Survival Items

SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT WHAT TO STOCK UP ON IF YOU'RE SURVIVAL MINDED - AND WHY. SURVIVAL ITEMS - POST TEOTWAWKI SCENARIO This is the pure text version of this list. You may distribute it as is, under the agreement that it is not altered in any way. You may not distribute this list for commercial or political reasons / gain. It may not be a part of a pay site. If you want to use this list for other reasons than personal enlightenment you must have prior written consent from me. There are many lists of survival items that should be acquired floating around, but following one list not specifically designed for your situation and location, to the tee, can land you in a world of trouble. If you think something is missing or have a suggestion please email me, address embedded in copyright notice. I welcome feedback about layout, spelling, fonts etc. Different scenarios call for different stuff. At the same time - depending too much on "gear" for survival can drastically reduce your chances.Take GPS ( Global Positioning System - sat.nav.) for instance - it's become popular in the last few years, and some people depend solely on their Magellan for navigation. What do they do when it breaks down or run out of batteries post TEOTWAWKI? Substituting hitech gear for skill and knowledge _will_ hurt post TEOTWAWKI scenario.

you in a high risk

To take an example from my experience I went for a one month stay in a lavvo (Sami tent similar to Native American Teepee) , in the north of Norway in 1996. It was springtime, so the nights were cold and it rained a bit. I bought a Camping Gaz butane stove for the trip - and since I had to travel nearly 1.400 miles to get to my campsite, I planned on buying the butane in the last city I visited before heading for the hills. I skillfully managed to FORGET to buy the butane. I found out when I was unpacking at the campsite, 40 miles from the nearest store. I did however know how to make a decent campfire, so heating and cooking was not a problem.

If I hadn't known how to do that I would have had to abort the adventure immediately. There are however some items that will enhance your quality of life and increase you chances for survival. I, for one, feel that having a few "luxury" items in a bad situation, will make life easier, especially psychologically, which is of vital importance to your survival. If life in a TEOTWAWKI situation is rotten due to lack of 'entertainment' and poor equipment, you'll not be in a good position to keep yourself and your family alive and well. To take an example - in the Bosnian civil war the soldiers were given chocolates and biscuits before and during combat/campaigns. This was done to a - give them quick access to sugars b - increase morale ( mostly this ) and so increase their ability and will to fight. Having spent considerable amounts of time in isolated areas and warzones I've found that a few things are important to keep me from becoming too fed up having clean durable clothes, good boots, basic hygiene articles, tobacco, coffee and a little candy - greatly improves my morale. Since a post TEOTWAWKI situation requires that you go a resupply, a cache of important items is vital, storing everything prudent, armed looters / criminals will most likely have the run and transporting your sh*t to your destination can be a

long time without at the house is not of the streets, real bitch.

Cacheing is not sorcery, but it does require some thought and preparation. First - HOW LONG MUST SUPPLIES LAST ? You must know how long you want your supplies to last before you start buying stuff. Second - find out how the climate is at the location you have chosen for your cache. Third - check the rodent / wildlife situation. Fourth - find containers that will keep your supplies dry and safe -

if you are storing food, the containers need to be made of food grade plastics or metals although metals might give you trouble with long term storage ( rust and general degeneration of containers ) Some plastics can't handle frost and some can't handle exposure to sunlight. Give thought to the fact that rats and mice literally "eat plastics for breakfast". I have been thinking of getting wood transportation crates, dress them internally with wire mesh and store my stuff in custom made three layer aluminum bags with silica gel inside. The bags I get from Protective Packaging Ltd. Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance British SAS special forces " Seven P's " rule So before you start buying / acquiring items, decide what scenario you are preparing for and take time to plan what and how much gear you need. Do the necessities first, and leave the "luxury" items for later. By luxury items, I mean items that we take for granted and enjoy everyday that are not strictly necessary e.g.. candy, coffee, tobacco etc.,but which will be next to impossible to find / get after things go haywire. Also - please read the disclaimer at the bottom of the page.

