I don't know him, but I do know the architect that was helping to to redesign that place. The guy built the "Bunker" stuff completely off grid. No permits, no structural engineers, no nothing. They will have to get the entire structure evaluated and repaired before it can be used again. I am...
Spas & smokey are right. Without knowing the brands of all the individual components you dont know what you get for your money. Is it a Maxpedition bag or a joe shmo china brand. Double or single stitched. You can look around and several websites and get a good list of things that you should...
https://wavianusa.com/
These are the only way to go if you want Jerry Cans. I have them and they are great. They are more expensive than all the others you are talking about, but I store mine with sta-bil for years and no problems.
They also have smaller cans for gas oil mix, and water cans...
This guy usually has a ton of them. They will have had some kind of syrup in them, but they are food grade and can be cleaned easily.
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/hsh/5667539513.html
You CAN use 550 cord. I have done it. I go about 250lbs. You just have to double up the strands. (Actually 1 strand did work, but I was nervous) Now I did this as a test with a back up rope, but I would now trust my life to it in the right situation. My recommendation is not to go very fast...
I have been prepping ever since New Orleans went to hell in 3 days. While I do worry about foreign policy, I think most of our problems are right here in our own borders. Most people are just not well prepared for any type of emergency, whether its an unexpected snow storm (Read Snowmaggedon)...
I always have a copy of the SAS survival handbook in my bag. Has come in handy a few times. But as others have said. Practice makes perfect. Took me 3 hours to make fire the first time I tried, now I can do it in a few seconds or minutes depending on the method...