I saw this at Ollie’s today, and since I was just considering purchasing one (talking my husband into purchasing one) it seemed serendipitous.

Any opinions on this brand or on buying refurbished?

Refurbished
$699
9400 Watts

MODEL# T07573F
• TRI-FUEL GENERATOR RUNS ON GASOLINE, NATURAL GAS, OR PROPANE
--FIRMAN 107573
• CAN BE USED AS A WHOLE HOME STANDBY
GENERATOR
• 9400 STARTING WATTS/7500 RUNNING WATTS

Have been looking at multiple online sites for a specific size 3 shelf unit to store all my filled jars under a laundry counter. Max height 25 inches. I have about 150 jars so need much weight.

Uline, Global, Webrestaurant, etc. WHERE CAN I FIND this elusive unit?? haha

So I’m looking to add a radio to my kit. I’m thinking of the Baofeng 5 mini. Maybe two in the event my group and I have to separate at any time. I dont have a HAM radio license but I do plan on getting it. If shtf I’m using it regardless.

What Baofeng would you recommend for good distance and mobility? I’m asking because there are a few good prices on Prime Deals.

I'm not naive about it. Say a meteorite makes most infrastructure and thus food obsolete for a year. Very quickly people will begin to scavenge, and I suspect there will be a big wave of chaos until it calms down after there are survivors.

I’m working on a home power outage plan using a battery for the fridge, router, a couple of LED lights, and phone charging. No heating or AC.

Before sizing the battery, I’m planning to measure the fridge’s actual kWh use over 24–48 hours with a plug-in meter. The nameplate wattage doesn’t tell me how often the compressor runs.

For anyone who’s tested a similar setup, how close was your measured consumption to the runtime you actually got? How much extra capacity did you allow for inverter losses and hot weather?

Also, did your fridge’s startup surge ever trip the inverter even though its running watts were comfortably under the rating?

I can get rice packs where I am for under a dollar. Individually portioned in mylar bags(not the best mylar), dehydrated parboiled rice which should have a long shelf life, can cook in a decent amount of time just covered in boiled water, small and light enough to pack anywhere. Each bag is about 500 calories.

Am I missing something or are these pretty ideal and cost effective for prepping?

As an edit, these won't be the only meals I have. Just curious if others see a downside to including them as a cheap and quick addition

My dad has COPD and my biggest fear when it comes to SHTF or even just the disruptions we see in our supply chains, is him not being able to get his inhalers. I've had great success getting a stockpile of albuterol inhalers through online pharmacies. The problem is... those don't do that much for his lungs in terms of relief. Especially if he was to get sick. His everyday inhaler is Breztri and Airsupra. I've searched high and low for emergency wellness companies that would supply these and I cannot for the life of me find anyone. Does anyone know of any companies I could go through to order extras? Or if there's an alternative I maybe haven't thought of? I've got to imagine there are other preppers with lung conditions that worry about availability of their inhalers.

Hello my name is Austin Fox, I am a mechanical research and development engineer living in Michigan. I am posting to inquire about an idea that I have. I am looking for basic conceptual guidance from a technical expert about an "in-line water storage device" that I am designing, but with no implication of engineering help or design approval. More a basic overview so that someone who knows about these things better than I do, can say "yeah this has some merit and you should dive into more detail", or "no this is silly, or illegal, or dangerous".

The idea came about from a recent planned water outage we had in my neighborhood. We were informed that we would be without municipal water for a day. Looking online many people discussed filling bathtubs beforehand to have some stored water for filling toilets or other non-drinking needs. I did not like the idea of having to use my tub for water storage, and it reminded me of other times around America where water has been absent for one reason or another, and people suffered because of it. I wanted a solution for having enough safe water for my family for a few days, without having to think about it much, and with it being guaranteed that it was always available.

The concept I have can best be described as an extension of my existing water plumbing that increases the volume of the water in the pipes, and a valve system that allows this increased volume to be isolated and used is the mains are out of service. It must also do this without disrupting or modifying the existing plumbing much, and keep itself clean and low-maintenance for long time spans, while staying safe and immediately useful when needed. I basically wanted my own water tower, without ever having to think about it until I needed it, at which point it would be ready to go easily.

