Survival Blogging!

Solar Power on the Cheap

2012-01-16T21:14:00.000-06:00

Solar System Ideas

2012-01-16T21:07:00.000-06:00

Protecting Your Family

2012-01-16T20:37:00.001-06:00

Solar Power And How It's Used

2012-01-15T22:17:00.000-06:00

Proverbs 27:12

2012-01-15T22:04:00.000-06:00

Proverbs 27:12 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹² A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.
The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

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2012-01-03T10:18:00.002-06:00

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World Health Organization 'Deeply Concerned' by Bird Flu Research

2012-01-03T08:37:00.001-06:00

Some scientists have engineered a form of the deadly H5N1 virus that is easily transmissible and could cause lethal human pandemics.
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a stern warning on Friday to scientists who have engineered a highly pathogenic form of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, saying their work carries significant risks and must be tightly controlled.
The United Nations health body said it was "deeply concerned about the potential negative consequences" of work by two leading flu research teams who this month said they had found ways to make H5N1 into a easily transmissible form capable of causing lethal human pandemics.
The work by the teams, one in The Netherlands and one in the United States, has already prompted an unprecedented censorship call from U.S. security advisers who fear that publishing details of the research could give potential attackers the know-how to make a bioterror weapon.
The U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity has asked two journals that want to publish the work to make only redacted versions of studies available, a request to which the journal editors and many leading scientists object.
In its first comment on the controversy, the WHO said: "While it is clear that conducting research to gain such knowledge must continue, it is also clear that certain research, and especially that which can generate more dangerous forms of the virus ... has risks."
H5N1 bird flu is extremely deadly in people who are directly exposed to it from infected birds. Since the virus was first detected in 1997, about 600 people have contracted it and more than half of them have died.
But so far it has not yet naturally mutated into a form that can pass easily from person to person, although many scientists fear this kind of mutation is likely to happen at some point and will constitute a major health threat if it does.

MUTATIONS
Flu researchers around the world have been working for many years trying to figure out which mutations would give H5N1 the ability to spread easily from one person to another, while at the same time maintaining its deadly properties.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health funded the two research teams to carry out research into how the virus could become more transmissible in humans, with the aim of gaining insight on how to react if the mutation occurred naturally.
The WHO said such research should be done "only after all important public health risks and benefits have been identified" and "it is certain that the necessary protections to minimize the potential for negative consequences are in place."
The agency also said it was vital that new rules on the sharing of viruses and scientific know-how were enforced to ensure those countries at most immediate risk from H5N1, mainly developing countries in Asia such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and others, would benefit from advances in research.
During the H1N1 swine flu pandemic in 2009-2010, many developing countries complained they had no life-saving antivirals or vaccines to combat the new virus, despite having made samples of the virus available to researchers and pharmaceutical companies to develop the medicines.
It is normally laboratories in wealthy developed countries that have the level of scientific expertise needed to work on complex flu viruses, while bird, or avian, flu viruses themselves often come from less well developed Asian countries.
A new Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework was agreed and adopted by all WHO member states in May 2011 to set rules for sharing flu viruses that have pandemic potential, and sharing the benefits of the expertise gained.
"WHO considers it critically important that scientists who undertake research with influenza viruses with pandemic potential samples fully abide by the new requirements," the U.N. agency said in its statement. (theatlantic.com)

Buried Alive in a Snowdrift

2011-12-23T20:30:00.000-06:00

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Rescuers on Wednesday pulled a Texas family from an SUV that had been buried in a snowdrift on a rural New Mexico highway for nearly two days.

State police said rescuers had to dig through 4 feet of ice and snow to free the Higgins family, whose red GMC Yukon got stuck on U.S. 56 near Springer when a blizzard moved through the area Monday.

Rescuers found David and Yvonne Higgins and their 5-year-old daughter Hannah clinging to each other and lethargic early Wednesday morning. The family is recovering at Miners Colfax Medical Center in Raton.

David Higgins told The Associated Press he and his wife both have pneumonia but his daughter is fine. He said he was glad to be able to talk about his ordeal because he had feared that he and his family might not be found.

"By 9 or 10 Monday night, I realized there was solid snow outside my window. I tried to shove my arm through the top of the window. I thought it can't be that deep," the 48-year-old father said. "I pushed as hard as I could. My arm went about 16 inches and there was still snow."

The family, who had left their home near League City, Texas, on Sunday for a ski trip at Angel Fire in northern New Mexico, started to hit bad weather soon after they crossed the state line into New Mexico on Monday afternoon.

They had checked road conditions. Difficult driving was reported but the road was still open. They followed a snowplow for a while, but visibility dropped to zero.

"It was white. You couldn't even see the yellow line," David said.

It was getting so bad that he had slowed to about 5 mph.

"You're thinking there are these people from Colorado and New Mexico behind us going, `Those Texas drivers, they don't know how to drive in this snow,'" he said. "Then I'm thinking to myself, `How can they drive in this?' You can't even see."

Despite having snow tires on their SUV, the snow stopped the family in their tracks. David Higgins tried backing up and then driving forward again. He made some progress but then the back end slipped around and the vehicle started to slide down an embankment.

He was able to keep the car running for a couple of hours, but when he went to get out to clear the exhaust pipe, his door was blocked.

Early on, the family could hear vehicles passing, so they tried honking the horn. That didn't work.

The Higginses had their ski gear, plenty of water to drink, sandwiches, chips and Chex mix. But as the hours passed, it seems as if they were working harder to breathe inside the buried SUV.

"We weren't sure of it, but we think we were running out of air. That was spooky," he said.

Higgins was able to reach his brother in Texas by cellphone and let him know the family's general location. The distress call was relayed to state police, which launched a search for the family Tuesday evening.

The National Guard was called out, along with state transportation workers. State highway trucks with plows and rescuers in four-wheel-drive vehicles pushed through heavy snow and drifts as high as 10 feet as teams probed the snow looking for the family's SUV.

One of the rescuers hit the hood, and the digging started.

Higgins said rescuers had to break the window to get to him and his family.

"They pulled us up and out of it," he said. "The rescuer took pictures and it looked like a rabbit hole. We were 3 to 4 feet above the vehicle."

The Higginses were among 32 vehicles state police and guardsmen rescued from the storm, but they were the only ones who police say needed medical attention.

"Tired and whooped" is how Higgins described his family after their ordeal.

They had a steady stream of visitors at the hospital Wednesday as state police officers and rescue workers came to check on them.

Higgins' parents were on their way to New Mexico on Wednesday night to help the couple. Whether they would make it home in time for Christmas was still unclear, since Higgins said his wife still wasn't feeling up to a long trip.

He was able to joke that a ski vacation was definitely out this year, but he wouldn't mind taking his family on a cross-country trip next summer – when there's no chance of it snowing. He said his daughter loves to go camping and there are plenty of places he and his wife have yet to see.

Playing games on their cellphones and watching movies on his daughter's travel DVD player helped pass the time, but Higgins admits the thought of not making it out alive started to cross his mind after a day of being buried.

"We didn't realize how deep the snow was," he said.

Higgins had a simple message for travelers this winter: Throw a case of water and a sleeping bag in the car.

"It will be there if you need it," he said. "I could see if we weren't half as prepared as we were, it could have been a worse outcome." (HuffingtonPost.com)

Evacuation Plan & Planning to Bug Out During A Emergency

2011-12-23T14:35:00.000-06:00

Evacuation Plan & Planning to Bug Out During A Emergency (OffGridSurvival.com)

Having an emergency evacuation plan is critical in any survival situation. If the SHTF, having a plan of action will put you about 20 steps ahead of the mindless morons who spent their time watching T.V.

Your Evacuation plan should take into account the following things:

Most likely emergency scenarios

Put on your thinking cap! Start to list the most likely emergency situations that can take place. Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Civil Unrest, War, Riots, Nuclear or Terror Attacks, Etc…

Sketch out some ideas of what you would do when the SHTF and put together a custom survival plan for each scenerio.

Stay or Go?

This decision can be huge; each choice has benefits and risks associated with it. Think about what things would have to happen to make you leave your home. Hint: if you waited for the government to issue mandatory evacuation orders, you waited to long.

Meet up place

When disaster hits there is a good chance that your family may not be together. Now is the time to decide on a family meeting place. Pick a place that is easy to find and make sure each member of your family can find it during an emergency.

Have multiple routes out.

Keep in mind that during a disaster most of the major highways are going to be completely clogged with people trying to get out. Plan now, and map out as many routes as possible. Use Google Maps to print out possible evacuation routes and then laminate the paper so it hold up when you need it.

Don’t forget to print out vehicle and walking routes (hiking trails, railroad tracks, side roads etc… should all be considered.)

Survival Supplies:

What items do you need to survive for 72 hours, a week, a month or even indefinitely? Put together a survival / Bug Out Bag of essential items that you will need to survive each situation.

Your bag should be designed around your family, climate and health. There is no one size fits all bag, so make sure you pack the items that you need to survive.

Where will you go?

Bugging out without a place to go isn’t a plan. Make sure you know where you are going before disaster strikes. If you don’t own land or a second house, then look for areas to camp that can sustain you and your family.

You may also want to look into investing in a bug out vehicle, a 4 season tent or a small travel trailer.

Law Enforcement During a SHTFS scenario!

2011-12-23T14:30:00.002-06:00

Law Enforcement During a SHTFS scenario! (OffGridSurvival.com)

During an extreme SHTF scenario it is very likely that law enforcement and emergency responders will be nonexistent. When things go bad ( empty grocery stores, no utilities, mass riots, etc) you are more than likely going to have to fend for yourself.

When it comes to law enforcement during a SHTF event there are a couple of things that you need to consider.

You need to be able to defend yourself.

During an extreme emergency situation the lunatics of the world are going to be roaming the streets looking for easy victims to target. If you’re serious about survival then you need to train yourself to defend against a violent attack. This means arming yourself with not only weapons but knowledge and self defense skills as well.

Your preps will be targeted.

If the aftermath of Katrina taught us anything it showed us that even the police might be out to take your preps and weapons. During the chaos of Katrina the military and local police confiscated guns, forced people to evacuate with or without there goods and even looked on as people broke into local businesses.

You need to watch out for fakes.

Although it may seem counter intuitive to some, until things settle down you may want to avoid everyone including law enforcement.

In a SHTF Scenario you need to be on the look out for everything, including people impersonating law enforcement and military personnel. If things get real bad, you will most likely see criminals preying on the innocent by pretending to be police or military officers.

