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33 Essential Foods to Stock PilePat Bellew http://www.askaprepper.com
There are many schools of thought on what should be stock piled in the event of a disaster or prolonged period of social disruption or societal collapse. It is hard to say with complete authority what “The best” foods are. This will depend on a number of factors, such as storage space, number of people to be fed, availability of water for preparation, availability of a means to cook foods or heat water, and the list goes on. There are however some standards that can guide pretty much anyone in the right direction. Just be certain that whatever you store, it provides enough calories, a dietary proper balance, vitamins, minerals, and fats. Remember, a crisis has a way of creating situations that will increase your caloric requirements, and that will tax your immune system and electrolyte balance.
When I am going through a grocery store gathering survival food, I get some strange looks from people close enough to hear me muttering under my breath as I discount items. Phrases like “not enough calories”, “needs more fat”, not enough carbs”, and the like roll off my tongue frequently. The truth of the matter is that what we consider to be a healthy diet in normal times is probably inadequate in a high stress, very active, crisis situation. There is a reason we like carbs, and fats, and sugars, and that reason is our body needs these things. The human palate developed in times when being physically active and dealing with life threatening events was the norm, and when a steady supply of food was not a guarantee. Hence the urge to get all we can when we can, which leads to rampant obesity in modern sedentary times but is adaptive to survival in harder times.
So, here is my list of indispensable foods to store in quantity for hard times. I have tried to take into account caloric as well as nutritional content, ease of storage, shelf life, and the intangible of enjoyable to eat. Let’s face it, it doesn’t have to taste good to keep you alive, but it does to keep you happy! Never underestimate the power of a good tasty meal to make things seem better, and never underestimate the power of a positive outlook to help survive in hard conditions!
1. Bulk Dry Goods
Bulk dry goods are a great way to put in a large supply of staples. They should be stored in oxygen purged, food grade buckets with a Mylar bucket liner and O2 absorber for best storage life.
Be aware that some of these, like whole grains, require some processing in order to make the best use of them. So, if you are going to stock things that require processing, be certain to have the tools and equipment required to do the work!
Oatmeal is great stuff! Filling and nutritious, and economical! It is also pretty darn tasty, and if you have some add ons it is easy to dress up for variety.
I like to purchase it in sealed 5 gallon buckets, which yield about 22 servings per bucket. Even with 6 of us in the house each bucket provides a month’s worth of breakfasts. These buckets can be found on EBay, or you can repackage yourself.
Rice. This is an old standby. It can form the base of many tasty and nutritious meals. Be aware that although it requires no processing, it does require quite a bit of water to cook. It is most economical to buy rice in 40 lb bags and repackage it into buckets yourself, a 5 gallon bucket will hold a 40lb bag. For a bit more you can find rice sold pre-sealed in buckets from a number of sources.
Beans. Another good staple, and when combined with your rice, some seasoning, and canned meats it makes a great meal! And don’t forget about a big pot of chili when you have meat from wild game or a butchered animal.
Beans can be bought in pre-sealed 5 gallon buckets as well, but it is more economical to buy in large bags and repackage it in buckets yourself. Get a variety of beans, Red, Black, pinto, kidney, according to your taste.
Related: 50 Days of ‘Survival’ Calories with Rice and Beans
Pastas. Good source of carbs, and a firm foundation for a variety of meals. Even more so than with rice though, be aware of the water required to cook pastas.
They can be stored in buckets, or sealed in vacuum seal food saver bags with an O2 absorber.
Grains. Grains are good for making flour or meal. Wheat and corn are the most common. Bear in mind that you will need a grain mill to process these, and I recommend a good hand mill in case power is an issue. By storing whole grains instead of flour or meal you drastically increase storage life. Again you can buy these in ore-sealed buckets, or repackage bulk purchases yourself to save money. If you want to increase the shelf life even more, you can turn them into flour and then into Hardtacks.
Related: Turning Flour into Hardtack Biscuits With Over 100 Year Shelf Life
Dried fruits. These are a great addition to your oatmeal or other dishes or just for snacking on.
They can be purchased by the bucket, or in number 10 cans form a variety of online sources. At Costco they have the #10 cans of fruit like pears or apple slices and each of these has 25 servings. 5 of these will cost about $25 and give your family their daily dose of fruit.
Related: How to Make Your Own Apple Sugar
Sugar. An infinite variety of uses, a good source of carbs and very cheap. Stock lots stored in 5 gallon buckets.
No matter if white, brown or powdered, sugar it won’t spoil (sugar inhibits microbial growth) as long as it’s stored in an airtight recipient, away from humidity and sunlight.
Honey. Honey is a great natural sweetener. If you store local honey it is also good to help combat allergies and boost the immune system. It also has first aid uses, it is a natural antibiotic salve.
Honey is one food that never spoils! Although the look of your product will change somewhat over time, it will never actually spoil. It will begin to look yellow and cloudy instead of golden and clear and will get thicker and grainy over time, eventually looking white and hard. But, it is still good. In this form, the honey may have started the process of crystallizing.
To decrystallize honey, place the sealed jar in a warm, non-boiling pot of water and heat the honey. The crystals will dissolve as the honey heats. Do not add water to the honey. This will raise the moisture content and the honey will ferment.
You can also find it in 5 gallon buckets on Amazon for $189, but my guess is that you’ll never need
2. Canned Foods
Canned foods are quick and handy. They also have a fairly substantial storage life. Do keep an eye on expiration dates, and rotate your stock.
Canned Ham. I like the ones by DAK the best, but there are other options. DAK brand makes a very good quality canned ham with a shelf life of more than 5 years (most of these canned hams have a “stated” shelf life of greater than 3 years).
Great chopped up in your beans and rice, fried with scrambled eggs, or cooked on a grill as a main course.
Canned chicken. Add variety to your protein sources. Canned chicken is great in rice dishes. In the picture you can see the Sweet Sue Canned Whole Chicken. Looks a little strange but the flavor is okay.
Related: Raise Chickens For Meat And Eggs
Canned tuna. Fish is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for many functions of your body. Oil packed tuna is also a good source of other fats and oils, which your body needs to function properly. My favorite brand is “Whatever is on sale!
Keystone canned meats. Pick your meat, they have it.
Beef, turkey, pork.
These are great tasting meats with a good storage like, they add to any meal and are an important source of protein.
Related: How To Preserve Beef in Glass Jars
Vienna Sausages. A great quick high protein snack! Also great in pasta dishes like Mac and Cheese.
These have a pull ring pop top. The ones I bought have a 3 year expiration date. I have eaten lots of things that were expired. These will still be good years after that. The Wal-Mart Great Value brand costs a little less but the Libby’s tastes better. I eat these right out of the can. I have also added them to soup and pasta. Cost: $0.50. (11 cents per oz). 40 cans for 20 dollars
Related: WalMart Prepper Food Run
Canned fruits. Tasty and full of needed vitamins. Stock a variety, your kids will thank you. Go with syrup packed products to maximize calories and carbs.
Canned vegetables. Again, a vital source of vitamins.
Unfortunately, green beans do not pack many calories. If you’re looking for the ideal veggies to stash, then think about canned root vegetables, like sweet potatoes and yams. Sweet potatoes are high in Vitamin A, plus they’re filling.
Stock a wide variety to add diversity of flavor and nutritional content. Excellent source of vitamins. Again, I prefer the “On sale” brand!
Dinty Moore canned stew. Very good stuff and a quick meal that every one is sure to enjoy.
There will be times when the rigors of the day don’t allow time for preparing a scratch meal, and the freezer and microwave won’t be options!
Related: 10 Things to Have Ready before the Huge EMP !!!
Other “Meals in a can”. Spaghetti Os. Ravioli, canned tamales, and the like are all good choices.
This has to easily be one of my favorite junk foods. It requires a can opener (non- electric for blackouts).
Stock a variety of these that appeal to your family’s tastes.
Shelf-life: 1-3 years
Related: Survival Lessons from the Old Army C-Rations
Canned Soups. Good for winter day warm ups, also good in rice and pasta dishes. Shelf-life: up to 4 years.
You’ll enjoy a bowl of Campbell’s tomato soup with lots of black pepper, accompanied by a grilled cheese sandwich.
Peanut Butter. This is a staple in my house at all times! Peanut butter is a great source of protein, and a very compact source of calories. It also provides essential fat and oil content.
It’s packed with protein and essential fatty acids, as well as contains many essential vitamins and minerals (such as copper and iron). Just a couple tablespoons a day of peanut butter can help a person survive a period of limited food intake.
3. Beverages
While drinking plain water all the time won’t harm you in the least (Its actually good for you!), variety is good for morale! There are other benefits to some beverages as well.
Sports Drink Mixes. These mixes turn ordinary water into a rapid recharge system for electrolyes lost through perspiration. Gatorade mix is great for this, and it tastes great too. Remember, in a crisis you will probably be working up a good sweat a lot more often than you do now.
Cool Aide Mix. Kids love Cool Aide! OK, who doesn’t? I like the pre-sweetened packets that make a quart each. You can store these packets in Vacuum sealed food saver bags virtually forever. A cold glass of Cool Aide in your favorite flavor provides a smile and a quick burst of sugar energy.
Coffee and Tea. I am a dedicated coffee drinker and hate the thought of a coffeeless existence! One pound vacuum sealed bricks are the most convenient way to store coffee, they stack well or can be kept in plastic totes efficiently. Tea is another good source of caffeine, and I love a cold glass of iced tea on a hot day. Remember that in a true crisis, you may have to maintain 24 hour watch, and caffeine is a big help in this.
Hot Coco Mix. A great treat for adults and kids alike, and a great way to warm up on a cold evening. Also a good sugar boost for some extra energy. Pick your favorite brand, they all have a very long storage life if you leave the packaging sealed so don’t skimp! This is another one where your kids will thank you!
Dry Milk. A good supply of powdered milk is great for cooking and baking needs, as well as for drinking.
You are going to want to have plenty on hand if you have kids. And, to go with this, have some chocolate milk mix stored up because chocolate milk is really good (you can even share it with the kids if you are a generous soul!
4. Freeze Dried Foods
Freeze dried foods can be cost prohibitive, but their long shelf life is very beneficial. I would not try to build a survival larder based solely on freeze dried foods simply due to the expense, but they do have a place.
Thrive Life Foods. This is my favorite of the freeze dried foods for one simple reason- They sell ingredients, not dishes. With this brand, you can stock up on nimber ten cans of ingredients that you use in favorite dishes. You are not constrained and can prepare the meals that your family is used too eating, cooked from your standard recipes. Unopened cans have at least a 25 year shelf life, and some items are available in 5 gallon buckets. Thrive Life foods can be found online.
5. Spices, herbs and salt
These are going to go a long way to adding a variety of flavor to your storage food meals. They have other benefits as well. There are many medicinal herbs, and they can provide an additional source of Vitamins in the diet.
6. Cooking Oil
It is important to maintain fats and oils in the diet for proper function of all body systems. This is one area where freeze dried foods fall short, so if the bulk of your food storage is mountain house or one of the other brands be sure to supplement with oils.
Coconut Oil. This is great stuff. It provides essential fat content without many of the long term health risks of other oils. Over 90% of the fatty acids in coconut oil are saturated, which makes it your best choice.
It has a long storage life, and can be purchased in sealed 5 gallon buckets. There are many non-food uses of coconut oil as well, such as lip balm, and as an ingredient in sun screen.
Related: 9 Reasons to Use Coconut Oil Daily
Deep Fryer Oil. In 5 gallon jugs, available in many formulations. You will need this for your outdoor propane fryer, for fish fries, chicken fries and the like.
Animal fats are also excellent choices for deep frying. This includes fats like lard, tallow, ghee and fat drippings. Only animal fats from naturally fed animals should be considered good choices.
7. Shelf Stable Prepared Meals
There are a wide range of these available. This is essentially the MRE category. I like the first strike Meals, these are a full day of rations in a single package, the non essentials have been stripped away and they are a pretty compact package for the content. There are a lot of options available, however, so you can pick what works for you. I don’t recommend MREs as a staple of your food storage program. Shelf life is marginal and fluctuates with temperature, they are bulky on a per calorie basis, and they are cost prohibitive. However, they are very convenient and have a place as a supplemental portion of your food storage program.
8. Seeds
If a crisis persists for a long enough period of time, it is very difficult to have an extended comprehensive food stock pile. Having the ability to grow vegetables is a great supplement to your stored foods. Be sure to have varieties that do well in your area, in your soil, and that you know how to grow. Have seeds for medicinal herbs and flavorful spices as well.
Related: The 5 Seeds That You Need to Stockpile in Your Pantry
Edible Landscaping
Edible landscaping provides another potentially important supplement to your storage foods. Instead of planting ornamental trees, plant fruit trees. Instead of ordinary shrubs, plant blueberry bushes. Fruiting vines, blackberries, and things of this nature are great to have around in the best of times, they can be life savers in the worst of times.
This is by no means an exhaustive or comprehensive list of the items available for your long term food storage program. You can tailor your program to your tastes and your budget. Remember the key elements are calories (LOTS), nutritional value (Vitamins and Minerals), storage life, storage space, and flavor. By consulting this list however, you can get a pretty good idea of how to get going on your program
There are many schools of thought on what should be stock piled in the event of a disaster or prolonged period of social disruption or societal collapse. It is hard to say with complete authority what “The best” foods are. This will depend on a number of factors, such as storage space, number of people to be fed, availability of water for preparation, availability of a means to cook foods or heat water, and the list goes on. There are however some standards that can guide pretty much anyone in the right direction. Just be certain that whatever you store, it provides enough calories, a dietary proper balance, vitamins, minerals, and fats. Remember, a crisis has a way of creating situations that will increase your caloric requirements, and that will tax your immune system and electrolyte balance.
When I am going through a grocery store gathering survival food, I get some strange looks from people close enough to hear me muttering under my breath as I discount items. Phrases like “not enough calories”, “needs more fat”, not enough carbs”, and the like roll off my tongue frequently. The truth of the matter is that what we consider to be a healthy diet in normal times is probably inadequate in a high stress, very active, crisis situation. There is a reason we like carbs, and fats, and sugars, and that reason is our body needs these things. The human palate developed in times when being physically active and dealing with life threatening events was the norm, and when a steady supply of food was not a guarantee. Hence the urge to get all we can when we can, which leads to rampant obesity in modern sedentary times but is adaptive to survival in harder times.
So, here is my list of indispensable foods to store in quantity for hard times. I have tried to take into account caloric as well as nutritional content, ease of storage, shelf life, and the intangible of enjoyable to eat. Let’s face it, it doesn’t have to taste good to keep you alive, but it does to keep you happy! Never underestimate the power of a good tasty meal to make things seem better, and never underestimate the power of a positive outlook to help survive in hard conditions!
1. Bulk Dry Goods
Bulk dry goods are a great way to put in a large supply of staples. They should be stored in oxygen purged, food grade buckets with a Mylar bucket liner and O2 absorber for best storage life.
Be aware that some of these, like whole grains, require some processing in order to make the best use of them. So, if you are going to stock things that require processing, be certain to have the tools and equipment required to do the work!
Oatmeal is great stuff! Filling and nutritious, and economical! It is also pretty darn tasty, and if you have some add ons it is easy to dress up for variety.
I like to purchase it in sealed 5 gallon buckets, which yield about 22 servings per bucket. Even with 6 of us in the house each bucket provides a month’s worth of breakfasts. These buckets can be found on EBay, or you can repackage yourself.
Rice. This is an old standby. It can form the base of many tasty and nutritious meals. Be aware that although it requires no processing, it does require quite a bit of water to cook. It is most economical to buy rice in 40 lb bags and repackage it into buckets yourself, a 5 gallon bucket will hold a 40lb bag. For a bit more you can find rice sold pre-sealed in buckets from a number of sources.
Beans. Another good staple, and when combined with your rice, some seasoning, and canned meats it makes a great meal! And don’t forget about a big pot of chili when you have meat from wild game or a butchered animal.
Beans can be bought in pre-sealed 5 gallon buckets as well, but it is more economical to buy in large bags and repackage it in buckets yourself. Get a variety of beans, Red, Black, pinto, kidney, according to your taste.
Related: 50 Days of ‘Survival’ Calories with Rice and Beans
Pastas. Good source of carbs, and a firm foundation for a variety of meals. Even more so than with rice though, be aware of the water required to cook pastas.
They can be stored in buckets, or sealed in vacuum seal food saver bags with an O2 absorber.
Grains. Grains are good for making flour or meal. Wheat and corn are the most common. Bear in mind that you will need a grain mill to process these, and I recommend a good hand mill in case power is an issue. By storing whole grains instead of flour or meal you drastically increase storage life. Again you can buy these in ore-sealed buckets, or repackage bulk purchases yourself to save money. If you want to increase the shelf life even more, you can turn them into flour and then into Hardtacks.
Related: Turning Flour into Hardtack Biscuits With Over 100 Year Shelf Life
Dried fruits. These are a great addition to your oatmeal or other dishes or just for snacking on.
They can be purchased by the bucket, or in number 10 cans form a variety of online sources. At Costco they have the #10 cans of fruit like pears or apple slices and each of these has 25 servings. 5 of these will cost about $25 and give your family their daily dose of fruit.
Related: How to Make Your Own Apple Sugar
Sugar. An infinite variety of uses, a good source of carbs and very cheap. Stock lots stored in 5 gallon buckets.
No matter if white, brown or powdered, sugar it won’t spoil (sugar inhibits microbial growth) as long as it’s stored in an airtight recipient, away from humidity and sunlight.
Honey. Honey is a great natural sweetener. If you store local honey it is also good to help combat allergies and boost the immune system. It also has first aid uses, it is a natural antibiotic salve.
Honey is one food that never spoils! Although the look of your product will change somewhat over time, it will never actually spoil. It will begin to look yellow and cloudy instead of golden and clear and will get thicker and grainy over time, eventually looking white and hard. But, it is still good. In this form, the honey may have started the process of crystallizing.
To decrystallize honey, place the sealed jar in a warm, non-boiling pot of water and heat the honey. The crystals will dissolve as the honey heats. Do not add water to the honey. This will raise the moisture content and the honey will ferment.
You can also find it in 5 gallon buckets on Amazon for $189, but my guess is that you’ll never need
2. Canned Foods
Canned foods are quick and handy. They also have a fairly substantial storage life. Do keep an eye on expiration dates, and rotate your stock.
Canned Ham. I like the ones by DAK the best, but there are other options. DAK brand makes a very good quality canned ham with a shelf life of more than 5 years (most of these canned hams have a “stated” shelf life of greater than 3 years).
Great chopped up in your beans and rice, fried with scrambled eggs, or cooked on a grill as a main course.
Canned chicken. Add variety to your protein sources. Canned chicken is great in rice dishes. In the picture you can see the Sweet Sue Canned Whole Chicken. Looks a little strange but the flavor is okay.
Related: Raise Chickens For Meat And Eggs
Canned tuna. Fish is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for many functions of your body. Oil packed tuna is also a good source of other fats and oils, which your body needs to function properly. My favorite brand is “Whatever is on sale!
Keystone canned meats. Pick your meat, they have it.
Beef, turkey, pork.
These are great tasting meats with a good storage like, they add to any meal and are an important source of protein.
Related: How To Preserve Beef in Glass Jars
Vienna Sausages. A great quick high protein snack! Also great in pasta dishes like Mac and Cheese.
These have a pull ring pop top. The ones I bought have a 3 year expiration date. I have eaten lots of things that were expired. These will still be good years after that. The Wal-Mart Great Value brand costs a little less but the Libby’s tastes better. I eat these right out of the can. I have also added them to soup and pasta. Cost: $0.50. (11 cents per oz). 40 cans for 20 dollars
Related: WalMart Prepper Food Run
Canned fruits. Tasty and full of needed vitamins. Stock a variety, your kids will thank you. Go with syrup packed products to maximize calories and carbs.
Canned vegetables. Again, a vital source of vitamins.
Unfortunately, green beans do not pack many calories. If you’re looking for the ideal veggies to stash, then think about canned root vegetables, like sweet potatoes and yams. Sweet potatoes are high in Vitamin A, plus they’re filling.
Stock a wide variety to add diversity of flavor and nutritional content. Excellent source of vitamins. Again, I prefer the “On sale” brand!
Dinty Moore canned stew. Very good stuff and a quick meal that every one is sure to enjoy.
There will be times when the rigors of the day don’t allow time for preparing a scratch meal, and the freezer and microwave won’t be options!
Related: 10 Things to Have Ready before the Huge EMP !!!
Other “Meals in a can”. Spaghetti Os. Ravioli, canned tamales, and the like are all good choices.
This has to easily be one of my favorite junk foods. It requires a can opener (non- electric for blackouts).
Stock a variety of these that appeal to your family’s tastes.
Shelf-life: 1-3 years
Related: Survival Lessons from the Old Army C-Rations
Canned Soups. Good for winter day warm ups, also good in rice and pasta dishes. Shelf-life: up to 4 years.
You’ll enjoy a bowl of Campbell’s tomato soup with lots of black pepper, accompanied by a grilled cheese sandwich.
Peanut Butter. This is a staple in my house at all times! Peanut butter is a great source of protein, and a very compact source of calories. It also provides essential fat and oil content.
It’s packed with protein and essential fatty acids, as well as contains many essential vitamins and minerals (such as copper and iron). Just a couple tablespoons a day of peanut butter can help a person survive a period of limited food intake.
3. Beverages
While drinking plain water all the time won’t harm you in the least (Its actually good for you!), variety is good for morale! There are other benefits to some beverages as well.
Sports Drink Mixes. These mixes turn ordinary water into a rapid recharge system for electrolyes lost through perspiration. Gatorade mix is great for this, and it tastes great too. Remember, in a crisis you will probably be working up a good sweat a lot more often than you do now.
Cool Aide Mix. Kids love Cool Aide! OK, who doesn’t? I like the pre-sweetened packets that make a quart each. You can store these packets in Vacuum sealed food saver bags virtually forever. A cold glass of Cool Aide in your favorite flavor provides a smile and a quick burst of sugar energy.
Coffee and Tea. I am a dedicated coffee drinker and hate the thought of a coffeeless existence! One pound vacuum sealed bricks are the most convenient way to store coffee, they stack well or can be kept in plastic totes efficiently. Tea is another good source of caffeine, and I love a cold glass of iced tea on a hot day. Remember that in a true crisis, you may have to maintain 24 hour watch, and caffeine is a big help in this.
Hot Coco Mix. A great treat for adults and kids alike, and a great way to warm up on a cold evening. Also a good sugar boost for some extra energy. Pick your favorite brand, they all have a very long storage life if you leave the packaging sealed so don’t skimp! This is another one where your kids will thank you!
Dry Milk. A good supply of powdered milk is great for cooking and baking needs, as well as for drinking.
You are going to want to have plenty on hand if you have kids. And, to go with this, have some chocolate milk mix stored up because chocolate milk is really good (you can even share it with the kids if you are a generous soul!
4. Freeze Dried Foods
Freeze dried foods can be cost prohibitive, but their long shelf life is very beneficial. I would not try to build a survival larder based solely on freeze dried foods simply due to the expense, but they do have a place.
Thrive Life Foods. This is my favorite of the freeze dried foods for one simple reason- They sell ingredients, not dishes. With this brand, you can stock up on nimber ten cans of ingredients that you use in favorite dishes. You are not constrained and can prepare the meals that your family is used too eating, cooked from your standard recipes. Unopened cans have at least a 25 year shelf life, and some items are available in 5 gallon buckets. Thrive Life foods can be found online.
5. Spices, herbs and salt
These are going to go a long way to adding a variety of flavor to your storage food meals. They have other benefits as well. There are many medicinal herbs, and they can provide an additional source of Vitamins in the diet.
- Of all the things you should stock, salt should be high on the list and stored in large quantity. In addition to its flavor enhancing properties, salt is useful in preserving meats and fishes, for home canning, to attract wild game, for the health of livestock, and more. Salt is incredibly inexpensive, and has a shelf life of “Forever”.
- Oil of oregano. This is my favorite pick for a medicinal herb. This stuff has amazing immune system benefits and antibiotic properties. We use it constantly in my house to wipe out colds and flues, it does the job every time! Capsules are the most convenient form, although you can purchase the oil and add it to beverages (Don’t expect it to taste good!)
- Stock a wide variety of spices to add flavor. Here again, I watch for sales. We like cinnamon for our oatmeal, especially in apple season. Get a lot of everything you like to use in cooking, spices have a very long shelf life if properly sealed.
6. Cooking Oil
It is important to maintain fats and oils in the diet for proper function of all body systems. This is one area where freeze dried foods fall short, so if the bulk of your food storage is mountain house or one of the other brands be sure to supplement with oils.
Coconut Oil. This is great stuff. It provides essential fat content without many of the long term health risks of other oils. Over 90% of the fatty acids in coconut oil are saturated, which makes it your best choice.
It has a long storage life, and can be purchased in sealed 5 gallon buckets. There are many non-food uses of coconut oil as well, such as lip balm, and as an ingredient in sun screen.
Related: 9 Reasons to Use Coconut Oil Daily
Deep Fryer Oil. In 5 gallon jugs, available in many formulations. You will need this for your outdoor propane fryer, for fish fries, chicken fries and the like.
Animal fats are also excellent choices for deep frying. This includes fats like lard, tallow, ghee and fat drippings. Only animal fats from naturally fed animals should be considered good choices.
7. Shelf Stable Prepared Meals
There are a wide range of these available. This is essentially the MRE category. I like the first strike Meals, these are a full day of rations in a single package, the non essentials have been stripped away and they are a pretty compact package for the content. There are a lot of options available, however, so you can pick what works for you. I don’t recommend MREs as a staple of your food storage program. Shelf life is marginal and fluctuates with temperature, they are bulky on a per calorie basis, and they are cost prohibitive. However, they are very convenient and have a place as a supplemental portion of your food storage program.
8. Seeds
If a crisis persists for a long enough period of time, it is very difficult to have an extended comprehensive food stock pile. Having the ability to grow vegetables is a great supplement to your stored foods. Be sure to have varieties that do well in your area, in your soil, and that you know how to grow. Have seeds for medicinal herbs and flavorful spices as well.
Related: The 5 Seeds That You Need to Stockpile in Your Pantry
Edible Landscaping
Edible landscaping provides another potentially important supplement to your storage foods. Instead of planting ornamental trees, plant fruit trees. Instead of ordinary shrubs, plant blueberry bushes. Fruiting vines, blackberries, and things of this nature are great to have around in the best of times, they can be life savers in the worst of times.
This is by no means an exhaustive or comprehensive list of the items available for your long term food storage program. You can tailor your program to your tastes and your budget. Remember the key elements are calories (LOTS), nutritional value (Vitamins and Minerals), storage life, storage space, and flavor. By consulting this list however, you can get a pretty good idea of how to get going on your program
4 Things Everyone Should Do to Prepare for an Economic Recession
This entry was posted on March 14, 2016 by Emergency Essentials.
Some economists are suggesting an economic slowdown is imminent. Others say the next one is probably a while away. Either way, it’s wise to prepare financially now for what’s to come.
“The key to keep in mind is that anything can happen. Therefore, always prepare for any possible emergency,” said Kaylee Chen, a peer mentor at the University of Utah Personal Money Management Center, in an e-mail.
Chen recommended four steps to prepare for an economic downturn: Have a savings, have necessities like food storage, learn a new skill and mentally prepare.
Start saving now for the next recession.
First, have or start a savings.
Peter Dunn, a financial columnist for USA Today, suggested that more people have been saving since the 2008-2009 recession because they’re thinking about it. Chen said she hadn’t necessarily been seeing that.
“People are definitely more aware of the idea of saving. However, following through and acting on it is a different situation,” she said. “I find a lot of people are still spending.”
She suggested budgeting based on the 50/30/20 rule. Fifty percent of income should go to fixed expenses. These are expenses like a house payment and utility bills that must be paid.
Thirty percent of income should go to discretionary expenses. These are more flexible expenses like groceries, gas, and entertainment that can be adjusted.
Twenty percent of income should go toward investing or financial goals and saving for emergencies. Chen recommended women put 12 percent of their salary in long-term investments and men 10 percent.
“The reality is that women live longer and make less income than men,” she said.
She recommended people talk with a financial planner yearly.
“They will work with you to plan for children’s college, travel, or retirement,” she said.
The important thing is to start saving.
“Even as small as setting five dollars aside, it’s still a start,” she said.
Food might be hard to come by during a recession. Prepare while you can by obtaining an emergency food supply.
Second, keep some necessities like food storage.
In any emergency, whether it be short-term or long-term, it’s important to recognize nobody can do everything by themselves. Therefore, one of the necessities to build is a list of resources. These can include a church or non-profit organization. It’s also useful to network to develop a list of where to go for extra help in case of job loss or other emergency.
A column making the rounds online that was said to have been written by a man who survived Hurricane Sandy pointed out that networking is useful for many aspects of emergency preparation.
“Quote, ‘A man with a chainsaw and knows how to use it is a thing of beauty.’”
Third, Learn new skills. Like chainsaw wielding.
These can translate into side jobs for additional income. Chen used the example of a piano teacher. Secondary skills can be useful when a person is younger because it helps them faster achieve their financial goals. When a person is older and around retirement, a side job can help them with retirement savings.
Finally, mentally prepare for bad things to happen.
One key to mental preparedness is to get out of debt. Chen encouraged a budget or lifestyle change. Dunn suggested decreasing spending by 10 to 15 percent over time.
“You’ll tighten the budget before you are forced to tighten the budget,” he said.
Another is to practice caution in an investment portfolio.
“When the market goes down, many people get scared of the market and take out their money. You do not want to buy high and sell low,” Chen said.
Kiplinger, a finance education web site, pointed out that markets quickly recover. Since 1945, the site said, markets that have lost 10 to 20 percent have rebounded in just four months on average. Bear markets, with losses of 20 percent or more, have had an average recovery time of just 25 months.
“If you’re in middle age, consider making a portfolio less aggressive,” a Kiplinger column said. “No single sector should claim more than 5% to 10% of your holdings.”
Very few people can affect global markets. But they can take care of themselves and their families.
“Understand that you have no control over the economic downturn,” Chen said. “Honestly, all one can do is to wait.”
And, she added, a person can start taking these steps even during an economic downturn.
“It’s never too late,” she said.
This entry was posted on March 14, 2016 by Emergency Essentials.
Some economists are suggesting an economic slowdown is imminent. Others say the next one is probably a while away. Either way, it’s wise to prepare financially now for what’s to come.
“The key to keep in mind is that anything can happen. Therefore, always prepare for any possible emergency,” said Kaylee Chen, a peer mentor at the University of Utah Personal Money Management Center, in an e-mail.
Chen recommended four steps to prepare for an economic downturn: Have a savings, have necessities like food storage, learn a new skill and mentally prepare.
Start saving now for the next recession.
First, have or start a savings.
Peter Dunn, a financial columnist for USA Today, suggested that more people have been saving since the 2008-2009 recession because they’re thinking about it. Chen said she hadn’t necessarily been seeing that.
“People are definitely more aware of the idea of saving. However, following through and acting on it is a different situation,” she said. “I find a lot of people are still spending.”
She suggested budgeting based on the 50/30/20 rule. Fifty percent of income should go to fixed expenses. These are expenses like a house payment and utility bills that must be paid.
Thirty percent of income should go to discretionary expenses. These are more flexible expenses like groceries, gas, and entertainment that can be adjusted.
Twenty percent of income should go toward investing or financial goals and saving for emergencies. Chen recommended women put 12 percent of their salary in long-term investments and men 10 percent.
“The reality is that women live longer and make less income than men,” she said.
She recommended people talk with a financial planner yearly.
“They will work with you to plan for children’s college, travel, or retirement,” she said.
The important thing is to start saving.
“Even as small as setting five dollars aside, it’s still a start,” she said.
Food might be hard to come by during a recession. Prepare while you can by obtaining an emergency food supply.
Second, keep some necessities like food storage.
In any emergency, whether it be short-term or long-term, it’s important to recognize nobody can do everything by themselves. Therefore, one of the necessities to build is a list of resources. These can include a church or non-profit organization. It’s also useful to network to develop a list of where to go for extra help in case of job loss or other emergency.
A column making the rounds online that was said to have been written by a man who survived Hurricane Sandy pointed out that networking is useful for many aspects of emergency preparation.
“Quote, ‘A man with a chainsaw and knows how to use it is a thing of beauty.’”
Third, Learn new skills. Like chainsaw wielding.
These can translate into side jobs for additional income. Chen used the example of a piano teacher. Secondary skills can be useful when a person is younger because it helps them faster achieve their financial goals. When a person is older and around retirement, a side job can help them with retirement savings.
Finally, mentally prepare for bad things to happen.
One key to mental preparedness is to get out of debt. Chen encouraged a budget or lifestyle change. Dunn suggested decreasing spending by 10 to 15 percent over time.
“You’ll tighten the budget before you are forced to tighten the budget,” he said.
Another is to practice caution in an investment portfolio.
“When the market goes down, many people get scared of the market and take out their money. You do not want to buy high and sell low,” Chen said.
Kiplinger, a finance education web site, pointed out that markets quickly recover. Since 1945, the site said, markets that have lost 10 to 20 percent have rebounded in just four months on average. Bear markets, with losses of 20 percent or more, have had an average recovery time of just 25 months.
“If you’re in middle age, consider making a portfolio less aggressive,” a Kiplinger column said. “No single sector should claim more than 5% to 10% of your holdings.”
Very few people can affect global markets. But they can take care of themselves and their families.
“Understand that you have no control over the economic downturn,” Chen said. “Honestly, all one can do is to wait.”
And, she added, a person can start taking these steps even during an economic downturn.
“It’s never too late,” she said.
Natural Inconveniences - Are You Prepared?
This entry was posted on July 22, 2015 by Emergency Essentials.
Now that we’ve re-hashed the super-massive, Pacific Northwest-destroying super-earthquake (courtesy of the Cascadia subduction zone), let’s talk about another, just-as-important earthquake.
It happened on July 1, 2015 in Nova Scotia, Canada, right in the middle of their Canada Day celebrations. Fortunately, nobody was hurt, and Natural Resources Canada reported there was no damage. After all, “none would be expected” by the small, 3.6 earthquake.
Wait, so why are we even talking about this small-scale earthquake if it’s of no consequence?
Because it is.
You see, many people assume that their area is immune from earthquakes, and so they don’t prepare. But as we can see from this example, earthquakes do happen, even if we don’t think they ever would.
Mike Springer was at his home when the aforementioned earthquake struck. He was quite surprised at the occurrence.
“Holy mackerel,” he said, as reported by CBC New. “I didn’t think we had earthquakes in Nova Scotia.”
Welp, turns out you do. But don’t worry, Mr. Springer, you’re not an anomaly.
Shortly after the major Nepal quake, an extremely rare 4.2 earthquake shook up Michigan. According to a Michigan Live report, this quake was unusual because “Michigan is not on a major plate.” Which goes to show that we can’t necessarily predict the regions in which earthquakes will occur. Ironically, footage of the shaking was captured on video during a pastor’s appeal to donate to those effected in Kathmandu from the Nepal Earthquake. You can see that video at this link.
Although both these recent earthquakes mentioned have been small and the effects were moot, it helps us realize that, no matter where we are, we are at risk for a potential disaster. It’s not just the Nepal earthquakes or the Cascadia subduction zones we need to be prepared for. We need to be prepared for the smallest inconvenience. After all, if we’re not prepared for an inconvenient natural disturbance, it could end up being more than just a little proverbial thorn in the side.
With the right magnitude or with the epicenter in the right spot, you could be dealing without power. Do you have your alternate energy sources? Earthquakes don’t wait until it’s convenient. One could strike as you’re getting ready for bed, so if you don’t have an extra light or some source of power, brushing your teeth could be done in the dark.
Speaking of brushing your teeth…What if a water main broke because of the quake? Sure, you could go without brushing your teeth for a morning or night, but that’s not the best for your teeth – or those around you (no offense, but it’s true for all of us). Having an extra source of water could come in really handy then.
Essentially, we need to be ready for anything. While you may not think that earthquakes happen where you live, you have just seen two examples of quakes that, according to probability, should never have happened in your lifetime. And yet it did. Fortunately, they were just small ones and no harm was done. But before a bigger one happens that should also never happen, go on out and get prepared.
How have you prepared for those natural inconveniences?
This entry was posted on July 22, 2015 by Emergency Essentials.
Now that we’ve re-hashed the super-massive, Pacific Northwest-destroying super-earthquake (courtesy of the Cascadia subduction zone), let’s talk about another, just-as-important earthquake.
It happened on July 1, 2015 in Nova Scotia, Canada, right in the middle of their Canada Day celebrations. Fortunately, nobody was hurt, and Natural Resources Canada reported there was no damage. After all, “none would be expected” by the small, 3.6 earthquake.
Wait, so why are we even talking about this small-scale earthquake if it’s of no consequence?
Because it is.
You see, many people assume that their area is immune from earthquakes, and so they don’t prepare. But as we can see from this example, earthquakes do happen, even if we don’t think they ever would.
Mike Springer was at his home when the aforementioned earthquake struck. He was quite surprised at the occurrence.
“Holy mackerel,” he said, as reported by CBC New. “I didn’t think we had earthquakes in Nova Scotia.”
Welp, turns out you do. But don’t worry, Mr. Springer, you’re not an anomaly.
Shortly after the major Nepal quake, an extremely rare 4.2 earthquake shook up Michigan. According to a Michigan Live report, this quake was unusual because “Michigan is not on a major plate.” Which goes to show that we can’t necessarily predict the regions in which earthquakes will occur. Ironically, footage of the shaking was captured on video during a pastor’s appeal to donate to those effected in Kathmandu from the Nepal Earthquake. You can see that video at this link.
Although both these recent earthquakes mentioned have been small and the effects were moot, it helps us realize that, no matter where we are, we are at risk for a potential disaster. It’s not just the Nepal earthquakes or the Cascadia subduction zones we need to be prepared for. We need to be prepared for the smallest inconvenience. After all, if we’re not prepared for an inconvenient natural disturbance, it could end up being more than just a little proverbial thorn in the side.
With the right magnitude or with the epicenter in the right spot, you could be dealing without power. Do you have your alternate energy sources? Earthquakes don’t wait until it’s convenient. One could strike as you’re getting ready for bed, so if you don’t have an extra light or some source of power, brushing your teeth could be done in the dark.
Speaking of brushing your teeth…What if a water main broke because of the quake? Sure, you could go without brushing your teeth for a morning or night, but that’s not the best for your teeth – or those around you (no offense, but it’s true for all of us). Having an extra source of water could come in really handy then.
Essentially, we need to be ready for anything. While you may not think that earthquakes happen where you live, you have just seen two examples of quakes that, according to probability, should never have happened in your lifetime. And yet it did. Fortunately, they were just small ones and no harm was done. But before a bigger one happens that should also never happen, go on out and get prepared.
How have you prepared for those natural inconveniences?
Simple Flour Based Recipes For Your Survival Kit
Good, practical recipes can help you make the most efficient use of basic food staples in a survival situation!
Hardtack is easy to make, has a long shelf life, and the texture of a fired brick! It is definitely a survival food, but you wouldn't want to eat it for long periods of time!
by Leon Pantenburg
One my best learning experiences was serving a year in Volunteers In Service To America on the Omaha Indian Reservation in Macy, Nebraska.
My Omaha friends and I delighted in our cultural differences, but when it came to food, we all loved the traditional Omaha dishes of corn soup, beans and fry bread.
Here’s the story I was told about the food: As the Omahas were forced onto reservations in the late 1870s, they were also forced into survival mode. The people would be issued monthly rations of flour, beans, parched corn or cornmeal and, if they were lucky, a few cattle. That would be it until the next distribution.
So the Omahas and other tribes created recipes to use the government-issued food. Beans were simmered with salt pork. Parched corn became the basis of corn soup, along with some sort of meat. Fry bread only had three ingredients.
My friend, Norma Leigh Dixon, made the best fry bread. She laughed when I asked for the recipe.
“What recipe?” she said. “You just mix flour, baking powder and water and fry it. That’s why it’s called fry bread!
Buy Survival Kits: All these items, will fit inside this small tin. When fully loaded, the kit will weigh about four ounces, the same as an iPod!”
Some useful recipes should be included in any prepper/survival/Bug Out backpack. It’s one thing to have staples, such as flour, but another to be able to consume them. What happens during a survival situation, when you end up with a bag of flour, some baking powder, a campfire and hungry children?
One way to make the best use of basic food staples is to have good recipes! Here are a couple of suggestions to make flour and water into a more tasty survival ration.
Bannock is the traditional bread of Canada and the Northwest. Native people had no access to flour prior to the arrival of European traders, although some flour substitutes existed, like wild turnips or corn, dried and ground to a powder.
Bannock actually originated in Scotland. Because bannock could be quickly prepared from readily available ingredients, and because these ingredients lasted a long time without spoiling, bannock became a staple of European fur traders and subsequently, the native people also.
Bannock recipe
1 c flour
4 tsp double-acting baking powder
2 Tbs powdered skim milkStir ingredients together; stir in water to make dough moist. Knead dough until smooth. Place in greased cast iron skillet or Dutch oven and bake it about five to ten minutes over the campfire or on coals until it is brown on the bottom, then flip it, and brown the other side.
A handy way to prepare for a backpacking or hiking trip is to mix all the dry ingredients in a Ziplock bag. Just add 1/2 cup water and knead in the bag. Then take out the dough, finish kneading and spread it in the pan.
(Practice baking the bannock by the campfire. Put the dough in a greased skillet, and place it near the campfire, propped at about a 60-degree angle with a stick. When the side nearest the fire browns, flip the bread and brown the other side. In a pinch you could bake it on a plank!)
Fry Bread
To quote my friend Norma Leigh: “What recipe?” Use essentially the same combination of ingredients as for bannock, and fry in hot oil in a Dutch oven or skillet. Brown on both sides and serve hot.
Hardtack
Hardtack is one of the original trail and emergency foods. Hardtack is simple to make, transports easily and will last a reasonably long time if stored in plastic bags or containers. The disadvantage is the bland taste, and traditional toughness.
(It only takes a few additional ingredients to turbocharge the nutritional value of hardtack. To each cup of flour in the recipe, add one tablespoon of soy flour, one teaspoon of wheat germ and one teaspoon of powdered milk. There is no difference in the taste, and these ingredients combine to make the bread a complete protein.)
Hardtack Recipe
Ingredients:
4 cups flour (preferably whole wheat)
4 teaspoons salt
Water (about 2 cups)Pre-heat oven to 375° F
Makes about 10 pieces
Mix the flour and salt together in a bowl. Add just enough water (less than two cups) so that the mixture will stick together, producing a dough that won’t stick to hands, rolling pin or pan. Mix the dough by hand. Roll the dough out, shaping it roughly into a rectangle. Cut into the dough into squares about 3 x 3 inches and ½ inch thick.
After cutting the squares, press a pattern of four rows of four holes into each square, using a nail or other such object. Do not punch through the dough. The appearance you want is similar to that of a modern saltine cracker. Turn each square over and do the same thing to the other side.
Place the squares on an ungreased cookie sheet in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Turn each piece over and bake for another 30 minutes. The crackers should be slightly brown on both sides.
The fresh crackers are easily broken, but as they dry, they harden.
Good, practical recipes can help you make the most efficient use of basic food staples in a survival situation!
Hardtack is easy to make, has a long shelf life, and the texture of a fired brick! It is definitely a survival food, but you wouldn't want to eat it for long periods of time!
by Leon Pantenburg
One my best learning experiences was serving a year in Volunteers In Service To America on the Omaha Indian Reservation in Macy, Nebraska.
My Omaha friends and I delighted in our cultural differences, but when it came to food, we all loved the traditional Omaha dishes of corn soup, beans and fry bread.
Here’s the story I was told about the food: As the Omahas were forced onto reservations in the late 1870s, they were also forced into survival mode. The people would be issued monthly rations of flour, beans, parched corn or cornmeal and, if they were lucky, a few cattle. That would be it until the next distribution.
So the Omahas and other tribes created recipes to use the government-issued food. Beans were simmered with salt pork. Parched corn became the basis of corn soup, along with some sort of meat. Fry bread only had three ingredients.
My friend, Norma Leigh Dixon, made the best fry bread. She laughed when I asked for the recipe.
“What recipe?” she said. “You just mix flour, baking powder and water and fry it. That’s why it’s called fry bread!
Buy Survival Kits: All these items, will fit inside this small tin. When fully loaded, the kit will weigh about four ounces, the same as an iPod!”
Some useful recipes should be included in any prepper/survival/Bug Out backpack. It’s one thing to have staples, such as flour, but another to be able to consume them. What happens during a survival situation, when you end up with a bag of flour, some baking powder, a campfire and hungry children?
One way to make the best use of basic food staples is to have good recipes! Here are a couple of suggestions to make flour and water into a more tasty survival ration.
Bannock is the traditional bread of Canada and the Northwest. Native people had no access to flour prior to the arrival of European traders, although some flour substitutes existed, like wild turnips or corn, dried and ground to a powder.
Bannock actually originated in Scotland. Because bannock could be quickly prepared from readily available ingredients, and because these ingredients lasted a long time without spoiling, bannock became a staple of European fur traders and subsequently, the native people also.
Bannock recipe
1 c flour
4 tsp double-acting baking powder
2 Tbs powdered skim milkStir ingredients together; stir in water to make dough moist. Knead dough until smooth. Place in greased cast iron skillet or Dutch oven and bake it about five to ten minutes over the campfire or on coals until it is brown on the bottom, then flip it, and brown the other side.
A handy way to prepare for a backpacking or hiking trip is to mix all the dry ingredients in a Ziplock bag. Just add 1/2 cup water and knead in the bag. Then take out the dough, finish kneading and spread it in the pan.
(Practice baking the bannock by the campfire. Put the dough in a greased skillet, and place it near the campfire, propped at about a 60-degree angle with a stick. When the side nearest the fire browns, flip the bread and brown the other side. In a pinch you could bake it on a plank!)
Fry Bread
To quote my friend Norma Leigh: “What recipe?” Use essentially the same combination of ingredients as for bannock, and fry in hot oil in a Dutch oven or skillet. Brown on both sides and serve hot.
Hardtack
Hardtack is one of the original trail and emergency foods. Hardtack is simple to make, transports easily and will last a reasonably long time if stored in plastic bags or containers. The disadvantage is the bland taste, and traditional toughness.
(It only takes a few additional ingredients to turbocharge the nutritional value of hardtack. To each cup of flour in the recipe, add one tablespoon of soy flour, one teaspoon of wheat germ and one teaspoon of powdered milk. There is no difference in the taste, and these ingredients combine to make the bread a complete protein.)
Hardtack Recipe
Ingredients:
4 cups flour (preferably whole wheat)
4 teaspoons salt
Water (about 2 cups)Pre-heat oven to 375° F
Makes about 10 pieces
Mix the flour and salt together in a bowl. Add just enough water (less than two cups) so that the mixture will stick together, producing a dough that won’t stick to hands, rolling pin or pan. Mix the dough by hand. Roll the dough out, shaping it roughly into a rectangle. Cut into the dough into squares about 3 x 3 inches and ½ inch thick.
After cutting the squares, press a pattern of four rows of four holes into each square, using a nail or other such object. Do not punch through the dough. The appearance you want is similar to that of a modern saltine cracker. Turn each square over and do the same thing to the other side.
Place the squares on an ungreased cookie sheet in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Turn each piece over and bake for another 30 minutes. The crackers should be slightly brown on both sides.
The fresh crackers are easily broken, but as they dry, they harden.
The Stupid Things People Do When Their Society Breaks Down
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 03/03/2016 22:30 -0500 ZeroHedge
Submitted by Brandon Smith via Alt-Market.com,
A frequent mistake that many people make when considering the concept of social or economic collapse is to imagine how people and groups will behave tomorrow based on how people behave today. It is, though, extremely difficult to predict human behavior in the face of terminal chaos. What we might expect, or what Hollywood fantasy might showcase for entertainment purposes, may not be what actually happens when society breaks down.
It is also important to note that social and economic destabilization is usually a process, not an immediate event. This actually works in the favor of liberty activists and the preparedness minded. As a system moves through the stages of a breakdown, certain signals in the psychology of the population can be observed, and this gives us a warning as to how far down the rabbit hole we have actually gone.
Except in the case of a nuclear or EMP (electromagnetic pulse) event (which unfortunately are concerns because of the powder keg situation in Syria), vigilant liberty proponents could have considerably more time than the average person to preposition themselves safely. That said, there will be a host of expanding problems of a psychological nature we will have to deal with before, during and after the final leg down in the unfolding mess that internationalists often refer to as the “great global reset.”
The following list is based on social behavior patterns commonly seen during systemic crashes through modern history (the past 100 years). These are some of the stupid things people do as they begin to realize, at least subconsciously, that a SHTF scenario is in progress.
They Do Nothing
It’s sad to say, but the majority of people, regardless of the time or place in history, have a bad habit of ignoring the obvious. They may have an unconscious sense that danger is present, but never underestimate the power of men and women to waterboard their own instincts with a big bucket of intellectual idiocy.
It is not uncommon for large populations to sit calmly and idly, sometimes for weeks, in the midst of an economic or infrastructure crisis. Part of this is due to normalcy bias, of course. There is an immediate assumption amongst first world populations that “help is on the way” in the form of government aid. Faith in this aid can be so deluded that it is not until food and water stores are nearly exhausted that they finally begin to panic, or attempt to help themselves.
This gives the preparedness-minded a week or longer head start on the oblivious masses, but it is still a depressing state of affairs.
They Sabotage Themselves With Paranoia
Even in the early stages of a social breakdown when infrastructure is still operational, paranoia among individuals and groups can spread like a poison. Sometimes this is encouraged by a corrupt government, sometimes it just happens naturally.
The tendency is to begin seeing every other person as a potential competitor or threat rather than a potential ally. They make the assumption that all they need to do is to avoid contact with others and “outlast” most people during the ugliest phase of the breakdown. This assumption is foolish on two fronts. First, a society needs security and production in order to rebuild. If survivors of collapse strictly isolate from each other, practical security is absolutely impossible and thus, production is unlikely. Eventually, they will die along with everyone else.
Second, there are no guarantees whatsoever that our particular process of collapse will develop in a vacuum. That is to say, you might think that one day you will walk out of the hills after the worst of the crisis to a blank slate and rebuild, but certain organizations and systems may still be in place, or even dominate. Rarely in history have governments ever actually “disappeared” during societal collapse. In fact, governments have a habit of becoming even more powerful and despotic during and after large scale implosions of social systems. Survival is simply not enough if you walk out of those mountains alone only to find a totalitarian framework established on top of the ashes of the old world.
Organization with trustworthy people of like mind is essential not only for your survival, but the survival of future generations and the principles which you hold dear. Furthermore, guarded associations with your surrounding community are also necessary. This kind of organization must begin BEFORE the breakdown hits critical mass. It is far easier to organize before a disaster than after a disaster.
They Become Shaky And Unreliable When The Going Gets Tough
This is why early organization is so important; it gives you time to learn the limitations and failings of the people around you before the SHTF. If you have a large family, have lived in the same neighborhood and attended the same clubs and churches for most of your life, then you are probably well aware of who is solid and who will leave you in the dust when times become difficult. Even then, you are liable to discover that some people will disappoint you.
You do what you can with the help you have on hand, but the stresses of economic uncertainty, social unrest, increasingly oppressive government, and the lack of creature comforts can drive seemingly strong and confident people to do stupid and cowardly things.
They may be close friends or family; individuals you care for. Or, they may be newer associates attempting to build a preparedness group from scratch. If you notice a penchant for running from adversity today when standing fast under pressure is necessary, then there is a good chance these same people will crumble when staring down a societal nightmare tomorrow. Always make a point to know which persons you can rely on before you might need them.
They Become Hotheads And Tyrants
On the other side of the coin, there are those individuals who believe that if they can control everything and everyone in their vicinity then this will somehow mitigate the chaos of the world around them. They are people who secretly harbor fantasies of being kings during collapse. These folks are usually not very successful or well-liked in times of stability, and they long for conflict and destruction to make way for their “rebirth” so that they will receive the respect they think they always deserved.
Hotheads are a considerable liability as well, jumping headlong into strategically foolish situations and luring others into a zero-sum game. Their argument is always “If not now, then when!” As if the now and the when of a conflict are irrelevant and the fighting is all that matters. These people are the reverse of the unreliable cowards. They want blood. They want glory. They have something to prove, and they will sacrifice you and others to make this happen if the mood strikes them. Refusing to stand firm when calamity is on the horizon is a failing, but so is creating calamity because of a lack of intelligent planning. Finding people who understand the middle ground between these extremes will be a vital task for those who wish to survive and thrive during upheaval.
They Become Political Extremists
Throughout most modern collapses, two politically extreme ideologies tend to bubble to the surface — communism and fascism. Both come from the same root psychosis, the psychosis of collectivism. However, they are expressed is somewhat different ways.
To summarize down to very simple socio-psychological terms, communism is collectivism based on the demonization of individual merit and the demonization of production based on individual gain. Communism sees individualists as anomalies that threaten the greater good of the greater number. They usually seek to remove or eliminate individualists and individualist philosophies so that the collective may succeed as a single homogenized unit. Communists steal from the strong to artificially support the weak until the strong no longer exist.
Fascism is collectivism based on the idea that the strong prevail over the weak and that the weak survive only by the good graces of the strong. While communism demands forced charity to “harmonize” the unsuccessful with the successful until they are indistinguishable, fascism demands that the unsuccessful be erased so that there is no need to harmonize. It should also be noted that fascists see those who disagree with them as a “weakness” within their master collective that must also be eliminated.
Communism and fascism have a kind escalating and abusive love affair. The more insane and pervasive communists become with their attempts to dominate language and thought, the more communists use organized mobs to control public discourse, the more other people see fascist solutions as a viable way to deal with them. Brownshirt gangs beating communists (along with many others) to death in the streets is usually one of these solutions. This is exactly what took place in Europe during the Great Depression, and it could very well happen again throughout the West.
Both ends of the spectrum make it their top priority to gain control of government so they can use it as a weapon against the other side. The reality is, behind the curtain elitists are playing both sides, encouraging the public in the delusion that they can only choose between one or the other; between communism and fascism.
Ironically, as people flock to these extremist political views, they will invariably accuse fair minded liberty activists of being the “vicious extremists.” The best liberty activists can do is to not fall into the trap of the false paradigm as well, and to fight smarter than either the communists or the fascists are capable.
They Become Religious Zealots
Extreme political views are not the only siren song during societal breakdown. Religious zealotry is readily abundant during crisis. Zealotry is essentially fanaticism to the point of complete moral ambiguity. Everyone who does not believe the way the zealot believes is the “other,” and the other is an enemy that must be annihilated. In the realm of the zealot there is no such thing as “live and let live.” Their ideology must reign supreme without question or opposition.
Zealotry is also not limited to major religions; it is also common in the cultism of ideologies. Cultural Marxism (groups like "Black Lives Matter" and third wave feminism), for example, are perfect examples of a different brand of religious zealotry. There is no logic or reason behind their beliefs or worldview, and no room for dissent. They have their own taboos and their own dogma, their own high priests and their own gods (government, mother earth, etc.) Their directive is to eradicate other beliefs and ways of viewing the world as “heretical” while rationalizing what they do using their own broad interpretations of their own “religious texts.”
The ultimate goal of any zealot is to establish a theocracy, in which their belief system becomes the only known system. All other belief systems are forcibly buried and forgotten along with any people who get in the way.
They Abandon Their Moral Compass
Hollywood it seems has half the world convinced that in times of great distress, only the amoral will survive. Morally relative characters are painted as “heroic” leaders that are willing to “do what is necessary,” while people with moral foundations who do not bend the rules of conscience or natural law in spite of terrible times are painted as weak or stupid, dying in horrible ways because they refused to adopt an “every man for himself” attitude.
The truth is the complete opposite. Morally relative people when discovered are usually the first to be routed out or the first to die in survival situations because they cannot be trusted. No one wants to cooperate with them except perhaps other morally relative people. Such congregations of evil do collaborate successfully for a time based on the concept of mutual criminality for mutual gain, but eventually, they will be hunted down by those they have wronged and wiped out.
Regardless of how they rationalize their activities or the short term gains they enjoy at the onset of collapse, moral relativists have the odds stacked against them in the long run.
* * *
Fear and instability are like a radioactive stew, a Chernobyl effect that breeds strange creatures in men. We look back at our history and think that we know and understand what we are capable of, or that such tragedies could never happen again. But chaos rises anew and the shadow side of each and every human being is put to the test. In most cases, it is self-ignorance in the individual that opens the door to collective demons. That said, the conditions of collapse that triggered societal fear in the first place are many times engineered by elitist interests for the very reason that in this way the masses can be made monstrous.
We make the defeat of such elitists more possible every time we avoid the stupidity of the choices above and continue down the path of conscience, courage, truth and wisdom. When fear is made inconsequential, we cannot be manipulated. And if we cannot be manipulated into fighting shadows, or fighting each other, then the only people left to fight are the very people that originally sought to divide us.
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 03/03/2016 22:30 -0500 ZeroHedge
Submitted by Brandon Smith via Alt-Market.com,
A frequent mistake that many people make when considering the concept of social or economic collapse is to imagine how people and groups will behave tomorrow based on how people behave today. It is, though, extremely difficult to predict human behavior in the face of terminal chaos. What we might expect, or what Hollywood fantasy might showcase for entertainment purposes, may not be what actually happens when society breaks down.
It is also important to note that social and economic destabilization is usually a process, not an immediate event. This actually works in the favor of liberty activists and the preparedness minded. As a system moves through the stages of a breakdown, certain signals in the psychology of the population can be observed, and this gives us a warning as to how far down the rabbit hole we have actually gone.
Except in the case of a nuclear or EMP (electromagnetic pulse) event (which unfortunately are concerns because of the powder keg situation in Syria), vigilant liberty proponents could have considerably more time than the average person to preposition themselves safely. That said, there will be a host of expanding problems of a psychological nature we will have to deal with before, during and after the final leg down in the unfolding mess that internationalists often refer to as the “great global reset.”
The following list is based on social behavior patterns commonly seen during systemic crashes through modern history (the past 100 years). These are some of the stupid things people do as they begin to realize, at least subconsciously, that a SHTF scenario is in progress.
They Do Nothing
It’s sad to say, but the majority of people, regardless of the time or place in history, have a bad habit of ignoring the obvious. They may have an unconscious sense that danger is present, but never underestimate the power of men and women to waterboard their own instincts with a big bucket of intellectual idiocy.
It is not uncommon for large populations to sit calmly and idly, sometimes for weeks, in the midst of an economic or infrastructure crisis. Part of this is due to normalcy bias, of course. There is an immediate assumption amongst first world populations that “help is on the way” in the form of government aid. Faith in this aid can be so deluded that it is not until food and water stores are nearly exhausted that they finally begin to panic, or attempt to help themselves.
This gives the preparedness-minded a week or longer head start on the oblivious masses, but it is still a depressing state of affairs.
They Sabotage Themselves With Paranoia
Even in the early stages of a social breakdown when infrastructure is still operational, paranoia among individuals and groups can spread like a poison. Sometimes this is encouraged by a corrupt government, sometimes it just happens naturally.
The tendency is to begin seeing every other person as a potential competitor or threat rather than a potential ally. They make the assumption that all they need to do is to avoid contact with others and “outlast” most people during the ugliest phase of the breakdown. This assumption is foolish on two fronts. First, a society needs security and production in order to rebuild. If survivors of collapse strictly isolate from each other, practical security is absolutely impossible and thus, production is unlikely. Eventually, they will die along with everyone else.
Second, there are no guarantees whatsoever that our particular process of collapse will develop in a vacuum. That is to say, you might think that one day you will walk out of the hills after the worst of the crisis to a blank slate and rebuild, but certain organizations and systems may still be in place, or even dominate. Rarely in history have governments ever actually “disappeared” during societal collapse. In fact, governments have a habit of becoming even more powerful and despotic during and after large scale implosions of social systems. Survival is simply not enough if you walk out of those mountains alone only to find a totalitarian framework established on top of the ashes of the old world.
Organization with trustworthy people of like mind is essential not only for your survival, but the survival of future generations and the principles which you hold dear. Furthermore, guarded associations with your surrounding community are also necessary. This kind of organization must begin BEFORE the breakdown hits critical mass. It is far easier to organize before a disaster than after a disaster.
They Become Shaky And Unreliable When The Going Gets Tough
This is why early organization is so important; it gives you time to learn the limitations and failings of the people around you before the SHTF. If you have a large family, have lived in the same neighborhood and attended the same clubs and churches for most of your life, then you are probably well aware of who is solid and who will leave you in the dust when times become difficult. Even then, you are liable to discover that some people will disappoint you.
You do what you can with the help you have on hand, but the stresses of economic uncertainty, social unrest, increasingly oppressive government, and the lack of creature comforts can drive seemingly strong and confident people to do stupid and cowardly things.
They may be close friends or family; individuals you care for. Or, they may be newer associates attempting to build a preparedness group from scratch. If you notice a penchant for running from adversity today when standing fast under pressure is necessary, then there is a good chance these same people will crumble when staring down a societal nightmare tomorrow. Always make a point to know which persons you can rely on before you might need them.
They Become Hotheads And Tyrants
On the other side of the coin, there are those individuals who believe that if they can control everything and everyone in their vicinity then this will somehow mitigate the chaos of the world around them. They are people who secretly harbor fantasies of being kings during collapse. These folks are usually not very successful or well-liked in times of stability, and they long for conflict and destruction to make way for their “rebirth” so that they will receive the respect they think they always deserved.
Hotheads are a considerable liability as well, jumping headlong into strategically foolish situations and luring others into a zero-sum game. Their argument is always “If not now, then when!” As if the now and the when of a conflict are irrelevant and the fighting is all that matters. These people are the reverse of the unreliable cowards. They want blood. They want glory. They have something to prove, and they will sacrifice you and others to make this happen if the mood strikes them. Refusing to stand firm when calamity is on the horizon is a failing, but so is creating calamity because of a lack of intelligent planning. Finding people who understand the middle ground between these extremes will be a vital task for those who wish to survive and thrive during upheaval.
They Become Political Extremists
Throughout most modern collapses, two politically extreme ideologies tend to bubble to the surface — communism and fascism. Both come from the same root psychosis, the psychosis of collectivism. However, they are expressed is somewhat different ways.
To summarize down to very simple socio-psychological terms, communism is collectivism based on the demonization of individual merit and the demonization of production based on individual gain. Communism sees individualists as anomalies that threaten the greater good of the greater number. They usually seek to remove or eliminate individualists and individualist philosophies so that the collective may succeed as a single homogenized unit. Communists steal from the strong to artificially support the weak until the strong no longer exist.
Fascism is collectivism based on the idea that the strong prevail over the weak and that the weak survive only by the good graces of the strong. While communism demands forced charity to “harmonize” the unsuccessful with the successful until they are indistinguishable, fascism demands that the unsuccessful be erased so that there is no need to harmonize. It should also be noted that fascists see those who disagree with them as a “weakness” within their master collective that must also be eliminated.
Communism and fascism have a kind escalating and abusive love affair. The more insane and pervasive communists become with their attempts to dominate language and thought, the more communists use organized mobs to control public discourse, the more other people see fascist solutions as a viable way to deal with them. Brownshirt gangs beating communists (along with many others) to death in the streets is usually one of these solutions. This is exactly what took place in Europe during the Great Depression, and it could very well happen again throughout the West.
Both ends of the spectrum make it their top priority to gain control of government so they can use it as a weapon against the other side. The reality is, behind the curtain elitists are playing both sides, encouraging the public in the delusion that they can only choose between one or the other; between communism and fascism.
Ironically, as people flock to these extremist political views, they will invariably accuse fair minded liberty activists of being the “vicious extremists.” The best liberty activists can do is to not fall into the trap of the false paradigm as well, and to fight smarter than either the communists or the fascists are capable.
They Become Religious Zealots
Extreme political views are not the only siren song during societal breakdown. Religious zealotry is readily abundant during crisis. Zealotry is essentially fanaticism to the point of complete moral ambiguity. Everyone who does not believe the way the zealot believes is the “other,” and the other is an enemy that must be annihilated. In the realm of the zealot there is no such thing as “live and let live.” Their ideology must reign supreme without question or opposition.
Zealotry is also not limited to major religions; it is also common in the cultism of ideologies. Cultural Marxism (groups like "Black Lives Matter" and third wave feminism), for example, are perfect examples of a different brand of religious zealotry. There is no logic or reason behind their beliefs or worldview, and no room for dissent. They have their own taboos and their own dogma, their own high priests and their own gods (government, mother earth, etc.) Their directive is to eradicate other beliefs and ways of viewing the world as “heretical” while rationalizing what they do using their own broad interpretations of their own “religious texts.”
The ultimate goal of any zealot is to establish a theocracy, in which their belief system becomes the only known system. All other belief systems are forcibly buried and forgotten along with any people who get in the way.
They Abandon Their Moral Compass
Hollywood it seems has half the world convinced that in times of great distress, only the amoral will survive. Morally relative characters are painted as “heroic” leaders that are willing to “do what is necessary,” while people with moral foundations who do not bend the rules of conscience or natural law in spite of terrible times are painted as weak or stupid, dying in horrible ways because they refused to adopt an “every man for himself” attitude.
The truth is the complete opposite. Morally relative people when discovered are usually the first to be routed out or the first to die in survival situations because they cannot be trusted. No one wants to cooperate with them except perhaps other morally relative people. Such congregations of evil do collaborate successfully for a time based on the concept of mutual criminality for mutual gain, but eventually, they will be hunted down by those they have wronged and wiped out.
Regardless of how they rationalize their activities or the short term gains they enjoy at the onset of collapse, moral relativists have the odds stacked against them in the long run.
* * *
Fear and instability are like a radioactive stew, a Chernobyl effect that breeds strange creatures in men. We look back at our history and think that we know and understand what we are capable of, or that such tragedies could never happen again. But chaos rises anew and the shadow side of each and every human being is put to the test. In most cases, it is self-ignorance in the individual that opens the door to collective demons. That said, the conditions of collapse that triggered societal fear in the first place are many times engineered by elitist interests for the very reason that in this way the masses can be made monstrous.
We make the defeat of such elitists more possible every time we avoid the stupidity of the choices above and continue down the path of conscience, courage, truth and wisdom. When fear is made inconsequential, we cannot be manipulated. And if we cannot be manipulated into fighting shadows, or fighting each other, then the only people left to fight are the very people that originally sought to divide us.
Vinegar: Your Secret Weapon
This entry was posted on June 14, 2013 by beprepared.
Vinegar does way more than just make you pucker. Besides being a versatile ingredient in food preservation and a tasty flavor addition, here are 10 things we bet you didn’t know you could do with vinegar. (And why it’s the secret weapon in your food storage pantry!)
Kills weeds: Spray it on leaves and roots.
Disinfectant: Do not mix vinegar and bleach! That mix creates a harmful gas.
Degreaser, de-gunker, and rust resolver: But don’t use it on marble counters, stoneware, or waxed surfaces.
Laundry aid: Cuts the amount of soap you need and softens fabric.
Odor neutralizer: Great in a garbage disposal or on cutting boards.
Keeps eggs from cracking while boiling
Hair rinse: Gets rid of product build up.
Stain remover: Works on clothes (collar and underarm stains), hands, blood stains.
First aid: Vinegar is a natural antiseptic and works on abrasions, diarrhea, fungal infections, some jellyfish stings, and sunburn.
Insecticide: Spray anywhere you've seen ants, put it in a jar with small holes in the lid to attract fruit flies,
Looks like a little vinegar in your food storage pantry can turn into a big survival help.
Happy prepping!
This entry was posted on June 14, 2013 by beprepared.
Vinegar does way more than just make you pucker. Besides being a versatile ingredient in food preservation and a tasty flavor addition, here are 10 things we bet you didn’t know you could do with vinegar. (And why it’s the secret weapon in your food storage pantry!)
Kills weeds: Spray it on leaves and roots.
Disinfectant: Do not mix vinegar and bleach! That mix creates a harmful gas.
Degreaser, de-gunker, and rust resolver: But don’t use it on marble counters, stoneware, or waxed surfaces.
Laundry aid: Cuts the amount of soap you need and softens fabric.
Odor neutralizer: Great in a garbage disposal or on cutting boards.
Keeps eggs from cracking while boiling
Hair rinse: Gets rid of product build up.
Stain remover: Works on clothes (collar and underarm stains), hands, blood stains.
First aid: Vinegar is a natural antiseptic and works on abrasions, diarrhea, fungal infections, some jellyfish stings, and sunburn.
Insecticide: Spray anywhere you've seen ants, put it in a jar with small holes in the lid to attract fruit flies,
Looks like a little vinegar in your food storage pantry can turn into a big survival help.
Happy prepping!
Why You Should Use Essential Oils in Emergencies
This entry was posted on August 31, 2015 by Emergency Essentials.
A friend of mine carries 10 essential oils in her purse for emergencies. When she travels, she takes a dozen or more.
Emergency Essentials now sells essential oils. Here are a few that could be useful in a first aid kit.
Lavender
One day this summer, when my special needs daughter had lost her temper and was screaming on the ground in a full-blown meltdown, Cherylee, another friend who knows essential oils, suggested I try lavender essential oil.
Lavender was a logical suggestion. Although the evidence is limited, some clinical studies suggest patients waiting for surgery seemed calmer if they inhaled lavender through aromatherapy than those who used other calming methods, according to a 2014 literature review in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
It may also be good for skin.
Cherylee said she used some this summer when her daughter went outside without sunscreen. She believes it helped soothe her daughter’s skin irritation.
“I use it on all my kids’ little scrapes and burns,” she said.
A few cautions: Lavender essential oil can cause irritation if applied directly to the skin and is poisonous if swallowed, according to Homesteading, a 2009 book edited by Abigail Gehring.
