Monthly Archives: October 2013

October 12th, 2013
post by policysup | | 0

Food Storage Substitutions

Fall is in the air. It’s getting colder. You know what that means… It’s time to BAKE. Have you seen this on the internet? I love it because it’s true. Who doesn’t love baking, and especially baking with pumpkin this time of year.

Anyways, don’t you hate it when you feel like a treat… but you don’t have all the ingredients? Well here is a chart that may save you a trip to the store in the near future. It uses some basic food storage ingredients to make other ingredients you may not have on hand. One of our favorite reasons WHY FOOD STORAGE, is the Everyday Emergency!

Notice, you can use powdered milk to make a lot of things! Learn more about powdered milk on our Let’s talk About Powdered Milk Post.


Some of our favorite recipes that use some of these ingredients:
Super Cherry Pie (uses sweetened condensed milk)
Buttermilk Biscuits (uses buttermilk)
Buttermilk Cornbread (uses buttermilk)
Pumpkin Cake (doesn’t use a substitution but it’s AMAZING, and Pumpkin)

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: foodstoragemadeeasy

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October 11th, 2013
post by policysup | | 0

A Written Plan for Your Preparedness

I am an active prepper. I do have sort of a retreat but not a great bug-out vehicle (yet), but I do what I can for bugging-in and preparing for emergencies. I have extensive food and water preps, tactical supplies, and all of the other trappings of modern-day prepping. Although my family is aware of my prepping, and support my efforts, they are not “in the loop” with how to do what, when to do it, and what to do it with. I have come to realize that many of my preps will be useless if anything happens to me. A good example of this is my emergency comm gear. It’s good gear, easily accessed, and will work well, but there are no user-friendly instructions on how to use the gear. Another example would simply to list where everything is located, as my preps are spread throughout the home, vehicles, and remote locations. There are many, many things that I can do with the gear, but might be a stretch for my wife and children, simply due to the lack of instructions.

To this end I have begun documenting all of the needed information regarding our preps. This is being done in plain text, and then a printed copy will be hidden, and a copy given to my wife. Digital versions on the thumb drive are encrypted with a password that we all know well. The docs begin with a detailed inventory that gives location, quantity, and a short description. After the inventory I have started writing how-to docs for each area of need, and the level of detail is just deep enough to get the job done. As is the case with most such articles on preps, bug-out-bags, etc., I begin with water, food, shelter, protection, safety, communications, and lastly, comfort. I have kept the technical jargon to a minimum, and intend to solicit feedback from my family to clear up any points that need it.

With regard to each are of prepping, in some short discussions with my family that safety and security are two areas where considerable discussion was required before writing my docs. The reason is very predictable, my family consists of my wife and two teenage daughters. While they are all very sharp, and quite capable, some aspects of safety and security are difficult for them to accept. An example is the need to hide the bulk of our preps, while leaving a substantial quantity of food and water out in the relative open. I think this is needed because looters WILL come, and they can more easily dealt with if they are not coming up empty-handed. The other reason may be obvious, they might give up looking once they think they have taken all they can find, so the bulk of our preps will be secure. My family thinks that there will no looters, and that if I think there will be, then we should hide all our preps. Another example is dealing with strangers. My family of females is not as callus as I am, and will want to lend aid much too readily. After having lengthy discussions with my family, I was careful to re-state my concerns for security in the related docs. Mainly, be cautious and suspicious at all times. We should always be ready to lend aid and be charitable, but individual safety comes first. My rules are simple, in an emergency situation, no one outside the family is allowed in the house, and if we are providing any sort of aid the recipient will remain at least twenty-five  feet from the door until it is closed and locked, no exceptions.

In creating my docs, I have tried to write instructions as I perform a task, at least mentally. I have found that when I describe how to do things, I leave out small details that I take for granted. Don’t do this! Be exacting when it counts. We don’t want to bog-down anyone with too much detail, but overlooking a small but critical detail could be disastrous. A prime example is the fact that my gun safe key must be turned before dialing-in the combination or it wont open. It’s a key feature of the safe, and a detail I have long since just taken for granted. Although a tiny detail, this could easily hinder my family in my absence. I’m sure you can all think of dozens of small things similar in this respect.

Another aspect of preparing these docs is the printed version. Digital copies are valuable, I store mine on a pair of thumb drives, but printed copies are mandatory. If there is no computer to read the docs, they are useless. I have started printing my docs on waterproof paper, using larger than normal (14 pt) bold type font. They are then placed in zip-loc bags with moisture absorbers  and stored in a predetermined location, high above the water line of any potential flood. My wife thinks putting a copy in a fire safe is a good idea, I may agree with her. (it’s so hard admitting she’s right!). I have read articles about encoding printed docs, but it seems to be a dangerous practice, except maybe for very sensitive information, and the need for that kind of secrecy is far outweighed in my mind by the need to get the information quickly in an emergency situation. We’re talking about how to start the generator here, not nuclear launch codes!


