How To Be Prepared For The End Times – Part 1

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Part 1

See the bottom of this page for a Spiritual support video

Planning

Make a plan that makes sense for you and your family. Decide on the important things and begin. If you are budget conscious, acquire things a little at a time. Make choices at the grocery store. Instead of buying the name brand, maybe consider the store brand and buy 2. Most stores have buy-one, get-one offers. Coupons can be very helpful and often there are ‘free’ offers.

Network with your family, congregation, and like-minded neighbors. We are collectively smarter than our individual selves. Research for yourself. Go online and find expert advice. There is a lot of noise out there. Some people offering advice are self-serving. Pray for God’s discernment to guide you.

Some of us have learned lessons, and sometimes it’s what not to do.

“Failing to plan is planning to fail.”

“Plan the work. Work the plan.”

One bulb at a time

The story of the Daffodil Garden in Running Springs, CA tells us that Alma Gene Bauer and her husband Dale started in 1958 planting bulbs that for 3 weeks each year bring people from all over to gaze in wonder through 5 acres of color. When asked how she accomplished such a feat, Mrs. Bauer said “one bulb at a time.” Your plans need to start one bulb at a time.

Water

NOTICE that you are reading this on your computer. Notice that in order to get further information you go onto the Internet. It is urgent that you print out this and every other section NOW while you still have electricity. Get a 3 ring binder and place all important information by section into the binder. Do it NOW!

If your faucet suddenly did not work, where would you find water?

By the time your water no longer comes out of the faucet, you would know that your power has been off. You would also have had to deal with the mess in your freezer. Dealing with the mess is even harder when there is no water to clean with.

How much water do I need?

Government sources estimate 1 gallon per person per day of clean water. Physical exertion and stress can easily increase the amount you need.

Choices

Find a water source before you need it
Find a water source after you need it

Finding a water source before you need it expands your choices. Obviously, if you wait, choices become limited.

Before options:

Gather water and store it. But, how much can you really store?
Find a source that can be replenished with rain water
Find a source that is already ready to drink, such as a well
Find a source that can be treated and made safe to drink

Storing Water

What kind of containers can I use to store water?

There are many commercially available options as well as many re-use options.

Food-grade plastic or glass containers are suitable for storing water. One-, three- and five-gallon water containers can be purchased from most outdoor or hardware stores. Any plastic or glass container that previously held food or beverages such as 2-liter soda bottles or water, juice, punch or milk jugs, also may be used. Stainless steel can be used to store water which has not been or will not be treated with chlorine; chlorine is corrosive to most metals.

55 gal drums, designed specifically for water storage can be difficult to transport, if the need arises, but are of a tremendous value in an emergency .When looking for additional food grade containers, the bottom will be stamped with HDPE (High Density PolyEthylene) and coded with the recycle symbol and a “2″ inside. HDPE containers are FDA-approved for food. Containers without these designations aren’t OK because of possible chemical interactions between the water and the plastic.

Clean used containers and lids with hot soapy water. Once they have been thoroughly cleaned, rinse them with water and sanitize the containers and lids by rinsing them with a solution of 1 tablespoon chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Leave the containers wet for two minutes, then rinse them again with water. Remember to remove the paper or plastic lid liners before washing the lids. It is very difficult to effectively remove all residue from many containers, so carefully clean hard-to-reach places like the handles of milk jugs. To sanitize stainless steel containers, place the container in boiling water for 10 minutes. Never use containers that previously held chemicals.

Use the following guidelines when storing water:

1. Store drinking water in carefully cleaned, non-corrosive, tightly covered containers.

2. Store containers in a cool dark place. DO NOT store in direct sunlight. Polyethylene plastics (prepackaged milk and water bottles) are somewhat permeable to hydrocarbon vapors. Keep away from stored gasoline, kerosene, pesticides, or similar substances.

3. Stored tap water should be rotated every 6 months. Prepackaged bottled water should be rotated once a year. Check the pull date on the container. Be sure it didn’t sit on the store’s shelf for a year before you purchased it. Self-serve bottled water should be rotated once a year.

4. Rotate your stored water with the water you use on a regular basis. This practice helps insure you don’t have water stored longer than one year.

