Ever's bug-out to the Radisson

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

(Mod edit: this is interesting enough that it needs to be a thread of its own. Ever, please edit the subject line if you don't like what I chose. Sheddi.)

We had a bit of a fire in March. Roof. Contractors. No fire damage to residences. However, a lot of water damage on many floors.

To repair all that damage each floor (in turn) tenants will be required to relocate for a minimum of 12-15 days in August, September, maybe October, depending on when they begin and what floor they're on. We can go where we want but those who have no place to go will be housed in a block of reserved Radisson rooms. Once we're out we cannot return for anything until they tell us to come back.

There's some good news and bad news about this.

the Bad:
- Some projections indicate COVID will be peaking during that time. So not a good time for anyone to be living in a corridored motel setup.
- There is excitement here about it being like a staycation with a swimming pool, weight room, free breakfast in a central area. No covid hygiene for them, just play play play. (I have a bad feeling about what they're going to bring back to the building)
- All other meals must be purchased and I don't think that Raddison has a restaurant so I would, what, walk to a restaurant a couple times a day? I have no car. I have no restaurant priced eating $$ either.
- The rooms have a coffee pot, microwave, and tiny fridge. (I'll have to bring microwavable dishes. Plus utensils)
- The rooms are 120 ft².
- I don't have the $$ to tip the housekeepers to stay on their good side and keep them from ratting on me about cooking in the room.
- My preps back in my apartment will be vulnerable to discovery during that time. Workers and management will be in and out at will while repairing. Which totally sucks.



the Good:
- I just learned to cook on my sterno Inferno so I can cook rice, pasta, quinao, lentils, eggs on it. 👍
- My rolling INCH bag is 'built'. All I need do is remove some stuff for room to load it for a two week stay where I have to carry in everything I'll want for a type of two+ week quarantine. Including enough sterno. Or a two week camp-in that has electricity.
- I have one of those close-up cloth rolling shopping carriers I can fill with canned foods, powdered milk, instant potatoes & oatmeal, nuts, basic spices, etc. to sneak in and live on.
- I have a bunch of disposable plastic containers for food storage in the tiny fridge. And paper plates, napkins, paper towels.
- I have plenty of grocery bags to take for the garbage from two weeks of canned foods, paper plates, napkins, paper towels, and stuff each middle of the night because that's when I'm awake.
- I have the box my keyboard came in so it goes with me.
- Those without transportation will be moved by the management vehicles.



To sum it up, I'm going to bug-in in a 120 ft² room for two weeks and try to not get caught playing with my sterno Inferno.

[flybynight]

I'd ditch the inferno for this trip. Hotels  tend to freak out over guests using open flame cooking apparatus in their rooms.
Get a one burner hot plate.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Single-Black-Burner/53264468?wmlspartner=wmtlabs&adid=22222222222000000000&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=10352200394&wl4=pla-1103028060075:aud-807612879&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=&wl10=Walmart&wl11=Online&wl12=53264468_0&wl14=ONE%20BURNER%20HOT%20PLATE&veh=sem&gclid=5e0800c5a09316ebf7e361c61c5ca94a&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=5e0800c5a09316ebf7e361c61c5ca94a

On the plus side you won't be using up your sterno supplies and won"t have to pay the electric bill.


ETA just noticed the WM link shows OOS.

https://www.amazon.com/ESB-300X-Countertop-Portable-Electric-Temperature/dp/B0006A2ZTS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=one%2Bburner%2Bhot%2Bplate&qid=1627639602&refinements=p_36%3A1253523011&rnid=386465011&s=home-garden&sr=1-1&th=1

[MPMalloy]

I'd ditch the inferno for this trip. Hotels  tend to freak out over guests using open flame cooking apparatus in their rooms.  Get a one burner hot plate:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Single-Black-Burner/53264468?wmlspartner=wmtlabs&adid=22222222222000000000&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=10352200394&wl4=pla-1103028060075:aud-807612879&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=&wl10=Walmart&wl11=Online&wl12=53264468_0&wl14=ONE%20BURNER%20HOT%20PLATE&veh=sem&gclid=5e0800c5a09316ebf7e361c61c5ca94a&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=5e0800c5a09316ebf7e361c61c5ca94a

On the plus side you won't be using up your sterno supplies and won"t have to pay the electric bill.