I believe that the digital copies of these docs should be written and saved in a simple .txt format whenever possible, even if encrypted. You never know what sort of device or program you might have to open them on. The more universal the format, the better. If you have diagrams or pictures, consider using a PDF format for those. The PDF format is widely supported on computers, phones, tablets, just about any digital device available. If you will be printing docs that must contain actual photos, try and use high-contrast black and white in all of your images. In the long run, these images will last longer and will maintain readability better under adverse conditions, and the high contrast will make them easier to read under low-light conditions. Regarding storage of the printed docs, I found some surplus Army signal flare tubes that seem to fit the bill perfectly for this task.  I also put a chemical light stick in the tubes with the docs. This way we have a ready light source if needed to read them in the dark. I found the tubes at a local gun show, but I bet there are millions of these things out there on Ebay and military-surplus outlets. Another idea would be just to make your own tubes with PVC pipe and screw-on caps. If the tube does not fit your docs, there are countless waterproof containers out there. You might even consider fireproof containers in addition to waterproof containers.

So far my family has been supportive in giving me feedback on my docs and it’s going well. I expect that will change some as we get into more sophisticated activities like setting the channels up on a 2 meter hand held radio, or setting the bait hook on a small game trap. In the end, I believe that my preps will be complimented well by a good set of documents and procedures. My original thought was to provide the needed information to my family in the event that I was not here, for whatever reason. After several weeks of typing, I am keenly aware that there were some things I needed to brush up on as well. Now more than ever, I think it’s true: you don’t know how to do anything well until you can tell someone else how to do it. I strongly suggest that you use this opportunity to use and test gear and practice using tools and techniques, having found many times that some things were much easier to do in my memory than they currently seem to be. It can also be a great opportunity to get your family more involved in the practical side of preparation. We live in the deep south east where hurricanes are quite common, and I love the thought of my family knowing how to take care of themselves in the event of any emergency. It also gives me a chance to spend more time with my kids, and that’s always good.

So to recap my thoughts here:

  1. Make a good inventory of all of your preps.
  2. Write a detailed how-to document for each prepping item.
  3. Make no assumptions, where needed be very thorough.
  4. Store digital copies in an encrypted file.
  5. Use a safe but easy-to-remember password on your files.
  6. Make printed copies on waterproof paper.
  7. Store multiple copies of digital and printed versions in safe locations.
  8. Review the docs with the people that will be using them.
  9. Use the docs to practice using tools and techniques.
  10. Setup a periodic review and update schedule for updating your docs.

I hope others find this informative, good luck with all of your preps, I hope you never need them!

For more in depth information on encryption, see the Wikipedia page on encryption software.

And this link will take you to the free encryption software that I use:
http://download.cnet.com/TrueCrypt/3000-2092_4-10527243.html

Some really good sources for waterproof paper can be found using these links:
http://geology.com/store/waterproof/paper.shtml
http://www.igage.com/mp/wpp/igage_weatherproof_paper.htm
http://www.waterproofpaper.com

Or, you can waterproof your own paper.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: survivalblog

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October 10th, 2013
post by policysup | | 0

Feds Order National Guard to Close I-495 to Derail Trucker Protest

If true, the following report from Paul Joseph Watson proves yet again that President Obama’s promises of transparency and giving every American a voice were nothing but political rhetoric. One promise that he has made good on is that he would “fundamentally transform” America. If the Federal government, under the orders of the President, does, in fact, call on the National Guard to prevent these Americans from their right to peacefully “assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” then we have yet another Constitutional Amendment that has been supplanted by this administration.

 



A conservative group claims it has spoken to sources within the Department of Transportation who admitted plans by the feds to order armed National Guard troops to close Washington DC’s Interstate Route 495 tomorrow in order to derail a mass protest and potential blockade being organized by a group called Truckers Ride for the Constitution.

The sensational claim is posted on the Freedom Leadership Conference website, as well as prominent conservative blog RedState.com. The annual Freedom Leadership Conference has previously been sponsored by the likes of Judicial Watch and Human Events.

According to Glenn Ryt, the plan to close the route that circles the nation’s capital will be implemented on Friday morning with the aid of armed National Guard troops from Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia who will use trucks, jeeps and armored vehicles to block traffic entering the Beltway.