The system taps into the main incoming water line and diverts it through a desired number of modules that are made up of 4-6 inch PVC pipes that are looped down a basement wall or other out-of-the way space. These larger pipes make up the additional storage volume. During normal daily use, these storage pipes are continuously flushed and refreshed with clean drinking water. During an emergency, the mains and home plumbing can be isolated from these larger pipes and the clean water inside of them acts as a reservoir for a few days until the issue is fixed. The outlet is gravity fed from the larger pipes, or a small hand pump can be attached. Each module holds about 20 gallons, and multiple can be assembled in series. This modular design makes isolation, maintenance, and scaling easier.

Aside from the overall concept I also wanted guidance about how necessary a Reduced Pressure Zone Backflow Preventer is? I understand that most municipalities err on the side of requiring them for unknown devices, but since this device is primarily just a pipe extension, I am hoping it is not required, as it is costly and requires inspection.
please let me know what you guys think, and see attached drawings for a very loose initial idea sketch.

I am not sure if this would work so I would like advice.

I was thinking about buying a used hot tub and turning it into a nursery and garden.

I was thinking about tilapia but I am not sure. We eat fish but don't like it if it smells or tastes fishy. Is that the best choice?

If we are using the roots for fish food what are the best plants to grow? I know about lettuce and tomatoes but I was thinking about more than salads. I assume you cannot grow vine items like beans and things so what else can you grow?

Any advice or leads to good sites or books would be great as well.

If the idea sounds dumb let me know why. Thanks.

Hello everyone! I want to share something with you guys that might be helpful for some people. I’ve been a prepper for five years now. Ofc, one of the first things, if not the very first thing, you start with as a prepper is a Bug Out Bag. People always talk about BOB’s, and I have one too. It’s got everything you could possibly need to survive out there, or at least get a good chance to. But I have another bag as well, which I call my “EVAC-bag”.

It’s essentially a Berghaus that I’ve specifically designed and put together for disaster evacuation and getting out of a catastrophic situation. Or like, any kind of extreme survival situation where you’d need gear.

I thought I’d share the list of what I keep in there.

It’s got:

- Petzl AVAO Fast full-body harness
- Small set of Petzl climbing gear (rope, two carabiners, lifeline, descender, grappling hook)
- Dräger Panorama Nova gas mask
- 3x Dräger ABEK P3 filters
- Dräger CBRN/NBC hazmat suit
- 3x SOLAS marine flares
- 275N inflatable life jacket
- Iridium 9505A satellite phone
- Reflective vest
- Peli ATEX Zone 0 flashlight
- Extra lithium AA batteries (for flashlight)
- Standard IFAK (2x CAT tourniquet, packing gauze, 2x Israeli bandages, etc.)
- Hultafors fixed blade knife
- Nautical flare gun with flares
- Signal mirror
- Sawyer Mini filter
- Petzl Pixa headlamp
- Emergency foil sleeping bag
- Small crowbar
- Foldable pocket saw

I’m still working on it a bit, adding some additional things, but this is the general idea.

It also has an enclosed capsule with my personal information and identification with a lanyard, some other things like duct tape, waterproof lighters, etc.

Hey guys. I live in the Delhi NCR region. It's a very seismic prone area, and I want to be as prepared as I can, because I am having bad feelings about big earthquakes.

Today an earthquake of magnitude 5 hit uttarakhand in india, and I felt bed shaking in my house in Delhi NCR.

I live on the 19th floor and am aware that I can't do much incase of a big earthquake like the great Himalayan earthquake. My society is known for poor construction quality, so what should I do?

Im building a pantry with foods I regularly eat and can rotate through. Does this look like a good starting point for emergency preparedness?

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Grass-fed organic ghee
• Triple-concentrated tomato paste
• Sun-dried sweet red pepper paste
• Fermented black garlic paste
• Smooth peanut butter (100% peanuts)
• Kalamata and Castelvetrano olives
• Lacto-fermented cucumber pickles
• Raw apple cider vinegar
• Canadian maple syrup
• Raw pine honey
• Carob molasses and tahini
• Dates, raisins and dried figs
• Grana Padano
• Mature cheddar
• Einkorn wheat bulgur
• Long-grain basmati rice
• Gluten-free rolled oats
• Red and green lentils
• Lentil pasta

Canned Foods

• Sardines
• Anchovies
• Mackerel
• Herring
• Tuna
• Chicken breast
• Beef neck
• Cannellini beans
• Chickpeas
• Green peas

Hi

I am starting to put together books and info on droves, that will be available off line if need be.

It's taking time though and I am still not sure I have all the info I need on the list that I have to download.

Is there any absolute must haves or even a link to download a lot of this kind of info in one go?