ETA just noticed the WM link shows OOS.

https://www.amazon.com/ESB-300X-Countertop-Portable-Electric-Temperature/dp/B0006A2ZTS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=one%2Bburner%2Bhot%2Bplate&qid=1627639602&refinements=p_36%3A1253523011&rnid=386465011&s=home-garden&sr=1-1&th=1

I strongly second the no-open-flames thingy

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five Star feedback and advice

I desire, 'need', and gratefully embrace feedback like this.

I will get the burner and leave the Inferno and sterno at home.

[MPMalloy]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five Star feedback and advice

I desire, 'need', and gratefully embrace feedback like this.

I will get the burner and leave the Inferno and sterno at home.

I never needed a large plate myself.

[sheddi]

We had a bit of a fire in March. Roof. Contractors. No fire damage to residences. However, a lot of water damage on many floors.

To repair all that damage each floor (in turn) tenants will be required to relocate for a minimum of 12-15 days in August, September, maybe October, depending on when they begin and what floor they're on. We can go where we want but those who have no place to go will be housed in a block of reserved Raddison rooms. Once we're out we cannot return for anything until they tell us to come back.

...

To sum it up, I'm going to bug-in in a 120 ft² room for two weeks and try to not get caught playing with my sterno Inferno.

Ever, you got this. There's no-one in your entire apartment block better prepared. It's a two-week mock bugout with A/C and breakfast

I'm definitely not a road warrior (do we have any here?) but I've done two weeks in a hotel now and again. It's not difficult but can be boring; I usually catch up with my ebook reading list and watch a lot of Amazon Prime.

I've got a microwave soup bowl like this one on Amazon although mine came from Poundland (a "dollar store" equivalent). It's big enough for any single meal.

Between that, the inclusive breakfast and the fridge / microwave / coffee machine you should be comfortable enough.

PS if you're feeling adventurous you can cook stuff in a coffee machine (although some hotels have switched to Keurig machines which are a lot less use):
https://www.kitchensanity.com/coffee/cooking-food-in-a-coffee-maker-101/

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I don't know if they still make these or not, but awhile back Campbell's made versions of their soups you could make with a Keurig or Keurig type coffee maker.

Basically it was a little K cup with broth you put in a Keurig, put a dry soup mix (the one I most commonly saw was chicken noodle soup, but there were two or three other varieties) in a mug and use the Keurig like you normally would.

The hot water from the Keurig would heat up the broth and then pour into the mug of dry mix. A quick stir and you'd have a hot mug of soup.

I never personally tried them, but that's mostly because I didn't have a Keurig at the time I saw these things on the shelves.

Ever, if you've got a Big Lots or a Dollar Tree nearby, you may see if they've got anything like that. Big Lots seems to be a gold mine for odd or obscure foodstuffs.

At least the ones in my AO are. My best find was some Orange Crush soda flavored Pop Tarts. Had I known these were a limited time thing, I'd have bought every box the store had.

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

👍 on the suggestions.
Cooking in a coffee pot. She does her pancakes on the coffee pot warmer. LOL

Making soup in a Keurig type coffee maker.

Microwave safe bowls.

Big Lots, Dollarstore, Poundland.

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

This, as sheddi rightly surmised, is my all-in-one Get Out bag, my I'm Never Coming Home bag, and my Bug-out bag, because the thing is I can't carry much of anything and even my original GO backpack was a school rolling backpack because of the weight which when tested was though lighter in weight was less stable and maneuverable going fast down flights of stairs than this one has turned out to be.

Plus there's a probability there's no vehicle waiting for me to jump into and drive away so I'm on foot when I do 'get out'. And this will stand up to debris and across dirt/grass/rocky areas. Even a rolling piece of backpack luggage wouldn't hold up long with those conditions. It can be broken down into its separate pieces if a ride is found, then reassemble.

So until I get a better idea this is it, my all-in-one on a luggage carrier. Which has a full length bag that fits over it when I get out to mute all details underneath, hopefully to look more like a bag lady than something desirable at first glance. As well as for inclimate weather.