Also, watch out for products labeled “lavender scented.” They don’t contain real lavender.
Peppermint
Peppermint oil is one of the oldest European medicinal herbs. Its main active ingredient is menthol – that nasty-tasting ingredient in mouthwash and throat lozenges. It’s been used for many years as a traditional medicine to treat stomach pain.
Peppermint oil has some of the most reliable evidence suggesting it could be effective for treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome, according to a 2014 review in the journal Digestion.
Cherylee uses peppermint to help her muscles cool off after a workout. She also uses it for occasional head pain.
For tension headaches, patients in a study cited by WebMD applied 10% peppermint oil in ethanol solution across their forehead and temples then repeated the process after 15 and 30 minutes.
Don’t use too much, though. Peppermint oil is considered fairly safe in small doses but can have side effects of allergic reaction and heartburn, according to Homesteading.
Tea tree (Melaleuca)
Cherylee said tea tree oil has “limitless applications.”
The chemicals in tea tree may have antifungal properties. One study mentioned in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found a 10 percent tea tree oil cream worked about as well as over the counter athlete’s foot cream (tolnaftate 1%) to relieve symptoms of athlete’s foot. It didn’t cure the infection, though. Researchers found a 100 percent tea tree solution used twice daily for six months decreased toenail fungus in 60 percent of patients.
“I’ve used this for occasional ear irritation, for minor skin irritation,” Cherylee said.
Don’t take tea tree oil by mouth. It’s likely unsafe, according to the Mayo Clinic. It can also be mildly irritating to skin and cause an allergic skin reaction in some people.
Frankincense
Frankincense is Cherylee’s favorite oil for emergencies.
“I’d use this any day over any oil. When in doubt, I use it,” she said. “It will help the body take care of itself at any level.”
Even though frankincense has been in use for thousands of years, we still don’t have that much information about it or how it works, according to WebMD.
It’s made from hardened sap of a type of tree from the genus Boswellia. When tested in labs, components from sap extracts might have anti-inflammatory properties, according to an overview in the Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Cherylee also feels frankincense, when mixed with other essential oils, helps enhance their effects.
Since there’s not that much known about frankincense, WebMD recommends you always follow package directions and talk to a health care professional before using it.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration identifies three ways to use essential oils for the body: internally as a dietary supplement, topically and aromatically.
Elementa Essentials, the company that makes the oil sold on this site, does not recommend using any of its products internally without a doctor’s approval.
It advises caution for any type of application if you’re pregnant, on medication or have sensitive skin.
Don’t apply undiluted essential oils directly to your skin. Put 3-10 drops in an ounce of vegetable oil or lotion. Oils need to be as pure as possible.
Cherylee dilutes her essential oils in fractionated coconut oil, a coconut oil from which one type of fat has been removed.
“It’s not oily and it help(s) the skin absorb the essential oil better,” she wrote.
Aromatically means using a diffuser to spray a diluted oil mixture into a room. Diffusers are available at many retailers.
However you use essential oils, be careful and consult an expert first.
“Treat essential oils with the same care that you treat medicines,” said an article in AromaWeb.
This entry was posted on August 31, 2015 by Emergency Essentials.
A friend of mine carries 10 essential oils in her purse for emergencies. When she travels, she takes a dozen or more.
Emergency Essentials now sells essential oils. Here are a few that could be useful in a first aid kit.
Lavender
One day this summer, when my special needs daughter had lost her temper and was screaming on the ground in a full-blown meltdown, Cherylee, another friend who knows essential oils, suggested I try lavender essential oil.
Lavender was a logical suggestion. Although the evidence is limited, some clinical studies suggest patients waiting for surgery seemed calmer if they inhaled lavender through aromatherapy than those who used other calming methods, according to a 2014 literature review in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
It may also be good for skin.
Cherylee said she used some this summer when her daughter went outside without sunscreen. She believes it helped soothe her daughter’s skin irritation.
“I use it on all my kids’ little scrapes and burns,” she said.
A few cautions: Lavender essential oil can cause irritation if applied directly to the skin and is poisonous if swallowed, according to Homesteading, a 2009 book edited by Abigail Gehring.
Also, watch out for products labeled “lavender scented.” They don’t contain real lavender.
Peppermint
Peppermint oil is one of the oldest European medicinal herbs. Its main active ingredient is menthol – that nasty-tasting ingredient in mouthwash and throat lozenges. It’s been used for many years as a traditional medicine to treat stomach pain.
Peppermint oil has some of the most reliable evidence suggesting it could be effective for treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome, according to a 2014 review in the journal Digestion.
Cherylee uses peppermint to help her muscles cool off after a workout. She also uses it for occasional head pain.
For tension headaches, patients in a study cited by WebMD applied 10% peppermint oil in ethanol solution across their forehead and temples then repeated the process after 15 and 30 minutes.
Don’t use too much, though. Peppermint oil is considered fairly safe in small doses but can have side effects of allergic reaction and heartburn, according to Homesteading.
Tea tree (Melaleuca)
Cherylee said tea tree oil has “limitless applications.”
The chemicals in tea tree may have antifungal properties. One study mentioned in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found a 10 percent tea tree oil cream worked about as well as over the counter athlete’s foot cream (tolnaftate 1%) to relieve symptoms of athlete’s foot. It didn’t cure the infection, though. Researchers found a 100 percent tea tree solution used twice daily for six months decreased toenail fungus in 60 percent of patients.
“I’ve used this for occasional ear irritation, for minor skin irritation,” Cherylee said.
Don’t take tea tree oil by mouth. It’s likely unsafe, according to the Mayo Clinic. It can also be mildly irritating to skin and cause an allergic skin reaction in some people.
Frankincense
Frankincense is Cherylee’s favorite oil for emergencies.
“I’d use this any day over any oil. When in doubt, I use it,” she said. “It will help the body take care of itself at any level.”
Even though frankincense has been in use for thousands of years, we still don’t have that much information about it or how it works, according to WebMD.
It’s made from hardened sap of a type of tree from the genus Boswellia. When tested in labs, components from sap extracts might have anti-inflammatory properties, according to an overview in the Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Cherylee also feels frankincense, when mixed with other essential oils, helps enhance their effects.
Since there’s not that much known about frankincense, WebMD recommends you always follow package directions and talk to a health care professional before using it.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration identifies three ways to use essential oils for the body: internally as a dietary supplement, topically and aromatically.
Elementa Essentials, the company that makes the oil sold on this site, does not recommend using any of its products internally without a doctor’s approval.
It advises caution for any type of application if you’re pregnant, on medication or have sensitive skin.
Don’t apply undiluted essential oils directly to your skin. Put 3-10 drops in an ounce of vegetable oil or lotion. Oils need to be as pure as possible.
Cherylee dilutes her essential oils in fractionated coconut oil, a coconut oil from which one type of fat has been removed.
“It’s not oily and it help(s) the skin absorb the essential oil better,” she wrote.
Aromatically means using a diffuser to spray a diluted oil mixture into a room. Diffusers are available at many retailers.
However you use essential oils, be careful and consult an expert first.
“Treat essential oils with the same care that you treat medicines,” said an article in AromaWeb.
Pay Off Your Credit Card Or Stock up on Critical Supplies? Challenging Survival Decision Could Make Huge Difference For Long Term
Beforeitsnews.com
When I first got into prepping I listened to a lot of sources. I read a lot of literature, perused websites galore and read books on everything from Survival skills and tactic to prepper fiction. I think the first actual website I came across was Captain Dave’s Survival Center. His blog doesn’t appear to have been updated since January 2010 but at the time I started digging into this topic it was probably late 2008. This time period in my life oddly enough coincided with the stock market crisis in September when my meager 401K lost over half of its value in days. I think everyone started paying a little more attention at that point. Up to that year I had been a pretty traditional Republican kind of guy. I was and still am fiercely patriotic, but my understandings of world events, politics, history and propaganda have changed my political philosophy and my loyalties. I am and will always be loyal to the values our country was founded on but I am not blindly loyal to any political party or person anymore. I don’t instinctively tow the party line anymore for the republicans and like to think I have grown more analytical; perhaps skeptical when I hear events in the news.
All of that is to say that my thinking when it comes to being a prepper has evolved over time and with it so have my actions with respect to what I feel needs to be done. I think I will continue to refine what I believe is right for me and my family as I learn more information and that I feel is what any rational person should do.
Right from the beginning of my prepping journey, it was obvious that in order to be as self-sufficient as possible I would need to cross a few major things off my list of To Do items.
-Get out of debt
-Acquire equipment (food/gear/tools) as force multipliers
-Acquire training in Survival tactics, homesteading skills
-Convert behaviors to self-sufficient lifestyle traits
Like so many other people I started with these broad topics and from there developed a simple list of everything I thought I needed to have or do before I could consider myself “prepared” for anything. My list started with a ton of supplies; food to last for 6 months, purchasing firearms for self-defense, having backup water storage and a means to collect and filter more. Then it turned to actions like getting a garden going, purchasing precious metals and getting training on HAM radio and first-aid. It never seems to end.
But, unless you have won the lottery or are independently wealthy most of us out here have to balance this mountain of wish list items with your daily budget. That is when prepping can cause friction for families especially when one spouse doesn’t see things the way you do. If prepping for a disaster is complete nonsense in their eyes, it will be a battle to purchase everything you need. At the very minimum it will take a long time and this is a luxury you may not have.
Further complicating this whole endeavor is the need to get out of debt. If you are truly focused on reducing the amount of debt you have, you really should not have a lot of discretionary income. Herein lies the problem and it is one that I have personally dealt with and still ponder from time to time to this very day. The question is should you get completely out of debt first, or should you continue prepping? I say or because depending on whom you listen to, these are mutually exclusive.
The case for getting out of debt
If you have ever heard of Dave Ramsey, his entire reason for being it seems is to get people out of debt as quickly as possible and maintaining a healthy view of money going forward. His methods revolve around throwing every single resource you have at the debt problem and living on “rice and beans” in order to save every cent to put it towards debt retirement. He has seminars and you can usually take part in a Dave Ramsey program at church if you have the time and money to devote to it. The basic principles are a great method to getting out of debt in my unprofessional opinion.
Debt is truly a horrible burden that we willingly place on ourselves and our families for no good reason other than we aren’t willing to wait until we have the money to purchase something. I know this just as well as anyone else out there and I won’t try to get on my high horse because I have my own fair share of debt as well. However, my desire is to be completely debt free and that I think is the best scenario any of us can be in from one standpoint. If no person or company has anything they can hold over your head, there should be nothing they can take away from you. The flip side is that if you are only living on what you bring in, if that were to be disrupted, the impacts to your life should be greatly reduced.
If you are going hog-wild into debt reduction though, this can be a process that takes several years. The average American credit card debt is over $15,000 and that isn’t taking into consideration cars, student loans, mortgage etc. When you get into a certain level of debt and if you are following a plan like Dave Ramsey’s you don’t have money for anything else. The Rice and Beans you want to stock up for your prepping needs are what you are actually living off of each day.
The case for Prepping
There are so many reasons to begin prepping for your family’s safety isn’t there? If you weren’t interested in how you could be more prepared for whatever happens you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog, but as I mentioned above, prepping is not without some cost. That list of items you probably have on your desk or computer somewhere contains a lot of things that cost money. I know that everything that can save your life or the life of a loved one doesn’t necessarily need to cost anything, but that usually comes down to knowledge or equipment and supplies you already have. The average person will need training or books at a minimum to learn that knowledge. Books and training cost money. If you are talking about security and you don’t have firearms, they cost money. Extra food, medical supplies, backup power, even getting a garden started cost money in almost every case.
But, is it worth it? That is a great question and one of the same ones I ask myself from time to time. The answer is always the same for me, but you have to ask yourself if what you are trying to prepare for is worth the investment you are making. To me this is a simple question because I believe that most people who are prepping are doing so because they know that bad things can happen and they want to protect themselves or their family from those bad things as much as possible. Is it worth it to sacrifice a little now to survive later? For me it is, but for each person this question has to be asked.
Can these two coexist?
Can you pay off all of your debt and still build up your supplies at the same time? If you can, then you don’t have any problems. I wish we were all like you. For the rest of us, we have a choice or more accurately choices to make based upon our own individual circumstances and priorities. I don’t believe it should be one or the other. To either get out of debt first or buy everything on the prepper’s Nirvana list. There should be a balance I think and they can both be done at the same time if you feel that is necessary for your overall preparedness.
Dave Ramsey has a great plan for people who want to get out of debt, but I think his plan assumes that the world is still going to be spinning next month; that whatever happens, you should keep paying down that Macy’s card because above all else you have to get out of debt. What if something happens before you get that trip to Disney in 2010 paid off? What if you are halfway through your plan and the bottom drops out of the stock market, we have a global pandemic or there is an EMP attack from a rogue terrorist organization? Will you be happy your car is paid off, but you don’t have any food stocked up?
Beforeitsnews.com
When I first got into prepping I listened to a lot of sources. I read a lot of literature, perused websites galore and read books on everything from Survival skills and tactic to prepper fiction. I think the first actual website I came across was Captain Dave’s Survival Center. His blog doesn’t appear to have been updated since January 2010 but at the time I started digging into this topic it was probably late 2008. This time period in my life oddly enough coincided with the stock market crisis in September when my meager 401K lost over half of its value in days. I think everyone started paying a little more attention at that point. Up to that year I had been a pretty traditional Republican kind of guy. I was and still am fiercely patriotic, but my understandings of world events, politics, history and propaganda have changed my political philosophy and my loyalties. I am and will always be loyal to the values our country was founded on but I am not blindly loyal to any political party or person anymore. I don’t instinctively tow the party line anymore for the republicans and like to think I have grown more analytical; perhaps skeptical when I hear events in the news.
All of that is to say that my thinking when it comes to being a prepper has evolved over time and with it so have my actions with respect to what I feel needs to be done. I think I will continue to refine what I believe is right for me and my family as I learn more information and that I feel is what any rational person should do.
Right from the beginning of my prepping journey, it was obvious that in order to be as self-sufficient as possible I would need to cross a few major things off my list of To Do items.
-Get out of debt
-Acquire equipment (food/gear/tools) as force multipliers
-Acquire training in Survival tactics, homesteading skills
-Convert behaviors to self-sufficient lifestyle traits
Like so many other people I started with these broad topics and from there developed a simple list of everything I thought I needed to have or do before I could consider myself “prepared” for anything. My list started with a ton of supplies; food to last for 6 months, purchasing firearms for self-defense, having backup water storage and a means to collect and filter more. Then it turned to actions like getting a garden going, purchasing precious metals and getting training on HAM radio and first-aid. It never seems to end.
But, unless you have won the lottery or are independently wealthy most of us out here have to balance this mountain of wish list items with your daily budget. That is when prepping can cause friction for families especially when one spouse doesn’t see things the way you do. If prepping for a disaster is complete nonsense in their eyes, it will be a battle to purchase everything you need. At the very minimum it will take a long time and this is a luxury you may not have.
Further complicating this whole endeavor is the need to get out of debt. If you are truly focused on reducing the amount of debt you have, you really should not have a lot of discretionary income. Herein lies the problem and it is one that I have personally dealt with and still ponder from time to time to this very day. The question is should you get completely out of debt first, or should you continue prepping? I say or because depending on whom you listen to, these are mutually exclusive.
The case for getting out of debt
If you have ever heard of Dave Ramsey, his entire reason for being it seems is to get people out of debt as quickly as possible and maintaining a healthy view of money going forward. His methods revolve around throwing every single resource you have at the debt problem and living on “rice and beans” in order to save every cent to put it towards debt retirement. He has seminars and you can usually take part in a Dave Ramsey program at church if you have the time and money to devote to it. The basic principles are a great method to getting out of debt in my unprofessional opinion.
Debt is truly a horrible burden that we willingly place on ourselves and our families for no good reason other than we aren’t willing to wait until we have the money to purchase something. I know this just as well as anyone else out there and I won’t try to get on my high horse because I have my own fair share of debt as well. However, my desire is to be completely debt free and that I think is the best scenario any of us can be in from one standpoint. If no person or company has anything they can hold over your head, there should be nothing they can take away from you. The flip side is that if you are only living on what you bring in, if that were to be disrupted, the impacts to your life should be greatly reduced.
If you are going hog-wild into debt reduction though, this can be a process that takes several years. The average American credit card debt is over $15,000 and that isn’t taking into consideration cars, student loans, mortgage etc. When you get into a certain level of debt and if you are following a plan like Dave Ramsey’s you don’t have money for anything else. The Rice and Beans you want to stock up for your prepping needs are what you are actually living off of each day.
The case for Prepping
There are so many reasons to begin prepping for your family’s safety isn’t there? If you weren’t interested in how you could be more prepared for whatever happens you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog, but as I mentioned above, prepping is not without some cost. That list of items you probably have on your desk or computer somewhere contains a lot of things that cost money. I know that everything that can save your life or the life of a loved one doesn’t necessarily need to cost anything, but that usually comes down to knowledge or equipment and supplies you already have. The average person will need training or books at a minimum to learn that knowledge. Books and training cost money. If you are talking about security and you don’t have firearms, they cost money. Extra food, medical supplies, backup power, even getting a garden started cost money in almost every case.
But, is it worth it? That is a great question and one of the same ones I ask myself from time to time. The answer is always the same for me, but you have to ask yourself if what you are trying to prepare for is worth the investment you are making. To me this is a simple question because I believe that most people who are prepping are doing so because they know that bad things can happen and they want to protect themselves or their family from those bad things as much as possible. Is it worth it to sacrifice a little now to survive later? For me it is, but for each person this question has to be asked.
Can these two coexist?
Can you pay off all of your debt and still build up your supplies at the same time? If you can, then you don’t have any problems. I wish we were all like you. For the rest of us, we have a choice or more accurately choices to make based upon our own individual circumstances and priorities. I don’t believe it should be one or the other. To either get out of debt first or buy everything on the prepper’s Nirvana list. There should be a balance I think and they can both be done at the same time if you feel that is necessary for your overall preparedness.
Dave Ramsey has a great plan for people who want to get out of debt, but I think his plan assumes that the world is still going to be spinning next month; that whatever happens, you should keep paying down that Macy’s card because above all else you have to get out of debt. What if something happens before you get that trip to Disney in 2010 paid off? What if you are halfway through your plan and the bottom drops out of the stock market, we have a global pandemic or there is an EMP attack from a rogue terrorist organization? Will you be happy your car is paid off, but you don’t have any food stocked up?
These things are not complicated, however, they will require both willpower and action. They will not be things that happen on their own. In order to stay out of a camp, you must do something very important:
You must do things that others do not do, and you must not do what others do.
Let us run with this concept in a scenario:
You’re in bed…it’s a Saturday morning, and you don’t have to go to any of your 3 jobs today until noon. Your battery-powered clock seems to have stopped at 5:15 am. Puzzled you hear the drone of jet engines, and all of a sudden the house seems as if it is shaking. You jump up and run to the front door and as you walk onto the front porch, all hell is breaking loose.
Your mind is playing, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Metallica as you look up and see dozens of aircraft flying West to East, disgorging sesame seeds that sprout parachutes by the thousands, all coming down into your neighborhood. “Red Dawn” isn’t playing: it is happening, and you’re in it. Your neighbors didn’t bother to come wake you up; however, they’re working on starting their cars, with no success. The paratroopers are landing, and a large crowd of people is running down Main Street to the tune of automatic gunfire in the distance. Yep, you guessed it! America has been invaded, and chances are you are not going to be handing out a Slurpee this afternoon.
Now what? You must fall upon the six laws of survival or else all could be lost.
The Six Laws of SurvivalIn a survival scenario all bets are off and the following laws will keep you alive. These laws are rigid, but necessary. Harsh, but true. Keep your cards close and always have a plan.
Law 1: Wherever that crowd is running, do not join them.
This is not to say that they aren’t (initially) running in the right direction. But what of it? They are bound to be either captured en masse or worse (bombed, strafed, or shot). For the horror of the IHM (the Incredible Human Mob), look no further than “War of the Worlds” with Tom Cruise where he and his family are driving the passenger van…right up and into the mob. Look what happened there. You can’t defeat their numbers, and you will be captive to them…another steer in the herd.
Strike out on your own, you and your family, avoiding the main thoroughfares at all cost, and avoiding the IHM.
Law 2: You have to have a place (and places) to go.
This is where thinking outside of the general herd will pay off. We’re going to instruct by running through a checklist…. this will be a “handy-dandy” checklist that you can print out or run over in your mind to be able to follow rule #2.
Law 3: You will be leaving your home, permanently or for a long time.
This is survival. The majority of readers are not living in the mountains or in a remote location. If you follow these steps and practice them on a dry-run on a regular basis…it will give you the advantage that most people will not have. You must innovate: come up with ideas that others will not think of. Do you know of an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town? Chances are that 90% of others will think the same thing in a grid-down/Red Dawn survival scenario. You need to find the places that are off the beaten path. And if there are none? It may mean that you have to create a place.
How? By caching your supplies within the walking distances described for each part of the “safe” area. By finding tunnels, caves, or other sub-structures that can protect you from the elements and at least afford partial protection from radiation. By being who it is you imagine yourself to be: a prepper…a survivalist…or a survivor. When you enter any contest, do you enter it to lose? Do you strive for just “second place” or “second best” in this arena? Chances are the answer is “no,” but you have to arrive on that conclusion on your own. All of this is a challenge, and this underlines everything for you if it needs clarification:
Law 4: In survival, there is no silver medal: “second place” means death.
Forget that phrase in “The Hunger Games,” because if you are taken…the odds are not ever in your favor. We went through a 4-article series on how to escape from the Gulag where I reiterated how important it is for you to stay out of it. I stand by this concept. If you are taken captive, the odds aren’t in your favor of getting out…for the duration of it.
And then guess what? The Germans during WWII as the allies approached began to hide their transgressions by liquidating the camps…basically killing everyone that could bear any type of witness to the atrocities. Do not think for an instant that it will not happen again. Look at Holodomor in Ukraine and the starvation tactics the USSR used to follow after the Malthusian model. Our enemies have very little regard for human life, and the lives they value are of their own people. If the Chinese communists would run over their own people with tanks and sell their internal organs while they’re still alive, what will they do with us?
Which brings us to the “Malcolm X” rule:
Law 5: You must stay out and survive by any and all means necessary.
Some of you may think “JJ is a little harsh.” I would rather be hard and harsh now, and enable you, my countrymen, to have some tools at your disposal and a “sharp tack” under the figurative buttocks of your mind to give you the impetus to do something about the situation prior to its occurrence. The country is “long in the tooth,” and you have to grasp these concepts and act upon them now…not burn off the pages and save them in the survival archives…but use them to inculcate your own, individual plan of action now.
Rule #5 means resolving yourself to do what you must in order to protect yourself from the ravages (and not just possible, but probable death) inside of one of these camps. These are all basic, “generic” things to begin as a base for your preparations. This is a form of guerilla warfare! Avoid the occupiers/oppressors at all cost! These things will work for you…if you resolve yourself (ves) to do them. I’ll close with a note on OPSEC (operational security): you better build off of these basics and keep all of them to yourself.
JJ is giving you the basics that you need, without revealing everything of his own plans. Why? Because I earned them by paying for them with years of experience and suffering, and it means my family’s survival. Such measures would run you a lot of money and imagination; such measures come from years of practical experience and the willingness to take chances. This thought brings us to our final rule, the failure of which means compromise leading to death:
Law 6: Do not tip your hand or reveal your plans to anyone.
Next installment we will talk about life under occupation, be that by foreign invaders or by totalitarian state that has morphed out of a democracy. In the meantime, prepare and plan, and when you are reasonably sure, execute a dry run. The practice does make perfect and affords you a time and trials to iron out all of the glitches in your operations. Until next time be good to one another and keep up the fight!
You must do things that others do not do, and you must not do what others do.
Let us run with this concept in a scenario:
You’re in bed…it’s a Saturday morning, and you don’t have to go to any of your 3 jobs today until noon. Your battery-powered clock seems to have stopped at 5:15 am. Puzzled you hear the drone of jet engines, and all of a sudden the house seems as if it is shaking. You jump up and run to the front door and as you walk onto the front porch, all hell is breaking loose.
Your mind is playing, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Metallica as you look up and see dozens of aircraft flying West to East, disgorging sesame seeds that sprout parachutes by the thousands, all coming down into your neighborhood. “Red Dawn” isn’t playing: it is happening, and you’re in it. Your neighbors didn’t bother to come wake you up; however, they’re working on starting their cars, with no success. The paratroopers are landing, and a large crowd of people is running down Main Street to the tune of automatic gunfire in the distance. Yep, you guessed it! America has been invaded, and chances are you are not going to be handing out a Slurpee this afternoon.
Now what? You must fall upon the six laws of survival or else all could be lost.
The Six Laws of SurvivalIn a survival scenario all bets are off and the following laws will keep you alive. These laws are rigid, but necessary. Harsh, but true. Keep your cards close and always have a plan.
Law 1: Wherever that crowd is running, do not join them.
This is not to say that they aren’t (initially) running in the right direction. But what of it? They are bound to be either captured en masse or worse (bombed, strafed, or shot). For the horror of the IHM (the Incredible Human Mob), look no further than “War of the Worlds” with Tom Cruise where he and his family are driving the passenger van…right up and into the mob. Look what happened there. You can’t defeat their numbers, and you will be captive to them…another steer in the herd.
Strike out on your own, you and your family, avoiding the main thoroughfares at all cost, and avoiding the IHM.
Law 2: You have to have a place (and places) to go.
This is where thinking outside of the general herd will pay off. We’re going to instruct by running through a checklist…. this will be a “handy-dandy” checklist that you can print out or run over in your mind to be able to follow rule #2.
- Did you preposition assets (food, weapons, money, etc.) at an initial safe location?
- Is that location within walking distance for you and your family?
- Once there, are you and your family secure for at least a 24 – 48-hour period?
- Safe from enemy troops/government “peacekeepers” on the hunt?
- Safe from fallout and/or NBC agents?
- Does it have a food and water supply to sustain all of you for 7 days?
- If your initial safe location has been compromised, is a duplicate location nearby?
- Do you have a farther (more remote) location that you can reach on foot in 3 days?
- A secure, sustainable location with supplies for at least a month?
- Do you and your family have a handheld method of communication for each member?
- Have you formulated short-term (initial contact, 48 hours, 7 days) plans?
- Have you made long-term (1 month and month-by-month; 6 months and 6-month continuous analysis; 1 year) plans?
Law 3: You will be leaving your home, permanently or for a long time.
This is survival. The majority of readers are not living in the mountains or in a remote location. If you follow these steps and practice them on a dry-run on a regular basis…it will give you the advantage that most people will not have. You must innovate: come up with ideas that others will not think of. Do you know of an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town? Chances are that 90% of others will think the same thing in a grid-down/Red Dawn survival scenario. You need to find the places that are off the beaten path. And if there are none? It may mean that you have to create a place.
How? By caching your supplies within the walking distances described for each part of the “safe” area. By finding tunnels, caves, or other sub-structures that can protect you from the elements and at least afford partial protection from radiation. By being who it is you imagine yourself to be: a prepper…a survivalist…or a survivor. When you enter any contest, do you enter it to lose? Do you strive for just “second place” or “second best” in this arena? Chances are the answer is “no,” but you have to arrive on that conclusion on your own. All of this is a challenge, and this underlines everything for you if it needs clarification:
Law 4: In survival, there is no silver medal: “second place” means death.
Forget that phrase in “The Hunger Games,” because if you are taken…the odds are not ever in your favor. We went through a 4-article series on how to escape from the Gulag where I reiterated how important it is for you to stay out of it. I stand by this concept. If you are taken captive, the odds aren’t in your favor of getting out…for the duration of it.
And then guess what? The Germans during WWII as the allies approached began to hide their transgressions by liquidating the camps…basically killing everyone that could bear any type of witness to the atrocities. Do not think for an instant that it will not happen again. Look at Holodomor in Ukraine and the starvation tactics the USSR used to follow after the Malthusian model. Our enemies have very little regard for human life, and the lives they value are of their own people. If the Chinese communists would run over their own people with tanks and sell their internal organs while they’re still alive, what will they do with us?
Which brings us to the “Malcolm X” rule:
Law 5: You must stay out and survive by any and all means necessary.
Some of you may think “JJ is a little harsh.” I would rather be hard and harsh now, and enable you, my countrymen, to have some tools at your disposal and a “sharp tack” under the figurative buttocks of your mind to give you the impetus to do something about the situation prior to its occurrence. The country is “long in the tooth,” and you have to grasp these concepts and act upon them now…not burn off the pages and save them in the survival archives…but use them to inculcate your own, individual plan of action now.
Rule #5 means resolving yourself to do what you must in order to protect yourself from the ravages (and not just possible, but probable death) inside of one of these camps. These are all basic, “generic” things to begin as a base for your preparations. This is a form of guerilla warfare! Avoid the occupiers/oppressors at all cost! These things will work for you…if you resolve yourself (ves) to do them. I’ll close with a note on OPSEC (operational security): you better build off of these basics and keep all of them to yourself.
JJ is giving you the basics that you need, without revealing everything of his own plans. Why? Because I earned them by paying for them with years of experience and suffering, and it means my family’s survival. Such measures would run you a lot of money and imagination; such measures come from years of practical experience and the willingness to take chances. This thought brings us to our final rule, the failure of which means compromise leading to death:
Law 6: Do not tip your hand or reveal your plans to anyone.
Next installment we will talk about life under occupation, be that by foreign invaders or by totalitarian state that has morphed out of a democracy. In the meantime, prepare and plan, and when you are reasonably sure, execute a dry run. The practice does make perfect and affords you a time and trials to iron out all of the glitches in your operations. Until next time be good to one another and keep up the fight!
5 Everyday Household Items for Emergency Survival
In today’s post, we’ll discuss a survivalist principle known as improvisation. You might be familiar with the term as it’s used in music or comedy, but it essentially means thinking on your feet.
When it comes to survival situations, it’s easy to be caught off-guard, with less than you need to survive. This is why improvisation is so critical—it can turn “useless” items from your surroundings into lifesavers. While this skill is incredibly useful in the great outdoors, there are many items around your home that can be used in an emergency situation.
Here’s our 5 top household items you can use for survival:
Floss
Floss is easy to carry and can be used like any strong thread. You can stitch wounds or patch rips in clothing. You can braid it together for strong fishing line. You can tie down an improvised shelter. These are just a few of the many uses of floss.
Bleach
Common household bleach can be used in two particularly important ways in an emergency. First, you can treat water—though you should only do this if filtration or boiling are not options. 8 drops of bleach per gallon is the level recommended to sanitize without any bleach taste. Second, bleach is extremely useful to disinfect surfaces, especially in the event of an epidemic.
Toilet Paper
Besides its intended use (which should not be overlooked in a survival situation), toilet paper can be used to dress wounds, it can be used as a fire starter a wick for an oil candle and much more.
Duct Tape
Duct tape has countless uses, not only everyday, but it’s also essential in an emergency situation. You can seal drafts in your home with a few layers of duct tape. Duct tape can be made into a sling for a sprained or broken limb.
Garbage
It might sound gross, but in a survival situation, you need to be willing to use everything at your disposal. Tin cans can be used in a variety of ways: you can make candles with them or use them as a pot for cooking. The tabs from beer or soda cans can be used to make fishing hooks. Leftover cooking oil or bacon fat can be used as candle fuel. If you can repurpose garbage, you can be confident in your survival improvisation skills at home.
These are only five items, but there are probably hundreds of items around your home you can use if the need arises.
Friday, November 13, 2015Must-Haves for a Barter-Based EconomyIn any extended long-term emergency, our currency-based economy may no longer function and may even become non-existent. If that happens, you’ll not only want to have everything you need to be self-sufficient, but you’ll want to consider keeping items for trade in a barter-based economy as well. You never know when you’ll need something you don’t have, and if you can trade for something they need, it’s win-win.
The following items could be essential to your survival in a barter-based economy:
Coffee
Coffee is the world’s second most valuable commodity traded today, behind crude oil. You can bet that coffee will be nearly as valuable in a barter-based economy, because of its widespread consumption and addictive properties. Coffee is a temporary mood-enhancer and increases alertness, which are both extremely valuable in an emergency situation.
Alcohol
While we don’t suggest drinking alcohol in an emergency situation, alcohol has many survival uses. With the right know-how, it can be made into medicine and can clean wounds. It can also be used to make a weapon or start fires if absolutely necessary.
Livestock or Game
In an emergency situation, many people will be without access to fresh food, especially meat. If you can raise or hunt your own protein, finding trading partners will be easy.
Fresh Produce, Seeds and Seedlings
Fruits and vegetables will be another commodity in short supply in an emergency situation. Your crops will be especially valuable if you are growing produce rich in nutrients like vitamin C that can prevent deadly diseases like scurvy.
Medicine and Vitamins
If you can find a supplier or an understanding doctor to obtain antibiotics or painkillers, these items can be extremely valuable in an emergency. Vitamins will also become valuable if fresh food becomes scarce.
Tools
Tools are a great barter item, especially if your trading partner also has a tool you need. You can swap and both contribute to each other’s self-reliance.
Special Skills and Homemade Items
If you know how to sew and make clothes, you fill a huge, necessary void that will be created if large-scale manufacturing ceases. Similarly, the ability to make soap is a crucial skill and item to have in a barter-based economy. But virtually any skill or homemade item can be used to barter if it is unique or very high in demand.
In today’s post, we’ll discuss a survivalist principle known as improvisation. You might be familiar with the term as it’s used in music or comedy, but it essentially means thinking on your feet.
When it comes to survival situations, it’s easy to be caught off-guard, with less than you need to survive. This is why improvisation is so critical—it can turn “useless” items from your surroundings into lifesavers. While this skill is incredibly useful in the great outdoors, there are many items around your home that can be used in an emergency situation.
Here’s our 5 top household items you can use for survival:
Floss
Floss is easy to carry and can be used like any strong thread. You can stitch wounds or patch rips in clothing. You can braid it together for strong fishing line. You can tie down an improvised shelter. These are just a few of the many uses of floss.
Bleach
Common household bleach can be used in two particularly important ways in an emergency. First, you can treat water—though you should only do this if filtration or boiling are not options. 8 drops of bleach per gallon is the level recommended to sanitize without any bleach taste. Second, bleach is extremely useful to disinfect surfaces, especially in the event of an epidemic.
Toilet Paper
Besides its intended use (which should not be overlooked in a survival situation), toilet paper can be used to dress wounds, it can be used as a fire starter a wick for an oil candle and much more.
Duct Tape
Duct tape has countless uses, not only everyday, but it’s also essential in an emergency situation. You can seal drafts in your home with a few layers of duct tape. Duct tape can be made into a sling for a sprained or broken limb.
Garbage
It might sound gross, but in a survival situation, you need to be willing to use everything at your disposal. Tin cans can be used in a variety of ways: you can make candles with them or use them as a pot for cooking. The tabs from beer or soda cans can be used to make fishing hooks. Leftover cooking oil or bacon fat can be used as candle fuel. If you can repurpose garbage, you can be confident in your survival improvisation skills at home.
These are only five items, but there are probably hundreds of items around your home you can use if the need arises.
Friday, November 13, 2015Must-Haves for a Barter-Based EconomyIn any extended long-term emergency, our currency-based economy may no longer function and may even become non-existent. If that happens, you’ll not only want to have everything you need to be self-sufficient, but you’ll want to consider keeping items for trade in a barter-based economy as well. You never know when you’ll need something you don’t have, and if you can trade for something they need, it’s win-win.
The following items could be essential to your survival in a barter-based economy:
Coffee
Coffee is the world’s second most valuable commodity traded today, behind crude oil. You can bet that coffee will be nearly as valuable in a barter-based economy, because of its widespread consumption and addictive properties. Coffee is a temporary mood-enhancer and increases alertness, which are both extremely valuable in an emergency situation.
Alcohol
While we don’t suggest drinking alcohol in an emergency situation, alcohol has many survival uses. With the right know-how, it can be made into medicine and can clean wounds. It can also be used to make a weapon or start fires if absolutely necessary.
Livestock or Game
In an emergency situation, many people will be without access to fresh food, especially meat. If you can raise or hunt your own protein, finding trading partners will be easy.
Fresh Produce, Seeds and Seedlings
Fruits and vegetables will be another commodity in short supply in an emergency situation. Your crops will be especially valuable if you are growing produce rich in nutrients like vitamin C that can prevent deadly diseases like scurvy.
Medicine and Vitamins
If you can find a supplier or an understanding doctor to obtain antibiotics or painkillers, these items can be extremely valuable in an emergency. Vitamins will also become valuable if fresh food becomes scarce.
Tools
Tools are a great barter item, especially if your trading partner also has a tool you need. You can swap and both contribute to each other’s self-reliance.
Special Skills and Homemade Items
If you know how to sew and make clothes, you fill a huge, necessary void that will be created if large-scale manufacturing ceases. Similarly, the ability to make soap is a crucial skill and item to have in a barter-based economy. But virtually any skill or homemade item can be used to barter if it is unique or very high in demand.
Last Shopping Trip for Prepping: What to Get if You Only Have One Chance Left
Written by P. Henry
The news on Wednesday mentioned closed door meetings with the President and the heads of the several agencies and organizations dealing with finances. It included members of the Federal Reserve (which is not a government agency) the FDIC, the CFTC and the SEC as well as the Federal Housing Agency. This meeting has a lot of people spooked and you can read some reasons why on the SHTFPlan blog. Actually, by the time this post is published, we may know what they were talking about. Mostly, the very rational concern stems from the belief that something big is getting ready to happen and only the powers that be know what it is. They are obviously too scared to let us know. Could this have anything to do with the glitch on NASDAQ Thursday that halted trading?
News like this makes me start to mentally go over my prepping and I start analyzing what I still haven’t done, or need to check on again. This happens almost every time there is a news story like this and it is with the full knowledge and belief that I am squared away at a level that I believe will keep my family fed and secure for a good bit of time. Could we last if everything descended into chaos tomorrow and there was wide-spread panic, looting, violence and wars? That, I don’t know. However, we have made a lot of preparations for our family so I don’t feel helpless if we are visited by a future doomsday scenario like that any time soon. I certainly don’t welcome it, but I don’t feel like we’ll be caught completely off guard either. I mentioned in another post how from time to time, thinking about what I would do with some small amount of advanced warning causes me to reevaluate my preps. I do think that it is wise to constantly be aware of your surroundings (as well as what’s going on in the world) and to take advantage of circumstances if you can, to give your family a leg up.
One of the recurring comments from that post was that I didn’t offer solutions. I will admit that the title of the post could have easily been misunderstood and that is my fault. The post was titled “You have 36 hours to keep your family safe: what do you do?” and you could logically assume from that title that I was going to tell you what to do. That I would be giving you six steps you can take to prepare your family for survival or something along those lines. What I was doing, was telling you the question I had in my mind and how I thought about the various things any parent would think if faced with that situation. It wasn’t my intention to confuse people, but I understand people are looking for actions they can take so in this post I hope to give some ideas about what you can do if you only have a very small amount of time and you need to get some last minute items for your family.
I will take the same scenario but shorten the time a little and let’s say you have 12 hours advance knowledge of some event. Let’s say the stock market started tanking mid-day and the punditry and your own sixth sense was telling you that something serious was happening. By the close of business the market is down 30% and trading has been halted. Maybe the government declares a bank holiday, credit cards aren’t accepted and you only have the cash in your wallet or what you have hidden for a rainy day. You know you have to run to the store to get supplies before the rest of the world beats you to it and we will say that you have a limited budget of $200. What would you do? Where would you go and in what order would things need to be done?
Before I continue, I must say that this scenario, if it really was as dire as I am painting would be deadly for a lot of people. I don’t know that what you could grab from the store in 2 hours would keep you alive for years, but it could keep you alive for a week. Something as complex as financial Armageddon can’t be survived with a few cans of tuna fish and some pop tarts but you have to live to fight another day, right? It’s a start, but in a perfect world you would have begun your journey to being prepared a long time ago. We will assume this trip is just going to be adding to what you already have. You could just as easily apply most of the same concepts to a hurricane or flood. That said, let’s go!
What would you do?
Quickly define prepping priorities
One of the first things that any prepper should do is take an inventory of what they need to have in order to survive any given period of time. In our scenario above we are talking about an economic collapse. Regardless of the disaster, the most basic list of priorities would be water, food, shelter and security. Ideally you would have prepared long ago for these basics, but in our scenario you haven’t or something happened and you need to resupply. I think it is safe to say that in terms of priority, if you don’t have all of the above already, security is going to be out so for now we will focus on food and water first and pray that you don’t need security.
It is right now that you need to quickly conduct a mental and physical inventory what you have and what you need. I say physical because I have been surprised in the past when a supply I thought I had plenty of was gone. (What do you mean all of the batteries I had ended up in the Wii remotes?) This is another reason to make sure you are constantly rotating your supplies and refilling when they are used. The time of year must be considered as well. Is it the middle of summer or the dead of winter? This is going to drive the priority of what you are looking for. In a time like this, if you don’t make it to the store quickly, there may not be anything left when you do. Provided you are paying attention and can act though you may beat the crowd before anyone even knows what is going on. Some quick examples are:
Do you have a gallon of water for everyone in the house for at least one week? Add more if the weather is hot and you may run into quantity limits if the news is out already. For a family of 4 you would need to have 28 gallons (4 X 7 = 28). Do you have a way to capture and treat water after that?
Do you have enough food to feed everyone for 7 days that doesn’t require cooking?
Are there hygiene items you need or will need in the upcoming weeks?
Do you have basic first aid?
Make a Disaster Plan
Divide responsibilities if you have more than one person who can run to the store. Once you know what you need to get you can send one person to one store or even split up once you are in the store to grab the items you need quickly. One person can go to Sporting goods and the other person can run to the food aisles. Water is usually located in a couple of places, but they store a lot more of it back in the food section. 2 ½ gallon jugs are easier to carry.
Maintain communication – This is when those great two way radios come in handy. If you can radio the other person shopping, you will both be more efficient and can work better as a team. You can also find your way out of the store together if panic sets in.
Where would you go?
There are a lot of options from the corner grocery store to a convenience store to the big box retailers. I think that if you have access to them all, I would hit a Wal-Mart, or Target first over the other choices. The reasons are price and selection. You have to admit there isn’t much you can’t buy at Wal-Mart and if your time is limited it makes sense to go there instead of somewhere else. Now, can you get better food at Whole Foods or Fresh Market? Yes, but they will have less on hand, the stores are smaller so they will be more crowded and the cost will be higher. Even the parking lots are smaller so you might find yourself unable to park, or worse, unable to get out. We are trying for survival here. If Wal-Mart isn’t available you will have to do your best, but that would be my preference. Why Wal-Mart and not a grocery store? Again, Wal-Mart or Kmart or Target each have more items than just food. They all have camping sections and in some cases Sporting goods and you won’t likely be able to pick up a box of 9mm rounds at the Piggly Wiggly.
If all you have is the local grocery store or even the CVS then by all means go there. In fact, the local drug stores have become more diversified in what they carry, but again they suffer from cost and variety. You may have to resort to shopping there, but it isn’t ideal. You will get less for your money and could end up with nothing.
What order would things need to be done?
Again, this depends on what you need the most. If you have a hundred gallons of water stored at home you would skip that possibly. Go for what you need the most of realizing that you can live without food longer than you can live without water.
Water first – Grab as much as you can. In our scenario above 28 gallons is going to cost you about $31. You can also get this from the tap for free if you have a means to store it.
Canned meats – think of canned meats like Tuna, Chicken or Ham. The cost on these is a lot higher though so you will need to augment your food with cheaper items. Plan on spending about $50
Canned veggies – Only grab what your family is going to eat and I would say get items that will go with the other ingredients in a stew. Corn, carrots, tomatoes, beans etc. $20
Rice and beans – or oatmeal. These will all keep for years and require just a little hot water to make them tasty. You can still get 50 pound bags of rice for under $20. – $40 for rice, beans and oatmeal to last.
Toilet Paper and Hygiene – It never fails that whenever there is some reason you don’t want to go to the store, you find out you are out of toilet paper. Same with other feminine needs. $12 for TP
Batteries and Flashlights – I prefer headlights that you can strap to your head. They make any task in the dark much easier than holding a flashlight. Make sure you have spare batteries to last you a week. $30 for two headlamps and $10 for batteries
Peanuts and Pop-Tarts – Require no refrigeration and who doesn’t like Pop tarts? – Save the junk food for last because I think it will go first. $15
This list is limited and you may be thinking to yourself, that’s all I can get for $200? What if the power goes out? What about home defense? What if the gas stations stop pumping fuel? What about communications or protection against viral infections? Those are all great questions and I hope that if you haven’t started prepping yet, this post might make you reconsider. You do not want to be the person running around with no money trying to plan for your survival at crunch time. Please begin to take steps now, while the lights are still on to protect your family and hopefully this won’t be you.
Source: The Prepper Journal
Written by P. Henry
The news on Wednesday mentioned closed door meetings with the President and the heads of the several agencies and organizations dealing with finances. It included members of the Federal Reserve (which is not a government agency) the FDIC, the CFTC and the SEC as well as the Federal Housing Agency. This meeting has a lot of people spooked and you can read some reasons why on the SHTFPlan blog. Actually, by the time this post is published, we may know what they were talking about. Mostly, the very rational concern stems from the belief that something big is getting ready to happen and only the powers that be know what it is. They are obviously too scared to let us know. Could this have anything to do with the glitch on NASDAQ Thursday that halted trading?
News like this makes me start to mentally go over my prepping and I start analyzing what I still haven’t done, or need to check on again. This happens almost every time there is a news story like this and it is with the full knowledge and belief that I am squared away at a level that I believe will keep my family fed and secure for a good bit of time. Could we last if everything descended into chaos tomorrow and there was wide-spread panic, looting, violence and wars? That, I don’t know. However, we have made a lot of preparations for our family so I don’t feel helpless if we are visited by a future doomsday scenario like that any time soon. I certainly don’t welcome it, but I don’t feel like we’ll be caught completely off guard either. I mentioned in another post how from time to time, thinking about what I would do with some small amount of advanced warning causes me to reevaluate my preps. I do think that it is wise to constantly be aware of your surroundings (as well as what’s going on in the world) and to take advantage of circumstances if you can, to give your family a leg up.
One of the recurring comments from that post was that I didn’t offer solutions. I will admit that the title of the post could have easily been misunderstood and that is my fault. The post was titled “You have 36 hours to keep your family safe: what do you do?” and you could logically assume from that title that I was going to tell you what to do. That I would be giving you six steps you can take to prepare your family for survival or something along those lines. What I was doing, was telling you the question I had in my mind and how I thought about the various things any parent would think if faced with that situation. It wasn’t my intention to confuse people, but I understand people are looking for actions they can take so in this post I hope to give some ideas about what you can do if you only have a very small amount of time and you need to get some last minute items for your family.
I will take the same scenario but shorten the time a little and let’s say you have 12 hours advance knowledge of some event. Let’s say the stock market started tanking mid-day and the punditry and your own sixth sense was telling you that something serious was happening. By the close of business the market is down 30% and trading has been halted. Maybe the government declares a bank holiday, credit cards aren’t accepted and you only have the cash in your wallet or what you have hidden for a rainy day. You know you have to run to the store to get supplies before the rest of the world beats you to it and we will say that you have a limited budget of $200. What would you do? Where would you go and in what order would things need to be done?
Before I continue, I must say that this scenario, if it really was as dire as I am painting would be deadly for a lot of people. I don’t know that what you could grab from the store in 2 hours would keep you alive for years, but it could keep you alive for a week. Something as complex as financial Armageddon can’t be survived with a few cans of tuna fish and some pop tarts but you have to live to fight another day, right? It’s a start, but in a perfect world you would have begun your journey to being prepared a long time ago. We will assume this trip is just going to be adding to what you already have. You could just as easily apply most of the same concepts to a hurricane or flood. That said, let’s go!
What would you do?
Quickly define prepping priorities
One of the first things that any prepper should do is take an inventory of what they need to have in order to survive any given period of time. In our scenario above we are talking about an economic collapse. Regardless of the disaster, the most basic list of priorities would be water, food, shelter and security. Ideally you would have prepared long ago for these basics, but in our scenario you haven’t or something happened and you need to resupply. I think it is safe to say that in terms of priority, if you don’t have all of the above already, security is going to be out so for now we will focus on food and water first and pray that you don’t need security.
It is right now that you need to quickly conduct a mental and physical inventory what you have and what you need. I say physical because I have been surprised in the past when a supply I thought I had plenty of was gone. (What do you mean all of the batteries I had ended up in the Wii remotes?) This is another reason to make sure you are constantly rotating your supplies and refilling when they are used. The time of year must be considered as well. Is it the middle of summer or the dead of winter? This is going to drive the priority of what you are looking for. In a time like this, if you don’t make it to the store quickly, there may not be anything left when you do. Provided you are paying attention and can act though you may beat the crowd before anyone even knows what is going on. Some quick examples are:
Do you have a gallon of water for everyone in the house for at least one week? Add more if the weather is hot and you may run into quantity limits if the news is out already. For a family of 4 you would need to have 28 gallons (4 X 7 = 28). Do you have a way to capture and treat water after that?
Do you have enough food to feed everyone for 7 days that doesn’t require cooking?
Are there hygiene items you need or will need in the upcoming weeks?
Do you have basic first aid?
Make a Disaster Plan
Divide responsibilities if you have more than one person who can run to the store. Once you know what you need to get you can send one person to one store or even split up once you are in the store to grab the items you need quickly. One person can go to Sporting goods and the other person can run to the food aisles. Water is usually located in a couple of places, but they store a lot more of it back in the food section. 2 ½ gallon jugs are easier to carry.
Maintain communication – This is when those great two way radios come in handy. If you can radio the other person shopping, you will both be more efficient and can work better as a team. You can also find your way out of the store together if panic sets in.
Where would you go?
There are a lot of options from the corner grocery store to a convenience store to the big box retailers. I think that if you have access to them all, I would hit a Wal-Mart, or Target first over the other choices. The reasons are price and selection. You have to admit there isn’t much you can’t buy at Wal-Mart and if your time is limited it makes sense to go there instead of somewhere else. Now, can you get better food at Whole Foods or Fresh Market? Yes, but they will have less on hand, the stores are smaller so they will be more crowded and the cost will be higher. Even the parking lots are smaller so you might find yourself unable to park, or worse, unable to get out. We are trying for survival here. If Wal-Mart isn’t available you will have to do your best, but that would be my preference. Why Wal-Mart and not a grocery store? Again, Wal-Mart or Kmart or Target each have more items than just food. They all have camping sections and in some cases Sporting goods and you won’t likely be able to pick up a box of 9mm rounds at the Piggly Wiggly.
If all you have is the local grocery store or even the CVS then by all means go there. In fact, the local drug stores have become more diversified in what they carry, but again they suffer from cost and variety. You may have to resort to shopping there, but it isn’t ideal. You will get less for your money and could end up with nothing.
What order would things need to be done?
Again, this depends on what you need the most. If you have a hundred gallons of water stored at home you would skip that possibly. Go for what you need the most of realizing that you can live without food longer than you can live without water.
Water first – Grab as much as you can. In our scenario above 28 gallons is going to cost you about $31. You can also get this from the tap for free if you have a means to store it.
Canned meats – think of canned meats like Tuna, Chicken or Ham. The cost on these is a lot higher though so you will need to augment your food with cheaper items. Plan on spending about $50
Canned veggies – Only grab what your family is going to eat and I would say get items that will go with the other ingredients in a stew. Corn, carrots, tomatoes, beans etc. $20
Rice and beans – or oatmeal. These will all keep for years and require just a little hot water to make them tasty. You can still get 50 pound bags of rice for under $20. – $40 for rice, beans and oatmeal to last.
Toilet Paper and Hygiene – It never fails that whenever there is some reason you don’t want to go to the store, you find out you are out of toilet paper. Same with other feminine needs. $12 for TP
Batteries and Flashlights – I prefer headlights that you can strap to your head. They make any task in the dark much easier than holding a flashlight. Make sure you have spare batteries to last you a week. $30 for two headlamps and $10 for batteries
Peanuts and Pop-Tarts – Require no refrigeration and who doesn’t like Pop tarts? – Save the junk food for last because I think it will go first. $15
This list is limited and you may be thinking to yourself, that’s all I can get for $200? What if the power goes out? What about home defense? What if the gas stations stop pumping fuel? What about communications or protection against viral infections? Those are all great questions and I hope that if you haven’t started prepping yet, this post might make you reconsider. You do not want to be the person running around with no money trying to plan for your survival at crunch time. Please begin to take steps now, while the lights are still on to protect your family and hopefully this won’t be you.
Source: The Prepper Journal
When the Well Runs Dry
This entry was posted on March 13, 2015 by Emergency Essentials.
What Happens When There’s No More Water?
Do you have more than one water resource?
Bob Marley once said, “You ain’t gonna miss your water until your well runs dry.”
When Abelardo’s well ran dry nearly a year ago, he feared the worst. On fixed income and in the middle of the San Joaquin Valley in California, the four-year drought threatened to force the 81-year-old man to move away from his home. Hundreds of others are in the same situation, as the water shortage in California drags on. Fortunately for Abelardo, help came to him by the aid of a non-profit organization that dug him a new, much deeper well.
As ground water levels drop in California, farmers pump more and more water out of the ground to try and save their crops. This causes the water levels to drop even further, drying up wells. Reservoirs are low, and there is far less snow in the mountains this year than there were last year. All these factors threaten to make the drought in California much worse this summer.
The state of California pumps over 10 billion gallons of water per day. That’s an average of 258 gallons of water per day per person. That’s a lot of water! Now take into consideration that less than 1% of all the water on our precious Earth can actually be used by people (everything else is salt water or frozen solid). As a comparison, take flushing the toilet. Each flush uses about 3.5 gallons of water. So if you flush the toilet five times in one day, you’re using 17.5 gallons of water. That means if everyone in California flushed their toilet 5 times a day, that would use over 650 million gallons of water. So you can see how quickly water can go, well, down the drain.
There are other ways for ground water to become unusable or inaccessible. What might happen if the power grid goes down? The municipal water facilities won’t be able to supply your home with water. What then?
Drinking water won't always be readily available.
Or how about chemicals and other contaminants that can penetrate our precious ground water? Ground water gives over half of the total U.S. population its drinking water, and it helps grow 64% of our crops. Septic tanks or gasoline and oil storage tanks – all kept underground – may leak and spill their contents into the soil and water. This leads to contamination containing bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and other harmful substances. Even road salts can find their way underground. Landfills also give us other hazards, from leaking battery acid, paint, and other abandoned products.
Think about how much water you use in a day, from bathing, cooking, drinking, washing, flushing, and all other things we use water for. How desperate would you be without that essential liquid? Personally, I’d be hosed (too soon?).
As you can see, there are more reasons than just drought and overuse that can keep us without water. Fortunately, we have a way to prepare against such calamities.
By building up your water storage, you’re preparing yourself for all of these unforeseen disasters. There are a lot of different options for storing water. There are large, 160 gallon water reserves available, which can even stack on top of each other, thus maximizing storage space. However, that may be a tad too large. If you’re like me and live in a small apartment, you might need something a little smaller. Boxed water kits and smaller 5 gallon jugs might be the only option you have, and that’s OK. Heck, if you have an extra bathtub, we even have a storage product that converts your tub into a 65 gallon water storage container!
Essentially, water is important. Without it, life wouldn’t just be hard, it would cease. That’s why preparing for water shortages of any kind is vitally important.
This entry was posted on March 13, 2015 by Emergency Essentials.
What Happens When There’s No More Water?
Do you have more than one water resource?
Bob Marley once said, “You ain’t gonna miss your water until your well runs dry.”
When Abelardo’s well ran dry nearly a year ago, he feared the worst. On fixed income and in the middle of the San Joaquin Valley in California, the four-year drought threatened to force the 81-year-old man to move away from his home. Hundreds of others are in the same situation, as the water shortage in California drags on. Fortunately for Abelardo, help came to him by the aid of a non-profit organization that dug him a new, much deeper well.
As ground water levels drop in California, farmers pump more and more water out of the ground to try and save their crops. This causes the water levels to drop even further, drying up wells. Reservoirs are low, and there is far less snow in the mountains this year than there were last year. All these factors threaten to make the drought in California much worse this summer.
The state of California pumps over 10 billion gallons of water per day. That’s an average of 258 gallons of water per day per person. That’s a lot of water! Now take into consideration that less than 1% of all the water on our precious Earth can actually be used by people (everything else is salt water or frozen solid). As a comparison, take flushing the toilet. Each flush uses about 3.5 gallons of water. So if you flush the toilet five times in one day, you’re using 17.5 gallons of water. That means if everyone in California flushed their toilet 5 times a day, that would use over 650 million gallons of water. So you can see how quickly water can go, well, down the drain.
There are other ways for ground water to become unusable or inaccessible. What might happen if the power grid goes down? The municipal water facilities won’t be able to supply your home with water. What then?
Drinking water won't always be readily available.
Or how about chemicals and other contaminants that can penetrate our precious ground water? Ground water gives over half of the total U.S. population its drinking water, and it helps grow 64% of our crops. Septic tanks or gasoline and oil storage tanks – all kept underground – may leak and spill their contents into the soil and water. This leads to contamination containing bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and other harmful substances. Even road salts can find their way underground. Landfills also give us other hazards, from leaking battery acid, paint, and other abandoned products.
Think about how much water you use in a day, from bathing, cooking, drinking, washing, flushing, and all other things we use water for. How desperate would you be without that essential liquid? Personally, I’d be hosed (too soon?).
As you can see, there are more reasons than just drought and overuse that can keep us without water. Fortunately, we have a way to prepare against such calamities.
By building up your water storage, you’re preparing yourself for all of these unforeseen disasters. There are a lot of different options for storing water. There are large, 160 gallon water reserves available, which can even stack on top of each other, thus maximizing storage space. However, that may be a tad too large. If you’re like me and live in a small apartment, you might need something a little smaller. Boxed water kits and smaller 5 gallon jugs might be the only option you have, and that’s OK. Heck, if you have an extra bathtub, we even have a storage product that converts your tub into a 65 gallon water storage container!
Essentially, water is important. Without it, life wouldn’t just be hard, it would cease. That’s why preparing for water shortages of any kind is vitally important.
The Advantages of Freeze-Dried Foods
Beprepared.com
In addition to complementing your other stored foods well, most freeze-dried food offers additional advantages: looking fresh, tasting fresh, staying fresh, and weighing less than fresh foods. Another advantage is that they add variety to your meals while being quick and easy to prepare.
After freeze-dried foods are re-hydrated, many are comparable to foods you might find in the freezer section of your grocery store. Since freeze-dried foods re-hydrate well and taste much like frozen foods, they enable the meals you create to taste much like those you create using fresh foods.
The following attributes of freeze-dried foods highlight some of the main reasons they are a storage favorite:
Fresh appearance. Freeze-dried foods are first flash frozen and then have the moisture removed so they maintain much of their original shape, texture, and appearance.
Fresh taste. Freeze-dried food is not dried via heat processing so it retains more of the aroma and flavor of the original food. The freeze-drying process also maintains most of the original food’s nutritional content. Freeze-drying simply removes the water, not the flavor.
Lasting freshness. The freeze-drying process removes water from prepared foods. To further ensure the lasting freshness of these foods, both Provident Pantry® and Mountain House® #10 cans and pouches have oxygen removed or oxygen absorbers added. This helps keep the food tasting fresh.
Low storage weight. Freeze-dried foods have approximately 98 percent of their water removed, resulting in foods that typically weigh 75 to 90 percent less than the original food. The freeze-drying process results in foods that are exceptionally light. This makes the food easy to package, transport, and store. For this reason, freeze-dried foods are excellent for your camping and backpacking trips and even in your 72-hour emergency kit.
Easy preparation. The freeze-drying process allows for quick re-hydration of the product, making freeze-dried foods ideal for your food storage. Most freeze-dried items are reconstituted by adding warm water, waiting about five to ten minutes, and draining the excess water. You may then use the food in your recipes.
Variety. Traditional food storage items such as wheat, rice, beans, sugar, and dehydrated foods allow you to create a variety of recipes. Freeze-dried foods add a whole new dimension to what you can create with these stored dehydrated basics. For example, with the help of freeze-dried meats, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables, you can use your dehydrated basics to create family favorites such as pizza or tacos, sweeteners for cereals, additions for soup bases, breakfast casseroles, desserts and much more.
Take advantage of the benefits of freeze-dried foods today! Shop for Mountain House freeze-dried foods here.
- See more at: http://beprepared.com/blog/?p=84&preview=true/&oc=INEM3336&sc=EMAIL&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=emer1022%20-%20INEM3336&utm_term=Master%20-%20Promotions#sthash.57ddTP3R.dpuf
Beprepared.com
In addition to complementing your other stored foods well, most freeze-dried food offers additional advantages: looking fresh, tasting fresh, staying fresh, and weighing less than fresh foods. Another advantage is that they add variety to your meals while being quick and easy to prepare.
After freeze-dried foods are re-hydrated, many are comparable to foods you might find in the freezer section of your grocery store. Since freeze-dried foods re-hydrate well and taste much like frozen foods, they enable the meals you create to taste much like those you create using fresh foods.
The following attributes of freeze-dried foods highlight some of the main reasons they are a storage favorite:
Fresh appearance. Freeze-dried foods are first flash frozen and then have the moisture removed so they maintain much of their original shape, texture, and appearance.
Fresh taste. Freeze-dried food is not dried via heat processing so it retains more of the aroma and flavor of the original food. The freeze-drying process also maintains most of the original food’s nutritional content. Freeze-drying simply removes the water, not the flavor.
Lasting freshness. The freeze-drying process removes water from prepared foods. To further ensure the lasting freshness of these foods, both Provident Pantry® and Mountain House® #10 cans and pouches have oxygen removed or oxygen absorbers added. This helps keep the food tasting fresh.
Low storage weight. Freeze-dried foods have approximately 98 percent of their water removed, resulting in foods that typically weigh 75 to 90 percent less than the original food. The freeze-drying process results in foods that are exceptionally light. This makes the food easy to package, transport, and store. For this reason, freeze-dried foods are excellent for your camping and backpacking trips and even in your 72-hour emergency kit.
Easy preparation. The freeze-drying process allows for quick re-hydration of the product, making freeze-dried foods ideal for your food storage. Most freeze-dried items are reconstituted by adding warm water, waiting about five to ten minutes, and draining the excess water. You may then use the food in your recipes.
Variety. Traditional food storage items such as wheat, rice, beans, sugar, and dehydrated foods allow you to create a variety of recipes. Freeze-dried foods add a whole new dimension to what you can create with these stored dehydrated basics. For example, with the help of freeze-dried meats, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables, you can use your dehydrated basics to create family favorites such as pizza or tacos, sweeteners for cereals, additions for soup bases, breakfast casseroles, desserts and much more.
Take advantage of the benefits of freeze-dried foods today! Shop for Mountain House freeze-dried foods here.
- See more at: http://beprepared.com/blog/?p=84&preview=true/&oc=INEM3336&sc=EMAIL&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=emer1022%20-%20INEM3336&utm_term=Master%20-%20Promotions#sthash.57ddTP3R.dpuf
10 Comfort items you’ll wish you had!The following 10 items are not just a wise idea to think about for that emergency kit but also for that weekend camping trip or that visit to the relatives for a weekend. Can you count the number of times when upon reaching you destination you realized what it was you had forgotten? Maybe you will see that item in this list or other items in this list you may want to add to yours.
While not exactly edible, having these ten comfort items will make everyday life more comfortable, whatever your emergency, wherever you are.
While not exactly edible, having these ten comfort items will make everyday life more comfortable, whatever your emergency, wherever you are.
- Deodorant/anti-perspirant. Picture this. You’ve been in your bunker for three weeks. Sponge baths are a rare treat. Then you remember your stash of Secret anti-perspirant. Ahhhh….. instant morale booster, especially if shared.
- Feminine products. Aunt Flo doesn’t stop her visits for something as trivial as a nuclear war. A six month’s stash, especially o.b. brand, won’t take up much room, and will greatly improve your quality of life.
- Small items for entertainment. Choose multi-use toys and games. Playing cards or Play-Dough, for example. Include a lengthy, multi-chapter book for yourself but family-friendly enough to serve as a read-aloud.
- Bar soap. In a pinch it can be used for shampoo and even laundry.
- Zip-Locs of all sizes. These can’t be beat for everything from a tooth for the Tooth Fairy to containing nuclear waste, aka dirty diapers.
- Rope for a clothesline and clothes pins. Air-dried laundry smells and feels so clean and crisp. It may become your preferred method of drying, even after the electricity comes on, and of course there’s the added benefit of being oh-so-Green!
- A pack of never-before-opened underwear for each family member. Enough said.
- Battery-powered CD player & CDs. There’s just something about beautiful music for defusing tension and calming nerves.
- Tylenol PM. Seriously. Do you really want to be 100% conscious wrapped up in your silver emergency blanket, huddled in the back seat of your mini-van?
- Toilet paper. But you knew I was going to say that, didn’t you??
Creating a Pantry
Lately, my pantry has been getting pretty cramped. Since it’s about time that we reevaluate our storage system, I’ve decided to talk about creating a useful pantry.
When we lived in our apartment, we had a gorgeous pantry closet. We actually put my brother in there to sleep when he stayed with us – it was that big. It was right off the kitchen, too. And what did I keep in there? Boxes with nothing in them, a bike, and furniture we didn’t want. Now, when I think back, I kick myself. People would have killed for that space! But, when we moved into our house, we found a solution that worked for us.
Step 1: Identify a Space
Finding a good space for your pantry needs is really important. For example, you do not want to put your food storage into your attic – it’s way too hot. Make sure the temperature is on the cool side, no more than 80 degrees at any given time. You also want to be able to get to it easily. Don’t create your pantry where you have to push loads of toys and boxes out of the way to get to the food.
For us, we had an empty closet under the stairs that the previous owner had built. SurvivalMom has her food storage in a spare bedroom. Other people use the tops of closets and underneath of beds. I’ve even seen people put #10 cans behind couches. It’s all up to you to decide where you can store items and be able to use them regularly.
Step 2: Create a Menu
I learned how to build a pantry from Safely Gathered In. I created a menu for two weeks worth of meals: chili, chicken parmesan, tacos, stir-fry, etc. Make sure these are meals you actually like to eat regularly. Also, be sure they are nutritionally complete. Don’t forget fruits and vegetables. Beans and rice get very boring after a while. Start with a dinner menu and work your way up to breakfast and lunch menus.
Then, I created a sheet in Google Docs detailing the ingredients needed for the meals, and tallying how many cans, boxes, and bags of those ingredients I’d need for three months worth of food.
Step 3: Create a Storage System
Given that *B* and I had just bought a house and are still in varying stages of school, we are living pretty frugally. I could not afford to go out and buy nice shelving. So we decided to build our pantry out of 2″x12″s and cinder blocks. It turned out well, and in an emergency, the pantry can be broken down for building materials. For you, though, it might be more useful to buy plastic or metal shelves. Or maybe you have old, very sturdy bookcases lying around.
Whatever you use, it must be stable and able to bear a good amount of weight. You do not want to hear a loud crash in the middle of the night and come down to see your canned food busted open and flour everywhere. Don’t put supplies directly against concrete. Raise things off the floor and keep them away from non-insulated walls. Temperature variations wreak havoc on food storage.
Step 4: Start Buying Supplies
It was just our luck that a few weeks after we moved in, our local grocery store had a customer appreciation sale. I was able to get Del Monte canned veggies at 50 cents a can. I bought 20 cans of each corn, peas, and green beans. Again, I can’t stress this enough: buy food your family will eat. Don’t go nuts buying canned beats if no one will touch them. However, if they like them, go for it.
Aside from shopping the sales, pick up a little bit of food for the pantry every time you go to the grocery store. When I go on my regular shopping trip, and I see that canned fruits are on sale, I’ll pick up anywhere from 2 to 6 cans depending on what I need. Occasionally, we go to Costco to get bulk items like flour, sugars, and rice.
Supplies don’t just mean food. Gamma buckets are the love of my life. They store my rice, sugar, and flour. Keep extra toilet paper and paper towels. Stock up on cold medications and basic first aid supplies. It’s handy to have extra tin foil, saran wrap, wax paper, laundry detergent, and propane. For those of you who have kids or have family with kids, throw a box or two of diapers in there. I also store ammo (not in my pantry, but elsewhere). Think about your needs and plan appropriately.
Step 5: ROTATE!
I cannot stress this enough. If you do not rotate your food, you are wasting money. Everything that you eat and like, rotate it through. In my pantry, we take food from the front left and add food to the back right of each item. Check dates when you buy food and keep an eye on them as you eat your supplies. Also, keep a tally of what gets eaten when. Have you had that same box of pancake mix in there for six months? Don’t buy more. You can’t keep cereal on the shelves? Pick up a little bit more at a time.
There are ways to get rid of food other than eating it or throwing it away though. Say, for example, you buy a case (12 cans) of canned potatoes. You open one can and decide you don’t like the texture. Donate it to a food bank. You bought too much for your family to eat and you’re three months before the expiration date? Donate it. There are starving people out there who would love our discards.
Step 6: Make it Your Own
As time goes on, living off of a pantry should be less a survival tool and more a way of life. Stock it with your family’s favorites. Don’t forget sweets – it’s really nice to be able to make a cake or brownies without having to go to the store. And during times of crisis (personal, national, or otherwise) those comfort foods are wonderful. Remember to stock up on foods for sick days like crackers and Gatorade. I had the flu this winter and lived off of Club crackers, Gatorade, and Spaghetti O’s from my pantry. I wasn’t able to drag myself to the store or stomach regular food, but this worked for me. Don’t make a pantry to the specifications of others, because no one else will have to use your provisions but you.
