Monthly Archives: February 2015

30 Uses for Phone Books

We all get them dropped off one (or more) times every year. But what to do with them now that we just look up phone numbers on Google? Here are some creative uses for phone books our readers came up with for phone books – actual, paper phone books.

In the House

Emergency toilet paper (note: may not be the best for your pipes or septic system)

Stack them under the table cloth to elevate a nice center piece

Fold pages at angle from top outside corner to mid at center to make a door stop

Build book shelves on all exterior wall in your house six foot and down and line them with this paperback books they make the best bullet stops there is and it makes you look like an intellectual.when people stop by or at least beside the doors front an back it’ll give you something to duck behind when you have unwanted company…with guns….

Stack them to create a make-shift booster seat

Insulation

Washing windows

Hollow one or two out to make some hidey holes for valuables

Wrap Christmas decorations and other fragile items to protect them in storage or shipment

Wrap compost in  it to carry to the bin, then just throw the whole thing in so you don’t have to worry about washing a dish or bucket out

Arts & Crafts

Floor cover for little artists

Tear out the pages and use them for papier mâché

Coat pages in petroleum jelly… Roll them up and dip them in wax…. Makes emergency candles that are also waterproof

As a teenager I would use them as scrap books. Cover them with all kinds of art

Save them and turn it into paper snowflakes. It’s what I do with my used non-returnable textbooks

Pattern paper

Origami practice

Outdoors, Fires, and Animals (Pets)

Firestarters

Target practice

You can pack them in a box or wrap them up together for a safe backstop for dry fire practice with a gun

Bullet penetration/expansion tests

Mix with ashes and lamp oil or kerosene to make fire logs

Tear out a page, stuff into toilet paper tube, great firestarter

Cage liners, especially shredded, for rabbits, birds, feral cats, etc. (better if mixed with hay)

Lay under tomatoes, under the straw for weed help

Tear them up and use them to smother weeds, putting mulch on top. Works better than the black stuff, and it degrades completely; best if they use soy ink

Use with this awesome tool to never run out of seed pots!

Shred for compost (except for the cover, which was probably treated with chemicals)

Worm bin

And the most shocking answer of all:

Using a phone book for its intended purpose is better than a smart phone. The phone book gives you more choices.

 

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

 

Via: thesurvivalmom

Children and Teenagers’ Preparedness in an Average Family

Guest post by Veranio

——————–

Everyday life goes on, but lately it has been disheartening to see people suffer from natural, man-made, economic, and political calamities. It seems that difficulties of different degrees are becoming the norm. It will not get better, especially with the epidemic of moral decay and political corruption sweeping our society.

Definitely, there will be a shift on how we will live our lives. We need to prepare. First, we need to strengthen our faith and be spiritually ready. This means we need to pray unceasingly, ask for guidance and discernment, and submit ourselves to God.

Prepare, but do not be anxious. Be grateful to the Lord for his grace and blessings, even in this time of difficulty. Second, we need to be prepared to maintain our humanity and dignity, thus preventing us from succumbing to the dog eat dog psychosis. These are the main reasons why I prepare my family.

We lived in Southern California before we moved to Maui. Although we had a good time in So Cal, we needed to move to a slower and smaller place. For us, life in the city was becoming restrictive because crimes especially against children were increasing in intensity.

At that time, we had only one child, a daughter. God kept blessing us and we have three more children, all boys born in the island. I joke with my wife that she keeps gives birth every decade. One in the late 80’s, two in the 90’s and one in 00’s, so the decades are well represented.

My wife and I are fortunate that were blessed with good children. Although sometimes, they think they know better than we do. Their insolence leads them to misadventures and grief like any other teenagers. We are constantly on our knees praying for them.

One of the most challenging parts of preparedness is involving the children. This article relates to how we interact with them. Each child has their own personality, but my middle son typically exemplifies today’s children of average families who are into preparedness.

The major reason we moved was to have a more wholesome environment to raise a family. Island living allows our children to mature at a slower pace. This gives them time to enjoy their childhood so they are not prematurely preoccupied with the trappings of material world.

Living in the city has many advantages too. Depending on our financial situation, we take mainland trips to expand their perspective, as so not to limit them to island culture.

The bounty and serenity of the island taught preparedness in an unhurried way. We were able to let them grow in faith and appreciate God’s creation, since were blessed with beautiful oceans and mountains. We have fun as a family and it was easier for me to teach them survival craft, both the old and the new.