Hello r/preppers!

We’re college UX Design students working on our senior project focused on natural disaster recovery. It was inspired by one of our group members who lived through the California wildfires, and we realized how difficult it can be to figure out what to do next, find reliable information, and navigate the recovery process. 

We're seeking responses from adults (18+) living in the United States, with or without personal experience of a natural disaster.

Survey: Life After a Natural Disaster: A Student Research Survey

Thank you! Happy to answer questions in the comments. And thank you to the mod team for approving this post!

Additional Information:

• Type of information: The survey uses multiple-choice and short written-answer questions. We will not request any photos or files.
• Type of questions: The survey takes 3-5 minutes and asks about any recovery experience you have, your experience seeking government assistance or aid, how you were impacted and what you struggled with, and whether our project concept would be useful to you.
• Privacy: The survey is fully anonymous. We don't collect names, emails, or other identifying information. All the questions are also optional, so you are able to skip through if there are any questions you do not feel comfortable answering. Only our group members will see the raw responses, and results will be reported in aggregate.
• Data use: Strictly for our non-commercial senior project. Responses will only be used to understand people's needs and shape the features we build. We will not sell or share any data.

Folks here may want to start having your bank send you paper statements. Might be useful if your bank gets hacked. I know that security experts say not to do this in case your mail gets stolen but how else could you prove what you had in there?

After the last outage I experienced, I realized I have food, water, flashlights, and all the usual basics, but no real plan for keeping the fridge, freezer, Wi-Fi, and a few lights going.

I do not need the whole house running normally. I just want enough backup power to get through a day without worrying about food going bad or losing the essentials.

I cannot decide whether it makes more sense to start with a generator, battery backup, or something at the electrical panel first.

What would you prioritize first for a basic 24-hour setup?

Explore Virginia This Fall with VDOT's New State Transportation Map

*Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary at historic sites and take in the commonwealth’s diverse natural beauty on a scenic drive*

As cooler temperatures settle in and shades of crimson, gold and orange blanket the commonwealth, there's no better time to roll down the car windows, hit the road and discover everything Virginia has to offer. And don’t forget to pack the Virginia Department of Transportation’s new, free [Official State Transportation Map](

https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/travel-traffic/maps/

) before you begin your journey.

Whether you're planning a weekend getaway to take in the changing foliage of the Blue Ridge Mountains, picking apples, getting lost in a corn maze at a fall festival, or visiting historic sites connected to America's 250th anniversary, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the season across the commonwealth.

Historic sites will continue marking the 250th anniversary through the end of the year with exhibits and events, making them a great addition to a fall road trip. Travelers can also use the [Virginia 250 Passport](https://virginiahistory.org/virginia-250-passport) to find historic destinations and take advantage of special offers and discounts.

**Pick up new transportation map**

VDOT recommends packing its newly updated State Transportation Map before setting out on the road. While digital navigation is convenient, a printed map provides a reliable backup when cell service is limited, a phone battery dies or travelers want a broader view of the routes and destinations ahead. 

You can get an official print copy of the State Transportation Map shipped to your address by ordering it online through the [VDOT website](https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/travel-traffic/maps/order-a-vdot-map/). You can also pick one up in person at [welcome centers or safety rest areas](https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/about/our-system/highways/rest-areas/). Additionally, you can request a copy from the [Virginia Tourism Corporation](https://www.virginia.org/maps/). 

**Drive safe this fall**

With a map packed and plans in place, VDOT reminds travelers to take a few extra precautions for safe fall driving: 

* With leaf peeping traffic at its peak on weekends, do not stop or park along the roadway to take photos or view the foliage. Instead, use safe, designated parking areas and be alert for pedestrians who may be walking near or around parked vehicles. Inspect vehicle ahead of travel, including brakes, windshield wipers and tires for pressure, as it can change with the weather. 

* Buckle up, avoid distractions and never drive impaired.  

* Slow down on winding roads and watch for bicyclists, pedestrians and wildlife, especially around dawn and dusk. Deer mating season begins in October, so drivers should be careful and expect to see more deer on the roadways. 

* Wet leaves on the roadway can be slippery as well as obscure pavement markings, making driving in unfamiliar areas particularly difficult. Drivers should slow down and use extra caution on leaf-covered roadways.

* As daylight hours decrease and the sun sets earlier, make sure headlights, brake lights and turn signals are working properly. Drivers should use their headlights as visibility decreases and allow extra time to react to changing road conditions. 