The 52 Week Food Storage Plan; Made Simple
In the beginning, we all struggle to wrap our heads around the idea of having enough food in our food storage to last our family for a year. It can be very overwhelming. I have learned through multiple sources how to break this project down to make your long-term goal more attainable AND controllable. Organization is the key to getting your storage done faster and more effectively to ensure your family has a 3 month supply of food, and also a years worth of food.
This article will show a different way to go about collecting food storage, by having a set goal and plan in mind versus just buying this and that all the time and then wondering, “Just how many meals do I have here?” So much space is wasted on food storage because a plan is not laid out and followed and you never really know how many meals you have on hand.
The plan:
The first thing you’re going to do is sit down and come up with a meal plan for two weeks (14 days). That will include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Everyone’s will be different based on your family’s needs. We have four people in our family so my examples/numbers will be based on that. You can change the numbers based on the amount of people you will feed and their dietary choices.
Now comes the math. Based on your meal plan, you will have to figure up the amount of servings each family member would eat according to the package directions. Once you have that figured out, multiply it by 52 to see how many servings of that product are needed. (Or 13 weeks if starting with a 3 month plan) Then multiply it by the amount of each family member in your household.
It would look like this: These figures are based on eating the product once a week.
Breakfast For 1 day:
Sausage:
Dinner for 1 day:
Spaghetti Sauce and Noodles:
Mountain House #10 Can of Spaghetti With Meat Sauce:
Lately, my pantry has been getting pretty cramped. Since it’s about time that we reevaluate our storage system, I’ve decided to talk about creating a useful pantry.
When we lived in our apartment, we had a gorgeous pantry closet. We actually put my brother in there to sleep when he stayed with us – it was that big. It was right off the kitchen, too. And what did I keep in there? Boxes with nothing in them, a bike, and furniture we didn’t want. Now, when I think back, I kick myself. People would have killed for that space! But, when we moved into our house, we found a solution that worked for us.
Step 1: Identify a Space
Finding a good space for your pantry needs is really important. For example, you do not want to put your food storage into your attic – it’s way too hot. Make sure the temperature is on the cool side, no more than 80 degrees at any given time. You also want to be able to get to it easily. Don’t create your pantry where you have to push loads of toys and boxes out of the way to get to the food.
For us, we had an empty closet under the stairs that the previous owner had built. SurvivalMom has her food storage in a spare bedroom. Other people use the tops of closets and underneath of beds. I’ve even seen people put #10 cans behind couches. It’s all up to you to decide where you can store items and be able to use them regularly.
Step 2: Create a Menu
I learned how to build a pantry from Safely Gathered In. I created a menu for two weeks worth of meals: chili, chicken parmesan, tacos, stir-fry, etc. Make sure these are meals you actually like to eat regularly. Also, be sure they are nutritionally complete. Don’t forget fruits and vegetables. Beans and rice get very boring after a while. Start with a dinner menu and work your way up to breakfast and lunch menus.
Then, I created a sheet in Google Docs detailing the ingredients needed for the meals, and tallying how many cans, boxes, and bags of those ingredients I’d need for three months worth of food.
Step 3: Create a Storage System
Given that *B* and I had just bought a house and are still in varying stages of school, we are living pretty frugally. I could not afford to go out and buy nice shelving. So we decided to build our pantry out of 2″x12″s and cinder blocks. It turned out well, and in an emergency, the pantry can be broken down for building materials. For you, though, it might be more useful to buy plastic or metal shelves. Or maybe you have old, very sturdy bookcases lying around.
Whatever you use, it must be stable and able to bear a good amount of weight. You do not want to hear a loud crash in the middle of the night and come down to see your canned food busted open and flour everywhere. Don’t put supplies directly against concrete. Raise things off the floor and keep them away from non-insulated walls. Temperature variations wreak havoc on food storage.
Step 4: Start Buying Supplies
It was just our luck that a few weeks after we moved in, our local grocery store had a customer appreciation sale. I was able to get Del Monte canned veggies at 50 cents a can. I bought 20 cans of each corn, peas, and green beans. Again, I can’t stress this enough: buy food your family will eat. Don’t go nuts buying canned beats if no one will touch them. However, if they like them, go for it.
Aside from shopping the sales, pick up a little bit of food for the pantry every time you go to the grocery store. When I go on my regular shopping trip, and I see that canned fruits are on sale, I’ll pick up anywhere from 2 to 6 cans depending on what I need. Occasionally, we go to Costco to get bulk items like flour, sugars, and rice.
Supplies don’t just mean food. Gamma buckets are the love of my life. They store my rice, sugar, and flour. Keep extra toilet paper and paper towels. Stock up on cold medications and basic first aid supplies. It’s handy to have extra tin foil, saran wrap, wax paper, laundry detergent, and propane. For those of you who have kids or have family with kids, throw a box or two of diapers in there. I also store ammo (not in my pantry, but elsewhere). Think about your needs and plan appropriately.
Step 5: ROTATE!
I cannot stress this enough. If you do not rotate your food, you are wasting money. Everything that you eat and like, rotate it through. In my pantry, we take food from the front left and add food to the back right of each item. Check dates when you buy food and keep an eye on them as you eat your supplies. Also, keep a tally of what gets eaten when. Have you had that same box of pancake mix in there for six months? Don’t buy more. You can’t keep cereal on the shelves? Pick up a little bit more at a time.
There are ways to get rid of food other than eating it or throwing it away though. Say, for example, you buy a case (12 cans) of canned potatoes. You open one can and decide you don’t like the texture. Donate it to a food bank. You bought too much for your family to eat and you’re three months before the expiration date? Donate it. There are starving people out there who would love our discards.
Step 6: Make it Your Own
As time goes on, living off of a pantry should be less a survival tool and more a way of life. Stock it with your family’s favorites. Don’t forget sweets – it’s really nice to be able to make a cake or brownies without having to go to the store. And during times of crisis (personal, national, or otherwise) those comfort foods are wonderful. Remember to stock up on foods for sick days like crackers and Gatorade. I had the flu this winter and lived off of Club crackers, Gatorade, and Spaghetti O’s from my pantry. I wasn’t able to drag myself to the store or stomach regular food, but this worked for me. Don’t make a pantry to the specifications of others, because no one else will have to use your provisions but you.
The 52 Week Food Storage Plan; Made Simple
In the beginning, we all struggle to wrap our heads around the idea of having enough food in our food storage to last our family for a year. It can be very overwhelming. I have learned through multiple sources how to break this project down to make your long-term goal more attainable AND controllable. Organization is the key to getting your storage done faster and more effectively to ensure your family has a 3 month supply of food, and also a years worth of food.
This article will show a different way to go about collecting food storage, by having a set goal and plan in mind versus just buying this and that all the time and then wondering, “Just how many meals do I have here?” So much space is wasted on food storage because a plan is not laid out and followed and you never really know how many meals you have on hand.
The plan:
The first thing you’re going to do is sit down and come up with a meal plan for two weeks (14 days). That will include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Everyone’s will be different based on your family’s needs. We have four people in our family so my examples/numbers will be based on that. You can change the numbers based on the amount of people you will feed and their dietary choices.
Now comes the math. Based on your meal plan, you will have to figure up the amount of servings each family member would eat according to the package directions. Once you have that figured out, multiply it by 52 to see how many servings of that product are needed. (Or 13 weeks if starting with a 3 month plan) Then multiply it by the amount of each family member in your household.
It would look like this: These figures are based on eating the product once a week.
- Amount of Servings x 52 Weeks in the Year = Total amount needed for one person.
- Total amount x 4 = The complete amount needed to eat that product once a week for one year.
- If you were to eat that product twice in one week you would then multiply the complete amount x two. (And so on)
Breakfast For 1 day:
Sausage:
- Honey Ville #10 canned sausage holds 24 servings of sausage. One serving is half a cup, but re-hydrates to 1 cup. Based on that, I count the 1/2 cup servings as one cup of sausage. (Or you can opt for TVP freeze-dried sausage, this is considerably cheaper, but it is textured vegetable protein verses real pork)
- 1 cup of sausage x 52 = 52 c
- 52/24 (number of servings) = approx 2.1 cans
- 2 cans x 4 people = 8 cans of sausage
- 8 cans = sausage for breakfast once time a week for an entire year.
- 24 cups of water x 8 cans of sausage = 192 cups of water
- Conversion: 192 cups of water = 12 gallons of water to prepare these meals.
- Honey Ville Powdered Eggs #10 can = 78 tablespoons
- One egg takes 2 tablespoons of powdered mix.
- 8 eggs = 16 tablespoons (2 eggs each)
- 16 tablespoons x 52 = 832 tablespoons for 2 eggs each, once a week, for one year.
- 78 tablespoons x 11 cans = 858 tablespoons
- 11 cans = 2 eggs, one time a week, per person for a year with a little left over.
- 8 eggs x 4 tablespoons of water = 32 tablespoons water
- 32 tablespoons water x 52 weeks in a year = 1664 tablespoons water
- Conversion: 1664 tablespoons = 104 cups of water which = 6.5 gallons of water
- 8 cans of Honey Ville freeze-dried sausage.
- 11 cans of Honey Ville Powdered Whole Eggs
- 18.5 gallons of water. (This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to add that to your water storage. These small amounts can be used out of each person’s gallon of water per day.)
Dinner for 1 day:
Spaghetti Sauce and Noodles:
- 1- 32 ounce jar of Classico spaghetti sauce x 52 = 52 Jars
- 1- pounds package of noodles x 52 = 52 packages of noodles
- 1- Packages of Bisquick garlic rolls that you just add water two x 52 = 52 packs
- 52 Jars of spaghetti sauce.
- 52 packages of noodles.
- 52 packages of Bisquick garlic roll mix.
Mountain House #10 Can of Spaghetti With Meat Sauce:
- 10- 1 cup servings per can
- 52/10 (number of servings) = 5.2 cans (We will say 6 cans.)
- 6 cans x 4 = 24 cans of Spaghetti and meat sauce.
Do You Really Need that Generator?
by Sandra Bockhorst - APN
As I write this article, I have a guy out gutting the old motor home and it ‘s Honda generator. We are going to keep the generator, but with great hesitation. The most likely emergency scenario for us would be an hurricane. I have been through my share. Both with a generator and without. When I lived in Puerto Rico, Hurricane Hortense made a visit and we were without power for a week in the mountains. There was no television or video games during that time, but other than that, life was pretty much the same. Water was plentiful in the buckets we put under the roof to collect the deluge. That was for flushing and the cistern worked as it always did with the flat roof solar water heaters working fine as soon as the clouds had moved on. Oh we HAD to use the candles and kerosene lamps instead of lights and the kids did more monopoly and card games than usual. It was normal to cook out on the propane grill. We had plenty of feed for the animals and ourselves and we did quite well.
In 2006, Hurricanes Frances (Sept. 8-10), Ivan (Sept. 17-19) and Jeanne (Sept. 27- 28) hit our small farm in Pennsylvania and again I found myself without electricity for a week. We had a freezer full of food and not much ability to get out due to downed trees or flooding. Close-by friends came on the fourth day of no lights with their generator to save the freezer food. We bought a generator after that experience.
Here are my concerns about having a generator in harsh emergencies: They get stolen. They have to be housed when there is not an emergency. They need gasoline and gasoline goes bad. They are loud and an obvious arrow as to who has a generator. They need to be serviced and in top shape in time for the emergency. They emit carbon dioxide.
My feeling is that it is a luxury, not a necessity, unless you have a freezer full of food. I don’t keep a large quantity of frozen food now, mostly because of that Pennsylvanian hurricane experience. If we had a bugout location out in the middle of nowhere, it would be different. If I had someone who needed electricity to survive I might reconsider it. I am leaning more and more towards getting off off-grid. I am learning to live with more manual devices that don’t depend on electricity to run. Not living in horse and buggy days necessarily, just having and using things like knives instead of food processors, a whip instead of hand beater, a rake instead of leaf blower, a treadle sewing machine, that sort of thing. We use solar for a few things, like small fans and heating water. But re-thinking electricity has led me to change what I used to see as necessities. Living off off-grid is considering a life-style which millions have lived not that long ago.
The difference between the two homes was that one was set up better to do without electricity. Puerto Ricans had helped us develop a better sense of living off the grid than we did in Pennsylvania. With a husband who has spent his life working in the electricity business, (nuclear power instrumentation and controls engineer), listen to us when we tell you that the grid may not always be at the ready when you flick a switch. If you think that a generator should be part of your preps, then get one that will do the job you need it to do but keep in mind that there is much more needed than buying that piece of machinery.
Questions to ask yourself are:
1. Do you have all the things that machine will need including extension cords, gas, oil, spark plugs?
2. Do you have it housed so it will not be exposed to the elements and do you have the needed place for it to run keeping the exhaust fumes in mind?
3. Do you know how to maintain it or fix it should it quit running?
4. What will you do about people knowing that you have it in an emergency? The sound will direct them to you. Are you prepared to share or offer hospitality if the emergency is longer in duration? Or will you need to defend that generator?
5. Finally, what do you have that needs electricity that cannot be remedied in other ways?
What would you do if you received this letter from your school's principal:
http://allnewspipeline.com/Strange_September_18th_School_Warning.php
http://allnewspipeline.com/Strange_September_18th_School_Warning.php
Evacuating from Home in an Emergency Beprepared.com
Unfortunately, there are times when an emergency evacuation from your home is absolutely necessary. When the time to evacuate comes be sure to have your items ready-to-go and that you are prepared. Here are some questions and information regarding emergency evacuation.
Question #1: Where should I go when I have to evacuate?
A good family planning meeting to try to identify various destinations, depending upon what the emergency situation is, is a wise thing to do. If you live close to water and a hurricane is expected, remember that such storms tend to turn north and possibly east once they come ashore. Plan your route and try to flee southwestward, if possible. You will want a destination far enough away to provide protection but preferably reachable on one tank of gas. Experience teaches us that in times of emergency the lines at gas stations are notoriously long and in the worst case, no gas is available to purchase. One to two hundred miles is usually a good distance, but in a huge storm you may need to go farther. If at all possible, do not plan to rely on motels or hotels, as they fill up quickly and often in such circumstances do not honor reservations but operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you have a friend or relative that you can descend upon and be welcomed, that would be best. Perhaps you could make a reciprocal arrangement with them so that they would also be welcomed at your home if they encountered a need to leave. If the weather is good enough, a spot in a campground would probably suffice, especially if it offers restrooms and showers. If you’re lucky enough to have access to a vacation cabin away from the danger area, that would be ideal. Some people prepare ahead of time by stashing extra supplies at such a place or in a closet storage unit close by. Bedding, clothing, and toiletries and extra drinking water are good items to store in such a place. Storing sleeping bags, blankets, seasonal clothing and pillows in vacuumed bags will allow much more to be stored in a small space, and have the additional advantage of being water and insect-proof. This is a good idea even if you store your gear at home, and you can grab it along with your emergency kit
Question #2: What about a public shelter?
Sometimes this may be your only choice, but if you must go to one, take some precautions, as you will be thrown together with strangers and in a high stress situation. Keep your children and belongings with you at all times. If there are two adults present, make sure one stays with the children while the other goes to the restroom. Take turns on watch duty, even during the night. Don’t flash your emergency supplies or money around where all can see. Keep your car locked. On the other hand, if you see a real need and can share, quietly do so. Try to team up with other families to form a mini-community, and watch out for each other. Be a good citizen. Try to keep your children quiet and occupied. Don’t play loud music or talk loudly. Keep your area neat and don’t take up other people’s space. Crises bring out both the best and the worst in people, and everyone will be stressed to one degree or another. Try to be a part of the solution rather than a problem. Only a few shelters accept pets, and if you have one with you, be extra sensitive to the needs of others and take responsibility for your animal. Try to keep him from barking, howling, meowing or walking freely. Take him out often enough when the weather permits and discourage other people’s children from overwhelming him with attention, especially if he is nervous around children or strangers. Keep smaller animals in their carriers except when on a leash for exercise. Make sure ahead of time that any pet is up-to-date on its vaccinations. A friend or relative who lives out of the danger area and who would keep your pet safe for a few days would be ideal.
Question #3: How can I prepare my car for an evacuation?
Your car may be your new home for a while. A few small things may make all the difference.
Keep a detailed map of your area in your car. A GPS device can be a lifesaver, although it does run off your car’s electrical system, which could fail, so be sure to have a map. In the case of a mass evacuation, the main highways might be the most direct route to your chosen destination, but they may also be clogged with traffic, so if you are familiar with alternative back roads, they might be a better choice. Practice using these routes ahead of time so that you’ll be familiar with them—especially important if the weather is bad.
Keep your car in good condition and with at least a half-tank of gas at all times. If you drive a truck or a large SUV, three-quarters of a tank would be better. Make sure your tires are in good condition and that any regular maintenance is taken care of on time. Have an emergency auto kit to handle both minor repairs and other emergency supplies. Also remember to be sure you have a spare tire and jack. If you know a storm is approaching and you may need to evacuate, park your car facing the street so that the back is available for quick loading and you’re poised to pull right out without having to back out into traffic and turn. Keep your keys in your pocket if evacuation seems likely and always have a "hid-a-key" in case you lose yours.
Question #4: What mental and emotional preparations can I do now to help my family?
A good idea if you have children is to hold evacuation drills—much like a fire drill except that everyone can leave by way of the door closest to the car and pick up their emergency or evacuation kit on the way. Another good habit to develop with each child is to make clearing a path to the bedroom door a part of the bedtime ritual along with brushing teeth, prayers, or stories, so that there will be no tripping hazards to slow anyone down in the dark. A pair of shoes and a flashlight, or a chemical light stick beside each bed is also a good precaution for every family member.
Remember to review and update your emergency kit supplies regularly. April and October are good times to do this because for most people these months are just prior to major change in upcoming weather which would influence the kit’s contents.
Question #5: What if the nature of the emergency requires evacuation to be on foot rather than by car?
This is slow and more difficult, especially with children or the elderly, and you won’t be able to go as far, but if it’s your only choice, go with it. Bicycles for everyone might seem a solution, but bikes can present as many problems as they solve. If you must walk, it would be good to have some kind of wheeled carrier for small children or to help transport packs. A sturdy wagon, stroller, shopping or laundry cart, luggage carrier or a wheelchair could help in transporting your gear. For a small family, motorized bikes or scooters might be a good solution as they can maneuver around blockages and go quite far on a tank of gas. However, you would not be able to carry as much with you.
Question #6: What else should I think about?
It is essential to remember that if a possible evacuation is looming, be prepared ahead of time and leave as early as you possibly can to avoid the rush. Many people try to stay at home for as long as possible, hoping the need to leave will not really materialize, but if nothing else, Hurricane Katrina taught us the lack of wisdom in that approach. Be pro-active, prepare ahead of time and don’t lag behind, hoping to be rescued if things get really bad. If they do, emergency services will be overwhelmed and possibly unavailable for days or weeks. Organization and planning are the keys to a successful evacuation.
Take some time to ponder and think about things that would be crucial to you should you have to be self reliant for a few days or a week. Ponder these things relative to individual family members: Water, food, warmth and shelter, extra clothing (shoes, hat, coat, gloves, rain gear, etc.), light sources, tools, first aid, medications, communication, personal sanitation, money, important papers, stress relievers and auto preparedness.
By having a plan of action and your supplies ready you will be better able to survive an emergency. Remember what the former director of the National Hurricane Center, Max Mayfield, said: "Preparation through education is less costly than learning through tragedy"
Unfortunately, there are times when an emergency evacuation from your home is absolutely necessary. When the time to evacuate comes be sure to have your items ready-to-go and that you are prepared. Here are some questions and information regarding emergency evacuation.
Question #1: Where should I go when I have to evacuate?
A good family planning meeting to try to identify various destinations, depending upon what the emergency situation is, is a wise thing to do. If you live close to water and a hurricane is expected, remember that such storms tend to turn north and possibly east once they come ashore. Plan your route and try to flee southwestward, if possible. You will want a destination far enough away to provide protection but preferably reachable on one tank of gas. Experience teaches us that in times of emergency the lines at gas stations are notoriously long and in the worst case, no gas is available to purchase. One to two hundred miles is usually a good distance, but in a huge storm you may need to go farther. If at all possible, do not plan to rely on motels or hotels, as they fill up quickly and often in such circumstances do not honor reservations but operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you have a friend or relative that you can descend upon and be welcomed, that would be best. Perhaps you could make a reciprocal arrangement with them so that they would also be welcomed at your home if they encountered a need to leave. If the weather is good enough, a spot in a campground would probably suffice, especially if it offers restrooms and showers. If you’re lucky enough to have access to a vacation cabin away from the danger area, that would be ideal. Some people prepare ahead of time by stashing extra supplies at such a place or in a closet storage unit close by. Bedding, clothing, and toiletries and extra drinking water are good items to store in such a place. Storing sleeping bags, blankets, seasonal clothing and pillows in vacuumed bags will allow much more to be stored in a small space, and have the additional advantage of being water and insect-proof. This is a good idea even if you store your gear at home, and you can grab it along with your emergency kit
Question #2: What about a public shelter?
Sometimes this may be your only choice, but if you must go to one, take some precautions, as you will be thrown together with strangers and in a high stress situation. Keep your children and belongings with you at all times. If there are two adults present, make sure one stays with the children while the other goes to the restroom. Take turns on watch duty, even during the night. Don’t flash your emergency supplies or money around where all can see. Keep your car locked. On the other hand, if you see a real need and can share, quietly do so. Try to team up with other families to form a mini-community, and watch out for each other. Be a good citizen. Try to keep your children quiet and occupied. Don’t play loud music or talk loudly. Keep your area neat and don’t take up other people’s space. Crises bring out both the best and the worst in people, and everyone will be stressed to one degree or another. Try to be a part of the solution rather than a problem. Only a few shelters accept pets, and if you have one with you, be extra sensitive to the needs of others and take responsibility for your animal. Try to keep him from barking, howling, meowing or walking freely. Take him out often enough when the weather permits and discourage other people’s children from overwhelming him with attention, especially if he is nervous around children or strangers. Keep smaller animals in their carriers except when on a leash for exercise. Make sure ahead of time that any pet is up-to-date on its vaccinations. A friend or relative who lives out of the danger area and who would keep your pet safe for a few days would be ideal.
Question #3: How can I prepare my car for an evacuation?
Your car may be your new home for a while. A few small things may make all the difference.
Keep a detailed map of your area in your car. A GPS device can be a lifesaver, although it does run off your car’s electrical system, which could fail, so be sure to have a map. In the case of a mass evacuation, the main highways might be the most direct route to your chosen destination, but they may also be clogged with traffic, so if you are familiar with alternative back roads, they might be a better choice. Practice using these routes ahead of time so that you’ll be familiar with them—especially important if the weather is bad.
Keep your car in good condition and with at least a half-tank of gas at all times. If you drive a truck or a large SUV, three-quarters of a tank would be better. Make sure your tires are in good condition and that any regular maintenance is taken care of on time. Have an emergency auto kit to handle both minor repairs and other emergency supplies. Also remember to be sure you have a spare tire and jack. If you know a storm is approaching and you may need to evacuate, park your car facing the street so that the back is available for quick loading and you’re poised to pull right out without having to back out into traffic and turn. Keep your keys in your pocket if evacuation seems likely and always have a "hid-a-key" in case you lose yours.
Question #4: What mental and emotional preparations can I do now to help my family?
A good idea if you have children is to hold evacuation drills—much like a fire drill except that everyone can leave by way of the door closest to the car and pick up their emergency or evacuation kit on the way. Another good habit to develop with each child is to make clearing a path to the bedroom door a part of the bedtime ritual along with brushing teeth, prayers, or stories, so that there will be no tripping hazards to slow anyone down in the dark. A pair of shoes and a flashlight, or a chemical light stick beside each bed is also a good precaution for every family member.
Remember to review and update your emergency kit supplies regularly. April and October are good times to do this because for most people these months are just prior to major change in upcoming weather which would influence the kit’s contents.
Question #5: What if the nature of the emergency requires evacuation to be on foot rather than by car?
This is slow and more difficult, especially with children or the elderly, and you won’t be able to go as far, but if it’s your only choice, go with it. Bicycles for everyone might seem a solution, but bikes can present as many problems as they solve. If you must walk, it would be good to have some kind of wheeled carrier for small children or to help transport packs. A sturdy wagon, stroller, shopping or laundry cart, luggage carrier or a wheelchair could help in transporting your gear. For a small family, motorized bikes or scooters might be a good solution as they can maneuver around blockages and go quite far on a tank of gas. However, you would not be able to carry as much with you.
Question #6: What else should I think about?
It is essential to remember that if a possible evacuation is looming, be prepared ahead of time and leave as early as you possibly can to avoid the rush. Many people try to stay at home for as long as possible, hoping the need to leave will not really materialize, but if nothing else, Hurricane Katrina taught us the lack of wisdom in that approach. Be pro-active, prepare ahead of time and don’t lag behind, hoping to be rescued if things get really bad. If they do, emergency services will be overwhelmed and possibly unavailable for days or weeks. Organization and planning are the keys to a successful evacuation.
Take some time to ponder and think about things that would be crucial to you should you have to be self reliant for a few days or a week. Ponder these things relative to individual family members: Water, food, warmth and shelter, extra clothing (shoes, hat, coat, gloves, rain gear, etc.), light sources, tools, first aid, medications, communication, personal sanitation, money, important papers, stress relievers and auto preparedness.
By having a plan of action and your supplies ready you will be better able to survive an emergency. Remember what the former director of the National Hurricane Center, Max Mayfield, said: "Preparation through education is less costly than learning through tragedy"
The 10 Rules For Your Emergency Food Pantry
American Preppers Network
Those of you who plan to take the first steps toward preparing for emergencies may feel a bit overwhelmed at where to begin. After all, there is a lot of food to choose from at the grocery stores. Many websites, including this one encourage families to start buying small amounts of food related preparedness items each time they go shopping. This way, your budget is not dramatically affected.
Food storage calculators are a great tool to incorporate in your preparedness planning, and can help you understand how much food your family will need for a given emergency. The food storage calculations can also be printed out and used as an inventory list to keep you on track in terms of what preparedness supplies you have and will need.
To make the most of your emergency food supply, keep these essential food pantry rules in mind before purchasing:
1. Caloric intake is an important factor in survival. In any disaster situation, you want to avoid malnutrition. Having foods stored to prevent this health issue will keep you at your optimum health. Stock up on foods that provide you with essential nutrients to maintain body functions, proteins and carbohydrates, fats for energy, as well as foods that are not high in salt (the more salty your food is, the more water you will drink). To calculate how many calories you will need in your diet, click here.
2. Consider buying multifunctional food items. Items that can serve more than one purpose will help your finances, as well as save precious space in the food storage pantry. Items such as oats, pasta, rice, wheat and beans are some great low-cost foods will serve a variety of uses.
3. Store high energy snacks to help boost energy levels. Eating snacks that are high in complex carbohydrates and protein will provide you with a guaranteed energy boost. High energy snacks such as nuts, peanut butter, crackers, granola bars and trail mix can be stored for up to 1 year and will help keep energy levels and spirits high in an emergency scenario.
4. Bring on the protein! Protein is an essential ingredient in our daily diets and cannot be omitted out of a survival diet. Canned meat is a good source of protein and can also help you maintain your energy level. Meats such as tuna, ham, chicken and spam are great additions to the food pantry and are multifunctional. (Remember, the oil in canned meat can be used as an emergency candle.) Beans are another great source of protein, and when beans are accompanied with rice, it makes a complete protein which provides all the amino acids needed to survive. One serving of beans and rice provides 19.9 g, or 40 percent of your daily vitamins.
5. Don’t forget the basics. Essential staples such as cooking oil, flour, cornmeal, salt, sugar, spices, baking soda, baking powder and vinegar should not be overlooked. If they are present in your kitchen, they should likewise be present in the emergency food supply.
6. Convenience helps in stressful situations. Many moms know that boxed dinners can be a lifesaver when you are in a time crunch. Having some pre-packaged dinners and meals-to-grab during emergency scenarios will help you being acclimating yourself to cooking in a grid down scenario as well as can help provide some comfort at the same time. Personally speaking, my family has the “just add water” pancake mixes, corn breads and drink mixes that are a great convenience.
7. Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all it’s pleasure. Variety in your food pantry is important and can prevent the monotony of the same type of food. Having a well rounded food storage will cut down on culinary boredom, as well as balance your diet. Further, stocking up on a variety of spices will also enhance your food pantry.
8. Find comfort in the little things. Have some comfort food items that provide enjoyment to the family. Items such as popcorn, sweet cereals, hard candy, juice boxes, pickles, applesauce, pudding, cookies could be a great way to provide a bit of normalcy to the emergency situation you may face.
9. Have backs up for your backs ups. Compressed food bars are lightweight, taste good and are nutritious. Having food bars as a back up to your existing food supply can provide you with piece of mind knowing you have an alternative to turn to if you run out of food. Further, these are great additions to your 72-hour bag or bug out vehicle. A review of the different types of bars can be read here or you can practice your survival skills and make your own with this recipe. MRE’s are another alternative food choice to turn to if you happen to run out of food in your pantry. Although many have turned their nose up at MRE’s (due to their high amounts of preservatives), it will provide you with sufficient calories and nutrition when it counts. Note: These should not be the only items in your food supply. Overtime, you could become nutrient and vitamin deficient. Need a Kit? click here
10.Rotate and resupply when needed. Any items bought to the food storage closet should be used, rotated and resupplied. This is the best way to have the freshest foods available in the event that a disaster occurs. When organizing food reserves place the item that has the earliest expiration date in the front so that it is used first. FIFO is a well known acronym used in the restaurant business that stands for, “First In, First Out,” and can be incorporated in your food storage endeavors. Do an inventory check every 6 months to make sure that canned goods, preserves and other storage items are within their expiration dates.
Keeping the above considerations in mind when purchasing your food supply will provide your family with a well rounded food pantry stocked with an array of foods that will assist in promoting a healthy diet. Not listed in the suggestions is water. You must have water to survive. To learn more about potable water, click here. It would be prudent to have a 2-week supply of water on hand, as well as a water filtration device to rely on for extended disasters.
American Preppers Network
Those of you who plan to take the first steps toward preparing for emergencies may feel a bit overwhelmed at where to begin. After all, there is a lot of food to choose from at the grocery stores. Many websites, including this one encourage families to start buying small amounts of food related preparedness items each time they go shopping. This way, your budget is not dramatically affected.
Food storage calculators are a great tool to incorporate in your preparedness planning, and can help you understand how much food your family will need for a given emergency. The food storage calculations can also be printed out and used as an inventory list to keep you on track in terms of what preparedness supplies you have and will need.
To make the most of your emergency food supply, keep these essential food pantry rules in mind before purchasing:
1. Caloric intake is an important factor in survival. In any disaster situation, you want to avoid malnutrition. Having foods stored to prevent this health issue will keep you at your optimum health. Stock up on foods that provide you with essential nutrients to maintain body functions, proteins and carbohydrates, fats for energy, as well as foods that are not high in salt (the more salty your food is, the more water you will drink). To calculate how many calories you will need in your diet, click here.
2. Consider buying multifunctional food items. Items that can serve more than one purpose will help your finances, as well as save precious space in the food storage pantry. Items such as oats, pasta, rice, wheat and beans are some great low-cost foods will serve a variety of uses.
3. Store high energy snacks to help boost energy levels. Eating snacks that are high in complex carbohydrates and protein will provide you with a guaranteed energy boost. High energy snacks such as nuts, peanut butter, crackers, granola bars and trail mix can be stored for up to 1 year and will help keep energy levels and spirits high in an emergency scenario.
4. Bring on the protein! Protein is an essential ingredient in our daily diets and cannot be omitted out of a survival diet. Canned meat is a good source of protein and can also help you maintain your energy level. Meats such as tuna, ham, chicken and spam are great additions to the food pantry and are multifunctional. (Remember, the oil in canned meat can be used as an emergency candle.) Beans are another great source of protein, and when beans are accompanied with rice, it makes a complete protein which provides all the amino acids needed to survive. One serving of beans and rice provides 19.9 g, or 40 percent of your daily vitamins.
5. Don’t forget the basics. Essential staples such as cooking oil, flour, cornmeal, salt, sugar, spices, baking soda, baking powder and vinegar should not be overlooked. If they are present in your kitchen, they should likewise be present in the emergency food supply.
6. Convenience helps in stressful situations. Many moms know that boxed dinners can be a lifesaver when you are in a time crunch. Having some pre-packaged dinners and meals-to-grab during emergency scenarios will help you being acclimating yourself to cooking in a grid down scenario as well as can help provide some comfort at the same time. Personally speaking, my family has the “just add water” pancake mixes, corn breads and drink mixes that are a great convenience.
7. Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all it’s pleasure. Variety in your food pantry is important and can prevent the monotony of the same type of food. Having a well rounded food storage will cut down on culinary boredom, as well as balance your diet. Further, stocking up on a variety of spices will also enhance your food pantry.
8. Find comfort in the little things. Have some comfort food items that provide enjoyment to the family. Items such as popcorn, sweet cereals, hard candy, juice boxes, pickles, applesauce, pudding, cookies could be a great way to provide a bit of normalcy to the emergency situation you may face.
9. Have backs up for your backs ups. Compressed food bars are lightweight, taste good and are nutritious. Having food bars as a back up to your existing food supply can provide you with piece of mind knowing you have an alternative to turn to if you run out of food. Further, these are great additions to your 72-hour bag or bug out vehicle. A review of the different types of bars can be read here or you can practice your survival skills and make your own with this recipe. MRE’s are another alternative food choice to turn to if you happen to run out of food in your pantry. Although many have turned their nose up at MRE’s (due to their high amounts of preservatives), it will provide you with sufficient calories and nutrition when it counts. Note: These should not be the only items in your food supply. Overtime, you could become nutrient and vitamin deficient. Need a Kit? click here
10.Rotate and resupply when needed. Any items bought to the food storage closet should be used, rotated and resupplied. This is the best way to have the freshest foods available in the event that a disaster occurs. When organizing food reserves place the item that has the earliest expiration date in the front so that it is used first. FIFO is a well known acronym used in the restaurant business that stands for, “First In, First Out,” and can be incorporated in your food storage endeavors. Do an inventory check every 6 months to make sure that canned goods, preserves and other storage items are within their expiration dates.
Keeping the above considerations in mind when purchasing your food supply will provide your family with a well rounded food pantry stocked with an array of foods that will assist in promoting a healthy diet. Not listed in the suggestions is water. You must have water to survive. To learn more about potable water, click here. It would be prudent to have a 2-week supply of water on hand, as well as a water filtration device to rely on for extended disasters.
How To Bug In and Survive Anything Sunday, August 23, 2015 3:09 (Before It's News)
Bugging in can be defined as staying in your house and holding down the fort during an emergency situation. If you have everything you need in your home in order to survive there is no need to leave and head for a distant location. You will have to bug out only if there are solid reasons to do so, reasons that are usually a threat for you and your loved ones. Even though the trend is to bug out and there is a lot of literature dedicated to it, for some this isn’t an option. In fact, bugging in is usually the first choice for suburban and urban preppers when a crisis occurs. Since, not everyone has the chance to go for the hills or get access to a bug out location (BOL) is better to know what to do in order to bug in and survive.
When I’m discussing with my friends and family about preparedness, the number one question I always hear is: what disaster should I prepare for?
The answer is never simple and I tell them to first make a list with what disasters are most likely to occur in their area and start preparing for the disaster that is most probable to occur and work their way down on the list. There are many factors that have an influence on the level of preparedness for each family, but the most important one is the budget. The reality is that you have to prepare for as many disasters as you possibly can without affecting your quality of life, social exposure and monthly budget. Although it may prove hard to do it, the best part is that many preparedness actions will be useful for different types of emergencies.
Before taking the decision to bug in, there are some common sense questions that have to be acknowledged and they will provide the definitive answer to the question: bugging in or bugging out?
You should ask yourself this:
What is the number one threat for me and my family and how likely it is to occur?
What will happen with my house if it does take place? Will it affect the integrity of my house?
How long is the crisis going to last? Do I have all the supplies I need to survive that long?
Will there be an imminent danger for me and my loved ones if I bug in? Am I staying because of comfort and because I don’t want to leave?
Is bugging out a safer option? If so, where will I bug out and how should I get there?
Is my BOL safer than my current location and does it have the supplies I need?
Based on the answers you get to these questions, you can take a decision and do the best thing.
If you have decided to bug in, you have to know that it will require a lot of planning. You need to have short term plans (to survive on your own for a year) and long term plans (to survive on your own indefinitely). You should take each plan one step at the time, to avoid getting lost in the big picture. Try to prepare, to survive for a week, then for two and aim for a month and so on until you can live for a year without outside help. Most emergency situations will be under control in less than a week, so you should have at least enough water and food supplies to last that long.
Here is what you should do in order to bug in safely.
Asses the integrity of your shelter Your house might be damaged if a natural disaster occurs and you have to make sure the structural integrity isn’t affected. If the walls or support beams have been damaged, the house could collapse and it’s better to move out. You should have at least 2-3 tarps that you can use to cover holes in the walls, broken windows, roof holes, etc. These are a temporary solution until you are able to rebuild or repair the damage. Also, you’re going to need a good tent, since it will serve as a temporary shelter if your house is damaged and as a permanent location if you don’t have a BOL. Another thing you have to do in order to assure the integrity of your house is to shut down the utilities. If your house is still standing you don’t want it to catch fire or get flooded. Installing shut off valves and labeling them accordingly should be a must for every house.
Water, you must store water! Regardless the nature of the crisis, you’re going to need water and lots of it if you bug-in. You won’t last much without at least half a gallon of water per day. Water takes up a lot of space and this is why most survival experts will advise you to store at least one month of water supply and find other options to obtain water without wasting storage space. There are many ways to obtain drinkable water:
Another alternative is to make a device that makes water out of air, as shown in this video.
Don’t starve, store some food A stockpile of food is a must and just like water, you have to make sure it lasts. Use the same tactic, aim to stockpile a week supply of food, move on to a month, aim for 3 months and so on. Of course that here the options are many and it is all up to you of what you buy or make. A good pantry will save you a lot of trouble in the long run. I’ve explained in an article about what are the essential foods for a good survival pantry. When people ask me what they can do to stockpile food without breaking the bank I tell them to use some simple tricks: do a list with what you need, during your shopping trips, buy 2-3 extra cans of food, buy local, buy in season , buy in bulk and buy with discount coupons. When buying canned goods, you have to keep in mind to rotate to the stock you have – old cans to the front, new ones to the back. Another method is to make your own food, you can dry it and store it in airtight containers. Learn from this article how you can dry your food without breaking a sweat. Stockpiling food is great and it should be done with minimal costs. You should aim for at least 10 months of food.
Even with stockpiling one question still remains: what can you do when food runs out?
The answer is simple: Learn how to make your own food and have a sustainable food source. Save seeds and plant a garden, learn how to fish and hunt if the area you live in provides these options. If the space allows it, raising chickens and rabbits will provide you with eggs and meat. Get your hands on an ingenious method to produce your own food and become self-sufficient, this video shows you how simple it is to build one. You should start to learn from time or at least gather the necessary info to have it available in a time of need (an iPad full with self-sufficiency books will be priceless).
You need to stay warm Depending on the time of the year and the part of the state you live in, heat will be one of your top priorities. You will need a source of heat since extreme cold will cause the core temperature of your body to drop and hypothermia sets in. A source of heat is a must if you want to stay warm when electricity will be just a memory. The best option would be to have a wood burning stove or fireplace installed that you can use as a source of heat and as a cooking place. Make sure you also have a plenty of blankets, quilts and covers or a good sleeping bag. The more ways you have to stay warm, the better your chances of survival are. One word of advice: if you improvise a heat source, from a barrel drum or candles you should have some battery-powered CO2 detectors, they might save your life.
You will need an electricity generator A generator is good for many reasons, from cooking to charging your devices and power up tools. But having a generator running on fossil fuel might not be a good idea and here is why. First, you will eventually run out of fuel and you will have to scavenge for more fuel if you want to keep it going. Second, you will get used to it and with having electricity, and in a survival situation the sooner you learn how to live without electricity the better it will be. And third, generators running on fuel are not silent and if you want to stay under the radar, you will have to rethink your options. The best choice would be to go for a solar generator, you can charge it by day and use it by night, without attracting unwanted attention. There are so many models out there that it’s a matter of personal choice and budget. Amazon is full of generators, it all depends on your budget and how much are you willing to spend. Try to get a generator that is portable, one that you can take it away with you in case you are forced to leave.
Regarding electricity and light in general, this can be both a good and a very bad thing. You are going to need light at night to avoid stumbling in the dark. It is better to have multiple sources of light in your hose, a flashlight for every room. A LED lamp will do wonders, but it will also act like a beacon in the night for the other survivors roaming outside your house. If you are trying to stay out of sight, you will have to avoid using any light source during the night, or board up your house so that no light leaks out. Another thing you should do, is to avoid spending too much time in a room that’s lit up with light, because if something happens and you need to go outside, you’re not going to be able to see for a few moments. If you are attacked, those moments could make the difference between life and death.
Related reading: Power generators you need to have in your Bug Out Bag.
Protect your fort During an emergency, if you have secured the basic items for survival like water, food and shelter, the next thing you have to worry about is how to stay safe and protect your loved ones. The cops won’t help you because they have to take care of their families and this means that the only protection you’ll going to get is the one you’re providing, for both you and your family. We all know that during a crisis the crime rate increases and criminals know how to take advantage of these types of situations. There will be a lot of rioting and looting in a prolonged crisis. Safety in numbers works for both homeowners and outsiders, so if you have friends and neighbors who are prepared as you are, you can lock down the neighborhood and keep the looters outside. This would work in an ideal world, but during an emergency situation, most certainly, it will be every man for himself. Your most realistic options to survive are the following: make your home as hard to get into as possible and arm yourself with weapons you can use and hold the fort down. From this article you can learn more about weapons recommended for self-defense.
You can install metal doors capable of being bolted shut, you can get a guard dog, you can install bars across the windows and so on. There are many methods to fortify your house.
Stay clean, personal hygiene is important! If you want to stay healthy, you have to stay clean. Unfortunately, when water is scarce, personal hygiene will not be a priority for many. Even if you bug-in, you still need to wash up and brush your teeth every day, since a clean body will make you more comfortable and keep you healthy. Be sure to buy and stockpile unscented baby wipes as they will keep you clean without wasting precious water. You will also have to stockpile on other items such as toilet paper, toothbrush and toothpaste (or make your own) and tampons. Using the toilets is a bad idea, therefore you are going to poop in an improvised toilet. You can either dig a hole in your yard or improvise a toilet out of a garbage can or paint bucket. You will need to line the bucket with a plastic bag so make sure to stockpile on plastic garbage bags.
You will need medical care Since the hospitals will be empty, you will be the best doctor you can find. This is why you will need a good medical kit and you will have to stockpile on medication before you bug-in. If you have an understanding doctor that knows how to listen, chances are he will prescribe extra medication. So the best thing to do is be honest with your doctor and see how it plays out. Another thing you might want to do is to enroll in as many first aid and survival classes as you can afford. The more you learn, the better off you’ll be and here is where your IPad, once again, will come in handy. Try to get as many first aid and field surgery books as you can and look up for medical courses like this one, designed for emergency situations. The following list of supplies should be added to your medical kit: ace bandages, activated charcoal, allergy medication, alcohol, aloe vera, antacid, aspirin, band-aids, bandages, burn cream (learn how to treat burns from this article), compress dressing, cold packs, gauze, gloves, hydrogen peroxide, needle and thread, neosporing, pain relievers, petroleum jelly, snake bite kit, slings, surgical kit, tap, thermometer, tweezers, etc. You can add to it as you see fit. I’ve read that some preppers add to their emergency aid kit even medical equipment like defibrillators. Don’t do that, unless you have proper training on how to use these machines. And last, but not least, if a medical emergency is too much for you to handle you have to seek professional medical care. Your best chance in this case will be your family doctor since most probably, during a crisis, he will be at home attending to his family. Look for his address and look for his help.
Take care of your dead This topic has hardly been discussed among the peppers’ communities and this is because no one wants to think about having to dispose of dead bodies, especially those of friends or loved ones. The reality is, in a bad crisis, there could be bodies piled up everywhere (the earthquake from Nepal is a fresh reminder of this horrific scenario). If you have to dispose of a body and you want to give a proper burial, you will have to bury the body 3 feet under to prevent transmission of disease. You don’t have to build a coffin as it will require for you to dig a bigger hole and it can be a backbreaking labor. You can wrap the body in cloth before burial, it won’t matter in the long run. Another option is cremation and for it to work you will need to stack logs on top and around the body, it may take time but it can be done.
Get some vice items, they could save your life! When everything goes up in smoke, paper currency will become useless and even though precious metals might be of value, there are other items that will be wanted by everyone. We humans, are a spices enslaved by our vices, it doesn’t matter if it’s the latest gadget or a good bottle of Jack Daniels, if we want it, we will have it. During a crisis the first stores that are being looted are the liquor stores and smoke shops, it’s happening even today (during the Baltimore riots, they didn’t steal food or water, they went for the vice items). When these supplies run out, some people are going to have intense cravings for them and having a good stock of these items will put you in a position of power. If you can protect yourself, you can use these items to barter with people who have the supplies you need. Stock up on condoms, cheap alcohol and tobacco (or make your own) and you might find yourself in advantage in a crisis. Read more about the barter items you should have for SHTF.
If you’re prepared for multiple disasters and you know how to bug in, you’re going to be in much better shape than those who didn’t prepare for anything.
Stay Safe and God Bless!
Bugging in can be defined as staying in your house and holding down the fort during an emergency situation. If you have everything you need in your home in order to survive there is no need to leave and head for a distant location. You will have to bug out only if there are solid reasons to do so, reasons that are usually a threat for you and your loved ones. Even though the trend is to bug out and there is a lot of literature dedicated to it, for some this isn’t an option. In fact, bugging in is usually the first choice for suburban and urban preppers when a crisis occurs. Since, not everyone has the chance to go for the hills or get access to a bug out location (BOL) is better to know what to do in order to bug in and survive.
When I’m discussing with my friends and family about preparedness, the number one question I always hear is: what disaster should I prepare for?
The answer is never simple and I tell them to first make a list with what disasters are most likely to occur in their area and start preparing for the disaster that is most probable to occur and work their way down on the list. There are many factors that have an influence on the level of preparedness for each family, but the most important one is the budget. The reality is that you have to prepare for as many disasters as you possibly can without affecting your quality of life, social exposure and monthly budget. Although it may prove hard to do it, the best part is that many preparedness actions will be useful for different types of emergencies.
Before taking the decision to bug in, there are some common sense questions that have to be acknowledged and they will provide the definitive answer to the question: bugging in or bugging out?
You should ask yourself this:
What is the number one threat for me and my family and how likely it is to occur?
What will happen with my house if it does take place? Will it affect the integrity of my house?
How long is the crisis going to last? Do I have all the supplies I need to survive that long?
Will there be an imminent danger for me and my loved ones if I bug in? Am I staying because of comfort and because I don’t want to leave?
Is bugging out a safer option? If so, where will I bug out and how should I get there?
Is my BOL safer than my current location and does it have the supplies I need?
Based on the answers you get to these questions, you can take a decision and do the best thing.
If you have decided to bug in, you have to know that it will require a lot of planning. You need to have short term plans (to survive on your own for a year) and long term plans (to survive on your own indefinitely). You should take each plan one step at the time, to avoid getting lost in the big picture. Try to prepare, to survive for a week, then for two and aim for a month and so on until you can live for a year without outside help. Most emergency situations will be under control in less than a week, so you should have at least enough water and food supplies to last that long.
Here is what you should do in order to bug in safely.
Asses the integrity of your shelter Your house might be damaged if a natural disaster occurs and you have to make sure the structural integrity isn’t affected. If the walls or support beams have been damaged, the house could collapse and it’s better to move out. You should have at least 2-3 tarps that you can use to cover holes in the walls, broken windows, roof holes, etc. These are a temporary solution until you are able to rebuild or repair the damage. Also, you’re going to need a good tent, since it will serve as a temporary shelter if your house is damaged and as a permanent location if you don’t have a BOL. Another thing you have to do in order to assure the integrity of your house is to shut down the utilities. If your house is still standing you don’t want it to catch fire or get flooded. Installing shut off valves and labeling them accordingly should be a must for every house.
Water, you must store water! Regardless the nature of the crisis, you’re going to need water and lots of it if you bug-in. You won’t last much without at least half a gallon of water per day. Water takes up a lot of space and this is why most survival experts will advise you to store at least one month of water supply and find other options to obtain water without wasting storage space. There are many ways to obtain drinkable water:
- Get a commercial water filter or make your own. Here are some tips on how to make one if you’re out in the open.
- Collect contaminated water, boil or distill it.
- Collect rain water.
- Acquire purification tables or use bleach to purify the water (you need to add between 10 and 20 drops of bleach per gallon of water).
- Get a bath tub storage bag – this is plastic bag that can hold between 50 and 100 gallons of water. Amazon sells many models.
Another alternative is to make a device that makes water out of air, as shown in this video.
Don’t starve, store some food A stockpile of food is a must and just like water, you have to make sure it lasts. Use the same tactic, aim to stockpile a week supply of food, move on to a month, aim for 3 months and so on. Of course that here the options are many and it is all up to you of what you buy or make. A good pantry will save you a lot of trouble in the long run. I’ve explained in an article about what are the essential foods for a good survival pantry. When people ask me what they can do to stockpile food without breaking the bank I tell them to use some simple tricks: do a list with what you need, during your shopping trips, buy 2-3 extra cans of food, buy local, buy in season , buy in bulk and buy with discount coupons. When buying canned goods, you have to keep in mind to rotate to the stock you have – old cans to the front, new ones to the back. Another method is to make your own food, you can dry it and store it in airtight containers. Learn from this article how you can dry your food without breaking a sweat. Stockpiling food is great and it should be done with minimal costs. You should aim for at least 10 months of food.
Even with stockpiling one question still remains: what can you do when food runs out?
The answer is simple: Learn how to make your own food and have a sustainable food source. Save seeds and plant a garden, learn how to fish and hunt if the area you live in provides these options. If the space allows it, raising chickens and rabbits will provide you with eggs and meat. Get your hands on an ingenious method to produce your own food and become self-sufficient, this video shows you how simple it is to build one. You should start to learn from time or at least gather the necessary info to have it available in a time of need (an iPad full with self-sufficiency books will be priceless).
You need to stay warm Depending on the time of the year and the part of the state you live in, heat will be one of your top priorities. You will need a source of heat since extreme cold will cause the core temperature of your body to drop and hypothermia sets in. A source of heat is a must if you want to stay warm when electricity will be just a memory. The best option would be to have a wood burning stove or fireplace installed that you can use as a source of heat and as a cooking place. Make sure you also have a plenty of blankets, quilts and covers or a good sleeping bag. The more ways you have to stay warm, the better your chances of survival are. One word of advice: if you improvise a heat source, from a barrel drum or candles you should have some battery-powered CO2 detectors, they might save your life.
You will need an electricity generator A generator is good for many reasons, from cooking to charging your devices and power up tools. But having a generator running on fossil fuel might not be a good idea and here is why. First, you will eventually run out of fuel and you will have to scavenge for more fuel if you want to keep it going. Second, you will get used to it and with having electricity, and in a survival situation the sooner you learn how to live without electricity the better it will be. And third, generators running on fuel are not silent and if you want to stay under the radar, you will have to rethink your options. The best choice would be to go for a solar generator, you can charge it by day and use it by night, without attracting unwanted attention. There are so many models out there that it’s a matter of personal choice and budget. Amazon is full of generators, it all depends on your budget and how much are you willing to spend. Try to get a generator that is portable, one that you can take it away with you in case you are forced to leave.
Regarding electricity and light in general, this can be both a good and a very bad thing. You are going to need light at night to avoid stumbling in the dark. It is better to have multiple sources of light in your hose, a flashlight for every room. A LED lamp will do wonders, but it will also act like a beacon in the night for the other survivors roaming outside your house. If you are trying to stay out of sight, you will have to avoid using any light source during the night, or board up your house so that no light leaks out. Another thing you should do, is to avoid spending too much time in a room that’s lit up with light, because if something happens and you need to go outside, you’re not going to be able to see for a few moments. If you are attacked, those moments could make the difference between life and death.
Related reading: Power generators you need to have in your Bug Out Bag.
Protect your fort During an emergency, if you have secured the basic items for survival like water, food and shelter, the next thing you have to worry about is how to stay safe and protect your loved ones. The cops won’t help you because they have to take care of their families and this means that the only protection you’ll going to get is the one you’re providing, for both you and your family. We all know that during a crisis the crime rate increases and criminals know how to take advantage of these types of situations. There will be a lot of rioting and looting in a prolonged crisis. Safety in numbers works for both homeowners and outsiders, so if you have friends and neighbors who are prepared as you are, you can lock down the neighborhood and keep the looters outside. This would work in an ideal world, but during an emergency situation, most certainly, it will be every man for himself. Your most realistic options to survive are the following: make your home as hard to get into as possible and arm yourself with weapons you can use and hold the fort down. From this article you can learn more about weapons recommended for self-defense.
You can install metal doors capable of being bolted shut, you can get a guard dog, you can install bars across the windows and so on. There are many methods to fortify your house.
Stay clean, personal hygiene is important! If you want to stay healthy, you have to stay clean. Unfortunately, when water is scarce, personal hygiene will not be a priority for many. Even if you bug-in, you still need to wash up and brush your teeth every day, since a clean body will make you more comfortable and keep you healthy. Be sure to buy and stockpile unscented baby wipes as they will keep you clean without wasting precious water. You will also have to stockpile on other items such as toilet paper, toothbrush and toothpaste (or make your own) and tampons. Using the toilets is a bad idea, therefore you are going to poop in an improvised toilet. You can either dig a hole in your yard or improvise a toilet out of a garbage can or paint bucket. You will need to line the bucket with a plastic bag so make sure to stockpile on plastic garbage bags.
You will need medical care Since the hospitals will be empty, you will be the best doctor you can find. This is why you will need a good medical kit and you will have to stockpile on medication before you bug-in. If you have an understanding doctor that knows how to listen, chances are he will prescribe extra medication. So the best thing to do is be honest with your doctor and see how it plays out. Another thing you might want to do is to enroll in as many first aid and survival classes as you can afford. The more you learn, the better off you’ll be and here is where your IPad, once again, will come in handy. Try to get as many first aid and field surgery books as you can and look up for medical courses like this one, designed for emergency situations. The following list of supplies should be added to your medical kit: ace bandages, activated charcoal, allergy medication, alcohol, aloe vera, antacid, aspirin, band-aids, bandages, burn cream (learn how to treat burns from this article), compress dressing, cold packs, gauze, gloves, hydrogen peroxide, needle and thread, neosporing, pain relievers, petroleum jelly, snake bite kit, slings, surgical kit, tap, thermometer, tweezers, etc. You can add to it as you see fit. I’ve read that some preppers add to their emergency aid kit even medical equipment like defibrillators. Don’t do that, unless you have proper training on how to use these machines. And last, but not least, if a medical emergency is too much for you to handle you have to seek professional medical care. Your best chance in this case will be your family doctor since most probably, during a crisis, he will be at home attending to his family. Look for his address and look for his help.
Take care of your dead This topic has hardly been discussed among the peppers’ communities and this is because no one wants to think about having to dispose of dead bodies, especially those of friends or loved ones. The reality is, in a bad crisis, there could be bodies piled up everywhere (the earthquake from Nepal is a fresh reminder of this horrific scenario). If you have to dispose of a body and you want to give a proper burial, you will have to bury the body 3 feet under to prevent transmission of disease. You don’t have to build a coffin as it will require for you to dig a bigger hole and it can be a backbreaking labor. You can wrap the body in cloth before burial, it won’t matter in the long run. Another option is cremation and for it to work you will need to stack logs on top and around the body, it may take time but it can be done.
Get some vice items, they could save your life! When everything goes up in smoke, paper currency will become useless and even though precious metals might be of value, there are other items that will be wanted by everyone. We humans, are a spices enslaved by our vices, it doesn’t matter if it’s the latest gadget or a good bottle of Jack Daniels, if we want it, we will have it. During a crisis the first stores that are being looted are the liquor stores and smoke shops, it’s happening even today (during the Baltimore riots, they didn’t steal food or water, they went for the vice items). When these supplies run out, some people are going to have intense cravings for them and having a good stock of these items will put you in a position of power. If you can protect yourself, you can use these items to barter with people who have the supplies you need. Stock up on condoms, cheap alcohol and tobacco (or make your own) and you might find yourself in advantage in a crisis. Read more about the barter items you should have for SHTF.
If you’re prepared for multiple disasters and you know how to bug in, you’re going to be in much better shape than those who didn’t prepare for anything.
Stay Safe and God Bless!
Survival Soup for a Year for 4 People
You are out of excuses!
This plan is THE fastest, cheapest and easiest way to start a food storage program. You are done in a weekend. AND there are no hassles with rotating. Pack it and forget. It’s space efficient – everything is consolidated into a few 5-gallon buckets. You’ll sleep content in knowing that you have a one-year food supply on hand for your family should you ever need.
With the exception of dairy and Vitamin B12, this bean soup recipe will fulfill all your basic nutritional needs. It won’t fill all of your wants, but using this as your starting point, you can add the stuff that you want.
All of the food and storing supplies listed below plus 2 55-gallon recycled barrels to be used for rain catchment cost me $296, including taxes. I purchased rice, bouillon and salt from SAM’s Club. You can buy small bags of barley at the grocery, but if you don’t mind waiting a few days, special ordering a bulk bag from Whole Foods was cheaper. All of the beans I purchased from Kroger’s in 1-lb bags. Buckets, lids, Mylar bags and rain barrels were from the Lexington Container Company. Their prices are so good, with such a great selection, that it’s worth a drive even if you are not in the local area. I went on a second-Saturday of the month because that’s when they host free food storage courses taught by Suzanne, an energetic, delight of prepping wisdom.
What you need:
8 5-gallon buckets
8 large Mylar bags
8 2,000 cc oxygen absorbers
8 gamma lids
A handful of bay leaves
90 lbs. of white rice
22 lbs. of kidney beans
22 lbs. of barley
22 lbs. of yellow lentils
5.5 lbs. of split green peas
5.5 lbs. of garbanzo beans
1 lb. of salt
A big box of beef and chicken bouillon.
A measuring cup
Install the gamma lids on the bucket and insert Mylar bags. Place 2 or 3 bay leaves in the bottom and fill the buckets, adding more bay leaves after each 1/3 to full. Place an oxygen absorber in the top. Label buckets with the contents and date.
Fill
3 buckets with rice (shake it down good. Get it all in there!)
1 bucket each of kidney beans, barley, and yellow lentils
In 1 bucket store the split green peas, garbanzo beans, salt, measuring cup and bouillon. (I removed the bouillon from the box and vacuum sealed it as bouillon contains a small amount of oil.)
Yep, that’s a total of 7 buckets, so far.
I place a broom handle across the bucket and wrap the ends of the Mylar bag over the broom handle to give me some support. Then slowly and smoothly run a hot iron over the Mylar bag to seal all except the last 2 inches. Then I press out as much air as possible before sealing the remaining 2 inches. Make sure your Mylar is completely sealed from end to end. Now, stuff the bag into the bucket and rotate the gamma lid into place. This will protect your food for about 25 years. You’ll have excess Mylar bag at the top. Don’t cut it off, that way if you have to cut it open to get into it, you have enough bag remaining to reseal.
Where you’ll put it
It’s pretty easy to find a place for 7 to 8 5-gallon buckets even in the smallest of apartments. Discard the box springs and lay the kid’s mattress on top of the buckets, line the back of a large closet with the buckets. I made a couch-table by stacking buckets two high between the couch and the wall. The buckets are about 6” taller than the back of the couch. Add a shelf and drape and it looks fine; a convenient place for a lamp and books. Get creative.
Making your bean soup
Measure out
· 8 oz of rice
· 2 oz of red kidney beans
· 2 oz of pearl barley
· 2 oz of lintels
· 1 oz of split green peas
· 1 oz of chick peas/garbanzo’s
Add 6-7 quarts of water. Add bouillon or salt to taste. Then add any other meats, vegetables, potatoes or seasonings you have on hand. Bring to a boil and then let simmer for two hours. You should have enough to feed 4 people for two days. This is thick and hearty. You will be warm on the inside and full with one large bowl. Kids usually eat half a bowl.
When the emergency is over
This system allows you to open the Mylar bags, retrieve as much of the ingredients as is needed and then reseal everything after the emergency has passed. Just be sure to replace the ingredients used so that you always have a one-year supply.
The 8th bucket – other stuff I would want
This list isn’t included in the $300. This falls into the “what I want” category. As money and resources became available, I’d just go crazy adding all of my indulgences, starting with coffee! You can add what you want, but I’d fill it with:
Dry onion. Let’s face it, what’s bean soup without onion! Sprinkle on the onions just before serving.
“Just add water” cornbread mix packets. I just can’t eat bean soup without cornbread.
Beef jerky and Vienna sausages. Add protein and zest to the bean soup
Instant oatmeal. Do you really want bean soup for breakfast? Freeze the oatmeal for 3 days before packing to kill any bugs.
10 lbs of jellybeans. Now, don’t laugh – it’s a bean. Jellybeans don’t melt like chocolate might. The high sugar content is quick energy, and a morale booster – with just enough of a high to help you over the really bad days. Easter is about here – stock up!
Before you fill the 8th bucket
Buy small bags of the ingredients and fix a big pot of bean soup for dinner. Eat the leftovers the second night, and 3rd night, until it’s all gone. Find out now – rather than later – what your family might like to add to it. Anything tastes great the first meal, but quickly becomes boring after the 3rd or 4th repeat. Don’t wait until the emergency happens to discover what you SHOULD have stored in your 8th bucket. … Maybe some Beano!
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The 10 Rules For Your Emergency Food Pantry
Those of you who plan to take the first steps toward preparing for emergencies may feel a bit overwhelmed at where to begin. After all, there is a lot of food to choose from at the grocery stores. Many websites, including this one encourage families to start buying small amounts of food related preparedness items each time they go shopping. This way, your budget is not dramatically affected.
Food storage calculators are a great tool to incorporate in your preparedness planning, and can help you understand how much food your family will need for a given emergency. The food storage calculations can also be printed out and used as an inventory list to keep you on track in terms of what preparedness supplies you have and will need.
To make the most of your emergency food supply, keep these essential food pantry rules in mind before purchasing:
- Caloric intake is an important factor in survival. In any disaster situation, you want to avoid malnutrition. Having foods stored to prevent this health issue will keep you at your optimum health. Stock up on foods that provide you with essential nutrients to maintain body functions, proteins and carbohydrates, fats for energy, as well as foods that are not high in salt (the more salty your food is, the more water you will drink). To calculate how many calories you will need in your diet, click here.
- Consider buying multifunctional food items. Items that can serve more than one purpose will help your finances, as well as save precious space in the food storage pantry. Items such as oats, pasta, rice, wheat and beans are some great low-cost foods will serve a variety of uses.
- Store high energy snacks to help boost energy levels. Eating snacks that are high in complex carbohydrates and protein will provide you with a guaranteed energy boost. High energy snacks such as nuts, peanut butter, crackers, granola bars and trail mix can be stored for up to 1 year and will help keep energy levels and spirits high in an emergency scenario.
- Bring on the protein! Protein is an essential ingredient in our daily diets and cannot be omitted out of a survival diet. Canned meat is a good source of protein and can also help you maintain your energy level. Meats such as tuna, ham, chicken and spam are great additions to the food pantry and are multifunctional. (Remember, the oil in canned meat can be used as an emergency candle.) Beans are another great source of protein, and when beans are accompanied with rice, it makes a complete protein which provides all the amino acids needed to survive. One serving of beans and rice provides 19.9 g, or 40 percent of your daily vitamins.
- Don’t forget the basics. Essential staples such as cooking oil, flour, cornmeal, salt, sugar, spices, baking soda, baking powder and vinegar should not be overlooked. If they are present in your kitchen, they should likewise be present in the emergency food supply.
- Convenience helps in stressful situations. Many moms know that boxed dinners can be a lifesaver when you are in a time crunch. Having some pre-packaged dinners and meals-to-grab during emergency scenarios will help you being acclimating yourself to cooking in a grid down scenario as well as can help provide some comfort at the same time. Personally speaking, my family has the “just add water” pancake mixes, corn breads and drink mixes that are a great convenience.
- Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all it’s pleasure. Variety in your food pantry is important and can prevent the monotony of the same type of food. Having a well rounded food storage will cut down on culinary boredom, as well as balance your diet. Further, stocking up on a variety of spices will also enhance your food pantry.
- Find comfort in the little things. Have some comfort food items that provide enjoyment to the family. Items such as popcorn, sweet cereals, hard candy, juice boxes, pickles, applesauce, pudding, cookies could be a great way to provide a bit of normalcy to the emergency situation you may face.
- Have backs up for your backs ups. Compressed food bars are lightweight, taste good and are nutritious. Having food bars as a back up to your existing food supply can provide you with piece of mind knowing you have an alternative to turn to if you run out of food. Further, these are great additions to your 72-hour bag or bug out vehicle. A review of the different types of bars can be read here or you can practice your survival skills and make your own with this recipe. MRE’s are another alternative food choice to turn to if you happen to run out of food in your pantry. Although many have turned their nose up at MRE’s (due to their high amounts of preservatives), it will provide you with sufficient calories and nutrition when it counts. Note: These should not be the only items in your food supply. Overtime, you could become nutrient and vitamin deficient. Need a Kit? click here
- Rotate and resupply when needed. Any items bought to the food storage closet should be used, rotated and resupplied. This is the best way to have the freshest foods available in the event that a disaster occurs. When organizing food reserves place the item that has the earliest expiration date in the front so that it is used first. FIFO is a well known acronym used in the restaurant business that stands for, “First In, First Out,” and can be incorporated in your food storage endeavors. Do an inventory check every 6 months to make sure that canned goods, preserves and other storage items are within their expiration dates.
Prepping is a passion for some. For others it is the most efficient way to keep their family as safe as possible. For further resources and a list of essential items for your emergency supply, click here.
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“Grid Jihad”: What If You Had a Week to Prep for the End of the World?
Daisy Luther
With September 11 fast approaching, so too does the risk of another terrorist attack on US soil.
They say this every year as the date approaches, but in 2015, it seems to carry a bit more weight than it has during other years.
I’m referring specifically to all of those beheadings and the crazy video threat that warned, “We will drown all of you in blood“. I’d say that ISIS could either be behind a potential attack or be set up as the fear-flavor of the month and be blamed for such an attack.
As for the type of attack, security experts are warning that our vulnerable power grid is an extremely likely target. Paul Bedard of the Washington Examiner wrote:
Former top government officials who have been warning Washington about the vulnerability of the nation’s largely unprotected electric grid are raising new fears that troops from the jihadist Islamic State are poised to attack the system, leading to a power crisis that could kill millions.
“Inadequate grid security, a porous U.S.-Mexico border, and fragile transmission systems make the electric grid a target for ISIS,” said Peter Pry, one of the nation’s leading experts on the grid.
Others joining Pry at a press conference later Wednesday to draw attention to the potential threat said that if just a handful of the nation’s high voltage transformers were knocked out, blackouts would occur across the country.
“By one estimate, should the power go out and stay out for over a year, nine out of 10 Americans would likely perish,” said Frank Gaffney, founder and president of the Center for Security Policy in Washington.
At the afternoon press conference, Gaffney dubbed the potential crisis the “grid jihad.” (source)
Anyone involved in the preparedness community is well aware of the disaster that would befall our country should our power-dependent populace no longer have light, climate control, and running water with the flip of a switch or turn of a handle. In his book, One Second After, William Forstchen wrote a fictional account of an EMP attack on our country and that book is the very thing that brought many of us over to the “prepped” side. His newest book, Day of Wrath, could be likewise prescient. It was written about a devastating ISIS terror attack on American soil.
In the press conference Wednesday, Peter Pry warned that Obama’s open border policy could be the weak point that allows the country to be infiltrated, with potentially devastating consequences.
Pry provided details of recent attacks on electricity systems and said that ISIS could easily team with Mexican drug cartels to ravage America.
He told Secrets, for example, that the Knights Templar drug gang blacked out the electric grid of the Mexican state of Michoacan in 2013 to provide cover for killing those fighting the drug trade.
“The Knights Templars and other criminal gangs in Mexico will do anything for money, and ISIS, the richest terrorist organization in history, has hundreds of millions of dollars at its disposal,” said Pry.
“ISIS could hire one of the Mexican cartels, or one of their criminal gangs already in the U.S., or activate jihadist terror cells already in the U.S., and inflict a multi-state blackout immediately, within days or weeks. Perhaps even a nationwide blackout,” Pry explained to Secrets.
“I am not saying it is likely they will do so. But given the capabilities and objectives of ISIS and our obvious vulnerabilities, it would be foolish to ignore the threat to the grid, to regard the threat as unlikely. Our planning should be based on imminent asymmetrical threats, and not assume that another 9/11 large-scale attack is years away,” he added.
The Texas Department of Public Safety recently said they believe there is evidence that ISIS plans an attack. (source)
Enough about the “maybes” and the “hows”. (You can go HERE for an in-depth article about EMP attacks.) Unless you happen to be a highly placed government official reading this article, there isn’t a lot that you could do to prevent it. All you can do is be prepared to survive the aftermath, so this article deals with the “what ifs” and the “are you readies”.
Are You Ready for Grid Failure?
This is a topic that I’ve written about frequently, because a power outage aids and abets the chaos caused by so many different disasters. It doesn’t honestly matter HOW the grid goes down. A long-term grid collapse will result in an extremely high death toll. People will starve, freeze, perish of thirst, or die of sanitation related illnesses. Some will expire from medical causes that can’t be treated properly without power. Others will die because life-saving medication is no longer available. Civil unrest will unleash the very worst in human nature. However, we can prepare for many of these hazards.