For teenagers, it is more difficult to persuade them in preparedness because they are more concerned in asserting their individuality, which also changes their priorities. The beauty of living here makes it also more difficult to maintain preparedness. It is hard for the children to envision that anything can go wrong in “paradise”.

My younger middle son is a very nice and likable. He is the cutesy easygoing sensitive type that girls like. When he is young, I had no problem bringing him along to test reloads and shoot. In fact, my wife warned me to watch him closely because he gets too trigger-happy. After a while he lost interest and focused on winning interscholastic surfing championships. Asking him to go shooting with me might have only created a rift, so I just let him with his activities.

Unwittingly, I invited one of his classmate’s dad to go shooting with me. The dad brought his son whenever we would go together, causing my son to tag along. The same classmate also convinced my son to join the high school rifle team. To encourage him, I told him that I would build him a colorful 10/22 to match his personality, red heavy barrel with multi-colored barracuda stock.

He actually shot well and is familiar with the disassembly and assembly of AR and AK. As of now, his peers influence his interest. It is all right because he has the basics to rely on.

My son is also very patient and understanding. His temperament is suited for fishing. We live close to the beach that we have the opportunity to do a lot of shoreline casting. Almost all the time, he ends up catching the most and the bigger fishes.

The older brother is the search and destroy type. He does not have the patience to sit and wait for bites. He would rather dive in the water and spear fish or go scout after wild game. He is actually more successful this way, either fishing or hunting. Both of them bring food for the table if they are in the mood.

Going back to my younger middle son, I was trying to convince him to join the wrestling team like his sister before him. I would tell him it is good for self-defense and good for his college resume. He will tell me “I am a lover, not a fighter”. At the same time, this frustrates and amuses me.

My friend did not help either because he told my son that when he was wrestling, his opponent puts him on hold and squeeze his stomach. He could not help passing gas and disrupting the match with roaring laughter.

My middle son met a very nice girl while surfing and they ended going steady. I told him that his girlfriend is very attractive, a head turner. I gave him scenarios that he might get into confrontations. I also asked him how he could protect his girl friend. Two weeks after that conversation, he enrolled in kickboxing. Now, he is planning to compete. Therefore, I told him to be careful with his nice looking nose.

I feel it might also be worthwhile to share how I trained my children to be safe and comfortable in shooting firearms. The second amendment is very important right to exercise. It is God given right incorporated in the U.S. Constitution for citizens to protect themselves. It is an integral right needed to safeguard our freedom as individuals and as a nation.

It is an on going process to teach the children to become proficient with firearms. Normally, the children started shooting, swimming, fishing, riding bicycles at six-years old. In regards to shooting, they started with a single shot .22 rifle. This takes away the mystique of firearms while at the same time teaching proper and safe handling.

It took a systematic approach to teach them to shoot more complicated firearms. They shoot the same action using a .22 before they step up to higher caliber. For example, a .22 pump action made them familiar with a pump shotgun. They shoot .22 semi-automatics to be acquainted with semi-automatic center fire by learning with Feather AT 22, which made it easier to transition to a Feather AT 9mm, or a Ruger 10/22 and step up to Mini-14.

In shooting handguns, they started with .22 revolvers before moving up. The emphasis was to be comfortable with what they do to make the shooting experience enjoyable. Later on, hitting targets and marksmanship comes naturally because there was no pressure involved.

They are proficient with a variety of calibers and actions but our main battery is based on the .22’s and .223’s that are based on AR 15’s. The AR’s have .22 conversions as part of the grab kit. This simplifies accessories and cleaning kits.

We role-play different scenarios when they were young and suggested what they can do in a playful way. One time, when we had only three young children I overheard my daughter calling her two brothers for an emergency meeting. First, she started like a newscaster recounting the news of the day. Then she decided who would get to carry this and that and so on.

It was fascinating and funny at the same time. With this in mind, I made sure that they understood that guns are useful tools but at the same time, very destructive if mishandled or misused. I made them aware to never, never touch a gun in a state of anger.

As their parents, we make sure that they are active in practicing our Christian faith. We try our best to set good examples of our faith and conservative principles. This will help them establish the proper foundation to make life-changing decisions. We hope to ingrain good values, morality, courtesy, humility and compassion so they can be good citizens.