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

I've now been told there may be a possible time revision as they move repairs down the floors due to less water damage to repair. Top floor has multiple apartments that are having to movr out everything they own before remediation can begin. It's a nightmare for management and tenants alike.

My floor is two below top so management's current thinking is each following floor may go quicker, but to plan on longer just in case.

We have tenants with family in town who will go there. We have tenants who will be in the Radisson that have cars and $$ who can eat out or order in twice a day.

Tenants with no car but $$ for ordering in.

And tenants with no cars or $$ who are told to brinh everything they can think of they'll need, including all food. Which means me. They have several hundred boxes to use if needed, and they will haul there and back.

But at this point I think I can get everything including canned goods in this updated bug-out set up. Which they will haul there and back.

• The middle red bag is a rolling shopping bag I acquired lightly used some years back, just because it was free. Looked like it could be useful somewhere, sometime.
• The left stack is on a luggage carrier almost identical to mine my own on the right. Which management has loaned me to use during the move from now through return & unpack.
• Each attached piece seen is attached to dolly and each other with 3/4" velcro wraps cut to size, and can be disassembled, removed, replaced, or restructured at will.

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

And my keyboard in it's original box which someone with a car has offered to transport for me.

[SCBrian]

👍 on the suggestions.
Cooking in a coffee pot. She does her pancakes on the coffee pot warmer. LOL

Making soup in a Keurig type coffee maker.

Microwave safe bowls.

Big Lots, Dollarstore, Poundland.

In all seriousness, let me know if you need help with a menu or suggestions.  I've cooked for 1 with no gear in the woods all the way up to 900 on a daily basis in a commercial kitchen.  All I need to know is equipement $$ amount and food allergies 

[majorhavoc]

First things first: What Ever is experiencing is a real bug out.  There's nothing "mock" about it.  Everyone at some point in their lives will face their own personal disaster, large or small.  The idea that one only needs to prep for TEOTWAWKI, or that bugging out must involve an epic overland trek to some remote location, just isn't reality.  In fact, it gets in the way of understanding the importance of a BOB, go bag, etc.  These kinds of preps aren't just for doomsday scenarios; they're also for the occasional setbacks and challenges we all encounter (AKA: "Life").

Being forced to temporarily abandon your home due to a building fire is absolutely a true, real-life bug out.  So, the lessons Ever learns and shares with us about this experience are absolutely legitimate and valuable.

RE: living in a hotel.
Count the number of doors between you and the nearest fire exit.  This is something you should do anytime you're staying in a hotel, regardless of the circumstances.  In the event of a fire/total power failure, it'll allow you to quickly and reliably locate the way out in low/no-visibility situations.

I know you listed it in the "Bad" section of your original post due to potential COVID exposure, but take advantage of the hotel facilities if you can.  As Sheddi pointed out, being holed up in your hotel room can get pretty boring.  And spending too much time in your own head is never a good thing during stressful situations.  If you can do so safely, use the guest amenities and common areas to keep your morale up.  That's important in a disaster situation – it helps you be more emotionally resilient.

In other words, make the best of it.  At the very least, it's a break from your routine and you have an enthusiastic and engaged audience for your sit-reps.

[majorhavoc]

RE: money issues.
1)  Contact your local office of the American Red Cross.  Besides blood drives, helping people displaced by fire and floods is one of the most common things ARC does.  They may be able to hook you up with resources including financial assistance.
2) Don't be bashful about grabbing extra food from those hotel breakfasts to stash in your mini fridge.  I'm shameless when I stay in a hotel.  Fruit, yogurt, juice, those cute single serve cereal bowls and even DIY egg and bacon sandwiches wrapped in a paper napkin have been known to follow me back to my room.
3) It couldn't hurt to reach out to building management and inquire about filing a claim for your extra costs with the contractor's liability insurer.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
4) When you get a clearer idea of when your floor will be required to vacate, try to suspend some of your home services (cable, internet) while you're staying at the hotel.  It might save you a few dollars and help go towards those housekeeping tips.

