be bug out kits. And I'd like to get a rain barrel for non-potable needs like flushing toilets, and maybe a camping toilet also. That plus reworked natural gas plumbing to connect to a portable generator. Storing enough fuel to last a material amount of time sucks. Propane costs a fortune with the tanks but lasts. Gas and gas cans are cheaper but go bad.
Flyin_Triangle@reddit
My backup power generator. It’s saved my ass a few times during storms when the power has gone out
Fun-Preference1091@reddit
Hurricane hit my town, power was out for 2 days.
I walked down to the end of my driveway, pulled out a folding table, a 10 gallon water jug, camp stove and my coffee pot. Sold coffee for $2 a cup. Emergency crews (including electrical workers) got a free cup.
Everyone was driving around looking for bottled water and a place willing to sell coffee. I made $100.
heroars8@reddit
What simple food choices worked for you?
Joe-_-Momma-@reddit
I put in a cast iron wood burning stove. A couple of cords of wood too.
A large ice storm hit my area. We went 12 days with no power and no way to get to town. We used candles and oil lamps. We cooked on the cast iron stove.
All in all ot wasn't bad.
AfricanJon61@reddit
We lived in Alasks early covid. Everyone there lives as though the world will end tomorrow. 160 pounds of best salmon filets vacuum packed in the freezer, 40 pounds bear meat, assorted reindeer, beef, pork. Smoked pork ribs. 30 dozen eggs in lard. Mason jars of assorted greens. Water no problem. And enough to to paper the entire White House. Ammunition for all the rifles, shotguns and sidearms. We'd go to Anchorage every couple months to stock up on sugar, salt, flour etc, but mostly self sufficient. It's a beautiful place to live, but not for weaklings.
Many-Health-1673@reddit
My wife does comment occasionally about the 14 chainsaws I have in the barn. But, we have had 3 tornadoes within 10 miles of us over the last 8 years, which makes my chainsaw addiction a positive addition to my preps as I can always help out friends and neighbors in clearing debris or clearing a road.
P1lotlancelot@reddit
Do you mind sharing brands that you have for certain things? I'd appreciate knowing the headlamp and cooking setup in particular.
Aggressive-Jelly-405@reddit
Well no one knows if they’re overkill or not cause no one has had to seriously use any of that shit stockpiled in the basement
QuietandBookish@reddit
After going through a Cat5 hurricane, I realized that some of my casual preps needed to be stepped up. I am fortunate enough to have a swimming pool, so we could use 5 gallon buckets of water to "flush" the toilets, and the people in the neighborhood shared that water with people who didn't have pools. One of the guys had 50 gallon plastic barrels and we filled them with water and he took them to houses without water with a side by side.
We are also now really careful to fill up both cars when the level hits half a tank. We would sit in the cars for an hour and charge the phones and tablets for communication and to be able to read.
We have MRE's as well and I've stocked up on things you might not think of, like spices and seasoning. Even plain beans and dehydrated potatoes will make a soup if you have some seasonings.
One other thing: if you have any sort of disability, like back problems or walking problems, stash some of the bottled water and other supplies close to whatever room you are living in during the emergency. We had a water main break last year, and since I can't lift a full package of bottled water, i had to move it several bottles at a time using my walker. It was time consuming and wasted a lot of energy I could have used for other things.
11systems11@reddit
Multiple power stations!
OskarZimmerman@reddit
Savings. It's amazing feeling when you have a serious car problem and can just pay $400 to fix it and drive to work the next day as if nothing happened.
OutlawJessie@reddit
We bought some catering packs of basic food off Amazon at the start of COVID, when we didn't know if there was going to be food, we bought several hotel sized powdered soup containers and an absolutely huge bag of instant potato. We didn't use the potato, in fact we've still got it, but we used a lot of the soup. We already had food and toilet paper, loads of toilet paper, we didn't go short once. I started stocking up again when the latest war started, just in case.
thequiet-B4-thestorm@reddit
Donate the potato please
Haunting_Chip_6044@reddit
You can use the potato to thicken soups so it doesn't go to waste
Eredani@reddit
I'm sure I have a lot of overkill preps. Depends on one's perspective. Prepping in general is considered overkill by most people.
