Minimal tool kit everyone should have on hand in their survival kit

[Horse with no Name]

hammer
nails--assorted
1 small and 1 large phillips head screwdriver
1 small and 1 large flat head screwdriver
screws--assorted
hand saw
tube of JB Weld
tube of automotive Super Glue
small hand ax
pliers
crescent wrench--medium size
wirecutters

I think more and more people need to get ready for what is coming.
As one who has power tools--I see an urgent need to have hand tools as well.
With this list--you could fix just about anything--at least temporarily.

Anyone have anything to add?

[htuttle]

1. You are missing the two most important tools!

1) Vise grips
2) A roll of duct tape.

With those two tools, you can repair anything.

on edit: speling.

[Horse with no Name]

3. There you go!

Thank you.

[One_Life_To_Give]

40. Bailing Wire!

More versatile than Duct Tape. A true Yank can fix anything with Bailing Wire.

[fed-up]

56. www.72hours.org Fantastic Disaster Preparation website

I started a fresh thread with this title but it got buried.

[maine_raptor]

2. Leatherman, Swiss Army Knife

[LiberalEsto]

4. transistor radio & batteries

compass, water purification tablets, tarp, rope.

[Coexist]

44. they have hand-crank radios that don't need batteries

http://www.ambientweather.com/emra.html

[ahem]

71. Great link! Thanks. nt

[BiggJawn]

79. You must be as old as me...

"Transistor radio"...Haven't heard them called THAT in 35 years!

I have a FreePlay, it needs no batteries.

"Wind up your Radios, Dementians and Dementites!"-Doctor Demento

[BlueEyedSon]

5. Small flashlight

[Mairead]

57. That doesn't require batteries

[Lars39]

6. Crowbars

[Webster Green]

7. Duct tape and tie-wire...

Get a roll of re-bar tie wire for 3 or 4 bucks. Very handy stuff.


Demand resignations! Now!

[phantom power]

8. chlorine bleach, for disinfecting water.

Calcium hypochlorite powder can be used to make bleach, if you want something you can carry around with you. It's the active ingredient in most pool chlorine, although I've been trying to find some without other chemicals in it.

Dried food: rice and beans are super cheap, long shelf life, and portable. They are also "protein complete", according to advice I've been given.

Vitamins.

hand-crank emergency radio. hand-crank flashlight.

[truth2power]

16. Where do you get a hand crank flashlight? I saw one that you shake

to "refresh" it. Don't know if that really works.

[Lex]

21. See Post #10. nt

[phantom power]

29. The "shake flashlight" works. I got one as a gift. It's a bit annoying

to stand there shaking it. Also, I think the crank versions last longer between refreshes.

[Lisa]

75. I like mine better than the "squeeze" type

Which you have to keep on squeezing, or the light goes out ... at least the "shake" light stays on for awhile. Plus, it looks to be more securely sealed so it should hold up better in damp conditions.

[Rainbowreflect]

41. Try here. We bought a crank radio with spot light from them

years ago & use it during bad weather every year.

http://www.ccrane.com/

[Silverhair]

55. I have one. It works.

Light is a bit dim, but it is a flashlight of last resort.

[gauguin57]

63. I saw hand-crank flashlights at Restoration Hardware ...

... in one of those little gadget bins near the checkout.

[Squatch]

18. Better yet, a Miox water purifier.

Link

[phantom power]

27. Those are cool, although more expensive than bleach.

[phantom power]

30. Frame backpacks, for authentic "refugee action". Good hiking boots.

If you aren't specifically into hiking, an external frame backpack is generally cheaper, but the modern internal frame packs are superior.

[sendero]

89. Bleach...

... is high on my list of survival items.

Take a gallon of water from a river or pond. Filter sediment/vegetation/etc out with a cloth. Add 8 drops of chlorine bleach and stir it up. Let it sit for a half hour and then it is safe to drink - the chlorine will oxidize any organic components such as bacteria, etc.

