The Doom and Gloom Shopping List | The Source Weekly - Bend, Oregon

The Doom and Gloom Shopping List

A beginners' guide to preparing for natural disasters and more

Survivalists aren't only preparing for the end of the world as we know it, but are prepping for the more likely "smaller" disasters of life. From droughts and power outages to making daily adventures easier, this shopping list is designed to plan for the unexpected, or in the case of global warming, the highly expected.

Let's be honest, even if the world is ending iPhones will be the last to go. Solar power is the way to go once power grids shut down, or for a less apocalyptic reason—when you're out hiking on that weekend camping trip. The Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus Adventure Kit Solar Charger powers up iPads and other tablet computers, cell phones, GPS, and rechargeable batteries anywhere you go—just add sunlight! This portable solar panel fits easily in a backpack and can be found for $120 at REI (380 SW Powerhouse Dr, Bend).

Under normal conditions humans can only survive three days without water, and with droughts predicted, access to clean drinking water is of utmost importance. Treading the middle ground between the lightest and most durable filters, the MSR SweetWater Microfilter makes water treatment easy. This small system found for $89.95 at Mountain Supply (834 NW Colorado Ave., Bend) and eliminates more than 99.9999 percent of all waterborne bacteria and 99.9 percent of common protozoan parasites, such as Giardia.

After treatment, the Hydaway collapsible water bottle is a great option for toting water or for anyone with an active lifestyle. This bottle expands to fill and after use easily collapses so it can stow in a pocket or pack. Currently in its Kickstarter stages, Hydaway bottles can be pre-ordered online (hydawaybottle.com)

Bodies can last far longer without food than water—around three weeks—but it won't be fun. Therefore, access to food is a must and growing your own food is a great way to not be dependent on current food systems. Central Oregon Seed Exchange is a local resource for purchasing, sharing, and saving seeds. It has a seed fridge in Central Oregon Locavore (1216 NE 1st St, Bend) where seeds for lettuce, peas, herbs, melons and more can be purchased (varying prices).

It takes a while to get a home garden going and survivalists want to be prepared for the unknown today. Prepper Up (862 NW 3rd St., Prineville) offers a great selection of freeze-dried foods and even offers The Supreme Freeze-Dried & Dehydrated Food Supply Package that is designed to provide a person with 2,000 calories per day for three, six, or 12 months depending on the package size ($1,175.99-$4,541.99).

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