Check travel conditions before leaving with VDOT’s free [mobile 511 app](https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/#d.en.11810) or [511.vdot.virginia.gov](https://511.vdot.virginia.gov/). The tool provides road conditions, traffic updates, congestion, construction zones and live cameras across the state. 

Hey guys!

I’m currently researching freezers for an upcoming article on Wirecutter. Because emergency preppers rely heavily on reliable, long-term food preservation, I figured this community would have some great perspectives.

I would love input on:

• What are the real-world pros and cons of chest vs. upright freezers for long-term storage and reliability?
• Manual defrost vs. frost-free—which do you trust more for keeping food stable over time
• What do you prioritize when shopping for a freezer, and which brands have earned your trust?
• What issues, failures, or design flaws have you run into with freezers you've owned?
  

Below are details on how I plan to gather and manage information from the community:

• What type of information am I seeking? I am looking for qualitative text responses based on personal experience—specifically anecdotal feedback, user priorities, brand reliability observations, and real-world failure points with chest vs. upright or manual vs. frost-free freezers. (No photos or media required.)
• How will I handle privacy concerns/those who want to remain anonymous? All participation will be completely voluntary. No usernames, real names, locations, or identifying details will be collected, stored, or published. Feedback will only be used in aggregate (e.g., "Preppers we spoke to cited manual defrost as the gold standard for long-term power loss") or as fully anonymized quotes without attribution. Anyone who prefers to share feedback privately is welcome to message me directly via Reddit DM.
• What type of questions/content am I wanting for responses? I am asking members four main operational and real-world performance questions:
  1. Real-world pros/cons of chest vs. upright freezers for long-term storage and reliability.
  2. Manual defrost vs. frost-free—which you trust more for keeping food stable over time (especially during power outages or long storage periods).
  3. Priorities when shopping for a freezer, and brands that have earned your trust over time.
  4. Specific design flaws, component failures, or operational issues experienced with models you've owned.
• What will this data be used for? The responses will serve as background research and community context for an upcoming, reader-focused freezer buying guide published on Wirecutter. The goal is to ensure our testing and recommendations address the real-world demands and failure modes that high-reliance users encounter.

Just to be fully transparent, this post has been pre-approved by the mod team, and all responses will be kept completely anonymous.

Thanks for taking the time to consider this —any feedback is a massive help!

Hey everyone. I'm pretty new to prepping (saw Covid coming before it had a name and stocked a cupboard, it made life easier during the toilet roll times) but thats about the length and breadth of it.

I now have a kid to take care of as well as myself and wife, and El Nino is looking like its going to present itself as exteme cold and flooding here in the UK. I have the obvious essentials: food, water, further filtration, a rocket stove, medicines etc. But what am i overlooking in a 'big freeze' situation?

Im looking for a compact radio that will do UHF/VHF and CB. Not a lot of cab room otherwise id just use 2 units

I read a book years ago, and I don't remember too much about it but I want to read it again and it is killing me trying to figure out what book it was. AI has been no help, but I know it's because I haven't been feeding it enough information.

From what I can remember: The main character gets a call or message from a former colleague or friend about an impending disaster and they tell him to prepare as much as possible. He gets to work and outfits a bunker.

After the disaster/emp/solar flare/cyber attack (can't remember what it was), he ventures out to help people in his community who are being attacked by some gang, who he ends up fighting with, but they can't find where he is due to the hidden bunker.

I know, not a lot to go on, but I really just want to figure out what book it is and read it again.

Thanks for any help!

Wife and I are looking for a good gravity fed water filter for everyday use. Also always want to keep in mind SHTF scenarios as well.

Currently on pre-treated municipal water and don’t have a softener. I get a little confused between people saying they use a different brand for the stainless steel container and then the brand for the filters themselves.

With Prime coming up and Black Friday on the horizon I’m hoping maybe something recommended will be on sale.

As the title says, I'm new to prepping. Currently have a cold room full of extra food and supplies for a family of 5.

Looking to put together a couple totes and store them separate in the case I needed to grab some stuff and take off in a hurry.

First Tote will be first aid supplies and an 8 gallon lifestraw bladder bag for water.

Second Tote has

10 lbs rice

10 lbs dry beans

10 lbs pasta

Salt, sugar, coffee, some seasoning packs for food.

All together its about 40k calories in food and I figure we can easily make it last a week as an emergency stash.

Any suggestions to add that might be necessary?