I've had a store of beans and rice for a while. Not a culinary delight, but you can live on them :)

[MojoXN]

102. Vitamins.

VERY important. The last thing that you want in a crisis situation is scurvy, or beriberi, or rickets, or Vitamin K deficiency, whatever the hell that's called.

MojoXN

[truebrit71]

9. A four-week supply of beer...

Preferably imported British beer...it doesn't need refrigeration....

I would also think that a bloody great big dog would be helpful for those that don't wish to use firearms...

[leveymg]

81. I liked the one in Dr. Strangelove that made B-52 Pilot Slim Pickens say:

"Shoot, a fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all this stuff."

[htuttle]

83. "Survival kit contents check...."

"In them you'll find: one forty-five caliber automatic; two boxes of ammunition; four days' concentrated emergency rations; one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills; one miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible; one hundred dollars in rubles; one hundred dollars in gold; nine packs of chewing gum; one issue of prophylactics; three lipsticks; three pair of nylon stockings."

[leveymg]

87. You already have yours stocked up, I see.

I think that about covers it, except the "SF-5 million sunblock" referenced in another, not quite as funny, film about the end of the world.

[bottomofthehill]

10. LL Bean

has a great radio with light attached and a hand crank that will last for about an hour. We love it and take it every where. We like it so much we bought a second one for the emergency kit.

[truth2power]

26. thanks. n/t

[Mist]

11. Matches (in plastic bag), flashlight and batteries, canteen

[woodsprite]

22. Double up on the plastic bag -- zip locks are not created equal.

Totally damaged a camera that way :( The old fashioned, non-zipper contraption, ziplocks kept things dry as a bone. The one with the zipper contraption didn't seal well and let water in - only a bit, but enough to damage the readouts.

[rainbow4321]

53. Note on the matches...

Gas leaks could be a problem if you strike the match in the wrong place. If your house or any houses around you are moved/sloshed around enough by water/winds, gas lines could be damaged/broken.


I ONLY bring this up cuz there have been reports of gas leaks in the current diaster areas due to house damage...

I am certainly **not** trying to diss you or your matches idea.

[Libby2]

12. Thanks for starting this topic

as someone that could have been hit by tornado's spawned from Katrina, I know I am on my own.
Of course we have all of the above mentioned things, just not in the same area.

My number one thing not to forget would be Excedrin......<not funny>

[Mist]

13. First aid kit!

[Squatch]

17. Seconded. I recommend the ones from Adventure Medical Kits

[Lex]

20. In a gallon ziplock bag . . .

bandaids
anti-bacterial cream
needle
thread
generic allergy pills
roll of gauze & tape
nail clippers
travel size pack of baby wipes
aspirin

[Horse with no Name]

33. Add some peroxide to that

to disinfect wounds before putting antibacterial cream on a wound.
Not necessarily my first choice for disinfecting...but in the event there isn't any water...peroxide would be handy.
Also a snake bite kit, tweezers, as well as a tourniquet (only in an emergency and know how and when to use it.)
Also, learn CPR.

[Dolomite]

14. How about

- a tarp (compact, to keep you dry or keep the sun and rain off while working, also can be used to collect rainwater)

[Mairead]

58. A 'space blanket' might be better: more compact, reflects heat

[tabasco]

80. Good idea ! Army type ponchos or tarps for hasty shelter.

Along with a roll of good nylon cord and/or bungee cords make setting up a shelter pretty easy.

Sleeping bags (military terminology = "fartsacks").

[Squatch]

15. One small .357 revolver

Smith and Wesson makes a few nice ones.

[Squatch]

19. And a case of MREs & bottled water

[Be Brave]

103. Where can one buy MREs? n/t

[maine_raptor]

23. I prefer a 9mm glock

more rounds per load and with hollow points you usually don't need a second round. And has much less of a kick, with a 357 unless you have both hands on the grip you're taking a chance of breaking a wrist.