Water logistics

The biggest problem with water is how big and heavy it is. Since a gallon of water weighs just over 8 pounds and takes up just over 1/7th of a cubic foot, it is impractical for most people in an urban area to store water for an extended survival situation. In most urban areas, it is harder to find water and make it drinkable than in a wilderness area. There are two main reasons for this: 1. Proximity & 2. Polluted water. Contaminants in water can be very tiny and there is no perfect way to eliminate all of them.

How can I save rain water?

Rain barrels
Buckets
Bathtubs

Is rainwater collected from a roof safe to drink?

There is no long-term research on this topic and what little research there is available does not build consensus. Best advice is to filter the water or treat with bleach, but not chlorine, as chlorine may cause a reaction with carbons that are washed off during a rainstorm. Water collected from a metal roof is better than water from asphalt shingles.

Can a well work without an electric pump?

One idea might be to find a like-minded neighbor and offer to help pay for a manual pump to be installed.

What are some hidden sources of water?

Hot water tank, but you have to know how to get it out
Reverse osmosis tank under your sink
Toilet tank. I know this doesn’t sound appealing, but the water is potable.
Some parks and playgrounds have manual pumps that lead to an underground well
Your own urine (up to 3 times before it’s too salty)

What are some ways to store water?

Food grade containers.
2 liter soda bottles that have been rinsed clean
Water bladders that can be filled and stay in your bathtub
Individual water bottles
Large water jugs like those used on commercial water cooler
Water barrels
Emergency water cans

What is a rain barrel?

A rain barrel is a system that collects and stores rainwater from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to storm drains and streams. Normally, a rain gutter or downspout diverts water to a large drum of various sizes. In normal usage, collected water is used to water plants during times of lower rainfall. Some have a screen to keep out sediment, leaves, and insects. A hose is sometimes connected to the bottom to drain the water. Ideally, the rain barrel would be elevated to create pressure to increase water flow out of the hose. Rain barrels also frequently have decorative touches and may have an area suitable for plants.

What is a water barrel?

Often the term ‘water barrel’ is used interchangeably with a rain barrel, but there are some important differences. While a rain barrel has an opening that is designed to catch water as from a downspout, a water barrel does not. A water barrel has 2 bung hole openings that allow water to flow in at a rapid rate and then can be sealed with caps. Typically, a water barrel is 55 gallons and previously held a food-grade substance and has been rinsed clean.

What about my pool? Can I use that as a reservoir?

Yes, up to a point. As you know in Florida, pool surfaces need regular cleaning and chlorination. A passive chlorinator will keep your water fresh for a while. Pool water might best be thought of to use for other purposes. Having a source of algaecide, muriatic acid, and chlorine will increase the life of your pool as a reservoir. Using your pool skimmer to keep leaves and other wind-blown debris out will also help.

How do I treat water to make it fit to drink?

From the CDC:

“Water often can be made safe to drink by boiling, adding disinfectants, or filtering. Additionally, Ultraviolet (UV) Light, and Solar Radiation can be used.

IMPORTANT: Water contaminated with fuel or toxic chemicals will not be made safe by boiling or disinfection. Use a different source of water if you know or suspect that water might be contaminated with fuel or toxic chemicals.

Boiling

If you don’t have safe bottled water, you should boil water to make it safe. Boiling is the surest method to make water safer to drink by killing disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

You can improve the flat taste of boiled water by pouring it from one container to another and then allowing it to stand for a few hours, OR by adding a pinch of salt for each quart or liter of boiled water.

If the water is cloudy,

Filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter OR allow it to settle.
Draw off the clear water.
Bring the clear water to a rolling boil for one minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for three minutes).
Let the boiled water cool.
Store the boiled water in clean sanitized containers with tight covers.

If the water is clear,

Bring the clear water to a rolling boil for one minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for three minutes).
Let the boiled water cool.
Store the boiled water in clean sanitized containers with tight covers.

The Truth about Boiling Water

I know you’ve probably heard for years that you have to heat water to boiling to make it drinkable, but you don’t need to boil water to kill everything in it. You can simply pasteurize it by heating it to 158 degrees Fahrenheit.

