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Well, everything I read is that New Orleans is pretty much a cross between a movie set for “Blackhawk Down” and “Zulu”. I am extremely glad that I live far away from this insanity that I neednt worry about roving gangs wandering the streets, breaking into houses at will and causing all sorts of chaos. On the other hand, there are going to be some economic ripples from this that I wont be immune from. The biggest one Im concerned about is the gasoline situation. Apparently, and perhaps Im reading this wrong, theres a good chunk of refining capacity that is going to be down for a while (as well as about 20 offshore oil rigs that are just completely missing). Theres already panic buying which, naturally, is driving up costs and driving down supply. (Hey! Supply and demand…whoda thunk it?) The girlfriend, last week, pretty much demanded to know why we weren’t buying gas cans and stocking gasoline. When she said that we saddled up and filled the truck and filled our newly purchased gas cans. BUT….we’ve a trip to Billings next weekend that could use prety much all of that. Hmmm. Cant cancel the trip to Billings. I may have to wander off to WallyWorld and get a couple more cans and gas ’em up.

I’m also hearing that at least one major coffee company gets all its imports through New Orleans and that can of Folgers you like so much may be going up in price and scarcity.

One of the LMI came by yesterday and we were discussing things. I told him that I was uneasy and unsettled these days because of all this disaster footage Ive been watching. He asked what it would take to make me feel better. I thought a moment and said:
1) Money. The universal survival supply.
2) A well-stocked place out in the boonies we could run off to

For now, I’ll settle for another 20 gallons of stabilized gas safely tucked away. The stockpiled gas isnt really a hedge against a price increase, its a hedge against a shortage. As in NO-GAS-signs-on-the-pumps shortage. ‘Fuel’ is in the top five on any list of things to stockpile..right up there with food, water, ammo, and meds…

The girfriend and I live only 9 blocks from our workplaces. Bank, grocery and post office are only three blocks past that. We dont need to drive anywhere really except maybe to WW or Costco once or twice a month. But I absolutely want to have the option of being able to hop into a gasoline-powered vehicle and leave town if I have to. Right now, between gas in the truck and in storage we’ve approx. 525 miles of range…not quite enough to make it to Billings and back.

I’d been slacking on the gas storage because of the expense of new steel cans ($27~) and my lack of what I feel was wa safe place to store them. (I really have no desire to store them indoors). Im planning on building a little doghouse-type structure along my fenceline, hidden in the lilacs, to house the gas cans. Keeps ’em away from the house, but hidden and nearby.

11 thoughts on “”

  1. I’m also hearing that at least one major coffee company gets all its imports through New Orleans and that can of Folgers you like so much may be going up in price and scarcity.

    Good. Maybe people will stop drinking that swill.

  2. I only use NATO 20 liter cans (the ones with the clamping lid). Cheaper than Dirt has used, good condition cans for $9.97, or Israeli un-issued ones for $19.97.

    Currently have 3 full cans in the garage, I think two Swiss and one German.

  3. They take a non-standard nozzle, as I understand it. Also the ones I’ve seen have, to me, been pretty scuzzy and of dubious condition. For long term use Im sticking with the Blitz 5-gal steel cans until I can find something better at a reasonable price.

  4. thanks for the link!

    For folks living in CARB states – the only cans available which don’t have the CARB spout sillyness and painful price are the K-1 (blue) cans.

    I used to use the German cans – highly recommended – have been meaning to get a few more, after the last of them vanished.

  5. Re: thanks for the link!

    The nozzles aren’t threaded, US civilian standard, but they’re standardized and are cheap. Surplus ones with interior rust are more trouble than they’re worth, external rust can be handled. The ones from CTD in the past have been Good Enough.

    Make _sure_ the gaskets are reasonably new. Add some form of gas / diesel stabilizer depending upon what you’re storing.

  6. If by “non-standard” that it does not fit the Blitz cans then yes. But they are pretty cheap and work well.

    The NATO cans are have a fuel resistant lining, so even if the outside is a little beat up, a flashlight inspection will reveal the condition of the liner, which may be in good shape. I have one that looks like it was used by the “Samsonite gorilla” as a plaything, but the inside is perfect.

  9. you should want more people to drink folgers. then demand would go down on the premo stuff you drink thus dropping the price… or putting them out of business(but what do i care i dont drink coffee ;))

  10. alternatives

    are bicycles, mopeds, and electric scooters. metal gas cans should be grounded in storage area, on top of gravel for water drainage, which prevents rusting.

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