Survival Boot Camp Class of 2006

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June 28, 2006

Potable Water On The Brain
Pasadena, California

I wouldn’t call myself a survivalist—more of a pragmatist. I’m not waiting for the collapse of society... but shit happens. My wife is fond of saying that if I were on the show Survivor, I’d win because I’d do anything, kill anything, eat anything and build anything to go on living. That’s perhaps an exaggeration, but I probably do think about disasters and power outages more than the average urbanite. This came, I think, from childhood. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, we were at the mercy of dirt roads that would snow over and close, water that had to come from wells, and frequent and long power outages courtesy of lightning storms and REA (that’s Rural Electric Association -- a governmental attempt to wire rural areas).

Water from our wells could be hit-or-miss, sometimes running low or becoming contaminated. We’d often go to natural springs in order to have drinkable water. In L.A. we don’t have an abundance of natural springs, at least few that haven’t been tapped by bottling companies; so water is one of my concerns when thinking about earthquakes. I have about 50 gallons of potable water (been meaning to get more) including my strapped hot-water heater, which, of course, you can shut off from the potentially-contaminated city supply in an emergency. I keep my water in smaller containers so that my wife can easily access them. A couple times a year, I refill the containers with fresh water and add about a teaspoon of bleach, very simple.

Another easy way to store a little extra water is frozen in gallon jugs. The ice will do triple duty in an emergency: in a cooler or your fridge to keep food longer, to pack injuries, and finally to drink and wash.

That’s one of the many things I think about in addition to my battery collection, my sterno and lamp oil, first aid, extra cat food, canned goods and someday, when I save the money, my shiny new generator. I won’t get into hunting weapons here... :)

Bill Smith
Art Director/Designer
designsimple.com
Pasadena, CA

Bill just finished designing and laying out the fall 2006 Feral House book, American Hair Metal, by Steven Blush.

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