RE: Leaving your apartment unattended. 
If you don't already have a detailed inventory of your household possessions, at least take copious cellphone pictures of every room, corner and closet.  If something is disturbed or missing upon your return, that could be evidence of prior ownership.

RE: your rolling bug out bags. 
Bloody brilliant, especially rolling luggage carriers with pull-over outer bag/rain cover.  Is that a coiled bicycle lock I see on one of your bags?  Smart.  I want more pictures and an after-action report on how that worked out for you.  I know you have mobility issues, but do you plan on using one of them during your hotel bugout to walk to a store for a supply run?  FYI: If the mood strikes you, look up the Bug Out Cart thread on the old ZS forums.

RE: Transportation. 
You said building management will get you and your bug out kit to/from the hotel.  You also mentioned that you know someone with a car who can transport your keyboard.  Is this someone who also lives in the building?  Whoever they are, nurture that relationship.  Now would be a good time to discuss with that person their being your emergency transport should the need arise again.    Even if they're cool to the idea of making a firm commitment, it'll put you and your circumstances on their radar in case disaster strikes again.

RE: Hot plate vs Sterno Inferno. 
+1 on the hot plate for all the reasons already stated.  You've got electricity, take advantage of it.  In the spirit of adventurous cooking ideas, do you have a George Foreman Grill?  I read a fascinating article once that a large and unexpected market for George Foreman Grills is made up of people who are housing insecure.  It's a highly portable way to prepare hot meals without access to a kitchen or even a pot or pan.  The article said there's an extensive oral knowledge base out there of gonzo recipes developed specifically for the Foreman grill.  Apparently, you can do a lot more with one than make grilled cheese sandwiches.  (Although really, who doesn't like a grilled cheese sandwich?  Everyone does.  That's why it's called 'grilled cheese sandwich')   

[lurkedthere]

Don't forget the dish washing soap!

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

Being forced to temporarily abandon your home due to a building fire is absolutely a true, real-life bug out.  So, the lessons Ever learns and shares with us about this experience are absolutely legitimate and valuable.

RE: living in a hotel.
Count the number of doors between you and the nearest fire exit. 

In the event of a fire/total power failure, it'll allow you to quickly and reliably locate the way out in low/no-visibility situations.

I know you listed it in the "Bad" section of your original post due to potential COVID exposure, but take advantage of the hotel facilities if you can.  As Sheddi pointed out, being holed up in your hotel room can get pretty boring.  And spending too much time in your own head is never a good thing during stressful situations. 

If you can do so safely, use the guest amenities and common areas to keep your morale up.  That's important in a disaster situation – it helps you be more emotionally resilient.

In other words, make the best of it.  At the very least, it's a break from your routine and you have an enthusiastic and engaged audience for your sit-reps.

Advice heard and taken.

• I will count the number of doors to the nearest exit. I will have a plan. I will have COVID hands and face gear ready to don at first alert, flashlight ready, main bags always ready to zip & run.


• Being imunocompromised and a day sleeper I will request accommodations:
  - I will request using the facilities in the middle of the night.
  
  Housekeeping
  - I will request all emplyees entering my room to wear a mask.
  - I will request enough sheets & pillow cases as well as towels and washcloths to last my stay,  in my room from the day I check in.
  - I will clean and disinfect my own quarters.
  - I will request enough TP & trash bags & soap for my entire stay, in my room the day of my arrival.
  - This will reduce housekeeping entrance down twice weekly vacuuming during which I climb back in bed with ear plugs and return to sleep when they shut the door behind them.
  - I will invite management to do a twice weekly middle of the night quick inspection wearing a mask if they need that to feel comfortable about me and my housekeeping of their room.
  - I will remove my own trash daily... in the middle of the night.
  - I will bring used towels, washcloths, and bedding to the desk or wherever they wish me to take it... in the middle of the night.

The housekeeping will help keep me active part of my time so I'm not just sitting, talking, typing, watching TV, or reading.

And I will feel safer in a rampant Delta COVOD situation by not mixing with travelers from who knows where, and most of my floor who think COVID ended last month.

If they allow me to swim in the middle of the night I will!

If they allow me use of the patio fire pit in the middle of the night I will!