“These sources at the Department of Transportation have advised off the record that the DOT proposal included the confident belief that the Capitol Beltway shutdown will successfully achieve the twin goals of thwarting the trucker protest scheduled for a three day period starting on Friday, as well as deal another punishing blow to what they call “the crazy wing of the GOP” which refuses to capitulate to their demands to approve a budget that includes Obamacare funding,” writes Ryt.

Demonstrators under the banner of Truckers Ride for the Constitution will arrive in DC tomorrow morning to snarl traffic as part of “a shot across the bow that will ripple across all branches of government.” 10,000 truckers are expected to continually circle the Beltway for three days, taking up two lanes and keeping a third clear to allow access for emergency vehicles.

A separate Million Vet March will also take place in DC on Sunday morning at the site of the World War II memorial which was barricaded and wired shut by the feds earlier this week.

On Saturday, Honor Flight veterans plan to break through barricades that have been placed around the Iwo Jima Monument just outside Arlington National Cemetery, setting up a potential confrontation with National Park Service employees. North Country Honor Flight executive director Daniel Kaifetz has asked for assistance from the Million Vet March protesters in allowing vets to gain access to the Iwo Jima Monument.

“Since Interstate 495 is clearly a federal roadway,” report our DOT sources, and “the federal government is now closed because of the crazy House of Representatives Republicans, it is within the purview of the federal government to add it to the list of government properties that are closed and may not be used by citizens,” claims Ryt adding that the I-95 and I-66 in Northern Virginia could also be closed.

The report seems somewhat dubious given that using National Guard troops to close the Beltway merely to counter a protest in the midst of a government shutdown could not possibly be justified by the Obama administration.

Many have accused the White House of acting spitefully in closing down numerous national parks, roads, hiking trails and memorials, and one Park Ranger even told the Washington Times that an order has gone out “to make life as difficult for people as we can.”

However, closing down a major highway surrounding the nation’s capital seems a step too far even for the Obama administration, which many charge has acted vindictively by using the shutdown as an excuse to punish the people as part of a political ploy to demonize its political opposition.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: shtfplan

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October 10th, 2013
post by policysup | | 0

“No Limits On the Power of the President if He Calls for a National Catastrophe”

“President Obama is prepared to take power and begin to rule from day one.”
-Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States

Should Congress and the President fail to come to an agreement on America’s debt ceiling we could well be facing a situation that leads Barack Obama to implement a last ditch strategy that would be nothing short of a complete takeover of the United States.

So says former US Treasury Undersecretary Paul Craig Roberts, who knows a thing or two about finance, debt and the inner workings of our government :

If the United States were to default, it would be the end of the US as a superpower.  No one in Washington wants to lose that kind of power, so I fully expect that at the last minute a deal will be reached.  Now, in the event that both sides play a game of ‘chicken’ to the very end, and we are down to the last hours, and fears of a default escalate dramatically, I think one of two things will happen….

…

The first would be the Federal Reserve, on its own initiative, would simply lend the US Treasury whatever money it would need.  You have to remember that the Federal Reserve lent to US and European banks more than $16 trillion in order to enable them to avoid default, or outright failure.

…

The second possibility would be that President Obama, because of laws that are already on the books, would have the power to declare a ‘national catastrophe’ and simply assume the leadership of the government.  This gets Congress and the courts out of the picture.  At that point there are no limits on the power of the President if he calls for a ‘national catastrophe.’

This would mean that the President, on his own authority, could raise the debt ceiling.  So, either of those two events would happen if it looked like no deal was forthcoming from the Congress.  It could be that President Obama, or others in the Executive Branch, are planning to use this crisis to invoke that Executive Order.

…

Of course.  It means that essentially the President would become a ‘Caesar.’  That would also mean that the Congress had become like the Roman Senate, which lost its power and simply became a collection of notable figureheads.  Generally when democratically regimes fail you end up with a Caesar, and a shutdown is of course the epitome of a democratic failure.

So this would give President Obama all of the justification for exercising the Executive Order so that the President can rule independently of Congress and the courts.

Listen to the Full Interview at King World News (via Steve Quayle)

The important thing to understand is that President Barack Obama relishes the power. This is evidenced by his desperate need to monitor and command drone strikes from the White House himself. He likes the thrill of being the decision maker and holding the lives of others in his hands.

He has already passed scores of executive orders, including restrictions on firearms accessories and ammunition, as well as provisions that would allow the U.S. government to take over all domestic resources, including the labor force, should a national catastrophe be declared.

Make no mistake. They want total control.

 

 

And they will let no crisis go to waste. For them, the debt ceiling negotiations reaching  a stalemate may well be the outcome they are looking for, because it will justify the administration’s invocation of Executive Order and rule by decree.