If you are already of the preparedness mindset, you’ll fare better than the average North American. Here are the questions you need to contemplate:
I know that some of you are reading this with a fatalistic attitude. You are mentally making lists of why you can’t resolve these issues. Maybe you live in an apartment, you rent so you are limited to what you can do with your home, you have a limited budget, you live in the city or your mama’s basement.
Well, if that’s the way you’re thinking, then you’re probably right – you won’t survive. Survival demands a can-do attitude 0r, on occasion, the fluke of pure dumb luck. If you realize these things are necessary and you still refuse to find solutions for your particular situation, you are setting your family up to suffer, and possibly even die, when it could be avoided. When I first became involved in preparedness, I lived in an urban area with a population in the millions. I rented. And I prepared to the very best of my ability because I knew I couldn’t live with myself if my children suffered because I had failed to do what was necessary beforehand.
What if you knew the world would end one week from today?
So here’s my question. If you absolutely knew that the world as we know it right now was coming to an end in a week…on September 11, 2014, what would you do?
Modify the following suggestions to adapt them to your particular home, family, and climate.
Water
Everyone knows that clean drinking water is something you can’t live without. In the event of a disaster, the water may not run from the taps, and if it does, it might not be safe to drink, depending on the situation. If there is a boil order in place, remember that if the power is out, boiling your water may not be as easy as turning on your stove.
Each family should store a two week supply of water. The rule of thumb for drinking water is 1 gallon per day, per person. Don’t forget to stock water for your pets, also. This does not include water for hygiene purposes. You’ll want to store additional water for that as well.
You can create your water supply very inexpensively. Many people use clean 2 liter soda pop bottles to store tap water. Others purchase the large 5 gallon water bottles and either a top-loading water dispenser or a manual pump for the top of the jug. Consider a gravity fed water filtration device and Water Purification Tablets as well.
Food and a Way to Prepare It
There are two schools of thought regarding food during a power outage. One: you need a cooking method that does not require the grid to be functioning. Two: you can store food that doesn’t require cooking.
If you opt for a secondary cooking method, be sure that you have enough fuel to last for a while. Store foods that do not require long cooking times – for example, dried beans would use a great deal of fuel, but canned beans could be warmed up, or even eaten cold. A rocket stove that can use many different types of fuel is an excellent and flexible choice.
The Volcano 3 is an excellent quality choice, and Swiss Army stove is an inexpensive choice for those on a tight budget.
Click HERE for a short term food storage list
Click HERE to find a list of foods that require no cooking.
Heat (Depending on Your Climate)
If your power outage takes place in the winter and you live in a colder climate, heat is another necessity. During the first 24 hours after a power outage, you can stay fairly warm if you block off one room of the house for everyone to group together in. Keep the door closed and keep a towel or blanket folded along the bottom of the door to conserve warmth. You can safely burn a couple of candles also, and in the enclosed space, your body heat will keep it relatively warm. As well, dress in layers and keep everything covered – wear a hat, gloves (fingerless ones allow you to still function), and a scarf.
Click HERE to learn how to stay warm with less heat.
However, after about 48 hours, that’s not going to be enough in very cold weather. You will require back-up heat at this point in certain climates. If you are lucky enough to have a source of heat like a fireplace or woodstove, you’ll be just fine as long as you have a supply of wood.
Consider a portable indoor-safe propane heater (and propane) or an oil heater. You have to be very careful what type of backup heat you plan on using, as many of them can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if used in a poorly ventilated area. Make sure to have CO monitors that will work without electrical power.
Learn more about off-grid heat options HERE.
Sanitation Needs
A common cause of illness, and even death, during a down-grid situation is lack of sanitation. We’ve discussed the importance of clean drinking water, but you won’t want to use your drinking water to keep things clean or to flush the toilet.
To conserve precious water, reduce your need to wash things. Stock up on paper plates, paper towels, and disposable cups and flatware. Keep some disinfecting cleaning wipes and sprays. I don’t recommend using antibacterial products on a regular basis, however in the event of an emergency they can help to keep you healthy. Use hand sanitizerafter using the bathroom and before handing food or beverages – there can be a lot more germs afoot in a disaster.
Look at your options for sanitation. Does your toilet still flush when the electricity is out? Many people discovered the hard way that the toilets didn’t work when the sewage backed up in the highrises in New York City in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. When we lived in our cabin in Ontario, the toilet wouldn’t flush without power because the pump is electric. If you are on a septic system, you can safely flush by pouring water into the tank. However, if you use city sanitation, you run the risk of sewage backing up into your home.
If flushing is not an option, another solution is to stock up on extremely heavy duty garbage bags (like the kind that contractors use at construction sites) and kitty litter. Place a bag either in your drained toilet or in a bucket. Sprinkle some kitty litter in the bottom of the bag. Each time someone uses the bathroom, add another handful of litter. Be very careful that the bag doesn’t get too heavy for you to handle it. Tie it up very securely and store it outside until services are restored. If services are not restored in a reasonable amount of time, make plans to bury or dispose of the waste safely.
Light
Lighting is absolutely vital, especially if there are children in the house. Nothing is more frightening than being completely in the dark during a stressful situation. Fortunately, it’s one of the easiest things to plan for, as well as one of the least expensive.
Some lighting solutions are:
Some basic items will make your life much easier during an emergency. Here are some things that are essential in the event of a power outage:
First Aid Kit
It’s important to have a basic first aid kit on hand at all times, but particularly in the event of an emergency. Your kit should include basic wound care items like bandages, antibiotic ointments, and sprays. As well, if you use them, keep on hand a supply of basic over-the-counter medications, like pain relief capsules, cold medicine, cough syrup, anti-nausea pills, and allergy medication. Particularly important if sanitation is a problem are anti-diarheal medications.
This first responder kit is a good, pre-packed kit for injuries. Medications would need to be purchased separately. If you want to put together a more advanced medical kit, you can find a list HERE.
Special Needs This is something that will be unique to every family. Consider the things that are needed on a daily basis in your household. It might be prescription medications, diapers, or special foods. If you have pets, you’ll need supplies for them too. The best way to figure out what you need is to jot things down as you use them over the course of a couple of days or so.
Self-Defense
If you can’t protect it, it isn’t really yours. This adage is doubly true in the event of civil unrest. We only have to look back a few short weeks at the chaos in Ferguson, Missouri to confirm that the businesses that were not looted by rioters run amok were the ones in which the owners stood, armed and ready, prepared to defend their property. The lessons we learned from Ferguson can easily be applied to a grid-down scenario, and we can multiply the desperation by about a thousand times, because it won’t merely be thugs romping through the streets and reveling in the chaos. It will be the parents of hungry children. It will be criminals who no longer fear being caught. It will be people who can no longer access psychiatric medications upon which they are dependent. It will be utter and complete lawlessness, driven by fear.
The best advice is to lay low, but if the fight comes to you, you absolutely must be prepared to defend your home and family by any means necessary. Read this article to learn more about prepping for civil unrest.
The Nuclear Threat
A dire concern that is often overlooked in discussions of EMP or grid-down preparedness is the threat of our nuclear power plants going full-out Fukushima on us. I guess part of the reason that I don’t write much about it is because there is honestly a limit to what we can do to be prepared for this. If all of our plants melted down simultaneously, the lack of refrigeration or firewood would be the least of our worries. We, the average folks, cannot control anything about these facilities, so our options are to control what we can – our personal environments.
Tess Pennington of Ready Nutrition shared the following very viable suggestions of what to do if you are exposed to nuclear radiation:
Radioactive ionic particles attach themselves to dust floating in the air. Therefore, it can be ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. If you are told to evacuate or bug in due to a nuclear disaster, keep the following points in mind:
Get Started Today
It may feel very overwhelming, the thought that the world as we know it could end in 7 days. We all hope this “grid jihad” business is nothing more than a scare tactic, a way to prey upon our fears. But what if it isn’t? How would you feel, having been warned, if you did nothing to prepare for it and it happened?
You can start right now – this very minute – all you have to do is grab a pad of paper and a pen.
If the lights go out next week due to a terrorist action, will you be prepared?
Resources: The Prepper’s Blueprint: The Step-By-Step Guide To Help You Through Any Disaster
5 gallon water bottles
top-loading water dispenser
Manual drinking water pump
Water Purification Tablets
Gravity-fed Water Filtration Device
The Volcano 3 rocket stove
Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Heater
Kidde KN-COPP-B-LPM Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Digital Display
Purell Pump Bottle, Original, 8 Ounce (Pack of 12)
Husky HK42WC020B 42-Gallon Contractor Clean-Up Bags, 20 Count
Garden stake solar lights
Super Bright Hand Crank LED Lantern
Ever Ready First Aid Fully Stocked First Responder Kit, Orange
Prepper’s Home Defense: Security Strategies to Protect Your Family by Any Means Necessary
The Organic Prepper
Comments (351) Read by 28,297 people 676 32 1742
The following article has been contributed by our good friend Daisy Luther of The Organic Prepper. Check out her web site for preparedness insights, healthy eating and news you need to know. If you are just getting started on your preparedness journey or want to enhance your food storage supplies we encourage you to read Daisy’s book The Pantry Primer: How to Build a One Year Food Supply in Three Months.
With September 11 fast approaching, so too does the risk of another terrorist attack on US soil.
They say this every year as the date approaches, but in 2014, it seems to carry a bit more weight than it has during other years.
I’m referring specifically to all of those beheadings and the crazy video threat that warned, “We will drown all of you in blood“. I’d say that ISIS could either be behind a potential attack or be set up as the fear-flavor of the month and be blamed for such an attack.
As for the type of attack, security experts are warning that our vulnerable power grid is an extremely likely target. Paul Bedard of the Washington Examiner wrote:
Former top government officials who have been warning Washington about the vulnerability of the nation’s largely unprotected electric grid are raising new fears that troops from the jihadist Islamic State are poised to attack the system, leading to a power crisis that could kill millions.
“Inadequate grid security, a porous U.S.-Mexico border, and fragile transmission systems make the electric grid a target for ISIS,” said Peter Pry, one of the nation’s leading experts on the grid.
Others joining Pry at a press conference later Wednesday to draw attention to the potential threat said that if just a handful of the nation’s high voltage transformers were knocked out, blackouts would occur across the country.
“By one estimate, should the power go out and stay out for over a year, nine out of 10 Americans would likely perish,” said Frank Gaffney, founder and president of the Center for Security Policy in Washington.
At the afternoon press conference, Gaffney dubbed the potential crisis the “grid jihad.” (source)
Anyone involved in the preparedness community is well aware of the disaster that would befall our country should our power-dependent populace no longer have light, climate control, and running water with the flip of a switch or turn of a handle. In his book, One Second After, William Forstchen wrote a fictional account of an EMP attack on our country and that book is the very thing that brought many of us over to the “prepped” side. His newest book, Day of Wrath, could be likewise prescient. It was written about a devastating ISIS terror attack on American soil.
In the press conference Wednesday, Peter Pry warned that Obama’s open border policy could be the weak point that allows the country to be infiltrated, with potentially devastating consequences.
Pry provided details of recent attacks on electricity systems and said that ISIS could easily team with Mexican drug cartels to ravage America.
He told Secrets, for example, that the Knights Templar drug gang blacked out the electric grid of the Mexican state of Michoacan in 2013 to provide cover for killing those fighting the drug trade.
“The Knights Templars and other criminal gangs in Mexico will do anything for money, and ISIS, the richest terrorist organization in history, has hundreds of millions of dollars at its disposal,” said Pry.
“ISIS could hire one of the Mexican cartels, or one of their criminal gangs already in the U.S., or activate jihadist terror cells already in the U.S., and inflict a multi-state blackout immediately, within days or weeks. Perhaps even a nationwide blackout,” Pry explained to Secrets.
“I am not saying it is likely they will do so. But given the capabilities and objectives of ISIS and our obvious vulnerabilities, it would be foolish to ignore the threat to the grid, to regard the threat as unlikely. Our planning should be based on imminent asymmetrical threats, and not assume that another 9/11 large-scale attack is years away,” he added.
The Texas Department of Public Safety recently said they believe there is evidence that ISIS plans an attack. (source)
Enough about the “maybes” and the “hows”. (You can go HERE for an in-depth article about EMP attacks.) Unless you happen to be a highly placed government official reading this article, there isn’t a lot that you could do to prevent it. All you can do is be prepared to survive the aftermath, so this article deals with the “what ifs” and the “are you readies”.
Are You Ready for Grid Failure?
This is a topic that I’ve written about frequently, because a power outage aids and abets the chaos caused by so many different disasters. It doesn’t honestly matter HOW the grid goes down. A long-term grid collapse will result in an extremely high death toll. People will starve, freeze, perish of thirst, or die of sanitation related illnesses. Some will expire from medical causes that can’t be treated properly without power. Others will die because life-saving medication is no longer available. Civil unrest will unleash the very worst in human nature. However, we can prepare for many of these hazards.
If you are already of the preparedness mindset, you’ll fare better than the average North American. Here are the questions you need to contemplate:
I know that some of you are reading this with a fatalistic attitude. You are mentally making lists of why you can’t resolve these issues. Maybe you live in an apartment, you rent so you are limited to what you can do with your home, you have a limited budget, you live in the city or your mama’s basement.
Well, if that’s the way you’re thinking, then you’re probably right – you won’t survive. Survival demands a can-do attitude 0r, on occasion, the fluke of pure dumb luck. If you realize these things are necessary and you still refuse to find solutions for your particular situation, you are setting your family up to suffer, and possibly even die, when it could be avoided. When I first became involved in preparedness, I lived in an urban area with a population in the millions. I rented. And I prepared to the very best of my ability because I knew I couldn’t live with myself if my children suffered because I had failed to do what was necessary beforehand.
What if you knew the world would end one week from today?
So here’s my question. If you absolutely knew that the world as we know it right now was coming to an end in a week…on September 11, 2014, what would you do?
Modify the following suggestions to adapt them to your particular home, family, and climate.
Water
Everyone knows that clean drinking water is something you can’t live without. In the event of a disaster, the water may not run from the taps, and if it does, it might not be safe to drink, depending on the situation. If there is a boil order in place, remember that if the power is out, boiling your water may not be as easy as turning on your stove.
Each family should store a two week supply of water. The rule of thumb for drinking water is 1 gallon per day, per person. Don’t forget to stock water for your pets, also. This does not include water for hygiene purposes. You’ll want to store additional water for that as well.
You can create your water supply very inexpensively. Many people use clean 2 liter soda pop bottles to store tap water. Others purchase the large 5 gallon water bottles and either a top-loading water dispenser or a manual pump for the top of the jug. Consider a gravity fed water filtration device and Water Purification Tablets as well.
Food and a Way to Prepare It
There are two schools of thought regarding food during a power outage. One: you need a cooking method that does not require the grid to be functioning. Two: you can store food that doesn’t require cooking.
If you opt for a secondary cooking method, be sure that you have enough fuel to last for a while. Store foods that do not require long cooking times – for example, dried beans would use a great deal of fuel, but canned beans could be warmed up, or even eaten cold. A rocket stove that can use many different types of fuel is an excellent and flexible choice.
The Volcano 3 is an excellent quality choice, and Swiss Army stove is an inexpensive choice for those on a tight budget.
Click HERE for a short term food storage list
Click HERE to find a list of foods that require no cooking.
Heat (Depending on Your Climate)
If your power outage takes place in the winter and you live in a colder climate, heat is another necessity. During the first 24 hours after a power outage, you can stay fairly warm if you block off one room of the house for everyone to group together in. Keep the door closed and keep a towel or blanket folded along the bottom of the door to conserve warmth. You can safely burn a couple of candles also, and in the enclosed space, your body heat will keep it relatively warm. As well, dress in layers and keep everything covered – wear a hat, gloves (fingerless ones allow you to still function), and a scarf.
Click HERE to learn how to stay warm with less heat.
However, after about 48 hours, that’s not going to be enough in very cold weather. You will require back-up heat at this point in certain climates. If you are lucky enough to have a source of heat like a fireplace or woodstove, you’ll be just fine as long as you have a supply of wood.
Consider a portable indoor-safe propane heater (and propane) or an oil heater. You have to be very careful what type of backup heat you plan on using, as many of them can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if used in a poorly ventilated area. Make sure to have CO monitors that will work without electrical power.
Learn more about off-grid heat options HERE.
Sanitation Needs
A common cause of illness, and even death, during a down-grid situation is lack of sanitation. We’ve discussed the importance of clean drinking water, but you won’t want to use your drinking water to keep things clean or to flush the toilet.
To conserve precious water, reduce your need to wash things. Stock up on paper plates, paper towels, and disposable cups and flatware. Keep some disinfecting cleaning wipes and sprays. I don’t recommend using antibacterial products on a regular basis, however in the event of an emergency they can help to keep you healthy. Use hand sanitizerafter using the bathroom and before handing food or beverages – there can be a lot more germs afoot in a disaster.
Look at your options for sanitation. Does your toilet still flush when the electricity is out? Many people discovered the hard way that the toilets didn’t work when the sewage backed up in the highrises in New York City in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. When we lived in our cabin in Ontario, the toilet wouldn’t flush without power because the pump is electric. If you are on a septic system, you can safely flush by pouring water into the tank. However, if you use city sanitation, you run the risk of sewage backing up into your home.
If flushing is not an option, another solution is to stock up on extremely heavy duty garbage bags (like the kind that contractors use at construction sites) and kitty litter. Place a bag either in your drained toilet or in a bucket. Sprinkle some kitty litter in the bottom of the bag. Each time someone uses the bathroom, add another handful of litter. Be very careful that the bag doesn’t get too heavy for you to handle it. Tie it up very securely and store it outside until services are restored. If services are not restored in a reasonable amount of time, make plans to bury or dispose of the waste safely.
Light
Lighting is absolutely vital, especially if there are children in the house. Nothing is more frightening than being completely in the dark during a stressful situation. Fortunately, it’s one of the easiest things to plan for, as well as one of the least expensive.
Some lighting solutions are:
Some basic items will make your life much easier during an emergency. Here are some things that are essential in the event of a power outage:
First Aid Kit
It’s important to have a basic first aid kit on hand at all times, but particularly in the event of an emergency. Your kit should include basic wound care items like bandages, antibiotic ointments, and sprays. As well, if you use them, keep on hand a supply of basic over-the-counter medications, like pain relief capsules, cold medicine, cough syrup, anti-nausea pills, and allergy medication. Particularly important if sanitation is a problem are anti-diarheal medications.
This first responder kit is a good, pre-packed kit for injuries. Medications would need to be purchased separately. If you want to put together a more advanced medical kit, you can find a list HERE.
Special Needs This is something that will be unique to every family. Consider the things that are needed on a daily basis in your household. It might be prescription medications, diapers, or special foods. If you have pets, you’ll need supplies for them too. The best way to figure out what you need is to jot things down as you use them over the course of a couple of days or so.
Self-Defense
If you can’t protect it, it isn’t really yours. This adage is doubly true in the event of civil unrest. We only have to look back a few short weeks at the chaos in Ferguson, Missouri to confirm that the businesses that were not looted by rioters run amok were the ones in which the owners stood, armed and ready, prepared to defend their property. The lessons we learned from Ferguson can easily be applied to a grid-down scenario, and we can multiply the desperation by about a thousand times, because it won’t merely be thugs romping through the streets and reveling in the chaos. It will be the parents of hungry children. It will be criminals who no longer fear being caught. It will be people who can no longer access psychiatric medications upon which they are dependent. It will be utter and complete lawlessness, driven by fear.
The best advice is to lay low, but if the fight comes to you, you absolutely must be prepared to defend your home and family by any means necessary. Read this article to learn more about prepping for civil unrest.
The Nuclear Threat
A dire concern that is often overlooked in discussions of EMP or grid-down preparedness is the threat of our nuclear power plants going full-out Fukushima on us. I guess part of the reason that I don’t write much about it is because there is honestly a limit to what we can do to be prepared for this. If all of our plants melted down simultaneously, the lack of refrigeration or firewood would be the least of our worries. We, the average folks, cannot control anything about these facilities, so our options are to control what we can – our personal environments.
Tess Pennington of Ready Nutrition shared the following very viable suggestions of what to do if you are exposed to nuclear radiation:
Radioactive ionic particles attach themselves to dust floating in the air. Therefore, it can be ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. If you are told to evacuate or bug in due to a nuclear disaster, keep the following points in mind:
Get Started Today
It may feel very overwhelming, the thought that the world as we know it could end in 7 days. We all hope this “grid jihad” business is nothing more than a scare tactic, a way to prey upon our fears. But what if it isn’t? How would you feel, having been warned, if you did nothing to prepare for it and it happened?
You can start right now – this very minute – all you have to do is grab a pad of paper and a pen.
If the lights go out next week due to a terrorist action, will you be prepared?
Resources: The Prepper’s Blueprint: The Step-By-Step Guide To Help You Through Any Disaster
5 gallon water bottles
top-loading water dispenser
Manual drinking water pump
Water Purification Tablets
Gravity-fed Water Filtration Device
The Volcano 3 rocket stove
Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Heater
Kidde KN-COPP-B-LPM Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Digital Display
Purell Pump Bottle, Original, 8 Ounce (Pack of 12)
Husky HK42WC020B 42-Gallon Contractor Clean-Up Bags, 20 Count
Garden stake solar lights
Super Bright Hand Crank LED Lantern
Ever Ready First Aid Fully Stocked First Responder Kit, Orange
Prepper’s Home Defense: Security Strategies to Protect Your Family by Any Means Necessary
Daisy Luther
With September 11 fast approaching, so too does the risk of another terrorist attack on US soil.
They say this every year as the date approaches, but in 2015, it seems to carry a bit more weight than it has during other years.
I’m referring specifically to all of those beheadings and the crazy video threat that warned, “We will drown all of you in blood“. I’d say that ISIS could either be behind a potential attack or be set up as the fear-flavor of the month and be blamed for such an attack.
As for the type of attack, security experts are warning that our vulnerable power grid is an extremely likely target. Paul Bedard of the Washington Examiner wrote:
Former top government officials who have been warning Washington about the vulnerability of the nation’s largely unprotected electric grid are raising new fears that troops from the jihadist Islamic State are poised to attack the system, leading to a power crisis that could kill millions.
“Inadequate grid security, a porous U.S.-Mexico border, and fragile transmission systems make the electric grid a target for ISIS,” said Peter Pry, one of the nation’s leading experts on the grid.
Others joining Pry at a press conference later Wednesday to draw attention to the potential threat said that if just a handful of the nation’s high voltage transformers were knocked out, blackouts would occur across the country.
“By one estimate, should the power go out and stay out for over a year, nine out of 10 Americans would likely perish,” said Frank Gaffney, founder and president of the Center for Security Policy in Washington.
At the afternoon press conference, Gaffney dubbed the potential crisis the “grid jihad.” (source)
Anyone involved in the preparedness community is well aware of the disaster that would befall our country should our power-dependent populace no longer have light, climate control, and running water with the flip of a switch or turn of a handle. In his book, One Second After, William Forstchen wrote a fictional account of an EMP attack on our country and that book is the very thing that brought many of us over to the “prepped” side. His newest book, Day of Wrath, could be likewise prescient. It was written about a devastating ISIS terror attack on American soil.
In the press conference Wednesday, Peter Pry warned that Obama’s open border policy could be the weak point that allows the country to be infiltrated, with potentially devastating consequences.
Pry provided details of recent attacks on electricity systems and said that ISIS could easily team with Mexican drug cartels to ravage America.
He told Secrets, for example, that the Knights Templar drug gang blacked out the electric grid of the Mexican state of Michoacan in 2013 to provide cover for killing those fighting the drug trade.
“The Knights Templars and other criminal gangs in Mexico will do anything for money, and ISIS, the richest terrorist organization in history, has hundreds of millions of dollars at its disposal,” said Pry.
“ISIS could hire one of the Mexican cartels, or one of their criminal gangs already in the U.S., or activate jihadist terror cells already in the U.S., and inflict a multi-state blackout immediately, within days or weeks. Perhaps even a nationwide blackout,” Pry explained to Secrets.
“I am not saying it is likely they will do so. But given the capabilities and objectives of ISIS and our obvious vulnerabilities, it would be foolish to ignore the threat to the grid, to regard the threat as unlikely. Our planning should be based on imminent asymmetrical threats, and not assume that another 9/11 large-scale attack is years away,” he added.
The Texas Department of Public Safety recently said they believe there is evidence that ISIS plans an attack. (source)
Enough about the “maybes” and the “hows”. (You can go HERE for an in-depth article about EMP attacks.) Unless you happen to be a highly placed government official reading this article, there isn’t a lot that you could do to prevent it. All you can do is be prepared to survive the aftermath, so this article deals with the “what ifs” and the “are you readies”.
Are You Ready for Grid Failure?
This is a topic that I’ve written about frequently, because a power outage aids and abets the chaos caused by so many different disasters. It doesn’t honestly matter HOW the grid goes down. A long-term grid collapse will result in an extremely high death toll. People will starve, freeze, perish of thirst, or die of sanitation related illnesses. Some will expire from medical causes that can’t be treated properly without power. Others will die because life-saving medication is no longer available. Civil unrest will unleash the very worst in human nature. However, we can prepare for many of these hazards.
If you are already of the preparedness mindset, you’ll fare better than the average North American. Here are the questions you need to contemplate:
- How will you get food if the grocery stores are closed?
- How will you cook food if you are able to acquire it?
- What will happen to the perishable food in your refrigerator and freezer?
- How will you heat or cool your home if you are in an area subject to extreme temperatures?
- What will you use for light once the scented candle that sits on your coffee table is gone?
- How will you transport yourself if a) your vehicle doesn’t run because the computers are fried or b) it runs but you can’t get gas because the pumps at the station run on electricity?
- What will you drink and wash with if the municipal water facilities are no longer providing water or if the pump on your well runs on electricity?
- How will you dispose of waste, human and other?
I know that some of you are reading this with a fatalistic attitude. You are mentally making lists of why you can’t resolve these issues. Maybe you live in an apartment, you rent so you are limited to what you can do with your home, you have a limited budget, you live in the city or your mama’s basement.
Well, if that’s the way you’re thinking, then you’re probably right – you won’t survive. Survival demands a can-do attitude 0r, on occasion, the fluke of pure dumb luck. If you realize these things are necessary and you still refuse to find solutions for your particular situation, you are setting your family up to suffer, and possibly even die, when it could be avoided. When I first became involved in preparedness, I lived in an urban area with a population in the millions. I rented. And I prepared to the very best of my ability because I knew I couldn’t live with myself if my children suffered because I had failed to do what was necessary beforehand.
What if you knew the world would end one week from today?
So here’s my question. If you absolutely knew that the world as we know it right now was coming to an end in a week…on September 11, 2014, what would you do?
Modify the following suggestions to adapt them to your particular home, family, and climate.
Water
Everyone knows that clean drinking water is something you can’t live without. In the event of a disaster, the water may not run from the taps, and if it does, it might not be safe to drink, depending on the situation. If there is a boil order in place, remember that if the power is out, boiling your water may not be as easy as turning on your stove.
Each family should store a two week supply of water. The rule of thumb for drinking water is 1 gallon per day, per person. Don’t forget to stock water for your pets, also. This does not include water for hygiene purposes. You’ll want to store additional water for that as well.
You can create your water supply very inexpensively. Many people use clean 2 liter soda pop bottles to store tap water. Others purchase the large 5 gallon water bottles and either a top-loading water dispenser or a manual pump for the top of the jug. Consider a gravity fed water filtration device and Water Purification Tablets as well.
Food and a Way to Prepare It
There are two schools of thought regarding food during a power outage. One: you need a cooking method that does not require the grid to be functioning. Two: you can store food that doesn’t require cooking.
If you opt for a secondary cooking method, be sure that you have enough fuel to last for a while. Store foods that do not require long cooking times – for example, dried beans would use a great deal of fuel, but canned beans could be warmed up, or even eaten cold. A rocket stove that can use many different types of fuel is an excellent and flexible choice.
The Volcano 3 is an excellent quality choice, and Swiss Army stove is an inexpensive choice for those on a tight budget.
Click HERE for a short term food storage list
Click HERE to find a list of foods that require no cooking.
Heat (Depending on Your Climate)
If your power outage takes place in the winter and you live in a colder climate, heat is another necessity. During the first 24 hours after a power outage, you can stay fairly warm if you block off one room of the house for everyone to group together in. Keep the door closed and keep a towel or blanket folded along the bottom of the door to conserve warmth. You can safely burn a couple of candles also, and in the enclosed space, your body heat will keep it relatively warm. As well, dress in layers and keep everything covered – wear a hat, gloves (fingerless ones allow you to still function), and a scarf.
Click HERE to learn how to stay warm with less heat.
However, after about 48 hours, that’s not going to be enough in very cold weather. You will require back-up heat at this point in certain climates. If you are lucky enough to have a source of heat like a fireplace or woodstove, you’ll be just fine as long as you have a supply of wood.
Consider a portable indoor-safe propane heater (and propane) or an oil heater. You have to be very careful what type of backup heat you plan on using, as many of them can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if used in a poorly ventilated area. Make sure to have CO monitors that will work without electrical power.
Learn more about off-grid heat options HERE.
Sanitation Needs
A common cause of illness, and even death, during a down-grid situation is lack of sanitation. We’ve discussed the importance of clean drinking water, but you won’t want to use your drinking water to keep things clean or to flush the toilet.
To conserve precious water, reduce your need to wash things. Stock up on paper plates, paper towels, and disposable cups and flatware. Keep some disinfecting cleaning wipes and sprays. I don’t recommend using antibacterial products on a regular basis, however in the event of an emergency they can help to keep you healthy. Use hand sanitizerafter using the bathroom and before handing food or beverages – there can be a lot more germs afoot in a disaster.
Look at your options for sanitation. Does your toilet still flush when the electricity is out? Many people discovered the hard way that the toilets didn’t work when the sewage backed up in the highrises in New York City in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. When we lived in our cabin in Ontario, the toilet wouldn’t flush without power because the pump is electric. If you are on a septic system, you can safely flush by pouring water into the tank. However, if you use city sanitation, you run the risk of sewage backing up into your home.
If flushing is not an option, another solution is to stock up on extremely heavy duty garbage bags (like the kind that contractors use at construction sites) and kitty litter. Place a bag either in your drained toilet or in a bucket. Sprinkle some kitty litter in the bottom of the bag. Each time someone uses the bathroom, add another handful of litter. Be very careful that the bag doesn’t get too heavy for you to handle it. Tie it up very securely and store it outside until services are restored. If services are not restored in a reasonable amount of time, make plans to bury or dispose of the waste safely.
Light
Lighting is absolutely vital, especially if there are children in the house. Nothing is more frightening than being completely in the dark during a stressful situation. Fortunately, it’s one of the easiest things to plan for, as well as one of the least expensive.
Some lighting solutions are:
- Garden stake solar lights
- Candles
- Kerosene lamps
- Flashlights (don’t forget batteries)
- Hand crank camping lantern (This one is bright and inexpensive)
- Don’t forget matches or lighters
Some basic items will make your life much easier during an emergency. Here are some things that are essential in the event of a power outage:
- Lighter/waterproof matches
- Batteries in various sizes
- Manual can opener
- Basic tools: Pliers, screwdriver, wrench, hammer
- Duct tape
- Crazy glue
- Sewing supplies
- Bungee cords
- WD40 or other lubricant
First Aid Kit
It’s important to have a basic first aid kit on hand at all times, but particularly in the event of an emergency. Your kit should include basic wound care items like bandages, antibiotic ointments, and sprays. As well, if you use them, keep on hand a supply of basic over-the-counter medications, like pain relief capsules, cold medicine, cough syrup, anti-nausea pills, and allergy medication. Particularly important if sanitation is a problem are anti-diarheal medications.
This first responder kit is a good, pre-packed kit for injuries. Medications would need to be purchased separately. If you want to put together a more advanced medical kit, you can find a list HERE.
Special Needs This is something that will be unique to every family. Consider the things that are needed on a daily basis in your household. It might be prescription medications, diapers, or special foods. If you have pets, you’ll need supplies for them too. The best way to figure out what you need is to jot things down as you use them over the course of a couple of days or so.
Self-Defense
If you can’t protect it, it isn’t really yours. This adage is doubly true in the event of civil unrest. We only have to look back a few short weeks at the chaos in Ferguson, Missouri to confirm that the businesses that were not looted by rioters run amok were the ones in which the owners stood, armed and ready, prepared to defend their property. The lessons we learned from Ferguson can easily be applied to a grid-down scenario, and we can multiply the desperation by about a thousand times, because it won’t merely be thugs romping through the streets and reveling in the chaos. It will be the parents of hungry children. It will be criminals who no longer fear being caught. It will be people who can no longer access psychiatric medications upon which they are dependent. It will be utter and complete lawlessness, driven by fear.
The best advice is to lay low, but if the fight comes to you, you absolutely must be prepared to defend your home and family by any means necessary. Read this article to learn more about prepping for civil unrest.
The Nuclear Threat
A dire concern that is often overlooked in discussions of EMP or grid-down preparedness is the threat of our nuclear power plants going full-out Fukushima on us. I guess part of the reason that I don’t write much about it is because there is honestly a limit to what we can do to be prepared for this. If all of our plants melted down simultaneously, the lack of refrigeration or firewood would be the least of our worries. We, the average folks, cannot control anything about these facilities, so our options are to control what we can – our personal environments.
Tess Pennington of Ready Nutrition shared the following very viable suggestions of what to do if you are exposed to nuclear radiation:
Radioactive ionic particles attach themselves to dust floating in the air. Therefore, it can be ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. If you are told to evacuate or bug in due to a nuclear disaster, keep the following points in mind:
- If you are driving, keep the car windows and vents closed, and use recirculating air.
- Due to the fear of panic and gridlock that will ensue from mass evacuations, most governments will delay mandatory evacuations until the last minute. This will only cause mass confusion and chaos at gas stations, grocery stores and on the streets. The best way to prevent this, is to stay ahead of the crowd and prepare ahead of time.
- If told to stay indoors, turn off the air conditioner and other air intakes and go to a basement. Seal basement windows and entrances to prevent fallout from getting inside. If you go outside, you will need to remove your outer clothing before coming inside the shelter.
- Likewise, creating a sealed area near the entrance of the shelter will prevent fallout dust from entering. Seal the entryway with blankets, bubble wrap or plastic sheeting to prevent the dust from coming in. Have water and baby shampoo near the entrance to wash and thoroughly rinse any exposed skin and hair. Exposure to fallout radiation does not make you radioactive, but you need to assure that you don’t bring any inside. Some experts suggest having a rain poncho to take on and off when you go outside.
- To go a step further, covering the windows wood, then sandbags followed by masonry bricks will create a multi-layered protection against you and radioactive particles.
- If you find yourself outdoors when a nuclear blast occurs, duck and cover for 2 minutes. You will first see a blinding light followed by tornado force winds and dangerous. When all danger is gone, seek shelter immediately. Remove your clothing at the door and place in a sealed plastic bag. You can remove 80% of the particles by removing your clothing. Showering immediately following exposure is another way to remove the remaining particles.
- If you have signs of radiation on skin soak in a tub of equal parts baking soda, apple cider vinegar and epsom salt. Skin brushing can be very beneficial, because the skin is a primary avenue for detoxification – scrub along with the lungs, kidneys, liver, and colon. An unused vegetable brush would be very helpful with this process.
- Getting caught out in the rain can also cause you to have more exposure to radioactive particles. If you do have to go out in the rain, completely cover yourself. Experts are suggesting that if your clothes get wet to take them off and seal them in a plastic bag, immediately shower and change clothing. (The detox bath solution and skin brushing would be good here. If radioactive materials get on your skin, burns and blistering can occur.Note: If you are exposed to radioactive particles, you will also need to get your urine tested for traces of cessium at your local medical center.
- When fallout is first anticipated, but has not yet arrived, anyone not already sheltered should begin using their N95 particulate respirator masks and hooded rain ponchos. Everyone should begin taking Potassium Iodide (KI) or Potassium Iodate (KIO3) tablets for thyroid protection against cancer causing radioactive iodine, a major product of nuclear weapons explosions. If no tablets are available, you can topically (on the skin) apply an iodine solution, such as a tincture of iodine or Betadine, for a similar protective effect. (WARNING: Iodine solutions are NEVER to be ingested or swallowed.) Absorption through the skin is not as reliable a dosing method as using the tablets, but tests show that it will still be very effective for most. Do not use if allergic to iodine. If at all possible, inquire of your doctor NOW if there is any reason why anybody in your household should not use KI or KIO3 tablets, or iodine solutions on their skin, in a future nuclear emergency, just to be sure.For adults, paint 8 ml of a 2 percent tincture of Iodine on the abdomen or forearm each day, ideally at least 2 hours prior to possible exposure.
- For children 3 to 18, but under 150 pounds, only half that amount painted on daily, or 4 ml. For children under 3 but older than a month, half again, or 2 ml.
- For newborns to 1 month old, half it again, or just 1 ml. (One measuring teaspoon is about 5 ml, if you don’t have a medicine dropper graduated in ml.) If your iodine is stronger than 2%, reduce the dosage accordingly.
- When you know that the time to take protective action is approaching, turn off all the utilities into the house, check that everything is sealed up and locked down, and head for the shelter. You should also have near your shelter fire extinguishers and additional tools, building supplies, sheet plastic, staple guns, etc. for sealing any holes from damage. Your basement should already be very well sealed against fallout drifting inside. Now, you’ll need to seal around the last door you use to enter with duct tape all around the edges, especially if it’s a direct to the outside door.
- Do not use the telephone unless absolutely necessary. Staying on the phone will congest phone lines making it impossible for others in your area to make or receive calls.
Get Started Today
It may feel very overwhelming, the thought that the world as we know it could end in 7 days. We all hope this “grid jihad” business is nothing more than a scare tactic, a way to prey upon our fears. But what if it isn’t? How would you feel, having been warned, if you did nothing to prepare for it and it happened?
You can start right now – this very minute – all you have to do is grab a pad of paper and a pen.
- Begin by personalizing the suggestions above to fit your family’s needs and make a list of your requirements.
- Next, do a quick inventory – as I mentioned above, you may be surprised to see that you already have quite a few of the supplies that are recommended.
- Make a shopping list and acquire the rest of the items you need. If you can’t afford everything right now, prioritize the most important things first.
- Organize your supplies so that they are easily accessible when you need them. It’s hard to find seldom-used items in the dark.
If the lights go out next week due to a terrorist action, will you be prepared?
Resources: The Prepper’s Blueprint: The Step-By-Step Guide To Help You Through Any Disaster
5 gallon water bottles
top-loading water dispenser
Manual drinking water pump
Water Purification Tablets
Gravity-fed Water Filtration Device
The Volcano 3 rocket stove
Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Heater
Kidde KN-COPP-B-LPM Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Digital Display
Purell Pump Bottle, Original, 8 Ounce (Pack of 12)
Husky HK42WC020B 42-Gallon Contractor Clean-Up Bags, 20 Count
Garden stake solar lights
Super Bright Hand Crank LED Lantern
Ever Ready First Aid Fully Stocked First Responder Kit, Orange
Prepper’s Home Defense: Security Strategies to Protect Your Family by Any Means Necessary
The Organic Prepper
Comments (351) Read by 28,297 people 676 32 1742
The following article has been contributed by our good friend Daisy Luther of The Organic Prepper. Check out her web site for preparedness insights, healthy eating and news you need to know. If you are just getting started on your preparedness journey or want to enhance your food storage supplies we encourage you to read Daisy’s book The Pantry Primer: How to Build a One Year Food Supply in Three Months.
With September 11 fast approaching, so too does the risk of another terrorist attack on US soil.
They say this every year as the date approaches, but in 2014, it seems to carry a bit more weight than it has during other years.
I’m referring specifically to all of those beheadings and the crazy video threat that warned, “We will drown all of you in blood“. I’d say that ISIS could either be behind a potential attack or be set up as the fear-flavor of the month and be blamed for such an attack.
As for the type of attack, security experts are warning that our vulnerable power grid is an extremely likely target. Paul Bedard of the Washington Examiner wrote:
Former top government officials who have been warning Washington about the vulnerability of the nation’s largely unprotected electric grid are raising new fears that troops from the jihadist Islamic State are poised to attack the system, leading to a power crisis that could kill millions.
“Inadequate grid security, a porous U.S.-Mexico border, and fragile transmission systems make the electric grid a target for ISIS,” said Peter Pry, one of the nation’s leading experts on the grid.
Others joining Pry at a press conference later Wednesday to draw attention to the potential threat said that if just a handful of the nation’s high voltage transformers were knocked out, blackouts would occur across the country.
“By one estimate, should the power go out and stay out for over a year, nine out of 10 Americans would likely perish,” said Frank Gaffney, founder and president of the Center for Security Policy in Washington.
At the afternoon press conference, Gaffney dubbed the potential crisis the “grid jihad.” (source)
Anyone involved in the preparedness community is well aware of the disaster that would befall our country should our power-dependent populace no longer have light, climate control, and running water with the flip of a switch or turn of a handle. In his book, One Second After, William Forstchen wrote a fictional account of an EMP attack on our country and that book is the very thing that brought many of us over to the “prepped” side. His newest book, Day of Wrath, could be likewise prescient. It was written about a devastating ISIS terror attack on American soil.
In the press conference Wednesday, Peter Pry warned that Obama’s open border policy could be the weak point that allows the country to be infiltrated, with potentially devastating consequences.
Pry provided details of recent attacks on electricity systems and said that ISIS could easily team with Mexican drug cartels to ravage America.
He told Secrets, for example, that the Knights Templar drug gang blacked out the electric grid of the Mexican state of Michoacan in 2013 to provide cover for killing those fighting the drug trade.
“The Knights Templars and other criminal gangs in Mexico will do anything for money, and ISIS, the richest terrorist organization in history, has hundreds of millions of dollars at its disposal,” said Pry.
“ISIS could hire one of the Mexican cartels, or one of their criminal gangs already in the U.S., or activate jihadist terror cells already in the U.S., and inflict a multi-state blackout immediately, within days or weeks. Perhaps even a nationwide blackout,” Pry explained to Secrets.
“I am not saying it is likely they will do so. But given the capabilities and objectives of ISIS and our obvious vulnerabilities, it would be foolish to ignore the threat to the grid, to regard the threat as unlikely. Our planning should be based on imminent asymmetrical threats, and not assume that another 9/11 large-scale attack is years away,” he added.
The Texas Department of Public Safety recently said they believe there is evidence that ISIS plans an attack. (source)
Enough about the “maybes” and the “hows”. (You can go HERE for an in-depth article about EMP attacks.) Unless you happen to be a highly placed government official reading this article, there isn’t a lot that you could do to prevent it. All you can do is be prepared to survive the aftermath, so this article deals with the “what ifs” and the “are you readies”.
Are You Ready for Grid Failure?
This is a topic that I’ve written about frequently, because a power outage aids and abets the chaos caused by so many different disasters. It doesn’t honestly matter HOW the grid goes down. A long-term grid collapse will result in an extremely high death toll. People will starve, freeze, perish of thirst, or die of sanitation related illnesses. Some will expire from medical causes that can’t be treated properly without power. Others will die because life-saving medication is no longer available. Civil unrest will unleash the very worst in human nature. However, we can prepare for many of these hazards.
If you are already of the preparedness mindset, you’ll fare better than the average North American. Here are the questions you need to contemplate:
- How will you get food if the grocery stores are closed?
- How will you cook food if you are able to acquire it?
- What will happen to the perishable food in your refrigerator and freezer?
- How will you heat or cool your home if you are in an area subject to extreme temperatures?
- What will you use for light once the scented candle that sits on your coffee table is gone?
- How will you transport yourself if a) your vehicle doesn’t run because the computers are fried or b) it runs but you can’t get gas because the pumps at the station run on electricity?
- What will you drink and wash with if the municipal water facilities are no longer providing water or if the pump on your well runs on electricity?
- How will you dispose of waste, human and other?
I know that some of you are reading this with a fatalistic attitude. You are mentally making lists of why you can’t resolve these issues. Maybe you live in an apartment, you rent so you are limited to what you can do with your home, you have a limited budget, you live in the city or your mama’s basement.
Well, if that’s the way you’re thinking, then you’re probably right – you won’t survive. Survival demands a can-do attitude 0r, on occasion, the fluke of pure dumb luck. If you realize these things are necessary and you still refuse to find solutions for your particular situation, you are setting your family up to suffer, and possibly even die, when it could be avoided. When I first became involved in preparedness, I lived in an urban area with a population in the millions. I rented. And I prepared to the very best of my ability because I knew I couldn’t live with myself if my children suffered because I had failed to do what was necessary beforehand.
What if you knew the world would end one week from today?
So here’s my question. If you absolutely knew that the world as we know it right now was coming to an end in a week…on September 11, 2014, what would you do?
Modify the following suggestions to adapt them to your particular home, family, and climate.
Water
Everyone knows that clean drinking water is something you can’t live without. In the event of a disaster, the water may not run from the taps, and if it does, it might not be safe to drink, depending on the situation. If there is a boil order in place, remember that if the power is out, boiling your water may not be as easy as turning on your stove.
Each family should store a two week supply of water. The rule of thumb for drinking water is 1 gallon per day, per person. Don’t forget to stock water for your pets, also. This does not include water for hygiene purposes. You’ll want to store additional water for that as well.
You can create your water supply very inexpensively. Many people use clean 2 liter soda pop bottles to store tap water. Others purchase the large 5 gallon water bottles and either a top-loading water dispenser or a manual pump for the top of the jug. Consider a gravity fed water filtration device and Water Purification Tablets as well.
Food and a Way to Prepare It
There are two schools of thought regarding food during a power outage. One: you need a cooking method that does not require the grid to be functioning. Two: you can store food that doesn’t require cooking.
If you opt for a secondary cooking method, be sure that you have enough fuel to last for a while. Store foods that do not require long cooking times – for example, dried beans would use a great deal of fuel, but canned beans could be warmed up, or even eaten cold. A rocket stove that can use many different types of fuel is an excellent and flexible choice.
The Volcano 3 is an excellent quality choice, and Swiss Army stove is an inexpensive choice for those on a tight budget.
Click HERE for a short term food storage list
Click HERE to find a list of foods that require no cooking.
Heat (Depending on Your Climate)
If your power outage takes place in the winter and you live in a colder climate, heat is another necessity. During the first 24 hours after a power outage, you can stay fairly warm if you block off one room of the house for everyone to group together in. Keep the door closed and keep a towel or blanket folded along the bottom of the door to conserve warmth. You can safely burn a couple of candles also, and in the enclosed space, your body heat will keep it relatively warm. As well, dress in layers and keep everything covered – wear a hat, gloves (fingerless ones allow you to still function), and a scarf.
Click HERE to learn how to stay warm with less heat.
However, after about 48 hours, that’s not going to be enough in very cold weather. You will require back-up heat at this point in certain climates. If you are lucky enough to have a source of heat like a fireplace or woodstove, you’ll be just fine as long as you have a supply of wood.
Consider a portable indoor-safe propane heater (and propane) or an oil heater. You have to be very careful what type of backup heat you plan on using, as many of them can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if used in a poorly ventilated area. Make sure to have CO monitors that will work without electrical power.
Learn more about off-grid heat options HERE.
Sanitation Needs
A common cause of illness, and even death, during a down-grid situation is lack of sanitation. We’ve discussed the importance of clean drinking water, but you won’t want to use your drinking water to keep things clean or to flush the toilet.
To conserve precious water, reduce your need to wash things. Stock up on paper plates, paper towels, and disposable cups and flatware. Keep some disinfecting cleaning wipes and sprays. I don’t recommend using antibacterial products on a regular basis, however in the event of an emergency they can help to keep you healthy. Use hand sanitizerafter using the bathroom and before handing food or beverages – there can be a lot more germs afoot in a disaster.
Look at your options for sanitation. Does your toilet still flush when the electricity is out? Many people discovered the hard way that the toilets didn’t work when the sewage backed up in the highrises in New York City in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. When we lived in our cabin in Ontario, the toilet wouldn’t flush without power because the pump is electric. If you are on a septic system, you can safely flush by pouring water into the tank. However, if you use city sanitation, you run the risk of sewage backing up into your home.
If flushing is not an option, another solution is to stock up on extremely heavy duty garbage bags (like the kind that contractors use at construction sites) and kitty litter. Place a bag either in your drained toilet or in a bucket. Sprinkle some kitty litter in the bottom of the bag. Each time someone uses the bathroom, add another handful of litter. Be very careful that the bag doesn’t get too heavy for you to handle it. Tie it up very securely and store it outside until services are restored. If services are not restored in a reasonable amount of time, make plans to bury or dispose of the waste safely.
Light
Lighting is absolutely vital, especially if there are children in the house. Nothing is more frightening than being completely in the dark during a stressful situation. Fortunately, it’s one of the easiest things to plan for, as well as one of the least expensive.
Some lighting solutions are:
- Garden stake solar lights
- Candles
- Kerosene lamps
- Flashlights (don’t forget batteries)
- Hand crank camping lantern (This one is bright and inexpensive)
- Don’t forget matches or lighters
Some basic items will make your life much easier during an emergency. Here are some things that are essential in the event of a power outage:
- Lighter/waterproof matches
- Batteries in various sizes
- Manual can opener
- Basic tools: Pliers, screwdriver, wrench, hammer
- Duct tape
- Crazy glue
- Sewing supplies
- Bungee cords
- WD40 or other lubricant
First Aid Kit
It’s important to have a basic first aid kit on hand at all times, but particularly in the event of an emergency. Your kit should include basic wound care items like bandages, antibiotic ointments, and sprays. As well, if you use them, keep on hand a supply of basic over-the-counter medications, like pain relief capsules, cold medicine, cough syrup, anti-nausea pills, and allergy medication. Particularly important if sanitation is a problem are anti-diarheal medications.
This first responder kit is a good, pre-packed kit for injuries. Medications would need to be purchased separately. If you want to put together a more advanced medical kit, you can find a list HERE.
Special Needs This is something that will be unique to every family. Consider the things that are needed on a daily basis in your household. It might be prescription medications, diapers, or special foods. If you have pets, you’ll need supplies for them too. The best way to figure out what you need is to jot things down as you use them over the course of a couple of days or so.
Self-Defense
If you can’t protect it, it isn’t really yours. This adage is doubly true in the event of civil unrest. We only have to look back a few short weeks at the chaos in Ferguson, Missouri to confirm that the businesses that were not looted by rioters run amok were the ones in which the owners stood, armed and ready, prepared to defend their property. The lessons we learned from Ferguson can easily be applied to a grid-down scenario, and we can multiply the desperation by about a thousand times, because it won’t merely be thugs romping through the streets and reveling in the chaos. It will be the parents of hungry children. It will be criminals who no longer fear being caught. It will be people who can no longer access psychiatric medications upon which they are dependent. It will be utter and complete lawlessness, driven by fear.
The best advice is to lay low, but if the fight comes to you, you absolutely must be prepared to defend your home and family by any means necessary. Read this article to learn more about prepping for civil unrest.
The Nuclear Threat
A dire concern that is often overlooked in discussions of EMP or grid-down preparedness is the threat of our nuclear power plants going full-out Fukushima on us. I guess part of the reason that I don’t write much about it is because there is honestly a limit to what we can do to be prepared for this. If all of our plants melted down simultaneously, the lack of refrigeration or firewood would be the least of our worries. We, the average folks, cannot control anything about these facilities, so our options are to control what we can – our personal environments.
Tess Pennington of Ready Nutrition shared the following very viable suggestions of what to do if you are exposed to nuclear radiation:
Radioactive ionic particles attach themselves to dust floating in the air. Therefore, it can be ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. If you are told to evacuate or bug in due to a nuclear disaster, keep the following points in mind:
- If you are driving, keep the car windows and vents closed, and use recirculating air.
- Due to the fear of panic and gridlock that will ensue from mass evacuations, most governments will delay mandatory evacuations until the last minute. This will only cause mass confusion and chaos at gas stations, grocery stores and on the streets. The best way to prevent this, is to stay ahead of the crowd and prepare ahead of time.
- If told to stay indoors, turn off the air conditioner and other air intakes and go to a basement. Seal basement windows and entrances to prevent fallout from getting inside. If you go outside, you will need to remove your outer clothing before coming inside the shelter.
- Likewise, creating a sealed area near the entrance of the shelter will prevent fallout dust from entering. Seal the entryway with blankets, bubble wrap or plastic sheeting to prevent the dust from coming in. Have water and baby shampoo near the entrance to wash and thoroughly rinse any exposed skin and hair. Exposure to fallout radiation does not make you radioactive, but you need to assure that you don’t bring any inside. Some experts suggest having a rain poncho to take on and off when you go outside.
- To go a step further, covering the windows wood, then sandbags followed by masonry bricks will create a multi-layered protection against you and radioactive particles.
- If you find yourself outdoors when a nuclear blast occurs, duck and cover for 2 minutes. You will first see a blinding light followed by tornado force winds and dangerous. When all danger is gone, seek shelter immediately. Remove your clothing at the door and place in a sealed plastic bag. You can remove 80% of the particles by removing your clothing. Showering immediately following exposure is another way to remove the remaining particles.
- If you have signs of radiation on skin soak in a tub of equal parts baking soda, apple cider vinegar and epsom salt. Skin brushing can be very beneficial, because the skin is a primary avenue for detoxification – scrub along with the lungs, kidneys, liver, and colon. An unused vegetable brush would be very helpful with this process.
- Getting caught out in the rain can also cause you to have more exposure to radioactive particles. If you do have to go out in the rain, completely cover yourself. Experts are suggesting that if your clothes get wet to take them off and seal them in a plastic bag, immediately shower and change clothing. (The detox bath solution and skin brushing would be good here. If radioactive materials get on your skin, burns and blistering can occur.Note: If you are exposed to radioactive particles, you will also need to get your urine tested for traces of cessium at your local medical center.
- When fallout is first anticipated, but has not yet arrived, anyone not already sheltered should begin using their N95 particulate respirator masks and hooded rain ponchos. Everyone should begin taking Potassium Iodide (KI) or Potassium Iodate (KIO3) tablets for thyroid protection against cancer causing radioactive iodine, a major product of nuclear weapons explosions. If no tablets are available, you can topically (on the skin) apply an iodine solution, such as a tincture of iodine or Betadine, for a similar protective effect. (WARNING: Iodine solutions are NEVER to be ingested or swallowed.) Absorption through the skin is not as reliable a dosing method as using the tablets, but tests show that it will still be very effective for most. Do not use if allergic to iodine. If at all possible, inquire of your doctor NOW if there is any reason why anybody in your household should not use KI or KIO3 tablets, or iodine solutions on their skin, in a future nuclear emergency, just to be sure.For adults, paint 8 ml of a 2 percent tincture of Iodine on the abdomen or forearm each day, ideally at least 2 hours prior to possible exposure.
- For children 3 to 18, but under 150 pounds, only half that amount painted on daily, or 4 ml. For children under 3 but older than a month, half again, or 2 ml.
- For newborns to 1 month old, half it again, or just 1 ml. (One measuring teaspoon is about 5 ml, if you don’t have a medicine dropper graduated in ml.) If your iodine is stronger than 2%, reduce the dosage accordingly.
- When you know that the time to take protective action is approaching, turn off all the utilities into the house, check that everything is sealed up and locked down, and head for the shelter. You should also have near your shelter fire extinguishers and additional tools, building supplies, sheet plastic, staple guns, etc. for sealing any holes from damage. Your basement should already be very well sealed against fallout drifting inside. Now, you’ll need to seal around the last door you use to enter with duct tape all around the edges, especially if it’s a direct to the outside door.
- Do not use the telephone unless absolutely necessary. Staying on the phone will congest phone lines making it impossible for others in your area to make or receive calls.
Get Started Today
It may feel very overwhelming, the thought that the world as we know it could end in 7 days. We all hope this “grid jihad” business is nothing more than a scare tactic, a way to prey upon our fears. But what if it isn’t? How would you feel, having been warned, if you did nothing to prepare for it and it happened?
You can start right now – this very minute – all you have to do is grab a pad of paper and a pen.
- Begin by personalizing the suggestions above to fit your family’s needs and make a list of your requirements.
- Next, do a quick inventory – as I mentioned above, you may be surprised to see that you already have quite a few of the supplies that are recommended.
- Make a shopping list and acquire the rest of the items you need. If you can’t afford everything right now, prioritize the most important things first.
- Organize your supplies so that they are easily accessible when you need them. It’s hard to find seldom-used items in the dark.
If the lights go out next week due to a terrorist action, will you be prepared?
Resources: The Prepper’s Blueprint: The Step-By-Step Guide To Help You Through Any Disaster
5 gallon water bottles
top-loading water dispenser
Manual drinking water pump
Water Purification Tablets
Gravity-fed Water Filtration Device
The Volcano 3 rocket stove
Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Heater
Kidde KN-COPP-B-LPM Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Digital Display
Purell Pump Bottle, Original, 8 Ounce (Pack of 12)
Husky HK42WC020B 42-Gallon Contractor Clean-Up Bags, 20 Count
Garden stake solar lights
Super Bright Hand Crank LED Lantern
Ever Ready First Aid Fully Stocked First Responder Kit, Orange
Prepper’s Home Defense: Security Strategies to Protect Your Family by Any Means Necessary
The following article has been contributed by our good friend Daisy Luther of The Organic Prepper. Check out her web site for preparedness insights, healthy eating and news you need to know. If you are just getting started on your preparedness journey or want to enhance your food storage supplies we encourage you to read Daisy’s book The Pantry Primer: How to Build a One Year Food Supply in Three Months.
With September 11 fast approaching, so too does the risk of another terrorist attack on US soil.
They say this every year as the date approaches, but in 2014, it seems to carry a bit more weight than it has during other years.
I’m referring specifically to all of those beheadings and the crazy video threat that warned, “We will drown all of you in blood“. I’d say that ISIS could either be behind a potential attack or be set up as the fear-flavor of the month and be blamed for such an attack.
As for the type of attack, security experts are warning that our vulnerable power grid is an extremely likely target. Paul Bedard of the Washington Examiner wrote:
Former top government officials who have been warning Washington about the vulnerability of the nation’s largely unprotected electric grid are raising new fears that troops from the jihadist Islamic State are poised to attack the system, leading to a power crisis that could kill millions.
“Inadequate grid security, a porous U.S.-Mexico border, and fragile transmission systems make the electric grid a target for ISIS,” said Peter Pry, one of the nation’s leading experts on the grid.
Others joining Pry at a press conference later Wednesday to draw attention to the potential threat said that if just a handful of the nation’s high voltage transformers were knocked out, blackouts would occur across the country.
“By one estimate, should the power go out and stay out for over a year, nine out of 10 Americans would likely perish,” said Frank Gaffney, founder and president of the Center for Security Policy in Washington.
At the afternoon press conference, Gaffney dubbed the potential crisis the “grid jihad.” (source)
Anyone involved in the preparedness community is well aware of the disaster that would befall our country should our power-dependent populace no longer have light, climate control, and running water with the flip of a switch or turn of a handle. In his book, One Second After, William Forstchen wrote a fictional account of an EMP attack on our country and that book is the very thing that brought many of us over to the “prepped” side. His newest book, Day of Wrath, could be likewise prescient. It was written about a devastating ISIS terror attack on American soil.
In the press conference Wednesday, Peter Pry warned that Obama’s open border policy could be the weak point that allows the country to be infiltrated, with potentially devastating consequences.
Pry provided details of recent attacks on electricity systems and said that ISIS could easily team with Mexican drug cartels to ravage America.
He told Secrets, for example, that the Knights Templar drug gang blacked out the electric grid of the Mexican state of Michoacan in 2013 to provide cover for killing those fighting the drug trade.
“The Knights Templars and other criminal gangs in Mexico will do anything for money, and ISIS, the richest terrorist organization in history, has hundreds of millions of dollars at its disposal,” said Pry.
“ISIS could hire one of the Mexican cartels, or one of their criminal gangs already in the U.S., or activate jihadist terror cells already in the U.S., and inflict a multi-state blackout immediately, within days or weeks. Perhaps even a nationwide blackout,” Pry explained to Secrets.
“I am not saying it is likely they will do so. But given the capabilities and objectives of ISIS and our obvious vulnerabilities, it would be foolish to ignore the threat to the grid, to regard the threat as unlikely. Our planning should be based on imminent asymmetrical threats, and not assume that another 9/11 large-scale attack is years away,” he added.
The Texas Department of Public Safety recently said they believe there is evidence that ISIS plans an attack. (source)
Enough about the “maybes” and the “hows”. (You can go HERE for an in-depth article about EMP attacks.) Unless you happen to be a highly placed government official reading this article, there isn’t a lot that you could do to prevent it. All you can do is be prepared to survive the aftermath, so this article deals with the “what ifs” and the “are you readies”.
Are You Ready for Grid Failure?
This is a topic that I’ve written about frequently, because a power outage aids and abets the chaos caused by so many different disasters. It doesn’t honestly matter HOW the grid goes down. A long-term grid collapse will result in an extremely high death toll. People will starve, freeze, perish of thirst, or die of sanitation related illnesses. Some will expire from medical causes that can’t be treated properly without power. Others will die because life-saving medication is no longer available. Civil unrest will unleash the very worst in human nature. However, we can prepare for many of these hazards.
If you are already of the preparedness mindset, you’ll fare better than the average North American. Here are the questions you need to contemplate:
I know that some of you are reading this with a fatalistic attitude. You are mentally making lists of why you can’t resolve these issues. Maybe you live in an apartment, you rent so you are limited to what you can do with your home, you have a limited budget, you live in the city or your mama’s basement.
Well, if that’s the way you’re thinking, then you’re probably right – you won’t survive. Survival demands a can-do attitude 0r, on occasion, the fluke of pure dumb luck. If you realize these things are necessary and you still refuse to find solutions for your particular situation, you are setting your family up to suffer, and possibly even die, when it could be avoided. When I first became involved in preparedness, I lived in an urban area with a population in the millions. I rented. And I prepared to the very best of my ability because I knew I couldn’t live with myself if my children suffered because I had failed to do what was necessary beforehand.
What if you knew the world would end one week from today?
So here’s my question. If you absolutely knew that the world as we know it right now was coming to an end in a week…on September 11, 2014, what would you do?
Modify the following suggestions to adapt them to your particular home, family, and climate.
Water
Everyone knows that clean drinking water is something you can’t live without. In the event of a disaster, the water may not run from the taps, and if it does, it might not be safe to drink, depending on the situation. If there is a boil order in place, remember that if the power is out, boiling your water may not be as easy as turning on your stove.
Each family should store a two week supply of water. The rule of thumb for drinking water is 1 gallon per day, per person. Don’t forget to stock water for your pets, also. This does not include water for hygiene purposes. You’ll want to store additional water for that as well.
You can create your water supply very inexpensively. Many people use clean 2 liter soda pop bottles to store tap water. Others purchase the large 5 gallon water bottles and either a top-loading water dispenser or a manual pump for the top of the jug. Consider a gravity fed water filtration device and Water Purification Tablets as well.
Food and a Way to Prepare It
There are two schools of thought regarding food during a power outage. One: you need a cooking method that does not require the grid to be functioning. Two: you can store food that doesn’t require cooking.
If you opt for a secondary cooking method, be sure that you have enough fuel to last for a while. Store foods that do not require long cooking times – for example, dried beans would use a great deal of fuel, but canned beans could be warmed up, or even eaten cold. A rocket stove that can use many different types of fuel is an excellent and flexible choice.
The Volcano 3 is an excellent quality choice, and Swiss Army stove is an inexpensive choice for those on a tight budget.
Click HERE for a short term food storage list
Click HERE to find a list of foods that require no cooking.
Heat (Depending on Your Climate)
If your power outage takes place in the winter and you live in a colder climate, heat is another necessity. During the first 24 hours after a power outage, you can stay fairly warm if you block off one room of the house for everyone to group together in. Keep the door closed and keep a towel or blanket folded along the bottom of the door to conserve warmth. You can safely burn a couple of candles also, and in the enclosed space, your body heat will keep it relatively warm. As well, dress in layers and keep everything covered – wear a hat, gloves (fingerless ones allow you to still function), and a scarf.
Click HERE to learn how to stay warm with less heat.
However, after about 48 hours, that’s not going to be enough in very cold weather. You will require back-up heat at this point in certain climates. If you are lucky enough to have a source of heat like a fireplace or woodstove, you’ll be just fine as long as you have a supply of wood.
Consider a portable indoor-safe propane heater (and propane) or an oil heater. You have to be very careful what type of backup heat you plan on using, as many of them can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if used in a poorly ventilated area. Make sure to have CO monitors that will work without electrical power.
Learn more about off-grid heat options HERE.
Sanitation Needs
A common cause of illness, and even death, during a down-grid situation is lack of sanitation. We’ve discussed the importance of clean drinking water, but you won’t want to use your drinking water to keep things clean or to flush the toilet.
To conserve precious water, reduce your need to wash things. Stock up on paper plates, paper towels, and disposable cups and flatware. Keep some disinfecting cleaning wipes and sprays. I don’t recommend using antibacterial products on a regular basis, however in the event of an emergency they can help to keep you healthy. Use hand sanitizerafter using the bathroom and before handing food or beverages – there can be a lot more germs afoot in a disaster.
Look at your options for sanitation. Does your toilet still flush when the electricity is out? Many people discovered the hard way that the toilets didn’t work when the sewage backed up in the highrises in New York City in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. When we lived in our cabin in Ontario, the toilet wouldn’t flush without power because the pump is electric. If you are on a septic system, you can safely flush by pouring water into the tank. However, if you use city sanitation, you run the risk of sewage backing up into your home.
If flushing is not an option, another solution is to stock up on extremely heavy duty garbage bags (like the kind that contractors use at construction sites) and kitty litter. Place a bag either in your drained toilet or in a bucket. Sprinkle some kitty litter in the bottom of the bag. Each time someone uses the bathroom, add another handful of litter. Be very careful that the bag doesn’t get too heavy for you to handle it. Tie it up very securely and store it outside until services are restored. If services are not restored in a reasonable amount of time, make plans to bury or dispose of the waste safely.
Light
Lighting is absolutely vital, especially if there are children in the house. Nothing is more frightening than being completely in the dark during a stressful situation. Fortunately, it’s one of the easiest things to plan for, as well as one of the least expensive.
Some lighting solutions are:
Some basic items will make your life much easier during an emergency. Here are some things that are essential in the event of a power outage:
First Aid Kit
It’s important to have a basic first aid kit on hand at all times, but particularly in the event of an emergency. Your kit should include basic wound care items like bandages, antibiotic ointments, and sprays. As well, if you use them, keep on hand a supply of basic over-the-counter medications, like pain relief capsules, cold medicine, cough syrup, anti-nausea pills, and allergy medication. Particularly important if sanitation is a problem are anti-diarheal medications.
This first responder kit is a good, pre-packed kit for injuries. Medications would need to be purchased separately. If you want to put together a more advanced medical kit, you can find a list HERE.
Special Needs This is something that will be unique to every family. Consider the things that are needed on a daily basis in your household. It might be prescription medications, diapers, or special foods. If you have pets, you’ll need supplies for them too. The best way to figure out what you need is to jot things down as you use them over the course of a couple of days or so.
Self-Defense
If you can’t protect it, it isn’t really yours. This adage is doubly true in the event of civil unrest. We only have to look back a few short weeks at the chaos in Ferguson, Missouri to confirm that the businesses that were not looted by rioters run amok were the ones in which the owners stood, armed and ready, prepared to defend their property. The lessons we learned from Ferguson can easily be applied to a grid-down scenario, and we can multiply the desperation by about a thousand times, because it won’t merely be thugs romping through the streets and reveling in the chaos. It will be the parents of hungry children. It will be criminals who no longer fear being caught. It will be people who can no longer access psychiatric medications upon which they are dependent. It will be utter and complete lawlessness, driven by fear.
The best advice is to lay low, but if the fight comes to you, you absolutely must be prepared to defend your home and family by any means necessary. Read this article to learn more about prepping for civil unrest.
The Nuclear Threat
A dire concern that is often overlooked in discussions of EMP or grid-down preparedness is the threat of our nuclear power plants going full-out Fukushima on us. I guess part of the reason that I don’t write much about it is because there is honestly a limit to what we can do to be prepared for this. If all of our plants melted down simultaneously, the lack of refrigeration or firewood would be the least of our worries. We, the average folks, cannot control anything about these facilities, so our options are to control what we can – our personal environments.
Tess Pennington of Ready Nutrition shared the following very viable suggestions of what to do if you are exposed to nuclear radiation:
Radioactive ionic particles attach themselves to dust floating in the air. Therefore, it can be ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. If you are told to evacuate or bug in due to a nuclear disaster, keep the following points in mind:
Get Started Today
It may feel very overwhelming, the thought that the world as we know it could end in 7 days. We all hope this “grid jihad” business is nothing more than a scare tactic, a way to prey upon our fears. But what if it isn’t? How would you feel, having been warned, if you did nothing to prepare for it and it happened?
You can start right now – this very minute – all you have to do is grab a pad of paper and a pen.
If the lights go out next week due to a terrorist action, will you be prepared?
With September 11 fast approaching, so too does the risk of another terrorist attack on US soil.
They say this every year as the date approaches, but in 2014, it seems to carry a bit more weight than it has during other years.
I’m referring specifically to all of those beheadings and the crazy video threat that warned, “We will drown all of you in blood“. I’d say that ISIS could either be behind a potential attack or be set up as the fear-flavor of the month and be blamed for such an attack.
As for the type of attack, security experts are warning that our vulnerable power grid is an extremely likely target. Paul Bedard of the Washington Examiner wrote:
Former top government officials who have been warning Washington about the vulnerability of the nation’s largely unprotected electric grid are raising new fears that troops from the jihadist Islamic State are poised to attack the system, leading to a power crisis that could kill millions.