I must take time to point out that my emergency plans are somewhat affected by sharing a border with Russia, and living just below the polar circle, so I plan on having at least a years worth of supplies, banking on about five months of winter with snow and subzero temps. One last word of caution -don't try to buy everything you need at once unless you're rich it'll hurt you economically and thereby lower your morale and willingness to prepare. Quality is essential - test your equipment as soon as possible after purchase On to the items

A small explanation to go with the lists I put the item first - then amount needed - then my comments as to why etc. Clothing -

Good quality You probably Being in non reducing the

clothes are of vital importance. wont be able to get new clothes for a long time. 'city' situation will cause more than normal 'wear and tear', lifetime of your clothes and requiring more repairs.

Usually it's easier to repair quality clothes. Quality and price do not always go hand in hand. You'll need WinterWarm camo trousers - two at least - for hunting / combat situations Warm work trousers - two at least - buy tough farming or mil.surplus stuff. Warm indoor trousers - two pairs - something warm and comfy for rainy days indoors. Warm winter jacket - one at least - to wear for normal 'non sweaty' outdoor activity Warm winter jacket - two at least - for outdoor ( sweaty ) work, should have less insulation. Warm winter jacket - two at least - ( camo ) for hunting / combat situations. USArmy surplus 'ripstop' clothes are good. Wool pullovers - two at least - a must in cold weather areas. Wool socks ( long type ) - seven pairs min. - wool insulates even when wet. Wool scarves - two min. - you'll definitely loose one, it's a law of nature Wool / fur headwear, cover ears - three you loose about 65 % of your bodyheat through the head. Warm heavy duty work gloves - two pairs min. - protect your hands and fingers. Warm normal wear gloves - two pairs min. Wind- / waterproof glove covers - two pairs min. - cold wet hands are unpleasant to say the least, also to consider is the 'wind chill factor' Wool underwear, long, top and bottom - two pairs very min. -use the layer system to keep warm while not active. Wool mittens - one pair min. - for the really cold days. Warm shirts - five min. - for inside and short outdoors stuff. Pullovers - two min. - for indoor and short outdoor wear. Ear warmers - 1 pair min. - keep your ears warm, they freeze real easy Neoprene face mask - 1 - saves your face on cold windy days. Skimask, white - one min. - for winter camouflage and heating face. White winter camo suit - one min. - so the enemy / foe doesn't see you until it's too late. Other stuff optional SummerHeavy duty work trousers - three pairs min. - summer sees more wear than winter. Indoor trousers / jeans - two pairs min. - for feeling normal inside the shelter. Camo ripstop trousers - two pairs - for hunting / combat sits. Camo ripstop jacket - two - for hunting / combat sits. Jacket, normal, 'civilian' - one very min. - for feeling normal around the shelter.

Shirts, summer , long-sleeved - 5 min. - for normal days T-shirts, short sleeve, 14 min. - two weeks worth Hat / cap with eye shade - 2 min. - loosing one is easy, keep your head cool on warm sunny days - heatstrokes aren't nice. Heavy duty work gloves - two pairs min. - for heavy duty outdoor work Normal gloves - one pair - for different normal activities. Cutoff jeans or shorts - 2 - for warm normal days. Other stuff optional All year stuff-

Poncho, camo / olive drab - one min. - for hunting / combat situations Warning - some gear makes a lot of noise when you're moving. Sweatshirts / long sleeve t-shirts - 7 min. - you'll want clean shit next to your body. Shorts - 20 pairs very min- clean underwear is vital to hygiene Socks, standard sports type - 20 pairs min. - as above, you'll loose some as well. Rain coat heavy duty - one - if you have skill / gear for repairs - if not buy more. Rain 'pants' heavy duty - two - if skills etc. Other stuff optional. FOOTWEAR

You will be counting on you feet getting you to wherever you want to go. Somehow I don't see a lot of public transportation working. Your feet are important - ask any infantryman and he'll tell you your feet"

"take care of

Feet can take some hard beatings and bounce back after a few days of rest, but if you want to do a lot of walking you _have_ to take care of them. Your boots should be worn in _before_ you go on long treks. The quickest way ( in case of hurry ) is to find a 'semi' swamped area and run around in the mud and water for about an hour. Make sure you move your feet in every considerable fashion. Then _wear_ the wet boots for about two hours, give or take.(you can pour out any water ) I have been ordered to do this by three different instructors in three different armies. When choosing boots buy QUALITY, it's so important, 'cause where are you going to find replacements post TEOTWAWKI, and who's going to

fix your feet if the boots are wrong?

