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14 Comments

1. Upvote for this excellent article.

2. My takeaway from this article is somewhat different. Please do not take it as a “dig” at the author as it is in no way my intention. My comment is with one’s choice of climate to live in. I live in SWFla. I’m now convinced that in a situation where the power is off and will remain off the population will match Idaho if not less. Due to die offor people beating feet north. People here make no attempt to acclimate to the area’s climate. In their own habits or the homes they buy. With good air flow mold is not a problem. I haven’t shut my Windows maybe ten times in the past fifteen years. Granted I do enjoy my overhead fans. If the power goes out I move to the porch, like people here have always done. If you’re a prepper up North and are looking for a house to buy, do you look for one without a fireplace? The point I’m poorly trying to make is that if you can’t acclimate yourself to your climate without power, as a prepper your first act if at all possiple is to move where you can.

   1. I agree; having grown up in SWFL without air conditioning, I’m amazed how many think it can’t be done. Yes, humidity is high, bugs outnumber people, and mold in the shower always needs cleaning without ac. But I wouldn’t live in a log home or central Florida (it must be located up in north Florida, and he’s used to Idahos cool, low-humidity nights, which is only a Floridians dream). stuccoed concrete with rebar and hurricane windows are probably the best choice for Florida. In the event of no power (my brother was out for 9 days after Irma), I’m more concerned about water and flushing the toilet than heat and humidity. (This is where pool water comes in handy.)

   2. Excellent point about acclimating,get used to where you are and not in a bubble. Ice is still sold in the blocks(2 ice houses in area(24 hr vending machines) and will last considerably longer than small cubes,just make sure you have a ice pick. Hurricane construction (reinforced concrete) or filled block is the only way to go within 20 miles of the coast and would need almost no heating in the winter if built properly(solar heat gain). Population die off will be spectacular in these areas in a grid down situation and provide a opportunity for native type population

      1. You ever thought about what all those dead bodies are going to do to your water supply and how disease is going to run rampant… Something to think about…

         1. It is a myth that dead bodies mean disease. It’s only true IF THEY DIED OF DISEASE, and then someplace where bodily fluids can drain into a shallow well’s aquifer.

            Dead bodies stink. That’s about it. In a warm humid place like Florida they don’t last long, due to scavenging animals, insects and mold. There may be health issues resulting from the well-fed rats, raccoons and flies.

   3. Good points! My point on the ac was my log home has unfinished logs on the interior. Moisture ravages unfinished Eastern white pine that has been waterproofed on the outside and the inside is now the wick. If it was to become a BOL in a permanent grid down situation, changes would have to be made for sure. Just as in any home. So far….and I’ve been there 36 years surrounded by SWFWMD land ( swamp). Worked outside 34 of those years. You made excellent points and they would apply to many who have moved here in the last 15 or so years.

3. I read with interest as having someone in Florida, a transplant from the north. I like the info, everyone is different, we travel minimalist. We can go from the Mississippi river to the east coast with only one gas stop. Avoid using ice, make your own ice bags from vacuum sealed bags or freeze water bottles so you don’t discard precious water and keep the cooler dry. We depend on truck stops for showers, free ice (from pop dispensers kept in foam cup in cooler), microwave ovens to cook our 90 second meals. We can sleep in the vehicle. Also one could make use of 12 volt appliances found at truck-stops.

4. I am glad people can live in high humidity states with all of the associated problems that high humidity can create. I am not one of them. I like the Pacific Northwest.

   I have done the math for 2 places and it just doesn’t pencil out for me.
   Also the idea of squatters taken over one of your homes in a national emergency is a high probability and one would have a impossible task to retain your asset.

   But thanks for your story and how you manage duel properties.

   1. Most of the Pacific NW is high humidity, just cooler than the SE US…

5. JW,
   Thank you for your article, looking forward to Part II. I’m interested in your experience of living in Florida surrounded by swamps for thirty six years.
   Some simple thoughts for out of towners looking to build heah.
   Florida is the opposite of the rest of the U.S.. Think reverse passive design. Shade and breeze is good. A wraparound house porch will cool incoming air as it travels up and out a roof ridge vent or small side wall gable vent. It’s the Venturi principle used in carburetors. Applied horizontally, the old Cracker Dog Trot breezeway between two single depth rooms will pull hot air out of the house if room windows are open. Pivatol casements windows control the breeze. See Ken Kerns’ classic book “The Owner Built Home”. So, basically little or none AC is used, perhaps a small fan.
   Get a ‘Rose’ wind map of your area along with a Plant Hardiness Map to illustrate which one of three Floridian temperture zones you plan to locate. The USDA Extension Office has a wealth of free knownledge.
   Study indigneous designs such as the “Chickee” pole frame structure or Wadell’s 1940/50s “Bubble House”. Curved structures tend to be more hurricance resistance as angular ninety degree corners create negative pressures that pull things apart. (The Bank/Mortage Holders do not care for domes as they are hard to resell.)
   More breeze, less mosquitoes.
   Keep a low building profile as Florida is probably the “Lighting Capital of the World”.
   Don’t build on the coastal barrier islands or sandbars as that is what dampens the effects of hurricances. Besides cutting down the orginal Floridian Longleaf Pine forests settlers destroyed the mangroves holding the barriers together and then build on them, only to run when a hurricance approached. Go figure, man is his own worst enemy.

   Ps. Perhaps Longleaf Pine pith wood could replace White Pine, that is if it is still available. Then again Florida being lighting prone would explain why there are few turpentine wood made Cracker houses around.

   1. Thank you. There’s more truth in your post then those living in Florida and out of may recognize.

6. So, you are well equipped and well supplied. If people (politicians) start screaming about “hording” I think the cops will look closer at you and your equipment. So I hope your rig is “low profile”.

7. Can’t recommend enough and sure the author is aware — but if constantly hauling around a 1k+ lb load above factory, be certain to upgrade your brake rotors and pads (and/or drums and shoes) to premium option brake pads and drilled and slotted rotors… The loss in fuel economy is what it is when running heavy, but needlessly losing your vehicle by rear ending someone and/or risking safety due to reduced mobility/maneuverability (critical for survivability when bad things happen including just stupid drivers) can both be largely mitigated by spending a little more on quality parts. And if budget limited prioritize front brakes over rear. There are often also upgrades to brake components such as larger brake calipers, cylinders, etc, as well available for greater complexity and cost.

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