The debt ceiling debate will likely have a resolution, just as it has twice in as many years under the Obama administration, but if it doesn’t you can fully expect the Executive Branch to take whatever action they deem necessary to “protect” the American people.

If that means declaring a “national catastrophe” then that’s what they will do.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: shtfplan

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October 9th, 2013
post by policysup | | 0

Great Ways to Utilize 2-Liter Soda Bottles for Survival

I’ll admit it, I’m a huge fan of the ubiquitous 2-liter soda bottles. And like 5-gallon buckets, I think they’re far too under-utilized by preppers. In fact, 2-liter soda bottles can be used in a variety of ways and I would imagine I’m only grazing the surface here. The best part is that they’re 100% free. Here’s 17 ways I think you can re-purpose a simple 2-liter soda bottle, enjoy…

  1. Block of ice – I’d imagine many of you expect to keep your refrigerated food viable for longer using ice in coolers. You can easily accomplish this by freezing water in 2-liter soda bottles creating a nice block of ice. Just be sure to fill it about 90% full to avoid bursting the soda bottle since water expands as it freezes.
  2. Emergency drinking water – When that block of ice melts, you now have a portable source of potable drinking water. I would suggest you clean the bottle first with soap and water and then simply fill it with tap water. Of course, you don’t have to freeze water stored in 2-liter soda bottles but it’s a nice benefit. Beyond that, they’re FDA-approved, shouldn’t degrade, and very durable. It’s a win-win.
  3. SODIS – Now, when they’re no longer a viable block of ice and you’ve consumed the water inside, you can still make use of 2-liter soda bottles to disinfect any collected water using the SODIS method. Granted, there are some considerations, such as the bottle must be clear for this to work, but I’m positive you’ll love these bottles even more once you learn how.
  4. Food storage (short term) – I’ve seen many people suggest that you can easily store food in a 2-liter bottle (video) and while I agree, it’s not a 100% perfect solution and shouldn’t be considered viable for long-term foods. That said, could you easily store bulk foods for years on end without trouble? Sure. I wouldn’t worry too much about it at all.
  5. Fruit fly and wasp trap – We’ve used 2-liter soda bottles for years as a very successful gnat and fruit fly trap inside the house. You can also use them to trap wasps (video) as well.
  6. Hand washing station – You can easily makeshift a hand washing station by hanging a 2-liter soda bottle upside-down and unscrewing the cap ever-so-slightly such that a trickle of water escapes thereby allowing you to wash your hands and conserve water.
  7. Fish trap – Though I’ve never tried this one, apparently you can create a makeshift fish trap too.
  8. Water filter – Create your own biosand filter (video) in nearly any container, including a 2-liter soda bottle. Just pile the appropriate amounts of gravel, activated charcoal, and sand and you’ll have a viable makeshift water filter in no time! Well, you do have to wait a week or two for the biolayer to form but, hey, who’s counting?
  9. Mini greenhouse – If you’re trying to get your plants started in the spring but are unsure about the weather, you can cut the bottom off a 2-liter soda bottle and help to protect vulnerable plants.
  10. Upside-down planter – Bored with growing your plants right-side up? No problem! Flip it around like this (video).
  11. Self-watering container – Similar to grow buckets, you can make your own self-watering mini-grow bucket using a 2-liter soda bottle.
  12. Drip irrigation – Here’s something else I’ve never tried but I hear you can make your own drip irrigation system.
  13. Boil water – Here’s something else I’ve never actually tried but apparently you can suspend a bottle of water over a campfire and boil water so long as the flames don’t lick the bottle. I’ve also heard that you can actually put a completely full bottle of water (with the cap on) in a campfire and not melt the bottle… that remains to be tested.
  14. Water bailer / scoop– Again, cut the bottom off and now you have a water bailer or. You could also cut it at an angle and turn that same water bottle into a makeshift scoop for grains or whatever you like.
  15. Makeshift funnel – As with the above suggestion, cut the bottom off but remove the cap and you have a nice, free, funnel.
  16. Makeshift pillow – I know this is stretching it a bit but you could rest a weary head atop an inflated soda bottle. I know it’s not a comfy down pillow but it sure beats a hard rock.
  17. Emergency floating device – Tie a few of these together (inflated and with the caps) and you’ve got a makeshift floatation device.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: rethinksurvival

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October 8th, 2013
post by policysup | | 0

Government Forces Homeowners To Leave Private Residences Amid Shutdown

With America having hit its debt ceiling yet again, the Executive Branch has determined that a closure of certain services is necessary to keep the country running efficiently. The ocean, for example, has been closed because apparently beaches and water can’t operate without government intervention. The Amber Alert web site, which helps police and parents locate missing children, has been shutdown due to lack of funds. And, hundreds of thousands of government workers have been furloughed without pay. They’ve even gone so far as to remove well pumps along a 184 mile trail from Washington D.C. to Pittsburgh, so that anyone who dares to use it will have no water to drink.