[Squatch]

24. In mud and gunk, nothing beats a revolver. Just point and shoot.

And, I heartily disagree with the assertion that you can break a wrist with a .357.

If you are afraid of that happening, which is extremely unlikely, you can always use .38 Special and .38 Special +P

[maine_raptor]

34. True on the mud and gunk

but if there is a situation where I have to rely on a gun, I'd like to have more than six shots available. Besides you can keep mud and gunk out of a Glock by having it stored in a plastic bag.

As far as the wrist thing...if you are small boned (ie female or young male), the recoil from a .357 can be a bit overwhelming.

Now maybe my perspective (rural) is different, because I'll be having a gun to protect against wild four footed animals more than the two footed kind.

[RamboLiberal]

47. Glocks function well even in mud and gunk

I shoot glocks in all kinds of conditions. I clean mine once a month whether they need it or not. Never had a malfunction of the gun, only the occassional no bang with cheap ammo.

Glock prides themselves on putting their pistols through torture tests in all kinds of conditions.

[sendero]

91. Have a Glock..

.... 22C .40 S&W. The only thing negative about it is that it's the loudest gun I've ever had, by far. It is LOUD!

I wouldn't want to be on the other end of it tho' :)

[Mythsaje]

94. A friend once referred to them

as "combat Tupperware."

[slackmaster]

32. Use only handguns in calibers that begin with '4'

I prefer my trusty M1911-A1 in .45 ACP.

Don't forget ammo.

[OrlandoGator]

82. Glock 21 in .45 in my hurricane kit.

I agree.

[Dolomite]

39. What about the Makarov?

While as .357 is an excellent choice due to the revolver's general lack of ammunition sensitivity - a Makarov in 9mm Mak (9x18) can also fire .380 (9x17), and if the shizzle really hits the fizzle, 9mm Pararbellum (9x19).

[solinvictus]

95. I've got a .32 ACP & a 7.62x25 Tokarev...

The Tokarev round will penetrate wood, cinderblocks, and a lot of other cover. The .32, however, is a last ditch. I guess my primary would be my Yugo SKS.

[MojoXN]

99. I also own a Yugo SKS...

I've been having one HELL of a time finding stripper clips to fit the damn thing, though. If you know of a good source, PM me.

MojoXN

[Mairead]

59. Better a long-barrel .22

If you're a good shot, a .22 will do the job; if you're not, maybe it's better not to be shooting?

[BronxBoy]

76. A shotgun

preferably one with a short barrel

[Zynx]

100. Shotgun better than any rifle if you're starting from scratch

Easy to use and good for intimidation value.

[feminazi]

25. what is the purpose of the JB Weld?

i spent the weekend reviewing my emergency plans and first aid/evac kits. i live in the bay area and the bush response to katrina makes it even more obvious that we'll be on our own for much longer than anticipated in the event of a major earthquake.

so what can the JB Weld be used for?

thanks

[maine_raptor]

28. JB Weld

can bond together almost anything. Makes a good strong bond too and one that is watertight.

[mtnester]

31. Just used some of that to seal an exhaust leak in a tailpipe

stuff is GREAT

[slackmaster]

35. Great stuff! I used it to fix a broken cleanout on my home sewer drain

Old cast-iron pipe that got broken by a Bobcat earth-moving machine during some renovations I had done.

I wire-brushed the pieces clean, warmed them with a torch, and J-B welded it back together almost 10 years ago and it's holding up just fine. Nice gas-tight fitting, no leakage at all.

[Horse with no Name]

36. Just for instance

if your transistor radio falls and breaks, you can use the JB Weld to fix the antenna.
It's just something that can fix almost anything that breaks--when getting a new one isn't an option.

On edit: If the Professor on Gilligan's Island had JB Weld they would have been rescued.;)

[phantom power]

37. Supply of surgical masks and latex gloves. Think "avian flu."

[pointblank]

38. Dont forget the plastic sheeting for your windows...

Seriously though...I am going to use this thread as a reference.