“Inadequate grid security, a porous U.S.-Mexico border, and fragile transmission systems make the electric grid a target for ISIS,” said Peter Pry, one of the nation’s leading experts on the grid.
Others joining Pry at a press conference later Wednesday to draw attention to the potential threat said that if just a handful of the nation’s high voltage transformers were knocked out, blackouts would occur across the country.
“By one estimate, should the power go out and stay out for over a year, nine out of 10 Americans would likely perish,” said Frank Gaffney, founder and president of the Center for Security Policy in Washington.
At the afternoon press conference, Gaffney dubbed the potential crisis the “grid jihad.” (source)
Anyone involved in the preparedness community is well aware of the disaster that would befall our country should our power-dependent populace no longer have light, climate control, and running water with the flip of a switch or turn of a handle. In his book, One Second After, William Forstchen wrote a fictional account of an EMP attack on our country and that book is the very thing that brought many of us over to the “prepped” side. His newest book, Day of Wrath, could be likewise prescient. It was written about a devastating ISIS terror attack on American soil.
In the press conference Wednesday, Peter Pry warned that Obama’s open border policy could be the weak point that allows the country to be infiltrated, with potentially devastating consequences.
Pry provided details of recent attacks on electricity systems and said that ISIS could easily team with Mexican drug cartels to ravage America.
He told Secrets, for example, that the Knights Templar drug gang blacked out the electric grid of the Mexican state of Michoacan in 2013 to provide cover for killing those fighting the drug trade.
“The Knights Templars and other criminal gangs in Mexico will do anything for money, and ISIS, the richest terrorist organization in history, has hundreds of millions of dollars at its disposal,” said Pry.
“ISIS could hire one of the Mexican cartels, or one of their criminal gangs already in the U.S., or activate jihadist terror cells already in the U.S., and inflict a multi-state blackout immediately, within days or weeks. Perhaps even a nationwide blackout,” Pry explained to Secrets.
“I am not saying it is likely they will do so. But given the capabilities and objectives of ISIS and our obvious vulnerabilities, it would be foolish to ignore the threat to the grid, to regard the threat as unlikely. Our planning should be based on imminent asymmetrical threats, and not assume that another 9/11 large-scale attack is years away,” he added.
The Texas Department of Public Safety recently said they believe there is evidence that ISIS plans an attack. (source)
Enough about the “maybes” and the “hows”. (You can go HERE for an in-depth article about EMP attacks.) Unless you happen to be a highly placed government official reading this article, there isn’t a lot that you could do to prevent it. All you can do is be prepared to survive the aftermath, so this article deals with the “what ifs” and the “are you readies”.
Are You Ready for Grid Failure?
This is a topic that I’ve written about frequently, because a power outage aids and abets the chaos caused by so many different disasters. It doesn’t honestly matter HOW the grid goes down. A long-term grid collapse will result in an extremely high death toll. People will starve, freeze, perish of thirst, or die of sanitation related illnesses. Some will expire from medical causes that can’t be treated properly without power. Others will die because life-saving medication is no longer available. Civil unrest will unleash the very worst in human nature. However, we can prepare for many of these hazards.
If you are already of the preparedness mindset, you’ll fare better than the average North American. Here are the questions you need to contemplate:
- How will you get food if the grocery stores are closed?
- How will you cook food if you are able to acquire it?
- What will happen to the perishable food in your refrigerator and freezer?
- How will you heat or cool your home if you are in an area subject to extreme temperatures?
- What will you use for light once the scented candle that sits on your coffee table is gone?
- How will you transport yourself if a) your vehicle doesn’t run because the computers are fried or b) it runs but you can’t get gas because the pumps at the station run on electricity?
- What will you drink and wash with if the municipal water facilities are no longer providing water or if the pump on your well runs on electricity?
- How will you dispose of waste, human and other?
I know that some of you are reading this with a fatalistic attitude. You are mentally making lists of why you can’t resolve these issues. Maybe you live in an apartment, you rent so you are limited to what you can do with your home, you have a limited budget, you live in the city or your mama’s basement.
Well, if that’s the way you’re thinking, then you’re probably right – you won’t survive. Survival demands a can-do attitude 0r, on occasion, the fluke of pure dumb luck. If you realize these things are necessary and you still refuse to find solutions for your particular situation, you are setting your family up to suffer, and possibly even die, when it could be avoided. When I first became involved in preparedness, I lived in an urban area with a population in the millions. I rented. And I prepared to the very best of my ability because I knew I couldn’t live with myself if my children suffered because I had failed to do what was necessary beforehand.
What if you knew the world would end one week from today?
So here’s my question. If you absolutely knew that the world as we know it right now was coming to an end in a week…on September 11, 2014, what would you do?
Modify the following suggestions to adapt them to your particular home, family, and climate.
Water
Everyone knows that clean drinking water is something you can’t live without. In the event of a disaster, the water may not run from the taps, and if it does, it might not be safe to drink, depending on the situation. If there is a boil order in place, remember that if the power is out, boiling your water may not be as easy as turning on your stove.
Each family should store a two week supply of water. The rule of thumb for drinking water is 1 gallon per day, per person. Don’t forget to stock water for your pets, also. This does not include water for hygiene purposes. You’ll want to store additional water for that as well.
You can create your water supply very inexpensively. Many people use clean 2 liter soda pop bottles to store tap water. Others purchase the large 5 gallon water bottles and either a top-loading water dispenser or a manual pump for the top of the jug. Consider a gravity fed water filtration device and Water Purification Tablets as well.
Food and a Way to Prepare It
There are two schools of thought regarding food during a power outage. One: you need a cooking method that does not require the grid to be functioning. Two: you can store food that doesn’t require cooking.
If you opt for a secondary cooking method, be sure that you have enough fuel to last for a while. Store foods that do not require long cooking times – for example, dried beans would use a great deal of fuel, but canned beans could be warmed up, or even eaten cold. A rocket stove that can use many different types of fuel is an excellent and flexible choice.
The Volcano 3 is an excellent quality choice, and Swiss Army stove is an inexpensive choice for those on a tight budget.
Click HERE for a short term food storage list
Click HERE to find a list of foods that require no cooking.
Heat (Depending on Your Climate)
If your power outage takes place in the winter and you live in a colder climate, heat is another necessity. During the first 24 hours after a power outage, you can stay fairly warm if you block off one room of the house for everyone to group together in. Keep the door closed and keep a towel or blanket folded along the bottom of the door to conserve warmth. You can safely burn a couple of candles also, and in the enclosed space, your body heat will keep it relatively warm. As well, dress in layers and keep everything covered – wear a hat, gloves (fingerless ones allow you to still function), and a scarf.
Click HERE to learn how to stay warm with less heat.
However, after about 48 hours, that’s not going to be enough in very cold weather. You will require back-up heat at this point in certain climates. If you are lucky enough to have a source of heat like a fireplace or woodstove, you’ll be just fine as long as you have a supply of wood.
Consider a portable indoor-safe propane heater (and propane) or an oil heater. You have to be very careful what type of backup heat you plan on using, as many of them can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if used in a poorly ventilated area. Make sure to have CO monitors that will work without electrical power.
Learn more about off-grid heat options HERE.
Sanitation Needs
A common cause of illness, and even death, during a down-grid situation is lack of sanitation. We’ve discussed the importance of clean drinking water, but you won’t want to use your drinking water to keep things clean or to flush the toilet.
To conserve precious water, reduce your need to wash things. Stock up on paper plates, paper towels, and disposable cups and flatware. Keep some disinfecting cleaning wipes and sprays. I don’t recommend using antibacterial products on a regular basis, however in the event of an emergency they can help to keep you healthy. Use hand sanitizerafter using the bathroom and before handing food or beverages – there can be a lot more germs afoot in a disaster.
Look at your options for sanitation. Does your toilet still flush when the electricity is out? Many people discovered the hard way that the toilets didn’t work when the sewage backed up in the highrises in New York City in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. When we lived in our cabin in Ontario, the toilet wouldn’t flush without power because the pump is electric. If you are on a septic system, you can safely flush by pouring water into the tank. However, if you use city sanitation, you run the risk of sewage backing up into your home.
If flushing is not an option, another solution is to stock up on extremely heavy duty garbage bags (like the kind that contractors use at construction sites) and kitty litter. Place a bag either in your drained toilet or in a bucket. Sprinkle some kitty litter in the bottom of the bag. Each time someone uses the bathroom, add another handful of litter. Be very careful that the bag doesn’t get too heavy for you to handle it. Tie it up very securely and store it outside until services are restored. If services are not restored in a reasonable amount of time, make plans to bury or dispose of the waste safely.
Light
Lighting is absolutely vital, especially if there are children in the house. Nothing is more frightening than being completely in the dark during a stressful situation. Fortunately, it’s one of the easiest things to plan for, as well as one of the least expensive.
Some lighting solutions are:
- Garden stake solar lights
- Candles
- Kerosene lamps
- Flashlights (don’t forget batteries)
- Hand crank camping lantern (This one is bright and inexpensive)
- Don’t forget matches or lighters
Some basic items will make your life much easier during an emergency. Here are some things that are essential in the event of a power outage:
- Lighter/waterproof matches
- Batteries in various sizes
- Manual can opener
- Basic tools: Pliers, screwdriver, wrench, hammer
- Duct tape
- Crazy glue
- Sewing supplies
- Bungee cords
- WD40 or other lubricant
First Aid Kit
It’s important to have a basic first aid kit on hand at all times, but particularly in the event of an emergency. Your kit should include basic wound care items like bandages, antibiotic ointments, and sprays. As well, if you use them, keep on hand a supply of basic over-the-counter medications, like pain relief capsules, cold medicine, cough syrup, anti-nausea pills, and allergy medication. Particularly important if sanitation is a problem are anti-diarheal medications.
This first responder kit is a good, pre-packed kit for injuries. Medications would need to be purchased separately. If you want to put together a more advanced medical kit, you can find a list HERE.
Special Needs This is something that will be unique to every family. Consider the things that are needed on a daily basis in your household. It might be prescription medications, diapers, or special foods. If you have pets, you’ll need supplies for them too. The best way to figure out what you need is to jot things down as you use them over the course of a couple of days or so.
Self-Defense
If you can’t protect it, it isn’t really yours. This adage is doubly true in the event of civil unrest. We only have to look back a few short weeks at the chaos in Ferguson, Missouri to confirm that the businesses that were not looted by rioters run amok were the ones in which the owners stood, armed and ready, prepared to defend their property. The lessons we learned from Ferguson can easily be applied to a grid-down scenario, and we can multiply the desperation by about a thousand times, because it won’t merely be thugs romping through the streets and reveling in the chaos. It will be the parents of hungry children. It will be criminals who no longer fear being caught. It will be people who can no longer access psychiatric medications upon which they are dependent. It will be utter and complete lawlessness, driven by fear.
The best advice is to lay low, but if the fight comes to you, you absolutely must be prepared to defend your home and family by any means necessary. Read this article to learn more about prepping for civil unrest.
The Nuclear Threat
A dire concern that is often overlooked in discussions of EMP or grid-down preparedness is the threat of our nuclear power plants going full-out Fukushima on us. I guess part of the reason that I don’t write much about it is because there is honestly a limit to what we can do to be prepared for this. If all of our plants melted down simultaneously, the lack of refrigeration or firewood would be the least of our worries. We, the average folks, cannot control anything about these facilities, so our options are to control what we can – our personal environments.
Tess Pennington of Ready Nutrition shared the following very viable suggestions of what to do if you are exposed to nuclear radiation:
Radioactive ionic particles attach themselves to dust floating in the air. Therefore, it can be ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. If you are told to evacuate or bug in due to a nuclear disaster, keep the following points in mind:
- If you are driving, keep the car windows and vents closed, and use recirculating air.
- Due to the fear of panic and gridlock that will ensue from mass evacuations, most governments will delay mandatory evacuations until the last minute. This will only cause mass confusion and chaos at gas stations, grocery stores and on the streets. The best way to prevent this, is to stay ahead of the crowd and prepare ahead of time.
- If told to stay indoors, turn off the air conditioner and other air intakes and go to a basement. Seal basement windows and entrances to prevent fallout from getting inside. If you go outside, you will need to remove your outer clothing before coming inside the shelter.
- Likewise, creating a sealed area near the entrance of the shelter will prevent fallout dust from entering. Seal the entryway with blankets, bubble wrap or plastic sheeting to prevent the dust from coming in. Have water and baby shampoo near the entrance to wash and thoroughly rinse any exposed skin and hair. Exposure to fallout radiation does not make you radioactive, but you need to assure that you don’t bring any inside. Some experts suggest having a rain poncho to take on and off when you go outside.
- To go a step further, covering the windows wood, then sandbags followed by masonry bricks will create a multi-layered protection against you and radioactive particles.
- If you find yourself outdoors when a nuclear blast occurs, duck and cover for 2 minutes. You will first see a blinding light followed by tornado force winds and dangerous. When all danger is gone, seek shelter immediately. Remove your clothing at the door and place in a sealed plastic bag. You can remove 80% of the particles by removing your clothing. Showering immediately following exposure is another way to remove the remaining particles.
- If you have signs of radiation on skin soak in a tub of equal parts baking soda, apple cider vinegar and epsom salt. Skin brushing can be very beneficial, because the skin is a primary avenue for detoxification – scrub along with the lungs, kidneys, liver, and colon. An unused vegetable brush would be very helpful with this process.
- Getting caught out in the rain can also cause you to have more exposure to radioactive particles. If you do have to go out in the rain, completely cover yourself. Experts are suggesting that if your clothes get wet to take them off and seal them in a plastic bag, immediately shower and change clothing. (The detox bath solution and skin brushing would be good here. If radioactive materials get on your skin, burns and blistering can occur.Note: If you are exposed to radioactive particles, you will also need to get your urine tested for traces of cessium at your local medical center.
- When fallout is first anticipated, but has not yet arrived, anyone not already sheltered should begin using their N95 particulate respirator masks and hooded rain ponchos. Everyone should begin taking Potassium Iodide (KI) or Potassium Iodate (KIO3) tablets for thyroid protection against cancer causing radioactive iodine, a major product of nuclear weapons explosions. If no tablets are available, you can topically (on the skin) apply an iodine solution, such as a tincture of iodine or Betadine, for a similar protective effect. (WARNING: Iodine solutions are NEVER to be ingested or swallowed.) Absorption through the skin is not as reliable a dosing method as using the tablets, but tests show that it will still be very effective for most. Do not use if allergic to iodine. If at all possible, inquire of your doctor NOW if there is any reason why anybody in your household should not use KI or KIO3 tablets, or iodine solutions on their skin, in a future nuclear emergency, just to be sure.For adults, paint 8 ml of a 2 percent tincture of Iodine on the abdomen or forearm each day, ideally at least 2 hours prior to possible exposure.
- For children 3 to 18, but under 150 pounds, only half that amount painted on daily, or 4 ml. For children under 3 but older than a month, half again, or 2 ml.
- For newborns to 1 month old, half it again, or just 1 ml. (One measuring teaspoon is about 5 ml, if you don’t have a medicine dropper graduated in ml.) If your iodine is stronger than 2%, reduce the dosage accordingly.
- When you know that the time to take protective action is approaching, turn off all the utilities into the house, check that everything is sealed up and locked down, and head for the shelter. You should also have near your shelter fire extinguishers and additional tools, building supplies, sheet plastic, staple guns, etc. for sealing any holes from damage. Your basement should already be very well sealed against fallout drifting inside. Now, you’ll need to seal around the last door you use to enter with duct tape all around the edges, especially if it’s a direct to the outside door.
- Do not use the telephone unless absolutely necessary. Staying on the phone will congest phone lines making it impossible for others in your area to make or receive calls.
Get Started Today
It may feel very overwhelming, the thought that the world as we know it could end in 7 days. We all hope this “grid jihad” business is nothing more than a scare tactic, a way to prey upon our fears. But what if it isn’t? How would you feel, having been warned, if you did nothing to prepare for it and it happened?
You can start right now – this very minute – all you have to do is grab a pad of paper and a pen.
- Begin by personalizing the suggestions above to fit your family’s needs and make a list of your requirements.
- Next, do a quick inventory – as I mentioned above, you may be surprised to see that you already have quite a few of the supplies that are recommended.
- Make a shopping list and acquire the rest of the items you need. If you can’t afford everything right now, prioritize the most important things first.
- Organize your supplies so that they are easily accessible when you need them. It’s hard to find seldom-used items in the dark.
If the lights go out next week due to a terrorist action, will you be prepared?
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The EMP Threat: Sending America Back To The 1800s
Tyler Durden (Zerohedge.com)
Previously, Elliott Management's Paul Singer has explained that he believes "there is one risk that stands way above the rest in terms of the scope of potential damage adjusted for the likelihood of occurrence" - an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). Today we dig deeper into that risk...
Submitted by Michael Snyder via The Economic Collapse blog,
Our entire way of life can be ended in a single day. And it wouldn’t even take a nuclear war to do it. All it would take for a rogue nation or terror organization to bring us to our knees is the explosion of a couple well-placed nuclear devices high up in our atmosphere. The resulting electromagnetic pulses would fry electronics from coast to coast. Of course this could also be accomplished without any attack. Scientists tell us that massive solar storms have hit our planet before, and that it is inevitable that there will be more in the future. As you will read about below, the most recent example of this was “the Carrington Event” in 1859. If a similar burst from the sun hit us today, experts tell us that life in America could suddenly resemble life in the 1800s, and the economic damage caused could potentially be in the trillions of dollars. This is one of the greatest potential threats that we are facing as a nation, and yet Barack Obama has essentially done nothing to get us prepared.
The technology necessary to conduct such an electromagnetic pulse attack against the United States has become much more accessible in recent years. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, even rogue nations such as North Korea and Iran either already have or will soon have the capability to hurt us in this way…
Rogue nations such as North Korea (and possibly Iran) will soon match Russia and China and have the primary ingredients for an EMP attack: simple ballistic missiles such as Scuds that could be launched from a freighter near our shores; space-launch vehicles able to loft low-earth-orbit satellites; and simple low-yield nuclear weapons that can generate gamma rays and fireballs.
If a successful, large scale EMP attack ever did take place, it would be a catastrophe beyond anything that the United States has ever seen before. The EMP Commission, which was established by Congress, says that it is likely that most of us would end up dead…
What would a successful EMP attack look like? The EMP Commission, in 2008, estimated that within 12 months of a nationwide blackout, up to 90% of the U.S. population could possibly perish from starvation, disease and societal breakdown.
In 2009 the congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States, whose co-chairmen were former Secretaries of Defense William Perry and James Schlesinger, concurred with the findings of the EMP Commission and urged immediate action to protect the electric grid. Studies by the National Academy of Sciences, the Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the National Intelligence Council reached similar conclusions.
If you are a terrorist, a dictator or a fanatic that is looking for a “killshot” for the United States, those kinds of numbers would certainly get your attention.
And it was recently reported by WND that the Iranian military has already been playing around with such a scenario…
Peter Vincent Pry, who is executive director of a congressional advisory group called the Task Force on National and Homeland Security, raised the alarm as the agreement is about to be finalized.
He said U.S. military officials have confirmed such an Iranian plan.
“Iranian military documents describe such a scenario – including a recently translated Iranian military textbook that endorses nuclear EMP attack against the United States,” Pry wrote in a recent column in Israel’s main online media network, Aruz Sheva.
“Iran with a small number of nuclear missiles can by EMP attack threaten the existence of modernity and be the death knell of Western principles of international law, humanism and freedom,” he said.
Very chilling stuff.
And of course there are many, many others out there that would love to see the U.S. taken down other than just the Iranians.
Meanwhile, our power grid is far more vulnerable than most Americans would dare to imagine.
In previous articles, I discussed a recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission report which stated the following…
“Destroy nine interconnection substations and a transformer manufacturer and the entire United States grid would be down for at least 18 months, probably longer.”
Are you starting to get the picture?
Our entire way of life depends upon electricity. If you take away that electricity, our society is transformed literally overnight.
A successful EMP would be an utter nightmare for this nation. Just consider what U.S. Representative Scott Perry had to say about a potential attack last year…
“The consequences of such an attack could be catastrophic; all electronics, power systems, and information systems could be shut down,” Rep. Scott Perry said in prepared remarks during an EMP hearing in May held by the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security. “This could then cascade into interdependent infrastructures such as water, gas, and telecommunications.
While we understand this is an extreme case, we must always be prepared in case a rogue state decides to utilize this technology.”
In essence, suddenly nothing would work and just about everything that we take for granted would suddenly be gone.
In a previous article, I spelled out some of the implications of such an event…
-There would be no heat for your home.
-Water would no longer be pumped into most homes.
-Your computer would not work.
-There would be no Internet.
-Your phones would not work.
-There would be no television.
-There would be no radio.
-ATM machines would be shut down.
-There would be no banking.
-Your debit cards and credit cards would not work.
-Without electricity, most gas stations would not be functioning.
-Most people would be unable to do their jobs without electricity and employment would collapse.
-Commerce would be brought to a standstill.
-Hospitals would not be able to function normally.
-You would quickly start running out of medicine.
-All refrigeration would shut down and frozen foods in our homes and supermarkets would start to go bad.
And as I mentioned above, all of this can happen even without an attack.
A direct hit from a major solar storm can cause the exact same thing.
In fact, NASA says that there is a 12 percent chance that such a storm will hit us during the next ten years…
NASA is warning that there’s a 12 percent chance an extreme solar storm will hit Earth in the next decade, sending out massive shock waves that would knock out grids across the world.
The economic impact of this doomsday scenario could exceed $2 trillion — or 20 times the cost of Hurricane Katrina, according to the National Academy of Sciences.
In recent years, we have been really lucky.
There was a close call in 2012 and another one in 2013.
The following is an excerpt from an upcoming book that I have co-authored with Barbara Fix that will soon be published entitled “Get Prepared Now”…
Most people have absolutely no idea that the Earth barely missed being fried by a massive EMP burst from the sun in 2012 and in 2013. And earlier in 2014 there was another huge solar storm which would have caused tremendous damage if it had been directed at our planet. If any of those storms would have directly hit us, the result would have been catastrophic. Electrical transformers would have burst into flames, power grids would have gone down and much of our technology would have been fried. In essence, life as we know it would have ceased to exist – at least for a time. These kinds of solar storms have hit the Earth many times before, and experts tell us that it is inevitable that it will happen again. The most famous one happened in 1859, and was known as the Carrington Event. But other than the telegraph, humanity had very little dependence on technology at the time. If another Carrington Event happened today, it would be a complete and utter nightmare. A study by Lloyd’s of London has concluded that it would have taken a $2,600,000,000,000 chunk out of the global economy, and it would take up to a decade to repair the damage. Unfortunately, scientists insist that it is going to happen at some point. The only question is when.
So keep an eye on the sun.
The giant ball of fire that we revolve around has started to behave very erratically, and it has the power to end our way of life at any time.
In fact, scientists tell us that we are about to get hit with a “glancing blow” on April 7th…
A filament of magnetism stretching halfway across the sun erupted during the late hours of April 4th (22:00-23:00 UT). The eruption split the sun’s atmosphere, hurling a CME into space and creating a “canyon of fire,” shown in a movie recorded by the Solar Dynamics Observatory: The glowing walls of the canyon trace the original channel where the filament was suspended by magnetic forces above the sun’s surface. From end to end, the structure stretches more than 300,000 km–a real Grand Canyon.
Fragments of the exploding filament formed the core of a CME that raced away from the sun at approximately 900 km/s (2 million mph): image. Most of the CME will miss Earth, but not all. The cloud is expected to deliver a a glancing blow to our planet’s magnetic field could on April 7th. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras.
The event of April 7th is not going to cause us major problems. But someday there will be a solar storm that will.
Personally, I cannot even imagine what life would be like without electricity.
Because we have become so deeply dependent on technology, most of us would have absolutely no idea how to live without it.
An electromagnetic pulse attack would be one of the fastest ways to cripple America and end the dominance of the United States in world affairs. And in this day and age, there are hundreds of millions of people around the planet that would love to see that happen.
So to not take steps to protect our power grid from such an attack is very foolish. But that is precisely what Barack Obama (and presidents before him) have chosen to do. We have technology which would mitigate the damage from an electromagnetic pulse, but rather than spend the money Obama has decided to just hope that it will never happen.
Up to this point, we have been fortunate.
But someday, our luck may run out.
Food
Rationing, Food Storage, and Wartime: We Have Much To Learn
http://livinglifeinruraliowa.blogspot.com
I am a history geek. There is no one era in time that catches my fancy. All of them do. Lately, I have been studying food rationing during wartime during World War 1 and 2 in America and Britain. Some things have really caught my attention.
1. The government will step in and tell farmers what they can plant, where they can plant, and to do so in the most efficient way. The government will focus on the crops that will feed the most people cheaply. They will also be more concerned about feeding the troops than they will be about feeding the population. None of these things are bad things, but they are the reality.
2. People were very much encouraged to grow their own food. Gardens were almost expected. They were called "Victory Gardens". They were encouraged to grow food rather than lawns because the troops and the population needed food. They were also encouraged to can/preserve the food and share with their neighbors
3. People transitioned from meat based diets to plant based diets with a small amount of meat every day. If you didn't grow your own meat, meat was very heavily rationed by the end of each war. You may have been expected to make five pounds of meat last all week for a family of four.
4. People (town and country) were encouraged to keep chickens, rabbits, and other small livestock for eggs and meat. These things helped stretch the rationed food.
5. Along with food rationing, rubber, cloth, metal, petroleum, and a myriad of other things were rationed. You would have been expected to repair, mend, reuse, and repurpose anything you could to make it last longer. "Nothing wasted" would have been expected. In fact, you would have been looked down upon by your neighbors for being wasteful.
6. Sugar and fats were also heavily rationed. Most families were only given a quarter pound of fat and sugar each a week to make last all week by the end of the wars. That really is not much. Remember, fats are oils, butter, and lard.
7. If you had a dairy cow, you might be expected to give most of the milk to the government and only keep enough for your family to drink. If you had been able to make cheese and butter before, you wouldn't have been able to now because they needed the milk for the troops. If the milked soured for some reason, you could keep that for yourself.
8. Grocers often ran out of certain staple foods every week due to demand. Some things, like produce, may not be available at all and especially if it was grown in another country. Food from other countries might not be able to make it to America due to blockades and bombings. During the wars, boats were often repurposed for the armies to carry supplies.
9. Rationing got more and more stringent as each war wore on. At the start of rationing, you may be allowed one pound of sugar and by the end of rationing you may allowed a quarter pound of sugar.
Remember, before the WWII, we were in a depression in America. When the war broke out, most people were already used to having gardens, canning/preserving, raising livestock, and making everything stretch.
My grandma was born in 1920 and lived through the Depression and WWII. She remembers the Depression didn't hit them as hard because they lived on a farm in Northwest Iowa. They had dairy cows that had to be milked twice a day by hand, a garden, crops, and naturally reused everything. When she graduated high school, she worked as a hired girl to make extra money. She married my grandfather in 1942 and followed him from base to base as he trained pilots. They always made do with what they had and helped other families out. That was just the way it was.
Many people do not live this way anymore. It is just too easy to buy everything and throw it away when you no longer want it anymore. What would happen if rationing were to take place tomorrow?
Could you survive on what was allowed to you by the government? Could you handle stretching food over and over again just to have enough to eat all week? Could you handle cooking from scratch more to make food stretch that much further?
Many people relied on produce that was canned and preserved. They would seek out food that had been forgotten as being food. They would forage. They would hunt and trap. They started gardens if they didn't have one before. They raised chickens in the backyard. They produced more of their own food to make their food stretch farther.
Food storage was the key to their survival and to sending more food to feed the troops. Food storage is still key. You never know when a time like this will happen again. The situation might not be a war, but a personal crisis, a natural disaster, or a national crisis. Could you live like this?
What do you need to do so you and yours would not be affected as bad as others may be? Now is the time to store food, start a garden, raise a few chickens, learn to forage for food, hunt, and barter with neighbors. Now is the time to see how far you can stretch food and learn to live simply without having to rely on grocery stores as much.
You never know when this could happen to you. What can you do today?
http://livinglifeinruraliowa.blogspot.com
I am a history geek. There is no one era in time that catches my fancy. All of them do. Lately, I have been studying food rationing during wartime during World War 1 and 2 in America and Britain. Some things have really caught my attention.
1. The government will step in and tell farmers what they can plant, where they can plant, and to do so in the most efficient way. The government will focus on the crops that will feed the most people cheaply. They will also be more concerned about feeding the troops than they will be about feeding the population. None of these things are bad things, but they are the reality.
2. People were very much encouraged to grow their own food. Gardens were almost expected. They were called "Victory Gardens". They were encouraged to grow food rather than lawns because the troops and the population needed food. They were also encouraged to can/preserve the food and share with their neighbors
3. People transitioned from meat based diets to plant based diets with a small amount of meat every day. If you didn't grow your own meat, meat was very heavily rationed by the end of each war. You may have been expected to make five pounds of meat last all week for a family of four.
4. People (town and country) were encouraged to keep chickens, rabbits, and other small livestock for eggs and meat. These things helped stretch the rationed food.
5. Along with food rationing, rubber, cloth, metal, petroleum, and a myriad of other things were rationed. You would have been expected to repair, mend, reuse, and repurpose anything you could to make it last longer. "Nothing wasted" would have been expected. In fact, you would have been looked down upon by your neighbors for being wasteful.
6. Sugar and fats were also heavily rationed. Most families were only given a quarter pound of fat and sugar each a week to make last all week by the end of the wars. That really is not much. Remember, fats are oils, butter, and lard.
7. If you had a dairy cow, you might be expected to give most of the milk to the government and only keep enough for your family to drink. If you had been able to make cheese and butter before, you wouldn't have been able to now because they needed the milk for the troops. If the milked soured for some reason, you could keep that for yourself.
8. Grocers often ran out of certain staple foods every week due to demand. Some things, like produce, may not be available at all and especially if it was grown in another country. Food from other countries might not be able to make it to America due to blockades and bombings. During the wars, boats were often repurposed for the armies to carry supplies.
9. Rationing got more and more stringent as each war wore on. At the start of rationing, you may be allowed one pound of sugar and by the end of rationing you may allowed a quarter pound of sugar.
Remember, before the WWII, we were in a depression in America. When the war broke out, most people were already used to having gardens, canning/preserving, raising livestock, and making everything stretch.
My grandma was born in 1920 and lived through the Depression and WWII. She remembers the Depression didn't hit them as hard because they lived on a farm in Northwest Iowa. They had dairy cows that had to be milked twice a day by hand, a garden, crops, and naturally reused everything. When she graduated high school, she worked as a hired girl to make extra money. She married my grandfather in 1942 and followed him from base to base as he trained pilots. They always made do with what they had and helped other families out. That was just the way it was.
Many people do not live this way anymore. It is just too easy to buy everything and throw it away when you no longer want it anymore. What would happen if rationing were to take place tomorrow?
Could you survive on what was allowed to you by the government? Could you handle stretching food over and over again just to have enough to eat all week? Could you handle cooking from scratch more to make food stretch that much further?
Many people relied on produce that was canned and preserved. They would seek out food that had been forgotten as being food. They would forage. They would hunt and trap. They started gardens if they didn't have one before. They raised chickens in the backyard. They produced more of their own food to make their food stretch farther.
Food storage was the key to their survival and to sending more food to feed the troops. Food storage is still key. You never know when a time like this will happen again. The situation might not be a war, but a personal crisis, a natural disaster, or a national crisis. Could you live like this?
What do you need to do so you and yours would not be affected as bad as others may be? Now is the time to store food, start a garden, raise a few chickens, learn to forage for food, hunt, and barter with neighbors. Now is the time to see how far you can stretch food and learn to live simply without having to rely on grocery stores as much.
You never know when this could happen to you. What can you do today?
See what happened before the 'blizzard" in New York and other places as people prepare for the event: http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2015/01/blizzard_2015_photos_nyc_grocery_stores_northeast_snow_storm.html If you were prepared in the first place, you wouldn't have been standing in long lines fighting over food!
10 Essentials To Keep You Alive In A Bug Out Situation Thursday, January 22, 2015 13:59
There are ten basic core essentials for staying alive in a survival or bug out situation. Knowing these ten requirements can prolong your days long enough to either be rescued or to keep you safe indefinitely. Learn and practice these skills so when it comes time to apply, you are ready to execute on demand. The following “essentials” are not ranked in importance.
1. A Positive Attitude
Keeping a positive attitude may seem to be darn impossible in a situation where you’re hungry, thirsty and tired – but convincing yourself to see the silver lining is hugely important. We as humans tend to make a reality of what we believe, so stay positive!
2. Food Source
It goes without saying, food makes everything better. To keep yourself energized and able to prolong your quest for rescue, food is nearly a necessity especially if you are expending lots of calories. Access to a good food source also keep your attitude positive and helps you keep a clear train of thought.
3. Water Source
Water has to be at the top of the list of essentials. It’s way more important than food. Look in your surroundings to find drinkable water, but don’t forget to purify it with a natural filter or boiling it with a fire. We can only last a day or two without hydration!
4. Ample Clothing
Protecting your body from the elements and maintaining core body temperatures are a necessity. Infections caused by scrapes or cuts can prove to be killers in the wilderness. Keep your clothing dry, especially in a cold environment to reduce your chance of getting hypothermia.
5. Shelter
This goes along with the clothing aspect. Keep what you have dry. It’s hard to build fires in wet conditions and it’s difficult to keep your clothes dry without shelter. Pretty much common sense, but one of the first things you should do is survey your environment to establish appropriate shelter.
6. Fire
Without fire you can’t stay warm, you can’t cook food, you can’t boil water and you can’t signal for help very well. It’s truly a staple for any survival situation. Fire is also good for keeping unwanted predators away while you sleep!
7. Navigation
Use a compass, stars, the moon to find your bearings. Familiarize yourself with your surroundings – make landmarks so you know where you’ve been. Getting lost in a strange place is the worst possible scenario.
8. Pay Attention to Weather
Take precautions when it comes to weather. If you know you are in immediate danger of straight line winds or torrential down pours, shelter instantly becomes your number one priority. If it’s snow or freezing weather, fire really becomes more important.
9. Signaling for Rescue
Know the rules for signaling for rescue. Use brightly colored fabric at the highest elevation to attract help. Anything reflective that can catch the suns rays and reflect it can produce a signal that’s visible for miles. Make large landmarks that look man-made and stand apart from your natural environment. For instance, make a large “X” in a clear contrasting area. Putting landmarks in a row of “three” is a distress symbol. Last but not least, use fire and smoke!
10. First Aid / Survival Kit
Hopefully this is already in your backpack or bug out bag! If not, order one right now or make your own. You should always have medicine or items to treat cuts or wounds. Infection is no joke! Throw some other essentials in there like a small water filter or fire starter.
http://www.bioprepper.com/2015/01/22/10-essentials-keep-alive/
Preppers Checklist : 10 Things To Do Now!
Preppers Checklist : Top Things to do Now! (Also see Ten MORE Things To Do Now and Bug Out Bag: the only Contents List You Need.)
No matter how much I beg, some of you, no doubt haven’t done anything to prepare (you know who you are). I don’t know what else to do. All I can do is give you the information, it’s up to you to act. No one can do it for you. No doubt some of you are intimidated by my repeated suggestions of storing and using whole grains and beans. If it doesn’t come from the supermarket shelf it’s strange and unfamiliar and you want no part of it. Fair enough.
But you still need to prepare. Here are ten things that you can do now that will make you better prepared than 90% of the population. And everything is available at your local shopping center – so it’s easy.
You can do all ten steps at once or divide each into a separate week and shopping trip. But you need to get it done as soon as possible. Keep in mind that this is only a starting point and isn’t presented here as a completed list.
1. Head to the nearest Wal-Mart, Kmart, Costco or whatever and pick-up 20 lbs. of white or brown rice and 20 lbs. of pinto beans. White rice has a better storage life while brown rice has more nutritional benefits – your choice.
2. While you’re there grab 5 lbs. mixed beans, 5 lbs. of white sugar, 5 lbs. of iodized salt, one gallon of olive oil (can be frozen to extend shelf-life), 5 lbs. oats, 10 lbs. each of white or wheat flour and cornmeal.
3. Now head over to the canned foods and pick-up 20 cans of canned fruits and 20 cans of canned vegetables. Be sure to buy only those brands and contents you normally eat and nothing exotic. No need to shock the senses.
4. Now over to the canned meats. Pick-up 20 cans of various meats, salmon, stews, spam and tuna. Again buy only those brands with contents you normally eat and nothing exotic.
5. Okay. Now to the to the peanut butter shelf and toss two 40-ounce jars in the cart. The listed shelf life is just over two years and each jar has over 6,000 calories. Peanut butter is an excellent instant survival food.
6. Over to the powdered drink mix – go on I’ll wait…Okay, pick up two 72 Ounce Tang Orange drink canisters (provides 100% of the US RDA vitamin C requirement per 8 oz. glass). Also grab six 19-Ounce Containers of Kool-Aid Drink Mix.
7. Off to the vitamin and supplement aisle, pick up 400 tablets “one a day” multivitamin and mineral supplements. I buy this brand at the local Wal-Mart – comes in 200 count bottle for $8 each.
8. Now to the department we all love – sporting goods. Go to the camping aisle and pick up 4 five gallon water containers. Fill with tap water as soon as you get back home.
9. While you’re there buy 250 rounds of ammunition for your primary defensive weapon. More if you can, but this will be a good start. Also a good universal cleaning kit.
10. And lastly pick up the best LED flashlight you can afford, extra batteries and bulb. Also grab two boxes of wooden matches and several multi-purpose lighters. Don’t forget to date, use and rotate – remember first in first out. Let’s get started. What would you add to the list?
Could You Make a Final Run to the Store Before the SHTF? Think It Through! Todd Sepulveda
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN…. This post is a “think about it” or “imagine the possibilities” post. IT IS NOT a “DO IT THIS WAY POST!” I’m saying this because not too long ago, another site posted an article about a “final trip” to the store as the collapse is happening. He had so many negative comments that he asked me to hold off on linking to another article for a while. I don’t necessarily care about negative comments, but I would rather you read the article and consider my points and reasons, and think it through.
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We’ve all read about it, talked about it, watched videos on it and even imagined it, when the poop hits the fan, many preppers believe it is going to come at NASCAR speed and send the nation into a panic. It could happen that way, but then it could come a lot slower and pick up steam as many realize the severity of the situation. I believe it will depend on the nature of the event.
A Tale of Two Hurricanes
Back when Hurricane Rita was projected to hit Houston, my wife and I learned very quickly how fast things can fly off the shelf. This was pre-preparedness for us. Hurricane Katrina was fresh on everyone’s mind. My school district canceled school that Friday so that we could make preparations and even evacuate if we wanted. Since I was going to be off on that next day, I decided to sleep in and go to the store mid-afternoon. Yeah, you guessed it! Everything was gone! I picked up what I could find and came home to share it with my wife. Luckily, we always planned a menu a week in advance, so we had food. We know that Rita didn’t come to Houston, but we learned our lesson. Again, this was pre-preparedness.
When Hurricane Ike was projected to hit Houston (and it did), we did things a little bit differently. This was still pre-preparedness, but we decided to go to the store the minute the models showed the hurricane was coming to Houston. Still, the false alarm of Rita had a lot of people unprepared. So even though many experienced the empty shelves during Rita, many Houstonians were still unprepared for Ike.
Many of us still remember the pictures of those on the East Coast dumpster diving because they were looking for food. They had very advanced warnings that Hurricane Sandy was going to hit. But they still were unprepared!
Here’s my point – Just because preppers live in an understanding and climate of preparedness, doesn’t mean the rest of the nation is going to instantly become preppers when an “event” happens. Many will be stunned, shocked, waiting on the government, not realizing the severity of the situation. In those hours and maybe even days of an approaching event, it will be a good time to top off or get those items that you still might need.
The Event
I believe that the “event” will play a big part in how quickly people react and respond. For example, let’s look at a stock market crash. The general population (meaning non-preppers) will not really know what to think if there was a full blown stock market crash. We haven’t experienced one in our day and age. The fact is many will not even know anything has really happened until they read about it on Facebook or their parents call them to talk to them about what is on the news. Many people think that the stock market is for rich people and that they are probably getting their due. Many don’t realize that the stock market is tied to many other facets of our economy and will signal some serious issues.
To contrast, many preppers stay informed and are reading blogs, alternative news sites and monitoring things like the stock market. As preppers “see” thinks go south, they can act! Before the stock market “crashes,” or as they see big negative days right after another happen, they can stop at their bank and withdraw money before the “run on the banks.” If not, they could visit their ATM and withdraw the maximum amount – before they place limits (like in Greece). They could get their items out of their safety deposit box, if they use them. etc…
Maybe a stock market crash isn’t a good example. Let’s look at a major power grid failure! You are at work when the power goes out. You grab your phone and realize that the power has gone out in a good chunk of the United States. You tell your boss you have to leave since you can’t do any work, grab your things and head home. On the way home, you stop at the neighborhood grocery store to stock up. Yes, they don’t have electricity to run their registers, but you have cash. You convince the manager to sell you groceries because you have cash and well, the company would want them to stay in business if possible. Once the manager has gathered his thoughts, he allows you to purchase items. You can walk up and down the aisles because you have a flashlight. You stock up on all the canned food you can afford. You pay for it and are home before the world really understands the gravity of the situation.
Of course, all of this DEPENDS on your situation and the event. I work very close to home, so I can imagine the above scenario happening for me. But, there are a ton of different events and scenarios that we could discuss. I would rather spend the rest of this article sharing my reasons why I think there might be some time at the beginning of an event before all HELL breaks loose!
Some Reasons Why You Might be Able to Make that Last Run
1. People just aren’t as informed as we might think. – We tend to view people the way we might respond and react. The fact is that many people are buried in “Dances with the Stars” and Facebook. Many of us know that the main stream media doesn’t report everything accurately. We know that we have to depend on alternative media and even at that, we need to filter what we read.
Non-preppers don’t realize the inter-connectedness of all of our infrastructure. They think that if the stores shelves are bare today, that they will be full tomorrow. They believe if the lights go out, the electric company will get them back on ASAP. They believe that there will always be someone there to lend a helping hand. I understand why they believe this, because that is the way things have mostly happened in the past. Even in Katrina, the government “eventually” came riding into town. But we know that there might be a time when no one is coming!
2. Suffering from the “Cry Wolf” Syndrome. – Just like when a hurricane doesn’t do the damage the “experts” said it would or 2012 or Y2K, many people are suffering from the “nothing is really going to happen” syndrome. We saw it during Hurricane Sandy. We’ll see it again during this winter season! People hear the warnings, but they don’t HEED the warnings. Why would anything change if there was a major event about to unfold?
3. People won’t understand the severity of it all until it’s too late. – As preppers, we know how long the power can be out if terrorist take out a substation or hackers deliver a nasty virus to the electric company’s computer networks. Because many people haven’t had to deal with a lights out scenario, they will just “live it up” until all the beer is gone! We saw that “dramatized” in NatGeo’s American Blackout.
4. People will be depending on the government and take a “wait and see” approach. Since the government has ALWAYS been there and most people believe that the government is their sugar daddy, people might take a wait and see approach before they start to panic. This will give the prepper a few hours and maybe even days.
5. People will be glued to their smartphones, internet or TV trying to find out “What does this all mean?” Come on, you’ve seen it! People about to walk in to a car because they were texting on their phone! People can’t do anything anymore without their phone and internet. If something serious does go down, people will be “talking” about it online, but not necessarily doing anything about it.
Which Store Do I Go To?
Again, it all depends on “the event.” So you need to stay aware of what is going on. But that is nothing new for preppers. We are always on the look out and aware of what is going on.
So, what would you do if you knew that you could make a last run to the store or whatever….?
1. Go to the grocery store and top off or fill some of the holes in your supplies. You might want to splurge and pick up some steaks or other fresh meat and vegetables. You might want to stock up on canned food or hygiene supplies.
2. Go to the Sporting Good store. You might want to stock up on some heavy duty shoes. Or, you might want to buy some extra heavy duty socks or even see what is available in ammo (yeah right).
3. You might want to fill up your gas tanks. If you have a generator and have empty gas tanks, you will want to fill those too.
4. Visit the bank. If you can get to the bank, although I think they will be one of the first to close their doors, you might want to withdraw cash (in small bills) from your account. Of course you should walk up to the counter excited because you “found that used car that you’ve been looking for your son to drive.” (wink wink)
Taking a Risk?
Of course, the best thing to do is to be so prepared that you don’t have to make any runs at all. In an “event,” you might want to make it home and make sure the whole family is there and go through any family related plans. Going out could be too risky. Again, you need to stay aware!
Then again, the collapse could be so slow that people don’t even know they are in a collapse. The normal American might just limp along, becoming poorer and poorer, wondering where the “good times” are. And the prepper would continue to prep, be frugal, make good decisions and build community with like-minded people.
The Dutch Oven Cookbook
Preserving Sanity in a Disaster Situation
Emotional needs during and after a disaster are sometimes as important as the physical needs. Everyone from victims to volunteers has emotional feelings in times of crisis. The Red Cross has been known to send psychologists to help people cope with the emotional distress and struggles that accompany a disaster.
A common suggestion is to "stay calm" when an emergency occurs. How can you remain calm when terrible things are happening all around you? When a disaster occurs and your personal belongings are destroyed, most people feel the need to blame someone or something. This reaction is an attempt to gain control of the situation by putting it into an understandable or familiar context. This blame is frequently put on authority figures, such as government officials, because survivors believe the officials could or should have prevented the loss.
When you find out how ill-prepared you are to cope with even minor disruptions in your daily life it can be disturbing. Small things such as the electricity going out or your water service stopping can cause mental stress to you and your family. Sometimes people have unrealistic expectations about how soon their city can get the electricity or water back on, and they can become angry at circumstances that are beyond their control.
It is important to be able to recognize and detect the signs of stress and/or shock during an emergency. Here are several warning signs that you may experience during emergency situations.
Physical signs: fatigue, upset stomach, shakiness, dizziness, heart palpitations, clamminess, disorientation, difficulty thinking, memory loss or loss of appetite.
Emotional signs: anxiety, grief, depression, irritability, feeling overwhelmed, thinking you or your loved ones will be harmed, nightmares or extreme fear.
What can you do now to prevent these symptoms and help yourself and your family to be mentally healthy during and after an emergency? You can start by preparing yourself mentally now, so that in the event of a disaster it will not be such a surprising and confusing event for your family. You can do this by having fire drills, earthquake drills, and discussing with your family the various emergencies that can occur in your area.
When you are prepared, you are less likely to feel helpless and less likely to experience stress related disorders. You will remember what you discussed as a family and apply what you learned from those discussions and drills to help you overcome your situation.
Other things you can do now to help make a disaster less nerve-racking is to pack in your emergency kits items that you use in your everyday life. For your children, you should pack coloring books, crayons, stories, gum, candy, stuffed animals and other useful items. For adults, pack a good book, a brush, razors, soap, playing cards, hard candy, paper and pen, medication, toilet paper and sundry items. These items can provide relief for stress during the times you have to wait for your life to return to normal.
Other stress relieving items are desserts. You should pack gelatin desserts, just-add-water, pudding, cake, muffin, and cookie mixes, candy bars, popcorn, dehydrated fruits and fruit drinks. These items may seem frivolous, but they can really make a difference in helping you feel more comfort and peace in an emergency.
Developing a positive attitude and learning coping and stress relieving methods will help you, not only in times of disaster, but throughout your life. So prepare now--it will be well worth the effort!
Emotional needs during and after a disaster are sometimes as important as the physical needs. Everyone from victims to volunteers has emotional feelings in times of crisis. The Red Cross has been known to send psychologists to help people cope with the emotional distress and struggles that accompany a disaster.
A common suggestion is to "stay calm" when an emergency occurs. How can you remain calm when terrible things are happening all around you? When a disaster occurs and your personal belongings are destroyed, most people feel the need to blame someone or something. This reaction is an attempt to gain control of the situation by putting it into an understandable or familiar context. This blame is frequently put on authority figures, such as government officials, because survivors believe the officials could or should have prevented the loss.
When you find out how ill-prepared you are to cope with even minor disruptions in your daily life it can be disturbing. Small things such as the electricity going out or your water service stopping can cause mental stress to you and your family. Sometimes people have unrealistic expectations about how soon their city can get the electricity or water back on, and they can become angry at circumstances that are beyond their control.
It is important to be able to recognize and detect the signs of stress and/or shock during an emergency. Here are several warning signs that you may experience during emergency situations.
Physical signs: fatigue, upset stomach, shakiness, dizziness, heart palpitations, clamminess, disorientation, difficulty thinking, memory loss or loss of appetite.
Emotional signs: anxiety, grief, depression, irritability, feeling overwhelmed, thinking you or your loved ones will be harmed, nightmares or extreme fear.
What can you do now to prevent these symptoms and help yourself and your family to be mentally healthy during and after an emergency? You can start by preparing yourself mentally now, so that in the event of a disaster it will not be such a surprising and confusing event for your family. You can do this by having fire drills, earthquake drills, and discussing with your family the various emergencies that can occur in your area.
When you are prepared, you are less likely to feel helpless and less likely to experience stress related disorders. You will remember what you discussed as a family and apply what you learned from those discussions and drills to help you overcome your situation.
Other things you can do now to help make a disaster less nerve-racking is to pack in your emergency kits items that you use in your everyday life. For your children, you should pack coloring books, crayons, stories, gum, candy, stuffed animals and other useful items. For adults, pack a good book, a brush, razors, soap, playing cards, hard candy, paper and pen, medication, toilet paper and sundry items. These items can provide relief for stress during the times you have to wait for your life to return to normal.
Other stress relieving items are desserts. You should pack gelatin desserts, just-add-water, pudding, cake, muffin, and cookie mixes, candy bars, popcorn, dehydrated fruits and fruit drinks. These items may seem frivolous, but they can really make a difference in helping you feel more comfort and peace in an emergency.
Developing a positive attitude and learning coping and stress relieving methods will help you, not only in times of disaster, but throughout your life. So prepare now--it will be well worth the effort!
10 Ways Camping Helps You Prepare for Emergencies
Camping. You may have a love/hate relationship with it. Or you may have a hate/hate or love/love relationship with it. Regardless of your feelings, here’s the reality: camping is good for preparedness.
Here are 10 ways camping can help you prepare for emergencies:
1. You’ll get used to sleeping in less-than-ideal circumstances. Growing up, my family would camp pretty frequently, and someone (who shall remain nameless) always snored like a bear. It would keep me (and others) awake at night, leading to crankiness and fatigue the next day.
So, camping with the sound of your neighbor snoring his brains out or—even more distracting for some people—the sound of animals and the wind working their way through the trees can build up your “immunity” to those sounds. After a while, you may find that you actually enjoy the rustling of the trees and the sound of birds and other animals.
You may not develop immunity to the sound of snoring, though. So consider packing a pair or two of ear plugs in your camping gear and your bug-out bag.
Even if you end up at a shelter in an emergency, rather than roughing it, earplugs could help drown out sleep-talkers, kids screaming, or other noises. You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of not being able to hear, though. If sounds are muffled, you might not hear someone trying to wake you up (or someone who is rifling through your stuff).
2. You’ll learn to eat meals that are easy to cook—or don’t require cooking at all. Camping is great for practicing emergency cooking. Try out your canister stove, Kelly Kettle, or Volcano stove on a camp out to get used to different cooking methods. You’ll find that the easier the meal, the better—in most cases, anyway.
That simplicity translates well into emergency situations. When the stakes are high, complicated meals may not work out (wasting food), or take longer to prepare (leaving you and your group hangry [hungry + angry]).
The best way to ensure simple, quick meals in an emergency is to add some MRE and just-add-water entrees, sides, and desserts into your supplies.
For MREs, you’ll just need some MRE heaters, a car engine, a warm rock, or some other way to warm it up. You can even eat them cold, because they’re 100% pre-cooked and ready to eat.
To cook just-add-water meals, you’ll want to have a way to quickly and efficiently boil water, like the Kelly Kettle or a canister stove. Then you just add the water to your food, wait about 10 minutes, and dig in.
3. You’ll get used to using “the facilities” in less-than-ideal circumstances. I don’t know anyone who prefers using toilets that don’t flush (there could be someone out there, but I personally don’t know anyone). But in a large-scale emergency situation, disrupted utilities are highly likely. That means no flushing toilets, no running water, and finding a way to safely deal with human and pet waste.
If you have to evacuate to a location without a permanent shelter or running water, experience “taking care of business” in the outdoors will come in handy.
One of the easiest ways to deal with bathroom needs in an emergency is a Tote-able Toilet and enzyme packets. The toilet is a 5-gallon bucket with a specially-designed toilet seat that fits on it just like a lid. Each time you use the bathroom you can sprinkle some of the enzymes in, and they will help to fight odor. You can even grab one of our deluxe privacy pop-up tents
Don’t forget the toilet paper!
4. What you deem “necessities” will likely change. You may think you know what the necessities are—and maybe you’ve had to experience enough bare-bones living to know what you actually need and what is just nice to have.
Camping regularly will give you an idea of the things you actually need to have to stay safe, healthy, and fed when you’re away from home.
That doesn’t mean you can’t put “want-to-have” items in your bug-out bag. Some familiar items will bring comfort and can provide distraction during long wait times at shelters or in food or aid lines. But when it comes down to what is really necessary to survive, camping will give you a pretty clear idea.
5. You’ll have a chance to practice important skills and become more resourceful. Knowing how to build a shelter from branches and other resources you find nearby, start a fire without matches, identify edible plants, fish, and many other skills can come in handy in a survival situation—and camping is the perfect time to learn and perfect those skills.
Necessity is the mother of invention, right? Well, it’s just a fact of life that if you go camping, you’re bound to forget something—sometimes trivial, sometimes important. Forgetting some of the necessities doesn’t have to derail your whole adventure, though. Turn the irritation into an opportunity to find creative solutions—either drawing on the resources you’ve brought with you or those provided by nature.
Forgot rope? Are there vines or crawling ground cover you can use to lash things together?
Forgot matches? What about using a magnifying glass or a pair of reading glasses to start your fire?
When the stakes are high and you have to make it on your own, you’ll feel better knowing you’ve had practice making things work during campouts when a trip to the store wasn’t actually out of the question.
6. You’ll learn which kinds of clothing, shoes, and outerwear are the best fit for the outdoors and your needs. The best type of clothing for the outdoors changes depending on the area you live in and the weather you expect to face. But there are some pretty basic rules that work no matter what:
1) Dress in layers—that way you can add or subtract layers as conditions change.
2) Wear clothing that will dry quickly and wicks moisture away from your body.
3) Comfort and safety are the most important things to think about when it comes to outdoor clothing.
4) Cotton is the fabric of death. (Most of the time. In the hot summer sun, light cotton or linen clothes can be ideal.)
7. You’ll be more at ease in nature. Spending time hiking, backpacking, and camping will help you get comfortable spending long periods of time with Mother Nature. You’ll start to understand things like: how easily you sunburn, what kinds of plants grow in your area, where to find water or shade when you need it, what kind of wildlife is common in your area (and how frequently they disrupt campsites), etc.
Spending time outside is a novelty for some people—don’t let that be the case for you. Spend time outside, get to know your surroundings, and use them to your advantage if the time comes that you have to evacuate by foot or camp out after a disaster—even if it’s in a park right next to the Red Cross or other relief shelter. If your home isn’t safe and there aren’t enough shelters, you’ll have to find a way to stay safe, clean, warm/cool, and fed—which is a lot more likely if you’ve had some practice.
8. Your kids (if you have any) won’t be quite as freaked out that they aren’t sleeping in their own beds. Spending time camping—whether it’s multi-day backpacking trips or car camping at a developed camp site—will help your kids feel more at ease if your family ever has to sleep in a tent, under the stars, or in the car. Camping for fun before camping out of necessity will help them feel at ease in nature, be less anxious away from home, and develop what I consider one of the most important things a person can have: a sense of adventure.
9. You can get used to finding and treating water before you drink it. Safe drinking water is one of your first priorities in an emergency. Staying hydrated is crucial to keeping up your energy and well-being in any circumstance, and in an emergency it can become a serious challenge if you haven’t prepared.
In an emergency where water isn’t readily available—maybe your supply has been ruined by a tornado or earthquake—you’ll have to search for it. Knowing in advance where to find it will give you a big advantage, so you don’t waste precious energy combing the area near your house for water sources.
If you’ve got a water filter, water purification system, or a combination of both, then you’re well on your way. Using these tools on campouts will get you in the habit of treating found water before you use it. Although many filters are quick to use, water treatment tablets like MicroPur can take up to 4 hours to thoroughly treat water (if it’s dirty and cold)—so be aware of the time it may take for your water to be ready, and plan accordingly.
Note: Don’t use a water filter on your campouts if you don’t need to—once the carbon in filters has been exposed to water, it’s only good for six months, so it doesn’t make sense to pull it out for a “practice run” unless you’re planning to use it regularly in the upcoming months.
10. You’ll be really efficient getting your camp set up. The more you go camping, the better you’ll get at setting things up, packing things away, understanding what’s going to make life easier and what’s just going to get in the way, and a whole slew of other things. It might not seem like a big deal if you’ve always had good weather and plenty of time to get things set up, but if you’ve ever set up camp in a rainstorm or in the dark, you know that the more familiar you are with how your gear sets up, the sooner you’ll be warm and cozy in your tent. And in an emergency, that can be priceless as far as keeping your body temperature up, keeping sickness at bay, and keeping everyone calm and happy in a stressful situation.
So… Go Camping! Like I said before: you may love camping, you may hate it. Either way, I’m here to tell you that you should go camping on a regular basis. It will not only help you enjoy the beauty of nature (hopefully… if not, you may be doing something wrong), it will also help you gain experience and skills that will come in handy during an evacuation or other emergency.
--Urban Girl
Editor's Note: Why is Cotton the Fabric of death? 100% cotton clothes are not good for survival situations because they absorb and retain moisture. Since it absorbs moisture, wearing that wet cotton shirt could lead to hypothermia because if you are cold and wet, that makes you more susceptible to hypothermia. Also, Items that are 100% cotton are heavier, making running or hiking through the woods hot and could lead to easier fatigue. In other words, make sure that you have clothes made of lighter or more breathable fabrics packed in your emergency kit for a survival situation. Cotton polyester blends are lighter than 100% cotton. In essence, look for cotton blends to help you in survival situations.
Camping. You may have a love/hate relationship with it. Or you may have a hate/hate or love/love relationship with it. Regardless of your feelings, here’s the reality: camping is good for preparedness.
Here are 10 ways camping can help you prepare for emergencies:
1. You’ll get used to sleeping in less-than-ideal circumstances. Growing up, my family would camp pretty frequently, and someone (who shall remain nameless) always snored like a bear. It would keep me (and others) awake at night, leading to crankiness and fatigue the next day.
So, camping with the sound of your neighbor snoring his brains out or—even more distracting for some people—the sound of animals and the wind working their way through the trees can build up your “immunity” to those sounds. After a while, you may find that you actually enjoy the rustling of the trees and the sound of birds and other animals.
You may not develop immunity to the sound of snoring, though. So consider packing a pair or two of ear plugs in your camping gear and your bug-out bag.
Even if you end up at a shelter in an emergency, rather than roughing it, earplugs could help drown out sleep-talkers, kids screaming, or other noises. You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of not being able to hear, though. If sounds are muffled, you might not hear someone trying to wake you up (or someone who is rifling through your stuff).
2. You’ll learn to eat meals that are easy to cook—or don’t require cooking at all. Camping is great for practicing emergency cooking. Try out your canister stove, Kelly Kettle, or Volcano stove on a camp out to get used to different cooking methods. You’ll find that the easier the meal, the better—in most cases, anyway.
That simplicity translates well into emergency situations. When the stakes are high, complicated meals may not work out (wasting food), or take longer to prepare (leaving you and your group hangry [hungry + angry]).
The best way to ensure simple, quick meals in an emergency is to add some MRE and just-add-water entrees, sides, and desserts into your supplies.
For MREs, you’ll just need some MRE heaters, a car engine, a warm rock, or some other way to warm it up. You can even eat them cold, because they’re 100% pre-cooked and ready to eat.
To cook just-add-water meals, you’ll want to have a way to quickly and efficiently boil water, like the Kelly Kettle or a canister stove. Then you just add the water to your food, wait about 10 minutes, and dig in.
3. You’ll get used to using “the facilities” in less-than-ideal circumstances. I don’t know anyone who prefers using toilets that don’t flush (there could be someone out there, but I personally don’t know anyone). But in a large-scale emergency situation, disrupted utilities are highly likely. That means no flushing toilets, no running water, and finding a way to safely deal with human and pet waste.
If you have to evacuate to a location without a permanent shelter or running water, experience “taking care of business” in the outdoors will come in handy.
One of the easiest ways to deal with bathroom needs in an emergency is a Tote-able Toilet and enzyme packets. The toilet is a 5-gallon bucket with a specially-designed toilet seat that fits on it just like a lid. Each time you use the bathroom you can sprinkle some of the enzymes in, and they will help to fight odor. You can even grab one of our deluxe privacy pop-up tents
Don’t forget the toilet paper!
4. What you deem “necessities” will likely change. You may think you know what the necessities are—and maybe you’ve had to experience enough bare-bones living to know what you actually need and what is just nice to have.
Camping regularly will give you an idea of the things you actually need to have to stay safe, healthy, and fed when you’re away from home.
That doesn’t mean you can’t put “want-to-have” items in your bug-out bag. Some familiar items will bring comfort and can provide distraction during long wait times at shelters or in food or aid lines. But when it comes down to what is really necessary to survive, camping will give you a pretty clear idea.
5. You’ll have a chance to practice important skills and become more resourceful. Knowing how to build a shelter from branches and other resources you find nearby, start a fire without matches, identify edible plants, fish, and many other skills can come in handy in a survival situation—and camping is the perfect time to learn and perfect those skills.
Necessity is the mother of invention, right? Well, it’s just a fact of life that if you go camping, you’re bound to forget something—sometimes trivial, sometimes important. Forgetting some of the necessities doesn’t have to derail your whole adventure, though. Turn the irritation into an opportunity to find creative solutions—either drawing on the resources you’ve brought with you or those provided by nature.
Forgot rope? Are there vines or crawling ground cover you can use to lash things together?
Forgot matches? What about using a magnifying glass or a pair of reading glasses to start your fire?
When the stakes are high and you have to make it on your own, you’ll feel better knowing you’ve had practice making things work during campouts when a trip to the store wasn’t actually out of the question.
6. You’ll learn which kinds of clothing, shoes, and outerwear are the best fit for the outdoors and your needs. The best type of clothing for the outdoors changes depending on the area you live in and the weather you expect to face. But there are some pretty basic rules that work no matter what:
1) Dress in layers—that way you can add or subtract layers as conditions change.
2) Wear clothing that will dry quickly and wicks moisture away from your body.
3) Comfort and safety are the most important things to think about when it comes to outdoor clothing.
4) Cotton is the fabric of death. (Most of the time. In the hot summer sun, light cotton or linen clothes can be ideal.)
7. You’ll be more at ease in nature. Spending time hiking, backpacking, and camping will help you get comfortable spending long periods of time with Mother Nature. You’ll start to understand things like: how easily you sunburn, what kinds of plants grow in your area, where to find water or shade when you need it, what kind of wildlife is common in your area (and how frequently they disrupt campsites), etc.
Spending time outside is a novelty for some people—don’t let that be the case for you. Spend time outside, get to know your surroundings, and use them to your advantage if the time comes that you have to evacuate by foot or camp out after a disaster—even if it’s in a park right next to the Red Cross or other relief shelter. If your home isn’t safe and there aren’t enough shelters, you’ll have to find a way to stay safe, clean, warm/cool, and fed—which is a lot more likely if you’ve had some practice.
8. Your kids (if you have any) won’t be quite as freaked out that they aren’t sleeping in their own beds. Spending time camping—whether it’s multi-day backpacking trips or car camping at a developed camp site—will help your kids feel more at ease if your family ever has to sleep in a tent, under the stars, or in the car. Camping for fun before camping out of necessity will help them feel at ease in nature, be less anxious away from home, and develop what I consider one of the most important things a person can have: a sense of adventure.
9. You can get used to finding and treating water before you drink it. Safe drinking water is one of your first priorities in an emergency. Staying hydrated is crucial to keeping up your energy and well-being in any circumstance, and in an emergency it can become a serious challenge if you haven’t prepared.
In an emergency where water isn’t readily available—maybe your supply has been ruined by a tornado or earthquake—you’ll have to search for it. Knowing in advance where to find it will give you a big advantage, so you don’t waste precious energy combing the area near your house for water sources.
If you’ve got a water filter, water purification system, or a combination of both, then you’re well on your way. Using these tools on campouts will get you in the habit of treating found water before you use it. Although many filters are quick to use, water treatment tablets like MicroPur can take up to 4 hours to thoroughly treat water (if it’s dirty and cold)—so be aware of the time it may take for your water to be ready, and plan accordingly.
Note: Don’t use a water filter on your campouts if you don’t need to—once the carbon in filters has been exposed to water, it’s only good for six months, so it doesn’t make sense to pull it out for a “practice run” unless you’re planning to use it regularly in the upcoming months.
10. You’ll be really efficient getting your camp set up. The more you go camping, the better you’ll get at setting things up, packing things away, understanding what’s going to make life easier and what’s just going to get in the way, and a whole slew of other things. It might not seem like a big deal if you’ve always had good weather and plenty of time to get things set up, but if you’ve ever set up camp in a rainstorm or in the dark, you know that the more familiar you are with how your gear sets up, the sooner you’ll be warm and cozy in your tent. And in an emergency, that can be priceless as far as keeping your body temperature up, keeping sickness at bay, and keeping everyone calm and happy in a stressful situation.
So… Go Camping! Like I said before: you may love camping, you may hate it. Either way, I’m here to tell you that you should go camping on a regular basis. It will not only help you enjoy the beauty of nature (hopefully… if not, you may be doing something wrong), it will also help you gain experience and skills that will come in handy during an evacuation or other emergency.
--Urban Girl
Editor's Note: Why is Cotton the Fabric of death? 100% cotton clothes are not good for survival situations because they absorb and retain moisture. Since it absorbs moisture, wearing that wet cotton shirt could lead to hypothermia because if you are cold and wet, that makes you more susceptible to hypothermia. Also, Items that are 100% cotton are heavier, making running or hiking through the woods hot and could lead to easier fatigue. In other words, make sure that you have clothes made of lighter or more breathable fabrics packed in your emergency kit for a survival situation. Cotton polyester blends are lighter than 100% cotton. In essence, look for cotton blends to help you in survival situations.
10 Travel Preparedness Tips You Won't Want to Forget
At some point in our lives, many of us have been subject to Murphy's Law of Travel—what can go wrong, will go wrong. And often we're too excited, stressed, or concerned with getting the car or suitcase packed that we may forget to prepare for any unexpected emergencies we may face while traveling.
Just like preparing for an emergency at home, work, or school, it's equally important to prepare for travel emergencies. So here are our top 10 Travel Preparedness and Safety Tips:
1. Tell someone you trust where you're going If you've seen the movie Taken, you'll know that telling someone where you're going and any change of plans you might make can ensure your safety. Whether you're traveling solo or as a family, make sure you:
Before: make sure your health insurance coverage will cover you in other states (you may want to look into getting traveler's insurance that will cover medical emergencies)
During: See a Doctor right away! If you have:
4. Be aware of your surroundings Learn about your destination before you go there—the people, the place you will be staying, the culture of the area, etc. Secure your belongings: make sure you have your purse or daypack with you and positioned on your body so that others cannot get into it. And be aware of what's going on around you so you don't get stuck in an unsafe situation. Report any suspicious behavior.
5. Pack smart
7. Get a maintenance check on your car before travel
9. Be familiar with safety and emergency evacuation procedures for the hotel you're staying in and for the mode of transportation you've chosen. Read up on them before you go, or ask for a copy before boarding the vehicle or while checking into the hotel.
10. Learn which weather disasters are common to your destination Read up on the types of disasters common to the area where you'll stay, especially if you've never experienced those types of emergencies before. Find out about local radio systems and emergency alerts. Know where you can go for safety. Pay attention to weather forecasts for your destination. Downloading a Red Cross Mobile app to your phone can also help you prepare for and be aware of emergencies in the area.
In case an emergency occurs while you're in a different country, know how to contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate before you leave home by using the U.S. Passports and International Travel's Country Specific Information Pages
Happy and Safe Travels!
For more safety tips, check out these sources:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/sick-during-trip
http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/highway-safety
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2014/chapter-2-the-pre-travel-consultation/obtaining-health-care-abroad-for-the-ill-traveler
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9546629/ns/travel-cruise_travel/t/tips-cruise-safety/#.UxS74_ldWuI
http://www.aarp.org/travel/cruises/info-05-2012/cruise-ship-trip-safety.html
http://theplanetd.com/night-bus-travel-11-tips-for-safety-survival-and-sleep/
http://www.aarp.org/travel/travel-tips/info-09-2012/single-trip-safety-tips-theft.2.html
At some point in our lives, many of us have been subject to Murphy's Law of Travel—what can go wrong, will go wrong. And often we're too excited, stressed, or concerned with getting the car or suitcase packed that we may forget to prepare for any unexpected emergencies we may face while traveling.
Just like preparing for an emergency at home, work, or school, it's equally important to prepare for travel emergencies. So here are our top 10 Travel Preparedness and Safety Tips:
1. Tell someone you trust where you're going If you've seen the movie Taken, you'll know that telling someone where you're going and any change of plans you might make can ensure your safety. Whether you're traveling solo or as a family, make sure you:
- Always tell friends, family, or those picking you up from the station or airport your travel routes and schedules.
- Always tell friends, family, or those picking you up from the station or airport any delays or changes to your travel plans.