How do you determine preps were overkill? You can't until something bad happens and your preps are tested. Maybe they work better than expected. Maybe they fail in a spectacular fashion.
Waiting for real life to spring a pop quiz is not my strategy. Nothing remotely bad has happened in my area for decades. So I dont have any juicy anecdotes to contribute.
DarkReaper90@reddit
Keeping a day's worth of survival gear in the car at all times.
Had my car breakdown and the ETA for a tow truck was 6h+. I was able to stay comfortably warm, full, hydrated, and even entertained until they arrived.
I used more water than I thought, not just to drink, but to clean as well.
WaywardPeaks@reddit
Keeping the car full of fuel and not letting go below half. Something Ive only recently started doing but it has let take advantage of fluctuating fuel cost over the past few weeks. I also fully expect a run on the gas stations and the pumps will be empty. Not because there is a lack of fuel nationally just people panic buying and logistics not catching up.
Big_Primrose@reddit
Same here. I top up before the start of the work week (I WFH).
InformationHorder@reddit
I've been "dollar cost averaging" the fuel price spike the same way. It's saved me maybe $50-60 the past month but hey that's two 5gal Jerry cans worth of gas.
nakedonmygoat@reddit
My husband thought all of my preps were overkill until we got a direct hit from a hurricane. I just sighed in annoyance and got out my preps. We didn't have to go to the store and fight crowds, and we didn't have to stand in relief lines afterwards. I made him a believer. We were without power for the better part of two weeks. It was a little less comfortable than we were used to, but overall it was no big deal.
Covid was also just a nuisance. I even had enough TP, soap, and Clorox wipes to share with a friend. Besides, with the office shut down and access cards still working, I was ready to go in there and "liberate" some TP if it came to that, on the principle that it's not really stealing if you replace it before they even know. It never came to that, though.
Most of my preps worked fine for the grid failure during Texas winter storm in 2021. I had ordered a lot of ThermaCare heat patches ahead of the storm, and since we could make hot food and hot drinks, we had no real complaints. That was when I discovered that my headlamp was great for for my needlework hobby.
I keep refining my preps, and after a sideswipe by the "dirty" side of a hurricane that left me without power for a week two years ago, I was comfortable every day and by now had a system for keeping my laptop charged so I could watch an episode of a silly old sitcom on DVD before bed. No matter what the frustrations of the day, you face the next day better if you go to bed with a smile on your face!
I can now keep essential power going for days, I have propane heaters, I have a cooler-sized fridge to keep essentials cold, and a number of other things I didn't have back in those early years. I also learned in the 2008 hurricane that I'm a short walking distance from a place that has its own power plant and never loses power. It's my charging station of last resort and I've scouted it thoroughly. I know where every outdoor outlet is.
A lot of our Plans B and C are hiding in plain sight, so it's always a good idea to investigate a little. People who can think outside the box have a lot more options than linear thinkers.
reddog323@reddit
If it’s not going to wreck your operational readiness, what’s the local power source you’d be using?
Is it a waffle house?
atleast35@reddit
What type of propane heater do you have? I’ve seen wall mount ones with the giant outside tank and I’ve also seen buddy heaters. I’m thinking of also getting a kerosene heater in addition. We had one years ago so used to using those.
FunnyComfortable8341@reddit
Sounds like disaster after disaster damn
One_Pomegranate_5385@reddit
I know lol. I was thinking this poor person just can’t catch a break!
AlwayInForwardMotion@reddit
What were the heat patches for? You? The pipes?
xenobit_pendragon@reddit
Wondering the same thing.
Big_Primrose@reddit
I wondered if I bought too much dry rice & beans. I don’t think so. Added a big bag of oats to the pile.
Severe-Complex-2538@reddit
The most important thing i got from this thread is to have an antibiotics stockpile
atleast35@reddit
Of course doctors won’t give you a prescription for antibiotics without a reason, but look into aquarium antibiotics. I used to buy them off eBay but you could check out aquarium stores. Antibiotics aren’t a one size fits all thing, but having something on hand is better than nothing.
polyamy74@reddit
Jase Medical has an assortment. You meet with the dr online, and make sure the items chosen are right for you and your family. Simple. Safe.
atleast35@reddit
Good to know. Thank you for this info
cosecha0@reddit
I’m new here. how does one obtain this?
