Okay, I've already mentioned my interest in trying to get together a bulk-purchase effort for equipment and supplies. As of right now I'm doing the requisite research as to what's worth getting and what isn't. (Example: So far, and from what I've seen, General Ecology's First Need and Microlite purifiers appears to have the best feature set as water purifiaction equipment is concerned.

 

Which is all fine and good.

 

But, I know that somebody out there has been doing this a lot longer than I have, so I'm looking for opinions on equipment and supplies that are worth checking into. If it has potential uses in any disaster situation (I live on the Florida Gulf coast, so hurricanes are a real consideration and I have no problem with the idea of designing a gear package to deal with this scenario as well as Y2K problems) and it's worth at least checking out, please let me know what and where.

 

I'm most intersted in checking into these categories right now, with more coming as I refine the list of goods to get:

 

• Indoor-rated lighting and cooking equipment (dying from CO poisoning doesn't appeal much to me. ::lol::)
• Solar panels and solar-compatible autochargers
• Communications gear, pref. handcrank and/or solar powered (I'm going after a no-code Tech. class amateur radio license in a couple weeks, so Ham gear is good too.)
• Waste handling and disposal equipment (chemical toilets, etc.)

 

I'll refine this and if anyone wants it I'll post it on the forum for referral or opinions as it comes along.

 

If you don't want to reply in-forum, feel free to E-mail me as my GarbageCities, er, GeoCities address gets checked a lot.

 

 

OddOne, who's already buying stuff...

 

-- OddOne (mocklamer@geocities.com), December 29, 1998

Answers

I think the Katadyn water filter system is the best. Missionaries use it all the time.

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), December 29, 1998.

www.lehmans.com Composting toilet. my brother has experience with them and he indicates you don't know it's any different except it doesn't have a drian, and it is a bit huge.

cr

-- Chuck a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), December 29, 1998.

12 pack of Charmin double rolls about $5. on sale. 4 liters of Carlo Rossi about $6. on sale. Mossberg 12 ga. and 5 boxes of 00 buck about $250.

-- Bill (bill@microsoft.com), December 29, 1998.

The single most useful tool in a survival situation is a good knife.

The Edge Company (800-732-9976)
http://www.edgeco.com/

Knives
http://www.edgeco.com/pages/cat11.html?;;27

All-Terrain Knife
ATK-4232 (17") $49.95

S&W Tactical SWAT Knife (black Police model)
3000B (8.5" folding) $39.95

Pro-Tech Police/Tactical Knife
TE-7078 (9.3" folding) $29.95

Colt Tactical Pathfinder Knife
CT-26 (12.5") $79.95

Also:

Sunmate Worldband Dynamo/Solar Radio
TE-8370 (AM/FM/TV/Air/Weather/SW) $79.95 
Runs on solar cells, hand-crank dynamo, NiCd, or AC/DC adapter.
http://www.edgeco.com/cgi-bin/catalog/TE-8370?yvXF6BYH;;27

-- Jon (jonmiles@pacbell.net), December 29, 1998.

another good place for knives, sharpening equipment, and the like is:

http://www.knifecenter.com/

generally speaking the most reasonable knife prices I've found on or off the internet.

Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), December 29, 1998.