- If you take short cuts or alternative routes while driving, inform someone of these changes.
- It's nice to be friendly with other travelers, but DO NOT give out extensive information about your travel plans to strangers.
- Give your trusted friend an itinerary of your daily plans. If your plans change, let your friend know.
- First Aid Kit--include medicines for stomachaches, diarrhea, headaches, and motion sickness
- Hygiene Kit-- to keep in your carry-on bag just in case your luggage gets lost or you get stuck in a place where you'll need these items
- Emergency Car Kit--a great idea to stick in your car or rental car in case you have some type of emergency while on the road. Make sure to pack a car emergency kit. The article, "Emergency Kits Tackle Unepxected Problems on the Road," gives some great advice on what types of items to include in your car emergency kit.
- Small Emergency Kit or Survival Pack like the SOL Origin bring with you in a daypack or backpack if you plan on going hiking or doing another high adventure day trip
- Emergency Food--Calorie Food Bars can last even in extreme temperatures making them great for car travel
- Important Medications
- Child Care Items
- Extra Clothing
- Travel Documents--passport, tickets, I.D., etc.
Before: make sure your health insurance coverage will cover you in other states (you may want to look into getting traveler's insurance that will cover medical emergencies)
During: See a Doctor right away! If you have:
- Diarrhea and a high fever (102 degrees or above)
- Bloody diarrhea
- Flu-like symptoms (especially in countries with diseases like Malaria)
- If you've been bitten or scratched by an animal
- Been seriously injured (broken bones, gashes, large cuts, or wounds, etc.)
- Been sexually assaulted
- Been in a car accident
4. Be aware of your surroundings Learn about your destination before you go there—the people, the place you will be staying, the culture of the area, etc. Secure your belongings: make sure you have your purse or daypack with you and positioned on your body so that others cannot get into it. And be aware of what's going on around you so you don't get stuck in an unsafe situation. Report any suspicious behavior.
5. Pack smart
- Make sure to pack light so you can keep your hands free and move quickly if you have to.
- Store your passport, I.D., cash, and other important documents in different places. You may want to store your credit cards in a money pouch, and some cash in your front pockets, etc. That way if one item is stolen, everything isn't lost with it.
- Keep at least one change of clothes with you in your carry-on or daypack if your luggage will be stored in a separate compartment.
- Bring a water filtration/purification method with you, like a Katadyn MyBottle if you are in a country where the water is not safe to drink.
7. Get a maintenance check on your car before travel
- Make sure your gas tank is always half full
- Make sure your lights are in good working order (especially if traveling at night)
- Make sure your car has gone through any passed and safety or emissions tests required by your state
- Repair any issues with brakes and replace tires with low tread
9. Be familiar with safety and emergency evacuation procedures for the hotel you're staying in and for the mode of transportation you've chosen. Read up on them before you go, or ask for a copy before boarding the vehicle or while checking into the hotel.
10. Learn which weather disasters are common to your destination Read up on the types of disasters common to the area where you'll stay, especially if you've never experienced those types of emergencies before. Find out about local radio systems and emergency alerts. Know where you can go for safety. Pay attention to weather forecasts for your destination. Downloading a Red Cross Mobile app to your phone can also help you prepare for and be aware of emergencies in the area.
In case an emergency occurs while you're in a different country, know how to contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate before you leave home by using the U.S. Passports and International Travel's Country Specific Information Pages
Happy and Safe Travels!
For more safety tips, check out these sources:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/sick-during-trip
http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/highway-safety
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2014/chapter-2-the-pre-travel-consultation/obtaining-health-care-abroad-for-the-ill-traveler
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9546629/ns/travel-cruise_travel/t/tips-cruise-safety/#.UxS74_ldWuI
http://www.aarp.org/travel/cruises/info-05-2012/cruise-ship-trip-safety.html
http://theplanetd.com/night-bus-travel-11-tips-for-safety-survival-and-sleep/
http://www.aarp.org/travel/travel-tips/info-09-2012/single-trip-safety-tips-theft.2.html
How to prepare for surviving an EMP
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4kyv-HzfirHDFW9Vr57AD5KxcNFsRQuU
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4kyv-HzfirHDFW9Vr57AD5KxcNFsRQuU
Top 20 SHTF Barter Items…and Why.
If people ever lose “faith” in the dollar other items will instantly take their place. Trade almost always continues after a disaster because it is human nature. People have to live and value is instantly instilled in items that either prolong one’s life or in some cases make life more tolerable. Instead of putting your so called “money” in the bank you might consider “investing” in some or all of these items instead. Heck, with the inflation we are actually experiencing, versus lost wages, compared to the .0001% the banks are paying, putting money in these items is truly making value for your bottom line. If your personal situation turns even further south, you can always use these commodities. Most of the items on my list can be bought now and stored. Some items, like fuel, will disappear almost instantly and were left off the list. Some of them you might want to consider for after it begins. This article lists some items that will be both popular and necessary in a grid down situation.
Check out the Tin Hat Ranch’s Dueling Giveaways, we are giving away a Polaris Ranger AND $1,000 worth of survival gear, click here to learn more! Toilet Paper- Right now it is cheap and plentiful. When SHTF TP will be known under a new moniker- “rolled gold”. Backed by a large industry and delicate manufacturing process TP will be one of those items that will be difficult to bring back online. You’d better stockpile it now or begin to practice other “methods” of achieving the same results.
Coffee- Do you know how much oil is in coffee? Lots, it turns out. How do you think it gets from South America to your cup? In the can it will last a year or two past the “best by” date. Instant coffee should last forever.
Salt- Ah, the savor of life. Salt is Left off of nearly every SHTF barter list when it really should be at the top of them all. Besides adding flavor, salts primary use in SHTF will be to preserve meat. Easily measurable, stores indefinitely, it may be the most sought after item when things shake out. Click here for our article on salt to learn why.
Feminine Products- They might as well have a picture of Ben Franklin’s head printed on them. Beyond their intended use they can be used in wound dressing due to their absorbency and “sanitary” nature. Try the Diva Cup instead and keep them for bartering.
Water Filters- How many folks outside of the prepping community even know they exist? Sure, they may have one in their refrigerator, but they probably don’t know what it truly does. Once the hordes and masses become aware that their bodies require clean drinking water the water filter will become invaluable. Do you have an extra water filter to sell to the highest bidder?
Freeze Dried Food- Yes, any type of food will be a barter item when SHTF, but Freeze dried food and MRE’s are something you can buy now and pretty much forget about until SHTF if stored in a cool dry place.
Power- Any method of electrical power will be in high demand. Batteries, rechargeable batteries, small solar devices, anything that can utilize mechanical energy and turn it into electrical energy will be in high demand. People will get creative and find ways to cobble together bits of this and that to create energy. Any DC motor can be turned to create electricity.
Alcohol- Find it, buy it, make it, just get me some booze and fast. Storing alcohol in it’s concentrated form (namely hard liquor) is probably the preferred method. Knowing how to make it will make you a wealthy person in SHTF. People are going to want to escape from reality and history has shown that alcohol is the escape of choice.
Honey and Sugar- Yes, I said honey and sugar. Again, there is lots of oil in sugar. While stockpiling sugar is wise, what happens when it runs out? For those in the northern part of the country honey can be harvested locally and also lasts indefinitely. The United States does produce a significant amount of sugar, but only in the southern States. Because it lasts pretty much indefinitely it can be hauled via horse and wagon BUT due to the limited ability to haul large amounts it’s value will skyrocket.
Ice- Ice? Yes. People are going to have to refrigerated perishables. You can salt meat, but having ice on hand will reduce waste and spoilage and allow “fresh” perishables to be consumed before they go bad. Having the ability to store ice will make you very popular in SHTF. The guy cutting blocks of ice out of the lake all winter won’t be hungry come summer.
Antibiotics- Millions of people living today are alive because of them. While it is nearly impossible to stockpile antibiotics from a doctor there are several animal sources that do not require a prescription. More importantly will be to learn which antibiotics treat which types of infections. Once these run out there will be some huge problems. Learn first and use at your own risk.
Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen- Many deaths in centuries past due to high fevers could have been mitigated if these two drugs were around. At least for the first few years after SHTF stockpiled fever reducers will save many countless more. I mention both because in extreme cases you may need to alternate between the two. Click here to find out why.
Magnifying Glasses- What item fits in your pocket, requires no fuel, yet allows any moron to start a fire? The magnifying glass.
Yeast- Yeast has a limited shelf life but will be necessary to satisfy our hunger for baked goods. Keep an eye out as we are putting together an article on how to make your own.
Ammunition- Think of ammunition as SHTF coins. Stock up on common calibers for the most bang for your buck, .22, 9mm, .223, 7.62×39/54R, 12Ga., etc.
Tobacco- Vices are vices. Addictive vices are worse. It will be unfair to the addled addict what you will be able to trade for this item. This is another item that is produced in very large quantities in the United States. It’s initial worth will be tremendous but if trade begins to resume on a, even on limited basis, tobacco will be in every shipment.
Canning Lids- Cheap and easy to store canning lids can be bartered with even otherwise prepared preppers.
Non-GMO, Non-Hybrid Seeds- Storing food for barter is top of mind for any prepper, but again, once that food is gone, it is gone. What next? Things have to start over. Companies like Family First ( a friend of the Ranch) offer vacuum sealed non-GMO seeds that will last 7 years if sealed.
Information- You know all of those how-to books you own? While I am not really suggesting to barter the books themselves, I am suggesting that stocking up on how-to books now may pay huge dividends later. Obscure situations that need solutions will pop up every day. If you have a book that shows you how to solve one of these problems you may now barter your services for any one of the above items. While not a replacement for the more “reliable” paper version, eReaders can store a library in a 6 ounce package. Click here to check out our article on how eReaders might be invaluable.
OK, so it is only 19 items, but people like round numbers. It doesn’t change the fact you will need them.
If people ever lose “faith” in the dollar other items will instantly take their place. Trade almost always continues after a disaster because it is human nature. People have to live and value is instantly instilled in items that either prolong one’s life or in some cases make life more tolerable. Instead of putting your so called “money” in the bank you might consider “investing” in some or all of these items instead. Heck, with the inflation we are actually experiencing, versus lost wages, compared to the .0001% the banks are paying, putting money in these items is truly making value for your bottom line. If your personal situation turns even further south, you can always use these commodities. Most of the items on my list can be bought now and stored. Some items, like fuel, will disappear almost instantly and were left off the list. Some of them you might want to consider for after it begins. This article lists some items that will be both popular and necessary in a grid down situation.
Check out the Tin Hat Ranch’s Dueling Giveaways, we are giving away a Polaris Ranger AND $1,000 worth of survival gear, click here to learn more! Toilet Paper- Right now it is cheap and plentiful. When SHTF TP will be known under a new moniker- “rolled gold”. Backed by a large industry and delicate manufacturing process TP will be one of those items that will be difficult to bring back online. You’d better stockpile it now or begin to practice other “methods” of achieving the same results.
Coffee- Do you know how much oil is in coffee? Lots, it turns out. How do you think it gets from South America to your cup? In the can it will last a year or two past the “best by” date. Instant coffee should last forever.
Salt- Ah, the savor of life. Salt is Left off of nearly every SHTF barter list when it really should be at the top of them all. Besides adding flavor, salts primary use in SHTF will be to preserve meat. Easily measurable, stores indefinitely, it may be the most sought after item when things shake out. Click here for our article on salt to learn why.
Feminine Products- They might as well have a picture of Ben Franklin’s head printed on them. Beyond their intended use they can be used in wound dressing due to their absorbency and “sanitary” nature. Try the Diva Cup instead and keep them for bartering.
Water Filters- How many folks outside of the prepping community even know they exist? Sure, they may have one in their refrigerator, but they probably don’t know what it truly does. Once the hordes and masses become aware that their bodies require clean drinking water the water filter will become invaluable. Do you have an extra water filter to sell to the highest bidder?
Freeze Dried Food- Yes, any type of food will be a barter item when SHTF, but Freeze dried food and MRE’s are something you can buy now and pretty much forget about until SHTF if stored in a cool dry place.
Power- Any method of electrical power will be in high demand. Batteries, rechargeable batteries, small solar devices, anything that can utilize mechanical energy and turn it into electrical energy will be in high demand. People will get creative and find ways to cobble together bits of this and that to create energy. Any DC motor can be turned to create electricity.
Alcohol- Find it, buy it, make it, just get me some booze and fast. Storing alcohol in it’s concentrated form (namely hard liquor) is probably the preferred method. Knowing how to make it will make you a wealthy person in SHTF. People are going to want to escape from reality and history has shown that alcohol is the escape of choice.
Honey and Sugar- Yes, I said honey and sugar. Again, there is lots of oil in sugar. While stockpiling sugar is wise, what happens when it runs out? For those in the northern part of the country honey can be harvested locally and also lasts indefinitely. The United States does produce a significant amount of sugar, but only in the southern States. Because it lasts pretty much indefinitely it can be hauled via horse and wagon BUT due to the limited ability to haul large amounts it’s value will skyrocket.
Ice- Ice? Yes. People are going to have to refrigerated perishables. You can salt meat, but having ice on hand will reduce waste and spoilage and allow “fresh” perishables to be consumed before they go bad. Having the ability to store ice will make you very popular in SHTF. The guy cutting blocks of ice out of the lake all winter won’t be hungry come summer.
Antibiotics- Millions of people living today are alive because of them. While it is nearly impossible to stockpile antibiotics from a doctor there are several animal sources that do not require a prescription. More importantly will be to learn which antibiotics treat which types of infections. Once these run out there will be some huge problems. Learn first and use at your own risk.
Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen- Many deaths in centuries past due to high fevers could have been mitigated if these two drugs were around. At least for the first few years after SHTF stockpiled fever reducers will save many countless more. I mention both because in extreme cases you may need to alternate between the two. Click here to find out why.
Magnifying Glasses- What item fits in your pocket, requires no fuel, yet allows any moron to start a fire? The magnifying glass.
Yeast- Yeast has a limited shelf life but will be necessary to satisfy our hunger for baked goods. Keep an eye out as we are putting together an article on how to make your own.
Ammunition- Think of ammunition as SHTF coins. Stock up on common calibers for the most bang for your buck, .22, 9mm, .223, 7.62×39/54R, 12Ga., etc.
Tobacco- Vices are vices. Addictive vices are worse. It will be unfair to the addled addict what you will be able to trade for this item. This is another item that is produced in very large quantities in the United States. It’s initial worth will be tremendous but if trade begins to resume on a, even on limited basis, tobacco will be in every shipment.
Canning Lids- Cheap and easy to store canning lids can be bartered with even otherwise prepared preppers.
Non-GMO, Non-Hybrid Seeds- Storing food for barter is top of mind for any prepper, but again, once that food is gone, it is gone. What next? Things have to start over. Companies like Family First ( a friend of the Ranch) offer vacuum sealed non-GMO seeds that will last 7 years if sealed.
Information- You know all of those how-to books you own? While I am not really suggesting to barter the books themselves, I am suggesting that stocking up on how-to books now may pay huge dividends later. Obscure situations that need solutions will pop up every day. If you have a book that shows you how to solve one of these problems you may now barter your services for any one of the above items. While not a replacement for the more “reliable” paper version, eReaders can store a library in a 6 ounce package. Click here to check out our article on how eReaders might be invaluable.
OK, so it is only 19 items, but people like round numbers. It doesn’t change the fact you will need them.
What Will You Do When The Toilet Paper Is Gone?
The Importance of Personal Hygiene during a Crisis
Personal hygiene is as critical if not more so during a crisis as it is at anytime. Keeping your hands and body clean is one of the most important things you can do to prevent the spread of diseases and bacteria. Just because the electricity is off and you have to boil or otherwise disinfect your water is no excuse for forgoing good sanitation practices particularly when it comes to human waste.
During the 16th century in Europe, so-called medical experts thought that bathing was dangerous because according to them water, warm water especially, opened the pores on the skin and allowed diseases to enter the body. Up until this proclamation, bathing was typically discouraged anyways, but not actually banned, because it led to immoral thoughts and removing the clothes to bathe was not recommended and in some cases not allowed.
Disease was rampant and yet people did not bathe and wore their clothes until they rotted off in tatters. Brushing up against someone could transmit any number of diseases and handshakes were literally a death grip because toilet paper was unheard of, the hands worked just fine, and remember washing up was frowned upon.
Public restrooms were the nearest gutter and heavy rains washed the waste to the river where the citizens drew their drinking water. The upper class not having to follow the rules decided that bathing twice a year was acceptable. They pranced around with perfume-laden handkerchiefs held to their noses, frowning at the other unwashed masses, until bath time rolled around every six months.
They obviously, ignored the warnings about washing their faces because according to the experts at the time, it could cause blindness. Experts may have been right however because the bacteria laden water they washed in contained all manner of parasites that could enter the nose, mouth and eyes.
Many accounts show that many people of that era bathed once they were born, and possibly once before marriage and that was the extent of their association with bathing.
What Happens If You Do Not Have Toilet Paper Available
Toilet paper is used to clean (wipe) with after using the toilet but it is also protection for the hand to prevent contamination during the cleaning process. It is absorbent, flushable and soft to the touch. In certain situations, being flushable is not a requirement. Knowing what toilet paper is means, you can find a substitute.
Oops!
If you find yourself in a wilderness environment grasses and leaves can be used, as long as it is not saw grass, poison oak, ivy or thorn bushes. A handful of grass works well as do green leaves. Any type of dried vegetation will not work well if at all. Certain mosses such as sphagnum moss or peat works well and most have high moisture content so you also get the benefit of water during the cleaning.
The habit of carrying a newspaper or magazine to the outhouse was not always for reading in days past, and to this day, many are in the habit of reading while perched on the throne. The paper or magazine carried along was in case someone was rude enough to take the last page of the Sears Roebuck catalog. People have also used snow, smooth rocks and articles of clothing. Anything, well almost anything can be a substitute for toilet paper.
Birch bark is another option because it is thin and papery and works quite well.
The hand has always worked well for many and in some cultures is still used today, and is acceptable as long as special care is given to washing the hands afterwards. Cloth has been used in the past and the Romans had perfected this method. The cleaning cloth was similar to a mop and was attached to a short handle and people usually carried it with them in their everyday kits. The Romans knew thousands of years ago the importance of fresh water and personal hygiene.
While humorous in some cases personal hygiene is important to prevent the spread of bacteria and illnesses. When access to medical care is limited or non-existent during a crisis, you must take extra precautions not to become sick. Wash your hands, and avoid shaking hands with others that are a bit too willing to start a project without all the proper resources available. So what will you do when you run out of toilet paper?
The Importance of Personal Hygiene during a Crisis
Personal hygiene is as critical if not more so during a crisis as it is at anytime. Keeping your hands and body clean is one of the most important things you can do to prevent the spread of diseases and bacteria. Just because the electricity is off and you have to boil or otherwise disinfect your water is no excuse for forgoing good sanitation practices particularly when it comes to human waste.
During the 16th century in Europe, so-called medical experts thought that bathing was dangerous because according to them water, warm water especially, opened the pores on the skin and allowed diseases to enter the body. Up until this proclamation, bathing was typically discouraged anyways, but not actually banned, because it led to immoral thoughts and removing the clothes to bathe was not recommended and in some cases not allowed.
Disease was rampant and yet people did not bathe and wore their clothes until they rotted off in tatters. Brushing up against someone could transmit any number of diseases and handshakes were literally a death grip because toilet paper was unheard of, the hands worked just fine, and remember washing up was frowned upon.
Public restrooms were the nearest gutter and heavy rains washed the waste to the river where the citizens drew their drinking water. The upper class not having to follow the rules decided that bathing twice a year was acceptable. They pranced around with perfume-laden handkerchiefs held to their noses, frowning at the other unwashed masses, until bath time rolled around every six months.
They obviously, ignored the warnings about washing their faces because according to the experts at the time, it could cause blindness. Experts may have been right however because the bacteria laden water they washed in contained all manner of parasites that could enter the nose, mouth and eyes.
Many accounts show that many people of that era bathed once they were born, and possibly once before marriage and that was the extent of their association with bathing.
What Happens If You Do Not Have Toilet Paper Available
Toilet paper is used to clean (wipe) with after using the toilet but it is also protection for the hand to prevent contamination during the cleaning process. It is absorbent, flushable and soft to the touch. In certain situations, being flushable is not a requirement. Knowing what toilet paper is means, you can find a substitute.
Oops!
If you find yourself in a wilderness environment grasses and leaves can be used, as long as it is not saw grass, poison oak, ivy or thorn bushes. A handful of grass works well as do green leaves. Any type of dried vegetation will not work well if at all. Certain mosses such as sphagnum moss or peat works well and most have high moisture content so you also get the benefit of water during the cleaning.
The habit of carrying a newspaper or magazine to the outhouse was not always for reading in days past, and to this day, many are in the habit of reading while perched on the throne. The paper or magazine carried along was in case someone was rude enough to take the last page of the Sears Roebuck catalog. People have also used snow, smooth rocks and articles of clothing. Anything, well almost anything can be a substitute for toilet paper.
Birch bark is another option because it is thin and papery and works quite well.
The hand has always worked well for many and in some cultures is still used today, and is acceptable as long as special care is given to washing the hands afterwards. Cloth has been used in the past and the Romans had perfected this method. The cleaning cloth was similar to a mop and was attached to a short handle and people usually carried it with them in their everyday kits. The Romans knew thousands of years ago the importance of fresh water and personal hygiene.
While humorous in some cases personal hygiene is important to prevent the spread of bacteria and illnesses. When access to medical care is limited or non-existent during a crisis, you must take extra precautions not to become sick. Wash your hands, and avoid shaking hands with others that are a bit too willing to start a project without all the proper resources available. So what will you do when you run out of toilet paper?
9 Survival Items That Should Be In Your Safe Right Now Written by: Tara Dodrill
Storing survival basics is often a priority for off-the-grid families, but some of the most important items probably are missing from your safe.
We have become so accustomed to turning on cell phones, tablets and computers to find necessary files and to share photos that the old-fashioned paper counterparts to the files might be getting lost in the shuffle.
What would you need after a fire, flood, tornado, hurricane, power grid-down scenario, or other disaster?
Here 10 items you should consider keeping in your safe:
1. A grab-and-go binder with photos and pertinent information of people in your house. Include any medical or mental health conditions, medication being taken, identifying marks, age, birthdate, and likely places the individual, if a child, could run and hide if frightened during an emergency. Although mom and dad might know all the details well, both could perish during a disaster and it would be a distraught grandparent or neighbor attempting to help out. Making at least two copies of each family member’s page and laminating them with clear contact paper could be helpful.
2. Passports, Social Security cards, shot records, school records, insurance policies, marriage certificate and birth certificates – and copies of all of them. Multiple people may need copies in an emergency. If each parent is armed with all the necessary identifying documents and proof of custody, time will not be wasted doubling back to garner the documents from the other parent in order to retrieve the child from a rescue center or hospital.
Everything You Need To Know To Keep Your Home And Family Safe.
3. Bank statements along with safety deposit box keys. If there is any chance at all of recovering your money after a disaster such as a power grid failure, a paper trail of transactions, proper identification, and proof of account ownership will be needed. For the sake of redundancy, keep cancelled checks, deposit slips, and ATM withdraw slips in the safe, as well.
4. A copy of a filed real estate deed and legal will. Many folks in New Orleans after Katrina could not prove they owned property which had been in their family for generations because the courthouse flooded and deed copies had not been stored in a safe capable of surviving a flood.
5. Photos and a jump drive or other electronic copy of the interior of the home and of belongings. Proof of the state of the home and items contained within it could help garner a positive insurance settlement after a disaster.
6. Gold and silver. While you may have precious metals stored elsewhere, consider storing some inside the safe. It can help to have previous metals in various places after a disaster.
7. Maps of your city, county and state. A traditional map will become extremely beneficial if GPS runs out of battery or fails to work. A map designed specifically for younger children is also a great backup item. The map could simply be drawn by hand or be created on the computer with photos of landmarks, safe hiding places, emergency caches, and relative’s homes incorporated into the document. If children are home alone or left with an injured parent during a disaster, a map they can understand will help guide them to safety.
8. An address book with names of close friends or relatives should be stored with the maps. Although the journey to a relative’s home in a presumably safe location could be a long one on foot, the trek could become necessary. The list of relatives with their relationship to you noted next to their name also could be used for rescuers to locate next of kin for identification purposes or to find a loved one to assume care of orphaned children.
9. A homestead care guide for children and a personal note for them (or a spouse) to read. This could bring solace but also help those left behind maintain the livestock, necessary energy and water systems, and garner deeper knowledge of the planting and harvesting process and first aid. A fireproof safe may not be large enough to include your full off-the-grid reference material, but it could contain a detailed several page instruction guide which corresponds to color-coded or numerical reference material stored elsewhere in the home.
Finally, consider storing a second safe complete with identical materials away from the home. It is not safe to assume that flooding or a fire will not prevent you from reaching the at-home safe, or that your home will even still be standing after disaster strikes.
Storing survival basics is often a priority for off-the-grid families, but some of the most important items probably are missing from your safe.
We have become so accustomed to turning on cell phones, tablets and computers to find necessary files and to share photos that the old-fashioned paper counterparts to the files might be getting lost in the shuffle.
What would you need after a fire, flood, tornado, hurricane, power grid-down scenario, or other disaster?
Here 10 items you should consider keeping in your safe:
1. A grab-and-go binder with photos and pertinent information of people in your house. Include any medical or mental health conditions, medication being taken, identifying marks, age, birthdate, and likely places the individual, if a child, could run and hide if frightened during an emergency. Although mom and dad might know all the details well, both could perish during a disaster and it would be a distraught grandparent or neighbor attempting to help out. Making at least two copies of each family member’s page and laminating them with clear contact paper could be helpful.
2. Passports, Social Security cards, shot records, school records, insurance policies, marriage certificate and birth certificates – and copies of all of them. Multiple people may need copies in an emergency. If each parent is armed with all the necessary identifying documents and proof of custody, time will not be wasted doubling back to garner the documents from the other parent in order to retrieve the child from a rescue center or hospital.
Everything You Need To Know To Keep Your Home And Family Safe.
3. Bank statements along with safety deposit box keys. If there is any chance at all of recovering your money after a disaster such as a power grid failure, a paper trail of transactions, proper identification, and proof of account ownership will be needed. For the sake of redundancy, keep cancelled checks, deposit slips, and ATM withdraw slips in the safe, as well.
4. A copy of a filed real estate deed and legal will. Many folks in New Orleans after Katrina could not prove they owned property which had been in their family for generations because the courthouse flooded and deed copies had not been stored in a safe capable of surviving a flood.
5. Photos and a jump drive or other electronic copy of the interior of the home and of belongings. Proof of the state of the home and items contained within it could help garner a positive insurance settlement after a disaster.
6. Gold and silver. While you may have precious metals stored elsewhere, consider storing some inside the safe. It can help to have previous metals in various places after a disaster.
7. Maps of your city, county and state. A traditional map will become extremely beneficial if GPS runs out of battery or fails to work. A map designed specifically for younger children is also a great backup item. The map could simply be drawn by hand or be created on the computer with photos of landmarks, safe hiding places, emergency caches, and relative’s homes incorporated into the document. If children are home alone or left with an injured parent during a disaster, a map they can understand will help guide them to safety.
8. An address book with names of close friends or relatives should be stored with the maps. Although the journey to a relative’s home in a presumably safe location could be a long one on foot, the trek could become necessary. The list of relatives with their relationship to you noted next to their name also could be used for rescuers to locate next of kin for identification purposes or to find a loved one to assume care of orphaned children.
9. A homestead care guide for children and a personal note for them (or a spouse) to read. This could bring solace but also help those left behind maintain the livestock, necessary energy and water systems, and garner deeper knowledge of the planting and harvesting process and first aid. A fireproof safe may not be large enough to include your full off-the-grid reference material, but it could contain a detailed several page instruction guide which corresponds to color-coded or numerical reference material stored elsewhere in the home.
Finally, consider storing a second safe complete with identical materials away from the home. It is not safe to assume that flooding or a fire will not prevent you from reaching the at-home safe, or that your home will even still be standing after disaster strikes.
Who Couldn't Use a Faraday Cage? (Plus How to Make One)
What It is A Faraday cage, also known as a Faraday shield, Radio Frequency Cage, or EMF (Electromotive Force) Cage, is simply an enclosure built to protect electronic devices from electromagnetic radiation and electrostatic discharges. It can be anything from a small box to a large room, covered with conductive metal or wire mesh, which prevents surges from damaging the equipment inside.
The sources of these surges can be powerful lightning strikes, destructive solar flares (CMEs, or Coronal Mass Ejections) directed toward earth, or the effects of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) from a nuclear bomb detonation high in the atmosphere.
The device is named for Michael Faraday, who observed in 1836 that the excess charge from a conductor remained on the outside of a container and had no effect on the interior contents. He experimented by building a room coated with metal foil and allowed high-voltage discharges from a generator to strike the outside of it. He used an electroscope to show that there was no electric charge present on the inside of the room’s walls. Though the device bears Faraday’s name, Benjamin Franklin is believed to have been the first to discover the principle.
Faraday cages, or shields, are used all throughout our society. Some are used in the scan-rooms of MRI machines, in which the “cage” effect prevents radio frequency signals from being added to the data from the patient’s image. Some electrical linemen wear “Faraday suits” when working on live, high-voltage power lines to prevent accidental electrocution. Military planners and politicians who have reason to keep their communications private often meet in Faraday-protected rooms that are impervious to electronic “eavesdropping.” In 2013, the Vatican even used the technology to shield the Sistine Chapel from curious listeners during the deliberations to select the new Pope.
Many people buy Faraday bags to protect their cell phones and laptops both from electrical surges and from unwanted surveillance or tracking.
According to the National Weather Service, an automobile is essentially a Faraday cage, and it’s the metal surrounding you, not the rubber tires, that protects you from lightning (as long as you’re not touching metal inside the car).[i] A smaller example is a microwave oven, which is a Faraday cage in reverse, trapping the waves inside the device instead of keeping them out. In fact, an old microwave oven makes a good Faraday cage for small electronics!
Typical items that can be stored in a Faraday cage include
Second, you won’t be the only “techie” who thought to protect valuable electronics in a Faraday cage. Some preppers do this as a matter of course, and eventually you would probably be able to communicate with them. (Cell towers, however, would likely be “fried” and need to be rebuilt).
Communication at such a time would be extremely valuable. Unless there had been well-publicized warnings of impending CMEs in the days before the event, many people would have no idea what had happened to our world. Ham radio operators, who could communicate with other Hams around the globe, might become the new heroes of the day.
Many AM/FM and shortwave radio stations believe that they’ll still be able to broadcast after an EMP or CME event, and without all the usual “noise” of our plugged-in society, their waves may be able to travel farther than they do now. Hopefully there would be Faraday-protected radios out there to receive their signals! There is, however, a likelihood that the earth’s electromagnetic field would be seriously disrupted by such an event, and it might take quite a while for things to settle down and not cause static on the airwaves.
How to Make a Faraday Cage To be effective, a Faraday cage must:
Faraday Box # 1—The Galvanized Trash Can
You will need
Place your wrapped items in cardboard boxes. Tape shut, then wrap the entire box with 2 layers of foil.
Line the trash can with cardboard, including the bottom, making sure there are no gaps. The foil-wrapped boxes must not touch the metal of the can. Set the can on wood or cardboard, not touching any other metal.
Several experts say that simply putting the lid on the can, even if it fits tightly, is an insufficient seal. They suggest folding a sheet of metal screening around the top of the can and over the top lid and then forcing the lid over that to maintain a constant, tight-fitting metallic connection.
Remember, this is for long-term storage of the appliances inside, not something that you can take your appliances out of to use and then return to the container without a great deal of trouble. A good idea is to look around for good deals on duplicates of things you use every day. Another important thing to remember is that you will need some type of charger—hand-cranked or solar-powered—to power up your devices once a crisis has passed. If you can wrap and store one of these in a protected Faraday container, you’ll be glad to have it.
Faraday Cage # 2—A Metal-Clad Box
Any box made of non-conductive material such as plywood, and then totally covered with metal, metal mesh, or metal screening can serve as a Faraday cage. The metal must touch at all the corners and over and all around any opening for the protection to be complete, as an electrical charge will find its way through any gaps or crevices in the construction. The smaller the holes in the mesh or screen, the better the protection—but either mesh or screen is believed to work better than solid metal. The metal can be attached to the wood with staples or screws, whichever seems to work best for you. You might consider applying the metal mesh so that it folds around the corners. Then let the next piece overlap the edge of the first, securely fastened together and to the wood so that there is no break in the conductive shield.
Updated: Living Off the Grid
For those who don’t rely as heavily on electronic equipment for day-to-day life, the idea of Living Off the Grid is more realistic. Those who live off the grid don’t need to worry quite as much about EMP’s or CME’s causing havoc and chaos to their daily routine because they have already given up a lot of the equipment that would be affected by those electromagnetic pulses.
However, living off the grid doesn't always mean going completely electronics-free. In this case, living off the grid may not protect you from the aftermath of EMP’s or CME’s even if you produce your own electricity from an alternate source. Faraday cages can benefit a variety of lifestyles to protect you and your electronics.
There are many uncertainties about exactly what would happen in the case of an enormous release of electromagnetic energy in our civilized, plugged-in world. We can hope that nothing will happen to damage our electronics, but in case our hopes are vain, we’ll be happy for every measure we've taken to prepare!
What It is A Faraday cage, also known as a Faraday shield, Radio Frequency Cage, or EMF (Electromotive Force) Cage, is simply an enclosure built to protect electronic devices from electromagnetic radiation and electrostatic discharges. It can be anything from a small box to a large room, covered with conductive metal or wire mesh, which prevents surges from damaging the equipment inside.
The sources of these surges can be powerful lightning strikes, destructive solar flares (CMEs, or Coronal Mass Ejections) directed toward earth, or the effects of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) from a nuclear bomb detonation high in the atmosphere.
The device is named for Michael Faraday, who observed in 1836 that the excess charge from a conductor remained on the outside of a container and had no effect on the interior contents. He experimented by building a room coated with metal foil and allowed high-voltage discharges from a generator to strike the outside of it. He used an electroscope to show that there was no electric charge present on the inside of the room’s walls. Though the device bears Faraday’s name, Benjamin Franklin is believed to have been the first to discover the principle.
Faraday cages, or shields, are used all throughout our society. Some are used in the scan-rooms of MRI machines, in which the “cage” effect prevents radio frequency signals from being added to the data from the patient’s image. Some electrical linemen wear “Faraday suits” when working on live, high-voltage power lines to prevent accidental electrocution. Military planners and politicians who have reason to keep their communications private often meet in Faraday-protected rooms that are impervious to electronic “eavesdropping.” In 2013, the Vatican even used the technology to shield the Sistine Chapel from curious listeners during the deliberations to select the new Pope.
Many people buy Faraday bags to protect their cell phones and laptops both from electrical surges and from unwanted surveillance or tracking.
According to the National Weather Service, an automobile is essentially a Faraday cage, and it’s the metal surrounding you, not the rubber tires, that protects you from lightning (as long as you’re not touching metal inside the car).[i] A smaller example is a microwave oven, which is a Faraday cage in reverse, trapping the waves inside the device instead of keeping them out. In fact, an old microwave oven makes a good Faraday cage for small electronics!
Typical items that can be stored in a Faraday cage include
- Laptop or notebook computers
- Thumb drives or external hard drives
- Cell phones
- Ipads, iPods, and e-readers
- Portable AM/Shortwave radios, ham radio equipment, and walkie-talkies
- DC/AC inverters
- Battery-powered radios
Second, you won’t be the only “techie” who thought to protect valuable electronics in a Faraday cage. Some preppers do this as a matter of course, and eventually you would probably be able to communicate with them. (Cell towers, however, would likely be “fried” and need to be rebuilt).
Communication at such a time would be extremely valuable. Unless there had been well-publicized warnings of impending CMEs in the days before the event, many people would have no idea what had happened to our world. Ham radio operators, who could communicate with other Hams around the globe, might become the new heroes of the day.
Many AM/FM and shortwave radio stations believe that they’ll still be able to broadcast after an EMP or CME event, and without all the usual “noise” of our plugged-in society, their waves may be able to travel farther than they do now. Hopefully there would be Faraday-protected radios out there to receive their signals! There is, however, a likelihood that the earth’s electromagnetic field would be seriously disrupted by such an event, and it might take quite a while for things to settle down and not cause static on the airwaves.
How to Make a Faraday Cage To be effective, a Faraday cage must:
- Be covered with conductive metal or mesh. Copper is the most conductive metal, followed by aluminum. (Well--gold and silver are better, but we assume you won’t be covering your cage with those!)
- Be properly grounded (according to some experts, to prevent shocks when touched)
- Adequately surround whatever it’s protecting.
Faraday Box # 1—The Galvanized Trash Can
You will need
- A galvanized metal trash can with a tight-fitting lid
- Several boxes of heavy-duty aluminum foil
- Enough metal screening or mesh to wrap around the top of the can and fit over the lip
- Cardboard boxes of assorted sizes that fit inside the can
- Plastic garbage bags or plastic wrap
- Cloth pieces to wrap items
Place your wrapped items in cardboard boxes. Tape shut, then wrap the entire box with 2 layers of foil.
Line the trash can with cardboard, including the bottom, making sure there are no gaps. The foil-wrapped boxes must not touch the metal of the can. Set the can on wood or cardboard, not touching any other metal.
Several experts say that simply putting the lid on the can, even if it fits tightly, is an insufficient seal. They suggest folding a sheet of metal screening around the top of the can and over the top lid and then forcing the lid over that to maintain a constant, tight-fitting metallic connection.
Remember, this is for long-term storage of the appliances inside, not something that you can take your appliances out of to use and then return to the container without a great deal of trouble. A good idea is to look around for good deals on duplicates of things you use every day. Another important thing to remember is that you will need some type of charger—hand-cranked or solar-powered—to power up your devices once a crisis has passed. If you can wrap and store one of these in a protected Faraday container, you’ll be glad to have it.
Faraday Cage # 2—A Metal-Clad Box
Any box made of non-conductive material such as plywood, and then totally covered with metal, metal mesh, or metal screening can serve as a Faraday cage. The metal must touch at all the corners and over and all around any opening for the protection to be complete, as an electrical charge will find its way through any gaps or crevices in the construction. The smaller the holes in the mesh or screen, the better the protection—but either mesh or screen is believed to work better than solid metal. The metal can be attached to the wood with staples or screws, whichever seems to work best for you. You might consider applying the metal mesh so that it folds around the corners. Then let the next piece overlap the edge of the first, securely fastened together and to the wood so that there is no break in the conductive shield.
Updated: Living Off the Grid
For those who don’t rely as heavily on electronic equipment for day-to-day life, the idea of Living Off the Grid is more realistic. Those who live off the grid don’t need to worry quite as much about EMP’s or CME’s causing havoc and chaos to their daily routine because they have already given up a lot of the equipment that would be affected by those electromagnetic pulses.
However, living off the grid doesn't always mean going completely electronics-free. In this case, living off the grid may not protect you from the aftermath of EMP’s or CME’s even if you produce your own electricity from an alternate source. Faraday cages can benefit a variety of lifestyles to protect you and your electronics.
There are many uncertainties about exactly what would happen in the case of an enormous release of electromagnetic energy in our civilized, plugged-in world. We can hope that nothing will happen to damage our electronics, but in case our hopes are vain, we’ll be happy for every measure we've taken to prepare!
How to Build your Own All-in-Four Portable Shelter Kit
A little while ago we learned about the Life Cube—an all-inclusive, inflatable shelter stocked with the necessary food, water, and gear to help a person survive the few days after a natural disaster occurs. The Life Cube, which weighs between 950-1100 lbs., is ideal to be airdropped into areas suffering from catastrophic events. However, although it is a great idea for mass emergencies and agency use, the Life Cube currently costs anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000. For many looking to add an all-inclusive, portable shelter to their emergency gear, this may be a little out of their price range.
We were inspired by the Life Cube to create our own all-in-one portable shelter kit. Rather than focusing on agency use, however, our portable shelter kit focuses more on a personal/family level, only weighing about 71 lbs. and costing approximately $762. Here at Emergency Essentials, we have configured a list of items that would work as a basic all-in-one (or in our case, all-in-four) portable shelter. The all-in-four portable shelter consists of four bags with essential supplies divided among them. These items not only give you shelter, food, and water, but other basic supplies to help a family of four survive for three days after an emergency.
DIY All-in-Four Portable Shelter First things first: Collect your gear. The following list describes what gear is needed to help four people survive for three days in an emergency.
Each pack gives you more than 2,800 cubic inches of space to hold all of your emergency supplies and gear while providing durability and expandable comfort to stick with you on all your travels.
This pack is a great way to include versatility to fit the needs of the owner. Wear the pack on your back, carry it by the handle, or roll it along the ground behind you. This is a great pack for people unable to carry a lot of weight on their back.
Good hygiene will help keep you healthy and safe during an emergency. This kit provides basic bathing, dental, and toilet hygiene needs for a family of four.
These simple-to-setup and waterproof tents give you 49-square feet each to spread out and enjoy a good night’s rest.
Just-add-water breakfasts, lunches, and dinners (plus sides and drinks) give you enough food to feed a family of four for 3.5 days.
We typically recommend a two-tier approach for treating your water: have a microfilter and purifier. Adding the Katadyn Hiker Pro and Micropur tablets will help provide you and your family with filtered, purified water while remaining compact and lightweight.
Made from Tritan™ plastic, these bottles give you get extra durability in a BPA-free bottle. These are perfect to take on outdoor adventures or to use along with a microfilter in an emergency.
This kit includes 397 pieces of first aid gear to help you survive every scrape, cut, burn, or bruise that you or a family member may get.
These lightweight, pocket-sized sleeping bags unfold to wrap you in a covering that will reflect 80% of your body heat, keeping you warm on cool nights.
These lightsticks are safe, reliable, and easy to use making them fantastic for families with children. Just bend, snap, and shake for a light source that will last up to 12 hours.
Lightweight and reusable, an emergency poncho is a must-have to keep you dry from sudden storms.
Easily alert rescuers to your location with an emergency whistle.
This high-quality, BPA-free water container can store 2.5 gallons of water and collapses to easily fit in your pack. It even remains flexible in cold temperatures.
Use Sierra cups as bowls, plates, drinking cups, or as cooking and warming pans. Their versatility lets you get more done with less stuff to carry in your pack.
This kit includes over 172 hours of total warmth. It includes 6 Hand and Body Warmers, 4 Adhesive Body Warmers, and 2 Hand Warmer 2-packs.
This super-compact stove is simple to use, fully flame adjustable, and stores easily. You don’t even need matches to light it. Requires a canister of Iso-Butane/Propane fuel, which can be purchased locally.
Stormproof Matches will help you weather any storm. Blow them out, bury them, submerge them in water, do it all over again, and these Stormproof Matches will keep relighting themselves for up to 15 seconds.
How to Build It Once you’ve gathered all of your supplies, you just need to pack them.
Pack #1: Trail Hiker Backpack
Pack #2: Trail Hiker Backpack
Pack #3: Olympia 18” Rolling Backpack
The last “pack” is the Family Sanitation Kit which comes full of sanitation items for you and your family. About 1/3 of the bucket will still be empty for you to add additional or personal items too. The kit includes:
Upgrades Although the basic items will help you survive during an emergency, some people prefer to have items that may make their time in a crisis a little more comfortable. If you’d like to upgrade some of the items in your kit consider adding the following:
To make carrying your all-in-four kit a bit more comfortable, or to add even more space, replace the Family Sanitation Kit (pack #4) with another Trail Hiker backpack, put the kit items in the pack, and lash the bucket to the outside of the pack using [paracord] or another rope.
Now that you’ve prepped yourself with all the supplies you need to help you and your family survive the days immediately after a disaster, try developing your survival skills with some of our Insight Articles:
A little while ago we learned about the Life Cube—an all-inclusive, inflatable shelter stocked with the necessary food, water, and gear to help a person survive the few days after a natural disaster occurs. The Life Cube, which weighs between 950-1100 lbs., is ideal to be airdropped into areas suffering from catastrophic events. However, although it is a great idea for mass emergencies and agency use, the Life Cube currently costs anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000. For many looking to add an all-inclusive, portable shelter to their emergency gear, this may be a little out of their price range.
We were inspired by the Life Cube to create our own all-in-one portable shelter kit. Rather than focusing on agency use, however, our portable shelter kit focuses more on a personal/family level, only weighing about 71 lbs. and costing approximately $762. Here at Emergency Essentials, we have configured a list of items that would work as a basic all-in-one (or in our case, all-in-four) portable shelter. The all-in-four portable shelter consists of four bags with essential supplies divided among them. These items not only give you shelter, food, and water, but other basic supplies to help a family of four survive for three days after an emergency.
DIY All-in-Four Portable Shelter First things first: Collect your gear. The following list describes what gear is needed to help four people survive for three days in an emergency.
Each pack gives you more than 2,800 cubic inches of space to hold all of your emergency supplies and gear while providing durability and expandable comfort to stick with you on all your travels.
This pack is a great way to include versatility to fit the needs of the owner. Wear the pack on your back, carry it by the handle, or roll it along the ground behind you. This is a great pack for people unable to carry a lot of weight on their back.
Good hygiene will help keep you healthy and safe during an emergency. This kit provides basic bathing, dental, and toilet hygiene needs for a family of four.
These simple-to-setup and waterproof tents give you 49-square feet each to spread out and enjoy a good night’s rest.
Just-add-water breakfasts, lunches, and dinners (plus sides and drinks) give you enough food to feed a family of four for 3.5 days.
We typically recommend a two-tier approach for treating your water: have a microfilter and purifier. Adding the Katadyn Hiker Pro and Micropur tablets will help provide you and your family with filtered, purified water while remaining compact and lightweight.
Made from Tritan™ plastic, these bottles give you get extra durability in a BPA-free bottle. These are perfect to take on outdoor adventures or to use along with a microfilter in an emergency.
This kit includes 397 pieces of first aid gear to help you survive every scrape, cut, burn, or bruise that you or a family member may get.
These lightweight, pocket-sized sleeping bags unfold to wrap you in a covering that will reflect 80% of your body heat, keeping you warm on cool nights.
These lightsticks are safe, reliable, and easy to use making them fantastic for families with children. Just bend, snap, and shake for a light source that will last up to 12 hours.
- Wavelength Emergency Radio Charger Flashlight with Handcrank
Lightweight and reusable, an emergency poncho is a must-have to keep you dry from sudden storms.
Easily alert rescuers to your location with an emergency whistle.
This high-quality, BPA-free water container can store 2.5 gallons of water and collapses to easily fit in your pack. It even remains flexible in cold temperatures.
Use Sierra cups as bowls, plates, drinking cups, or as cooking and warming pans. Their versatility lets you get more done with less stuff to carry in your pack.
- 4- GSI Spoons
This kit includes over 172 hours of total warmth. It includes 6 Hand and Body Warmers, 4 Adhesive Body Warmers, and 2 Hand Warmer 2-packs.
This super-compact stove is simple to use, fully flame adjustable, and stores easily. You don’t even need matches to light it. Requires a canister of Iso-Butane/Propane fuel, which can be purchased locally.
Stormproof Matches will help you weather any storm. Blow them out, bury them, submerge them in water, do it all over again, and these Stormproof Matches will keep relighting themselves for up to 15 seconds.
How to Build It Once you’ve gathered all of your supplies, you just need to pack them.
Pack #1: Trail Hiker Backpack
- 1 Twin Peaks Mountain Trails Tent
- Katadyn Hiker Pro Microfilter
- 4 (6 inch) Green Lightsticks
- 24 Packets of food from the Gourmet 14 Day Supply
- 1 Tritan Emergency Essentials Water Bottle
- 4 Emergency Whistles
- 397 Piece First Aid Kit
Pack #2: Trail Hiker Backpack
- 1 Twin Peaks Mountain Trails Tent
- 20 Packets of food from the Gourmet 14 Day Supply
- 4 Emergency Sleeping Bags
- 2 Tritan Emergency Essentials Water Bottles
- 4 Emergency Ponchos
Pack #3: Olympia 18” Rolling Backpack
- 4 Packets of food from the Gourmet 14 Day Supply
- Reliance 2.5 Gallon Collapsible Fold-A-Carrier
- 3 Sheets (or 30 tablets) of Micropur
- 1 Tritan Emergency Essentials Water Bottle
- 2 large Sierra cups
- 2 small Sierra cups
- 4 GSI Spoons
- Warmth Emergency Kit
- Volcano Lite Stove
- Stormproof Matches
The last “pack” is the Family Sanitation Kit which comes full of sanitation items for you and your family. About 1/3 of the bucket will still be empty for you to add additional or personal items too. The kit includes:
- 1 – 6-Gallon Bucket
- 1 – Bar of Soap
- 1 – Tote-able Toilet Seat and Lid
- 4 – Toilet Paper Rolls
- 1 – Box Double Doodie Waste Bags
- 1 – Epi-Clenz Plus Hand Antiseptic
- 4 – Fresh & Go Toothbrush
- 3 – ReadyBath Packets
Upgrades Although the basic items will help you survive during an emergency, some people prefer to have items that may make their time in a crisis a little more comfortable. If you’d like to upgrade some of the items in your kit consider adding the following:
- Headlamps or flashlights instead of the lightsticks.
- SOL Escape Bivvy in addition to the emergency sleeping bags.
- One Month Supply of Water in addition to the filter. Instead of just adding a microfilter and purification tablets to your portable kit, try adding a one month supply of water. Water is priceless in an emergency and this item gives a family of four enough stored water to last for a week (drinking 64 ounces a day) in case a water source to filter from is unavailable.
To make carrying your all-in-four kit a bit more comfortable, or to add even more space, replace the Family Sanitation Kit (pack #4) with another Trail Hiker backpack, put the kit items in the pack, and lash the bucket to the outside of the pack using [paracord] or another rope.
Now that you’ve prepped yourself with all the supplies you need to help you and your family survive the days immediately after a disaster, try developing your survival skills with some of our Insight Articles:
Build Your Own 5 Gallon Bucket Emergency Kit
With regular large scale disasters already causing problems in North America, it’s a good time to talk a bit about disaster preparation and how a 5 gallon bucket can help provide some good physical insurance against a catastrophic situation.
A well designed emergency kit will contain the best bits of modern technology and healthcare packaged neatly in a carryable 5 gallon bucket.
Prepackaged Emergency Kits The simplest way to invest in your five gallon insurance plan is to get your hands on a professionally built kit. Usually these kits are helpfully rated for a certain number of days and/or individuals. Prepared kits will usually contain both food and water (or water purification) and general emergency supplies such as flashlights and first aid. Here’s one popular emergency kit that condenses survival supplies for a family of 4 inside a single 5 gallon bucket.
Build Your Own 5 Gallon Bucket Emergency Kit It’s better to create your own 5 gallon bucket emergency kit.
First of all, it gives you a certain intimacy with your kit – you know exactly what’s in there because you were the one who researched it and put it in there! If you’ve put something in there that you don’t fully understand how to use, you can learn that skill long before the flood or earthquake event that could make last-minute skill acquisition impossible.
Secondly, putting together your own kit means you can custom tailor it to what’s important to you, your family and your community. For example, in our family we have a lot of allergies – some that can kill one of us very quickly. That’s why an EpiPen is a critically important part of our emergency supply but might not be relevant at all for other families.
Lastly, assembling your supplies yourself could save you money. You’ll be able to include many household materials you already have, and you can get a better deal on the items you do need to buy by cutting out the middleman.
The DIY Disaster Preparation BucketThis emergency kit comes from AlfredoEinsteino on Reddit – who we will call AE - and is published with his permission. At the end of this post is a list of every single item you see here so you can make this exact emergency kit for yourself.
Keep in mind that this kit is one person’s collection of items that work best for him. It’s the right kit for AE but may not yet be the perfect kit for you. You should always tailor your emergency kit around what’s likely in your area and your family’s needs.
Organizing the 5 Gallon Emergency KitAE has divided his emergency kit into a few broad categories to keep his supplies organized and well rounded:
Did you catch the line second from the top? It’s the most important detail on the loadout document – the date. This helps you remember when the bucket was put together so you can keep track of all your expiration dates. A good emergency kit can easily last 5 years or more, but not everything inside will be good for that long and may need to be replaced periodically. Again, the EpiPen example – they only last about 20 months from the day they are made. Replacing an expired EpiPen could be a life or death matter!
Shopping List: 5 Gallon Emergency KitThe rest of this article will be a list of the contents of the bucket. You can download this list in an editable Word format by clicking here: 5 Gallon Bucket Emergency Kit
It may be instructive to compare this list with the much higher calorie emergency kit from Mayday disaster preparation company. Humans usually need at least 2,000 calories every single day – which adds up really fast. Depending on your anticipated needs, you may want one or several food-geared buckets in addition to your emergency supply kit.
I’ve linked some of the more unusual items that you might not find at your neighborhood hardware store.
General Supplies
With regular large scale disasters already causing problems in North America, it’s a good time to talk a bit about disaster preparation and how a 5 gallon bucket can help provide some good physical insurance against a catastrophic situation.
A well designed emergency kit will contain the best bits of modern technology and healthcare packaged neatly in a carryable 5 gallon bucket.
Prepackaged Emergency Kits The simplest way to invest in your five gallon insurance plan is to get your hands on a professionally built kit. Usually these kits are helpfully rated for a certain number of days and/or individuals. Prepared kits will usually contain both food and water (or water purification) and general emergency supplies such as flashlights and first aid. Here’s one popular emergency kit that condenses survival supplies for a family of 4 inside a single 5 gallon bucket.
Build Your Own 5 Gallon Bucket Emergency Kit It’s better to create your own 5 gallon bucket emergency kit.
First of all, it gives you a certain intimacy with your kit – you know exactly what’s in there because you were the one who researched it and put it in there! If you’ve put something in there that you don’t fully understand how to use, you can learn that skill long before the flood or earthquake event that could make last-minute skill acquisition impossible.
Secondly, putting together your own kit means you can custom tailor it to what’s important to you, your family and your community. For example, in our family we have a lot of allergies – some that can kill one of us very quickly. That’s why an EpiPen is a critically important part of our emergency supply but might not be relevant at all for other families.
Lastly, assembling your supplies yourself could save you money. You’ll be able to include many household materials you already have, and you can get a better deal on the items you do need to buy by cutting out the middleman.
The DIY Disaster Preparation BucketThis emergency kit comes from AlfredoEinsteino on Reddit – who we will call AE - and is published with his permission. At the end of this post is a list of every single item you see here so you can make this exact emergency kit for yourself.
Keep in mind that this kit is one person’s collection of items that work best for him. It’s the right kit for AE but may not yet be the perfect kit for you. You should always tailor your emergency kit around what’s likely in your area and your family’s needs.
Organizing the 5 Gallon Emergency KitAE has divided his emergency kit into a few broad categories to keep his supplies organized and well rounded:
- General Supplies
- Hygiene Supplies
- First Aid Kit
Did you catch the line second from the top? It’s the most important detail on the loadout document – the date. This helps you remember when the bucket was put together so you can keep track of all your expiration dates. A good emergency kit can easily last 5 years or more, but not everything inside will be good for that long and may need to be replaced periodically. Again, the EpiPen example – they only last about 20 months from the day they are made. Replacing an expired EpiPen could be a life or death matter!
Shopping List: 5 Gallon Emergency KitThe rest of this article will be a list of the contents of the bucket. You can download this list in an editable Word format by clicking here: 5 Gallon Bucket Emergency Kit
It may be instructive to compare this list with the much higher calorie emergency kit from Mayday disaster preparation company. Humans usually need at least 2,000 calories every single day – which adds up really fast. Depending on your anticipated needs, you may want one or several food-geared buckets in addition to your emergency supply kit.
I’ve linked some of the more unusual items that you might not find at your neighborhood hardware store.
General Supplies
- glow sticks (12 hrs)
- flashlight
- liquid candle
- matchbooks
- mylar thermal blankets (link)
- hand warmers (link)
- AM/FM radio
- whistle and lanyard
- sewing kit
- blank notebook
- pencils
- extra batteries (for flashlight and radio)
- zip ties
- P-38 can opener
- trash bags
- N95 dust masks
- duct tape
- small tarp
- paracord (link)
- safety goggles
- split leather gloves
- bar soap
- kleenex
- floss
- baby shampoo
- hand lotion
- sunscreen
- toothpaste
- toothbrushes
- feminine hygiene pads
- comb
- toilet paper
- washcloths
- basic first-aid guide
- moist towelettes
- antiseptic towelettes
- latex gloves
- acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- ibuprofen (Advil)
- aspirin
- diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- loperamide (Imodium A-D)
- burn cream
- sting relief towelettes
- hydrocortisone cream
- triple antibiotic ointment (Neosporin)
- cough drops
- earplugs
- instant ice pack
- tweezers
- nail clippers
- scissors
- digital thermometer
- cotton balls
- waterproof adhesive tape
- gauze rolls
- gauze pads
- moleskin
- band-aids
- butterfly bandages
- ace bandage
- triangular bandage
- hand sanitizer
- Q-tips
- petroleum jelly
- RAD sticker (personal radiation dosimeter) (link)
- potassium iodide (radiation emergency thyroid blocker) (link)
- Lifestraw ultracompact Water Filter (link)
- 24-inch Pocket Chainsaw (link)
- 3600 calorie ration bars with 5 year shelf life (link)
- 4-in-1 Emergency Gas & Water Shutoff Tool (link)
- 12,000 Strike Firestarter and whistle (link)
- Hand-crank Flashlight (link)
- Foldable Drybags (link)
The Five Principles of Preparedness The Five Principles of Preparedness (Image release at end of page) 2009 American Preppers Network
There are basic principles that keep us and our families grounded that are key to our happiness as a family unit while we Walk the Path of the Prepper. There is safety and peace that comes from having car insurance, home insurance, medical insurance,etc. What many families frequently ignore is “Standard of Living Insurance”. At its heart, this is what Preparedness, Self Reliance, Prepping – however you want to call it – is. By Getting Started in Prepping, or continuing in Prepping as the case may be, and following these five Principles of Preparedness we can provide our families with the assurance that we will be able to maintain a certain standard of living. This standard of living is dictated by the level of preparedness we are able to achieve and maintain.
For example, if a family falls into crisis and they have no preparations then once the average two weeks of supplies they have on hand has been used up, they will drop to a poverty standard of living. If that same family had a month’s worth of supplies stored up, they would have a buffer of a little more than a month before they suffered consequences of their situation. Likewise, if they had a year’s supply of essentials stored, they would effectively be giving themselves a year to be able to recover and plan in the event of a paradigm changing event.
Standard of Living Insurance, or Prepping, provides us with a hedge against calamity. There is much talk recently of “Doomsday” events – which are inappropriately and improperly titled. After all, Doomsday literally means the last day before the end of the earth. What point is there in preparing for that? Massive, widespread crisis, such as; an EMP, Nuclear War, Coronal Mass Ejection, Economic Collapse, and so on is a frequent topic as well. While these things are important to consider in preparing, it is a mistake to hyper-focus on them. There are many other immediate, closer and more likely scenarios that make sense to focus on such as the loss or major injury of a breadwinner, loss of a primary job, extended sickness, accidents and other personal calamities. These happen every single day and each of us likely know someone to whom this has happened. These are the things that are most essential to develop a “Standard of Living Insurance” against.
The most common effect of living an abundant life, as many of us do, is complacency. As we progress and develop disposable income the complacent tendency is to adjust our standard of living upwards by purchasing a bigger house, a new vehicle, a boat or other recreational toys instead of investing that money to insure the standard of living that we previously grew accustomed to. It is most prudent to instead, in times of largess, not expand your standard of living right away but to choose to ensure that if the current boon withdraws the family is not affected by it. Complacency however, leads us down the path of seeing increased income to the home as play, expendable, or rewarding money – all of which it can be with the proper perspective. That perspective is to view this blessing as an opportunity to ‘play’ at increasing our stores as much as possible, to purchase as many ‘expendable’ goods as possible – that can go into storage, or to ‘reward’ ourselves by adding a more expensive item to our storage that will significantly increase the amount of coverage our Standard of Living Insurance provides us. It also gives us the opportunity to scrutinize our funds and storage to determine if the family can splurge a little and enjoy some recreational time without it impacting the bottom line of our Standard of Living – but adamantly without changing our cost of living.
Following the Principles of Preparedness allows heads of households to reduce stress, find peace and be comfortable in an ever-changing and tumultuous world.
Practice thrift and frugality Principle 1 The depression era saying of “Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without” sums up the practice of Thrift. Living thriftily is not a popular concept in our “Staying up with the Jones’s” mentality, but the folly of that mentality is that if one thing goes wrong and your family slips into crisis, you will have to learn all about “Staying above water”. Living thriftily is a very simple, effective and immediate method to increase your spending power. Imagine being, instead of a consumer; a creator, a repairer, or simply abstaining. It is phenomenally financially wasteful to eat at restaurants on a regular basis, in addition to being typically un-healthy, it also takes away from time spent together as a family creating a personal dining experience at home, together. Thrift is a practice of not wasting anything including time and money.
Frugality dictates that we live within our means and “Waste not, want not”. It requires us to be prudent with how we spend our money and to cautiously and guardedly decide how to distribute it. Why do Americans work themselves so hard and as soon as the paycheck comes in, they throw it to the wind as quickly as they can – leaving them with no reserves, no safety and no peace? It is because we have come to accept abundance as our standard. We foolishly assure ourselves that there will be a check next pay period – which there normally is, until there is not. It is the high possibility that at some point something critical will happen in our lives that brings us to the conclusion that it is very likely that at some point, that check will not be there.
One massive waste that Americans have become very comfortable with is living on credit. We have become extremely complacent with our finances in this regard. Instead of doing without for a short time while we save, we finance everything and as a consequence, pay financing fees and interest that we somehow justify as necessary. It is not necessary that we ever pay financing fees or interest for anything, even a house, if we are willing to be prudent. Instant gratification is the bane of thrift and frugality. We Americans have deceived ourselves into believing that we ‘deserve’ to live a better lifestyle than our parents (which took them a lifetime to achieve) – when in reality – we DESERVE to be secure and at peace in our lifestyle. It is ironic that as a society, we will dicker over $3,000 on a new vehicle and then finance it for 5 years – wherein we condemn ourselves to paying several times that in financing fees and interest.
What good have we done ourselves by shaving $3,000 of off $30,000 when we just finance it? If you’re willing to pay astronomical fees for the pleasure of immediate gratification, amortizing $3,000 does NOTHING to our monthly bill. A frugal person would take 3 years and save monthly as much as they would have paid out on their car payment with a little bonus savings here and there over time. In that short period of time they would accumulate enough cash that they could go into the car dealership and lay down a pile of $23,000 in cash and say they want to walk out with either their money or that $30,000 car. They’re going to walk out with the car because the dealer wants the instant gratification of the cash versus selling an amortized note at a discount.
Living a thrifty and frugal lifestyle is truly simple. Use it up. Wear it out. Make it Do. Do Without. Waste Not. These things lead us to not being left wanting when a crisis strikes our family. These two highly empowering tools not only give us the ability to build up our Standard of Living Insurance, they also bring an assured peace and allow us to live a truly abundant lifestyle where we are in control of our money instead being a slave to lenders.
A Prepper who successfully follows this principle for a few years will find themselves in a position where they are able to spend time not working without it affecting the family in an adverse manner.
Seek to be Independent Principle Two Debt can be crippling and crushing to a family, making them unable to move forward due to the demands of making payments on things they potentially don’t even own anymore. Seek to become Independent from debt! Learn to abhor the idea of being forced to labor and earn money that is not yours as a consequence of choosing to “live a little better” by going into debt. Living independently means being free to choose what is pertinent for you and your family to do with your money.
As you avoid going into debt and gain greater control of your money, establish savings that will grow and serve you as you become the master of your money. Learn to budget and responsibly manage your money as it is a very powerful tool to either enslave or empower you. You can begin to build wealth while you’re getting out of debt by putting together a wise plan like the ones Dave Ramsey teaches in his Financial Peace University.
Independence doesn’t just mean money though. Seek to be Independent of the influences of the world such as; caffeine, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, un-healthy yet addictive food, medications (where possible) and so on. All of these things not only make you a personal slave to addictions, it also indentures your wallet to spending wasteful amounts of money to satiate your personal weaknesses. Strive to become Independent of all these things and you will not only find a healthier you, you will also increase your income as you free a daily outgo to servicing your demons.
Live Independent of the entrapping influences of society as much as possible. Free your mind of thinking you need a better looking car, a prettier house or better clothes. Do what works for YOU, not what you think others will think highly of. Live independent of the fear of judgement of others and become secure in your own person. There seems to be a farcical belief in our society that we should appear as wealthy as possible. The idiocy of this belief is that it fails to take into account just how damaging it is to our self-esteem, our lives and our livelihood. Break free of these childish societal ‘norms’ and live a life independent of the influence of advertisers, marketers and peer pressure!
Prepper families who learn to live independently will find themselves prospering greatly – in ways that may not be apparent to the enslaved masses of society.
Become Industrious Principle Three Learn, Explore, Do. Manage your circumstance to your advantage, be enterprising and fully explore opportunities that come your way. Seek always to discover ways to create benefit to you and your family. When opportunity presents itself, work hard at redefining and reshaping yourself, your position and your knowledge to be worthy of the success that opportunity can provide. Be resourceful, always looking for a new way to create what you need in order to succeed.
Common ways to be industrious include furthering your education – your whole life – and constantly working to develop new skills. By exploring opportunities, we are able to assess their potential, weigh risk and make a decision as to whether our conclusions merit committing to an opportunity or walking away from it. By improving ourselves constantly, we open up even more opportunity that can potentially bring success.
Idly standing by and waiting for success to land in your lap is a poor strategy. Being industrious means getting up and attempting something – even if it has the potential to fail. The Farmer who fails to put in a crop because he doesn’t think there was enough snowfall during the winter loses out when spring rains finally bring plenty of water. When you commit to something, work hard at it, throw in everything you’ve got. Getting up and going is truly the only way to end up somewhere else.
Preppers who industriously seek out opportunity will soon find the one that will create a change in the direction their lives have been heading.
Strive Towards Self Reliance Principle Four The Principle of Self reliance is predicated by, and builds upon the first three principles. They are unavoidably intertwined and interdependent. Self Reliance is, in its simplest form, being able to create or provide all needed things as the result of labor using a developed skill or talent and being able to provide resources as a result of a judicious practice of storing needful things. Therefore, becoming Self Reliant is the actual process of developing skills and talents while putting away resources.
When combined with Thrift and Frugality, Self Reliance is providing needed things for yourself that you would otherwise have had to pay money for such as; growing a garden, sewing or repairing clothes, building furniture, building a home, fixing your vehicle and so on. It is being willing to enjoy the fruits of your labor versus the blandness of buying something commercially produced. It is accepting things for their functionality, not for the logo that was stamped on them in a plant somewhere. It is being willing to use something that may be less than perfect in its manufacture but is pure in intent and purpose, knowing that the next one you create you will be able to work out flaws and produce something better.
Self Reliance, when combined with Independence, drives us to be truly reliant on ourselves in all areas. It teaches us to discover a vocation where we are able to create an expandable income using our talents and labor instead of falling into a career where our income is constricted by salaries and our progress in hindered by being boxed into a job description. A truly independent person creates income opportunities for themselves and others while staying free and clear of debt and interest. A Self Reliant person builds their own storage and is not dependent on a grocery store to be stocked and operational for them to feed themselves and their family.
Your Industriousness should not be just financially motivated. Self Reliance is the act of being free of needing others, including companies, the government, or your community to provide for or support you. It is learning how to; make soap, grow your own food, provide your own energy, defend yourself, create the things you need and so on. It requires research, learning, experimenting, failing, experimenting more and finally succeeding – in gaining a new skill, accomplishing something new or developing a new vocation. An industrious and self-reliant person is truly a creator and experiences the joy of creation on a daily basis.
A Prepper who begins to become Self Reliant experiences a mental shift and begins to see things such as a grocery store as a warehouse that is utilized to stock up their own storage.
Aspire to have a year’s supply of every needful thing Principle Five The natural outgrowth of becoming truly Self Reliant is to feel compelled to store things up that are essential for our family’s ensured safety, comfort and existence. Every needful thing teaches us to consider the possibility of storing up a supply of every item that we purchase which we truly need. What is a need? Simply put, it is something that it would be difficult or impacting to have to live without. This includes; food, clothing, water, heat, power, home medical supplies, fire starters, light and so on.
It is obviously not prudent to just purchase a year’s supply of every needful thing. Instead, it is a goal that is pursued relentlessly by the Self Reliant Person and is adjusted for each item of consideration. For example, it is quite inexpensive and easy to acquire a years supply of ketchup – at most a family will probably use 2 bottles a month. Therefore, purchasing 24 bottles would give you a years supply. However, a year supply of something like water, which is consumed every day, requires a very different approach. It is not feasible to store a year supply of water unless you have your own water tower. There are other options available though which include such things as; drilling a well, installing a rain catchment system, being situated near a body of water. Several of these options would require filtering the water that you acquire. For the money spent on a filtering system, such as a Berkey filter, it becomes prudent to purchase filtering capability for the system that will last several years. Each item is adjusted in quantity and time by its own consideration.
One year is not a magic number. It is, however, a measure which provides us with a lengthy buffer to recover from whatever has happened. It also allows us to be charitable towards others who have fallen on hard times without it creating a severe impact on us. Imagine an unprepared neighbor or friend having their bread winner incapacitated for a period of time and not being able to provide for themselves. You are not impacted by their crisis and because you have a year’s supply stored up, you have the opportunity to assist them by opening your storage to them and allowing them to take what they need without it causing you an economic impact and with very little added risk to yourself.