TheCarcissist@reddit
Freeze dryer
Scared_Figure_2894@reddit
Whole house generator. We had a three day outage about two months after install and several outages since. Now I don’t have to worry. I don’t want to say it’s life changing…..but for me it’s life changing
soulinameatsuit@reddit
We had 2 three-day outages over a three-month period. I learned during the first outage that I wouldn't use my wood stove in high winds due to fire risk. (How did I not think if that?) I also leaned that I really missed having hot food. After that, I bought a mini rice cooker. The second outage was so much better with hot foods and beverages.
Spartin1178@reddit
Yah i learned this i also stocked more propane canisters for my two burner propane camping stove
soulinameatsuit@reddit
We've got camping stoves, but the winds were too high and the temperatures were too cold to cook outside. Having a low-wattage kitchen appliance was the perfect solution for me.
Spartin1178@reddit
Yah im fortunate enough to have a garage i could safely do it in
HamRadio_73@reddit
Backup power. Really paid off during one Super Bowl game.
More_Dependent742@reddit
OP, can I ask how much water you got through? Per person, and how much washing (dishes, body etc) that included?
Kinda personal but would be super useful to know if you happen to remember. Thanks! :-)
Spartin1178@reddit
Dirty civilian did a test on this where he tracked everything for like a week on youtube
Extension_Health1849@reddit (OP)
Not exact numbers, but it opened my eyes real quick.
Drinking + basic cooking is easy to plan… it’s the “everything else” that eats your supply, dishes, quick washes, wiping down, etc. That’s where most of it went.
Roughly I’d say plan at least 1 gallon per person per day minimum, but realistically closer to 2–3 gallons if you want to stay comfortable and not feel like you’re rationing every move.
Lonelyinmyspacepod@reddit
A big ole generator and tons of gas. My hubby wanted the generator pretty randomly and I just went along with it even though it was expensive and I thought when are we ever going to use that? We weren't really into prepping. Then my dad got into some conspiracy theory about the gas disappearing so he filled a huge tank with gas. We were all living together and just a couple of weeks after buying the gas a huge ice storm hit our area (which isn't the norm here) and we had no power for a week. It was extremely cold, we couldn't leave because we lived in a valley and the roads were too steep and icy to get out. The generator and gas saved our butts because we didn't have a wood stove. So we were about to heat the living room, have lights, have hot food and coffee. I was so thankful my husband and Dad did that!
Vegetaman916@reddit
Buying literally pallets of rice and pasta to preserve just before the real panic of the pandemic hit. I'm literally going to be cooking some rice tonight that was purchased for half the price than it would have been if I waited to buy it today. Having 13 years worth of shelf stable food? Priceless.
QuietDragonfly8093@reddit
Jase Case for the win! Reasonably priced and safe.
jannseleven@reddit
Keeping all our cars and trucks full of gas. Learning about using gasoline stabilizers. Water and more water. Using a water catchment system to water our gardens. Bidets in every bathroom. Several ways to cook food. Solar generator.
adpplepie@reddit
Do you mean a solar power station? Do you have recommendations? Been looking to set up something at home for the possible multi-day power outage.
71Crickets@reddit
I bought some little blocky solar powered lights for my fence. They worked so well, I bought some more and just throw them out in the yard to charge on sunny days. When the power goes out, I just scatter them around the house. They’re motion activated, so it’s nice. I still have flashlights in every room, plenty of food and water, but I really like my fence lights. They’re cheap, bright af, and last a long time.
Hom3ward_b0und@reddit
I have AAA battery powered motion lights scattered around the house because I dislike turning lights on and off when I'm in a room for just a few seconds
Wife thought it was tacky until power went out for a few hours and it was business as usual.
Quadling@reddit
thats a great idea!!! Which ones do you like?
71Crickets@reddit
I get mine from Amazon, but wait until they drop in price. These are the ones I have right now and they work well for me, inside and out.