But there is no need to worry. Essential government operations are still very much actively working. The policing apparatus around the nation, especially on Federal lands, has been beefed up to ensure no one is violating the closures. Congress is still being paid by taxpayers, so they can continue to pass laws unabated. And, Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move web site remains operational, so we can eat healthy, and enjoy some song and dance while we do it.

The examples of President Obama’s hypocrisy are outrageous, and perhaps none more so than the experience of Joyce Spencer and sixty of her fellow neighbors who have homes on Lake Mead, which is a designated National Recreation Area.

While President Obama and his family continue to experience the luxurious benefits of living off the American taxpayer on federally designated lands, the Spencers have been kicked out of their homes by force.

The government shutdown is being felt close to home for some locals.

They say they’re being forced out of private homes on Lake Mead because they sit on federal land. 

Joyce Spencer is 77-years-old and her husband Ralph is 80. They’ve been spending most of their time in the family ice cream store since going home isn’t an option.

The Spencers never expected to be forced out of their Lake Mead home, which they’ve owned since the 70s, but on Thursday, a park ranger said they had 24 hours to get out.

“I had to go to town today and buy Ralph undershirts and jeans because I forgot his pants,” Joyce Spencer told Action News.

The Stewart’s Point home sits on federal land, so even though the Spencers own their cabin outright, they’re not allowed in until the government reopens.

Park officials said property owners can visit only to retrieve belongings; they sent Action News a statement which reads in part, “Unfortunately overnight stays are not permitted until a budget is passed and the park can reopen.”

…

The Spencers said it’s their property and they should be allowed in, shutdown or not.

Via: Blacklisted News and End the Lie

 


 

This isn’t the only example of government shutting down the private sector. In South Carolina, access to a private Inn operating on Federal lands was restricted.

On Friday, the owner, Bruce O’Connell, decided to defy the government and reopen his dining room, gift shop and country store. That lasted about two hours. National Park Service rangers blocked the entrances to the Pisgah Inn on the Blue Ridge Parkway, effectively shutting down business at the height of tourism season. The inn was booked solid for October.

The feds also tried to close another privately-funded tourist site – George Washington’s Mt. Vernon estate. The National Park Service showed up on Tuesday and barricaded the parking lots.

Source: The Daily Sheeple

What this demonstrates is that government and those who use it to wield power will always put their needs first – starting from the President and going all the way down the line.

Should our country ever be faced with a serious fiscal calamity or economic emergency, the little people will be government’s last priority.

Sensibility, fairness and empathy will be tossed to the wind, and you will be left with no recourse or relief.

The only example of how far the government is prepared to go is the aftermath of the Marathon bombing, when the entire Boston metropolitan area was essentially under a state of De Facto Martial Law:



An angry Park Services Ranger summed it up last week when he shared his directives with the public. “We’ve been told to make life as difficult for people as we can,” he said in disgust.

They will stop at nothing to push forth their agenda, whatever it may be.

Expect it. Prepare for it.

police-state2

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: shtfplan

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October 7th, 2013
post by policysup | | 0

Obama Shuts Down Amber Alert Website While Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Website Stays Open

It looks like the administration puts eating fruit over thwarting abduction when it comes to its priorities regarding our children.

The Right Scoop discovered the Obama Administration has shut down the Amber Alert website while keeping open Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move website.

It makes you wonder – do they care about child nutrition more than child abduction, or is it about putting children in harms way to further an agenda? Either way it’s a disgrace, reinforcing the idea that the government shouldn’t be telling our kids what to eat as well as have the power to hold their safety hostage.

Try it out for yourself:

Amber Alert website: http://www.amberalert.gov

Let’s Move Website: http://www.letsmove.gov/

This article was posted: Monday, October 7, 2013 at 5:07 am

 

UPDATE: as of 10/8/13 at least it looks like this site has been brought back online.

 

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Via: infowars

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October 6th, 2013
post by policysup | | 0

U.S. Treasury Warns of What’s to Come: “Catastrophic Effect… Could Last for More Than a Generation”

The next time someone tells you that the US government is operating in a fiscally sustainable manner and that our economy is growing strongly point them to the latest report from the U.S. Treasury Department.

According to the new report released yesterday all of our worst fears may soon be realized should the United States default on its obligations to creditors, employees, and recipients of state-sponsored benefits.

