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Lists of books about survival. Besides a dry list
From : Paul S. Cilwa, 74362,2653 #51219
Besides a dry list of supplies, exploring the human psyche in times of
extreme hardship is something fiction does best. I highly recommend the
following books to people who are preparing to survive disasters:
The Swisss Family Robinson
No kidding. Unlike the movie, the book actually contains
details on constructing various survival and even luxury
items. It's true an awful lot of very convenient stuff
washes up on shore from the grounded ship, but the author
makes up for that with pirates and a love story. What
more could you want?
Farnham's Freehold
--Robert A. Heinlein
A soap-opera family gets into the bomb shelter JUST in
time for the "Super Bomb" to hit and push them into the
far future, where they believe themselves to be the only
people on earth. They are wrong, but until they find
that out, Heinlein details the building of various
mechanisms to make their lives easier. And everyone has
sex with everyone else.
Nightfall
--Isaac Asmiov & Robert Silverberg
MUST reading. This is the novel, not the short story.
On a world much like our own, but in a system with
six suns, nightfall comes just once every ten millenia
and when it does, civilization falls, too. Part One
parallels where we are, where some people know what's
going and and debate how much to tell the others;
Part Three gives a pretty likely--but not too gruesome--
picture of what to expect Afterwards. The description
of the walk down the freeway is particularly vivid, and
the surprise ending is well done.
Earth Abides
--Brian Aldiss
I don't think it's in print any more, but if you can
find this book, READ it! In the forties, a young man
goes to a mountain cabin to work on his thesis. When
he returns to civilization two weeks later, he discovers
virtually everyone else is dead of a "super-measles".
It's "The Stand" without the metaphysics.
On The Beach
The classic Cold War tale of the days after a nuclear
war between the US and Russia wipes out the Northern
Hemisphere, leaving the Australians to wait for the
fallout to slowly drift into their hemisphere and kill
them all. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
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From : Martha McLemore, 73135,1243 #51341
The Foxfire books (5 or more in the series) began as a project for high
school students to record the folk wisdom in their community. So much of
what their elders knew had been passed down orally (all the things in the
Reader's Digest book) and was in danger of being lost as more young people
left the area after high school. In addition, the elders who were the
storehouses for all this info were, naturally, coming to the end of their
lives.
I have several of the books packed away in my attic. (I have nearly 1500
books on a variety of subjects, but shelf space for about 200.) I'm going
to be away from the forum for awhile (we're putting our house on the market
and I must get busy cleaning and packing), but I'll find those books and
post the info on them here next month.
My local Waldenbooks had three copies of the Readers' Digest Back to
Basics, in the Nature/Science section, so they can order it for anyone who
wants a copy.
Once a year, amateur radio operators test their skills by holding a weekend
of field exercises (hence 'field day'). They test themselves and their
equipment to see how quickly they can set up their station, under the most
extreme circumstances they can muster, using as many unusual power sources
as they can make work. In times of emergency, it is frequently -
sometimes, only - the area hams who keep communications going for a
community. Ken's group takes along gasoline-powered generators, batteries
and I don't know what else to keep their various stations running.
We have a number of hams on this forum who can tell you about field day
much better than I can. How about it - CQ, CQ, CQ, this is KB3JA's XYL
calling all forum radio amateurs to fill Kevin in on field day and the
glories of being a ham. Jump in here, guys and gals.
(Ken is telling me over my shoulder to refer you to HAMNET, here in
Compuserve, for more info.)
See ya farther down the line, as some of the rag-chewers around here say.
<G>
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Forum: Encounters+ Section: Earth Chgs/Prophecy
Subj : Survival kit, skills
To : Dean M/SL5_ASOP, 75110,3417 Saturday, April 1, 1995 3:52:18 PM
From : Mark Hochman, 73320,2317 #52288
Here's somemore info for your list. I had received three pamplets from
my local fire dept, these were put out by FEMA.
1. Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit.
2. Your Family Disaster Plan
3. Emergency Preparedness Checklist.
They can be had through the local Red Cross or by writing to
FEMA
PO Box 70274
Washington, DC 20024
My kit consists of:
10 gals of fresh water stored in 5 gal. containers.
