Preparing for the PAW (Post Apocalyptic World) ModNote: COPY of original

[GunnyFreedom]

A simple solar still can be made with a clear plastic trash bag and a pot of water from any source.

Inflate the plastic bag and place the pot of water inside the bag, close the bag and set it in the sun. At the end of the day, there will be a puddle of water in the bag, just open the bag and remove the pot, you can then drain the water from the bag into a clean container.

If more water is needed that one still can provide, more of these still can be made. You can have an array of them as needed.

doesn't have to be clear. Actually black works better. Just harder to aim the stone into the cup. 3mil 45gal contractor bags are beyond perfect. My solar still has a 2 gallon basin in a big hole covered in black plastic with a stone in the middle to make the water drip.. sucks water right out of the dirt. I like your idea for recycling tho. clean the outside of the pot and the water should be sterile. I must say I'd rather inflate with a pump of some sort.....

 

[Dr.3D]

doesn't have to be clear. Actually black works better. Just harder to aim the stone into the cup. 3mil 45gal contractor bags are beyond perfect. My solar still has a 2 gallon basin in a big hole covered in black plastic with a stone in the middle to make the water drip.. sucks water right out of the dirt. I like your idea for recycling tho. clean the outside of the pot and the water should be sterile. I must say I'd rather inflate with a pump of some sort.....

I've built the funnel type at the beach and had great luck with those.

This bag idea is one I came up with later on where you can put just about anything in the pot that has moisture in it and still get water in the bottom of the bag. You can even tie the bag over the leaves of a tree branch and get water from it.

 

[dave68]

Great thread! I have a cabin I now power with a Honda 2000 generator. I am only running lights, TV, and the occasional power tool. I get about 16 hours out of a gallon of gas. I would like to set up a battery bank system with a power inverter. The generator would charge the Marine deep cell batteries, and I would use them instead of using the generator all the time.
Would possibly add a solar panel, or two down the line. Anybody have any experience with this? I just wonder how long the batteries would last using 400 watts of power? Looked at some Diehard Marine 1050 CCA batteries today. Thanks for any insight.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

I do not believe that the iodine idea is a good one. Two teaspoons of iodine would do you great harm.
A 2% solution diluted, and painted on the abdomen and forearms in lieu of the oral tablets is what I believe is recommended by the DOD. NEVER INGEST PURE IODINE. There is a reason for the skull and crossbones on the bottle.
No offense intended.

I will have to do some more research on the matter; but once you have been exposed to radiation, painting the outside with iodine will do nothing. It's actually the medical treatment for preserving the thyroid following massive radiological exposure.

OK I have the straight scoop, they were talking about a potassium iodite salt solution in the following article:

http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/faqs/ki.html

And while 2 teaspoons is probably too much, what happens is that under intense radiation exposure your thyroid is the first thing to go, and in a survival situation without a thyroid, you die.

What kills your thyroid is the radiological interaction with your body producing radioactive iodides that are sucked into your thyroid and kill it. To counteract that, if you can do it immediately following a traumatic exposure, a high dose of iodine will cause the non-radioactive iodine to be absorbed FIRST thus not allowing the radioactive iodine to attack the thyroid.

Honestly, it is toxic, but i do not know the lethal dose. If it comes down to being a nuclear detonation I would rather take my tsp of iodine , get really sick for 3 days and live, than to be iodine free - but trying to survive in the PAW without a thyroid.

 

[pcosmar]

Something like these.
I remember we carried them in decontamination kits.

http://www.nukepills.com/potassium-iodide.htm

 

[tangent4ronpaul]

I will have to do some more research on the matter; but once you have been exposed to radiation, painting the outside with iodine will do nothing. It's actually the medical treatment for preserving the thyroid following massive radiological exposure.

OK I have the straight scoop, they were talking about a potassium iodite salt solution in the following article:

http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/faqs/ki.html

And while 2 teaspoons is probably too much, what happens is that under intense radiation exposure your thyroid is the first thing to go, and in a survival situation without a thyroid, you die.

