Preparedness Potpourri

Here's a smattering of some really awesome preparedness items:

Murray McMurray Hatchery -- buy day-old chicks and all the equipment needed to care for them. Also deals in rare breeds.

Petzl TakTikka LED Headlamp and Storage Case -- wear this headlamp and keep your hands free for whatever it is you're trying to do in the dark. Very long 30 meter range at full power; four intensity settings. Powered by three AAA batteries; has a flip-down red filter to preserve your night vision. When stored in storage case, fits in the palm of your hand -- it's the size of a tennis ball. Great equipment for your emergency evacuation pack.

JetBoil Personal Cooking System -- Weighs 15 ounces; boils 2 cups of water in 2 minutes. Disassembles and stores in the cooking cup for compact storage -- perfect for your evacuation pack. The propane fuel canisters are very inexpensive ($3.99) and each will boil up to 12 liters (50 cups) of water. Available accessories include additional cooking cups, french press, field maintenance kit, and pot/pan stabilizer so that you can use small skillets and pots with the burner.

Nitro-Pak Preparedness Store -- your one-stop preparedness shop. Amazing selection.

HeaterMeals -- MREs (meals ready to eat). Available for order in cases of 12; several product lines available. I recommend the HeaterMeal EX (extended storage) series; they have a five-year shelf life. I can personally testify that these things are extremely tasty and the chemical heater is extremely effective at bringing the entree up to a piping-hot temperature.