If they don't... at least I can say I gave it a shot and this thread will have feedback on the Radisson chain.

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

hmm...
Have re-thunk using their public pool.

From the CDC:
More than 1 in 5 (21.6%) of American adults do not know swimming while ill with diarrhea can heavily contaminate water in which we swim and make other swimmers sick.

the Mayo Clinic:
Crypto infections can result from ingesting the one-celled parasite; after the parasite has made its way to your intestinal track, it likes to make its home in the walls of your intestines, at which point it begins producing more cells and releasing them into your feces. How exactly does one ingest Cryptosporidium, you ask? Any number of ways, one of which is — you guessed it — swimming in contaminated water and accidentally swallowing it. You can also end up with Crypto in your guts after touching something that's been contaminated and then putting your hand to your mouth. Indeed, the CDC notes that Crypto is particularly tough to eradicate; chlorine doesn't necessarily kill it, and it can survive up to 10 days even in treated water.


Among the many studies on swimming pool water to choose from, so, nah, the swimming pool is not for me at this particular time.

Dang and drat.

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

Don't forget the dish washing soap!

Good call, lurkedthere! Now on my list

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

In all seriousness, let me know if you need help with a menu or suggestions.  I've cooked for 1 with no gear in the woods all the way up to 900 on a daily basis in a commercial kitchen.  All I need to know is equipement $$ amount and food allergies 

Willingly and happily accepted!

I have an offer to take me to the Radisson at 8am to get a look at the fridge and maybe the room. Then I'll get better knowledge about how to set us a cooking and washing station outside of the inclosed toilet area. (with it's aerosoling of flushed matter)

I have a chocolate allergy and the tiniest number of food items I don't like. None of which I will have available anyway.  Sugar, both white and brown screw with me so they're off the table. I sweeten with dried fruits or ufiltered honey when necessary. Have to drink lactose free milk and on any given week I will drink a gallon and a half.

At first glance...
Protein will come from canned chicken and salmon. I will also bring quinoa and lentils. And peanut butter.

Carbs will be pastas, white rice, oats, canned sweet & whte potatoes, and instant potatoes. I often eat oatmeal seasoned like potatoes. Or with red pepper.

Veggies for you to choose from will be canned okra, green beans, peas, spinach, asparagus, tomatoes, roasted tomatoes, tomatoes and jalapenos, lima beans, and carrots. Plus dehydrated onions & spinach.

Fruits to choose from are canned peaches & pears, dehydrated apple slices, raisins, dried cranberries & dates.

Nuts to choose from are peanuts, cashews, walnuts, almonds, and pecans.

A little colby cheese and lots of shaker parmesean.

How the fridge/freezer turns out will determine how much milk and frozen scrambled eggs I can bring. I will pack the fridge with lactose free milk if I can and the tiny freezer with frozen srambled eggs. And the scrambled eggs can be part of something else if desired.

I have couscous and instant refried beans.

Canned beans are pinto, northern, black.

My taste in spices leans toward Heavily spiced. Hot is no problem. Heavy curry no problem. Heavy dill, again no problem.  Garlic, lay it on. Pepper, red or black, yum. Chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, no issues there. Odd mixes of herbs and spices are like candy to me so go bold, get as wild as you want.

I use olive oil almost exclusively and very little butter and cheese. (lactose intollerant)

At first lance.

But I do not like licorice in any shape or form.


I'm still debating on my confidence of partaking in the offered breakfast, even to grab and go, because it's a small area, are the cooks gloved and wearing masks? How many people will be there at the same time?

Say, I can probably see it being served when I go to the Radisson in a couple of hours!

I generally eat breakfast around 4pm anyway because I stay up all night now and sleep all day.

Grouped food dishes will generally be easier to cook and clean up in the room I think. As opposed servings of different dishes. But that's just a thought and you might have a better idea.

But I do enjoy breakfast heavy on the protein, lunch heavy on  the veggies, and dinner heavy on the starches.  But I'm not married to that regime so go for it how You see it. I'm open.

And thank you in advance for any ideas you come up with!

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

Ever, you got this. There's no-one in your entire apartment block better prepared.

🆗!