The purchase of heating oil achieved a surprising ten thousand five hundred litres quite rapidly which was again distributed to the site using the fuel transporter and a very large number of twenty five litre containers. These containers would prove useful later. During this period, almost up to the day of the disaster, smaller purchases and actual theft of small amounts of diesel and heating oil, from empty homes, allowed us to accumulate about three thousand additional litres using the services of all the members of the group. Theft only occurred from homes that had been evacuated by persons going to stay with distant relatives and friends who had been known to our group prior to their evacuation to the shelter. The latter amounts were small but we wasted nothing.
Towards the end of the waiting period the distribution of fuel was initially rationed and then became almost non existent to the public during the final few weeks. Our work in this area, however, resulted in a total of well over our original objective, a considerable quantity of lubricating oils of all types and grease with an additional one thousand two hundred and fifty litres of petrol (stored outside the shelter in our external underground stores - this amount was later increased to over two thousand five hundred litres)
During the late pre impact period we obtained some additional diesel from various sources described later. We also obtained over eight tons of coal, of various qualities, for use in the future steam engines. This was stored in sacks in the house as we would not use it during the early period and it would not be greatly harmed by being outside the shelter unless the blast in our position was considerable above our expectations.
Additional equipment was obtained from various sources. Of great importance to us was the planned purchase of six, suitable, very efficient, same model single phase, slow running (for improved engine life), four kilowatt diesel (capable of using the diesel fuel available to continuously generate a planned load of three kilowatts for fourteen hours a day using about fifteen litres of diesel) generators and four efficient, same model, small, petrol generators (about one kilowatt four stroke) together with a considerable quantity of spares sufficient, we hoped, to keep all our generators functioning during our period in the shelter. Having multiple copies of the same model simplified maintenance and the holding of spare parts.
We obtained several additional non standard generators from within the “original group”. One of these generators was a fifteen kW diesel monster taken from the builder’s yard. This item we stored and protected, using some of our plastic, in an outbuilding as, although we were unlikely to use such an extravagance, it was an asset and would therefore be preserved.
Additionally we stored several small capacity four stroke petrol motorcycles (removing, where necessary, all water from radiators and cylinders to protect them) with any spares we could obtain; all these had been pre-owned by our guests. These we intended as future medium distance transport. They were stored in the shelter to protect their electronics from the possible EMP.
The use of fuel cell systems was rejected due to maintenance problems. None of the “original group” had the highly specialized knowledge, or equipment, to maintain such efficient units. We were tempted but it was considered an investment too far.
In addition to our two very efficient three hundred amp hour fifty volt batteries we obtained a three hundred amp hour, very modern, fifty volt capacitor battery together with its charging and distribution system. This unit was protected against limited flooding and was stored, on the floor, in the food extension area. For all these units we considered that we had sufficient expertise and material to maintain and even to build or restore lead acid units as necessary.
An important requirement, for the shelter, was a reliable means of long term time measurement large enough to be seen from about five meters in a low light environment. Great accuracy was not required in the early to medium term. Unfortunately electronic measurement of time would not be sustainable after the medium term when the high technology batteries ran out or the items themselves ceased to function. Maintenance expertise or parts were not within the scope of our initial residents hence repair was not an option. We would use them while we had them but on failure the units would be stored externally rather than discarded.
We would then have to rely on mechanical (clockwork) or electromechanical units. It was, therefore, necessary to obtain as many antique, windup, grandfather and grandmother clocks as was possible. In addition we were fortunate enough to obtain some rather nice, antique, windup, wrist and pocket watches together with several mechanical and electromechanical clocks. We would have to learn to maintain these items so we made a special effort, during the pre impact days, to obtain related books, small screwdriver sets and other specialized clock maintenance items. We also made a point of obtaining as many batteries as possible for the modern electronic timepieces so that these items might still be available into the early medium term or, with luck, beyond our shelter incarceration.
The obtaining of as many full gas cylinders as possible, both camping and household, with suitable equipment for their use, was set in hand early. These were required that we might have sufficient quantity available to provide a medium term facility thus reducing our dependency on our diesel stocks.
We obtained several solar panels with the necessary DC power distribution and deep cycle battery systems; eight tiny (rotor blades up to a meter), four small (rotor blades up to four meters) and three large (rotor blades greater than four meters) wind generators from companies, houses and boats. The small and larger wind generators were dismantled to get then into the shelter. They were stored in this form as blast and the possible EMP might have destroyed them in the open and their use would have drawn unwanted attention to our shelter.
From the farming group we obtained some chemical fertilizer and pesticide that had been left by the previous farm owner. This was stored in the house though we hoped to be able to produce most, if not all, of our future food without such support. We stored the fertilizer, due to its availability noting that it should not therefore be wasted, but it would only be a short term option as it was produced from oil.