I came across this idea a LONG time ago, on a hurricane preparedness blog (or whatever we called things before social media.) It originally suggested using solar pathway lights from the dollar store. These are just what I already had on hand.
nvaus@reddit
I haven't found a bad set of motion lights yet. Solar powered Christmas lights are also a good option for lighting that isn't so harsh. Both the motion lights and Christmas lights are good for keeping deer away from a garden, and bears away from a tent.
cosecha0@reddit
curious about this too
Extension_Health1849@reddit (OP)
Those cheap solar lights are low-key clutch, self-charging, no cords, and you can just redeploy them anywhere when things go dark. Motion sensor is a bonus too, saves power without thinking.
Perfect example of using “normal” stuff as preps without overcomplicating it.
the_lovely_otter@reddit
This is a prep I thought was overkill so I didn't have it, until I needed it. Now I have it and thankfully haven't needed it: keychain cpr mask
Rachaelmm1995@reddit
Pain meds and antibiotics for animals.
Some time ago I had a sick animal, I stock piled the meds.
One night I came home to find my parrot had literally snapped his leg off! It was gruesome.
The only exotic vet for 100 miles was on holiday for 3 weeks.
The bird should have died but I treated him with the meds that I had anyway.
He is alive and well, just missing one leg now.
the_lovely_otter@reddit
-looks at my poodle sitting next to me- omg I have food and a go bag for her but no meds!!! Adding it to the list!
ContestNo2060@reddit
Oh no. Poor bird, that’s scary.
Rachaelmm1995@reddit
Yeah, bless him. He got it caught somehow and in trying to free himself he just made it worse. I felt horrible because I should have been home but I was at a Xmas party.
Luckily I’ve got plenty of experience with injured birds, so but I couldn’t have done it without those meds!!
SheistyPenguin@reddit
The big one was our last-minute COVID preps.
Around January-February after COVID started seeping into the news, I thought: "if there are going to be lockdowns everywhere, then supply chains are going to be f*cked and there will be nowhere for our kids to play, and we will slowly go insane."
So I paused our gym membership, and spent that money turning the back yard into a mini theme park. I bought an inflatable wading pool, a bunch of backyard summer stuff, and ordered lumber for a build-it-yourself playground, and an upright freezer to replace our aging chest freezer.
All of the above items went out of stock within a week or two of us ordering them. Within a month of my lumber order, the prices for lumber shot up 50% or just went out of stock.\
It wasn't anything too crazy, but we weathered the lockdowns WAY better off than others.
suzaii@reddit
Water, battery operated fans, solar powered banks for devices, candles, and food in pop top cans. I live in Phoenix, and every year we lose power in the summer from dust storms.
Feed_The_Soul_@reddit
What kind of solar bank ? Are they expensive
suzaii@reddit
I have a solar powered generator, and a bank from Jackery. They were gifts, not sure on final pricing
dawn_thesis@reddit
solar ftw! Have you considered going full solar??
suzaii@reddit
I would love to, but we can't because of our HOA
atleast35@reddit
Several states have laws that ban HOAs from banning solar panels and sometimes clothesline (“right to dry”). Florida and Arizona are two that allow solar panels from what I’ve read. The hoa can regulate where they’re placed tho. Look into A.R.S. 33-1816. I’m not in your state but on an hoa board where an 80yo on a fixed income was high pressured to sign a contract for solar panels so I had been reading up on laws. Bring it up to the hoa and maybe they’ll change their rules and regs.
dawn_thesis@reddit
ugh fucking HOAs.
ihambrecht@reddit
I pretty much nailed COVID prepping.
Garden_Tinker78@reddit
We were expecting a winter storm this past winter and everyone thought I was crazy for buying a huge water storage container and leaving it on our counter. Sure after several days it would not be good/safe drinking water. I only needed it until the ice melted and electricity was restored (we live in a well, so no electricity = no water. Plus I have my berky filter. If it last longer I could have put the water into it to filter. I also filled up the bath tub and some big totes with water for near the toilets. So they could be flushed. Thankfully we didn’t lose power at all. But I was ready if we did, even if my kids thought I was going crazy.