Before anyone gets the wrong idea, I think our police and our military are heroes and I believe a majority of them would do everything they could to help people in the beginning. But when it comes down to a SHTF scenario human nature will to take over and most of them will likely leave to take care of their own families. And who could blame them!

In the end you need to be able to defend and take care of yourself. You and only you are responsible for your safety.

The Zombie Survival Store!

2011-12-20T09:29:00.000-06:00

Is Open Carry a Good Idea?

2011-12-20T08:17:00.001-06:00

Is Open Carry a Good Idea?

by M.D. CREEKMORE

Man cited Carrying Openly:

A Vancouver man was cited Friday for wearing his pistol in a grocery store even though it’s legal to carry a gun in Washington and Oregon.
The incident is part of a growing controversy over what’s called the “Open Carry” law and highlights the debate over people openly wearing firearms in public places.

As to why:

The police officer cited Kirby under the law that says it is wrong to carry a weapon if it “manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.”

The Minimalist Guide to EDC (Every Day Carry) kits

2011-12-20T08:13:00.001-06:00

The Minimalist Guide to EDC (Every Day Carry) kits

by M.D. CREEKMORE

Your EDC (Every Day Carry) is one of your most important survival tools, because it is the kit that you will always have available and on your person should an unexpected disaster befall you while you are away from your home, or outside your vehicle.

Even though an EDC kit is a much abbreviated version of a larger more and comprehensive kit and is not meant to supply all of your needs long-term, it will drastically increase your chances of getting back home to your main survival supplies or of surviving an immediate threat to your personal survival, such as a criminal assault or natural or physical disaster.

For example; let’s say you have the misfortune of being trapped alive under the rubble after your office building collapses during an earthquake. Because you had your EDC kit you were able to use your cellphone and or whistle to help rescuers to find and rescue you.

Another example could be the use of your handgun or OC spray from your EDC kit to ward off criminal attack. And yet another example would be the use of your multi-tool or Swiss army knife to repair a needed item or fabricate an item from scrounged materials should the need arise.

At the end of the day, the gear that matters most is the gear that you have on you when you need it and that gear should start with your EDC kit. Its use and possibilities for saving your life are interminable and it or its contents should not be overlooked or taken lightly.

What you include in your EDC kit will depend on your personal needs and individual location, but certain items have a universal need and should be included in most kits of this type. These items are what we will consider here and should be used as a modeling for your kit that you can later expand to include other items that are essential to you on a personal level.

Emergency Preparedness for the Frugal Beginner

2011-12-19T21:08:00.001-06:00

Emergency Preparedness for the Frugal Beginner, by Paratrooper John

The incredibly large volume of information available regarding emergency preparedness and survival is both wonderful and terrible at the same time. There’s enough information to keep an enthusiast occupied for years and enough information to keep beginners away for the rest of their lives.

It can be a very daunting task for a new or inexperienced person to try and decide where and how to begin. Should a beginner attend survival training, have a year’s supply of food, have their home hooked up with backup generators, move to the country, live off the grid and have stockpiles of firearms with thousands of rounds of ammunition?

Depending on where you are researching, some people will claim that if you don’t have these levels of preparedness then you are doomed. Is the saying, “If you can’t do it right then don’t do it at all” really the way to think when it comes to survival?

Don’t get me wrong. I would love to live off the grid, have a year’s supply of food stored away, have a stockpile of firearms and attend weeks of survival training. But, the fact is I can’t afford that. Not many people can. These can be great long term goals but it’s not a realistic start.

My goal in this brief writing is to “ease the mind” of the people that want to start preparing themselves for emergencies but are on a limited budget and may be intimidated by the overwhelming amount of information available. I want people to know that many times “something or anything” is better than nothing.

So to answer by question from above, is the saying, “If you can’t do it right then don’t do it at all” really the way to think when it comes to survival? I say no. My experience in the area of survival began early in my life. I spent a lot of time exploring the woods and thorny brush of South Texas. I quickly became handy with a machete, confident with firearms and learned the importance of hydration and taking care of wounds. (And I learned real fast what a diamondback rattlesnake looks and sounds like.)

I spent nine years in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper. My first four years were in the infantry and I finished my time in as a combat medic. I believe my experiences and training in the military have greatly contributed to my skills and confidence in being able to take care of myself, my family and others in an emergency. I do not consider myself an expert at survival and I would not describe my level of preparedness as even close to 100%. But, I’m always working to improve my situation and I believe I know just enough to help guide a beginner in the right direction.

In my opinion…
The best start is what you are doing now; seeking information. “Knowledge is Power.” What an amazing and true quote. I believe the Internet is wonderful! I have found that browsing multiple blogs and YouTube channels on survival, self-sufficiency and homesteading to be a useful resource. You do have to remember though that just because something is published on the Internet doesn’t mean that information is the best or even true. But, if you compare enough similar opinions and observations made by others you can begin to catch on to what ideas and concepts are legitimate and reasonable. That’s what makes the Internet so great because you can quickly compare multiple sources. Remember also that you don’t have to study individual sources exhaustively or go back to the creation of the blog and read everything that’s ever been posted on it. Begin by searching for information that currently interests you.

Some folks will tell you not to rely on the Internet because if someday the “stuff hits the fan” you will not have access to it. That’s certainly possible but remember I’m trying to help get the ball rolling with someone that’s new to this. The Internet is the easiest, quickest and most cost effective way to initiate someone to the world of survival. You can work on purchasing books and other literature as the opportunity arises and you decide where you need to concentrate. You will find many references to great books as you explore and learn about survival on the Internet.

Three of the most important “needs” when it comes to survival are shelter, food and water. If I had to start with nothing and begin building a new preparedness kit from scratch my first tool would be a knife. A knife can aid you in procuring all the above needs more than any other tool can. Does it have to be a certain type or brand of knife? No. Some knife enthusiast may tell you that if you don’t have brand X then you are wasting your time. I disagree. There are some high quality, durable and expensive knives available. But you don’t have to start with those. If you don’t have a knife then get one, any knife. Try to get the best knife you can reasonably afford. If this happens to be a $5 knife from the flea market then that is better than nothing. A more versatile knife will have a combination plain edge and serrated edge. If you choose a folding knife try to get one with a lockable blade.

One unfortunate caution regarding knives is your local ordinances. Some jurisdictions have particular rules about blade length, lockable blades and various other irritating rules. You might want to speak with one of your local law enforcement officers and inquire what the policy is and what is generally enforced.

Next you need to think a little bit about what you are building your emergency kit for. The beginner should build a general purpose “survival kit.” As you learn more you can create specialized kits/bags. You can have a kit to help you escape the city (bug out bag), survive in your home (bug in bag), get home from work (get home bag), hiking/camping survival kits and many others. I will describe a few things the beginner may want to put in their kit next.

Without the knowledge of how to use the tools you have most of them would be worthless. I recommend the next “tool” to be some type of compact book on survival. As you read through it you’ll quickly see how versatile that knife is. There are many good books that discuss various methods of building shelter, finding and making water safe to drink, getting food via hunting, trapping and fishing, making fire and performing first aid. Collins Gem used to make a small durable survival book that would fit great into a small general purpose survival kit. Try to find something like that.

After that I would get something to make fire with. Actually, I would get multiple things to make fire with. The survival books discuss in great detail how to make fire with friction devices. (Rubbing sticks together.) You can learn how to do that stuff when you have time. For now, get a couple lighters, matches, flint/steel/magnesium fire starters or all three. Upgrade as you learn more or your financial situation improves. Most lighters are inexpensive and reliable. Get these first. Matches are great backup but need to be protected from moisture. Magnesium fire starters are reliable as well but I recommend you practice and become proficient with them before making them part of your kit.

The next two things to get before the precedence of items gets too subjective are a water container and a shelter device.

A couple factory sealed 16 oz plastic bottles of water (the typical container so many people drink out of these days) are good because they can be kept safe to drink for long periods and don’t take up too much space. A drawback to these is they are not very durable. Some type of metal container is important as well so that new sources of water can be boiled to make safe. A military style canteen with matching metal cup is a good inexpensive option. As you develop your understanding of water procurement and how to make it safe you can purchase water purification tablets, filter straws and learn many of the other methods of gathering and making water safe to drink.

Depending on the situation, shelter can be one of the first priorities in an emergency. For example, if you were caught in a snow storm it wouldn’t matter how much food and water you had. If you couldn’t get to shelter you would quickly be in a deadly position.

One option is to get an emergency blanket. Those are those compact aluminum foil looking blankets. (Space Blankets) They do a surprisingly good job of retaining heat, are inexpensive and are very compact. You can wrap yourself up in them, use them as overhead protection, lay on them as a barrier between you and the ground or a multitude of other uses.
The military style ponchos are nice also. They are made with durable material and they have grommets on them so that you can tie rope or other binding material to facilitate making shelter. And of course they have a hood on them so that you can wear them over your head and body to protect you from adverse weather. One drawback to this style of poncho is they don’t roll up particular small. They are fine for medium to large kits but do not fit well in a typical compact survival kit.

The importance of other items in a survival kit are very subjective to an individual’s personal philosophy on survival. Many lists and recommendations can be found on the Internet. First aid accessories, rope, flashlights, mirrors, fishing line and hooks are some of the other items to consider.

Would a person ever be worse off for having an inexpensive item? Yes, it’s certainly possible and this must be considered when making a purchase. An example would be a fire starting device that doesn’t actually work. So you would be worse off because you thought you had something to protect you but find out when it’s too late that you don’t. (This underscores the need to test your equipment.)
Don’t let the fear of the unknown stop you from making that first step towards self-reliance and being prepared for emergencies.
Don’t be intimated by others who might make you feel that starting small is a waste of time or that the top of the line most expensive product is the only viable option.

Gain control of your destiny. Go get that knife, now.

Essential Home Security In An Unsafe World

2011-12-19T19:47:00.001-06:00

Essential Home Security In An Unsafe World

by M.D. CREEKMORE

Home security is an issue that has caused me great concern for almost as long as I can remember, definitely far longer than my interest in prepping has been active. I guess the reason being that I’m originally from Brooklyn, New York and back when I was growing up in a section of Brooklyn known as Redhook, well it was a rough neighborhood during an even rougher time in New York.

But enough about the motivational causes for home security and onto the steps I’ve taken, and am in the process of taking to make my home MORE secure. I say more secure because no home can be 100% secure in my humble opinion. And degrees of security depend upon the degree of the threat. For instance, if the government sends a SWAT team to your home for whatever reason, well chances are better than good that they will gain entry and have their way.

