Jul292010
16 Comments
Essential tools for disaster recovery
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PDFThis list was submitted by Adam Grundleger. He says, “This list is by no means all-inclusive, but it’s what I can remember from being through hurricanes and heavy storms.” Bad weather and natural disasters never seem to take a vacation, and having the right tools can make a huge difference in how quickly a home and family recover. Thanks, Adam, for a great list! I think it will come in handy when shopping for birthdays and Christmas!
image by Blue Diamond Photography
- Gas/water shutoff tool (Know where the shut-off valves are.)
- Fire extinguishers (Check to insure they are charged and the appropriate type.)
- Claw hammer, 16 oz; sledge if available
- Nails, assorted sizes (Have several boxes as they can go quick.)
- Set of screwdrivers, including hex and torx for equipment repair
- Set of metric and standard wrenches
- Set of metric and standard sockets with ratchet
- Assortment of wood screws, nuts and bolts
- Level, layout square, combination square, plumb bob
- Saws, at least one good crosscut saw and one bow saw
- An axe and hatchet, machete if available
- Shovels and other gardening equipment
- Chainfall/come-along
- Ratchet straps
- Cordage, paracord up to dock line
- Ladders, extension and step
- Tape measure
- Epoxy (I like JB Weld.)
- Duct tape
- Baling wire
- Construction adhesive
- Sealant caulk
- Sealant foam
© 2010, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.
(16) Readers Comments
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ACTION STEP: Get thee to the dollar store!
Make sure the rubbing alcohol is at least 60%--anything less than that
Advice for new Survival Moms from those who have been around a while
about storing toilet paper in the garage: i read on another website t
MikeLaws
Awesome list, though a couple of things to add for me personally:
Pliers-various types and sizes
Pry-Bar/Fu-Bar
I've already went through and got a shopping list… Huge and daunting right now, but it's nice to have it on paper.
TheSurvivalMom
Well, in a disaster, a FUBAR is definitely the name of the game. Just kidding! LOL I think most of us rely on lists to help us stay on track and prioritize our purchases. Good thinking!
FernWise
I don't even know what #13 Chainfall/come-along is. The rest I'm covered for, tho!
TheSurvivalMom
I don't either, Fern! I'll email Adam and see if he can help us out.
Mom23Wolves
It just a type of hoist. Usually a compound pulley with a ratchet handle, enables you to lift large things easily.
LizLong
Thanks. I was clueless on that one too.
Andrea
It’s similar in purpose to a winch only manually operated. Very handy for moving large objects, or pulling out stumps or unsticking stuck autos, (although a power winch uses much less energy for that purpose)
elt2jv
A chainfall is a lifting device that uses a gearbox to multiply lifting force. Think of it as a block and tackle for chains. They're typically rated in fractions of to multiples of tons lifting force. In operation, the gearbox is connected to a secure lifting point and the load is rigged below or beside it. The operator pulls on an endless loop of chain that drives the internal gears. This in turn pulls the lifting chain through the internal chain pulleys at a slower speed but at a greater force.____A come-along is a ratcheting pulley, also known as a "poor man's winch." It can be used vertically or horizontally for pulling or lifting. One end is secured to a fixed point and the other rigged to the load. The pulley is driven via a ratchet mechanism by a long lever, providing a simple but effective multiplication of force.____Either device is good for lifting fallen equipment, freeing stuck vehicles, moving fallen trees, even straightening buckled framing. In any case, use proper safety gear: heavy gloves, eye protection and safety shoes when rigging a load. If you're using this gear for recovery, the last thing you want is an injury to complicate things.
Dustin
A Come-along is a manual ratcheting winch – usually found for about $25-$50 or so. You can use them to move vehicles, pull heavy loads, etc. but you need to create a rig between an anchor and load; the come-alongs usually only have a few feet of cable in the spool.
http://www.amazon.com/5-Ton-Come-Along-Winch/dp/B…
They are nice because with a little thought and ingenuity you can move a lot of weight with little effort.
“Give me a lever long enough, and a prop strong enough, I can single-handed move the world.” – Archimedes
Harold
This is a great list and comments as well. I especially relate to the bailing wire with which I just wired part of the bumper on my plastic car made somewhere in Michigan
I would only add a sawsall which of course won't fit in your tool belt.
Dustin
Sawzall blades would, though – you can also get wood/metal blades to fit in the handles of keyhole says, which are highly portable.
rightwingmom
Adam,
Excellent list! I grew up w/ a father who owned a gas station w/ a mechanic's bay. I changed my first tire when I was 12 y/o. My husband is an aircraft mechanic. This list is perfect. You covered all the bases.
elt2jv
To my original list, I'd add pliers–slip joint, channel lock and vise-grip. (Thanks, Mike.) I'd also add pipe wrenches, adjustable (crescent) wrenches, wrecking bar, tarpaulins and towing straps. About tarps-they make a great "drag pad" for clearing brush and debris if you don't have a wheelbarrow.
Have a good knife that you'll always carry. Have a few. Keep them sharp. I EDC a Leatherman Wave and it is very capable. For serious cutting chores I step up to one of my Moras.
There's a good chance you may need to fix or access plumbing, so consider teflon tape or pipe dope. A pipe snake isn't a bad idea if you consider how readily your sewage line can be plugged up, especially if water supply is interrupted and then restored.
I could add to this list forever, but as I put it in my original email, "this list is not inclusive."
galen066
Add chisels, gouges, sharpening equipment, files for metal and wood, hacksaw, bit and brace. Given time I could come up with more.
A good knife is *never* out of place. Like the original poster, a Leatherman Wave is also part of my EDC. I back it up with a Swiss Army Knife,a Pocket Wrench from Lee Valley, and Mini Maglite.
Fixings
Add… a range of screws (wood screws can be limited in their usage!), electrical tape, insulated pliers, stanley knife, flat head and phillips screwdrivers.
Hannibal
Halligan Tool, Bolt Cutters and a Sledge hammer, what if you need into someplace?