benh said:
I'd be interested in some specifics on how you handled things like insects, garbage and sanitation...
These are three subjects that you can really have an impact on -- if you are able to just think about it far enough ahead of time. You may lay up a few things that don't cost much that will have the power to change the whole picture.
You really have to think ahead on garbage and know exactly what you are going to do. The decisions that you make (or don't make) before the emergency will have a
direct effect on not only the
severity but also the
breadth of your insect woes. Most won't ever give it serious thought until the problem is way out of control and they lack the tools to deal with it. The key to insect management is how you deal with your garbage -- so we'll do that one first.
Garbage
Deal with garbage aggressively.
Indoors
Always separate garbage into two classes: That which will get stinky, and That which will not get stinky. RubberMaid makes a series of clearish, rectangular, airtight containers in different sizes. They are a little more pricey than most 'Tupperware type' containers but they are worth it. They have double seals at the top and the top won't just start to split after a few months of use.
Get the best containers you can find/afford.
We have two. The first is the above RubberMaid model in
3 qt size. We keep the flimsy plastic shopping bags from the A&P and I line it with one of those with some newspaper at the bottom. This one goes by the sink. Anything that will get smelly goes in there. Rinse your cans and meat packaging well (for example) before throwing them in your 'non smelly' trash. If it's something impossible to rinse, like a sardine can, just throw it into the 'smelly container' by the sink. (3 quarts is really pretty big) When you get ready to take out the non smelly trash, just remove the bag from the smelly container and throw it in. This way, if your
AC or your
garbage disposal unit goes out your main garbage inside won't stink. Your smelly garbage won't stink, either.
NEITHER OF THEM WILL ATTRACT BUGS, EITHER.
Our second RubberMaid stinky container is the same model as the first except it is in the 6 L size. When I clean the kitty litter it all goes into another A&P bag for each day which gets knotted and goes right into it's own stinky bin. The 6 L bin will hold a week's waste from one cat. Again -- nothing smells -- even a month after the power and AC goes down. This is the way we do it all year around.
The FDA 'Pros from Dover' were really impressed by the stinky bin(s) strategy. I hadn't even thought it all through but they told Mrs Umbra that even without a pet in the house it was a brilliant approach for obvious reasons. They also mentioned that it would keep the cat from digging (for the stinky stuff) in the garbage. It really works.
Outside
When they stop picking up your garbage on a regular basis you need to know right from the git-go that bags won't work. There are really only two solutions: extra garbage cans or burial. If you put out bags for any amount of time they will be breached by birds, cats, rats, and who knows what -- depending on location. For dogs a plastic garbage bag is just a
'puppy piniada' -- fun with a surprise!!! WooHoo! After the bags are breached it's going to be
bug city!
Four of the cheapest, lightest, blow away in the wind garbage cans with covers, nested in your garage could serve you very well in many scenarios. Bear in mind that in a real emergency you will produce much, much less trash. If you have a fenced in yard you'll really have an advantage because you'll be able to keep the dogs out.
You need to think about this stuff -- but in the context of
your own situation.
Rule of thumb about Garbage:
Inventory every size plastic bag that you currently use (right down to zip-locks) and get someone to run you out to Sam's (we're bicycle people) and buy yourself a 2 year supply of
each of them. They store small and it won't cost much. What you actually need in an emergency is EVERYTHING you normally use anyway. You'll use these bags, too, whether there's an emergency or not. What's the big deal?
Remember, you don't have to do this all
today. Just
think about it. Make a list of what makes sense for you. Just chip away at is as you can. It will get
less oppressive as you go along.
Disasters ARE messy. For those who think that two years worth of plastic bags or soap (another category that stores small and is hideously cheap) is way over the top, chill. I'm not talking to you. If you want to respond about how you don't know if you'd want to survive in that world, do me a favor -- just start
your own thread about how everyone who is more prepared than you is crazy. You'll get takers.
Next: Insects