It’s darn near impossible to fight off or hold off a force such as this. So let’s understand that when I say secure the home I mean specifically against home invasions; burglars; drug addicts looking for a smash & grab to feed their next fix and on and on.

So here’s where I’ve started. To begin with I’m NOT engaged in any sort of risky, criminal or otherwise subversive activity. So at this level I’m not associating with individuals of questionable character that may acquire information about me, my lifestyle, possessions, medications, etc.… that could possibly entice them to break into my home to steal. So the guys aren’t getting together at my place to party and smoke dope or drink liquor or worse.

That sort of activity isn’t part of my lifestyle so this form of potential threat doesn’t exist. I think it’s necessary to state this because many burglaries and home invasions are committed by individuals that have prior knowledge of what’s in that home, of what the occupants may have in their medicine cabinets and to put it simply the thieves know their victims or have close associates that know the victims and plan the crime. So do away with this stage of threats by knowing those you associate with and in my case not associating with many people. That friend’s stuff isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Okay so now that we have that out of the way the next step is to access your home. Where does it lie? Are there fields around you? Are you surrounded by other homes? Is it an apartment, is it a house. Brick house or wood framed? Location and number of windows and doors, as well as basement access should be critical concerns. But this can go on forever without my getting to how I’ve secured my home. So the first line of defense was to build an eight-foot high fence around the backyard.

It’s a wooden “PRIVACY” fence that creates a barrier around the entire circumference of the yard and creates a visual barrier as well as a psychological barrier to people. In addition to keeping people and animals out it also keeps my dogs in. Yes I said dogs because I have two dogs, a boxer and a mutt. They are great dogs, loyal and loveable as can be but dogs can be quite protective of their turf as well as our family.

I’ve had several instances when I was confronting someone and my dog literally placed herself between the person I was speaking with and myself. I’m certain, based upon her demeanor, that she was taking a protective posturing. And the fellow I was talking with knew this and definitely felt intimidated by the dog. The second dog was behind a closed door growling and barking as she starred this guy down.

Needless to say he backed off and our differences were quickly silenced. On my property he knew things would go as I wanted them to go. So the first line of security is a fenced in backyard with at least one dog, two is far better since they get into a pack mentality and the canine operates far more effectively under that pack mindset.

Love your dogs and feed them of course, and they in turn will provide you with a first line of defense be it in the light of day or at three am when everyone’s asleep and something isn’t right. Take my word for it the dog will let you know if someone is snooping around your home and all I ask is that you wake me up, I’ll take it from there.

Okay the next step I’ve taken is to remove brush, bushes and hedges or trees close to the house especially near windows and doors, which provide a place to hide. Remember that these criminals are cowards. They’re too scared to face up to life’s challenges and responsibilities so they turn to and depend upon crime to sustain them. Once the perimeter was free and clear of potential hiding places my next concern was lights.

That’s right lights, specifically the motion-activated type that turns on when something moves. They have sensitivity switches that have multiple settings that can be “tuned” so the lights turn on when there’s motion within a specific distance from the unit. I have these at four corners of the home’s exterior and they work. They can be had in models that operate from solar panels, so electricity isn’t always necessary. Just be sure the solar panel has a south exposure and is mounted in full sunlight for maximum charge.

Next step is to be sure the windows and doors are secure. I have storm windows, double pane but should we fall into chaos and the SHTF scenario unfold I have already cut and fashioned metal fencing, that’s right chain link type, to sizes that fit over each window and door.

So it’s simply a matter of spending a weekend installing these over each window and door. This makes it far more difficult for someone to break in through a window or door, makes it impossible to toss something through a window like a canister of gas or gasoline bottle bomb.

Heck even a grenade would bounce off and explode on the ground outside the home. I also have plastic sheathing already cut to size, along with several rolls of duct tape, ready to tape over windows and doors should the need arise. For the doors I have ¾ inch plywood cut to size, ready to be secured to each door for a final degree of security.

I don’t have plywood for the windows since they rather high and would be difficult to access. Besides I installed these inexpensive but highly effective window locks that screw into the top portion of the window and then a “screw” is turned until it goes into a hole that’s drilled into the adjacent pane. This in effect unitizes both windows to make them one. The window cannot be opened unless this device is unscrewed. By the way doors have deadbolts.

I do have two fireplaces, one in the living section of the house and one that’s into the basement. I’ve placed a screened cap on them to keep stuff out as well as in like flaming embers should we burn wood.

Next I have a burglar alarm. This unit operates from the phone line and has a battery backup for power. And we have had power outages that lasted for days yet the alarm continued to function. And speaking of phone lines I have an old-fashioned hard wire telephone, inexpensive under 10 bucks but during those power outages I was always able to make and receive phone calls.

Earlier I mentioned the doors and windows but failed to say that I keep shades, blinds or curtains over all windows. We can open them if and when we choose but they can be kept closed so peering eyes aren’t able to look in and check out the floor plan.

By design I have not mentioned anything regarding firearms, pepper sprays, or other forms of defense. That’s a different discussion. But finally let me say that and perhaps this should have been said first, I know my neighbors.

That’s right to my left and to my right, on the north, south, east, and west of my home I know my neighbors and we have an understanding that in times of need we should phone each other. You would be amazed at how fast a thief flees when they see lights in different house start turning on, see people banding together.

They will flee like the cowards they are and in many instances will find somewhere else to invade. What do you think…

Participate in our non-fiction writing contest! Submit your entry here!

SurvivalBlogging.com

2011-12-19T11:11:00.001-06:00

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Round #1 Non-Fiction Writing Contest

2011-12-15T21:24:00.006-06:00

survivalblogging.blogspot.com is launching its Non-Fiction Writing Contest!

Round #1 of the writing contest will end on February 28, 2012, so start writing your great non-fiction work and email us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,000 word minimum, and that articles showing practical "How To" skills for survival/prepping have an advantage in our judging.

Regards,

Editior
Keith Carlson
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What did you do to Prep this Week?

2011-12-15T20:41:00.001-06:00

Please share with us what you did to PREP this week.

Setting Up a Hide Site

2010-10-11T17:48:00.004-05:00

I came across some good information about setting up a hide site. Here's some good insight offered by J.I.R

Considerations For Each Adult:
- Backpack with frame : This is your last ditch bag and should be near you at all times.
- Water filter (PUR backpack model) is a good one polar pure Iodine crystals in every pack. They are light, cheap and essential.
- Several plastic garbage bags. These have multiple uses. You can't have too many.
- 2 x canteens with cups. This allow you to carry some water and cook if you must.
- 6 x MRE in the pack (12 more at the cache or sleeping site)
- P38 can opener
- 2 butane lighters
- 2 camping candles or other heat source
- Box of self striking fire starters are sometimes handy
- LED light and spare batteries (rechargeable) can come in handy
- Someone should carry a 4 watt solar battery charger. These are important to have along [to charge batteries for night vision, communications, and intrusion detection gear.]
- Generator radio AM/FM/Weather (with cell phone charger and LED light) This is a critical piece of equipment, so have two of them, but be careful not to play it out loud. Ear buds or head sets will keep you from giving your site away. Boredom is your biggest enemy and a radio can be a great way to stay entertained and silent.
- A good sleeping bag is a must. It's cold underground or when you aren't moving.
- Insulating ground pad is also a must.
- 1 emergency blanket/poncho
- 1 poncho liner (Army. Great piece of gear!)
- 1 x large drop cloth and a roll of heavy plastic are handy for underground living.
- 1 hat and wool glove inserts
- 1 set of thermal underwear (tops and bottoms)
- An extra set of clothing. BDUs or other outdoor wear and a spare pair of boots (Clothing can be rolled up inside a plastic sheet and put into a laundry bag and carried outside the pack). Remember, extra socks and underwear are always needed!
- Ka-Bar sheath knife (7 inch) or equivalent.
- Leatherman Multitool or a Swiss army knife
- Small machete (at least one in the group is very handy and has multiple uses).
- Medical Stuff (I recommend keeping this with your last ditch bag)
- Spare eyeglasses if needed
- First Aid Kit for minor wounds
- Sewing kit
- Aspirin
- Imodium for emergency treatment of diarrhea (packets of salts are even better)
- Iodine swabs
- Burn cream (not much is needed, but if you need it you will be glad you have it)
- Anbesol
- Chap stick or petroleum jelly
- White tape
- Emergency blanket (cheap is fine)
- Scalpels or Razor blades
- Safety pins
- Large bandages (2 or 3 can be life savers if someone is shot)
- Dental floss
- Hand sanitizer
- Insect Repellant
- Small lock blade knife
- Tweezers
- Prescription medication
- ID cards, credit cards, cash on hand
- A pistol of some kind. I highly recommend the Ruger SP101 in .357 Magnum and a couple of speed loaders.
- Other stuff to load in your truck or large car: A bicycle! You can load a lot of stuff on a bicycle and cut down on the number of trips required from the vehicles to the hide site. Bike tracks are a giveaway, so make sure they start at least 25 meters from your vehicles and erase them as well as possible after the last trip. Whatever you use, be prepared and willing to haul everything by hand from your vehicles to the site. Without a bike or dolly, its going to require something like 12 trips. You can improve on this by using a cargo carrier of some kind. Vary your route between the vehicle and hide site to minimize your tracks. You might want to unload and then move your vehicles to avoid anyone tracking you.
-Shovel, crosscut saw, axe or hatchet and pick axe (army E tools are light, but not as good as full size tools). All tools should be loaded in a bag that you can sling or tie to a bike.
- 100 ft roll of repelling rope may be very handy. 550 cord is also handy.
- A roll of wire for rigging noise makers and rigging brush and shelter

Food:
- You will want 10 or 11 buckets for each member of your group:
- 6 buckets of wheat, 2 buckets of beans and 4 gallons of oil.
- 2 buckets of rice (and a bucket of sugar if you wish). and 2 pounds of salt. Spices and bullion are very nice to have, but beware of odors!

This will be the bulk of your provisions and will weigh something like 400 pounds per person! Don't begrudge the weight. It will get lighter soon enough.
- 24 rolls of toilet paper (in a plastic bag) You will miss this if you don't have any.
- At least one grain mill. Two is much better. You can hide the extr aone in your cache.