Background-Pin-1307@reddit
Recently having extra fire extinguishers proved useful for a grease fire. And when it ruined our range, having a hot plate and an electric skillet have been great alternatives while we wait for the new one to arrive
DEADFLY6@reddit
Thirty 2 liter bottles of water. Our water went out for 4 days. I used 12 of thise bottles on that amount of time. It takes 99% of a sudden loter bottle to fill up an average size coffee pot. There's just a swig left. Now I store 50 and I still dont feel like its enough. It looks like alot when you're looking at it though. Damn that shit goes quick!!!
AnomalyInquirer@reddit
My dad and a wall of toilet paper I would make fun of..... Look I wasnt too into ptepping till after covid that fucking idiot proved me very wrong when I had to get some tp off him and he gave a little away to elderly neighbors who were struggling to find it
dailydrilling99@reddit
My overkill prep is rechargeable flashlights, I've got dozens of them. While I use them daily I realized in a teotwawki situation I'll be doing less at night. But in a bad weather situation its nice to have flashlights staged around the house for when the power goes out.
One_Pomegranate_5385@reddit
Rechargeable is great but battery operated will keep them going in an elongated outage- I don’t think of it that way until recently
dailydrilling99@reddit
Yeah I have some battery operated lights as well. I do have solar so I can keep lights and other things charged vs keeping a stockpile of batteries that will go bad over time.
cosecha0@reddit
which do you like?
dailydrilling99@reddit
I prefer olights. Ive had a few other brands but I like the olights for edc
SpeciousSophist@reddit
A really comprehensive and rugged set of semi to portable water storage and conveyance systems. Same thing for ice.
One very large storage that is the primary, which fills 2 smaller sizes, which can be used to fill smaller sizes etc.
The water part of this had originally come about because my family does a lot of road trips and some of the places we’ve lived we would not trust the tapwater to drink. so I had previously bought a large reverse osmosis filter system. After a couple instances where either one of the many crappy small water jugs that we had cracked and leaked on stuff and then we had less water than we wanted when we arrived places I opted to buy much more heavy duty metal ones. In general I also don’t trust most public water and most water that is available public way for free. After dealing with the chaos of having an inconsistent variety and number of different sizes of these things, I arranged the whole storage system in a pyramid structure. From that point forwards everywhere we went everybody could refill their water bottles easily and we would spend very little time messing around with the larger containers which we used for storage and transport.
Same kind of thing for ice evolved. This also was really helpful with camping and tailgating--we love to cook.
We lost power for over 2 weeks after a hurricane in FL. I did not trust the tap water either at that point. I was able to easily (with only bringing two containers in the back of my minivan get ice and water for 2 days that we would distribute to my extended fanily. Massively cut down on the time spent standing in FEMA lines, was able to provide for numerous people who weren't prepped.
XRlagniappe@reddit
We've had a number of water main breaks, including two major outages in the last 6 months. And then once repaired, there is a minimum of a few days of boil water notice until the water can be used out of the faucet. I have water in various storage containers and I used some of all of them. No rushing to the store and standing in endless lines. The item that was most useful was a water container with a spigot knob to wash our hands. I have one for every sink we use. I have several ways of taking a hot/warm shower without electricity or running water. Ironically, that was the week I was supposed to change out my water in the barrels.
Curious-Order-8429@reddit
totally agree with the overkill removes stress” point...... It doesnt feel excessive once you actually need it......
Financial_Resort6631@reddit
My trauma kits. I don’t know how many times I have happened upon people in need of assistance and had to use an IFAK.
Fire Extinguishers. I had a computer and grease fire that I stopped quickly because my fire extinguishers are mounted and checked.
I had N95 masks for COVID. They are great for chemical, particles and respiratory infections.
Food storage. Couple times things got lean. I used my food storage. I also have 3 days of MREs in my car. Work late or don’t have lunch money…
Batteries and Flashlights are super helpful.
Ecoflow battery kept fridge running during power outage.
I have a hybrid car… gas prices are insane but I can weather the increase because of the efficiency.
nvaus@reddit
Traveling with a full chest of mechanics tools, including a torch. I've bailed myself and others out of many a bad situation far outside of cell service.
Numerous-Winter5520@reddit
Unless you have a manual pump well, you don't have enough water stored.
Feed_The_Soul_@reddit
What are gasoline stabilizers and where do you get them?