In light of what is happening, I am going to break down and invest in a disaster kit.

Questions:

Does anyone have MREs? If so, what is the best place to get them (cheapest way also)

Are you storing water? I was thinking of getting about ten cases of bottled water. Will that be enough?

I am also going to store all of my camping gear with my kit as well. What are you all using to store your kit in...A tub? A foot locker? trash can?

DONT FORGET PET SUPPLIES!!! (food, treats, meds, leashes, etc)


edited to add: I have heard that you should prep for 3 days...Are you prepping for longer? I am doing this for me, my wife and our 2 dogs.

[fed-up]

46. I have 3 large lidded tubs that are stocked w/emergency evac stuff

Having lived 1/2 mile from the San Andreas Fault Line near San Fran in the late 1990's while caring for my mother it was imperative that I had enough food/water to sustain us for a few weeks in the event of "the BIG One".

At her house I loaded a few garbage cans with blankets, clothes, shoes, tents, cooking and other camping gear, tools, food and supplies. These were stored in the backyard as she had a split level house and odds were that the garage would have pancaked during an earthquake.

Near my bed I kept sturdy shoes (to walk through broken glass/nails ets) a small shovel, sturdy gloves, jeans/jacket, and a flashlight.

I also kept a stash of $$$ in small bills as it would be likely if I needed to pay for something that I wouldn't get change. Also in the event of a major earthquake/other disaster and the resulting lack of power, ATM machines would be down at banks, and also stores would not be able to get into their registers.

Now I live under the Bush regime and in a high wildfire danger area and I keep 3 large bins stocked w/enough food/water, campstove/cooking equipment, supplies, tools, shelter etc to sustain us for at least 2 weeks. If need be I can load bins into the car and head for safety.

People should also have a 3 months supply of any needed medications. They can work with their doctor to slowly build up their emergency stockpile of meds.

I keep vitamins, tea tree oil, and grapefruit seed extract (anti-biotic) in my 1st aid kit.

[starmaker]

86. Bottle of Greens Plus

Grapefruit seed extract will purify water
Mix 1 part tea tree oil to 10 parts castor oil
for ear nose throat drops

[Horse with no Name]

51. What I have been doing (and have posted it here as well)

Is rinsing out EVERY milk jug that comes in the house.
It is filled with water and stockpiled.
I have also filled (without rinsing out) bleach bottles and detergent bottles--for soapy water and bleach water.
I have about 2 weeks worth now. I have added some store bought sealed water, as well as some individual bottles.
Also read the other day to put garbage bags in your kit. That way, you can line the toilet with them in the event there isn't any running water, do your business, then remove them to outside to maintain sanitation in your house. That is one of the best tips I have seen.
For right now--my goal is to get at least 2 weeks stockpile--would like to build up to a month.

[Pobeka]

72. I hope you are aware your "make-do" water jugs are probably not safe.

it's nearly impossible to get all the non-h20 stuff out of a milk jug, and bacteria will start breeding right away. You might be able to disinfect the jug first, but I would just buy the grocery store water in the 1 or 2 gallon sizes rather than try to re-use old jugs.

[Horse with no Name]

73. I know not to use these for drinking water.

Which is why I have purchased actual sealed drinking water.
But I did disinfect them with bleach water.
These will be used for bathing, flushing toilets, etc.

[Pobeka]

74. OK. Just wanted to be sure people knew. Can you edit the the other post?

I hope nobody else reads that the way I did.

BTW thanks for this thread!

[zalinda]

78. You can use 5 gal pails for toilets

line it with a garbage bag and top with a toilet seat and you're good to go. Holds much more than a bathroom toilet.

zalinda

[Draill]

90. I've been doing this, too

Except I'm using orange juice bottles instead of milk. I'm doing this in addition to buying a gallon of water every time we go to the grocery and pickning up some canned/dried food when we can.