Kitchen/living area stuff
- 24 x MRE
- Sterno stove + large candle heater in a can (12 face-inches of wick makes a lot of heat)
- Fuel (10lb, paraffin to recharge cooker. Each pound will burn several hours with care )
- If you are going to burn wood for fuel, use a hobo stove to minimize smoke and light.
- 4 pots. (2 for cooking, 1 for cleaning and one left with the food cache.)
- A dutch oven is really handy. You won't regret the weight long when you cook with it
- Tea, Coffee, Sugar, Gatorade powder
- Tobacco (2 x 6 oz cans with rolling papers) (for those with a monkey on their backs)
- Water, 6 liters (12 x 1/2 liter plastic bottles)
- Plastic bags. 20 heavy trash liners and 20 freezer storage bags
- Spare batteries (12 x AA. Mostly for charity)
- Soap, washcloth and towels (2 large ones)
- 4 large Poly Tarps (camo) and 550 chord
- Fem pads (for that time of month. Include at least one bag per female per month)
- Deck of cards
- Bible and other reading material. Boredom will get you killed. Depression will too.
- It might be worth the weight to carry a lot of books. Reading is a quiet activity and could keep you from going out of your mind!
- In a suitcase or preferably another bucket that's waterproof (keep in the sleeping area.): Hat and wool glove inserts for each person. Extra clothing is good to have.
- A wool sweater and outer cold weather gear. Blankets will be handy.
- If you can manage to set up a hide site with these few essentials without anyone observing you, you can probably stay hidden for up to 200 days with care. That six month breather will allow you ample time to assess the conditions of the local area and plan your next move. More importantly, if a major population die-off is going on, a well stocked hide site will allow you to miss most of it. Hiding outdoors is not easy or comfortable, but it may be your best way to keep breathing.

Provided by: J.I.R.

Bug Out or Bug In Bag

2010-10-11T09:47:00.002-05:00

Here’s a question for your weekend cogitation. Actually, here’s two. No, make it three:

1. What are some key differences in items you’d put in a bug-out bag and a bug-in bag?
2. Given your location and circumstances, how do you decide whether you’re more likely to need to bug out or bug in?
3. Assuming you conclude that you’re more likely to have to bug in than bug out, is a special bag for the purpose even necessary? I mean, after all, if you’re bugging-in can you presume you’ll already have everything you need right at hand in your home?

Here’s why I’ve been thinking about this: When I lived on my glorious hilltop in Cabin Sweet Cabin, and when I was in that borrowed fifth-wheel in the high desert, nearly every emergency scenario I could think of involved staying put. I was on high ground. In the middle of nowhere. With local resources.

Now … different situation. I’m in a small town and not that high above the normal level of the local river. Something happens (big storm, flood, earthquake that shuts off power and water), I most likely could just retreat to my upstairs and “bug in.” OTOH, something happens (really big flood, earthquake that damages the house, etc.), I could potentially be forced, or impelled, to bug out. But it’s a tossup.

Having both a bug-out and bug-in bag is a great thing. Or having a dual-purpose bag. But assume both resources and bag space are limited here.

BTW, I’ll answer question 3 for myself. I do think a bug-in bag is needed, just to have emergency gear handy in one spot. I might, in theory, have all the food, water, and flashlights (always flashlights!) I need right here in the house, no bag needed. But what if I were forced to retreat upstairs? Nothing up there but a cat and a lot of junk waiting to be hauled away. That’s where the bug-in bag goes.

A bug-in bag could also be helpful at your office, your mother’s house, etc.

Claire Wolfe Backwoods Home magazine

Food Insurance

2010-10-07T11:47:00.001-05:00

Emergency Food Supplies for One Year

2010-10-07T11:39:00.002-05:00

Lishah Smith, eHow.com

I want to do this! What's This? ...Natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, remind us to keep emergency food supplies on hand. Stockpiling emergency food supplies enables you to provide for your family, in the event the community cannot. Resources are limited and restricted in a time of crisis. Your time preparing ahead for such events gives peace of mind and security. Remember to always check the expiration dates, rotate items and replace items as needed.

Water

According to the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), each person in your household needs a minimum of 1/2 gallon of water to drink daily. Pregnant or nursing women, young children, the elderly and those on special diets will require additional daily drinking water. FEMA recommends storing 1 gallon of water per person per day. For example, a 2 person household would need 2 gallons of water for 365 days. Ideally, you store 1,460 gallons of water for a year's supply.

Dry Goods

Dry goods that do not need special cooking are important for your emergency food supplies for one year. For example, store unsalted crackers, nuts, granola bars and cereals. These provide energy, calories and nutrition. Unsalted items lower the chances of becoming thirsty or dehydrated to minimize water intake.

Staples and Cooking Ingredients

Include cooking ingredients in your emergency food supply. Flour, powdered milk, rice, wheat, salt, pepper, other cooking spices, coffee, tea, sugar substitutes and sugar are good to store. Instant foods are simple to fix, filling and often nutritious. You should store instant foods that require a small amount of water to prepare. For example stockpile instant potatoes, grits and oatmeal.

Comfort Foods and Special Diets

According to FEMA, it's important to include foods your family enjoys. These foods will bolster moral and provide comfort. Additionally, keep in mind special diets of family members. Be certain to include foods that meet dietary restrictions. For example, infants and toddlers need finger foods, high carbohydrate energy foods and high-protein foods. Pregnant and nursing women need high-calorie nutritious foods and larger servings. Stockpile multi-vitamins and nutritional supplements to maintain energy and health during a crisis..

Portable Solar Kit used in Haiti

2010-10-01T15:52:00.005-05:00

Editors Note:

Thanks for your readership. Currently, I've been searching the web for a practical solar product that's portable, durable and would give us additional solar options at the retreat. While surfing the Web I came across this great product that I wanted to share. This system will be a great addition to my more permanent solar system. Additionally, this system was used in Haiti after the earthquake.

Scout 150 Expedition Kit

Regards,

Keith Carlson
SurvivalBlogging.com
612.245.9898

Survival Psychology

2010-09-29T19:27:00.002-05:00

Simple Survival Psychology

When I was in the military and involved with search and rescue training, I often saw messages or reports pertaining to survivors and non-survivors. These cases were both civilians and military personnel. I was amazed while reading both types of correspondence. (We received this information to hopefully improve our survival training program). I read about people who had lots of gear, plenty of food and water, and they still did not make it. Or, on the other side of the coin, those who survived with little more than literally the shirt on their backs. Why the difference? Well, it is not that simple. There were many factors that contributed in both cases. There are many variables to consider when reading about survival situations. Nonetheless, in most of the reports I read the difference was usually survival psychology.

Take the case of the civilian pilot in Alaska that experienced aircraft problems and put his plane down on a frozen lake. The temperature was about minus twenty. When rescuers arrived at the site they were able to determined what happen easily. The pilot, now dead, had left a note. I cannot remember most of the note, but it read something similar to; "I cannot survive in this temperature. I am a dead man. I am going to smoke a cigarette and then end it all." It was very unfortunate. The aircraft controller had seen the aircraft go off radar and had been able to communicate with the pilot just before he landed on the lake. Once on the lake the pilot had shut down his aircraft power and the controller was unable tell him that help was on the way. When the rescuer team arrived, they found two cigarette butts, a .38 caliber pistol in the pilots right hand, and blood not yet frozen on the side of his head. He had not even left the cockpit of the aircraft. Why? Why would a man take his life without a fight? I suggest he gave in to panic. He was not prepared mentally to face the situation.

I also read once about a man who crawled for more than 100 miles across the Arizona desert to safety. His car had broken down on a rural road and he attempted a shortcut to safety. It was over 100 degrees during the five days of his travels. He was burned black from the sun, very dehydrated, and near death when he walked out. He stated he was determined to be with his family again and used this determination to keep himself moving. Doctors and survival experts were surprised of his survival. The man should have by all rights died. He had done everything wrong (traveling during the heat of the day, not covering up exposed parts of his body, and not being properly prepared) and yet he made it. Now, I don't recommend you attempt that for obvious reasons, but it does show how human determination can aid your survival efforts.

So, what is the big difference in the two stories above? I propose it is frame of mind. One, the non-survivor, gave up before the battle even started. The other, the survivor, was determined to live. Of course pure determination may not keep you alive, but it sure adds to the odds. Lets discuss the steps you can take to stay alive when you realize you are in a survival situation.

Panic is a real killer. When you actually realize you are going to have to survive, keep you head about yourself. Stop. Find a place that offers you temporary shelter and think things out. Do not go stomping around in the woods looking for your way out. Stop. Consider the, who, what, when, and where of your situation. Who knows where you are? Did you, as I always recommend, tell someone about your trip? This should always be done, even if you know the area very well. Tell a any person (a boss, friend, wife, husband, etc.) the what, when and where of your trip. They should know what type of trip it is (fishing, hunting, hiking, or travel), when you left and when you will return (i.e., I will leave on Tuesday morning and will return seven days later on Tuesday evening), and where your trip is to be (to the Knockemstiff National Forest or to Lake Swampy). Make sure if you change your trip in any way to call or contact the person you informed. Many rescues are started each year because of a change in plans and no notification. If you have handled the who, what, when and where of your trip, rescue should be fast.

Get your thoughts organized. Unless you are suicidal, this step is a must. Take an inventory of what you have on hand. This step serves two purposes. First, it calms you down. The time it takes to inventory your gear will assist in deescalating your panic. Second, most of us carry a lot of "junk" as well as needed items with us and this is a time to see exactly what you have. All items on you can be used toward survival.

Keep busy. An active mind is less likely to dwell on the situation as hopeless. Notice I wrote hopeless and not helpless. In a helpless situation, there is no help. While you very well may feel helpless, you can help yourself. But, in a hopeless situation there is no hope. I think you always have hope, as long as you are breathing. Keeping that hope is what makes a survival situation develop into a story of success. Concentrate on the little successes you experience and let the failures slide off. And, don't start feeling sorry for yourself. See, the more little successes you have the better you will feel. Start with something small, like a fire and a shelter.

Find a shelter and start a fire. Yep, even if you don't need either. Why? Well, once again for two reasons. The first is to keep you busy as I stated above. The second is they may be needed later when you are too exhausted or weak to make them. Additionally, there is a deep primal need for safety satisfied when you have shelter and fire. Ever notice how comforting a campfire is at night? The fire may not even be needed, so the comfort is usually just psychological. Anywho, get a fire going, construct a shelter, and sit for a bit.

Oh, I almost forgot, avoid alcohol when in a survival situation. If dulls your thinking processes and that is one thing you don't need (additionally alcohol dehydrates) . Second, avoid cola's, coffee, and tea if you do not have a sufficient water supply. They can aid in your dehydration.

