Topic: BO Location

[Bill, Idaho]

Consider this: How long could you and your family live in your present home/location with no services. Water, power, etc. Weather and neighbors are variables that we would need to consider.
   Obviously, depending on what type of SHTF scenario, think about what everyone else within blocks is thinking about. They are probably hurting as bad as you, and maybe more. Maybe less.  If things are bad enough to hunker down and try to exist on only what you have, things are bad enough that the neighbors might not be so friendly anymore (that part wouldn't be a big change for me).   If you are going to stand fast, you better plan on things getting real tough. The geography of each of our homes will dictate which events we could stay for and which we would have to leave.   
  In LA during the last riots, when a few of the store owners got tired of the looting, they brought out rifles and started shooting.  That was enough to trigger their SHTF plan. We all need to think hard and long about how much it's going to take to trip our flares.   
  Personally, I think I live in a house that if was still standing relatively sound and intact, taking the layout of the land I'm on, and considering what's around me, I could get by pretty good right here.  Now, is Caldwell where I want to be if the SHTF? Like I said, it depends on what type of SHTF occurred.
    I figure it would take me (and my wife) about two days to load all my guns and ammo, food, water, recent issues of SWAT magazine, and other items into the back of the 5-ton.
I think I'll try to stay here. I've got ALL of what I can see from my property on range cards.

[fj40mojo]

You might be a redneck Boise Shooter if.....you've got everything within eyesight of your property on  range cards.

[El Conquistador]

I know its been mentioned elsewhere, but I am also thinking about trying one of the do-it-yourself small scale well digging setups in the backyard. I think we could go for quite a while without the juice on, but water will get scarce quick unless the canals are running, or you could get to the river. A small hand pump and a capped off 1 1/2" pipe in the yard wouldn't be a bad idea. I've read some different sites about how to do it, but never talked to any that actually had. Anyone try it yet?
As far as a BO location, I still think that unless you actually have some prior, insider info, we will all be stuck home for a bit. Any SHTF situation will have EVERYONE on the road in the first hours/days, and you'll burn your gas sitting in one spot. In certain situations the Gov will try to keep you off the roads as well. I think unless your actual neighborhood is affected, its better to access the situation and then try to head out.

[WTF]

or buy a older home that already has a well in the basement, quite a few of them in the boise area have them. but most are capped off. some of the older homes already have wells in the backyard.

[Swift6Six]

That's a great idea also.  Don't forget your water heater contains probably close to 50g of water as well, and in a pinch you could use that.  My BOL already has several wells on the property plus several reservoirs.

[El Conquistador]

The water heater is a good reserve tank (Remember to kill the power/gas before draining), as well as the toilet tanks in a real pinch, but as a plumber I can tell you that in certain disaster situations, the city water can be tainted pretty quick. If you havent drawn ANY water since the quake/explosion/terrorist act then you should shut off your main to prevent any cross connection and you should be OK. If any water has been drawn and its one of those situation, OR if you turn on any line and hear air being drawn into the fixture, then your system may be compromised and you should take the proper procautions. I'm still going to look into the small scale, do it yourself backyard well with a handpump. You might still need to boil it, as you wont be able to test for bacteria in that situation, but it would be a good backup source if necessary.

[e11charlie]

the city water can be tainted pretty quick.

Bwahahaha you said taint.  Sorry carry on.

[No-One]

If you live on a property with a well make sure that you can access the water if the power goes out . Either a good quality hand pump or a power backup system so you can run the electric pump . Several water barrels or a large water tank of some sort that you can fill wouldn't be a half bad investment either .

[BadtzMaru]

I know its been mentioned elsewhere, but I am also thinking about trying one of the do-it-yourself small scale well digging setups in the backyard. I think we could go for quite a while without the juice on, but water will get scarce quick unless the canals are running, or you could get to the river. A small hand pump and a capped off 1 1/2" pipe in the yard wouldn't be a bad idea. I've read some different sites about how to do it, but never talked to any that actually had. Anyone try it yet?

I mentioned it in the other thread, but it bears repeating.  There are laws about constructing wells, even for yourself.  Do your homework and either make sure you comply or are willing to handle the consequences if you get caught doing something illegal.  Also, depending on where you live, that water may be down several hundred feet.

Personally, if I were going to go to the trouble of drilling a well, I'd do it right (at this point in time) with a six-inch casing.  For house and stock water that would be adequate to get a decent centrifugal pump into it.  If things go south, a generator (or windmill) can run the pump or if it gets bad enough, pull the pump and use a bailer on a rope or cable.  A 1.5" pipe is too small to fit a bailer into it and hand pumps are really only good to lift less than about 50 feet.  You can use a 3-liter bailer and the only limit is the length of your rope.