What to getLeather mountain / hiking boots - two pairs - any brand you're comfortable with Heavy duty boots - one pair min. - for that heavy duty stuff you don't want to bust your combat / hiking boots on. Rubber boots - one pair min. - for those really wet days at camp no need to get your combat / hiking boots wet if you're just mucking about in the rain. Sneakers - two pairs min. - for doing light stuff around the shelter If you're in a wooded / rocky area, sneakers really wont do outside, they'll be busted in no time flat. Other 'normal' shoes - two pairs - for inside, so you don't have to clean the floor thrice a day ;) - besides, it's nice with a feel of normaality. Skiboots/shoes - if you're planning on skiing. A word or two on shoe maintenance. Make sure you have some shoe / sole glue and heavy duty thread / needle if repairs are necessary. The most important aspect of shoe / boot maintenance however are two things, 1 - waterproof them the minute you take them home from the store, don't use the synthetic spray stuff though, leather really hates that. Use something like MinkOil ( Kiwi ) or order 'Bj�rnefett' ( name translates to 'bearfat' ) from Norway, Sweden or Finland - it really waterproofs. ( I can be of assistance with this. ) Reapply waterproofing if you've been trekking / in combat for several 'wet' days. 2 - polish them _everytime_

you use them, without exception.

If you are present or former mil. remember what your instructor at boot camp shouted at you ; )

"Carry on" equipment ( in your pockets / webbing / shoulder at all times )

- Sort of the bug out bag's little brotherr the "the bug out pocketwear".

There are items that should be with you at _all_ times. If you are armed you NEVER leave your weapon or your _filled_ mags., NEVER EVER. In the French Foreign Legion, at boot camp, we were instructed to sleep with our weapons inside our sleeping bags when we were in the field. Some of the guys thought that was bull and just put their weapons under their heads or beside them, the next day our lieutenant had a nice collection of FAMAS'es ( French army assaultrifle ), and the guys whose rifles they were tried frantically to explain how this could be ( they had to carry rocks in their rucksack for the remainder of our hike ( 30 miles ) The morale is it's easy to take someone's weapon if that person is not vigilant. Besides, if you are standing there chopping wood, some 10 / 20 yards from your shelter (and your gun) and an armed looter or enemy pops up, you are in deep trouble.

So - weapon with you at all times. Other things to carry ( note that you only carry one item at a time - the other is stored at the shelter or whherever as a replacement.) This is meant as 'normal' carry, for hunting or combat other rules apply. Sunglasses - two pairs - snowblindness is serious, you can get it in deserts and by the sea as well as in snow-covered areas - if you're alone and can't see you die. Hunting / combat knife - two min. - they break or you'll loose one Swiss Army knife - two min. - same as above Toiletpaper - half a roll for short trips - using poison ivy has been known to inflict some discomfort ; ) Water- / windproof matches - one box ( lots more at shelter) waterproof box as well, no need to take risks. Leatherman tool or equivalent - one min. - it's handy as h*ll Candy / sweets - a small box / bag ( lots more at the shelter) - morale thing, don't eat all at once, savve it for the times that matter. Compass - two very min. - you carry it always you don't forget it when you're out walking - getting lost in the woods is real easy. Emergency medical aid bag - one - see the section on medicine ( coming soon ) for details. Sealable plastic bags - two min. ( lots more at shelter) - you _NEVER_ throw wrappings or other waste outside - it announces to the world that " here be people" Watch - wristwatch or pocketwatch String or parachord - a zillion uses Portable ashtray/container - one - if you're a smoker, no cigarette butts on the trail - cigarettes/tobacco will be in short suppply, and valuable, so looters / enemies