The report details the consequences of Congress failing to raise the debt ceiling so that the government can borrow more money. The political impasse will likely be resolved in the 11th hour just as it has been during prior showdowns. But, the report has much broader implications.

This is nothing short of an official admission and confirmation of the decades’ long woeful mismanagement of U.S. economic, fiscal and monetary policy.

Here’s what you can expect to happen on that fateful day when our government is no longer extended the credit it needs to cover its trillion dollar commitments:

“In the event that a debt limit impasse were to lead to a default, it could have a catastrophic effect on not just financial markets but also on job creation, consumer spending and economic growth,” the report said.

“Credit markets could freeze, the value of the dollar could plummet, US interest rates could skyrocket, the negative spillovers could reverberate around the world, and there might be a financial crisis and recession that could echo the events of 2008 or worse.”

…

“Considering the experience of countries around the world that have defaulted on their debt, not only might the economic consequences of default be profound, but those consequences, including high interest rates, reduced investment, higher debt payments, and slow economic growth, could last for more than a generation,” the report states.

Via: Yahoo and HuffPost

While all the political hoopla in Congress will eventually lead to an agreement on raising the debt ceiling, the fact is that we are very quickly approaching our limit as a nation.

At some point our creditors are going to pull the plug. They understand that the $200 trillion in obligations we have will never be met. Countries like Russia, China, and even the private central banking conglomerates are positioning their chess pieces right now for when this day comes.

The end result is going to widespread financial and economy destruction, a meltdown of the U.S. dollar, and a collapse of our very way of life as tens of millions of Americans will be instantly impoverished.

Economic analyst John Williams has warned that when it does finally happen, we can fully expect disruptions to our food supplies and the normal flow of commerce.

Without the U.S. dollar as a viable mechanism of exchange, such a  scenario could very quickly lead to civil unrest, violence, and widespread looting. While most Americans may deny that the possibility exists, it’s exactly the scenario that U.S. Homeland Security experts and the Pentagon have been simulating for years.

The U.S. Treasury Department has confirmed it can happen. The military and DHS are actively war-gaming contingency plans and stockpiling ammunition, recruiting soldiers for interment operations, and arming up local police forces. Furthermore, governments around the world are training for it.

Take their lead, and do the same on an individual level by developing your own long-term preparedness plan. Set aside food in case it is no longer available at grocery stores. Save some gold and silver to utilize as a mechanism of exchange should the dollar crash. Learn to use a firearm and have ammunition on hand to defend yourself when the masses start fighting for whatever resources remain.

While the timing of the Treasury Department’s report is designed to instill fear in the American public, understand that raising the debt ceiling will do absolutely nothing to resolve the underlying issues we face and the consequences that will eventually be realized.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: shtfplan

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October 5th, 2013
post by policysup | | 0

Valuable Prepper Concepts I Learned From A Zombie-Obsessed Teenager

Any parent of a teenager can attest that those highly coveted, deep and meaningful conversations between child and parent, the ones we wish occurred daily, are actually far and few between.  Try as we might, discussions surrounding topics like school, church, employment, and planning for the future, usually result in blank stares or moans and groans.

But a very wise woman (AKA my wife) once explained that when it comes to communicating with your kids, a good conversation on a ridiculous subject is better than no discussion on an important subject.   Sort of a “if you can’t beat them, join them” approach.  That is some solid advice for any parent and I have taken it to heart.  I have three children all under the age of 15, so the topics are pretty diverse.  Recently, I had a heated discussion with my 8-year old daughter about what kind of “My Little Pony” I would be and what secret pony power I would have (yes, they all seem to have cool powers).  And with my 11-year daughter I spent what seemed like hours deliberating which member of the boy-band “One-Direction” has the most talent.  This debate involved the two of us watching several music videos on YouTube.  I finally unplugged the wi-fi when she wasn’t looking.  Now if you quiz me next month, I guarantee I won’t be able to remember a single pony name or any song from Wrong Direction.

Now with my 14-year old son, there is one topic that he is always willing to discuss: the Zombie Apocalypse.  Yes, I know that there is absolutely no chance that the “end of the world as we know it” will come about because the dead rise up and start eating brains.  The Zombie Apocalypse ranks on the bottom of the impossible list, right below a hostile space alien invasion and a robot uprising.  These are all great movie and television themes, but they are just not going to happen in the real world.  But my son is passionate about preparing for this gruesome future crisis and rarely misses a chance to point out things like “that house would be great for zombie defense because the windows are all high,” and “the best time of year to hunt zombies is the winter, because they are frozen”.  So I have spent many hours discussing weapons, survival tactics, safe shelter construction, medical supplies, etc.  Hmmm…starting to sound familiar?  Sure does!  At some point in these conversations I realized that my son probably has more knowledge and better survival skills that most of the weekend warrior preppers out there.
So how does preparing for the fictional Zombie Apocalypse jive with actual TEOTWAWKI prepping?  Well if you can get past topics like “how to assemble your own flamethrower” and “tips to transforming a water tower into a zombie-proof bungalow”, then you might just discover like I did, several useful gems of knowledge.  Having an open mind is absolutely required.  So if you are ready, here are four jewels that my zombie obsessed teenage son taught me.