Disinfectants

If you don’t have safe bottled water and if boiling is not possible, you often can make water safer to drink by using a disinfectant such as unscented household chlorine bleach or iodine. These can kill most harmful organisms, such as viruses and bacteria, but are not as effective in controlling more resistant organisms such as the parasites Cryptosporidium and Giardia.

To disinfect water,

Filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter OR allow it to settle.
Draw off the clear water.
To use bleach, add 1/8 teaspoon (or 8 drops; about 0.625 milliliters) of unscented liquid household chlorine (5-6%) bleach for each gallon of clear water (or 2 drops of bleach for each liter or each quart of water),

o Stir the mixture well.

o Let it stand for 30 minutes or longer before you use it.

o Store the disinfected water in clean sanitized containers with tight covers.

To use iodine, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for tablets. Iodine Tincture with 2% Iodine and about 47% alcohol can also be used. Bottles of this solution should be available at your local drugstore and a 2 oz. bottle is usually $3 or less. Use 8 drops per liter, if water is clear. If water is cloudy double the drops. Wait 30 minutes before drinking and ensure the spout of the container has been disinfected with the iodine and water solution.

Chlorine dioxide tablets are another disinfectant that now is available in some outdoor stores. This disinfectant has proven to be effective against pathogens, including Cryptosporidium, if the manufacturer’s instructions are followed.

Filters

Many portable water filters can remove disease-causing parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia from drinking water. If you are choosing a portable water filter, try to pick one that has a filter pore size small enough to remove both bacteria and parasites. Most portable water filters do not remove viruses.

Carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the water filter you intend to use. After filtering, add a disinfectant such as iodine, chlorine, or chlorine dioxide to the filtered water to kill any viruses and remaining bacteria. For more information about water filters, see the Water Treatment Resources section.

Water Treatment Resources

To learn more about water filters and treatments that can remove microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites (such as Cryptosporidium), see the following resources:

A Guide to Water Filters
A Guide to Drinking Water Treatment and Sanitation for Backcountry and Travel Use covers information on the effectiveness of various water treatment methods. This guide is also available in PDF: Drinking Water Treatment Methods for Backcountry and Travel Use [PDF – 1 page].
A Guide to Commercially-Bottled Water and Other Beverages
Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water

Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water

Use bottled water that has not been exposed to flood waters if it is available.
If you don’t have bottled water, you should boil water to make it safe. Boiling water will kill most types of disease-causing organisms that may be present. If the water is cloudy, filter it through clean cloths or allow it to settle, and draw off the clear water for boiling. Boil the water for one minute, let it cool, and store it in clean containers with covers.
If you can’t boil water, you can disinfect it using household bleach. Bleach will kill some, but not all, types of disease-causing organisms that may be in the water. If the water is cloudy, filter it through clean cloth or allow it to settle, and draw off the clear water for disinfection. Add 1⁄8 teaspoon (or 8 drops) of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach for each gallon of water, stir it well and let it stand for 30 minutes before you use it. Store disinfected water in clean containers with covers.
If you have a well that has been flooded, the water should be tested and disinfected after flood waters recede. If you suspect that your well may be contaminated, contact your local or state health department or agriculture extension agent for specific advice.

Other sources of Disinfection

Ultraviolet (UV) Light

Portable units that deliver a measured dose of UV light are an effective way to disinfect small quantities of clear water. However, this technique is less effective in cloudy water, since germs may be shielded from the light by small particles.

Solar Radiation

In an emergency situation, water can be disinfected with sunlight. Water in a clear plastic bottle, preferably lying on a reflective surface (such as aluminum foil), will be safe to drink after a minimum of 6 hours in bright sunlight. This technique does not work on cloudy water.”

Water Purification Iodine or Iodine Tablets

These tablets are sold commercially and at retail outlets and are popular with campers and the military. Tablets prove effective against giardia lamblia when used as directed. They are intended for short term or limited emergency use only. Water is ready in about 30-35 minutes.

How much water can I treat with a single iodine tablet?

Usually a quart or liter per tablet for clear water. For murky water, it usually requires 2 tablets per quart or liter. The instructions are usually on the side of the bottle.