will take risks obtaining some, beside telling everyone there are people with resources here. Same applies to candy wrappers. Water canteen - one, quart size - water is vital in any situation Water purification tablets - enough to cleanse 5 liters ( 2 quarts ) minimum no need to get sick. Camo stick/makeup - one (more at camp) - get used to carry it alwaysthings that go wrong, usually go wrong very quickly Extra laces for boots - one pair min. ( with tons more at the shelter ) Map of area Needle, thread and extra buttons Flashlight with fresh batteries - one min. - I use a Mini Mag with red-light cover myself. Pen / pencil and paper. Your comm. gear if you've got any. A whistle - great in emergencies - get the emergency type from hiking / trail stores. Small binoculars - one pair min. For winter areas Ice picks - two - bound together hung around neck - if you go through the ice, you'll want to be able to pull yourself out - get from ski stores. Snowslide emergency line - long brightly colored line with bright cloth tied to your body get from ski stores Vitamin and other supplements

Getting scurvy is something people think happened only in the 'old days', but it is caused by a lack of certain vitamins that we normally get from the vegetables in our diet. In a post TEOTWAWKI scenario vegetables might be hard to find, so a supply of vitamin supplements / tablets is __vital__ to your health. If you don't have vitamin supplements at hand, vegetables / roots are important buy a book on herbs and their usages. Don't ignore vitamin supplements - they will likely save your health. Mineral supplements are important as well, your post TEOTWAWKI diet will most likely leave a few things to be desired. Iodine tablets - speak to your local pharmacy regarding dosage - a must have in a nuclear scenario.

You'll get vitamin and mineral supplements in any drugstore. Buy enough for one year minimum - wont cost you too much Armament

DISCLAIMER - READ Weapons and explosives are thoroughly regulated by law - ask your local law enforcement agency what you're allowed to have. Remember that explosives and munitions are _dangerous_ , don't do anything you're not trained to do. You'll find lots of recipes for explosives on the net, and most of them are extremely unstable and dangerous ( as well as illegal ) - no cooking in the kitchen. Store explosives, weapons and ammo in a safe place where children can't get at them. Don't break the law - serving time in the State Pen' is not good survival preparation. Nitroglycerin based explosives such as Dynamite ( tm. ) do not store well, the nitroglycerin will in time leak from the sticks and cause a hazard as well as rendering them inert. The most stable explosives are the plastique kind - but they are very illegal : ( To the armaments Not the easiest subject, there are as many opinions as there are armed men and women. I won't go into caliber, loads or manufacturers, but instead look at what _type_ of armament is necessary. Other questions are - what experience do you have?, what can you carry and use?, what is the layout of your campsite/shelter?, what weapons are useful and which are not?, what will the enemy have? and last but not least - can you repair your weapons? Normally you'd need One assaultrifle - with one identical in reserve for parts or in case the main weapon breaks beyond repair, having a stash of spare parts is highly recommended. One shotgun - solid heavy duty quality stuff / or a bunch of cheap ones. One hunting rifle, preferably with silencer - hunting animals for food.

One sidearm - large caliber type - you need a manstopper, a .22 just doesn't do the trick. One machinegun - this one is optional - but having a M60 protecting your camp / shelter is far superior than having just a shotgun : ) A crossbow might also be a good investment - you get a really silent and efficient weapon. Buy lots of arrows though - you'll lose plenty. Handgrenades - you can make crude ones if you can get your hands on some explosives, and you should try to get hold of as much explosives as possible. With mil. grade explosives you can also make crude but effective claymores. Don't be cooking them in your home though, it's only for people who know _excactly_ what they're doing ( and it's illegal ). Enough ammo to last you a year, split it up and store separately to reduce the odds of loosing all. Cleaning kits, oils and pads - keep your weapons clean if you expect to use them, if you don't expect to use them, don't get any. Have spare parts available for all your weapons. Again quality is important, you'll be asking a lot of your weapons. Navigation

Here skills come into play, a map and a compass have no purpose if you can't read either. Learn now. What you need is Three sets of maps of the area you are in - waterproofed -store the copies in different locations Two compasses minimum - see entry in "carry on" list. An analog wristwatch might also be used for navigational purposes. Metal needles - for an improvised compass, explanation will be coming soon in the 'What to do' section GPS will likely be of little use, they depend on satellites and batteries.