Now comes the difficult part, waiting for rescue. You noticed, I hope, I wrote waiting for rescue. Yep, I meant it. Let them find you. Nothing is more frustrating to search and rescue crews than looking for a person meandering somewhere in the woods. It is really like looking for a needle in a haystack and may lead to your death. Stay where you are. Once you realize you are lost and have establish a survival camp stay there. Being rescued is often compared to looking for someone in the mall. If you wonder around looking for them, they are more difficult to find. But, if you plant yourself on a bench in the mall walk way, they will come by sooner or later. Wondering blind in the bush just uses up energy that you cannot afford to lose. Stay put.

The only exception to this is when you realize exactly where you are and know beyond any doubt how to walk out. If you do decide to leave a survival site, leave a note stating when you left (date/time), where you were headed (location you are attempting to get to), when you expect to get there, your heading (compass heading if you can), your physical condition (broken bones, cuts, overall general condition) and your full name. Make sure you post your note where it can easily be seen and in a water proof container/bag. This info will aid the rescue team greatly. Remember, I recommend you leave the survival site ONLY if you are sure of where you are and know how to safely get out.

Well, now you are in a more prolonged survival situation what comes next? Well, first stay off of your pity pot. Don't dwell on how rough you have it. Don't play the "poor little me" mind game with yourself. Make things happen. Let's look at what you really need to survive. First, you need air and water. Hopefully the air thingy is taken care of for you (if not, the next steps are not very important to you). Next, water is a primary concern. Purify all water not brought from home or purchased for your trip. All water. Even if the stream looks like a dream photo from the cover page of an environmentalist magazine. Much of our waters in North America are polluted or have "critters" (micro organisms). Don't take a chance.

You should always have a survival kit with you. These kits can be purchased commercially or made up at home. They can also vary greatly in size and weight. The kit I carry is very small (I use an old metal Bandaide box), but I have given great thought to the contents. It is just exactly what I need to survive on. I have included:

1. A good quality pen knife.
2. Condoms for water storage, unlubricated.
3. Wooden matches in a water proof container.
4. Flint and steel and a metal match.
5. Water purification tables.
6. A long strip of heavy duty aluminum foil folded up to cook with.
7. Fishing kit, i.e., hooks, sinkers, and some line. Nothing fancy. It can also be used to set snares or many other uses if you are landlocked and not near the water.
8. A small commercial first aid kit (with instructions).
9. One small pack of gum and one of hard candy for emergency energy.
10. A small survival pamphlet or book--keep it small and light.
If you have a survival kit with you it aids in your sense of well being. With the kit and your usual camping/outdoors gear, you know you have the minimum to survive. It helps you realize the situation is not hopeless at all. Do yourself a favor and practice using your survival items before you need them. Also, know your survival and first aid booklets. All of this preplanning will make you more relaxed when you need to use the equipment.

What about food? Let's be honest here. Aren't most North Americans just a little overweight? Now, I am not saying a sudden starvation diet is healthy, but most of us could go a couple of days without food with no medical affects. And, why do most people immediately think of food when they think of survival? Keep in mind that most folks are rescued before serious hunger develops. It is psychological. If you think about it, it makes sense. Imagine a nice shelter, a warm fire, and a full stomach. Comforting isn't it? While no shelter, no fire and an empty stomach... I think you have the idea. Well, remember, people have survived for weeks without food but only days without water. You figure the priority out. (Before I forget, if you take prescription medications, always have them with you when you go outdoors. Not having them in some cases could be a killer). Nonetheless, if it makes you feel better trap, hunt, or catch something to eat. Make sure if you eat you increase your water intake, if your water supply allows for it. Keep an eye on your urine. If if becomes darker in color, increase your water intake to avoid dehydration.

Survival is never easy. If things can go wrong they usually will. I know people can survive in temperatures as low as minus thirty and as high as 110 degrees. How do I know? I have done it during training. The key is to stay active, concentrate on the tasks at hand, build up your successes while down playing your failures, and to face each obstacle with determination to overcome. Survival psychology is simple, when you think about it before you need it. I believe with the right psychological approach to any survival situation, you too can survive.

Gary L. Benton

Don't Skimp on the Inverter

2010-09-28T18:39:00.002-05:00

Solar Inverters

A solar inverter is a piece of the solar energy puzzle. Its purpose is to change the direct current (DC) electricity that is generated from a photovoltaic panel into an alternating current (AC) that can be used by in-home appliances and the community electricity grid. Because all photovoltaic panels produce electricity in DC, an inverter is required for all solar power systems to make the electricity usable.

The solar inverter is often one of the most expensive parts in an alternative energy system. Because of this, many people fall into the trap of underestimating the structure's needs for a solar inverter and purchase one that handles a smaller capacity than necessary in order to save money. One of the recommendations to avoid making this mistake and keep the up-front costs of a solar energy system down is to initially purchase fewer solar cells and add more later rather than skimping on the inverter.

There are many manufacturers that are competing in the solar inverter market. While there have been a lot of American-made inverters in the past, in recent years it's been discovered that they're not always operating at their advertised efficiency, resulting in several companies going out of business. This has opened the market up to several international companies, and many of the most recognized solar inverter brands are European.

One of the biggest issues of a solar power system is efficiency. The cost of building and installing a system is often expensive, and those who are willing to make the financial investment in solar energy want to be sure to get their money's worth. Not only do the solar cells need to convert the sun's energy to electricity efficiently, but the solar inverter has a responsibility in efficiency as well. Manufacturers of inverters are working to improve their products' efficiency in order to make the products more marketable and attractive to those interested in solar power. Any possibility of saving more money in the use of a solar power system will increase the odds of people converting to solar power and easing the demands of the fossil fuels and oils on which American society so heavily relies.

Solar inverters that are tied to the community's electricity grid help regulate the currents between the building the solar energy system is powering and the power lines of the grid. Grid-tie systems that feed into and from the grid are usually required to have anti-islanding protection built in. The anti-islanding ensures that if a fault occurs within the grid, the solar powered system will disconnect from it immediately to prevent feeding more electricity into an already hazardous situation. Reconnecting to the grid can sometimes be complicated, but in order to have a completely safe system, it is required to follow the anti-islanding regulations set forth by local power companies.

One who is considering designing and installing a solar energy system for his or her home should hire a professional to assist in making sure the system is built properly. There are many variables to take into account, including the size of the home, the electricity use of the home, possible future fluctuation in the energy use of the home, as well as the types and sizes of the photovoltaic cells and solar inverters necessary to keep the system running smoothly.

SolarHome.org

Forced to take a stand and defend home with rifles

2010-09-27T00:09:00.002-05:00

Forced to take a stand and defend home with rifles.
Aside from natural disasters, man made events such as riots or looting can take place in which survival skills are put to the test. In this survival story, Andy P recalls the chaos that were the Los Angeles riots.

If you have never been in a manmade or natural disaster you may not realize how quickly our cities go from civilized communities to an unorganized mess. In a very short time you find that you and your family are on your own - with no protection or civil order provided by any government agencies. This is mainly due to the unexpected nature of both manmade and natural disasters. I have experienced this twice. I lived in Los Angeles for many years and those years included the LA Riots in 1992 and the Northridge earthquake in 1994.

This story relates to the Los Angeles Riots in 1992. The catalyst for the riots was an incident caught on video tape where 4 police officers were seen beating a motorist. The police officers were put on trial.

The trial was watched by millions of people in Los Angeles (many of which expected a guilty verdict). When the 4 officers were acquitted many people in Los Angeles decided to express their frustration by burning down buildings, looting, assaulting innocent civilians, and committing murder - there were over 50 murders during the LA Riot.

Within 2 hours of the verdict I received a phone call from my screaming wife telling me that there was gun fire in the mall where she worked and I needed to come to get her immediately. I was with my brother at the time and we immediately armed ourselves (legally) and went to pick her up. As we were driving through Los Angeles we could see fires erupting in every direction and people were running through the streets. The smell of burning buildings was intense. Simultaneously a fellow pilot and good friend was in the process of filming the now famous video of a truck driver being dragged from his truck and nearly killed by an angry mob from his helicopter - it was considered a miracle that he survived the brutal beating. When we arrived at the mall people were running out and we were attempting to run in. The mall had been evacuated by security guards to allow management to close the mall to protect the stores from looters. My wife was gone. She was ordered to leave her store with nowhere to go. We finally made contact when I conducted an emergency phone patch on my ham radio - she had received a ride with her girlfriend and was home traumatized by the event. By the time my brother and I got home the city was in the grips of a full blown riot and people were filling the streets and running by with stolen TV's, stereos, and other merchandise (an interesting note was that the book store near our place was not looted). We finally made it back to my place and began to get ready to defend our home against looters. My first thought was to gather my wife, my brother and his girlfriend and get to the Santa Monica Airport and fly us out of there, but that was impossible. The riot had gone out of control and you could not drive through the streets. Also, we had reports that people were shooting at airplanes going in and out of Santa Monica Airport and LAX. I later heard that airliners landing at LAX were directed to land (with the wind) with their final approach over the ocean to prevent being shot at - I do not know if that actually happened. Our block was completely overrun and we were actually forced to take a stand and defend our home with rifles - in Los Angeles! Several times we had to take aim at looters and thank god they ran - because I had every intention of shooting. It was literally like a war zone. The riots lasted days and did not stop until the National Guard showed up. I have since read that it was the 7th infantry division and additional Marines from Camp Pendleton that were deployed to Los Angeles. From our perspective it didn't matter where they came from they were a welcome site. It was surreal to see US Soldiers walking through our neighborhood. We could not travel more than a block from our home for days without the chance of major conflict. Police cars were overturned when they arrived at the scene of a crime and were forced to retreat. It really was complete chaos in a major American city. Luckily I was prepared for this scenario and had everything we needed to both survive and defend ourselves for an extended period of time. I had water, freeze dried food, guns, ammo, and radio communications via ham radio. The grocery stores were impossible to get to and if you could it didn't matter. They were closed or already looted and were empty. It is very difficult to relate how large of an event this was (historic really) unless you were there. There were over 3000 fires burning throughout Los Angeles, thousands injured, nearly a billion dollars in damages, and over 50 murders. At one point during the riots we were standing on our roof top and it looked like the world had gone insane - I could not believe I was looking at Los Angeles. The bottom line is expect the unexpected and be prepared for as many scenarios as possible. I will never forget how good it felt to be prepared to protect myself and my loved ones. Being prepared paid off again when the Northridge Earthquake hit several years later in 1994 and again Los Angeles was tested.