PrisonerV@reddit
Power generation. You really cannot have too much power until you're generating more than you can consume on a hot summer's day.
Extension_Health1849@reddit (OP)
You think you’ve got enough till you start adding real loads then it’s never enough. Extra capacity isn’t waste, it’s margin. Run more, store more, or help others.
iambecomesoil@reddit
Why are you using AI replies?
Background-Toe4400@reddit
Because they are a bot 😂
Extension_Health1849@reddit (OP)
Because I like having decent grammar when I talk about not wiping my ass with leaves, man. 😅
Nah but seriously, just sharing what worked for me
iambecomesoil@reddit
You're not talking. You're copying and pasting clanker slop.
hiaokk@reddit
What was your power source?
MrD3a7h@reddit
Small fission reactor
davidm2232@reddit
I really want to get/build one. They keep talking about small reactors but they are still in the multi megawatt range. Where is the 100kw neighborhood reactor?
MrD3a7h@reddit
Better to have too much than not enough. I wouldn't go under 1600 kw.
davidm2232@reddit
It depends on if you can effectively run at a lower power level. Having a lot of extra power to dissipate creates its own problems and raises risk. I feel like a small rtg used to keep a battery bank charged is the safest option
MrD3a7h@reddit
I had one of those. Worked great until I dropped it down the stairs and the casing cracked.
oldschoolguy90@reddit
Just use your screwdriver to hold the shell that keeps it stable
ashburnmom@reddit
Hey! I know that reference!
Quadling@reddit
I understood that reference!!!
Monarc73@reddit
Ever heard of an Electro-Mechanical Reactor?
SpacedBasedLaser@reddit
Keep stealing my wife's Borax laundry powder as a neutron moderator
mrhemingray@reddit
Mr. Fusion
Monarc73@reddit
Ever heard of an Electro-Mechanical Reactor?
Ra_a_@reddit
I guess we never did anything excessive
It can be important to have your end goals in mind first … then make progress directly toward that
Trevdogg187@reddit
Israeli bandages. Just got attacked by a Turkish Kangal and got my hand ripped open. Hadn’t trained my wife how to apply one but was simple enough that I was able to walk her through applying it as I was laying on my back with my legs elevated trying not to go into shock….
No_Alarm_3993@reddit
Raising a garden and having chickens. It used to be just a fun hobby for my wife and the peppers or other vegetables were a bonus. Now with the price of food and the economy it was easy to more than double our chicken flock so we have extra eggs to provide a little income and plenty of fresh vegetables to supplement our food supply. The key was knowing what to do and how to do it. Experience is invaluable in this kind of situation.
dawn_thesis@reddit
farmers ftw!
Droid759@reddit
I'm in a VHCL area and still prep for the storms that pop up every 5 years or so. Most of the time, we might lose power for part of day. But a few years ago we lost power for two days and others nearby lost power for 3-4 days, that had friends and family scrambling, while we had everything ready and it had next to zero impact on us. (Another extension cord might be nice to have on hand in the future?)
We also invited my wife's elderly parents over and simply offered them to come by for whatever they might need.
NoBodySpecial51@reddit
Crutches and braces for various body parts (arm sling, wrist brace, knee brace, etc.) have been lifesavers. Charcoal for cooking, vitamins, and various hand tools.
countryboundwitch@reddit
First Aid and the training to go with it. We have no doctor in the family or anyone with extensive medical knowledge. However, first aid supplies and basic training has helped my family multiple times. It's been especially helpful for late night incidents, when urgent cares and stores are closed, and the only option would be the ER, which would have been overkill for the situations (and expensive). Having OTC medicines, finger sprain kits, eye washing kits, burn cream, etc have all been used from my kit. My family know to call me when they need that level of care fast when everything is closed (we're on a rural area).
Tasty_Impress3016@reddit
I see it already posted but toilet paper. Even I thought stocking a bunch was overkill. In a real emergency, tp is low on the list of priorities. Then Covid came and I was god among men, blessing friends and neighbors with all they needed.
SpaceGoatAlpha@reddit
I was materially prepared for COVID and almost all of the peripheral bullshit that happened because of it. 🤷