Prudent Prepping: Odds and Ends

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Now we concentrate  on what to do in, and how to plan for, the long term via Prudent Prepping.

Not Quite a Buffet

Valley Fire Update

The fire north of Napa, CA called the Valley Fire is almost contained and no more structures are being threatened. The houses mentioned in this post turned out to be mostly undamaged: mainly some scorched siding, damaged roofing and out-buildings burned to the ground. What is most upsetting to the local residents and weekenders is the loss of brush and the damage to trees in the area.

Note: Not my friend's neighborhood, but representative of Middletown area damage. Photo by KTVU.

No one is certain how badly damaged the still-living trees are, are and there will be no way to tell until next spring, when new growth will start to show.

Upsetting News

I received a Facebook update from an unknown person recently, mentioning that her brother, my online gaming buddy, had died suddenly. Here is (part of) what she sent:

Ok his obituary should be online at (funeral home) by tomorrow. He died of complications from diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. All of which he kept telling us he didn't even have. So it should come back the same as my moms did which was a diabetic heart attack. Anyone who wants to go to the website can do so and it allows you to leave comments. Thanks

My friend was in his late 50's and sounded good when we all last heard him. I personally didn't know about any of his health problems, but some of his long-time gaming friends did and mentioned the diabetic problems. This is a roundabout way for me to again mention the importance of keeping yourself healthy. If you can't help yourself, how will you be able to help anyone else in need?

Gear Addition
My local Gear Nut (as opposed to my Florida Gear Nut) friend gave me a rain poncho. It was not up to his kids standards of toughness.

What I now have is a Frogg Toggs poncho. From their web site:

FTP1714 • Ultra-Lite II Poncho
Constructed from ultralight breathable and waterproof nonwoven polypropylene with welded waterproof seams, and side snaps and adjustable hood. Completely recyclable! • Packaged in reusable bag.
Net Weight: 9 oz.

I can see why it might not hold up to the rough use kids might give out, but in my GHB I think it will be more than adequate -- just not as sturdy as the MilSurp poncho Erin has in her gear. This example is one of the three my friend bought that was not damaged. I can't describe the texture or the feel, but it is really weird! The surface is semi-rough, with what looks like microscopic perforations which might be how the poncho is non-woven and also breathable.

I did try the waterproof claim by running water over the edge, and it is repellent. I'm just not too sure how it will hold up after multiple days or rough use.

Recap

• Get healthy if you are not already in shape. 
• If you have known medical problems, see what can be done to remedy your condition, or at least reduce the effects if at all possible. 
• Don't be afraid to look at unusual items as a 'filler' in your preps until your budget improves. 

New Gear

• Frogg Toggs Poncho, adult size: $11.99 from Amazon,

  
If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased be me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.