In order to boil water, don’t I need some way to make a fire?

Yes. The fire could be built using firewood, propane (like a gas grill), or some other fuel source. One thing to keep in mind when you are trying to boil water is that most people don’t have a separate burner on a grill. Most modern pots and pans have plastic handles that will melt if too close to a flame. Cast iron skillets and pots are best if available.

Without running water, how do I wash my hands?

As we know from scripture, having running water is the best way to prevent the spread of germs and disease. Many camping supply sources have options, including pump devices. Home supply stores have spray pumps that are inexpensive, but perhaps a little hard to hold. Of course, you may have someone in your household to pour water while you wash.

Without running water, how am I supposed to bathe?

Camping supply stores have some options that allow you to use the heat of the sun to heat up water in bags that can be suspended. Some homemade options found on the internet demonstrate using metal trash cans painted black and PVC pipe mounted on a structure high enough to stand under. An easy way to bathe and conserve resources such as fresh water is to bathe using a wash cloth. This takes less than a quart of water and can be done in a warm or cold climate.

A water-less bathing option is to use baby wipes.

Do caffeinated fluids contribute to your daily fluid requirement?

According to the Mayo Clinic, “drinking caffeine-containing beverages as part of a normal lifestyle doesn’t cause fluid loss in excess of the volume ingested. While caffeinated drinks may have a mild diuretic effect — meaning that they may cause the need to urinate — they don’t appear to increase the risk of dehydration.”

Does alcohol contribute to how much water I need to drink?

Absolutely.

How do I make water taste better?

There are a variety of liquid and powder additives designed to increase the flavor of water. Some, like sport drinks, not only taste good, but add essentials salts and minerals that replenish the body during and after physical exertion. Other items, add no calories, but are designed to provide fruit flavors. Additives have a limited shelf life, but generally can be stored for several months before use.

Where do I find outside water sources?

Get a printed map of your location that shows where the lakes, ponds, and creeks are found. Don’t rely on having an electronic device with a map. The same map can also be used to mark the location of other resources such as farms, orchards, and nurseries. You might want to stay away from golf courses as the heavy use of chemicals may taint the small ponds or lakes.

Can I make water without rain?

Yes, using a solar still.

In short, you dig a hole, put a clean container in the middle to collect the water that you’re going to drink, put your urine or other questionable water around the clean container, cover the hole with plastic, secure the plastic to the sides of the hole, and put a small rock on the plastic so that the low point is directly over your clean container. The sun’s UV rays will go through the plastic and cause the water to evaporate. The evaporated moisture will condense and collect on the plastic and flow to the lowest point (right over your clean container) and drip into your clean container. If you’ve run a drinking tube from the clean container to the outside of the solar still, you can start drinking or collecting water without taking the still apart.

These stills will work, but they are not very efficient and introduce some risk of contaminants. A still that is 4 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep can produce approximately a quart of water per day in the desert or more if you add liquids to it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI0W3VNPna4

Rain Barrel D-I-Y

Start with a heavy duty rolled cart. Your recycle bin will do nicely.
Clean the inside thoroughly with soap and water
Sanitize the inside with bleach and water solution and allow to dry
Drape screening material over the top like a table cloth. The material is sold in rolls at home supply stores and is relatively inexpensive.
Securely fasten the screen around the cart with either wire or bungee cord. It’s important that it is tight and equally important that you can remove it later to draw water.
Cut a 6” x 6” hole in the center of the lid with a sharp knife or mini-saw
Place bin under a location where water is draining from a roof or downspout
Wheel the collected rain water inside keeping the hole covered to reduce evaporation until you are ready to use it. Don’t forget to treat of filter the water first before consuming.

More about Water

You can survive 3 days without water.

You may have heard it before, “surrounded by water but can’t drink a drop.” While this may be true on a boat, it doesn’t have to be the case when you are on land, can build a fire, and know how to distill salt water. We will not go into detail to discuss here but do some internet searching. You have the tools in your kitchen to accomplish this task if need be.

You can also use cloth to soak up the morning dew on the grass and plants then squeeze out the water. This technique usually doesn’t require disinfecting. Of course, I wouldn’t use a dirty sock.