The farm had a small, antique combine harvester and two same period, light, horse carts that the farmers had been restoring for their pleasure. These were now potentially valuable tools and were stored in the shelter; the large access door to the shelter having then been designed with the harvester in mind. Due to the height of the shelter roof some of the upper harvester elements had to be carefully dismantled and, due to its length, the shafts and bale deliverer had to be removed. With the harvester, as a model, we decided to produce another example while we were in the shelter; we expected to have plenty of time. By using such units we hoped to reduce our agricultural effort to a maximum of twenty percent of our working personnel; except during peak harvesting periods when we would require some additional personnel for the non mechanical harvesting of crops.
Finance for our purchases was obtained by re-mortgaging our homes; normally for extensions to be constructed by our builder. We knew these loans were unlikely to be repaid and maybe this could be considered as a form of theft. We, however, believed the survival of our families and, possibly, the human race were paramount and above such trivialities. If the banks sued for their money we would wait for any documents they might send. We could, of course, claim that the money loaned to us existed only in our loan note and no consideration had been provided by the bank. In that case any claim by the bank would have had dubious validity. This, fortunately, refers to a previous time and would not be allowed in our new world where private retail banks would be considered parasitic, dangerous and therefore banned. All retail banking would be national assets.
The purchase of long term food was considered most important and many thousands of tins were purchased. This food type was obtained indiscriminately in relatively small amounts (a very full supermarket trolley also containing these and other elements of a family shop – Tampons, toilet paper {normally mildly humidified version in r
ectangular packets for storage}, candles, shampoo etc.) from as many different sources as possible using, again, our multiple credit cards and, where available and acceptable, cash; to avoid suspicion. In those early days, prior to information of the expected impact being generally available, this did not present us with any problems and some even enjoyed the profligacy. Some of our food etc. was purchased from wholesalers as two of our guests owned retail shops and had the necessary recognition cubes. Here we could purchase a full van load of commercially packaged food and other provisions without exciting notice. This possibility greatly increased our store of such valuable commodities.
To understand some of our major problems such luxury items as toilet paper (rather more than one thousand five hundred twelve roll cartons were largely purchased early from two manufacturers being roughly five leaves a day individual) took a huge amount of space, even when compressed. These had to be protected in airtight sacks to avoid their tendency to dry out in storage. Fortunately this was a material that most families brought as part of their personal luxury element stored in their shelter homes. Most of this family store was of humidified soft tissue variety being more comfortable and, being square, taking less space
Similarly Tampons and pads for the ladies incurred similar problems, required overall less space but similar protection; the airtight storage bags for these items being treated with oxygen absorbing tablets to prevent bacterial infestation. Alternative solutions were considered but the morale of the inmates during our incarceration was considered paramount and the necessary space and purchase effort was unanimous accepted. Most families also stored some of this material as part of their luxury home stored element.
We purchased a very large quantity of uncut, full fat, hard cheeses (which was immediately, if necessary, waxed) and as much virgin olive oil as we could obtain from the manufacturers. Some of our future guests had olive groves with simple exchange agreements with the oil producing factories. This helped us obtain our requirement of this commodity so having such connections proved helpful.
Later food was rationed and further accumulation became problematical. As it was rationed by the government, the servants of the people, a valid question might have been where were these reserves stored for the maintenance of the people? We contemplated asking these questions but considered the potential retaliation could have been dangerous to our survival and, in any case, the question was, at that stage, pointless.
The purchase of dried foods, including meat, fish, pasta and fruit, was undertaken at the same time as the purchase of three hundred and eighty five units of various quality Jamon and the bulk purchase of three tons of sugar (Storage, alcohol and food), a lot of children’s sweets with a large quantity of bar chocolate and two and a half tons of salt in waterproof plastic bags (multi use material for food and storage which would be difficult to obtain in our physical position after the event) with reasonable quantities of pepper, rosemary, curry powder and other dried herbs, similarly stored, for seasoning our food.
With respect to the Jamon we took care to separate long lasting, and considerably more expensive, from that to be immediately available. The long lasting Jamon would have been dry cured, specially salted and carefully drained of blood allowing the Jamon to last and develop a richer flavour. The ordinary Jamon could be aged only a few years. Jamon Iberico of four to five years, however, remains very good and will stay in good condition for several additional years though later the fat will oxidize and the taste might change. Even later the meat will harden but having been properly cured it could be expected to remain safe to eat. We were aiming for a ten year lifetime and expected the material, properly managed, to provide us with a sustainable amount of this dietary element for that period.