Andy P

Prepper Preparing for Doomsday!

2010-09-26T16:11:00.004-05:00

Here's another good link:
'Preppers' Are Doing Exactly that In Anticipation Of doomsday

CBSNewYork.com

Making Fire with Steelwool and a 9 Volt Battery

2010-09-24T19:44:00.002-05:00

Checkout this Video!

Advertise on Survival Blogging!

2010-09-23T11:17:00.003-05:00

If you're interested in placing a link or banner advertisement on this site please contact Survival Blogging at the following email address: info@survivalblogging.com

After receiving your request, we'll contact you to discuss your advertising needs.

Thank you,

The Survival Blogging Team!

Economic Predictions For The Rest Of 2010

2010-09-23T11:13:00.003-05:00

Bob Chapman

First 6 months of 2010, Americans will continue to live in the 'unreality'…the period between July and October is when the financial fireworks will begin. The Fed will act unilaterally for its own survival irrespective of any political implications …(source is from insider at FED meetings). In the last quarter of the year we could even see Martial law, which is more likely for the first 6 months of 2011. The FDIC will collapse in September 2010. Commercial real estate is set to implode in 2010. Wall Street believes there is a 100% chance of crash in bond market, especially municipals sometime during 2010. The dollar will be devalued by the end of 2010.

Gerald Celente

Terrorist attacks and the "Crash of 2010". 40% devaluation at first = the greatest depression, worse than the Great Depression.

Igor Panarin

In the summer of 1998, based on classified data about the state of the U.S. economy and society supplied to him by fellow FAPSI analysts, Panarin forecast the probable disintegration of the USA into six parts in 2010 (at the end of June – start of July 2010, as he specified on 10 December 2000.

Neithercorps

Have projected that the third and final stage of the economic collapse will begin sometime in 2010. Barring some kind of financial miracle, or the complete dissolution of the Federal Reserve, a snowballing implosion should become visible by the end of this year. The behavior of the Fed, along with that of the IMF seems to suggest that they are preparing for a focused collapse, peaking within weeks or months instead of years, and the most certain fall of the dollar.

Webbots

July and onward things get very strange. Revolution. Dollar dead by November 2010.

LEAP 20/20

2010 Outlook from a group of 25 European Economists with a 90% accuracy rating- We anticipate a sudden intensification of the crisis in the second half of 2010, caused by a double effect of a catching up of events which were temporarily « frozen » in the second half of 2009 and the impossibility of maintaining the palliative remedies of past years. There is a perfect (economic) storm coming within the global financial markets and inevitable pressure on interest rates in the U.S. The injection of zero-cost money into the Western banking system has failed to restart the economy. Despite zero-cost money, the system has stalled. It is slowly rolling over into the next big down wave, which in Elliott Wave terminology will be Super Cycle Wave Three, or in common language, "THE BIG ONE, WHERE WE ALL GO OVER THE FALLS TOGETHER."

Joseph Meyer

Forecasts on the economy. He sees the real estate market continuing to decline, and advised people to invest in precious metals and commodities, as well as keeping cash at home in a safe place in case of bank closures. The stock market, after peaking in March or April (around 10,850), will fall all the way down to somewhere between 2450 and 4125 during the next leg down.

Harry Dent (investor)

A very likely second crash by late 2010. The coming depression (starts around the summer of 2010). Dent sees the stock market–currently benefiting from upward momentum and peppier economic activity–headed for a very brief and pleasant run that could lift the Dow to the 10,700-11,500 range from its current level of about 10.090. But then, he sees the market running into a stone wall, which will be followed by a nasty stock market decline (starting in early March to late April) that could drive down the Dow later this year to 3,000-5,000, with his best guess about 3,800.

Richard Russell (Market Expert)

(from 2/3/10) says the bear market rally is in the process of breaking up and panic is on the way. He sees a full correction of the entire rise from the 2002 low of 7,286 to the bull market high of 14,164.53 set on October 9, 2007. The halfway level of retracement was 10,725. The total retracement was to 6,547.05 on March 9, 2009. He now sees the Dow falling to 7,286 and if that level does not hold, “I see it sinking to its 1980-82 area low of Dow 1,000.” The current action is the worst he has ever seen. (Bob Chapman says for Russell to make such a startling statement is unusual because he never cries wolf and is almost never wrong).

Niño Becerra (Professor of Economics)

Predicted in July 2007 that what was going to happen was that by mid 2010 there is going to be a crisis only comparable to the one in 1929. From October 2009 to May 2010 people will begin to see things are not working out the way the government thought. In May of 2010, the crisis starts with all its force and continues and strengthens throughout 2011. He accurately predicted the current recession and market crash to the month.

Lyndon Larouche

The crisis is accelerating and will become worse week by week until the whole system grinds into a collapse, likely sometime this year. And when it does, it will be the greatest collapse since the fall of the Roman Empire.

WALL STREET JOURNAL- (2/2010)

"You are witnessing a fundamental breakdown of the American dream, a systemic breakdown of our democracy and our capitalism, a breakdown driven by the blind insatiable greed of Wall Street: Dysfunctional government, insane markets, economy on the brink. Multiply that many times over and see a world in total disarray. Ignore it now, tomorrow will be too late."

Eric deCarbonnel

There is no precedence for the panic and chaos that will occur in 2010. The global food supply/demand picture has NEVER been so out of balance. The 2010 food crisis will rearrange economic, financial, and political order of the world, and those who aren’t prepared will suffer terrible losses…As the dollar loses most of its value, America's savings will be wiped out. The US service economy will disintegrate as consumer spending in real terms (ie: gold or other stable currencies) drops like a rock, bringing unemployment to levels exceeding the great depression. Public health services/programs will be cut back, as individuals will have no savings/credit/income to pay for medical care. Value of most investments will be wiped out. The US debt markets will freeze again, this time permanently. There will be no buyers except at the most drastic of firesale prices, and inflation will wipe away value before credit markets have any chance at recovery. The panic in 2010 will see the majority of derivatives end up worthless. Since global derivatives markets operate on the assumption of the continued stable value of the dollar and short term US debt, using derivatives to bet against the dollar is NOT a good idea. The panic in 2010 will see the majority of derivatives end up worthless. The dollar's collapse will rob US consumers of all purchasing power, and any investment depend on US consumption will lose most of its value.

Alpha-Omega Report (Trends Forecast)

Going into 2010, the trends seemed to lead nowhere or towards oblivion. Geo-politically, the Middle East was and is trending towards some sort of military clash, most likely by mid-year, but perhaps sooner…At the moment, it seems 2010 is shaping up to be a year of absolute chaos. We see trends for war between Israel and her neighbors that will shake every facet of human activity…In the event of war, we see all other societal trends being thoroughly disrupted…Iran will most likely shut off the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf. This will have immense consequences for the world’s economy. Oil prices will skyrocket into the stratosphere and become so expensive that world’s economies will collapse..There are also trend indicators along economic lines that point to the potential for a total meltdown of the world’s financial system with major crisis points developing with the change of each quarter of the year. 2010 could be a meltdown year for the world’s economy, regardless of what goes on in the Middle East.

Robin Landry (Market Expert)

I believe we are headed to new market highs between 10780-11241 over the next few months. The most likely time frame for the top is the April-May area. Remember the evidence IMHO still says we are in a bear market rally with a major decline to follow once this rally ends.

John P. Hussman, Ph.D.

In my estimation, there is still close to an 80% probability (Bayes' Rule) that a second market plunge and economic downturn will unfold during 2010.

Robert Prechter

Founder of Elliott Wave International, implores retail investors stay away from the markets… for now. Prechter, who was bullish near the lows in March 2009, now says the stock market “is in a topping area, “predicting another crash in 2010 that will bring stocks below the 2009 low. His word to the wise, “be patient, don’t rush it” keep your money in cash and cash equivalents.

Richard Mogey

Current Research Director at the Foundation for the Study of Cycles- Because of a convergence of numerous cycles all at once, the stock market may go up for a little while, but will crash in 2010 and reach all-time lows late 2012. Mogey says that the 2008 crash was nothing compared to the coming crash. Gold may correct in 2009, but will go up in 2010 and peak in 2011. Silver will follow gold.

James Howard Kunstler (January 2010)

The economy as we’ve known it simply can’t go on, which James Howard Kunstler has been saying all along. The shenanigans with stimulus and bailouts will just compound the central problem with debt. There’s not much longer to go before the whole thing collapses and dies. Six Months to Live- The economy that is. Especially the part that consists of swapping paper certificates. That’s the buzz I’ve gotten the first two weeks of 2010.

Peter Schiff (3/13/2010)

"In my opinion, the market is now perfectly positioned for a massive dollar sell-off. The fundamentals for the dollar in 2010 are so much worse than they were in 2008 that it is hard to imagine a reason for people to keep buying once a modicum of political and monetary stability can be restored in Europe. In fact, the euro has recently stabilized. My gut is that the dollar sell-off will be sharp and swift. Once the dollar decisively breaks below last year's lows, many of the traders who jumped ship in the recent rally will look to re-establish their positions. This will accelerate the dollar's descent and refocus everyone's attention back on the financial train-wreck unfolding in the United States. Any doubts about the future of the U.S. dollar should be laid to rest by today's announcement that San Francisco Federal Reserve President Janet Yellen has been nominated to be Vice Chair of the Fed's Board of Governors, and thereby a voter on the interest rate-setting, seven-member Open Markets Committee. Ms. Yellen has earned a reputation for being one of the biggest inflation doves among the Fed's top players." Schiff is famous for his accurate predictions of the economic events of 2008.

Lindsey Williams

Dollar devalued 30-50% by end of year. It will become very difficult for the average American to afford to buy even food. This was revealed to him through an Illuminati insider.

Unnamed Economist working for US Gov't (GLP)

What we have experienced the last two years is nothing to what we are going to experience this year. If you have a job now…you may not have it in three to six months. (by August 2010). Stock market will fall = great depression. Foreign investors stop financing debt = collapse. 6.2 million are about to lose their unemployment.

Jimmy "Doomsday"

DOW will fall below 7,000 before mid summer 2010- Dollar will rise above 95 on the dollar index before mid summer 2010- Gold will bottom out below $800 before mid summer 2010- Silver will bottom out below $10 before mid summer 2010- CA debt implosion will start its major downturn by mid summer and hit crisis mode before Q4 2010- Dollar index will plunge below 65 between Q3 and Q4 2010- Commercial real estate will hit crisis mode in Q4 2010- Over 35 states will be bailed out by end of Q4 2010 by the US tax payer End of Q4 2010 gold will hit $1,600 and silver jump to $35 an oz.