Fill up that Bath Tub
One Sunday afternoon, my son posed this question: “So what is the first thing you should when the Zombie Apocalypse happens?”
“Too easy,” I said, “Load your gun and get to high place.”
“Nope.  Fill your bathtub up with water”
His answer caught me off guard.  “What? Why?”
“Having drinkable water is the single most important thing to have when you’re trapped in a house surrounded by zombies.  Your tub holds a lot of water and it fills up in just a few minutes.”
Excellent tip! Whether you are bugging out or hunkering down, a good supply of drinkable water is paramount.  If you are staying in your home during an emergency, then filling your tub at the first sign of trouble gives an average family several days of good water.  Combine that with what is in your water heater, toilet tanks and any water storage, and you have greatly reduced your risk of running out of water in the short term.  Even if the water that comes out of the tub’s faucet is slightly contaminated, like in the event of an earthquake or a damaged water main, it is probably safer to purify and drink than the water out in gutter or a nearby muddy pond.  And the tub is indoors, making it easier to keep the water clean and protected.

Preppers Are Not Isolationists
A few weeks ago I asked my son this conversation starter and was surprised by the answer.  “When the Zombie Apocalypse happens, which of our neighbors are going to make it and which will be Zombie-chow?”
Without hesitation he stated, “Well everyone in our cul-de-sac has useful skills and if we band together then I think everyone has a good chance of surviving”.
Great insight my boy!  Don’t just get yourself ready for when the SHTF; help your neighbors get prepared as well, and then draw on each other’s strengths.
Now I will admit that I used to think that preppers and militant survivalists were the same bunch of dooms-days nuts living in remote desert bomb shelters.   Remember Burt and Heather Gummer (Michael Gross and Reba McIntire) from the movie Tremors with their sweet Nevada survival bunker and massive arsenal of weapons?  They were isolationists, prepared to survive the apocalypse without any outside help.  Even if you tried to help them, you would likely get shot anyway.

I am not ashamed to admit that when it all comes crashing down, I am going to need some help.  Most of us do not have a basement full of guns at our fully stocked, mountain safe house.  Nor do we have years of experience repairing cars or raising chickens.  But my next-door neighbor is a mechanic for a major railroad and the other neighbor makes all her children’s clothes: both very handy skills to have.  So between these friends, the electrical engineer on the corner, and the police office and his registered nurse wife across the road, I’m feeling better about our chances.  My son’s advice about “banding together” is as timeless as it is true.  There is strength in groups.  Reach out to your neighbors, get to know them and share your interest in prepping.  I did, and discovered that the retired couple  around the corner with the yappy little dogs, actually have a 1,000 pounds of wheat in their garage, and they even know how to grind it and make bread.  Cool!

Don’t Forget Some Entertainment
One of our family’s favorite activities is to play the card game Uno.  We are loud, silly and totally cutthroat with each other when we play.  We usually play until one person has won two games.  This might be 20 minutes or over an hour.  Recently my son emerged the victor after a grueling bout and while doing his traditional in-your-face routine, he declared, “Uno would be an excellent game to play during the Zombie Apocalypse”.
Before I could even offer a rebuttal, both of his sisters jumped in with “it’s too noisy” and “the zombies will hear you, stupid”.  Even my wife tossed in the comment, “isn’t shooting zombies all day long enough entertainment?”
“Everyone needs downtime and recreation,” my son replied. “Uno is great because you don’t need electricity, you can carry it with you because it is light, and you only need a couple of other people to play with.  We should have a deck in our bug out bag.”
After thinking about it for a few minutes, I decided “why not?”  I’ve recently read several articles on bug out bags and I have yet encountered this advice, yet it seems like such basic common sense to me.  If my family ends up at an emergency shelter or in the hills living in a tent, we could use a little fun and variety.  Electronics need to be powered and can be fragile, and board games or sports equipment are too bulky.  Any card game like Uno, Skip Bo, or just a standard deck of playing cards will add very little weight to your pack.  They are also fairly durable and can be used by almost all ages.   Other games like Pass the Pig or even a travel chess set are small and inexpensive and can easily fit into a bug out bag.