Through the maintenance of considerable efforts, by all concerned, we managed to achieve considerably more than our minimum food requirement for eight years; this being both a surprise and a relief. We hoped, therefore, to increase our little band after the disaster and even made arrangements to increase the number of inmates before the impact where this could be achieved within an acceptable risk scenario whilst maintaining our basic health requirements.
Our food reserve was further supplemented by the addition of wheat, beans and the other dried food we had previously obtained. We also made a point of purchasing combs, scissors, razors, razorblades even nail cutters. We even managed to obtain several cutthroat razors with their sharpening strops which we were surprised to find were still available. The cutthroat razors would outlast the ordinary blades so they were gratefully received by everyone who would use them.
Another item that had to be considered was water storage bottles. We arranged that all guests would store their empty five litre and larger plastic water bottles and to supplement this facility we brought several additional twenty five litre bottles (we already had a number of these units but having been used for fuel transfer they could, initially, only be used for waste water), both metal and plastic to supplement what we had. We arranged a storage area for these units consisting of wooden shelves mainly in the house but also in the sump and food storage areas.
Obtaining critical additional personnel was sometimes a simple process but in other cases unexpectedly problematical. In all cases we first looked for those close friends who had the required skills being those we could trust and who would reciprocate by trusting us in the important matter of their survival. Through this means we obtained more than the required number of teachers within the family of our friends having a specialized required expertise. The teachers would develop the future of our planned civilization and were, therefore, most important if technologically non productive; though they would all perform their allotted time as cleaners and other general tasks.
The electrician, Fabio Fernandez, wife Felisa and sons Felipe 14 and Mano 10. The plumber, Diego Sanchez, wife Dani, Daughter Danita 14 and son Danilo 12. A motor mechanic with knowledge of diesel generators Jesus Ramos, wife Paloma and daughters Susana 13 and Nina 11. These were obtained within the builders company for three units of housing for the twelve members of their families.
This was beneficial in its simplicity as these experts were involved in both the building of the shelter and then the initial setting up of our basic accommodation. They would undoubtedly have realized the intent of the shelter when the impact information became generally available and would then, presumably, have forcibly requested accommodation within the shelter. Rejection, at that stage, would have been foolish and dangerous with any alternative options being unacceptable to us all. These persons would be valuably as maintenance individuals whilst protected in our shelter and when we returned to the external world they would be available to repair impact damaged homes for our people. For these reasons we had to take a risk and they were all advised of the situation soon after they started work oh the site.
Being advised of the situation and involved early in the planning we hoped, and this also proved valid, that they would work to the best of their ability to ensure an excellent structure within the irresistible timescale. The risk of information spread was considered but we had little choice and, in my opinion, our decision was by far the best option; especially from our current viewpoint; it had worked.
The doctor, Jorge, whose wife, Celeste, was a qualified nurse, and the dentist, Carla, with two children, Belinda 9 and Cristal 6, were obtained by personnel association with a dental technician, Fabio2. Though dental bridgework and caps would have to wait for some time; false teeth could become a requirement at any time and would be beneficial to the morale of the recipient. In addition such expertise could become important in the case of accidents and he certainly proved beneficial to his associates. He brought with him a considerable quantity of material related to his profession being very useful items which again, in our ignorance, we had not previously considered.
The obtaining of two very old, electrically powered, cord driven, dental drills from the store of the dental surgery were items of occasional, g
reat benefit while in the shelter. To restore them took many hours of hard work and study by several technically, related to the equipment, incompetent personnel. Once working satisfactorily they were modified, by us, to be powered, if required, by manual effort.
Only one was installed the other being available as a replacement or, if necessary, for spares. These old dentist drills were much less comfortable, for their patients, than the modern air drills but performed their allotted tasks acceptably and were easily maintainable with our available facilities. A large number of drill bits came with the dentists. These were necessary as we would be unable to create such quality material for some years. The dentist, therefore, obtained as many additional drill bits as possible and until now, ten years after the event, we have not suffered a shortage of these basic items and should not do so in the foreseeable future. The air drills were rejected for use in the shelter being, from our point of view, less energy efficient and more difficult to install and maintain. We obtained two modern air drills but while in the shelter they were carefully stored and maintained by technically amateur technicians but never used.
A dental chair was installed some time later as it would not be required, by the dentist, until after the impact. This unit was modified to be functionally manual rather than electrical, to meet our energy criteria, and we received no complaints. At the time of the dental chair installation a second chair was obtained from somewhere and placed in storage; also in the shelter. The dental lighting was set up as directed by the dentist. This was not up to her normal standards but she was satisfied and, when required, her work was excellent.
Our asteroid survival: A fictitional history of the ten year survival of a large ELE asteroid impact by a small, pre advised, group Page 5