[mccoyn]

62. Fill the bathtub before a potential emergency.

My grandparents have been doing this and a few years ago they found themselves drinking the water when they were without power for a week after a bad storm.

[Misskittycat]

88. Yahoo or Google "disaster supplies" - lots of sources there. n/t

[wellstone_democrat]

42. 40.00 hand crank radio flashlight combo by Grundig

there are higher end ones that are even better but you can get this one for about 40 at most electronics and discount stores. Batteries can die, this won't as long as you can turn the little crank

used it in the ice storm for 6 weeks in Maine a few years back. Lifesaver for info

[StayOutTheBushes]

43. My toolbox...

1 liter Glenlivet 12 year old
30 10/325 percocet
30 10 mg valium
Remington 870 Police Tactical shotgun
200 rds 00 heavy magnum buckshot

[chopper]

45. most important tools...

are those necessary to turn off water, gas etc. note locations of gas lines etc and know how to turn them off.

[jmowreader]

48. Of course I have things to add!

* A socket set. Has thousands of uses.
* An old 35mm camera that doesn't require batteries, something like a Nikon F. As an added bonus, if you really do get a Nikon F, you can also use it to drive nails and bludgeon looters.
* A brick of ISO 400 black & white film. Lasts longer than color. If you get Kodak a brick is 20 rolls, European film comes 10 to the brick. (You need the last two items to take photos for your insurance adjuster.)
* A caulking gun and a case of some kind of synthetic caulk, either silicone or polyurethane.
* A case of Henry 208 Wet Patch Roof Cement.
* The following currency: one $20, two $10s, two $5s and 20 $1s.
* A can opener.
* A handful of spring clamps--maybe two dozen. These cost a buck apiece.
* A sledgehammer.
* A roll of parachute cord.
* A pump-action 12-gauge shotgun and five boxes of shells. Much better than a pistol for self defense; just the sound of cycling the action is enough to scare off most looters, and you won't have to worry about shooting through your neighbor's wall.

[Sven77]

49. some products to add

Red Grundig Fr200 AM/FM/Snow Emergency Radio

$39.99

The Grundig AM/FM/SW Emergency Radio will give you light and information when you need it most. Features a built-in hand crank to power the generator; emergency light; 4-band tuning (FM/AM and 2 international shortwave bands); 2" built-in speaker; DC and earphone jacks; rechargeable battery; fine-tuning controls; heavy-duty, red case and a black leather handle for easy carrying. Imported. 6-3/4Hx5-3/4Wx2-3/16D".

water filters here $40 squeeze bottle

http://www.berkeylight.com/



The Forever Flashlight (shake-light)

Clearance: $19.99 USD



Portable Solar Power

[Bluebear]

50. Manual can opener!!

[rainbow4321]

52. A *week's worth* of whatever medicines you take..

cuz there are scanner reports of people being out of their medicines for chronic illnesses and the county local responders that I am hearing on the radio keep making requests to the main base responders for deliveries of the drugs...and they are NOT being delivered. They talk of diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.. The Emergency command center response to the counties: We are not prepared to hand out chronic medicines.


Send COPIES of your ID papers to relatives you may have elsewhere. So when you DL, SS card, vet papers, government benefit papers, insurance papers etc... get destroyed in the disaster, at least you will have them and don't have to wait for red tape to get them replaced.

[Spike from MN]

54. I only need two things in my kit.

1. My passport
2. Citizenship papers for some other country. Any country.

I think those two things make up the most important survival kit for someone living in America. If you're not in America, then yeah, put together a kit with the stuff everyone else has posted. ;)

[Sparkman]

77. Add small denomination GOLD coins, 1/10 Oz and some big, 1.0 Oz ones.

Nothing pays bribes or smugglers or foreign/domestic vendors like Au.