Begin by striving to build up a 3 month supply, then double it and double it again. Once you’ve accomplished the first three months, you will have an idea of the amount of time and money it will take to acquire a year’s supply.
The Prepper who is striving to build a year’s supply of every needful thing will experience a dramatic reduction in stress and inverse increase in peace as they begin meeting goals on the path to achieving this principle.
The impact of living The Principles of Preparedness When teaching these Principles, the question is inevitably asked “What if nothing ever happens that I need my supplies for?”. To which I respond, “That would be wonderful!”. Most people don’t get it right away, but let’s consider it.
Consider if you adjusted your life and lived for years under these principles. What impact would there be if nothing happened that required you to survive off your stores? Might it be possible that in following these principles you will have created a new life for yourself that is infinitely better than it would be otherwise? Would you possibly have spent that time living in peace, without stress and with a much higher level of confidence, satisfaction and self-esteem? I can testify to you that this is indeed what will happen! In fact, the mere application of these principles in your life will allow you to weather small crises without them even registering a bump in the continuity of your life. When you are living a Self Reliance lifestyle with a full year’s supply, not having an income for a month is inconsequential. If you fully commit to living these principles, do you see how this would be the outcome? Would that serve you to be able to live that way?
Consider also that as you develop a year supply of every needful thing, you are to live off of that supply. You don’t just package things up and leave them in a corner to gather dust. You consume your supply each month and at the end of four weeks, go to the “warehouse” (aka grocery store, etc) and replenish your supply with six weeks worth of what was consumed. This allows you to continuously grow your storage with little to no visible impact to you. And, if times are tough financially, you can extend to 8 or 12 weeks without it stressing your family.
As you become these Principles, you will experience breaking free of the slavery of debt, a ‘career’, of “keeping up with the Jones’s” and most importantly, the stress of trying to live month to month. What you will find instead is that you are able to fully experience life and truly enjoy the blessings of your family.
All the while knowing that the secret to a happy life is wrapped up in a little concept called being a “Prepper”!
- Inspired by a talk by James E. Faust
There are basic principles that keep us and our families grounded that are key to our happiness as a family unit while we Walk the Path of the Prepper. There is safety and peace that comes from having car insurance, home insurance, medical insurance,etc. What many families frequently ignore is “Standard of Living Insurance”. At its heart, this is what Preparedness, Self Reliance, Prepping – however you want to call it – is. By Getting Started in Prepping, or continuing in Prepping as the case may be, and following these five Principles of Preparedness we can provide our families with the assurance that we will be able to maintain a certain standard of living. This standard of living is dictated by the level of preparedness we are able to achieve and maintain.
For example, if a family falls into crisis and they have no preparations then once the average two weeks of supplies they have on hand has been used up, they will drop to a poverty standard of living. If that same family had a month’s worth of supplies stored up, they would have a buffer of a little more than a month before they suffered consequences of their situation. Likewise, if they had a year’s supply of essentials stored, they would effectively be giving themselves a year to be able to recover and plan in the event of a paradigm changing event.
Standard of Living Insurance, or Prepping, provides us with a hedge against calamity. There is much talk recently of “Doomsday” events – which are inappropriately and improperly titled. After all, Doomsday literally means the last day before the end of the earth. What point is there in preparing for that? Massive, widespread crisis, such as; an EMP, Nuclear War, Coronal Mass Ejection, Economic Collapse, and so on is a frequent topic as well. While these things are important to consider in preparing, it is a mistake to hyper-focus on them. There are many other immediate, closer and more likely scenarios that make sense to focus on such as the loss or major injury of a breadwinner, loss of a primary job, extended sickness, accidents and other personal calamities. These happen every single day and each of us likely know someone to whom this has happened. These are the things that are most essential to develop a “Standard of Living Insurance” against.
The most common effect of living an abundant life, as many of us do, is complacency. As we progress and develop disposable income the complacent tendency is to adjust our standard of living upwards by purchasing a bigger house, a new vehicle, a boat or other recreational toys instead of investing that money to insure the standard of living that we previously grew accustomed to. It is most prudent to instead, in times of largess, not expand your standard of living right away but to choose to ensure that if the current boon withdraws the family is not affected by it. Complacency however, leads us down the path of seeing increased income to the home as play, expendable, or rewarding money – all of which it can be with the proper perspective. That perspective is to view this blessing as an opportunity to ‘play’ at increasing our stores as much as possible, to purchase as many ‘expendable’ goods as possible – that can go into storage, or to ‘reward’ ourselves by adding a more expensive item to our storage that will significantly increase the amount of coverage our Standard of Living Insurance provides us. It also gives us the opportunity to scrutinize our funds and storage to determine if the family can splurge a little and enjoy some recreational time without it impacting the bottom line of our Standard of Living – but adamantly without changing our cost of living.
Following the Principles of Preparedness allows heads of households to reduce stress, find peace and be comfortable in an ever-changing and tumultuous world.
Practice thrift and frugality Principle 1 The depression era saying of “Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without” sums up the practice of Thrift. Living thriftily is not a popular concept in our “Staying up with the Jones’s” mentality, but the folly of that mentality is that if one thing goes wrong and your family slips into crisis, you will have to learn all about “Staying above water”. Living thriftily is a very simple, effective and immediate method to increase your spending power. Imagine being, instead of a consumer; a creator, a repairer, or simply abstaining. It is phenomenally financially wasteful to eat at restaurants on a regular basis, in addition to being typically un-healthy, it also takes away from time spent together as a family creating a personal dining experience at home, together. Thrift is a practice of not wasting anything including time and money.
Frugality dictates that we live within our means and “Waste not, want not”. It requires us to be prudent with how we spend our money and to cautiously and guardedly decide how to distribute it. Why do Americans work themselves so hard and as soon as the paycheck comes in, they throw it to the wind as quickly as they can – leaving them with no reserves, no safety and no peace? It is because we have come to accept abundance as our standard. We foolishly assure ourselves that there will be a check next pay period – which there normally is, until there is not. It is the high possibility that at some point something critical will happen in our lives that brings us to the conclusion that it is very likely that at some point, that check will not be there.
One massive waste that Americans have become very comfortable with is living on credit. We have become extremely complacent with our finances in this regard. Instead of doing without for a short time while we save, we finance everything and as a consequence, pay financing fees and interest that we somehow justify as necessary. It is not necessary that we ever pay financing fees or interest for anything, even a house, if we are willing to be prudent. Instant gratification is the bane of thrift and frugality. We Americans have deceived ourselves into believing that we ‘deserve’ to live a better lifestyle than our parents (which took them a lifetime to achieve) – when in reality – we DESERVE to be secure and at peace in our lifestyle. It is ironic that as a society, we will dicker over $3,000 on a new vehicle and then finance it for 5 years – wherein we condemn ourselves to paying several times that in financing fees and interest.
What good have we done ourselves by shaving $3,000 of off $30,000 when we just finance it? If you’re willing to pay astronomical fees for the pleasure of immediate gratification, amortizing $3,000 does NOTHING to our monthly bill. A frugal person would take 3 years and save monthly as much as they would have paid out on their car payment with a little bonus savings here and there over time. In that short period of time they would accumulate enough cash that they could go into the car dealership and lay down a pile of $23,000 in cash and say they want to walk out with either their money or that $30,000 car. They’re going to walk out with the car because the dealer wants the instant gratification of the cash versus selling an amortized note at a discount.
Living a thrifty and frugal lifestyle is truly simple. Use it up. Wear it out. Make it Do. Do Without. Waste Not. These things lead us to not being left wanting when a crisis strikes our family. These two highly empowering tools not only give us the ability to build up our Standard of Living Insurance, they also bring an assured peace and allow us to live a truly abundant lifestyle where we are in control of our money instead being a slave to lenders.
A Prepper who successfully follows this principle for a few years will find themselves in a position where they are able to spend time not working without it affecting the family in an adverse manner.
Seek to be Independent Principle Two Debt can be crippling and crushing to a family, making them unable to move forward due to the demands of making payments on things they potentially don’t even own anymore. Seek to become Independent from debt! Learn to abhor the idea of being forced to labor and earn money that is not yours as a consequence of choosing to “live a little better” by going into debt. Living independently means being free to choose what is pertinent for you and your family to do with your money.
As you avoid going into debt and gain greater control of your money, establish savings that will grow and serve you as you become the master of your money. Learn to budget and responsibly manage your money as it is a very powerful tool to either enslave or empower you. You can begin to build wealth while you’re getting out of debt by putting together a wise plan like the ones Dave Ramsey teaches in his Financial Peace University.
Independence doesn’t just mean money though. Seek to be Independent of the influences of the world such as; caffeine, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, un-healthy yet addictive food, medications (where possible) and so on. All of these things not only make you a personal slave to addictions, it also indentures your wallet to spending wasteful amounts of money to satiate your personal weaknesses. Strive to become Independent of all these things and you will not only find a healthier you, you will also increase your income as you free a daily outgo to servicing your demons.
Live Independent of the entrapping influences of society as much as possible. Free your mind of thinking you need a better looking car, a prettier house or better clothes. Do what works for YOU, not what you think others will think highly of. Live independent of the fear of judgement of others and become secure in your own person. There seems to be a farcical belief in our society that we should appear as wealthy as possible. The idiocy of this belief is that it fails to take into account just how damaging it is to our self-esteem, our lives and our livelihood. Break free of these childish societal ‘norms’ and live a life independent of the influence of advertisers, marketers and peer pressure!
Prepper families who learn to live independently will find themselves prospering greatly – in ways that may not be apparent to the enslaved masses of society.
Become Industrious Principle Three Learn, Explore, Do. Manage your circumstance to your advantage, be enterprising and fully explore opportunities that come your way. Seek always to discover ways to create benefit to you and your family. When opportunity presents itself, work hard at redefining and reshaping yourself, your position and your knowledge to be worthy of the success that opportunity can provide. Be resourceful, always looking for a new way to create what you need in order to succeed.
Common ways to be industrious include furthering your education – your whole life – and constantly working to develop new skills. By exploring opportunities, we are able to assess their potential, weigh risk and make a decision as to whether our conclusions merit committing to an opportunity or walking away from it. By improving ourselves constantly, we open up even more opportunity that can potentially bring success.
Idly standing by and waiting for success to land in your lap is a poor strategy. Being industrious means getting up and attempting something – even if it has the potential to fail. The Farmer who fails to put in a crop because he doesn’t think there was enough snowfall during the winter loses out when spring rains finally bring plenty of water. When you commit to something, work hard at it, throw in everything you’ve got. Getting up and going is truly the only way to end up somewhere else.
Preppers who industriously seek out opportunity will soon find the one that will create a change in the direction their lives have been heading.
Strive Towards Self Reliance Principle Four The Principle of Self reliance is predicated by, and builds upon the first three principles. They are unavoidably intertwined and interdependent. Self Reliance is, in its simplest form, being able to create or provide all needed things as the result of labor using a developed skill or talent and being able to provide resources as a result of a judicious practice of storing needful things. Therefore, becoming Self Reliant is the actual process of developing skills and talents while putting away resources.
When combined with Thrift and Frugality, Self Reliance is providing needed things for yourself that you would otherwise have had to pay money for such as; growing a garden, sewing or repairing clothes, building furniture, building a home, fixing your vehicle and so on. It is being willing to enjoy the fruits of your labor versus the blandness of buying something commercially produced. It is accepting things for their functionality, not for the logo that was stamped on them in a plant somewhere. It is being willing to use something that may be less than perfect in its manufacture but is pure in intent and purpose, knowing that the next one you create you will be able to work out flaws and produce something better.
Self Reliance, when combined with Independence, drives us to be truly reliant on ourselves in all areas. It teaches us to discover a vocation where we are able to create an expandable income using our talents and labor instead of falling into a career where our income is constricted by salaries and our progress in hindered by being boxed into a job description. A truly independent person creates income opportunities for themselves and others while staying free and clear of debt and interest. A Self Reliant person builds their own storage and is not dependent on a grocery store to be stocked and operational for them to feed themselves and their family.
Your Industriousness should not be just financially motivated. Self Reliance is the act of being free of needing others, including companies, the government, or your community to provide for or support you. It is learning how to; make soap, grow your own food, provide your own energy, defend yourself, create the things you need and so on. It requires research, learning, experimenting, failing, experimenting more and finally succeeding – in gaining a new skill, accomplishing something new or developing a new vocation. An industrious and self-reliant person is truly a creator and experiences the joy of creation on a daily basis.
A Prepper who begins to become Self Reliant experiences a mental shift and begins to see things such as a grocery store as a warehouse that is utilized to stock up their own storage.
Aspire to have a year’s supply of every needful thing Principle Five The natural outgrowth of becoming truly Self Reliant is to feel compelled to store things up that are essential for our family’s ensured safety, comfort and existence. Every needful thing teaches us to consider the possibility of storing up a supply of every item that we purchase which we truly need. What is a need? Simply put, it is something that it would be difficult or impacting to have to live without. This includes; food, clothing, water, heat, power, home medical supplies, fire starters, light and so on.
It is obviously not prudent to just purchase a year’s supply of every needful thing. Instead, it is a goal that is pursued relentlessly by the Self Reliant Person and is adjusted for each item of consideration. For example, it is quite inexpensive and easy to acquire a years supply of ketchup – at most a family will probably use 2 bottles a month. Therefore, purchasing 24 bottles would give you a years supply. However, a year supply of something like water, which is consumed every day, requires a very different approach. It is not feasible to store a year supply of water unless you have your own water tower. There are other options available though which include such things as; drilling a well, installing a rain catchment system, being situated near a body of water. Several of these options would require filtering the water that you acquire. For the money spent on a filtering system, such as a Berkey filter, it becomes prudent to purchase filtering capability for the system that will last several years. Each item is adjusted in quantity and time by its own consideration.
One year is not a magic number. It is, however, a measure which provides us with a lengthy buffer to recover from whatever has happened. It also allows us to be charitable towards others who have fallen on hard times without it creating a severe impact on us. Imagine an unprepared neighbor or friend having their bread winner incapacitated for a period of time and not being able to provide for themselves. You are not impacted by their crisis and because you have a year’s supply stored up, you have the opportunity to assist them by opening your storage to them and allowing them to take what they need without it causing you an economic impact and with very little added risk to yourself.
Begin by striving to build up a 3 month supply, then double it and double it again. Once you’ve accomplished the first three months, you will have an idea of the amount of time and money it will take to acquire a year’s supply.
The Prepper who is striving to build a year’s supply of every needful thing will experience a dramatic reduction in stress and inverse increase in peace as they begin meeting goals on the path to achieving this principle.
The impact of living The Principles of Preparedness When teaching these Principles, the question is inevitably asked “What if nothing ever happens that I need my supplies for?”. To which I respond, “That would be wonderful!”. Most people don’t get it right away, but let’s consider it.
Consider if you adjusted your life and lived for years under these principles. What impact would there be if nothing happened that required you to survive off your stores? Might it be possible that in following these principles you will have created a new life for yourself that is infinitely better than it would be otherwise? Would you possibly have spent that time living in peace, without stress and with a much higher level of confidence, satisfaction and self-esteem? I can testify to you that this is indeed what will happen! In fact, the mere application of these principles in your life will allow you to weather small crises without them even registering a bump in the continuity of your life. When you are living a Self Reliance lifestyle with a full year’s supply, not having an income for a month is inconsequential. If you fully commit to living these principles, do you see how this would be the outcome? Would that serve you to be able to live that way?
Consider also that as you develop a year supply of every needful thing, you are to live off of that supply. You don’t just package things up and leave them in a corner to gather dust. You consume your supply each month and at the end of four weeks, go to the “warehouse” (aka grocery store, etc) and replenish your supply with six weeks worth of what was consumed. This allows you to continuously grow your storage with little to no visible impact to you. And, if times are tough financially, you can extend to 8 or 12 weeks without it stressing your family.
As you become these Principles, you will experience breaking free of the slavery of debt, a ‘career’, of “keeping up with the Jones’s” and most importantly, the stress of trying to live month to month. What you will find instead is that you are able to fully experience life and truly enjoy the blessings of your family.
All the while knowing that the secret to a happy life is wrapped up in a little concept called being a “Prepper”!
- Inspired by a talk by James E. Faust
When Disaster Hits Are YOU Prepared???
Home fires, downed power lines, and winter weather can be just as deadly as earthquakes and tornadoes. It’s important to prepare for natural disasters, but our NEW Disaster Preparedness Guide, “When Disaster Hits Home” is a great reminder to be ready for any crisis that may strike—big or small.
We’ve teamed up with the Deseret News to create this free guide to help our customers and readers confidently answer the question: Am I prepared for the unexpected?“When Disaster Hits Home” can teach you and your family how to prepare for the unexpected in several ways. It includes helpful hints on how to …
Check out our new Disaster Preparedness Guide, “When Disaster Hits Home” online or, if you live in Utah, you can pick up a printed copy at one of our stores. The demand for printed copies of our Disaster Guide was so high that we no longer have printed copies. If you would like to print or download a copy, you can go to http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/16e9a228#/16e9a228/ and print a copy to put in your emergency supplies. It’s totally free and full to the brim with great info.
Home fires, downed power lines, and winter weather can be just as deadly as earthquakes and tornadoes. It’s important to prepare for natural disasters, but our NEW Disaster Preparedness Guide, “When Disaster Hits Home” is a great reminder to be ready for any crisis that may strike—big or small.
We’ve teamed up with the Deseret News to create this free guide to help our customers and readers confidently answer the question: Am I prepared for the unexpected?“When Disaster Hits Home” can teach you and your family how to prepare for the unexpected in several ways. It includes helpful hints on how to …
- Stay safe and prevent home fires
- Prepare for floods (did you know floods are the most common natural disaster?)
- Get the entire family involved in preparedness (It even includes a preparedness activity sheet for kids)
- Build an emergency kit for school, work, home, cars, and pets
- Survive in your car in freezing temperatures
- Provide the basics of survival (food, water, shelter, and warmth) during an emergency
Check out our new Disaster Preparedness Guide, “When Disaster Hits Home” online or, if you live in Utah, you can pick up a printed copy at one of our stores. The demand for printed copies of our Disaster Guide was so high that we no longer have printed copies. If you would like to print or download a copy, you can go to http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/16e9a228#/16e9a228/ and print a copy to put in your emergency supplies. It’s totally free and full to the brim with great info.
Stocking Your Safe Room - 15 Critical Supplies
A “safe room” is a room in your house that has been built or modified to withstand an all-out assault by home invaders, whether burglars, terrorists, stalkers, or would-be kidnappers. Some are constructed to withstand high winds from hurricanes or tornadoes, or to protect against chemical or biological agents or radiation. Your safe room need not be a small, specialized hidey-hole in a secret space behind a bookcase, though some are designed that way. Your bedroom, home office, or any convenient room with a door can be made into a safe room by reinforcing your doors and windows, adding a few security enhancements, and stocking up on some necessary items.
What are those necessary items? The things you choose to stock in your safe room depend upon the situations you are trying to protect yourself against and how long you expect to be there.
Some basics include:
A few tips for creating a safe room from an existing room include the following:
Make certain that all the people in your home, schoolroom, or office know how to access the safe room, and hold training exercises to see how quickly they can assemble there. Teach children that the safe room is not to be used as a playhouse or a place to lock themselves away from parents or teachers!
Do you have other ideas for items that would be important to include in a safe room?
Sources:
www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/Saferoom.htm
www.fema.gov/safe-rooms
www.crimedoctor.com/panic_room_1.htm
www.jbventuresabq.com
www.beprepared.com/foodstorage
A “safe room” is a room in your house that has been built or modified to withstand an all-out assault by home invaders, whether burglars, terrorists, stalkers, or would-be kidnappers. Some are constructed to withstand high winds from hurricanes or tornadoes, or to protect against chemical or biological agents or radiation. Your safe room need not be a small, specialized hidey-hole in a secret space behind a bookcase, though some are designed that way. Your bedroom, home office, or any convenient room with a door can be made into a safe room by reinforcing your doors and windows, adding a few security enhancements, and stocking up on some necessary items.
What are those necessary items? The things you choose to stock in your safe room depend upon the situations you are trying to protect yourself against and how long you expect to be there.
Some basics include:
- A phone—either a dedicated landline or a cell phone. Don’t plan to grab the cordless phone from your nightstand; it can easily be jammed or disabled. If you keep a dedicated cell phone in your safe room, remember to charge it regularly.
- Drinking water (and cartons of juice drinks, especially if children will be there)
- Food such as storable food bars, chocolate bars, MREs, small cans of freeze dried fruits and vegetables. Emergency Essentials also offers a Caffeinated Chocolate Pudding to boost your energy and alertness—but you’ll want to use discretion with your children! It comes in convenient one-serving squeeze-packs.
- A portable toilet, toilet paper, and moistened wipes
- Diapers, food, and clothing for baby if needed
- A first-aid kit
- Blankets and pillows for comfort
- A change of clothing and underwear
- A light source that isn’t dependent on your home’s electricity
- N95 masks
- At least several doses of all regularly needed prescriptions or OTC meds
- A battery-operated or hand-cranked radio
- Duct tape
- A ladder (if second story)
- Defensive weapons if you choose to have them
- Reflective blankets for additional warmth
- A battery-powered fan for cooling and circulation (you’ll want lots of extra batteries)
- Books or an e-reader such as a Kindle or Nook, loaded with material for whatever ages you have in your family (and a way to charge electronics)
- Electronic or board games
- Bowl, water, and food for pets if they’re likely to be with you. Folded newspaper or a small litter box
- A bolted-down safe for valuables—cash, passports (thieves love to get hold of these, they sell very well on the streets), jewelry, etc.
- Potassium Iodide tablets in case of a radiation threat
- An alternative way of contacting authorities quickly, such as a safety medallion like those often used by the elderly
A few tips for creating a safe room from an existing room include the following:
- Replace hollow-core doors with solid doors that have strong locks.
- Install a one-sided dead bolt lock at a different level than the regular lock.
- Hang the door so that the hinges are on the room side rather than the outside, where they could potentially be removed.
- Either install bullet-proof glass in your windows or reinforce your existing glass with shatterproof laminate.
- Hang heavy, lined curtains so that the potential intruder can’t see through them.
- Install a security system—whatever you can afford—from inexpensive door and window “squealers” that screech if they are moved to a complete system with alarms and connection to the security company.
- Make sure your safe room has a vent that can be opened or closed for fresh air.
- Owners of some large homes with several levels and multiple entries invest in a home-monitoring unit with closed-circuit TV that can be patched into a set in the safe room so that the residents can observe what’s happening in and around the house.
- The safe room door should be solid, open inward, and be secured with a good lock.
- You don’t need to have a secret room installed (though some do), but it’s best if your safe room blends in with the rest of the house without standing out and calling attention to itself.
- You can pre-wire your safe room for an alarm panel, lights, and power. Have a direct-dial phone in addition to your cell.
- Install either chicken wire or steel sheeting under the drywall for extra protection.
Make certain that all the people in your home, schoolroom, or office know how to access the safe room, and hold training exercises to see how quickly they can assemble there. Teach children that the safe room is not to be used as a playhouse or a place to lock themselves away from parents or teachers!
Do you have other ideas for items that would be important to include in a safe room?
Sources:
www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/Saferoom.htm
www.fema.gov/safe-rooms
www.crimedoctor.com/panic_room_1.htm
www.jbventuresabq.com
www.beprepared.com/foodstorage
Prepping on a Low Budget – Six Strategies to Get Out of Debt Quicker (codegreenprep.com)
Follow these six strategies to get more of this stuff in your pocket.
Many of us feel a sense of anxious urgency about our prepping. We know that if we suddenly find ourselves trapped in a Level 2 or 3 situation, we are not yet ready to be able to survive such a challenge; but what we don’t know is if/when a Level 2/3 situation might suddenly appear.
To put it as bluntly as possible, the biggest constraint we have is the lack of cash to invest in our preparing.
Well, we can’t give each and every one of you many thousands of dollars of cash, but we can equip you with the tools to cut down on your own monthly outgoings. In this, the second part of our new series about prepping on a low budget (please also see part one), we look at how you can get out of debt more quickly, freeing up the money you currently spend on paying off what you owe, and enabling you to use it on more productive things instead.
Strategy 1 – Prioritize Paying Off Your Debts So what is the first thing you should pay off? Generally it will be the balance with the highest interest rate. Look at all the debts you have, and understand what the APR is on each of them. You might be amazed to see the difference in APRs. For example, maybe you have a discounted car loan at 1.9%, a student loan at 5%, a revolving line of credit at 7%, and two credit card debts, one at 15% and one at 24%.
In such a case, you should make nothing more than the minimum payments due on everything except the 24% credit card debt, and you should do all you can to get that 24% balance reduced down. At 24%, you are paying $20 a month on every $1000 you owe; if you can reduce the total owed by an extra $100 in payment this month, then next month that will give you a $2 reduction in interest you pay on the now lower total amount outstanding. $2 might not sound like much after having paid off $100 extra the previous month, but if you are making payments over, maybe, two years, then in approximate terms, that $2 is a recurring benefit over the 24 months of the loan and will (sort of) save you $48 over the remaining period of the loan. That’s a much more significant saving, isn’t it.
That is one of the key things about reducing your interest payments. A trivial seeming $1 a month reduction in interest payments might seem of no value at all, but it is saving you $1 a month for every subsequent month, as long as the loan remains open, and over many years, that really adds up.
The other key thing is that if your interest bill is now lowered by $1, next month your payment is going more to paying off the balance and less to paying interest, so you are paying off more principal, which means that the following month, there will be even less interest to pay and even more principle paid off, and so on.
You might already know that if you start missing payments, your debts start to spiral out of control. The flipside of that is that if you start paying more than your minimums each month, you quickly start to reduce your balances much more positively than you’d have thought possible.
After you’ve paid off the worst loan (in terms of interest rates) you’ll then successively move through everything else you owe money on.
Generally, the last thing to pay off would be your house mortgage, because that probably has the lowest interest rate associated with it. Plus, for most of us, the interest is tax-deductible, reducing the real interest cost by as much as 30% or more (depending on whatever your top marginal tax rate is).
There’s no better way to control your outgoings without making any impacts on your lifestyle at all than by simply prioritizing how you pay off your debt, starting with the highest interest bearing debts first, and then working successively down to lower and lower interest bearing debts.
Exception – Prepayment Penalties Some types of loan might have prepayment penalties associated with them.
Make sure that the loans you are focused on paying off as quickly as possible have no prepayment penalties associated with them. If there are penalties, you are probably advised to concentrate on paying off other debts first.
Strategy 2 – Keep a Credit Card with No Carried Over Balance Many credit cards have a deal whereby if you pay off your balance completely when it is due, then each month’s charges don’t incur any interest if you keep paying them off when the balance comes due. Okay, we probably understand that already.
But did you know that if you don’t pay off your card entirely, then all charges immediately start accruing interest without the grace period you’d otherwise get if you were clearing the balance each month?
In other words, if you have to keep some balance on a credit card, have two credit cards. One which you are paying off, but on which you add no new charges, and a second one which you keep current, so when you add new charges to it, you can pay them off when they come due, next month, without incurring any fees on those.
Strategy 3 – Consolidate Costly Credit If you can, it is very helpful to consolidate your debts and to move them to the lowest cost source of money.
For some of us, this can best be done by getting a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC). You’ll probably get an interest rate around 4% – 5%, and possibly might even be able to claim the interest as a mortgage/tax deduction on your 1040, depending on your circumstances and the nature of the amounts owed.
Let’s say you owe $5,000 at 12% and $5,000 at 18%, and you manage to get this transferred to a HELOC at 6%. That means your monthly interest payment will instantly reduce by $75 every month – more if you can make your new interest payments tax-deductible. That’s another $75 a month that you’ve suddenly created – and it is money you should then use to keep paying down your debt, at a new faster rate.
If you can’t get a HELOC, maybe you can still get some smaller loan from your bank or credit union, and if not at 6%, definitely still at much less than what you’re paying to the worst of the credit card and other lending sources.
Move the money you owe to the lowest cost lender.
Strategy 4 – Refinance Your House We just spoke about rolling credit card balances to a HELOC. But what if you have a home mortgage with a high interest rate on it? Why not ‘kill two birds with one stone’ – refinance your home to a lower rate and also increase the amount you’ve borrowed to pay off other debt.
At the time of writing, there’s even a federal scheme that allows some home borrowers to get a federally subsidized new home loan with no origination fees and no qualification requirements. Ask if you qualify for one of those.
Strategy 5 – Roll Balances to a New Card Maybe you sometimes get offers in the mail giving you ‘pre-approved’ credit cards and allowing you to roll over a balance from another credit card, with an initial grace period of no interest charge applying.
Make sure there truly are no charges – no ‘cash advance’ type charges or anything else at all, and if it truly is a way of getting some months of free interest, then if the interest rate that commences at the end of the free period isn’t worse than what you’re paying now, why not cut up one credit card and start using the ‘free money’ offer on the new credit card?
We know some people who have done this repeatedly, each time getting a new grace period of some months before any interest starts being charged.
Needless to say, don’t go into debt initially with the plan to do this into the future, but if you are already in debt, this might help reduce the cost of paying off the money you owe.
Strategy 6 – Renegotiate Your Interest Rate You mightn’t realize this, but many times you’ll find you are able to negotiate the interest rate you are charged on your credit card balances. The credit card company doesn’t just have one interest rate that everyone, everywhere in the US, uniformly pays. It sets interest rates more or less individually, based on your credit score, your history with the card issuer, your address, and many other factors.
If you have been making your payments regularly – or sometimes even if you haven’t – you might be able to negotiate a lower interest rate. Even if you only get a 1% reduction in your interest rate, this could save you thousands of dollars. Look at our table of interest costs in the middle of the previous article in this series, Seven Thoughts About Borrowing Money. Say you had a $10,000 loan at 18% and were making payments over a 10 year period. If you can reduce that to 17%, and if you keep your monthly payment much the same as it was before, that means you now pay your loan off over nine years instead of ten, and your total interest paid drops from $11,922 to $9,587.
You pay your debt off a year sooner, and you save yourself $2335 in interest, all as a result of getting ‘only’ a ‘small’ one percent reduction in interest charged.
That’s sure worth making a phone call and asking for, isn’t it!
Why would a credit card company/bank drop your interest rate? Because it costs them a lot of money to get a new customer; and it costs them much less to keep you as a good customer than it does to lose you and buy in another customer – the marketing cost of getting each customer, and the promotional cost of a ‘no fee for the first year’ and/or a ’100,000 mile frequent flier bonus if your sign up for our card’ and/or a ‘no interest on balances rolled over for six months’ or whatever other offer they are giving to new customers is massive.
Summary There are sometimes good reasons and sometimes unavoidable reasons to go into debt (we discuss them here). But there are almost never valid reasons to delay paying off the debt you’ve incurred. The most compelling reason of all is that getting out of debt is just plain smart – your disposable income will skyrocket when you no longer have so much of your paycheck already committed to debt repayments.
The six steps above will help speed you towards a debt free future. It will help, but you’ve still got to do some heavy lifting too – make paying off your debt a priority, and accept some lifestyle sacrifices while doing so. In return, you’ll have a much healthier financial future.
Follow these six strategies to get more of this stuff in your pocket.
Many of us feel a sense of anxious urgency about our prepping. We know that if we suddenly find ourselves trapped in a Level 2 or 3 situation, we are not yet ready to be able to survive such a challenge; but what we don’t know is if/when a Level 2/3 situation might suddenly appear.
To put it as bluntly as possible, the biggest constraint we have is the lack of cash to invest in our preparing.
Well, we can’t give each and every one of you many thousands of dollars of cash, but we can equip you with the tools to cut down on your own monthly outgoings. In this, the second part of our new series about prepping on a low budget (please also see part one), we look at how you can get out of debt more quickly, freeing up the money you currently spend on paying off what you owe, and enabling you to use it on more productive things instead.
Strategy 1 – Prioritize Paying Off Your Debts So what is the first thing you should pay off? Generally it will be the balance with the highest interest rate. Look at all the debts you have, and understand what the APR is on each of them. You might be amazed to see the difference in APRs. For example, maybe you have a discounted car loan at 1.9%, a student loan at 5%, a revolving line of credit at 7%, and two credit card debts, one at 15% and one at 24%.
In such a case, you should make nothing more than the minimum payments due on everything except the 24% credit card debt, and you should do all you can to get that 24% balance reduced down. At 24%, you are paying $20 a month on every $1000 you owe; if you can reduce the total owed by an extra $100 in payment this month, then next month that will give you a $2 reduction in interest you pay on the now lower total amount outstanding. $2 might not sound like much after having paid off $100 extra the previous month, but if you are making payments over, maybe, two years, then in approximate terms, that $2 is a recurring benefit over the 24 months of the loan and will (sort of) save you $48 over the remaining period of the loan. That’s a much more significant saving, isn’t it.
That is one of the key things about reducing your interest payments. A trivial seeming $1 a month reduction in interest payments might seem of no value at all, but it is saving you $1 a month for every subsequent month, as long as the loan remains open, and over many years, that really adds up.
The other key thing is that if your interest bill is now lowered by $1, next month your payment is going more to paying off the balance and less to paying interest, so you are paying off more principal, which means that the following month, there will be even less interest to pay and even more principle paid off, and so on.
You might already know that if you start missing payments, your debts start to spiral out of control. The flipside of that is that if you start paying more than your minimums each month, you quickly start to reduce your balances much more positively than you’d have thought possible.
After you’ve paid off the worst loan (in terms of interest rates) you’ll then successively move through everything else you owe money on.
Generally, the last thing to pay off would be your house mortgage, because that probably has the lowest interest rate associated with it. Plus, for most of us, the interest is tax-deductible, reducing the real interest cost by as much as 30% or more (depending on whatever your top marginal tax rate is).
There’s no better way to control your outgoings without making any impacts on your lifestyle at all than by simply prioritizing how you pay off your debt, starting with the highest interest bearing debts first, and then working successively down to lower and lower interest bearing debts.
Exception – Prepayment Penalties Some types of loan might have prepayment penalties associated with them.
Make sure that the loans you are focused on paying off as quickly as possible have no prepayment penalties associated with them. If there are penalties, you are probably advised to concentrate on paying off other debts first.
Strategy 2 – Keep a Credit Card with No Carried Over Balance Many credit cards have a deal whereby if you pay off your balance completely when it is due, then each month’s charges don’t incur any interest if you keep paying them off when the balance comes due. Okay, we probably understand that already.
But did you know that if you don’t pay off your card entirely, then all charges immediately start accruing interest without the grace period you’d otherwise get if you were clearing the balance each month?
In other words, if you have to keep some balance on a credit card, have two credit cards. One which you are paying off, but on which you add no new charges, and a second one which you keep current, so when you add new charges to it, you can pay them off when they come due, next month, without incurring any fees on those.
Strategy 3 – Consolidate Costly Credit If you can, it is very helpful to consolidate your debts and to move them to the lowest cost source of money.
For some of us, this can best be done by getting a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC). You’ll probably get an interest rate around 4% – 5%, and possibly might even be able to claim the interest as a mortgage/tax deduction on your 1040, depending on your circumstances and the nature of the amounts owed.
Let’s say you owe $5,000 at 12% and $5,000 at 18%, and you manage to get this transferred to a HELOC at 6%. That means your monthly interest payment will instantly reduce by $75 every month – more if you can make your new interest payments tax-deductible. That’s another $75 a month that you’ve suddenly created – and it is money you should then use to keep paying down your debt, at a new faster rate.
If you can’t get a HELOC, maybe you can still get some smaller loan from your bank or credit union, and if not at 6%, definitely still at much less than what you’re paying to the worst of the credit card and other lending sources.
Move the money you owe to the lowest cost lender.
Strategy 4 – Refinance Your House We just spoke about rolling credit card balances to a HELOC. But what if you have a home mortgage with a high interest rate on it? Why not ‘kill two birds with one stone’ – refinance your home to a lower rate and also increase the amount you’ve borrowed to pay off other debt.
At the time of writing, there’s even a federal scheme that allows some home borrowers to get a federally subsidized new home loan with no origination fees and no qualification requirements. Ask if you qualify for one of those.
Strategy 5 – Roll Balances to a New Card Maybe you sometimes get offers in the mail giving you ‘pre-approved’ credit cards and allowing you to roll over a balance from another credit card, with an initial grace period of no interest charge applying.
Make sure there truly are no charges – no ‘cash advance’ type charges or anything else at all, and if it truly is a way of getting some months of free interest, then if the interest rate that commences at the end of the free period isn’t worse than what you’re paying now, why not cut up one credit card and start using the ‘free money’ offer on the new credit card?
We know some people who have done this repeatedly, each time getting a new grace period of some months before any interest starts being charged.
Needless to say, don’t go into debt initially with the plan to do this into the future, but if you are already in debt, this might help reduce the cost of paying off the money you owe.
Strategy 6 – Renegotiate Your Interest Rate You mightn’t realize this, but many times you’ll find you are able to negotiate the interest rate you are charged on your credit card balances. The credit card company doesn’t just have one interest rate that everyone, everywhere in the US, uniformly pays. It sets interest rates more or less individually, based on your credit score, your history with the card issuer, your address, and many other factors.
If you have been making your payments regularly – or sometimes even if you haven’t – you might be able to negotiate a lower interest rate. Even if you only get a 1% reduction in your interest rate, this could save you thousands of dollars. Look at our table of interest costs in the middle of the previous article in this series, Seven Thoughts About Borrowing Money. Say you had a $10,000 loan at 18% and were making payments over a 10 year period. If you can reduce that to 17%, and if you keep your monthly payment much the same as it was before, that means you now pay your loan off over nine years instead of ten, and your total interest paid drops from $11,922 to $9,587.
You pay your debt off a year sooner, and you save yourself $2335 in interest, all as a result of getting ‘only’ a ‘small’ one percent reduction in interest charged.
That’s sure worth making a phone call and asking for, isn’t it!
Why would a credit card company/bank drop your interest rate? Because it costs them a lot of money to get a new customer; and it costs them much less to keep you as a good customer than it does to lose you and buy in another customer – the marketing cost of getting each customer, and the promotional cost of a ‘no fee for the first year’ and/or a ’100,000 mile frequent flier bonus if your sign up for our card’ and/or a ‘no interest on balances rolled over for six months’ or whatever other offer they are giving to new customers is massive.
Summary There are sometimes good reasons and sometimes unavoidable reasons to go into debt (we discuss them here). But there are almost never valid reasons to delay paying off the debt you’ve incurred. The most compelling reason of all is that getting out of debt is just plain smart – your disposable income will skyrocket when you no longer have so much of your paycheck already committed to debt repayments.
The six steps above will help speed you towards a debt free future. It will help, but you’ve still got to do some heavy lifting too – make paying off your debt a priority, and accept some lifestyle sacrifices while doing so. In return, you’ll have a much healthier financial future.
How Much Food Should You Store? (Codegreenprep.com)
This question is a bit like asking ‘How high is up?’. Clearly, the more food you store, the better you will be able to withstand a Level 1 or 2 event (Level 3 events assume, more or less by definition, that the problem will last longer than any stores you might have amassed).
There probably is an upper limit to how much food you could/should store, but few of us are going to reach that. In case you wonder, there are two situations where you might end up with ‘too much’ food. The first is if you have so much food that you can’t eat it all (or give it away or trade/sell/exchange it) before such time as it passes both its official and its real expiry dates. The second would be having such a lot that you find yourself with food to last much longer than you have energy or water or other essentials.
In all cases, you need to balance your prepping. Until you can – in all respects – survive a one week event, there is no point adding a second week of food. Who needs food when you no longer have water? When your heat has gone, and it is midwinter and you’re dying of exposure, food is again probably the least of your worries. And so on.
So it is important to keep your prepping balanced. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and the same with prepping. When you run out of any essential item, your survival is threatened, no matter how much of other things you still have on hand.
But having said that, it is relatively straightforward to get a retreat that will provide shelter for an extended many year period, to get a well that will provide you with all the water you’ll ever need, and to get perhaps a solar cell array to provide you with at least some ongoing power. At that point, food becomes a key consideration because you’re in the happy point of having open-ended indefinite solutions to your need for water, shelter and energy.
Of course, you need a lot more than the most minimalist amounts of food, water, shelter and energy, but you truly do need these big four categories of preps. Other things you might be able to improvise or make do without, but you can’t make do without these four major categories.
So, assuming you have resolved everything to do with water, shelter and energy, how much food should you store? You might say ‘Oh, I’ll store a year’s worth’, – this seems to be a commonly cited quantity to aspire to. However, that answer in turn begs some other questions – just how many cans and bags and other forms of food is a year’s worth?
To answer these questions, you need to consider five factors, and to ignore one distractor.
The distractor is the claim you’ll often see made in prepackaged collections of long life foods – ‘Contains a three-month supply’ or maybe ‘contains 240 entrees’ or something else. You need to see exactly how many calories the supplier is basing these claims on, and contrast it with your expected calorie need (point 2, below); and dollars to donuts, you’ll almost surely find that their ‘three month supply’ is more like a two month supply, their 240 entrees are more like 240 appetizers, and so on!
So let’s now look at the five factors to consider.
1. How Many People Will You Feed? This question has some overtones that you should consider. You probably already know how many people you’re planning to have in your retreat. But might you have some unexpected extra people join you?
Maybe someone gets married and brings their new spouse. Maybe a couple has a new child. Maybe a friend or two come along and ask to be accepted into your community. Maybe you meet someone after moving to your retreat who has an excellent set of skills and you want to have them join you, too.
In addition, you should also consider how you will handle people who come begging for food. Will you send them away with nothing, or will you give them a token small amount of food?
However you answer these questions, you’ll probably end up realizing that it is likely you’ll have more mouths to feed than you originally plan for.
2. How Much Daily Food Will Each Person Need? You may already be familiar with the US Recommended Daily Allowances that specify how much of a wide variety of vitamins and minerals and other elements a person should consume each day. Here’s a link to them if you’re not.
Perhaps the most relevant issue though is not how much of each vitamin and mineral is in your diet (in theory, most ‘healthy’ diets contain plenty of all of these, in practice you’ll probably augment your stored food with a multi-vitamin supplement), but instead how many calories of energy you are getting from the food you eat each day. This number isn’t an official standard because it varies depending on your gender, age, height/weight, and your level of activity.
So when you see labels on foods talking about ‘based on a daily allowance of xxxx calories’ they are not saying ‘this is the scientifically calculated exact number of calories you need’; they are simply basing their percentages on a somewhat arbitrary number.
The harder you work, the more you need to eat. A daily intake of 2,000 calories a day may be enough for someone who does little or nothing every day, but if you’re going to be working in the fields, then you can expect to see your needs increase to maybe 3,000 or more calories a day. Here’s a helpful table.
So you should adjust the quantities of food people will consume upwards to reflect the probability that people will be working harder than formerly, and so will eat more, too.
3. Non-Essential Foods Actually Are Essential We’ve written before about the surprisingly serious potential problem of appetite fatigue. What this means, in part, is that you can’t optimize your food storage and serve the same food item, the same way, every day for a year, even if it is the cheapest and easiest product to store and prepare.
You need variety and so you’ll need to add some non-essential items into your food store too.
Good food can be a morale booster, and bad food a morale drainer. In difficult times, good food can help people remain positive, and for sure, you are prepping for what will be difficult times. So you will want to also supplement your food supplies with non-essential comfort and luxury food items. At the end of a long hard day with everything going wrong, it will be a wonderful thing to then break out something like maybe a retort pouched piece of shelf-stable long-life smoked salmon and treat everyone to a ‘feel-good’ delicacy.
4. Allowing for Wastage and Spoilage We know you’re planning on not wasting a single ounce of everything. Everything you have will be cooked, and everything you cook will be eaten.
But we also know that the real world isn’t quite as perfect as you might hope for. For example, what happens if a water pipe bursts and water floods onto and into your dry stores? What happens if you have a problem with rats or mice? At a smaller level, what happens when something goes wrong with a meal?
Depending on your degree of vulnerability to such unexpected things, we’d probably add another 5% or more to adjust for these imperfections.
5. Food as a Trading Good Too We suggest you add further food to your minimum calculations to give you some ‘currency’ that can be used to trade for other things in the future.
We’ve written several pieces about how current US currency will lose its value in a Level 2 or 3 situation, and until such time as a new currency replaces it, all manner of different things will be used as trade goods. When time allows, please visit our complete subsection on the site about the future economy and how it will evolve. Understanding these issues is important.
In particular, it goes without saying that food will be greatly in demand, and would be almost universally accepted in payment for just about any other thing you might wish to exchange or trade. You might want to have a mix of staples and also higher value items (herbs and spices and flavorings in particular) for future trading purposes.
6. How Many Months/Years of Food to Store Now for the big question. You know, from answering the previous five points, how much food a day or week or month you should set aside. But now – how long a supply do you need?
We suggest that you must have at least one year of food, and ideally closer to two years. Indeed, if you can go to three years, better still.
Think about a worst case scenario. TEOTWAWKI occurs after the planting season one year, meaning you’ll not be able to get any measurable amount of food from your own gardening until the harvest season next year – maybe 15 months later. (Is this the point where we extol the great sense of having a greenhouse? )
Let’s also say that things go very wrong with your first year of gardening, and you only get six months worth of food from your efforts. So add another 6 months to the stockpile you need, and you’re now at 21 months.
Now let’s say the next year has a flood, or spring frosts, or a drought, or something. Let’s say you only get six months worth of food that year, too. Now you need 27 months of stored food.
Furthermore, you really need to always keep at least 6 – 12 months of stored food in reserve, because it is an unavoidable truism in agriculture that some years are good and some are terrible. So add another 6 months to your stored supply and now you’re at 33 months.
Make your own decisions as to how you’ll plan and project your food needs, but be pessimistic rather than optimistic, and we expect you’ll end up agreeing with us that you must have one year, should have two, and ideally would love to have three year’s worth of food in your store.
Avoiding Stored Food Expiration You don’t want to have to regularly junk your stored food and replace it with a fresh set of unexpired food, and neither do you want to go into an emergency situation with your food nearing its expiration dates.
There’s an easy answer to this concern. Eat what you store, and store what you eat. That way, you are steadily eating your stored food as part of your normal everyday diet. It means you are turning over your stores regularly, and hopefully eat everything before it expires.
It also means there is less disruption WTSHTF. You keep eating much of the same food you’ve been eating prior to then. That can be a bit of a comfort in itself, reassuring you that not all has been lost and destroyed in your world.
It also imposes a bit of a discipline on you when choosing food supplies. If you’re like us, you probably have some 25-year-shelf-life pails of long life shelf stable freeze-dried foods – perhaps you bought them on special, and perhaps you thought ‘This stuff is barely better than prison grub, but in an emergency, I can’t expect to enjoy good food’.
But what is the point of buying food you don’t like and wouldn’t normally eat? To save money? Think about that – you’re happy spending, shall we say, $10 on a meal today, but you’re not willing to spend a comparable amount to set aside a meal for the future. That’s a bit contradictory, surely!
So, as much as you can, considering shelf life issues, buy and stock up with the types of food you like to eat, not the types that are cheapest or which have the longest lives. As long as you are able to eat what you have stored before it expires and keep regularly replenishing it, shelf life isn’t such an issue.
Shelf life only matters when you’re storing food you won’t eat, not when you’re storing food you will eat!
Summary You’ll eat more food than you expect in a Level 2 or 3 situation; and you’ll probably have more mouths to feed as well. Add to that a greater need for food variety, and allow some extra to use as trading goods, and you’ll soon realize that there’s no such thing as ‘too much food’ in your stockpile.
When you plan for some worst case scenarios, you’ll quickly realize that a one year supply is probably insufficient, a two-year supply barely enough, and a three-year supply a much more comfortable level to keep.
This question is a bit like asking ‘How high is up?’. Clearly, the more food you store, the better you will be able to withstand a Level 1 or 2 event (Level 3 events assume, more or less by definition, that the problem will last longer than any stores you might have amassed).
There probably is an upper limit to how much food you could/should store, but few of us are going to reach that. In case you wonder, there are two situations where you might end up with ‘too much’ food. The first is if you have so much food that you can’t eat it all (or give it away or trade/sell/exchange it) before such time as it passes both its official and its real expiry dates. The second would be having such a lot that you find yourself with food to last much longer than you have energy or water or other essentials.
In all cases, you need to balance your prepping. Until you can – in all respects – survive a one week event, there is no point adding a second week of food. Who needs food when you no longer have water? When your heat has gone, and it is midwinter and you’re dying of exposure, food is again probably the least of your worries. And so on.
So it is important to keep your prepping balanced. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and the same with prepping. When you run out of any essential item, your survival is threatened, no matter how much of other things you still have on hand.
But having said that, it is relatively straightforward to get a retreat that will provide shelter for an extended many year period, to get a well that will provide you with all the water you’ll ever need, and to get perhaps a solar cell array to provide you with at least some ongoing power. At that point, food becomes a key consideration because you’re in the happy point of having open-ended indefinite solutions to your need for water, shelter and energy.
Of course, you need a lot more than the most minimalist amounts of food, water, shelter and energy, but you truly do need these big four categories of preps. Other things you might be able to improvise or make do without, but you can’t make do without these four major categories.
So, assuming you have resolved everything to do with water, shelter and energy, how much food should you store? You might say ‘Oh, I’ll store a year’s worth’, – this seems to be a commonly cited quantity to aspire to. However, that answer in turn begs some other questions – just how many cans and bags and other forms of food is a year’s worth?
To answer these questions, you need to consider five factors, and to ignore one distractor.
The distractor is the claim you’ll often see made in prepackaged collections of long life foods – ‘Contains a three-month supply’ or maybe ‘contains 240 entrees’ or something else. You need to see exactly how many calories the supplier is basing these claims on, and contrast it with your expected calorie need (point 2, below); and dollars to donuts, you’ll almost surely find that their ‘three month supply’ is more like a two month supply, their 240 entrees are more like 240 appetizers, and so on!
So let’s now look at the five factors to consider.
1. How Many People Will You Feed? This question has some overtones that you should consider. You probably already know how many people you’re planning to have in your retreat. But might you have some unexpected extra people join you?
Maybe someone gets married and brings their new spouse. Maybe a couple has a new child. Maybe a friend or two come along and ask to be accepted into your community. Maybe you meet someone after moving to your retreat who has an excellent set of skills and you want to have them join you, too.
In addition, you should also consider how you will handle people who come begging for food. Will you send them away with nothing, or will you give them a token small amount of food?
However you answer these questions, you’ll probably end up realizing that it is likely you’ll have more mouths to feed than you originally plan for.
2. How Much Daily Food Will Each Person Need? You may already be familiar with the US Recommended Daily Allowances that specify how much of a wide variety of vitamins and minerals and other elements a person should consume each day. Here’s a link to them if you’re not.
Perhaps the most relevant issue though is not how much of each vitamin and mineral is in your diet (in theory, most ‘healthy’ diets contain plenty of all of these, in practice you’ll probably augment your stored food with a multi-vitamin supplement), but instead how many calories of energy you are getting from the food you eat each day. This number isn’t an official standard because it varies depending on your gender, age, height/weight, and your level of activity.
So when you see labels on foods talking about ‘based on a daily allowance of xxxx calories’ they are not saying ‘this is the scientifically calculated exact number of calories you need’; they are simply basing their percentages on a somewhat arbitrary number.
The harder you work, the more you need to eat. A daily intake of 2,000 calories a day may be enough for someone who does little or nothing every day, but if you’re going to be working in the fields, then you can expect to see your needs increase to maybe 3,000 or more calories a day. Here’s a helpful table.
So you should adjust the quantities of food people will consume upwards to reflect the probability that people will be working harder than formerly, and so will eat more, too.
3. Non-Essential Foods Actually Are Essential We’ve written before about the surprisingly serious potential problem of appetite fatigue. What this means, in part, is that you can’t optimize your food storage and serve the same food item, the same way, every day for a year, even if it is the cheapest and easiest product to store and prepare.
You need variety and so you’ll need to add some non-essential items into your food store too.
Good food can be a morale booster, and bad food a morale drainer. In difficult times, good food can help people remain positive, and for sure, you are prepping for what will be difficult times. So you will want to also supplement your food supplies with non-essential comfort and luxury food items. At the end of a long hard day with everything going wrong, it will be a wonderful thing to then break out something like maybe a retort pouched piece of shelf-stable long-life smoked salmon and treat everyone to a ‘feel-good’ delicacy.
4. Allowing for Wastage and Spoilage We know you’re planning on not wasting a single ounce of everything. Everything you have will be cooked, and everything you cook will be eaten.
But we also know that the real world isn’t quite as perfect as you might hope for. For example, what happens if a water pipe bursts and water floods onto and into your dry stores? What happens if you have a problem with rats or mice? At a smaller level, what happens when something goes wrong with a meal?
Depending on your degree of vulnerability to such unexpected things, we’d probably add another 5% or more to adjust for these imperfections.
5. Food as a Trading Good Too We suggest you add further food to your minimum calculations to give you some ‘currency’ that can be used to trade for other things in the future.
We’ve written several pieces about how current US currency will lose its value in a Level 2 or 3 situation, and until such time as a new currency replaces it, all manner of different things will be used as trade goods. When time allows, please visit our complete subsection on the site about the future economy and how it will evolve. Understanding these issues is important.
In particular, it goes without saying that food will be greatly in demand, and would be almost universally accepted in payment for just about any other thing you might wish to exchange or trade. You might want to have a mix of staples and also higher value items (herbs and spices and flavorings in particular) for future trading purposes.
6. How Many Months/Years of Food to Store Now for the big question. You know, from answering the previous five points, how much food a day or week or month you should set aside. But now – how long a supply do you need?
We suggest that you must have at least one year of food, and ideally closer to two years. Indeed, if you can go to three years, better still.
Think about a worst case scenario. TEOTWAWKI occurs after the planting season one year, meaning you’ll not be able to get any measurable amount of food from your own gardening until the harvest season next year – maybe 15 months later. (Is this the point where we extol the great sense of having a greenhouse? )
Let’s also say that things go very wrong with your first year of gardening, and you only get six months worth of food from your efforts. So add another 6 months to the stockpile you need, and you’re now at 21 months.
Now let’s say the next year has a flood, or spring frosts, or a drought, or something. Let’s say you only get six months worth of food that year, too. Now you need 27 months of stored food.
Furthermore, you really need to always keep at least 6 – 12 months of stored food in reserve, because it is an unavoidable truism in agriculture that some years are good and some are terrible. So add another 6 months to your stored supply and now you’re at 33 months.
Make your own decisions as to how you’ll plan and project your food needs, but be pessimistic rather than optimistic, and we expect you’ll end up agreeing with us that you must have one year, should have two, and ideally would love to have three year’s worth of food in your store.
Avoiding Stored Food Expiration You don’t want to have to regularly junk your stored food and replace it with a fresh set of unexpired food, and neither do you want to go into an emergency situation with your food nearing its expiration dates.
There’s an easy answer to this concern. Eat what you store, and store what you eat. That way, you are steadily eating your stored food as part of your normal everyday diet. It means you are turning over your stores regularly, and hopefully eat everything before it expires.
It also means there is less disruption WTSHTF. You keep eating much of the same food you’ve been eating prior to then. That can be a bit of a comfort in itself, reassuring you that not all has been lost and destroyed in your world.
It also imposes a bit of a discipline on you when choosing food supplies. If you’re like us, you probably have some 25-year-shelf-life pails of long life shelf stable freeze-dried foods – perhaps you bought them on special, and perhaps you thought ‘This stuff is barely better than prison grub, but in an emergency, I can’t expect to enjoy good food’.
But what is the point of buying food you don’t like and wouldn’t normally eat? To save money? Think about that – you’re happy spending, shall we say, $10 on a meal today, but you’re not willing to spend a comparable amount to set aside a meal for the future. That’s a bit contradictory, surely!
So, as much as you can, considering shelf life issues, buy and stock up with the types of food you like to eat, not the types that are cheapest or which have the longest lives. As long as you are able to eat what you have stored before it expires and keep regularly replenishing it, shelf life isn’t such an issue.
Shelf life only matters when you’re storing food you won’t eat, not when you’re storing food you will eat!
Summary You’ll eat more food than you expect in a Level 2 or 3 situation; and you’ll probably have more mouths to feed as well. Add to that a greater need for food variety, and allow some extra to use as trading goods, and you’ll soon realize that there’s no such thing as ‘too much food’ in your stockpile.
When you plan for some worst case scenarios, you’ll quickly realize that a one year supply is probably insufficient, a two-year supply barely enough, and a three-year supply a much more comfortable level to keep.
7 actions to take immediately following an EMP strike
(Infowars.com) The threat of an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) strike on this country is a very well documented one, I have written about the threat in the past and have used information from the EMP Commission report which was published in 2004 in several of my articles. Most recently I read an article published over on the Economic Collapse Blog which sums up nicely what impact an EMP strike would have on our country.
An electromagnetic pulse can range from a minor inconvenience to a civilization-killing event. It just depends on how powerful it is. But in the worst case scenario, we could be facing a situation where our electrical grids have been fried, there is no heat for our homes, our computers don’t work, the Internet does not work, our cell phones do not work, there are no more banking records, nobody can use credit cards anymore, hospitals are unable to function, nobody can pump gas, and supermarkets cannot operate because there is no power and no refrigeration. Basically, we would witness the complete and total collapse of the economy.
So what actions should you take immediately following an EMP strike? Remember that time will be critical, the first few hours (days at most) will enable you to get a jump on everyone else and set the stage for your success. You will immediately know that an EMP, be it from a nuclear weapon or massive solar flare, will have struck your area. Your car will no longer work, your cell phone won’t work, the power will be out everywhere, planes will have fallen from the sky. You will know it was an EMP but the vast majority of the public will not, they will be quite literally sitting around waiting for someone to tell them what to do. You won’t know how large the scope of the strike is but you will have to assume the worst, which would be a nationwide outage
First things first, if you are at work, get home. Your boss no longer has authority over you, your co-workers no longer are a priority. They will be trying to restart a computer that will never again work, trying to restart their smartphone, sitting in the break room trying to call 911 and saying things like: “This is ridiculous, I’m going to miss my 3pm sales call!” You on the other hand will go to you car and change into the extra set of clothes and shoes you keep in the trunk. You will don your “get home bag” and start walking, hopefully your walk will not take more than a day.
Once home it is time to start implementing your plan. Remember time is absolutely critical and you only have a small window of it in order to set yourself up for success. During these initial hours and days people will still have faith that some sort of government agency will come in to make everything better. They will expect to see the power come back on any minute because someone will surely do something. They will tell each other to sit tight, just hold on for a day or so because eventually the HMMWV’s will roll in loaded with supplies and some military officer or government official will explain that this is merely a temporary problem, nothing to worry about, sorry for the inconvenience. You know better because you realize just how devastating an EMP strike is and the reality is that it could be months before systems start to come back online. It will only take a week or two (at most) before things start getting really ugly because people start going hungry. With all of that that in mind you take these 7 actions because you were prepared for this to happen.
1- Use your cash. In the first few days after an EMP strike cash will still have value. Take all of your cash and that radio flyer wagon your kids have and walk down to the corner store. Avoid the big retail stores, I suggest finding the corner gas station or local drug store. The owner of the store will no doubt be there, concerned that the items in the store are unprotected during a power outage. Explain to the owner that you are in need of some supplies, can pay cash and do not require change. Tell him/her that you will give them an extra $100 to allow you to “shop” for a few minutes. Load up your wagon with anything you can find to include medication, candy bars, water bottles, pop tarts, lighters, hand sanitizer etc etc. Of course you should be well stocked at home but you might as well get rid of your worthless paper money in exchange for any amount of extra supplies you can get your hands on. In a week (maybe less) most stores will be completely looted so you need to take advantage of this moment.
2- Fill up the tub(s) with water. Hopefully you have a water bob for each bath tub in your home in addition to several other water storage devices and water purification/filtration devices. Remember a down grid means that fresh water will stop flowing to your home very quickly. Fill up your tub as soon as you can, that extra hundred or so gallons could prove invaluable. If you are concerned about the quality of the water remember you can add 8 drops of regular Clorox bleach per gallon to help purify what you have in the tub.
3- Talk to your neighbors. This step is absolutely critical, you have to get out and talk to your close neighbors and explain to them what is going on. They will be in denial for the most part, hopefully you have copies of the EMP report printed off which you can distribute as you go door to door. Explain to them what is going on and that time is critical, let them know a worst case scenario means that there will be no help coming for quite a long time. Additionally mention the following to them.
a. Discuss a neighborhood watch. Tell them that in a few days or weeks things will get dangerous with hungry people roaming the streets. It is essential that you define your neighborhood’s boundaries and set up a neighborhood watch of sorts, assigning people to different shifts.
b. Offer to hold a meeting. Set a time that you will have a meeting at your home, say every day after sunrise in your garage. Tell them they are invited and that every day you will be there passing out information. At first you might not have anyone attend these meetings, in a few days there will be a handful and in a week you might have 50 or more hungry, scared, tired people demanding answers. If you are going to assume the role of a leader, be prepared to do just that.
c. Tell them to use their cash. Much like you should have already done, tell them that their cash will soon be worthless and that they need to get down to the market to spend it. Most people have no cash on hand, so this probably won’t be a real issue.
d. Tell them to inventory their supplies. Most people have 3 to 5 days food on hand in their home. You should mention that they need to start rationing what they have, and taking inventory of everything else.
e. Start identifying those with skills. I wrote about how to organize a survival community as well as what skills will be valuable after T-SHTF in a few recent articles While making the rounds in your neighborhood you should start identifying who has special skills and make note of it. Cops or military personnel could help with security, Doctors have obvious value, and so on and so forth.
4- Start rationing food. Hopefully you have at least a 1 year supply of food for your family, if not more. Start rationing immediately because more than likely you will have to share some of your food with your neighbors. It will be unavoidable, you will need their help to survive as a community and there is absolutely no way that they will starve while watching you and your family live high on the hog. This doesn’t mean that you cannot oversee how some rations are distributed, or seek out other sources of food, but just remember nobody gets through SHTF alone.
5- Hygiene preparations. Consider where you are going to dispose of your human waste, it might be a good time to start digging that pit. Also consider where you will dispose of your trash and if you will bury it or burn it. Remember the trash man won’t be around next Sunday and your toilets will stop flushing very quickly.
6- Listen to your weather radio. Prior to the EMP strike you had a small solar/hand crank weather radio secured in an old microwave in the basement, it still works. You should monitor NOAA Weather Radio frequencies throughout the day in case there is information being published which you can use to stay informed. Maybe the strike only covered 500 square miles and help will be on the way in a week, or maybe there is nothing but static…not a good sign.
7- Consider your own security plan. Despite all of the actions you are taking, trying to help those within your community by reaching out to organize them, realize that not everything goes to plan. There could be dissenters within your neighborhood or those outside of your community who might choose to take advantage of the situation. Looting will become prevalent very quickly and no neighborhood will be immune. Consider your security plan, this is no time to rely on the charity and goodness of mankind. Remain suspicious of all activity and never walk around unarmed. Never allow your family members to venture out alone and remember to stay in after dark. All of that said I would caution against using deadly force unless absolutely necessary. Protect yourself and your family but remember that there will come a time when the power does come back on and people will be held accountable for their actions.
An EMP strike on our nation will be an absolutely catastrophic event and while I’m sure all of us hope that something like this never happens, hope is never a course of action. Despite our best efforts to prepare for such an event there is a good chance that many will not survive. Some have predicted that within a year of a strike, 9 out of 10 Americans would be dead. In sports success or failure on the field of play is determined months before the actual game by how much dedication the athletes displayed during practice. In much the same way success or failure following an EMP strike will have been determined by how seriously we took our prep strategy in the months or years prior, as well as actions which we take immediately after. Life isn’t fair, plan accordingly.
(Infowars.com) The threat of an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) strike on this country is a very well documented one, I have written about the threat in the past and have used information from the EMP Commission report which was published in 2004 in several of my articles. Most recently I read an article published over on the Economic Collapse Blog which sums up nicely what impact an EMP strike would have on our country.
An electromagnetic pulse can range from a minor inconvenience to a civilization-killing event. It just depends on how powerful it is. But in the worst case scenario, we could be facing a situation where our electrical grids have been fried, there is no heat for our homes, our computers don’t work, the Internet does not work, our cell phones do not work, there are no more banking records, nobody can use credit cards anymore, hospitals are unable to function, nobody can pump gas, and supermarkets cannot operate because there is no power and no refrigeration. Basically, we would witness the complete and total collapse of the economy.
So what actions should you take immediately following an EMP strike? Remember that time will be critical, the first few hours (days at most) will enable you to get a jump on everyone else and set the stage for your success. You will immediately know that an EMP, be it from a nuclear weapon or massive solar flare, will have struck your area. Your car will no longer work, your cell phone won’t work, the power will be out everywhere, planes will have fallen from the sky. You will know it was an EMP but the vast majority of the public will not, they will be quite literally sitting around waiting for someone to tell them what to do. You won’t know how large the scope of the strike is but you will have to assume the worst, which would be a nationwide outage
First things first, if you are at work, get home. Your boss no longer has authority over you, your co-workers no longer are a priority. They will be trying to restart a computer that will never again work, trying to restart their smartphone, sitting in the break room trying to call 911 and saying things like: “This is ridiculous, I’m going to miss my 3pm sales call!” You on the other hand will go to you car and change into the extra set of clothes and shoes you keep in the trunk. You will don your “get home bag” and start walking, hopefully your walk will not take more than a day.
Once home it is time to start implementing your plan. Remember time is absolutely critical and you only have a small window of it in order to set yourself up for success. During these initial hours and days people will still have faith that some sort of government agency will come in to make everything better. They will expect to see the power come back on any minute because someone will surely do something. They will tell each other to sit tight, just hold on for a day or so because eventually the HMMWV’s will roll in loaded with supplies and some military officer or government official will explain that this is merely a temporary problem, nothing to worry about, sorry for the inconvenience. You know better because you realize just how devastating an EMP strike is and the reality is that it could be months before systems start to come back online. It will only take a week or two (at most) before things start getting really ugly because people start going hungry. With all of that that in mind you take these 7 actions because you were prepared for this to happen.
1- Use your cash. In the first few days after an EMP strike cash will still have value. Take all of your cash and that radio flyer wagon your kids have and walk down to the corner store. Avoid the big retail stores, I suggest finding the corner gas station or local drug store. The owner of the store will no doubt be there, concerned that the items in the store are unprotected during a power outage. Explain to the owner that you are in need of some supplies, can pay cash and do not require change. Tell him/her that you will give them an extra $100 to allow you to “shop” for a few minutes. Load up your wagon with anything you can find to include medication, candy bars, water bottles, pop tarts, lighters, hand sanitizer etc etc. Of course you should be well stocked at home but you might as well get rid of your worthless paper money in exchange for any amount of extra supplies you can get your hands on. In a week (maybe less) most stores will be completely looted so you need to take advantage of this moment.
2- Fill up the tub(s) with water. Hopefully you have a water bob for each bath tub in your home in addition to several other water storage devices and water purification/filtration devices. Remember a down grid means that fresh water will stop flowing to your home very quickly. Fill up your tub as soon as you can, that extra hundred or so gallons could prove invaluable. If you are concerned about the quality of the water remember you can add 8 drops of regular Clorox bleach per gallon to help purify what you have in the tub.
3- Talk to your neighbors. This step is absolutely critical, you have to get out and talk to your close neighbors and explain to them what is going on. They will be in denial for the most part, hopefully you have copies of the EMP report printed off which you can distribute as you go door to door. Explain to them what is going on and that time is critical, let them know a worst case scenario means that there will be no help coming for quite a long time. Additionally mention the following to them.
a. Discuss a neighborhood watch. Tell them that in a few days or weeks things will get dangerous with hungry people roaming the streets. It is essential that you define your neighborhood’s boundaries and set up a neighborhood watch of sorts, assigning people to different shifts.
b. Offer to hold a meeting. Set a time that you will have a meeting at your home, say every day after sunrise in your garage. Tell them they are invited and that every day you will be there passing out information. At first you might not have anyone attend these meetings, in a few days there will be a handful and in a week you might have 50 or more hungry, scared, tired people demanding answers. If you are going to assume the role of a leader, be prepared to do just that.
c. Tell them to use their cash. Much like you should have already done, tell them that their cash will soon be worthless and that they need to get down to the market to spend it. Most people have no cash on hand, so this probably won’t be a real issue.
d. Tell them to inventory their supplies. Most people have 3 to 5 days food on hand in their home. You should mention that they need to start rationing what they have, and taking inventory of everything else.
e. Start identifying those with skills. I wrote about how to organize a survival community as well as what skills will be valuable after T-SHTF in a few recent articles While making the rounds in your neighborhood you should start identifying who has special skills and make note of it. Cops or military personnel could help with security, Doctors have obvious value, and so on and so forth.
4- Start rationing food. Hopefully you have at least a 1 year supply of food for your family, if not more. Start rationing immediately because more than likely you will have to share some of your food with your neighbors. It will be unavoidable, you will need their help to survive as a community and there is absolutely no way that they will starve while watching you and your family live high on the hog. This doesn’t mean that you cannot oversee how some rations are distributed, or seek out other sources of food, but just remember nobody gets through SHTF alone.
5- Hygiene preparations. Consider where you are going to dispose of your human waste, it might be a good time to start digging that pit. Also consider where you will dispose of your trash and if you will bury it or burn it. Remember the trash man won’t be around next Sunday and your toilets will stop flushing very quickly.
6- Listen to your weather radio. Prior to the EMP strike you had a small solar/hand crank weather radio secured in an old microwave in the basement, it still works. You should monitor NOAA Weather Radio frequencies throughout the day in case there is information being published which you can use to stay informed. Maybe the strike only covered 500 square miles and help will be on the way in a week, or maybe there is nothing but static…not a good sign.