Growing you own food

Growing your own food may become necessary in this scenario, it is likely that food supplies will be way down, and those who have will charge exorbiant prices for food, especially fresh vegetables and meats. Growing food is no easy task however, so reading up on farming and animal husbandry as soon as possible is advised. Another trick is to start a small vegetable garden at you house, or another place, so that you can experiment with different seeds, fertilizers, tools etc. You'll make mistakes and learn from them - I certainly have. If your scenario dictates that you must grow veggies in a forested area or any area with an animal presence to speak of, you must also learn to protect your vegetables from animals and bugs. Remember that birds will be gunning for your seeds, rabbits for you cabbage, mice for the roots and deer etc. for everything. I have read that using 'onion tea' ( cut onions into small pieces and put in boiling water, let stand off the heat for 20 minutes and pour / spray over vegetables when sufficiently chilled ) will chase away bugs and prevent fungi growth. Peeing around the boundary of the garden will also scare some animals away. If you have fruit trees planted at your site you'll want to protect your produce from birds, this can be done by covering the tree(s) with nylon netting. On another website ( I forget which, if you know please tell me so I can give credit ) it was recommended to put sheets of fence netting on the ground to keep legged animals from approaching the tree - remember that metal gives off a nice signature to surveillance planes : ( Building a greenhouse is not a good idea, as it will announce your presence to both planes and people. ( Reflection of the glass. ) To the items Shovel / spade - two - sturdy types for digging - make sure you have spare handles,

they do break. Small gardening type spade - one min.( two recommended ) - for the small delicate jobs ( weeding etc.). Small steel / iron rake ( big if it's a large area ) - one min. - for turning the earth and general maintenance Fertilizer - lots if you're not keeping animals as well - any scraps from meals go into a compost heap. Seeds - lots of different types, buy more than you need - they'll be in short supply and valuable. Wire / nylon netting - enough to cover your growth area twice protect your veggies from birds and animals. ( sink metal netting about half a metre into the ground surrounding you garden to keep rodents away. ( not if you're growing grain over a large area of course - only meant for vegetable gardens ). If you think irrigation might be necessary get some ordinary garden hose with sufficient length, put a tract ( or the top half of a plastic sodabottle ) at the 'receiving' end of the hose and cover it with wire mesh to prevent large objects from getting stuck in your hose. Pesticides - for emergency spraying if necessary. A hand operated mill if you're growing grain ( remember spare parts ) Remember to clean your tools and keep them from rusting. There are lots of other tools that might be useful to you, so experiment and see what kind of farming you'll want to do, these items are the bare necessities.

Hygiene

Good hygiene is vital to your health and survival - you want to live? -> you keep clean and sanitary. Doctors and dentists will be in short supply and pulling your own teeth without anastaethic is an experience that leaves something to be desired. Brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day. Use mouthwash which kills bacteria. Keep your 'family jewels' clean and dry, infections require antibiotics which will be hard to get, applies to both men and women.