George Ure

Markets up until mid-to-late-summer. Then "all hell breaks lose" from then on through the rest of the year.

Reference: MorningLiberty.com

Choosing Your Survival Knife

2010-09-23T11:03:00.002-05:00

There are many factors that should influence your choice of survival knife. Purchasing a knife can be quite an expenditure- you can spend hundreds of dollars on a "custom made" survival knife, or you can spend the equivalent of a couple weeks' coffee money on a serviceable and functional knife. Before you go looking for your knife, ask yourself these questions: How often will you be using your knife? WIll it sit on a shelf most of the year and only come out for a couple of backpack trips in the summer? If this is the case you may want a smaller, lighter knife for a survival situation only. Will your knife be used for extended periods of time, in primitive living situations for example? If you plan to use your knife for weeks at a time throughout the year, you may want to consider something larger and more robust. Do you prefer a folding or fixed blade? A locking folder as a survival knife is perfectly acceptable especially if your knife is in a survival only kit. I keep a folding locker in my PFD survival kit for river trips. Otherwise I prefer a fixed blade. A fixed blade is safer, and often longer and therefore easier to use than a folder, and more suited to "everyday" or extended wilderness use.

Knowing what kind of a knife you need is the starting point. Whichever route you choose to go, as with all survival gear, be sure to use your knife, get familiar with it and know its limitations before you need to use it. Following is a list of considerations to keep in mind when searching for your survival knife.

- Cost
- Handle length, girth, material
- Overall weight
- Blade length and thickness
- Blade edge or style, single edge, double edge, clip pointed blade, tanto-style blade
back style- the edge of the knife that is opposite the blade, may have a sharpened edge (as in a double edge blade), a false edge (having a beveled back), or serrations (sawteeth)
- Composition, type of metal
- Construction, half tang (blade material ends shortly after entering handle), full length tang (solid piece of metal entire length of knife), rivets, screws, moving parts
-Sawteeth or serrations
- Butt or pommel style
- Guard style, may be integrated as on Frosts Mora, or separate as on USAF knife
- Sheath, material, security, tie downs, storage features

My personal choice as the ultimate survival knife especially for primitive living exercises is the USAF Survival Knife, seen in the photo to the right. The knife is a bit heavy for ultralight backpacking, but otherwise meets all of my personal requirements in a blade. It is available at most military surplus stores for about 35 dollars. Make sure you get the real thing, and not a cheap imitation. The best price I have found recently for the USAF Survival Knife is about 35 dollars at a website called Bestglide.com. The latest version is known as the SP2 Air Force Survival Knife and has a polymer handle and mostly cordura sheath. The overall knife design seems to be unchanged. It will cost closer to 50 dollars.

The sheath is leather, the snap is very secure, it has a number of holes where 550 cord can be tied for securing the knife to your body, and it has a pocket with a small sharpening stone. The raw leather sheath was kind of bright for me; mine is dyed with black shoe dye. The handle end of the knife, the butt, is a piece of solid steel and can be used as a hammer. There are sawteeth on the back of the blade- something I use a lot.

I keep a cordlock compass, a Hot Spark metal match and a piece of 550 cord tied on mine. The 550 cord acts like a sling to carry the knife over the shoulder and is long enough for use on a bow for a bow and drill fire kit. Also wrapped around the sheath and covered with a Ranger band (a 1 1/2 inch length of bike inner tube) is 30 feet of 63 pound test nylon fishing line.

Reference: SouthwestGuideBooks.com

Survival Kits

2010-09-23T10:53:00.003-05:00

Essentials for the office
- Read your company's evacuation plan and know where to meet after an emergency.
- Know where exit routes, stairways, fire extinguishers, and medical kits are located.
- Assemble supplies in a single pack and have them stored in your desk. Along with your supplies, store a pair of walking shoes.
- Carry a list of important phone numbers in your wallet.
- Keep the area under your desk free of waste-paper baskets, etc. This 6 square foot area might be home for a few traumatic moments. If you are not at your desk when something happens, don't count on being able to make it back. Store additional supplies in your car (see below).

Essentials for the car
Even if you are at home when a disaster strikes, and your home is well stocked, you may still need the supplies in your car when you have to evacuate at a moments notice. Your house may not be safe to enter, or may catch fire after a disaster like an earthquake.

Your car will be one of your most important resources after a disaster strikes. Keep it mechanically sound, and pay close attention to the exhaust system. A leaking exhaust system could kill.

- Always keep your gas tank full! Fill it when it reaches 1/2 a tank. You will thank yourself the first time you are stuck in a traffic jam in bad weather.
- Think of your car's trunk as a big steel supply cabinet. Keep your supplies in the trunk along with other items like tools, jumper cables and spare tire.
- Keep the car mechanically sound and ready to use.
- Keep supplies in the car for use in an emergency.
- Replace your battery every 3-4 years. In an emergency, your car battery will need to run the radio and heater for extended periods.

Home Storage
Water
- 30 gallons per person (2 gallons per person per day for 1 week). This might sound excessive, but look at your water bill this month! This figure assumes that when at home, you will eventually want a sponge bath, or will cook pasta or rice. You might even wash your hair or clothes, and will eventually flush a toilet. Safety Central carries 2.5 and five gallon size food grade plastic containers that are ideal for emergency water storage. A good location is in a detached garage (single story) or away from any heavy structure that may topple over onto them. Remember that your water heater in the house is typically 50 gallons, and may be used as a secondary (only) water supply if your dwelling survives. Additional water should be stored in 5 gallon plastic containers and should be stored in separate locations away from your main water supply (not all your eggs in one basket).

Food
- Each person or family should have on hand an emergency food supply other than your weekly store bought food. people tend to consume their emergency food supply to easily when it's to readily available like canned foods, mixes, soups etc. That is why we recommend purchasing freeze dried , dehydrated, MRES, type of foods that have an extremely long shelf life that are nutritious and can be stored in the same area for accessibility ,while still maintaining your weekly store bought food supply. Plan for a minimum of one week of food per person, Don't forget a manual can opener! No power, no way to open cans!
- MREs - Meals ready to eat. These are ideal for inside and outside storage conditions. Remember, the key is to distribute your supplies at various locations. These may be stored in the worst of conditions. Long shelf life with no rotation.
- Freeze Dried Food- this superior storable food is available in #10 cans Approx. (one gallon) size cans that have many servings in them, and is a great choice for your main (bulk) storable food supply (available in individual cans or complete family and business systems. Freeze dried food has a shelf life of up to 30 years. while the pouched meals are a great choice for distributing your food in various locations (just in case you can't get to your main food supply. The freeze dried food pouches are also a great choice for storing in your vehicle, and for camping, hiking, flying or anyplace where a lightweight hot meal is desired. They have a 5 year shelf life, taste great and retain nutrition, texture and aroma. Freeze dried foods are available in our food section.

Cooking
- Barbecue, 40 pounds charcoal, and two cans of starter fluid. Or a propane unit with two 20 pound containers of propane. A propane camp stove may also be used.

Cooking Supplies
- Pot and pan for cooking.
- Kitchen knife.
- Silverware. Spoon, fork.
- Styrofoam cups.
- Water proof matches or lighter.
- Zip lock bags.
- Aluminum foil. A must! Can be formed into just about anything you might need.

Shelter
- Two person tube tent minimum, larger size better.
- Wool blanket or sleeping bag.
- Emergency Space blanket.
- Instant hand/body warming pads.
- Propane powered Heater, 20 pound cylinder mounted.

Medical
- First aid kit. Safety Central has several First Aid kits available. One is ideal for your car supplies and another is ideal for the home.
- We also recommend taking a first aid class including CPR.

Additional items
- First aid manual.
- Extra prescription medications.
- Aspirin or Ibuprofen.

Light
- Flashlight with 2 sets of spare alkaline batteries and one spare bulb or an emergency light.
- Lantern, battery, kerosene or propane powered. Store fuel or batteries, but never use fuel based lighting until you are sure gas leaks are eliminated.
- Long life candles.
- Water proof matches or lighter.

Communication
- AM/FM radio. Store at least 3 sets of alkaline batteries for standard units. The best radio is one that has rechargeable NI-cads built in, and may be charged with the built in solar cell, or by cranking on a built in generator handle. We recommend this radio for your supplies in your car as well.
- Pen, pencil, and paper pad. Store in zip lock bag.
- Stamped postcards. Store in zip lock bags. Your house might be gone, but if you still have a mailbox, the mail will continue service. An easy way to stay in touch with family far away.
- List of important phone numbers, including your out of state focal.
- Weather radio or police scanner. A bit expensive, but a weather radio is a must in tornado and hurricane country.

Tools
- Fire extinguisher large 5-20 pound, type ABC.
- Crow bar, 1 ft min.
- Leather gloves.
- Multi-function pocket tool or knife.
- Plastic tarp, 9x12 ft min.
- Nylon rope, 100 foot.
- Duct tape.
- A multi-purpose tool for shutting of gas and water main valves.
- Portable generator. Make your selection based on what really needs to be powered and the run time of the model. Our recommendation is for a maximum size of 5 HP, 2250 Watt 120vac only. To get a 230vac generator will require an 8 HP motor, and your run time will drop in half. Typically, the only items in your house that will require 230vac is an electric heating system, an electric water heater, or an electric range. What you really need to power is a refrigerator, a few lights, and a radio.
- Power converter for running 120 volt items from car battery.

Sanitation
- Portable chemical toilet and disinfectant crystals. Store in garage away from house. You will only need this if your dwelling is damaged, or if your water supply is limited.
- Toilet tissue rolls. Store inside portable toilet. Garbage bags. Can also be used as toilet liners.
- Pre-moistened towelettes.
- All purpose liquid soap.
- Tooth brush and paste.
- Disposable razor.
- Feminine hygiene items.
- Latex gloves.
- Gallon of disinfectant.

Baby stuff (if needed)
- Baby formula and plastic bottles.
- Large box disposable diapers.
- Pre moistened wet wipes.
- Baby blanket and knit cap.
- Two or three complete change of baby clothes.
Misc.
- One complete change of clothing for each person.
- Emergency poncho.
- Pair of boots each person.
- Phone change. $6.50 in quarters fit in a plastic 35mm film container nicely.
- $50 cash min, in ones, five's, and tens.
- Duplicate credit cards.
- Photo copies of ID.
- Spare checks.
- Playing cards. We recommend our line of informational survival cards.
- Spare keys.