7- Consider your own security plan. Despite all of the actions you are taking, trying to help those within your community by reaching out to organize them, realize that not everything goes to plan. There could be dissenters within your neighborhood or those outside of your community who might choose to take advantage of the situation. Looting will become prevalent very quickly and no neighborhood will be immune. Consider your security plan, this is no time to rely on the charity and goodness of mankind. Remain suspicious of all activity and never walk around unarmed. Never allow your family members to venture out alone and remember to stay in after dark. All of that said I would caution against using deadly force unless absolutely necessary. Protect yourself and your family but remember that there will come a time when the power does come back on and people will be held accountable for their actions.
An EMP strike on our nation will be an absolutely catastrophic event and while I’m sure all of us hope that something like this never happens, hope is never a course of action. Despite our best efforts to prepare for such an event there is a good chance that many will not survive. Some have predicted that within a year of a strike, 9 out of 10 Americans would be dead. In sports success or failure on the field of play is determined months before the actual game by how much dedication the athletes displayed during practice. In much the same way success or failure following an EMP strike will have been determined by how seriously we took our prep strategy in the months or years prior, as well as actions which we take immediately after. Life isn’t fair, plan accordingly.
You need to watch the following videos:
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With the events of Fukushima and the latest developments in the Ukraine and Syria, you might want to consider prepping for disaster NOW while time permits.
In troubled times such as we are currently experiencing, you need a source to turn to for helpful information. LNM wants you to be prepared for any financial or natural disaster that may come your way. Here are several sources found on the web that may help you to cope and survive:
The Future Looks Bleak Why? Here are some of the reasons:
Oh sure, there are pockets of economic growth here and there. But for the most part, I see and sense a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness when it comes to money and matters relating to the economy. As much as I hate to admit it, even I feel that the middle class life I have known most of my adult years will never be the same. Pretty depressing when you think about it.
What to do? Prepping and learning to become self-sufficient are a good start. The problem, though, is that you can store water and food, stow away some cash or even gold, and insulate yourself from short-term off grid situations. But what happens if the economic meltdown lasts longer than six months or a year?
I feel that the only solution is to embrace a lifestyle where consumption is kept to a minimum. And to that end, here are some tips that I have been noodling around (in no particular order).
1. Reduce housing costs. This may mean taking in borders or sharing your home with extended family members. Are you renting a large home or large apartment? Take it down a notch.
2. Manage food costs. Stock up when you see a great sale. Double up and by two instead of one, or three instead of two, and so on.
3. Create a mini-store in your own home and shop from your own supplies. Your pantry will become your friend when money or supplies are short. Don’t forget sundry items and personal items as well as food when it comes to stocking your home based mini-market.
4. Only purchase foods that you will eat. This is related to #3 above. Don’t purchase canned Spam if you will not eat it. That is just silly.
5. Limit eating out. If you want to celebrate a special evening, go for a desert and coffee date instead of dinner. With a little planning, you won’t suffer the “nothing in the house to eat” syndrome.
6. Reduce the number of vehicles you own. Do you really need a fleet with the associated costs of insurance and maintenance? Instead of an expensive vehicle, get yourself a scooter or motorcycle as a second vehicle and be smug at getting 60 mpg. Better yet, walk or bike instead of driving your car.
7. Purchase used goods. You can find some steals on Craigslist or Ebay. Or, if that is not your thing, go to garage sales and thrift shops. I am not suggesting that you purchase everything used, but think about your purchases and when practical, buy used and pocket the change.
8. Become self-entertaining. Read (use the library for heaven’s sake), watch videos (same thing, use the library as a great source of DVDs), find some puzzles you enjoy, hike, bike, dance. There are many things you can do to entertain yourself while spending very little money.
9. Reduce communications costs. Now tell me, do you really need 100 cable channels? And what about that smartphone that is costing $150 a month. Scale back as test – you can always add the extra services – and costs – back later if you simply have-to-have them. (Preaching here; I know this is a recurrent theme on this website.)
10. Earn extra income. Sell your unused stuff on Ebay. Get a part-time job if you have a skill. Flip burgers. Become a sales clerk or a barista. Do yard cleanup. Anything to bring in a few extra bucks.
11. Barter your time for goods or services. Walk dogs, water plants, help out with someone’s garden. Be creative.
12. Grow food. This does not take up a lot of space (as I have recently learned). Practice Square Foot Gardening and you will be amazed at how much you can grow in a tiny area.
13. Use what you have. Become Ms. and Mr. Fix-it and make repairs instead of buying new. Find new uses for old things. See 12 Tips to Use It Up, Wear It Out and Make It Do.
14. Avoid debt. If cash is short this week, wait until next week. Live within your means even it means that you will eat beans and rice for a few days. Put a moratorium on clothing purchases for one season.
15. Secure the homestead. Firearms, weapons, pepper spray or even a baseball bat. The choice is yours. Don’t brag about what you have and do everything you can to make sure you and your supplies are safe.
16. Have an escape plan. I am a big believer in the concept of shelter in place but if you need to evacuate, be ready. Have a plan so all family members know how to communicate with each other and where to meet. Learn about escape routes in your area and practice getting out of dodge.
17. Stay healthy. Eat good food and not a lot of junk. Get physical exercise and try to maintain a decent weight. (I recently read that a good rule-of-thumb guideline is to take you height and divide it by two. Your waistline should be no larger than the resulting number.) Overweight? Try the Dukan Diet to quick start your long-term weight loss plan.
18. Be a nice person. Treat those that are less fortunate with respect and be mindful that hard times may affect their behavior. Be friendly and neighborly and do not shun them because they are down and out. Remember, under different circumstances, it could be you that has fallen upon bad fortune.
19. Recognize that frugal is not a dirty word. It is a smart word. Frugal is not being cheap, it is being sensible. Being frugal now will allow you to get the most mileage out of your funds with something left over for a rainy day – or for the day when an economic meltdown occurs.
20. Prepare your mindset. If you plan for the worse and it never happens, be joyful. On the other hand, if you plan for the worse and you are prepared, you will reduce the possibility of panic in the short-term and depression in the long-term.
- There is a continued lack of employment opportunities for those that are currently unemployed of underemployed. Or, sad to say, old of age but not of spirit
- Droughts, freakish storms and other natural disasters are affecting the viability of farmlands resulting in increased costs for food
- Out of sight fuel costs affect transportation and heating costs
- The cost of health insurance, for many, has doubled if not tripled
- Devaluation of homes and real property continues in many parts of North America
- Cities are declaring bankruptcy and reneging on public employee pensions
- Crimes against persons (knifings, murders, even road rage) indicate a barometer of frustration and malcontent among citizens in almost every modern, first world country
Oh sure, there are pockets of economic growth here and there. But for the most part, I see and sense a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness when it comes to money and matters relating to the economy. As much as I hate to admit it, even I feel that the middle class life I have known most of my adult years will never be the same. Pretty depressing when you think about it.
What to do? Prepping and learning to become self-sufficient are a good start. The problem, though, is that you can store water and food, stow away some cash or even gold, and insulate yourself from short-term off grid situations. But what happens if the economic meltdown lasts longer than six months or a year?
I feel that the only solution is to embrace a lifestyle where consumption is kept to a minimum. And to that end, here are some tips that I have been noodling around (in no particular order).
1. Reduce housing costs. This may mean taking in borders or sharing your home with extended family members. Are you renting a large home or large apartment? Take it down a notch.
2. Manage food costs. Stock up when you see a great sale. Double up and by two instead of one, or three instead of two, and so on.
3. Create a mini-store in your own home and shop from your own supplies. Your pantry will become your friend when money or supplies are short. Don’t forget sundry items and personal items as well as food when it comes to stocking your home based mini-market.
4. Only purchase foods that you will eat. This is related to #3 above. Don’t purchase canned Spam if you will not eat it. That is just silly.
5. Limit eating out. If you want to celebrate a special evening, go for a desert and coffee date instead of dinner. With a little planning, you won’t suffer the “nothing in the house to eat” syndrome.
6. Reduce the number of vehicles you own. Do you really need a fleet with the associated costs of insurance and maintenance? Instead of an expensive vehicle, get yourself a scooter or motorcycle as a second vehicle and be smug at getting 60 mpg. Better yet, walk or bike instead of driving your car.
7. Purchase used goods. You can find some steals on Craigslist or Ebay. Or, if that is not your thing, go to garage sales and thrift shops. I am not suggesting that you purchase everything used, but think about your purchases and when practical, buy used and pocket the change.
8. Become self-entertaining. Read (use the library for heaven’s sake), watch videos (same thing, use the library as a great source of DVDs), find some puzzles you enjoy, hike, bike, dance. There are many things you can do to entertain yourself while spending very little money.
9. Reduce communications costs. Now tell me, do you really need 100 cable channels? And what about that smartphone that is costing $150 a month. Scale back as test – you can always add the extra services – and costs – back later if you simply have-to-have them. (Preaching here; I know this is a recurrent theme on this website.)
10. Earn extra income. Sell your unused stuff on Ebay. Get a part-time job if you have a skill. Flip burgers. Become a sales clerk or a barista. Do yard cleanup. Anything to bring in a few extra bucks.
11. Barter your time for goods or services. Walk dogs, water plants, help out with someone’s garden. Be creative.
12. Grow food. This does not take up a lot of space (as I have recently learned). Practice Square Foot Gardening and you will be amazed at how much you can grow in a tiny area.
13. Use what you have. Become Ms. and Mr. Fix-it and make repairs instead of buying new. Find new uses for old things. See 12 Tips to Use It Up, Wear It Out and Make It Do.
14. Avoid debt. If cash is short this week, wait until next week. Live within your means even it means that you will eat beans and rice for a few days. Put a moratorium on clothing purchases for one season.
15. Secure the homestead. Firearms, weapons, pepper spray or even a baseball bat. The choice is yours. Don’t brag about what you have and do everything you can to make sure you and your supplies are safe.
16. Have an escape plan. I am a big believer in the concept of shelter in place but if you need to evacuate, be ready. Have a plan so all family members know how to communicate with each other and where to meet. Learn about escape routes in your area and practice getting out of dodge.
17. Stay healthy. Eat good food and not a lot of junk. Get physical exercise and try to maintain a decent weight. (I recently read that a good rule-of-thumb guideline is to take you height and divide it by two. Your waistline should be no larger than the resulting number.) Overweight? Try the Dukan Diet to quick start your long-term weight loss plan.
18. Be a nice person. Treat those that are less fortunate with respect and be mindful that hard times may affect their behavior. Be friendly and neighborly and do not shun them because they are down and out. Remember, under different circumstances, it could be you that has fallen upon bad fortune.
19. Recognize that frugal is not a dirty word. It is a smart word. Frugal is not being cheap, it is being sensible. Being frugal now will allow you to get the most mileage out of your funds with something left over for a rainy day – or for the day when an economic meltdown occurs.
20. Prepare your mindset. If you plan for the worse and it never happens, be joyful. On the other hand, if you plan for the worse and you are prepared, you will reduce the possibility of panic in the short-term and depression in the long-term.
10 Diseases That Will Become Far More Common After The Collapse 7 Comments
Diseases come and diseases go…rather like fashions, but with diseases it’s the general conditions prevailing at the time that denotes what gets a foothold and what doesn’t. Many diseases are opportunists, they will surface at a time the conditions are right for them to flourish and most often this is at a time when humans really could do with concentrating on other stuff. Here are ten diseases that will make their presence felt after a major, long term,disaster be it war, societal collapse or in some cases even an economic downturn.
1.Typhus:Typhus is spread by the body louse, it’s all around us, prevalent amongst the homeless and those living in unsanitary overcrowded conditions. the only reason we are not all infected with it is our ability to launder our clothes and shoer/bathe regularly. History teaches us that typhus loves downturns and has been shown to surge during and after every major crisis be it war or a stock market crash.
2.Typhoid:Not to confused with typhus typhoid is caused by the bacteria salmonella typhi and is spread by contaminated food and water. It spreads quickly in overcrowded and/or unsanitary conditions.
3.Pellagra: Pellagra is caused by a lack of vitamin B3 and was endemic just a few decades ago, Those eating diets with low levels of B3 are at risk of suffering from pellagra. Its a debilitating disease that causes a slow and painful death.
4. Hantavirus: Hantavirus is caused by ingestion of dried mouse droppings that are commonly found in sheds, cabins etc. It’s a serious disease that will kill if not treated promptly. In a situation where the mouse population can’t be controlled and contact with droppings is more frequent cases of Hantavirus will rise.
5. Bubonic Plague: Plague has two forms, bubonic and pneumonic. Bubonic plague is often fatal if left untreated, pneumonic plague is almost always fatal if left untreated. Both are spread by the bite of a rat flea. As with hantavirus if rodents can’t be kept under control the disease will spread. It causes agonizing swellings, often in the groin or armpits that are full of pus and black in colour, hence being called the black death.
6. Leptospirosis: Sticking with rodents did you know they are incontinent? Everywhere the rodent goes it leaks urine and most rodents carry leptospirosis. It is very common after major freshwater floods as the rodents move to higher and drier ground and come into more contact with humans. treatable with antibiotics but often fatal if not anything that moves rodents nearer people or people nearer rodents will cause an uptick in cases.
7. Chagas Disease: Chagas is caused by the reduviid bug that lives in hardened mud, adobe walls and loose/dirt flooring. It’s endemic in parts of Africa,India and South America. It causes debilitating illness and can lead to lifelong medical problems if not treated early.
8. Food Poisoning: There are many forms of food poisoning, the most lethal of which is Listeria, though it’s closely followed by E.Coli 157. The incidence of food poisoning will rise almost immediately there’s a grid down situation. The lack of refrigeration coupled with the possibility of food not being cleaned or cooked properly will guarantee an uptick in these debilitating and often fatal conditions.
9. Heart Attacks/Strokes: Heart attacks and strokes will surge after a collapse of any kind. Lack of blood pressure medication will cause the death of many but more still will die due to over exertion. They will be undertaking physical tasks they have never done before and for many the strain will simply be too much. Add cold weather to a collapse scenario and the situation is even more dire as the blood becomes cool and sticky and forms small clots that can lead to both heart attacks and strokes.
10. Emerging Diseases: Many new diseases are emerging, or have emerged over the last few years. There is still a great deal to find out about the mode of transmission, susceptibility and pandemic potential of diseases such as MERS-nCV, H5N1 and H7N9 both forms of avian flu, and other zoonotic diseases that pose a threat to humans.
There are quite simply too many diseases that could threaten our survival in a post-collapse world for us to prepare for all of them. The only way you can be sure is to stay away from other people, and make sure other people stay away from you and your group. This is something that may be possible if you live in a low population area and you have enough supplies to hole up until the dust has settled…how ever long that may be. For most people however that’s not an option.
Wearing gloves when out and about, and not touching your nose or face after any form of outside contact will so some way towards preventing the spread of disease.
Have as little physical contact with ‘outsiders’ as possible and consider wearing a face mask or a scarf over your nose and mouth when out and about.
Make sure you remove outer wear, including footwear before re-entering your home.
Check the seams and pockets of your clothes regularly to make sure there are no lice hiding away and inspect you body throughly if you have been out mixing with the population at large. Pay particular attention to armpits and groin as body lice favour warm moist areas when they feed.
It’s a good idea to keep a tub of some kind full of bleach water just outside the door so that hands can be washed before entering. Pay particular attention to the area between the fingers and the tips of your fingers.
Stock a huge supply of baby wipes and band aids use them if you have to go out and about. Germs can’t do you any harm if they can’t get into you and they usually get in via your mouth and nose or through a break in your skin.
This list, sadly is not exhaustive. In fact it doesn’t even scratch the surface of the diseases that are out there just waiting for a chance to strike. The single most important thing you can do to prevent the spread of disease in a crisis is to keep your hands clean and keep them away from your nose and mouth,
Kids are wonderful little germ factories picking up bacteria and happily spreading it around teaching them hand hygiene will help keep you all safe during everyday life…and even more so during a crisis when lack of medical assistance and access to medication means this simple action could be a lifesaver.
Here you can find more information about the symptoms, treatment and prevention of all this diseases.
http://www.allselfsustained.com/10-diseases-that-will-become-far-more-common-after-the-collapse/
Take Care.
Diseases come and diseases go…rather like fashions, but with diseases it’s the general conditions prevailing at the time that denotes what gets a foothold and what doesn’t. Many diseases are opportunists, they will surface at a time the conditions are right for them to flourish and most often this is at a time when humans really could do with concentrating on other stuff. Here are ten diseases that will make their presence felt after a major, long term,disaster be it war, societal collapse or in some cases even an economic downturn.
1.Typhus:Typhus is spread by the body louse, it’s all around us, prevalent amongst the homeless and those living in unsanitary overcrowded conditions. the only reason we are not all infected with it is our ability to launder our clothes and shoer/bathe regularly. History teaches us that typhus loves downturns and has been shown to surge during and after every major crisis be it war or a stock market crash.
2.Typhoid:Not to confused with typhus typhoid is caused by the bacteria salmonella typhi and is spread by contaminated food and water. It spreads quickly in overcrowded and/or unsanitary conditions.
3.Pellagra: Pellagra is caused by a lack of vitamin B3 and was endemic just a few decades ago, Those eating diets with low levels of B3 are at risk of suffering from pellagra. Its a debilitating disease that causes a slow and painful death.
4. Hantavirus: Hantavirus is caused by ingestion of dried mouse droppings that are commonly found in sheds, cabins etc. It’s a serious disease that will kill if not treated promptly. In a situation where the mouse population can’t be controlled and contact with droppings is more frequent cases of Hantavirus will rise.
5. Bubonic Plague: Plague has two forms, bubonic and pneumonic. Bubonic plague is often fatal if left untreated, pneumonic plague is almost always fatal if left untreated. Both are spread by the bite of a rat flea. As with hantavirus if rodents can’t be kept under control the disease will spread. It causes agonizing swellings, often in the groin or armpits that are full of pus and black in colour, hence being called the black death.
6. Leptospirosis: Sticking with rodents did you know they are incontinent? Everywhere the rodent goes it leaks urine and most rodents carry leptospirosis. It is very common after major freshwater floods as the rodents move to higher and drier ground and come into more contact with humans. treatable with antibiotics but often fatal if not anything that moves rodents nearer people or people nearer rodents will cause an uptick in cases.
7. Chagas Disease: Chagas is caused by the reduviid bug that lives in hardened mud, adobe walls and loose/dirt flooring. It’s endemic in parts of Africa,India and South America. It causes debilitating illness and can lead to lifelong medical problems if not treated early.
8. Food Poisoning: There are many forms of food poisoning, the most lethal of which is Listeria, though it’s closely followed by E.Coli 157. The incidence of food poisoning will rise almost immediately there’s a grid down situation. The lack of refrigeration coupled with the possibility of food not being cleaned or cooked properly will guarantee an uptick in these debilitating and often fatal conditions.
9. Heart Attacks/Strokes: Heart attacks and strokes will surge after a collapse of any kind. Lack of blood pressure medication will cause the death of many but more still will die due to over exertion. They will be undertaking physical tasks they have never done before and for many the strain will simply be too much. Add cold weather to a collapse scenario and the situation is even more dire as the blood becomes cool and sticky and forms small clots that can lead to both heart attacks and strokes.
10. Emerging Diseases: Many new diseases are emerging, or have emerged over the last few years. There is still a great deal to find out about the mode of transmission, susceptibility and pandemic potential of diseases such as MERS-nCV, H5N1 and H7N9 both forms of avian flu, and other zoonotic diseases that pose a threat to humans.
There are quite simply too many diseases that could threaten our survival in a post-collapse world for us to prepare for all of them. The only way you can be sure is to stay away from other people, and make sure other people stay away from you and your group. This is something that may be possible if you live in a low population area and you have enough supplies to hole up until the dust has settled…how ever long that may be. For most people however that’s not an option.
Wearing gloves when out and about, and not touching your nose or face after any form of outside contact will so some way towards preventing the spread of disease.
Have as little physical contact with ‘outsiders’ as possible and consider wearing a face mask or a scarf over your nose and mouth when out and about.
Make sure you remove outer wear, including footwear before re-entering your home.
Check the seams and pockets of your clothes regularly to make sure there are no lice hiding away and inspect you body throughly if you have been out mixing with the population at large. Pay particular attention to armpits and groin as body lice favour warm moist areas when they feed.
It’s a good idea to keep a tub of some kind full of bleach water just outside the door so that hands can be washed before entering. Pay particular attention to the area between the fingers and the tips of your fingers.
Stock a huge supply of baby wipes and band aids use them if you have to go out and about. Germs can’t do you any harm if they can’t get into you and they usually get in via your mouth and nose or through a break in your skin.
This list, sadly is not exhaustive. In fact it doesn’t even scratch the surface of the diseases that are out there just waiting for a chance to strike. The single most important thing you can do to prevent the spread of disease in a crisis is to keep your hands clean and keep them away from your nose and mouth,
Kids are wonderful little germ factories picking up bacteria and happily spreading it around teaching them hand hygiene will help keep you all safe during everyday life…and even more so during a crisis when lack of medical assistance and access to medication means this simple action could be a lifesaver.
Here you can find more information about the symptoms, treatment and prevention of all this diseases.
http://www.allselfsustained.com/10-diseases-that-will-become-far-more-common-after-the-collapse/
Take Care.
11 Currency Options That Would Work If Paper Money Lost Its Value In A Crisis
http://www.allselfsustained.com
They say that money makes the world go around, but what would happen if a major crisis made all of the pretty paper in your wallet worthless overnight? We fool ourselves into believing that we are safe as long as we have X amount of money in reserve, but that safety net is made of paper, which is not the strongest material in the world. In the event that paper money became useless, sustainable goods would almost instantly start to rise in value and would become what we would use for trade. Being able to survive in the new world without money would mean having access to the items that keep us alive. The items that we take for granted today might well become the new currency of tomorrow, so perhaps it’s time to do a little hoarding. Let’s take a look at 10 items that may save your life in a moneyless world.
Seeds – We mentioned in #4 how having a garden could prove to be beneficial, but you need seeds to make that garden grow. A healthy supply of GMO heirloom seeds is a great investment to make, as you can use them to grow your own stuff and as trade in a barter system.
Survival gear – Included in the list of items like knives and warm clothing are many of the camping essentials that we use when we want to get back to nature a little. That family tent may well become an affordable home for someone in the future.
Water – While water may be one of the most plentiful resources at our disposal, a good portion of it is not fit for human consumption. Having a working well or some other source of fresh, clean water on your land would be the equivalent of having the license to print money in today’s world. You need only look at what happens in the event of a natural disaster to see how water quickly becomes the first thing to vanish off the shelves in local stores. It is recommended that every American have at least a 3-day supply of fresh water on hand at all times, yet only 53% can claim to do so.
Medical supplies – This is another in the list that we should all have on hand for ourselves, but which also having extra of could mean having something of real value to trade. What’s a little alarming is that as few as 44% of Americans have a first aid kit in the home at this time.
Precious materials – While most of us are happy to wear gold, silver, and precious stones as jewelry, very few think about how those trinkets could become immensely valuable in a crisis. Items that may be worth a few bucks today might very well skyrocket in such a scenario. This doesn’t mean that you need to start stockpiling gold and silver, but having a little investment in each may not be a bad idea.
Food – Water can only carry you so far, as we all need food for energy and nutrition. As well as having a good supply of canned goods on hand, you might also consider creating a garden filled with vegetables. Bulk foods such as grains and rice are also good items to have in stock. Chickens are also a great idea, as they will provide you with both eggs and meat if necessary. By the same token, goats can be an excellent source of milk, with all of the aforementioned items likely to be in high demand.
Alcohol – While booze may appear to be one of the things that would be considered a luxury, it does in fact have purposes other than making you forget about all the bad stuff going on outside your front door. Alcohol can be used to sterilize wounds, and may be a good substitute for those without that first aid kit.
Cigarettes – Playing to people addiction in exchange for other goods. Additionally, this is something that people turn to in times of high stress. Nothing wrong with having a carton or two, just make sure your teenagers don’t know about them.
Gas – In the event of a major crisis, there is always the possibility that electricity may go by the wayside. If that were to happen, gasoline, propane, and items used for lighting, heating, and cooking would become very high in value. Gasoline only has a finite lifespan, which means that oil and propane may very well be your best options for storing. Another way to cover this problem is to generate your own gas. Find out more about how to turn wastes and grass into gas and generate electricity in this article.
Skills and knowledge – The ability to be able to adapt and survive in the new world is something that can very much be taught. If you have experience in engineering, construction, or a trade that would be considered invaluable, you have a marketable skill that many will be willing to pay a high price for. Americans have become a little too comfortable in believing that the government will be there to help when disaster strikes, but that is not something that can be counted on. A little knowledge can go a long way when trying to survive an emergency situation.
http://www.allselfsustained.com
They say that money makes the world go around, but what would happen if a major crisis made all of the pretty paper in your wallet worthless overnight? We fool ourselves into believing that we are safe as long as we have X amount of money in reserve, but that safety net is made of paper, which is not the strongest material in the world. In the event that paper money became useless, sustainable goods would almost instantly start to rise in value and would become what we would use for trade. Being able to survive in the new world without money would mean having access to the items that keep us alive. The items that we take for granted today might well become the new currency of tomorrow, so perhaps it’s time to do a little hoarding. Let’s take a look at 10 items that may save your life in a moneyless world.
Seeds – We mentioned in #4 how having a garden could prove to be beneficial, but you need seeds to make that garden grow. A healthy supply of GMO heirloom seeds is a great investment to make, as you can use them to grow your own stuff and as trade in a barter system.
Survival gear – Included in the list of items like knives and warm clothing are many of the camping essentials that we use when we want to get back to nature a little. That family tent may well become an affordable home for someone in the future.
Water – While water may be one of the most plentiful resources at our disposal, a good portion of it is not fit for human consumption. Having a working well or some other source of fresh, clean water on your land would be the equivalent of having the license to print money in today’s world. You need only look at what happens in the event of a natural disaster to see how water quickly becomes the first thing to vanish off the shelves in local stores. It is recommended that every American have at least a 3-day supply of fresh water on hand at all times, yet only 53% can claim to do so.
Medical supplies – This is another in the list that we should all have on hand for ourselves, but which also having extra of could mean having something of real value to trade. What’s a little alarming is that as few as 44% of Americans have a first aid kit in the home at this time.
Precious materials – While most of us are happy to wear gold, silver, and precious stones as jewelry, very few think about how those trinkets could become immensely valuable in a crisis. Items that may be worth a few bucks today might very well skyrocket in such a scenario. This doesn’t mean that you need to start stockpiling gold and silver, but having a little investment in each may not be a bad idea.
Food – Water can only carry you so far, as we all need food for energy and nutrition. As well as having a good supply of canned goods on hand, you might also consider creating a garden filled with vegetables. Bulk foods such as grains and rice are also good items to have in stock. Chickens are also a great idea, as they will provide you with both eggs and meat if necessary. By the same token, goats can be an excellent source of milk, with all of the aforementioned items likely to be in high demand.
Alcohol – While booze may appear to be one of the things that would be considered a luxury, it does in fact have purposes other than making you forget about all the bad stuff going on outside your front door. Alcohol can be used to sterilize wounds, and may be a good substitute for those without that first aid kit.
Cigarettes – Playing to people addiction in exchange for other goods. Additionally, this is something that people turn to in times of high stress. Nothing wrong with having a carton or two, just make sure your teenagers don’t know about them.
Gas – In the event of a major crisis, there is always the possibility that electricity may go by the wayside. If that were to happen, gasoline, propane, and items used for lighting, heating, and cooking would become very high in value. Gasoline only has a finite lifespan, which means that oil and propane may very well be your best options for storing. Another way to cover this problem is to generate your own gas. Find out more about how to turn wastes and grass into gas and generate electricity in this article.
Skills and knowledge – The ability to be able to adapt and survive in the new world is something that can very much be taught. If you have experience in engineering, construction, or a trade that would be considered invaluable, you have a marketable skill that many will be willing to pay a high price for. Americans have become a little too comfortable in believing that the government will be there to help when disaster strikes, but that is not something that can be counted on. A little knowledge can go a long way when trying to survive an emergency situation.
Who Couldn't Use a Faraday Cage?
What It is A Faraday cage, also known as a Faraday shield, Radio Frequency Cage, or EMF (Electromotive Force) Cage, is simply an enclosure built to protect electronic devices from electromagnetic radiation and electrostatic discharges. It can be anything from a small box to a large room, covered with conductive metal or wire mesh, which prevents surges from damaging the equipment inside.
The sources of these surges can be powerful lightning strikes, destructive solar flares (CMEs, or Coronal Mass Ejections) directed toward earth, or the effects of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) from a nuclear bomb detonation high in the atmosphere.
The device is named for Michael Faraday, who observed in 1836 that the excess charge from a conductor remained on the outside of a container and had no effect on the interior contents. He experimented by building a room coated with metal foil and allowed high-voltage discharges from a generator to strike the outside of it. He used an electroscope to show that there was no electric charge present on the inside of the room’s walls. Though the device bears Faraday’s name, Benjamin Franklin is believed to have been the first to discover the principle.
Faraday cages, or shields, are used all throughout our society. Some are used in the scan-rooms of MRI machines, in which the “cage” effect prevents radio frequency signals from being added to the data from the patient’s image. Some electrical linemen wear “Faraday suits” when working on live, high-voltage power lines to prevent accidental electrocution. Military planners and politicians who have reason to keep their communications private often meet in Faraday-protected rooms that are impervious to electronic “eavesdropping.” In 2013, the Vatican even used the technology to shield the Sistine Chapel from curious listeners during the deliberations to select the new Pope.
Many people buy Faraday bags to protect their cell phones and laptops both from electrical surges and from unwanted surveillance or tracking.
According to the National Weather Service, an automobile is essentially a Faraday cage, and it’s the metal surrounding you, not the rubber tires, that protects you from lightning (as long as you’re not touching metal inside the car).[i] A smaller example is a microwave oven, which is a Faraday cage in reverse, trapping the waves inside the device instead of keeping them out. In fact, an old microwave oven makes a good Faraday cage for small electronics!
Typical items that can be stored in a Faraday cage include
Second, you won’t be the only “techie” who thought to protect valuable electronics in a Faraday cage. Some preppers do this as a matter of course, and eventually you would probably be able to communicate with them. (Cell towers, however, would likely be “fried” and need to be rebuilt).
Communication at such a time would be extremely valuable. Unless there had been well-publicized warnings of impending CMEs in the days before the event, many people would have no idea what had happened to our world. Ham radio operators, who could communicate with other Hams around the globe, might become the new heroes of the day.
Many AM/FM and shortwave radio stations believe that they’ll still be able to broadcast after an EMP or CME event, and without all the usual “noise” of our plugged-in society, their waves may be able to travel farther than they do now. Hopefully there would be Faraday-protected radios out there to receive their signals! There is, however, a likelihood that the earth’s electromagnetic field would be seriously disrupted by such an event, and it might take quite a while for things to settle down and not cause static on the airwaves.
How to Make a Faraday Cage To be effective, a Faraday cage must:
Faraday Box # 1—The Galvanized Trash Can
You will need
Place your wrapped items in cardboard boxes. Tape shut, then wrap the entire box with 2 layers of foil.
Line the trash can with cardboard, including the bottom, making sure there are no gaps. The foil-wrapped boxes must not touch the metal of the can. Set the can on wood or cardboard, not touching any other metal.
Several experts say that simply putting the lid on the can, even if it fits tightly, is an insufficient seal. They suggest folding a sheet of metal screening around the top of the can and over the top lid and then forcing the lid over that to maintain a constant, tight-fitting metallic connection.
Remember, this is for long-term storage of the appliances inside, not something that you can take your appliances out of to use and then return to the container without a great deal of trouble. A good idea is to look around for good deals on duplicates of things you use every day. Another important thing to remember is that you will need some type of charger—hand-cranked or solar-powered—to power up your devices once a crisis has passed. If you can wrap and store one of these in a protected Faraday container, you’ll be glad to have it.
Faraday Cage # 2—A Metal-Clad Box
Any box made of non-conductive material such as plywood, and then totally covered with metal, metal mesh, or metal screening can serve as a Faraday cage. The metal must touch at all the corners and over and all around any opening for the protection to be complete, as an electrical charge will find its way through any gaps or crevices in the construction. The smaller the holes in the mesh or screen, the better the protection—but either mesh or screen is believed to work better than solid metal. The metal can be attached to the wood with staples or screws, whichever seems to work best for you. You might consider applying the metal mesh so that it folds around the corners. Then let the next piece overlap the edge of the first, securely fastened together and to the wood so that there is no break in the conductive shield.
Updated: Living Off the Grid
For those who don’t rely as heavily on electronic equipment for day-to-day life, the idea of Living Off the Grid is more realistic. Those who live off the grid don’t need to worry quite as much about EMP’s or CME’s causing havoc and chaos to their daily routine because they have already given up a lot of the equipment that would be affected by those electromagnetic pulses.
However, living off the grid doesn't always mean going completely electronics-free. In this case, living off the grid may not protect you from the aftermath of EMP’s or CME’s even if you produce your own electricity from an alternate source. Faraday cages can benefit a variety of lifestyles to protect you and your electronics.
There are many uncertainties about exactly what would happen in the case of an enormous release of electromagnetic energy in our civilized, plugged-in world. We can hope that nothing will happen to damage our electronics, but in case our hopes are vain, we’ll be happy for every measure we've taken to prepare!
What It is A Faraday cage, also known as a Faraday shield, Radio Frequency Cage, or EMF (Electromotive Force) Cage, is simply an enclosure built to protect electronic devices from electromagnetic radiation and electrostatic discharges. It can be anything from a small box to a large room, covered with conductive metal or wire mesh, which prevents surges from damaging the equipment inside.
The sources of these surges can be powerful lightning strikes, destructive solar flares (CMEs, or Coronal Mass Ejections) directed toward earth, or the effects of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) from a nuclear bomb detonation high in the atmosphere.
The device is named for Michael Faraday, who observed in 1836 that the excess charge from a conductor remained on the outside of a container and had no effect on the interior contents. He experimented by building a room coated with metal foil and allowed high-voltage discharges from a generator to strike the outside of it. He used an electroscope to show that there was no electric charge present on the inside of the room’s walls. Though the device bears Faraday’s name, Benjamin Franklin is believed to have been the first to discover the principle.
Faraday cages, or shields, are used all throughout our society. Some are used in the scan-rooms of MRI machines, in which the “cage” effect prevents radio frequency signals from being added to the data from the patient’s image. Some electrical linemen wear “Faraday suits” when working on live, high-voltage power lines to prevent accidental electrocution. Military planners and politicians who have reason to keep their communications private often meet in Faraday-protected rooms that are impervious to electronic “eavesdropping.” In 2013, the Vatican even used the technology to shield the Sistine Chapel from curious listeners during the deliberations to select the new Pope.
Many people buy Faraday bags to protect their cell phones and laptops both from electrical surges and from unwanted surveillance or tracking.
According to the National Weather Service, an automobile is essentially a Faraday cage, and it’s the metal surrounding you, not the rubber tires, that protects you from lightning (as long as you’re not touching metal inside the car).[i] A smaller example is a microwave oven, which is a Faraday cage in reverse, trapping the waves inside the device instead of keeping them out. In fact, an old microwave oven makes a good Faraday cage for small electronics!
Typical items that can be stored in a Faraday cage include
- Laptop or notebook computers
- Thumb drives or external hard drives
- Cell phones
- Ipads, iPods, and e-readers
- Portable AM/Shortwave radios, ham radio equipment, and walkie-talkies
- DC/AC inverters
- Battery-powered radios
Second, you won’t be the only “techie” who thought to protect valuable electronics in a Faraday cage. Some preppers do this as a matter of course, and eventually you would probably be able to communicate with them. (Cell towers, however, would likely be “fried” and need to be rebuilt).
Communication at such a time would be extremely valuable. Unless there had been well-publicized warnings of impending CMEs in the days before the event, many people would have no idea what had happened to our world. Ham radio operators, who could communicate with other Hams around the globe, might become the new heroes of the day.
Many AM/FM and shortwave radio stations believe that they’ll still be able to broadcast after an EMP or CME event, and without all the usual “noise” of our plugged-in society, their waves may be able to travel farther than they do now. Hopefully there would be Faraday-protected radios out there to receive their signals! There is, however, a likelihood that the earth’s electromagnetic field would be seriously disrupted by such an event, and it might take quite a while for things to settle down and not cause static on the airwaves.
How to Make a Faraday Cage To be effective, a Faraday cage must:
- Be covered with conductive metal or mesh. Copper is the most conductive metal, followed by aluminum. (Well--gold and silver are better, but we assume you won’t be covering your cage with those!)
- Be properly grounded (according to some experts, to prevent shocks when touched)
- Adequately surround whatever it’s protecting.
Faraday Box # 1—The Galvanized Trash Can
You will need
- A galvanized metal trash can with a tight-fitting lid
- Several boxes of heavy-duty aluminum foil
- Enough metal screening or mesh to wrap around the top of the can and fit over the lip
- Cardboard boxes of assorted sizes that fit inside the can
- Plastic garbage bags or plastic wrap
- Cloth pieces to wrap items
Place your wrapped items in cardboard boxes. Tape shut, then wrap the entire box with 2 layers of foil.
Line the trash can with cardboard, including the bottom, making sure there are no gaps. The foil-wrapped boxes must not touch the metal of the can. Set the can on wood or cardboard, not touching any other metal.
Several experts say that simply putting the lid on the can, even if it fits tightly, is an insufficient seal. They suggest folding a sheet of metal screening around the top of the can and over the top lid and then forcing the lid over that to maintain a constant, tight-fitting metallic connection.
Remember, this is for long-term storage of the appliances inside, not something that you can take your appliances out of to use and then return to the container without a great deal of trouble. A good idea is to look around for good deals on duplicates of things you use every day. Another important thing to remember is that you will need some type of charger—hand-cranked or solar-powered—to power up your devices once a crisis has passed. If you can wrap and store one of these in a protected Faraday container, you’ll be glad to have it.
Faraday Cage # 2—A Metal-Clad Box
Any box made of non-conductive material such as plywood, and then totally covered with metal, metal mesh, or metal screening can serve as a Faraday cage. The metal must touch at all the corners and over and all around any opening for the protection to be complete, as an electrical charge will find its way through any gaps or crevices in the construction. The smaller the holes in the mesh or screen, the better the protection—but either mesh or screen is believed to work better than solid metal. The metal can be attached to the wood with staples or screws, whichever seems to work best for you. You might consider applying the metal mesh so that it folds around the corners. Then let the next piece overlap the edge of the first, securely fastened together and to the wood so that there is no break in the conductive shield.
Updated: Living Off the Grid
For those who don’t rely as heavily on electronic equipment for day-to-day life, the idea of Living Off the Grid is more realistic. Those who live off the grid don’t need to worry quite as much about EMP’s or CME’s causing havoc and chaos to their daily routine because they have already given up a lot of the equipment that would be affected by those electromagnetic pulses.
However, living off the grid doesn't always mean going completely electronics-free. In this case, living off the grid may not protect you from the aftermath of EMP’s or CME’s even if you produce your own electricity from an alternate source. Faraday cages can benefit a variety of lifestyles to protect you and your electronics.
There are many uncertainties about exactly what would happen in the case of an enormous release of electromagnetic energy in our civilized, plugged-in world. We can hope that nothing will happen to damage our electronics, but in case our hopes are vain, we’ll be happy for every measure we've taken to prepare!
The Best Survival Foods: Non-Perishables That Can Outlive You
Whether you’re sick of throwing out food that’s long past its expiry date, or whether you’re working on preparing a food stockpile in case of an emergency, consumables that practically never spoil can be a huge asset to your household. This article lists non-perishable food items that not only have long shelf lives, but if taken care of properly, these foods stand a chance of never going bad within your lifetime.
These ideal survival foods will of course need to be stored the right way in order to retain their practically never-ending shelf life. The absolute best place to keep a food stockpile is in a dark, cool, and dry spot, free of humidity, moisture, direct sunlight, and extreme temperatures. Keeping consumables in an air-tight container, or better yet, vacuum packed, is also very important to increasing shelf life.
Although many non-perishable survival foods may change flavour and/or texture over the years, they remain edible and perfectly safe for consumption over indefinite periods of time. Use your senses to judge whether or not food with long shelf life has expired. If it smells off, has become too soft, or has developed mold, it’s better not to eat the item.
1. Staple survival foods that are non-perishable
You’ll need to be really careful about keeping these completely dry and free from moisture, but if you can manage to store these in air-tight containers, they will keep for an incredibly long period of time.
2. Other survival foods that are non-perishable
Although some of these food items will change texture, thickening or hardening over time, they will only change in terms of taste. These survival foods never spoil, and will still remain edible long after their flavour has changed.
3. Survival foods that if frozen are non-perishable
Though these non-perishable foods last a long time if they’re left out in the open, if they’re frozen, their shelf life extends to indefinite amounts of time.
4. Base ingredients that are non-perishable
Apparently, these base ingredients can be the perfect survival food. According to some sources, if you simply keep them unused, in an air-tight container and completely free of humidity and moisture, and you’re likely to never have to buy them again.
5. Seasonings that are non-perishable
Seasonings are also excellent survival foods, as they’re food that lasts forever, and only get weaker in strength of taste over long periods of time. Like with the base ingredients, keep these in an air-tight container, free of moisture and humidity, and they’re likely to never expire.
6. Condiments that are non-perishable
While these foods will likely change in taste after some time, they remain safe to eat indefinitely. The best way to keep these non-perishable foods is in an airtight container, free of moisture, and in a dark, cool spot, away from sunlight. This type of storage will keep your non-perishable food condiments tasting better for longer.
7. Survival drinks that are non-perishable
Non-perishable drinks are another asset you can add to your survival food stockpile. Any alcohol over 10% that does not contain eggs, milk, and other dairy derivatives (ex. not Baileys, Tia Maria, etc.) should typically last forever in a stockpile. Alcohol also has disinfectant and medicinal properties, so keeping it stocked, especially when it never goes bad, is definitely a good idea for any prepper.
Thanks to: http://morethanjustsurviving.com
Whether you’re sick of throwing out food that’s long past its expiry date, or whether you’re working on preparing a food stockpile in case of an emergency, consumables that practically never spoil can be a huge asset to your household. This article lists non-perishable food items that not only have long shelf lives, but if taken care of properly, these foods stand a chance of never going bad within your lifetime.
These ideal survival foods will of course need to be stored the right way in order to retain their practically never-ending shelf life. The absolute best place to keep a food stockpile is in a dark, cool, and dry spot, free of humidity, moisture, direct sunlight, and extreme temperatures. Keeping consumables in an air-tight container, or better yet, vacuum packed, is also very important to increasing shelf life.
Although many non-perishable survival foods may change flavour and/or texture over the years, they remain edible and perfectly safe for consumption over indefinite periods of time. Use your senses to judge whether or not food with long shelf life has expired. If it smells off, has become too soft, or has developed mold, it’s better not to eat the item.
1. Staple survival foods that are non-perishable
You’ll need to be really careful about keeping these completely dry and free from moisture, but if you can manage to store these in air-tight containers, they will keep for an incredibly long period of time.
- Rice: white, wild, jasmine, arborio and basmati (brown rice does not keep forever)
- Hardtack crackers/biscuits
- Dried cranberries
2. Other survival foods that are non-perishable
Although some of these food items will change texture, thickening or hardening over time, they will only change in terms of taste. These survival foods never spoil, and will still remain edible long after their flavour has changed.
- Honey
- Molasses
- Maple syrup
- Dried lentils
- Dried beans
- Dried split peas
- Dry mix Jello
- Gobstoppers
3. Survival foods that if frozen are non-perishable
Though these non-perishable foods last a long time if they’re left out in the open, if they’re frozen, their shelf life extends to indefinite amounts of time.
- Dried pasta
- Noodles
- Dried fruits (such as rasins, dried cranberries, crasins, dried cherries, dried apricots, dried mangoes, dates, dried blueberries, dried plums, banana chips, figs)
- Instant/freeze-dried coffee
4. Base ingredients that are non-perishable
Apparently, these base ingredients can be the perfect survival food. According to some sources, if you simply keep them unused, in an air-tight container and completely free of humidity and moisture, and you’re likely to never have to buy them again.
- Corn starch
- Baking soda
- Corn syrup
5. Seasonings that are non-perishable
Seasonings are also excellent survival foods, as they’re food that lasts forever, and only get weaker in strength of taste over long periods of time. Like with the base ingredients, keep these in an air-tight container, free of moisture and humidity, and they’re likely to never expire.
- Salt
- Sugar
- Pepper
- Spices
- Dried herbs
- Pure flavour extracts (pure vanilla extract, etc.)
6. Condiments that are non-perishable
While these foods will likely change in taste after some time, they remain safe to eat indefinitely. The best way to keep these non-perishable foods is in an airtight container, free of moisture, and in a dark, cool spot, away from sunlight. This type of storage will keep your non-perishable food condiments tasting better for longer.
- Vinegar (white, apple, balsamic, raspberry, rice wine, and red wine vinegar)
- Worcestershire sauce (unopened)
7. Survival drinks that are non-perishable
Non-perishable drinks are another asset you can add to your survival food stockpile. Any alcohol over 10% that does not contain eggs, milk, and other dairy derivatives (ex. not Baileys, Tia Maria, etc.) should typically last forever in a stockpile. Alcohol also has disinfectant and medicinal properties, so keeping it stocked, especially when it never goes bad, is definitely a good idea for any prepper.
- Wine
- Spirits
- Liquors
Thanks to: http://morethanjustsurviving.com
Food Prepping Videos
Emergency Manual
10 Rookie Food Storage Mistakes
Are you new to food storage? Each experienced prepper began just as you. Take advantage of their mistakes by learning the 10 Rookie Food Storage Mistakes that should be avoided:
Are you new to food storage? Each experienced prepper began just as you. Take advantage of their mistakes by learning the 10 Rookie Food Storage Mistakes that should be avoided:
- Having buckets full of grains, beans or wheat, but have never cooked them before. Make sure to practice cooking with your food storage. Also note that if storing wheat berries you will need to have a wheat grinder to make flour.
- Storing food that your family does not eat. In a stressful emergency time, it will be such a comfort to serve familiar foods. Make a list of favorite foods then begin storing them.
- Not rotating food storage. Even though some foods can go past their expiration dates, you should try to use your oldest food storage first. A system of putting newer food toward the back of the shelf and rotating the oldest to the front of the shelf will help prevent food waste.
- Minimal variety of food for a balanced diet. To prevent food burnout it is best to store a wide variety. Try storing many varieties of fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, meats, seasonings and staples. Also keep on hand foods that are freeze dried, canned, dehydrated, MRE’s, and prepared as instant packaged meals.
- Poor choice of storage containers. Prevention of pests and rodents invading your food storage is key. Using the right food storage containers also prolongs shelf life, nutritional value and taste. Food grade plastic containers, Mylar bags, glass canning jars, #10 cans and even buckets all help to maintain a longer shelf life.
- Never put all your eggs in one basket. Store dehydrated and/or freeze dried foods as well as home canned and “store bought” canned goods. These varieties will help to balance out your cooking options and even add a variety of textures and flavors. Another take on this point, is to not store all of your food storage in one location. Instead of having all of your food storage in one location, it may be wise to have other hiding locations. False walls, under floor boards, another building on your property, at your emergency bug out location or even a storage facility.
- Forgetting salt, cooking oil, shortening, baking powder, soda, yeast, and powdered eggs. You can’t cook even the most basic recipes without these items.
- Not storing water to cook the food. Many food storage meals require water to rehydrate. Pasta, beans and soups all need water for cooking.
- Forgetting to store spices, salt, oil and basic condiments that are needed for your food storage. How will your famous spaghetti sauce taste without Italian seasoning, salt, olive oil and that pinch of sugar? Beans are a great staple to have on hand and can be seasoned in a variety of ways using salt, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, soy sauce, ground red pepper and more.
- Not having an alternative cooking source if the power goes out. There are many alternative cooking sources such as the Kelly Kettle, Volcano Oven, Wonder Oven, Propane Camp Stove, Solar Oven and much more. Research now to see which option is best for your family.
Do You Know What You're Drinking?
We often take for granted that with just the flip of a handle clean drinking water is dispensed straight into most homes. But how many of us actually know what is coming through the tap?
A chemical spill polluted water supplies in West Virginia on Thursday. Schools and restaurants closed, grocery stores sold out of bottled water, and thousands had to go without drinking, bathing, cooking, or washing their clothes with municipal water.
According to Tom Aluise, a state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman, the tank that leaked holds at least 40,000 gallons, but they’re “confident that no more than 5,000 gallons escaped.”
Although not lethal, the chemical in question is harmful if swallowed or inhaled, according to a fact sheet from Fisher Scientific. It can cause eye and skin irritation, along with other symptoms.
To read more about the chemical spill, check out the article here.
Even if you don’t live near one of the nine affected counties in West Virginia, it’s important to prepare against the chance of water pollution. When you’re prepared, an emergency can seem less like a crisis to you and your family.
Having a water storage supply and a means to filter and purify your water are useful during a variety of emergencies. In cases such as this, however, typical microfilters and purifiers won’t be able to cleanse the water from the chemicals. But the Hydropack will.
The Hydropack has .05 micron (5 angstrom) sized holes for water to pass through when dropped into a water source. The spilled chemical (4-methylcyclohexane methanol) is larger than 5 angstroms; the cyclohexane molecule itself is 5.3 angstroms. That means the chemical molecules are too large to pass through the Hydropack’s forward-osmosis filtration membrane.
Simply drop the Hydropack into your water source and let it absorb the water, filtering out chemicals and other contaminants to create an electrolyte drink much like a sports drink.
Although the Hydropack can help in a situation like this, storing clean water is important so that you can rely on yourself in times of emergency without having to wait for a filter or relief groups to get set up. There could also be situations when the pollutant in the water is small enough that the Hydropack won’t solve the issue. For more information: http://beprepared.com
We often take for granted that with just the flip of a handle clean drinking water is dispensed straight into most homes. But how many of us actually know what is coming through the tap?
A chemical spill polluted water supplies in West Virginia on Thursday. Schools and restaurants closed, grocery stores sold out of bottled water, and thousands had to go without drinking, bathing, cooking, or washing their clothes with municipal water.
According to Tom Aluise, a state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman, the tank that leaked holds at least 40,000 gallons, but they’re “confident that no more than 5,000 gallons escaped.”
Although not lethal, the chemical in question is harmful if swallowed or inhaled, according to a fact sheet from Fisher Scientific. It can cause eye and skin irritation, along with other symptoms.
To read more about the chemical spill, check out the article here.
Even if you don’t live near one of the nine affected counties in West Virginia, it’s important to prepare against the chance of water pollution. When you’re prepared, an emergency can seem less like a crisis to you and your family.
Having a water storage supply and a means to filter and purify your water are useful during a variety of emergencies. In cases such as this, however, typical microfilters and purifiers won’t be able to cleanse the water from the chemicals. But the Hydropack will.
The Hydropack has .05 micron (5 angstrom) sized holes for water to pass through when dropped into a water source. The spilled chemical (4-methylcyclohexane methanol) is larger than 5 angstroms; the cyclohexane molecule itself is 5.3 angstroms. That means the chemical molecules are too large to pass through the Hydropack’s forward-osmosis filtration membrane.
Simply drop the Hydropack into your water source and let it absorb the water, filtering out chemicals and other contaminants to create an electrolyte drink much like a sports drink.
Although the Hydropack can help in a situation like this, storing clean water is important so that you can rely on yourself in times of emergency without having to wait for a filter or relief groups to get set up. There could also be situations when the pollutant in the water is small enough that the Hydropack won’t solve the issue. For more information: http://beprepared.com
10 Things We Can Learn From the West Virginia Chemical Spill
If you have been paying attention to the news lately, you are aware that there was a massive chemical spill in West Virginia. Over 300,000 people along the Elk River were told not to drink their water, brush their teeth or take showers. This was a serious incident that could happen anywhere at any time, so it’s important that we learn some important lessons from this event.
Lessons from the West Virginia Chemical Spill LESSON #1: Emergencies, by definition, happen by surprise so BE PREPARED! If an emergency strikes and you are not prepared, your health could be at risk, you will be at the mercy of government response and you could find yourself in a very scary situation. It’s human nature to procrastinate, but learn your lesson and prepare today.
LESSON #2: Water is crucial for life. You will never understand how vital water is until you don’t have it. No other preparation matters if you don’t first ensure a supply of safe water. A lack of safe drinking water is one of the primary causes of panic. People NEED and MUST HAVE water. It’s a fundamental biological need. Rational thought goes out the window because your body demands it. By being prepared, you keep yourself out of panic mode and are able to stay calm and collected. Having a calm state of mind allows you to react properly to a situation, and it allows you to be a calming voice in a troubled time.
LESSON #3: An emergency is followed by a period of uncertainty. There was (and still is) confusion about the chemical spill because there is very little data on the chemical 4-methylcyclohexane methanol, or MCHM. Believe it or not, there has been very little, if any, toxicity testing done on this chemical. Quite simply, no one knows how toxic the chemical is or what the long-term health effects are.
LESSON #4: YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT IS IN YOUR WATER! The company did not notify the government that a leak had taken place even though they knew that it had happened. So how did we know that there was a leak? A concerned citizen notified the government of a licorice-smell in the river, which was then investigated. If this person hadn’t taken action, people may not have ever known. It is also true that if this chemical had no odor our hero citizen would not have smelled it to raise the alarm. The fact is, however, this type of incident happens quite often.
LESSON #5: The government ALWAYS tries to downplay the danger. One of the scariest things for a government (all governments) is a highly concerned, or even panicked populous. This time was no different, because they told everyone that the danger was over far too early (in my opinion). Another dramatic example happened after the Fukushima nuclear reactor exploded in Japan, launching thousands of pounds of radioactive waste into the air. When this happened, the Japanese government declared that nothing was wrong and that the reactor had not exploded, even though people could see that the building was gone! They continued this lie for well over a month before letting the truth out in little bite-sized pieces.
LESSON #6: Media attention dies quickly, but that doesn’t mean that the danger is over. The WV chemical spill happened a little over a week ago, but the people living there will be dealing with this for a long time. Again, there is very little known about this chemical, but what we do know is that it is an organic chemical, which can be some of the most toxic types of chemicals. Dioxin for example, which is another organic chemical, is one of the most toxic substances on the planet, and it doesn’t simply go away. It stays in the environment for long periods of time and can cause long-term illness.
LESSON #7: There are different types of contaminants that can be in water, and they need to be treated differently. For example, if your water is contaminated with dangerous bacteria, you should not rely on a carbon filter in an emergency situation. Boiling alone is very effective for killing bacteria, but it actually concentrates most chemicals. Thus you need to be aware of the situation and knowledgeable about water treatment.
LESSON #8: It’s not just about drinking water. Many contaminants, especially organic chemicals (such as the one spilled in WV) can be dangerous to touch. This means that you have to be careful with brushing your teeth, washing your hands, cooking, showering and even washing your clothes.
LESSON #9: One of the first preparations that you need is a two-week supply of bottled water stored in your house. Store one gallon per day per person, of which ½ gallon should be used for consumption, and ½ gallon for washing and hygiene. You should also store extra water for people who will be depending upon you (your children, loved ones, neighbors, etc). In addition, you should have a good emergency water filter, an emergency water distiller, and a permanent, day to day water purifier (I recommend a good water distiller).
LESSON #10: You need to have a deep understanding about water, water contamination, and water treatment methods! It’s not enough to simply buy a water filter (or even a water distiller) and think that you are prepared. How do you assess a situation? How do you determine the best process for treating water? Do you know how to properly store water? How do you protect your family? The best way to gain this deep understanding is to attend a new free webinar that I am hosting on January 30th at 7pm (click here to register). This is a new webinar, so even if you have attended one of my webinars in the past, I will present a lot of new information for you… and all participants will receive two free gifts; a free water preparation check-list and a free e-book, both of which will help you be prepared for an emergency.
If you have been paying attention to the news lately, you are aware that there was a massive chemical spill in West Virginia. Over 300,000 people along the Elk River were told not to drink their water, brush their teeth or take showers. This was a serious incident that could happen anywhere at any time, so it’s important that we learn some important lessons from this event.
Lessons from the West Virginia Chemical Spill LESSON #1: Emergencies, by definition, happen by surprise so BE PREPARED! If an emergency strikes and you are not prepared, your health could be at risk, you will be at the mercy of government response and you could find yourself in a very scary situation. It’s human nature to procrastinate, but learn your lesson and prepare today.
LESSON #2: Water is crucial for life. You will never understand how vital water is until you don’t have it. No other preparation matters if you don’t first ensure a supply of safe water. A lack of safe drinking water is one of the primary causes of panic. People NEED and MUST HAVE water. It’s a fundamental biological need. Rational thought goes out the window because your body demands it. By being prepared, you keep yourself out of panic mode and are able to stay calm and collected. Having a calm state of mind allows you to react properly to a situation, and it allows you to be a calming voice in a troubled time.
LESSON #3: An emergency is followed by a period of uncertainty. There was (and still is) confusion about the chemical spill because there is very little data on the chemical 4-methylcyclohexane methanol, or MCHM. Believe it or not, there has been very little, if any, toxicity testing done on this chemical. Quite simply, no one knows how toxic the chemical is or what the long-term health effects are.
LESSON #4: YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT IS IN YOUR WATER! The company did not notify the government that a leak had taken place even though they knew that it had happened. So how did we know that there was a leak? A concerned citizen notified the government of a licorice-smell in the river, which was then investigated. If this person hadn’t taken action, people may not have ever known. It is also true that if this chemical had no odor our hero citizen would not have smelled it to raise the alarm. The fact is, however, this type of incident happens quite often.
LESSON #5: The government ALWAYS tries to downplay the danger. One of the scariest things for a government (all governments) is a highly concerned, or even panicked populous. This time was no different, because they told everyone that the danger was over far too early (in my opinion). Another dramatic example happened after the Fukushima nuclear reactor exploded in Japan, launching thousands of pounds of radioactive waste into the air. When this happened, the Japanese government declared that nothing was wrong and that the reactor had not exploded, even though people could see that the building was gone! They continued this lie for well over a month before letting the truth out in little bite-sized pieces.
LESSON #6: Media attention dies quickly, but that doesn’t mean that the danger is over. The WV chemical spill happened a little over a week ago, but the people living there will be dealing with this for a long time. Again, there is very little known about this chemical, but what we do know is that it is an organic chemical, which can be some of the most toxic types of chemicals. Dioxin for example, which is another organic chemical, is one of the most toxic substances on the planet, and it doesn’t simply go away. It stays in the environment for long periods of time and can cause long-term illness.
LESSON #7: There are different types of contaminants that can be in water, and they need to be treated differently. For example, if your water is contaminated with dangerous bacteria, you should not rely on a carbon filter in an emergency situation. Boiling alone is very effective for killing bacteria, but it actually concentrates most chemicals. Thus you need to be aware of the situation and knowledgeable about water treatment.
LESSON #8: It’s not just about drinking water. Many contaminants, especially organic chemicals (such as the one spilled in WV) can be dangerous to touch. This means that you have to be careful with brushing your teeth, washing your hands, cooking, showering and even washing your clothes.
LESSON #9: One of the first preparations that you need is a two-week supply of bottled water stored in your house. Store one gallon per day per person, of which ½ gallon should be used for consumption, and ½ gallon for washing and hygiene. You should also store extra water for people who will be depending upon you (your children, loved ones, neighbors, etc). In addition, you should have a good emergency water filter, an emergency water distiller, and a permanent, day to day water purifier (I recommend a good water distiller).
LESSON #10: You need to have a deep understanding about water, water contamination, and water treatment methods! It’s not enough to simply buy a water filter (or even a water distiller) and think that you are prepared. How do you assess a situation? How do you determine the best process for treating water? Do you know how to properly store water? How do you protect your family? The best way to gain this deep understanding is to attend a new free webinar that I am hosting on January 30th at 7pm (click here to register). This is a new webinar, so even if you have attended one of my webinars in the past, I will present a lot of new information for you… and all participants will receive two free gifts; a free water preparation check-list and a free e-book, both of which will help you be prepared for an emergency.
The 5 Best Soaps for preppers (Cost effective too!)
There are always hundreds of answers to that question because there really isn’t a single ‘best’ soap to store; almost any soap is good to stock up on compared to none at all. If they have to, people can make do cleaning most things with just about any common soap. If you make your own soap, that is a very frugal and admirable skill. Homemade soap is a good option if you have time to make extra and stock up on it (click here to learn how). The important thing is to have a supply soap on hand for hygiene and sanitation if the store is ever sold out or closed.
All soaps have strengths and weaknesses; here are five soaps that have multiple uses that make them ideal for storage and emergency use. Maybe one of these soaps will work for you!
1) Dawn: (or an equivalent) dish washing detergent: Dawn is well-known for getting dishes clean, but did you know that it is well-known for doing that even with cold water? Their website encourages people to try washing dishes in cold water to conserve power. This would also be handy in the event of a long-term power outage. Dawn is also commonly used as shampoo to remove product build-up and strip excess oil. Because Dawn is non-toxic and biodegradable you can make an insecticide with it (as well as from other biodegradable soaps) by diluting it with water. Other insects such as ants tend to avoid treated areas also making it a repellant. Dawn also makes an effective flea bath for cats and dogs.
The grease busting power of Dawn makes it an acceptable substitute for laundry detergent and/or a pre-treatment for tough stains. (Although care must be taken not to add too much Dawn or there will be an overflow of bubbles and trouble with rinsing.) Mixed with boiling water Dawn can also help clear a grease clogged drain in the kitchen and it makes an effective glass cleaner when just a drop or two is added to vinegar and water. Dawn detergent will store for years and remain effective; however, the soap may separate if exposed to extreme temperature swings.
2) Ivory: Classic Ivory soap is biodegradable; it was originally marketed as a laundry soap bar and is still used in many different homemade laundry soap recipes. If doing laundry by hand the old-fashioned way, classic Ivory is still capable of getting your clothes clean and residue free. Because bars of Ivory floated in water it became a popular bathing soap.
Today Classic Ivory still has many uses. Bars of Ivory soap can also be used as an insecticide by grating it first then melting it down with heated water to create a liquid soap. The resulting liquid Ivory can also be used for dish washing, and shampooing. Since Classic Ivory soap is only lightly scented, floats, and is free from many of the additives that make other soaps undesirable for environmental and health concerns, it’s a very popular choice for campers and preppers. Classic Ivory bar soap will store indefinitely without any additional treatment. Be sure to look for the “It Floats!” slogan and “99 44/100% Pure” statement on the label. There are several different types of Ivory now, and the Classic Ivory bars are the only ones that float, the formula on the rest of Ivory’s products are different.
3) Soap Flakes: Soap Flakes is another product that was originally invented as laundry soap because it was much easier to dissolve them in warm water than it was to grate down a solid bar of soap. Soap Flakes are pure soap in a flake form; they are made from a 100% vegetable base of palm and coconut oils. They contain no bleaches, phosphates, enzymes, or perfumes and are completely biodegradable. Soap Flakes can be used as laundry soap, dish soap, body soap, and as a general household cleaner. They are notably mild and frequently recommended for the cleaning of children’s toys, laundry, and even as a children’s bath soap.
For years Soap Flakes were our grandmother’s choice for hand washing dedicates and wool. They will store for years in their dry form, are light weight, and are easy to dissolve for any of the above uses. Soap Flakes’ friendliness to the environment and light weight have made them a popular choice for backpackers and campers for years, for this reason they are also a common item in bug out bags.
4) Fel’s Naptha: Fel’s -Naptha was originally invented and marketed as a heavy-duty laundry soap bar and still is today. The potent bars of Fel’s-Naptha are most commonly used as a pre-treatment for stains and they frequently out perform their higher priced spray bottle competitors in that area. Fel’s-Naptha is the current best-selling choice for those who make their own laundry detergent. When combined with ingredients like borax and washing soda, a single bar of Fel’s-Naptha will last nearly a year. How is that for cost efficient?
Fel’s-Naptha can also be used to treat poison ivy, poison oak, or sumac rash when used just after exposure occurs. The soap will break up the oils from the plants, which contain the toxins. It can also be used in bathrooms to remove soap scum and in the garden as an insecticide. Fel’s-Naptha is not flawless however, as it still contains strong perfumes, additives for color, and shouldn’t be used on the skin as a replacement for regular body soap. Fel’s-Naptha once contained Stoddard solvent, which is a known eye irritant, but according to their website the soap no longer contains the solvent. Fel’s-Naptha soap, like Ivory, will store indefinitely with no additional treatment.
5) Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap: Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap is a liquid Castile soap. Castile soap is a name used for olive oil based soaps, which are frequently noted for their mildness. For years Dr. Bronner’s has been one of the best-selling holistic soaps on the market. Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap also has many uses, it comes in several different scents including un-scented and it’s completely biodegradable.
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap can be used for everyday washing, shampooing, dish washing, as a shaving cream, for tooth brushing (although I have heard the taste is awful), for laundry, for household cleaning and its high glycerin content allows it to be used as a leather soap in a pinch. Parenting forums have claimed the tea tree variety of Dr. Bronner’s is effective in treating and repelling lice and fleas. Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap will store for long periods of time but, like other liquid soaps, may separate if exposed to dramatic shifts in temperature.
All soaps have strengths and weaknesses; here are five soaps that have multiple uses that make them ideal for storage and emergency use. Maybe one of these soaps will work for you!
1) Dawn: (or an equivalent) dish washing detergent: Dawn is well-known for getting dishes clean, but did you know that it is well-known for doing that even with cold water? Their website encourages people to try washing dishes in cold water to conserve power. This would also be handy in the event of a long-term power outage. Dawn is also commonly used as shampoo to remove product build-up and strip excess oil. Because Dawn is non-toxic and biodegradable you can make an insecticide with it (as well as from other biodegradable soaps) by diluting it with water. Other insects such as ants tend to avoid treated areas also making it a repellant. Dawn also makes an effective flea bath for cats and dogs.
The grease busting power of Dawn makes it an acceptable substitute for laundry detergent and/or a pre-treatment for tough stains. (Although care must be taken not to add too much Dawn or there will be an overflow of bubbles and trouble with rinsing.) Mixed with boiling water Dawn can also help clear a grease clogged drain in the kitchen and it makes an effective glass cleaner when just a drop or two is added to vinegar and water. Dawn detergent will store for years and remain effective; however, the soap may separate if exposed to extreme temperature swings.
2) Ivory: Classic Ivory soap is biodegradable; it was originally marketed as a laundry soap bar and is still used in many different homemade laundry soap recipes. If doing laundry by hand the old-fashioned way, classic Ivory is still capable of getting your clothes clean and residue free. Because bars of Ivory floated in water it became a popular bathing soap.
Today Classic Ivory still has many uses. Bars of Ivory soap can also be used as an insecticide by grating it first then melting it down with heated water to create a liquid soap. The resulting liquid Ivory can also be used for dish washing, and shampooing. Since Classic Ivory soap is only lightly scented, floats, and is free from many of the additives that make other soaps undesirable for environmental and health concerns, it’s a very popular choice for campers and preppers. Classic Ivory bar soap will store indefinitely without any additional treatment. Be sure to look for the “It Floats!” slogan and “99 44/100% Pure” statement on the label. There are several different types of Ivory now, and the Classic Ivory bars are the only ones that float, the formula on the rest of Ivory’s products are different.
3) Soap Flakes: Soap Flakes is another product that was originally invented as laundry soap because it was much easier to dissolve them in warm water than it was to grate down a solid bar of soap. Soap Flakes are pure soap in a flake form; they are made from a 100% vegetable base of palm and coconut oils. They contain no bleaches, phosphates, enzymes, or perfumes and are completely biodegradable. Soap Flakes can be used as laundry soap, dish soap, body soap, and as a general household cleaner. They are notably mild and frequently recommended for the cleaning of children’s toys, laundry, and even as a children’s bath soap.
For years Soap Flakes were our grandmother’s choice for hand washing dedicates and wool. They will store for years in their dry form, are light weight, and are easy to dissolve for any of the above uses. Soap Flakes’ friendliness to the environment and light weight have made them a popular choice for backpackers and campers for years, for this reason they are also a common item in bug out bags.
4) Fel’s Naptha: Fel’s -Naptha was originally invented and marketed as a heavy-duty laundry soap bar and still is today. The potent bars of Fel’s-Naptha are most commonly used as a pre-treatment for stains and they frequently out perform their higher priced spray bottle competitors in that area. Fel’s-Naptha is the current best-selling choice for those who make their own laundry detergent. When combined with ingredients like borax and washing soda, a single bar of Fel’s-Naptha will last nearly a year. How is that for cost efficient?
Fel’s-Naptha can also be used to treat poison ivy, poison oak, or sumac rash when used just after exposure occurs. The soap will break up the oils from the plants, which contain the toxins. It can also be used in bathrooms to remove soap scum and in the garden as an insecticide. Fel’s-Naptha is not flawless however, as it still contains strong perfumes, additives for color, and shouldn’t be used on the skin as a replacement for regular body soap. Fel’s-Naptha once contained Stoddard solvent, which is a known eye irritant, but according to their website the soap no longer contains the solvent. Fel’s-Naptha soap, like Ivory, will store indefinitely with no additional treatment.
5) Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap: Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap is a liquid Castile soap. Castile soap is a name used for olive oil based soaps, which are frequently noted for their mildness. For years Dr. Bronner’s has been one of the best-selling holistic soaps on the market. Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap also has many uses, it comes in several different scents including un-scented and it’s completely biodegradable.
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap can be used for everyday washing, shampooing, dish washing, as a shaving cream, for tooth brushing (although I have heard the taste is awful), for laundry, for household cleaning and its high glycerin content allows it to be used as a leather soap in a pinch. Parenting forums have claimed the tea tree variety of Dr. Bronner’s is effective in treating and repelling lice and fleas. Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap will store for long periods of time but, like other liquid soaps, may separate if exposed to dramatic shifts in temperature.
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