[Mairead]

60. A hand drill and drill bits, a church key and can-lid-remover

Plastic bags of various sizes, and at least one sturdy cotton tote. Also 1 'space blanket' per adult, plus corks and cord to make shelter halves of one of them (large pebbles may be subbed for the marbles...but carrying corks is more convenient)

And a rucksack to store everything in so you neither have to go running around trying to find everything nor carry it all in your hand.

[HoosierClarkie]

61. For us

we would need some way of keeping things cool. My husband has type 1 diabetes and he would not survive without his insulin. It needs to be cool.

[Horse with no Name]

64. Insulin can be stored at room temperature

for 30 days.
Just to ease your mind if you get in a bind and it isn't refrigerated.

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/diabetes/faq/part3/section-8.html

[Mairead]

66. Something like this might do? You'd have to carry a 12v crank generator

http://store.yahoo.net/koolatrononline/12v-coolers-warmers.html

[Ganja Ninja]

65. AK47 and several hundred rounds of ammo.

seriously!

[txaslftist]

67. A hacksaw and a web cam/phone of some kind...

...so that when they confiscate it after you click on the authorities shooting folks for no reason your pictures are already on the web and out of their hands.

[Catherine Vincent]

68. Bookmarked for reference.

Thanks guys!

[redtapeblues]

69. Solar panels and a .22 cal rifle and/or pistol

[MojoXN]

96. .22?

Jesus, fucking weak! I would at least recommend a 20-gauge. a .22 is MOSTLY useless, certainly not totally useless, unless of sourse that is, you already know HOW to shoot, in which case, I'd recommend something in a higher caliber. Rifles: .308 or 7.62 x 39 NATO. Shotguns: Men: 12 gauge Women: 20 Gauge. Handguns: .32 revolvers for women, 9 mm in automatic. For men, I would have to go with .38 revolver ( though revolvers are mostly pointless. That "six-for-sure" isn't as sure as you might think. Anyway, I would rock nothing less than .40 in auto, preferably .45. I'm quite partial to the Springfield Armory M1911-A1 repros that proliferate nowadays. Taurus Millenium Pro isn't bad either, if you can deal with the short barrel. That's my CCW piece, so I AM kind of biased. Point is, unless you're buying a .22 of ANY sort for kids/teenagers to use, don't buy a .22.

MojoXN

[redtapeblues]

107. I have a couple of shotguns...

and some higher caliber rifles as well. However, in a jam I would want my Rugers (10-22 rifle & Mark II pistol) with me.

Firstly, if you know how to shoot, a 22 is a good round. Secondly, I have a couple thousand rounds on hand and if I needed to go mobile, I could easily carry several hundred rounds along with other essential gear.

[freemen2005]

70. you forgot the best one!

duct tape, that stuff is sooo handy. You can temp fix anything, like a leaky boat!

[Piperay]

84. Guns

too, I'm making sure I got plenty.

[Jersey Devil]

85. I recommend a Sea Monkey starter kit to prevent boredom

This way if you are locked in your house for a week with no hope of getting help from FEMA in a natural disaster at least you will be able to watch your amazing sea monkeys grow! They need water but it doesn't have to be clean.

[sendero]

92. Wife and I ..

.... have been working on this for a while now. Our "kit" is more oriented to taking to our place out in the country.

Here are things we've accumulated:

20 lbs beans
20 lbs rice
10 lbs dried pasta
3 gallons cooking oil
10 lbs flour
10 lbs corn meal
5 lbs baking soda
10 lbs salt
5 lbs nonfat dry milk
2 gals vinegar
some assorted spices

5 gals bleach
2 gals ammonia
box of borax

case of TP
5 tubes toothpaste
hand soap
vaseline

bandaids
gauze
antibiotic ointment
hydrogen peroxide
first aid tape
aspirin

guns, handguns, rifles, shotgun
ammo - lots of ammo :)
a battery-less radio
CB radio
amateur transceiver

water filter
food dehydrator

full complement of hand tools. duct tape, wire, tie wraps,
all the crap us handy guys keep laying around

In the wake of current events, we're re-evaluating our
plans and stockpiles and are sure to come up with some
more items to store. It's a pain in the ass, because the
food items really have to be rotated - many will last a long
time but none will last indefinitely.