Reference: safetycentral.com

Purifying Household Water

2010-09-23T10:42:00.002-05:00

The treatments described below work only in situations where the water is unsafe because of the presence of bacteria or viruses. If you suspect the water is unsafe because of chemicals, oils, poisonous substances, sewage, or other contaminants, do not use the water for drinking.

Storing water safely
- Store one gallon of water per person per day.
- Store at least a three-day supply of water per person.
- Collect the water from a safe supply.
- Thoroughly washed plastic containers such as soft drink bottles, these are the best. You can also purchase food-grade plastic buckets or drums.
- Seal water containers tightly, label with date, and store in a cool, dark place.
- Replace water every six months.
- Never reuse a container that contained toxic materials such as pesticides, solvents, chemicals, oil or antifreeze.

Water purification
- The two best ways to treat water are boiling and adding bleach. If tap water is unsafe because of surface water contamination (from floods, streams or lakes), boiling is the best method.
- Cloudy water should be filtered before boiling or adding bleach.
- Filter water using coffee filters, paper towels, cheese cloth or a cotton plug in a funnel.

Boiling
- Boiling is the safest way to purify water.
- Bring the water to a rolling boil for one minute.
- Let the water cool before drinking.

Purifying by adding liquid chlorine bleach
- If boiling is not possible, treat water by adding liquid household bleach, such as Clorox™or Purex™ Household bleach is typically between 5 percent and 6 percent chlorine. Avoid using bleaches that contain perfumes, dyes and other additives. Be sure to read the label.
- Place the water (filtered, if necessary) in a clean container. Add the amount of bleach according to the table below.
- Mix thoroughly and allow to stand for at least 30 minutes before using (60 minutes if the water is cloudy or very cold).

Treating Water with a 5-6 Percent Liquid Chlorine Bleach Solution
Volume of water to be treated       Clear/cloudy water      Very cold, or surface water
1 quart/1 liter                                             3 drops                             5 drops
½ gallon/2 quarts/1 liter                              5 drops                            10 drops
1 gallon                                                      1/8 tsp                              ¼ tsp
5 gallons                                                     ½ tsp                               1 tsp
10 gallons                                                   1 tsp                                2 tsp

Communications Are Vital

2010-09-23T10:31:00.001-05:00

Communications are another vital aspect of emergency preparedness. In any major emergency, one must assume that the usual means of communication will be non-existent or, at best, of limited use. The telephone system might not be working for a variety of reasons; or if it is working, the circuits may become overloaded, making it extremely difficult to get your call through.

Your television and radio that plugs into an electrical socket will also likely not work, especially when the electrical power has failed. Cellular telephone networks may also fail after the first few hours as their battery back-up power runs down.

Your emergency communications plan should begin with a battery- powered radio. At a minimum, this should have both AM and FM bands. Better yet, obtain a radio that covers additional frequencies, such as the NOAA Weather Channels. This will allow you to tune into local news and weather for as long as your batteries last. With this in mind, you should always have spare batteries for your radio. You might even consider buying a radio that operates on solar power or one with a wind-up dynamo.

The ability to listen to local broadcasts will solve only part of your emergency communication needs. The next step is to secure some type of device by which you can communicate with members of your own family or survival group. This is perhaps best accomplished using radio technology.

If you do not wish to obtain a HAM radio operator's license, then you have three possibilities. Citizens Band Radio (CB), the Family Radio Service (FRS), and the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS). Although the GMRS does not require an operator's license, it does require an equipment license.

CB radios have been around the longest with literally millions of them already in the hands of the general public. Effective communication is possible through a CB radio, but the transmission range is often limited to only a few miles. With a base station and a directional antenna, however, you can transmit further. Because of the widespread availability of CB radio you will find lots of users acting like total idiots on the air, playing music or other noises to block a channel, and generally disrupting communication. However the same widespread availability of CB that results in these problems can be an asset when the radios are used properly. With that in mind a CB radio should be considered for your emergency preparedness plan.

The GMRS was established for use by groups who need effective communication in an area of up to about five miles. A GMRS radio is a useful addition to your preparedness communications package, giving you additional frequencies and communication capabilities, it will allow you to stay in touch with others in your immediate area during an emergency situation.

The FRS operates at a low power (1/2 Watt maximum) on channels within the GMRS frequency band. FRS radios are effective up to about two miles and are intended for use by families and groups who want to maintain communication in fairly close areas. Even these low-power, short-range radios can be a lifesaver in an emergency.

For those with greater communication needs, there is always the Amateur Band Radio (HAM Radio). To become a HAM radio operator requires that you pass an examination on basic radio theory and practice. For some classes of license, you are also required to take an International Morse Code Test. The basic examination is fairly simple; children regularly pass this segment of the examination to receive their HAM radio operator's license. If you find yourself in need of long-range communication capability, or you have other special communications needs, you should seriously consider HAM radio.

Reference: Mick Chesbro

Survival Gardening: Learn The Difference Between Non Hybrid Seeds And Hybrid Seeds

2010-09-23T10:28:00.001-05:00

What Are Hybrid Seeds?

Hybrid seeds are produced by companies through careful pollination of two specific varieties. Normally, this highly selective plant breeding is done to bring together two traits in each of the chosen varieties so that the resulting seed has both of the traits.

So, for example, one tomato plant may be very drought tolerant and another tomato plant produces vigorously, the two plants might be cross pollinated to produce a drought tolerant tomato plant that produces a lot of tomatoes.

Plants grown from hybrid seeds typically do not produce seeds that can be used to grow the same type of plants, and can even produce seeds that will not grow at all.

Though the term “hybrid seeds” is often used in relation to vegetables, any kind of plant that produces seeds can be bred into a hybrid variety.

What Are Non Hybrid Seeds?

Non hybrid seeds are also called open pollinated seeds or heirloom seeds. Non hybrid seeds come from plants that are naturally pollinated. Some of these varieties have been around for centuries.

Non hybrid seeds will produce plants whose seeds will produce more plants that look the same as the parent plant.

Should I Use Hybrid Seeds Or Non Hybrid Seeds?

Despite the debate on the internet as to whether you should use hybrid seeds or not, this is actually a personal question for a gardener. Both hybrid seeds and non hybrid seeds have their pros and cons.

The positives for hybrid seeds are that they tend to perform better in your garden in terms of more fruits and vegetables produced, more plants surviving disease and pests and more flowers. For a gardener, this can mean an increased return for all the time spent in caring for a garden.

The negatives for hybrid seeds are that they tend to be more expensive to buy due to the specialized pollination process and the seeds you collect from them will not grow the same plant next year and, in some cases, have been bred so that no plant at all can grow from the seeds of a hybrid plant.

The positives for non hybrid seeds is that they come in a wonderful variety. For example, with tomato plants, there are literally thousands of non hybrid varieties that you can try and each have their own look and flavor. Because of the cost and time involved in producing hybrid seeds, there are only a few dozen varieties so your choices are limited.

With non hybrid seeds, you can also collect seeds from the plant and use them again next year to grow the same variety of plant.

The negatives for non hybrid seeds is that they are not as well rounded as hybrid seeds. Many non hybrid seeds are much more susceptible to disease and pests than their hybrid counterparts. They also tend not to produce nearly as much as hybrid seeds do.

Which is right for you depends on what you would like out of your garden. Consider carefully which type of seed is best for you.

Reference: Gardening Know How

Bread Recipe

2010-09-09T14:02:00.001-05:00

Here's a quick recipe for white bread. It's truly a necessity for the retreat!

Ingredients:
2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 cups bread flour

Directions:
In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam.

Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves, and place into two well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes.

KC

Wood Stoves

2010-09-09T10:31:00.003-05:00

As I prepare for the time when my family has to leave what we call home and bug out to the "Retreat" one of the priority issues for me is off the grid heating. My retreat location is in North Central Minnesota. Recently, I've been looking at wood stoves. I've searched CraigsList for used stoves, as well as pricing new stoves. I've decided to buy a new Vermont Casting style box stove. The stove is priced around $2,000.00. http://vermontcastings.com/

Maple Grove, MN

Survival Store

2010-04-08T15:13:00.006-05:00

Please visit our Survival Store!

Great deals on battery chargers, marine batteries, and inverters.

Attention Bloggers

2010-02-25T16:46:00.008-06:00

Please send us an email with your survival information or comments. After reviewing the content, we'll post them on this blog.

Checkout the new Zombie Survival Store. We add new products daily! If you know of a product that we should feature in our store please let us know.

The Survival Blogging Team!

About Survival Blogging

2009-12-19T19:28:00.010-06:00

SurvivalBlogging.Blogspot.com
Office - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Retreat - Northern Minnesota

This blog is owned and managed by Keith Carlson. Currently, Keith lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Twin Cities). Keith has been a licensed police officer for approximately 25 years. During his career, Keith has worked in Southern California and in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area. For additional information please view our ABOUT section located at http://survivalblogging.com

If you're a PREPPER and would like to share your wealth of knowledge with the rest of us, please contact us through the following email: info@survivalblogging.com

Psalm 46: 1

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

ChristianOutreachUSA.com

Thank you,

Keith Carlson - Editor
SurvivalBlogging.com
612.245.9898

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Solar Power And How It's Used

Proverbs 27:12

Proverbs 27:12 New Living Translation (NLT)

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World Health Organization 'Deeply Concerned' by Bird Flu Research

Buried Alive in a Snowdrift

Evacuation Plan & Planning to Bug Out During A Emergency

Law Enforcement During a SHTFS scenario!

The Zombie Survival Store!

Is Open Carry a Good Idea?

Is Open Carry a Good Idea?

The Minimalist Guide to EDC (Every Day Carry) kits

The Minimalist Guide to EDC (Every Day Carry) kits

Suggested EDC Kit Contents

Emergency Preparedness for the Frugal Beginner

Essential Home Security In An Unsafe World

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Round #1 Non-Fiction Writing Contest

What did you do to Prep this Week?

Setting Up a Hide Site

Bug Out or Bug In Bag

Food Insurance

Emergency Food Supplies for One Year

Portable Solar Kit used in Haiti

Survival Psychology

Don't Skimp on the Inverter

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Prepper Preparing for Doomsday!

Making Fire with Steelwool and a 9 Volt Battery

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Economic Predictions For The Rest Of 2010

Choosing Your Survival Knife

Survival Kits

Purifying Household Water

Communications Are Vital

Survival Gardening: Learn The Difference Between Non Hybrid Seeds And Hybrid Seeds

Bread Recipe

Wood Stoves

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