What kills your thyroid is the radiological interaction with your body producing radioactive iodides that are sucked into your thyroid and kill it. To counteract that, if you can do it immediately following a traumatic exposure, a high dose of iodine will cause the non-radioactive iodine to be absorbed FIRST thus not allowing the radioactive iodine to attack the thyroid.

Honestly, it is toxic, but i do not know the lethal dose. If it comes down to being a nuclear detonation I would rather take my tsp of iodine , get really sick for 3 days and live, than to be iodine free - but trying to survive in the PAW without a thyroid.

Authoritative answer....

http://www.oism.org/nwss/s73p924.htm#Message2476

-t

 

[Dr.3D]

I just keep a bottle of potassium iodide tablets in my drawer for such an emergency.
I also have one of these in my drawer:

http://www.nukalert.com/
so I will know how to get to a safe location out of the fallout.

 

[AME3]

The solution as well as the tablets are not the same compounds as tincture of iodine.
The tincture is suitable for the disinfection of soft tissue injuries and the purification of water.
Absorption transdermally of the tincture (2% solution) 8ml of which can be smeared on the forearms or the abdomen (adult) is the way to go in lieu of the tablets .
Never....drink it.

http://nukealert.net/plan_b.htm

 

[AME3]

http://www.oism.org/nwss/s73p924.htm

 

[AME3]

By the way Gunny, you are gonna have to take that dose of iodine each day...and it's probably gonna kill you by shutting down your kidneys...a most miserable death, I can assure you.
Stock up on some tablets and start the dose regimen before you are exposed if at all possible.
I bought some awhile back and put them in my med kit in case there is an accident at the nuke plant sixty miles away from here in either direction (Raleigh or Charlotte), or we have a dirty bomb attack or worse...
The worst case scenario, and I think I would rather be killed instantly by the blast...Radiation sickness (and there isn't a pill to protect you from that you know) is one of the worst ways for a man to die.
I have seen many folks die during my lifetime, and most of them died hard, and some died easy. I choose easy myself.

 

[Dr.3D]

Here is where I bought my KIO3. It was the best price I could find on the net.
http://www.campingsurvival.com/potiodpilkio.html

 

[GunnyFreedom]

Authoritative answer....

http://www.oism.org/nwss/s73p924.htm#Message2476

-t

http://www.oism.org/nwss/s73p924.htm

Thanks for the clarification! that certainly makes sense. too bad I can't get the tablets to store away for a rainy day unless business really picks up...

 

[Dr.3D]

Thanks for the clarification! that certainly makes sense. too bad I can't get the tablets to store away for a rainy day unless business really picks up...

That link I posted has a 60 day supply of KIO3 tablets for $11/person. + S&H
And what is really good is when they expire, all you need to do is send the manufacturer a picture of the bottle and they will replace it for $5.

 

[AME3]

That is the best price for the tabs I have seen as well. Thanks Dr for the camping survival link. Seems like the prices are fair and the selection is unique compared to others I have visited. I have never seen any canned butter before, only powdered.

The iodine issue is certainly confusing, hopefully none of us will ever need any. I remember from my military training..."time distance and shielding" as the key to survival in a nuclear emergency. A below ground shelter with a proper overhead shield, air filters, etc. I have the old civil defense stuff (pamplets on shelters, a geiger counter set, etc.) from years ago. Since I have aquirred gas masks and spare filters. Not set up for chemical or bio though.

Having somewhat perused this site, I am impressed by the knowledge of many of its contributors. You Gunny and Dr. 3D have gained much of my respect and admiration. You two (as well as some others), appear to be on top of your game. Thanks, for all of your thoughts and considerations, I have learned quite a bit.
For example, I have always appreciated the need for potable water, but it was you guys who made me realize that I hadn't considered how much water would be needed in a lengthy survival scenario. A good water filter capable of filtering bios, virals and chemical pollutants with a spare filter was pretty much what I was relying on. Now, I intend to persue a hand pump well. I am going to have to look at a diy method since the city I live in dosn't permit it.