First aid kit includes:
bandages of all sizes
sterile gauze pads various sizes
adhesive tape
sterile roller bandages various sizes
scissors, tweezers, needles
moistened towelettes
antiseptic
thermometer
tongue blades
petroleum jelly
safety pins various sizes
soap
latex gloves
sunscreen
aspirin or other pain reliever
anti-diarrhea medication
laxative
activated charcoal for poison control
Tools:
mess kits, plates, cups, etc.
battery operated radio w/ extra batteries
flashlights
non-electric can openers, utility knives
fire extinguisher
tube tent or other type
hand tools, ie pliers
compass
matches in waterproof container
aluminum foil
ducttape
plastic storage containers
signal flares
paper, pens, pencils
sewing kits
medicine dropper
whistle
plastic sheeting
maps of area
toilet paper
feminine supplies
plastic garbage bags and ties
bleach
Clothing:
shoes and boots
rain gear
blankets and sleeping bags
hats and gloves
thermal underwear
sunglasses
Other stuff:
baby supplies if needed
any prescription drugs
dental needs
contact lenses and supplies
extra glasses
books and games
copies of important documents, family records, inventories, telephone
numbers, etc.
I have most of this kept in small bags in my car all ready to go.
Mark
Forum: Encounters+ Section: Earth Chgs/Prophecy
Subj : Water Supplies
To : Martha McLemore, 73135,1243 Tuesday, March 28, 1995 7:54:25 AM
From : Jeannie, 75773,1442 #50411
O.K.Martha Here it is:
The Nature Doctor / DR. H.C. Vogel
Where There Is No Doctor / David Werner
Paramedic Skills Manual / Charles Phillips M.D.
The Care and Feeding Of The Offshore Crew / Lin and Larry Pardy
U.S. Army Survival Manual / FM 21-76
The Offshore Crusing Encylopedia / Steve and Linda Dashew
-----------------------------------------------------------
Inspiration:
117 Days Adrift / Maurice and Maralyn Bailey
Adrift / Steve Callahan
____________________________________________________________
Resource Catalogs:
Boat U.S. 1-800-937-2628
West Marine 1-800-538-0775
Blue Water Books / Ft. Lauderdale Fla.
Armchair Sailor / Charlston, S.C.
* Don't have to be a boater to check out the marine resources. Great
Resource for well built equipment constructed with extreme conditions
and limited space in mind. * cruisers equip themselves with total self-
sufficiency in mind. Inverters/ Wind Generators/ Solar Panels.
These products are much like RV products ..however we have found much
higher quality..and greater selection available.
Forum: Encounters+ Section: Earth Chgs/Prophecy
Subj : Water Supplies
To : Chris Malcheski, 71232,360 Sunday, March 26, 1995 3:09:24 AM
From : Martha McLemore, 73135,1243 #49555
Chris,
I think if we were to compile a library list, that in itself would be
helpful.
Certainly, our individual needs would depend on our location, but everyone
should know how to build shelter, grow and preserve their own food, find
and protect their water sources, basic principles of defense, emergency
first aid (including childbirth), edible and medicinal plant
identification, toxic plants and animals...the stuff all our ancestors
knew.
I don't mean that each one of us needs to know all of this on our own (wish
I did, though), but that groups of us need to know or have access to the
info.
Guess it wouldn't hurt to have a psychiatrist or two on hand, either, since
we're considering such calamitous changes taking place. <G>
I'm looking for instructions on how to turn my old fat tire, no gears
bicycle into an emergency generator. Can you help with that?
I have books on building your own home, septic system, solar collectors;
herb identification and uses; emergency medicine, anatomy and physiology;
private security techniques; chemistry for klutzes; midwifery; building
rustic furniture; clothing manufacturing, from sheep to shawl as they say
around here; auto mechanics (VW bus and Beetles '65 through '72 models -
hey, you never know when that might help!)
I'm no expert, either, but I don't think that's what will matter if we are
faced with catastrophe. I think it is important to know as much as you can
to keep yourself and loved ones alive and safe. Beyond that, know how and
where to learn what you don't know, either through books or through other
people who know what you don't.
Learn your strengths and weaknesses, learn to think critically and calmly
under pressure, learn to plan ahead...maybe take one of the Red Cross
courses in first aid or disaster preparedness...join the Weather Service's
Sky Warn watch group in your area...train yourself to lead...learn risk
assessment (well, that comes with learning to think critically and
plan)...what can you add to this list of suggestions, Chris? Anybody?
I believe there is much we can learn from each other. If these predictions
are valid, we'll need more than our own wits to survive; we'll need one
another. If we share our knowledge, become prepared for something which
doesn't happen, then we still come out ahead in terms of personal growth,
as well as strenghtening our community.
I'm starting to sound like a pollyanna. <g>
Martha
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