Your shelter and your cooking / eating utensils should be clean to prevent bacterial / fungi growth. Items Washing brush , plastic kind - 6 min. - one for every two months do not use cloth for washing dishes - it is a 'germ breeding ground' of gargantuan proportions. Dishwashing detergent - enough to last a year + 5 bottles (0,5 liter) look at how much you're using now if you wash dishes by hand. Chlorine - one one liter bottle per person per month - kill those germs before they take you ( soak your brush regularly in chlorine solution to kill any germs / fungi ). Cloth cleaning detergents - enough to last a year + 10 lb. - clean your clothes often to prevent disease and degradation of cloth ( soil and sand etc. grind away at your clothes ), clean underwear is vital to keep disease at bay. Lice treatment - enough for 20 treatments per person per year - you will most likely encounter the lice problem in this scenario - treat them immediately. Soap for personal hygiene - one large bar per person per week + 10 in reserve per person ( get the unperfumed kind - perfumed soap used in a river will carry it's smell and bubbles for a good distance ) - learn how to make your own soap and stock up on ingredients. Shampoo - a luxury item, get what you feel necessary or use soap bars - keep hair short to prevent lice, bacterial growth and fungi. Toothbrush - one per month per person - change often, but keep the discarded ones in case you run out of fresh brushes, can be used for weapon/equipment cleaning as well. Toothpaste - one tube per person per week + 20 in reserve - cut open when you can't squeeze any more out, there's always some more in the tube. Towels small ( dishwashing ) - 12 - use towels to dry the dishes, remember to soak in chlorine solution often to prevent germ growth. Towels large ( personal hygiene ) - 6 per person per year - clean often, chlorine treatment. Q-tips - two per person per day + 200 in reserve - keep you ears clean ( can be used for weapons cleaning as well ). Rat poison ( or traps ) - enough for a year - keep mice and rats far away from your shelter Nailclippers - 4 - keep nails short to prevent disease ( and destruction of socks ; ) Fly strips or killers - enough for a year - a fly infested kitchen is not healthy. A dirty clothes hamper - keep dirty clothes away from clean clothes and cooking areas clean with chlorine once in a while. Toilet paper - two rolls per week per person and same amount in reserve - it'll be one

of the first things that people run out of and dearly missed by those people. Sanitaries for women - double one year supply - another item that will be dearly missed by the female population. Scrub for washing floors - two - keep floors clean Cloth for washing floors - three Detergent for floors - one year supply Bucket for washing floors - two Bucket for clean water - three - separate by marking your buckets. Sink or container for dishwashing - one Large container for washing clothes - one min. Container for garbage - one - keep in shed or similar to keep animals away clean tin cans and bottles for reuse. Clothes line - 10 + 10 meters Moth balls - lots - don't let moths eat your clothing and linen. Tweezers - 2 min. - to remove splinters, wasp stingers etc. Shaving gear for men - optional, but beards require cleaning every day to prevent sickness. Burn discarded wrappers, Q-tips, etc. outside for sanitary reasons, unless you like charcoal bugs in you hair of course ; )

At the shelter / camp

I have decided to divide this into two sections, one for necessities and one for 'luxury' items. You'll be wanting a safe, comfortable, and practical shelter for yourself and you group, some items are of absolute necessity and other are less vital but still important to keep morale and a sense of normality. Bare necessities TOOLS Ax large type - two min. - 4 extra handles, they do break. Saw large type - one min. - 5 extra blades and extra screws and bolts. Spade - see growing food section Shovel for snow - 1 min - 2 extra handles - for snowy areas. Hammer solid, heavy duty type - 1 min. Hammer small type - 1 min. - for minor repairs Screwdrivers - look at the equipment you'll be having and find out which screwdrivers you need. Nails large >2 inches - 200 Nails large >4 inches - 100 Nails small <2 inches - 100 Rope, heavy duty type - 100 meters - ( lots ) Rope, thin nylon - 200 meters ( lots ) Wire cutters - 1 min. Wire - 300 meters ( lots ) - can be used for a multitude of purposes Plastic sheet, heavy duty - 40 square meters min. -