Welcome to Bush's America. 6 years ago I would have never
given this stuff a minute's thought.

[MojoXN]

97. Now THAT's preparedness!

You keep a stock of food that DWARVES mine, and that's saying something! I have 2000 calories per day for two people for six months. Basically, a year's supply of pre-prepared food, for one person. If I were to actively hunt, and gather wild foods, it's more like a three year supply, if not more. Advice? ALL OF YOU READING THIS THREAD: Get books. Particularly books on hunting, trapping, and edible wild plants. THESE WILL POTENTIALLY SAVE YOUR LIFE! Read them , memorize them, practice with them. A book on edible wild plants does you little good if you get out into the field, and you don't know what the hell you're doing, now does it? Take it out and practice with it! Learn to recognize local edible species without the book. Note where copses of edible plants grow in YOUR area.

Let me put it this way. Dark (and I mean that in the literal sense) though it may be in the U.S. right now, how many of you could look outside and recognize more than ONE edible species of plant? Not too bloody many. And, anticipating the gripes of city-dwellers, YES, there ARE edible plants where you live, YOU just haven't spent time looking for them. This might be THE most important survival skill that one could develop. I suggest that ANYONE who reads this thread familiarize themselves with their local florae. Hey, if you don't, I don't fucking care! You had your chance... Sink or swim on your own, pal!

MojoXN

[MojoXN]

98. Now THAT'S preparedness!!!

You keep a stock of food that DWARVES mine, and that's saying something! I have 2000 calories per day for two people for six months. Basically, a year's supply of pre-prepared food, for one person. If I were to actively hunt, and gather wild foods, it's more like a three year supply, if not more. Advice? ALL OF YOU READING THIS THREAD: Get books. Particularly books on hunting, trapping, and edible wild plants. THESE WILL POTENTIALLY SAVE YOUR LIFE! Read them , memorize them, practice with them. A book on edible wild plants does you little good if you get out into the field, and you don't know what the hell you're doing, now does it? Take it out and practice with it! Learn to recognize local edible species without the book. Note where copses of edible plants grow in YOUR area.

Let me put it this way. Dark (and I mean that in the literal sense) though it may be in the U.S. right now, how many of you could look outside and recognize more than ONE edible species of plant? Not too bloody many. And, anticipating the gripes of city-dwellers, YES, there ARE edible plants where you live, YOU just haven't spent time looking for them. This might be THE most important survival skill that one could develop. I suggest that ANYONE who reads this thread familiarize themselves with their local florae. Hey, if you don't, I don't fucking care! You had your chance... Sink or swim on your own, pal!

MojoXN

[Guaranteed]

105. If the shit goes down, I'm moving in with you.

I got dibs on the 9mm. :)

[MojoXN]

93. A hand drill, a hacksaw, and 100 mile an hour tape...

Or black duct tape for you civilians. That stuff is the shit! Wall anchors... just in case you need to hang something and can't find a stud. A wire stripper comes in handy from time to time... Oh, and a firearm. They are tools like any other. Learn to use them, and acquire at least one, along with enough ammunition to make it effective. If your personal politics prohibit you from owning or operating a firearm, I don't know what to tell you...

MojoXN

[DistressedAmerican]

101. One Of Those Flashlights That You Shake To Charge Up.

[walldude]

104. Buy a Leatherman or a Gerber Multitool

I work in the Audio Visual field and while a little pricey these tools will save your ass in a jam. I've fixed many cars on the side of the road with only my trusty Leatherman...

[LiberalAmerican]

106. Satelite phone

if you can afford it.

Fire extinguisher.