 

[AME3]

Update on water well. It sure pays, sometimes, to check out things for yourself rather than relying on "what you have heard" as being the truth, regardless of how much sense it seems to make.
I called a well driller and asked him if he could give me an idea on how deep the water table was in my area. I had looked it up on a geo survey map and from what I could tell, it might be twenty to thirty feet or so below my property. He guessed it at being more around 100-200 ft. I then asked him if there was a statute in regards to having a well installed in the city. He said no, and added, if you have the space, it is permitted. He said he had put several in in my area for the irrigation of gardens etc. A six inch well runs eleven dollars a foot, and there is no guarantee of water. I guess it's hit or miss?
I have read that these well drillers have to drill at least a hundred feet just to make it worthwhile for them, even though you may get good water at a much shallower depth. If good water can be had at 20-30 feet, then I could possibly install my own well, at least according to several sites I have perused on the subject. Does anybody have any experience in these regards?

 

[pcosmar]

Update on water well. It sure pays sometimes to check out things for yourself rather than relying on "what you have heard" as being the truth, regardless on how much sense it seems to make.
I called a well driller and asked him if he could give an idea on how deep the water table was in my area. I had looked it up and from what I could tell, it might be twenty to thirty feet or so. He guessed more like 100-200 ft. I then asked him if there was a statute in regards to having a well installed in the city. He said no, and added, if you have the space, it is permitted. He said he has put several in for the irrigation of gardens etc. A six inch well runs eleven dollars a foot, and there is no guarantee of water. I guess it's hit or miss?
I have read that these well drillers have to drill at least a hundred feet just to make it worthwhile for them, even though you could get good water at a much shallower depth. If the water can be had at 20-30 feet, then I could possibly install my own well, at least according to several sites I have perused on the subject. Does anybody have any experience in these regards?

OK this is going to sound strange
When I was growing up, our well ran out, we had to get a new well dug.
My folks hired a "Water Witch" a dowser. He found the water and the driller punched one hole.
We had great water from then on.
Research it yourself. Or take your chances.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowsing

 

[GunnyFreedom]

OK this is going to sound strange
When I was growing up, our well ran out, we had to get a new well dug.
My folks hired a "Water Witch" a dowser. He found the water and the driller punched one hole.
We had great water from then on.
Research it yourself. Or take your chances.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowsing

LOL we did the dowsing ourselves, and got 30gal/min at 60'

duno if dowsing actually does anything, but my dad did it 22 years ago, and we still get 25gal/min from a 60' well. So I'm not gonnna complain.

I will say that the deeper your well, the cleaner your water....

 

[AME3]

Forget the well. I'm going after some property elsewhere. An old navy friend has some land in the mountains near the Blue Ridge which he has offered me for a great price. There is a river that has never gone dry running through it. The parcel consists of six acres has a large level area which is ideal for an inground insulated concrete home, and my buddy owns a company that specializes in building concrete homes. The river is perfectly suited for a hydrogenerator set up, which is how he gets his power, he says he sells the excess to the utility company and averages two hundred a month. There is also a huge garden space with a small orchard and vineyard. His property lies on all sides of this parcel and he has sixty acres. His home is a 2400 square foot inground with a geodesic dome structure above it. He has a bass pond which is about seven acres. The river has mountain trout and he has a barn, a big tractor with a backhoe, front end loader and four snowmobiles. The entire place is fenced and has a private road with an electric gate. He is an avid shooter and has a gun room which rivals most gun shops I have seen. He has a full metal / machine shop and foundry as well.
He said he was looking into getting a small bell helicopter as he just got his rotary liscense, something we had both planned on getting when we got out of the Navy some years ago.
I think I will buy it and build a modest inground and set it up to be self sufficient. I plan on having it as a second home for R&R and a place to go if things get bad. He told me that he can heat his home with a few candles and cool it with a couple trays of ice cubes, LOL, it is so efficient. Hell with the well.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

While I, if I do not get elected to NC State House, will be trying to gather up 10 people to go in together on some 100 acres around Montana/Wyoming, to then run for office up there where people have a little more appreciation for freedom and the Constitution.

 

[hamilton1049]

While I, if I do not get elected to NC State House, will be trying to gather up 10 people to go in together on some 100 acres around Montana/Wyoming, to then run for office up there where people have a little more appreciation for freedom and the Constitution.

Oh God pleeeeze put me on that list!!!