Canvas - 40 square meters min. - a million uses. Pliers - one min. - not Leatherman (tm.) variety, much more solid. Screws, large type - 50 min. Work knife, heavy duty solid stuff - 1 min. Butcher knifes - 2 sets min. - if you're planning on hunting. Tape measure - two - plastic type, metal rusts. Anti rust spray - 4 cans min. Bricks - lots and lots - only if you can transport them easily. Cement - same as above Wheelbarrow - 1 - extra wheel, extra bolts/screws Metal bucket - 1 - for (re)moving hot ash 'n' stuff. Plastic buckets - see HYGIENE section. Super glue - 3 tubes - repairs Ordinary woodglue - lots - used for tons of stuff, furniture etc. If you can, store a decent supply of 'prechopped' firewood at the bugout location. Water containers - enough to store fifty liters per person - keep clean Bedsheets - 4 sets per person per year - make proper beds, sleeping a year in a sleepingbag is not sanitary or good for morale. Pillows - two per person per year Duvets, or covers for warm areas - two per person per year - clean as often as possible. Blankets - two per person per year - you can substitute one for reindeer or other large furs. Leather thick >2 mm. - lots - for all sorts of repairs, Plates - two large, two small ones, and two soup bowls per person per year min. Cups plastic - two per person per year + 4 extra in reserve Knife, fork, spoon, teaspoon - three of each per person per year - are easily lost Coffee- / tea kettle - one large min. Sieve - two - one fine mesh and one with larger holes Large ( soup ) spoons - three Pots and pans - two large pots, two smaller pots, one very large pot, and two pans. Frying pan - one Breadknife - two Meatknife - two Vegetable knife - two Tin opener - two Normal baking utensils - two sets Bowls for baking, mixing etc. - four min. Stainless steel sheets ( 40 X 40 cm min. ) - two - make your own oven, or bake bread over fire Oven, solid type - one Pipe for smoke from oven / fireplace ( metal )- one Lighting and fire - see section Lights / Fire. Small plastic containers - 15 - to store different small things in a dry environment Normal size plastic / metal containers or sealable jars for food storage. Large plastic containers - equipment storage - adjust to your amount of equipment. Plastic bags - lots Animal traps - read books on trapping in _your area_ before buying any.

Fishing rod - two - if there's fish close by. Fishing reel - two - if there's fish close by. Fishingline and lures / hooks - lots - if there's fish close by. Fishnet - two - if there's fish close by. Read up on fishing if you don't fish. For winter Skis, skipoles and snowshoes - two pairs per person - keep lots of replacement ski tips ( the curly things in front ; ) learn to ski if you don't know how. Ski wax - one winter worth of supplies. Field manuals and books - you decide what you need - different areas etc. Pens - 100 Notebooks / pads - 20 min. Paper - a box of 1000 sheets min. Binoculars large - one pair min FM / short-wave radio - two - find out what's happening in the world - needs batteries solar powered chargers available. Non vital items Books or other reading material - lots - good for morale - don't get bored Board games - good for morale if you're more than one Playing cards Furs - keep warm and cozy Toys for the kids Pictures on the walls Camera and film - record your life Darkroom equipment and chemicals - so that you can develop your own photos learn __before__ buying. Mattresses Still - make your own booze : ) Smoking oven - smoked meat lasts longer than fresh. Flower seed - plant some flowers outside to make the place nicer. Solar panel - have electricity all the time, here in Norway they cost 1.000 USDollars a pop. Wind / water mill for electricity.

Fires / light

You need fire for warmth, cooking and cleaning. You need lights. Be careful with fires and fuel - do not burn down your shelter do not leave a fire or burning candles. Candles - as many as possible min. 700 - better than relying on stored fuel, but the paraffin/wax based ones, the other kinds rot quickly ( yuuch ).

Matches - one box per two days - buy some waterproofed ones as well, seal in metal boxes inside plastic bags. Emergency firestarters, paraffin, magnesium etc. - not all people can make a fire with one match in all circumstances. Oil lamp - three - replacements for all parts. Oil for lamp - 50 / 100 liters Butane / propane stove / lamp - one - with replacement parts. Butane / propane gas for stove / lamp - lots - take care with storage If you have the possibility to store large amounts of propane you can get a propane refrigerator : ) Flashlight - two - replacement parts - need batteries though - there are solarpowered battery chargers on the market. Oven in section above.

Medical supplies.