Practice What Matters
I grew up around guns and have done a fair amount of hunting and plinking with long barrel guns.  But it wasn’t until recently that my wife and I bought handguns and took a concealed carry class together.   Of course we wanted to be very open with our children about guns in the home and set some safety rules beforehand.  My son’s response was as follows:
“Well if you want us to all be safe with guns, then we all need to go and practice shooting.  You can’t hit a zombie in the head at 20 yards if you don’t practice.”
As macabre as this analogy sounds, I completely agree with my son.   Guns are powerful, extremely specific-uses tools that demands respect and requires practice.   And while I hope and pray none of my children ever need to point a weapon at another person, I know it is a possibility, especially if the world goes to hell in a hand basket.  I am very grateful they have all been to the range a few times and can effectively use a gun.
And the truth surrounding practicing your prepping skills is not limited to self-defense or hunting.  Has your family ever drilled grabbing the bug-out bag(s) and taking off for an overnighter, even if it is just to grandma’s back yard!   If you have food storage, have you actually tried living off it for a month?  When I was laid-off in 2009, we gave our food storage a test run for a month.   It was not pretty but we didn’t starve, and some excellent lessons were learned.  Now we practice one week each month (also a good way to rotate your supplies).
Point to learn? Practice makes perfect, so make your practice count.

A few nights ago I was flipping through the channels and came across George Romero’s classic “Night of the Living Dead”; the film that has inspired nearly 50 years of zombie movies and television shows.  I haven’t seen the movie in years and stopped for a moment to watch.  A few minutes later my son comes walking through the family room, pauses for a moment and says, “You know we have that on DVD?”
“We do?”
“Ya.  You can learn a lot of what not to do from that show,” he said with a bit of a laugh and a strong emphasis on the word “not”.
“Hey, I’m going to Jordan’s house to play basketball,” and out the door he went.   Honestly, I was glad he didn’t stay to finish the movie.
Everyone has opinions and outlooks on what the future hold.  Natural disasters, societal collapse and epidemics have happened before and will happen, at some point, again. I think my teenager understands this and has dealt with it in his own way.  I think that shows some insight and maturity on his part.  So while I’m not going to buy an old armored truck and convert it into a Zombie Killing-mobile, I am going to keep an open mind and listen to different perspectives on preparing for the future, even those as fanciful as the Zombie Apocalypse.

by Mark P.

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: survivalblog

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October 4th, 2013
post by policysup | | 0

Finding the North Star

I was sitting on one of those perfect early autumn nights with not a sound except loons calling and the occasional owl hoot. We could see, it seemed the entirety of the heavens, arrayed in a tapestry of light, like diamonds spilled on a piece of black velvet cloth.

Not being able to pass up a chance to prove myself smarter than my know-it-all teenager, I said, “pop quiz: which way is North?” Looked up at the stars, then pointed in some random direction. “That way.”

“Okay,” I said, “why?

“Because that’s the North Star.” “It’s the brightest star in the sky.” Right into my trap. Smug parenthood achieved.


“Which one was it again?”

Being able to find Polaris, the pole star (star directly above the North pole) for the Northern Hemisphere, is quite easy with a touch of knowledge in easy-to-recognize constellations. The North Star is accurate to True North within a variance of less than one degree, so it is a stellar (pun intended) way of being able to get your bearings if you are lost in the woods without a compass at night. However, it is, as very commonly misunderstood, NOT the brightest star in the sky; in fact, it is approximately the 50th brightest, depending upon conditions. However, it is bright enough to spot under most bright city or moonlit conditions. So, how do you find it?

The key is with the constellation Ursa Major, or, as we know it, The Big Dipper. If you can find Ursa Major, you can find Polaris.


Image from EarthSky

The Big Dipper, once found in the sky (visible in all seasons in the Northern Hemisphere) points the way to Polaris with the two outermost stars in the “cup” portion of the constellation (Merak and Dubhe). Line them up, and use them to shoot an imaginary line, five times the length of the distance between Merak and Dubhe, ABOVE the dipper. The first star you will come to is our buddy, Polaris, the North Star. A way to check that you have the right star is that Polaris is the furthest-out star in the “handle” portion of the Little Dipper (or Ursa Minor if ya wanna be technical-like.). The North Star, due to atmospheric refraction, is able to be seen even if you are a touch below the equator.

Now that you’ve found The North Star, find a way to mark the direction from your current location so you can move during daylight. (moving during the night should probably be held off on under most circumstances, whether you know which was North is or not!) If you’re not in an emergency situation, you can use your newfound knowledge to wow friends, pick up chicks, or to humble less-than-modest teenagers. Who knew the stars were such fun?

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: shtfblog

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