Difficult section to say the least, everyone should speak to the local medicine man for tips on treatments, what to have etc. I'm leaving the amount to buy open for a lot of these items since your mileage may weary. I have bought a book on herbal medicine as well, seeing as there won't be many pharmacies around, and I wouldn't want to trust strangers too much. Remember that some people are allergic to 'innocent' medicines. DISCLAIMER : I'm no doctor, these items and tips are meant as pointers only - you should always consult a doctor regarding treatments and medicines - don't trust the internet with your life. Get a medical book or two and read them at once. What to get Cuts, burns and bruises : Bandages, different widths and lengths - lots - you'll need them - guaranteed. 'Support' bandages - at least three - the ones that 'jocks' use 'Band aids' - different sizes - lots and lots - get the 'cloth' ones, the plastic ones don't breathe so good, and fall off sooner. Antiseptic ointment - three large tubes - you'll need it. Suture set - four per person per year -

Surgical scissors - one pair min - cut off loose ( hanging ) skin/flesh around wound, it's a gangrene factory of some proportions. Xylocaine or equivalent - two large tubes - get the strong stuff, it works like a local anastaethic on the skin, making 'repairs' easier and relieves pain. Antiseptic swabs or cleaning liquid - clean your wounds, no matter how small. Painkillers - lots - speak to your doctor before buying anything, prevents buying something you're allergic to. Iodine - a box of tablets - radioactive iodine fallout can be a bitch. Other stuff Antacids - no need to have an upset stomach if you can help it. Dehydration treatments - lots - you may well need it. Diarrhea treatment - lots - you will get it. Sun burn lotion - treat sunburns Sun block - to prevent sunburns - short shelflife. Lice treatment - in hygiene section. Chapstick - 10 - cracked lips can cause problems. Tweezers - two Scalpel - two handles and twenty blades Superglue - for emergency closing of wounds Talkum powder - keep your feet dry and healthy Fungus treatment You may also want to get hold of antidotes for chemical attacks, antibiotics and morphine injectors ( the ones hat you have around the neck and just plunge into your thigh ) There are other things you'll need to get, but you should check with your doctor for a list suited for your purposes. Repairs.

You will need to repair your stuff, clothes will loose buttons, get rips, wear thin etc. Screws will loosen and parts break in your equipment etc. etc. ad nauseam. High quality stuff is easier to fix. You'll need Screwdrivers - as mentioned above String/rope - lots - as mentioned elsewhere Nails - lots Replacement parts for all your gear Glue, superglue, woodglue, leatherglue, textileglue - you'll definately need to glue things. Leather - thick - for patches on clothes and boots/shoes. Sewing thread - lots of different types, both strong and not so strong.

Sewing needles - big and smal, thick and thin and lots of them. Scissors - heavy duty - two pairs. Scissors - small - two pairs. Extra buttons - two entire sets per item of clothing. Extra zippers - they do bust - one per item. Sharpening stores / tools - for your knives and scissors. Extra cloth / textiles - to patch holes in clothes. Steel wire ( thin ) - mentioned above - excellent for repairs. Other things related to your gear. Buy a book on do it yourself repairs - knowledge is an excellent tool.

COMING SOON Food and water.

Measurement conversion table ( Imperial to metric )

1 inch = 2,54 cm ( 0,0245 meter ) 1 mile = 1.609 meters ( 1,609 kilometer ) 1 gallon ( US ) = 3,78 liters ( 37,8 dl ( 378 ml )) 1 lb = 0,44 kilograms ( 440 grams ) Fahrenheit to Celsius - subtract 32 and multiply by 0,5555. Celsius to fahrenheit - multiply by 1,8 and add 32

Disclaimer : some of the items on this list may be illegal to posses / manufacture in your community, check with local law-enforcement agencies before purchasing / manufacturing questionable equipment / weaponry. I take no responsibility for your use of this list - it is meant as a pointer to important items to have post TEOTWAWKI - you must decide what you need, and learn to use the items you obtain. Wrong use may well cause harm to yourself or others. Updated 23.11.97

Copyright 1997 Alexander K. Wilhelmsen Email : [email protected]

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