My wife and I believe that it is time again to move back to the mainland, the children will have better chances. Here, we are water locked and vital resources have to be shipped. If there is major disruption, it will be difficult to maintain long-term survival.

There will be limited options that most likely lead to reliance on government institutions. The island is in the process of going beyond its sustainable population. It does not help too that were in the region of the ring of fire. Hawaii has also one of the most restrictive gun laws. Any suggestions where to relocate?

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

 

Via: thesurvivalistblog

Survival Fitness and Exercise – Walking

If you lack good fitness, fail to exercise regularly, or you are generally ‘out of shape’, even though you might have all of your preparedness supplies and extra food on hand (ready for SHTF) – you still aren’t ready because in a post-collapse world there will be little time for sitting on one’s ass all day.

Here’s one thing you can do to improve your ‘survival fitness’…

You might have a year of food storage and supplies for you and your family, but do you have the fitness, strength and stamina to walk for 10 miles? (Or even 1 mile?) Are you physically fit enough to work hard all day in a garden (for example)? Do you have any idea how much more physically difficult your life might become while surviving after a major collapse?

Watching and observing others while out in public places, it is evident that there are many (the majority?) who appear to be overweight and likely ‘out of shape’. While not being judgmental (just observing), these same people will have great difficulty in a world tipped upside down where things don’t come so easily.

While we enjoy the creature comforts of our modern world, an unfortunate side effect is that we as a modern society are not getting anywhere near the exercise and physical activity (generally speaking) than what was meant to be. As a result of eating less nutritious food (junk food) coupled with living the lifestyle of a ‘couch potato’, we have become fat, spoiled, and out of shape. This is not a recipe for successful preparedness.

For those who are into preparedness, it will do you well to consider your circumstances should you need to become ‘really’ self-reliant (independently or within a group) – post collapse scenario. When the modern systems have failed around you, there will be much more physical labor required of you during your new daily duties. If you cannot do it today due to being overweight or out of shape, you will not be able to do it tomorrow if you need to.

What to do?

Just move. Stop sitting so long. Walk. Walking is perhaps the best single thing you can do to improve yourself in this regard. No need to run or jog – just walk. It gets the blood flowing, walking burns calories and will help manage your weight, it strengthens stamina, walking improves your mood, it helps to focus your mind, it can lower your blood pressure over time, walking is said to lower your ‘bad’ cholesterol while raising your ‘good’ cholesterol, it could reduce risk of diabetes, and will generally make you stronger and more fit.

All it takes to reap these benefits is a routine of brisk walking. Research shows (Mayo Clinic) that regular, brisk walking can also reduce the risk of heart attack by the same amount as more vigorous exercise, such as jogging.

Walking is a gentle, low-impact exercise that can ease you into a higher level of fitness and health. Walking is a form of exercise accessible to just about everybody. It’s safe, simple and doesn’t require practice. And the health benefits are many.


So, do not ignore your ‘survival fitness’ while making your preparedness plans…

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

 

Via: modernsurvivalblog

Politician Proposes Radical New Idea To Prevent Campus Rapes: ‘Hot Little Girls Need To Carry A Gun’


(Pictured: Nevada Assemblywoman Michele Fiore)

Second Amendment opponents are in an uproar after Nevada Assemblywoman Michele Fiore proposed a radical new concept to help curb the rise in rapes on college campuses.

Her off-the-wall idea, which is as old as the United States itself, is that women on college campuses be allowed to carry firearms.

If these young, hot little girls on campus have a firearm, I wonder how many men will want to assault them.


The sexual assaults that are occurring would go down once these sexual predators get a bullet in their head.


(Michele Fiore [right] sports a semi-automatic rifle)

As you might expect, left-leaning anti-gun groups immediately jumped on the comments, claiming that Fiore is exploiting one of the country’s hottest issues.

Andy Pelosi (no relation to California democrat and staunch anti-gunnner Nancy Pelosi) heads the Campaign to Keeps Guns Off Campus. “The gun lobby has seized on this tactic, this subject of sexual assault,” he said in response to Fiore’s proposal.

But is it really a political tactic to suggest that adults attending college classes in America should be able to defend themselves if they are confronted by a sexual predator?

Or do Pelosi and others who refuse to even consider this possibility assume that all potential predators will abide by campus guidelines that require a woman’s consent before any sexual contact?

The overwhelming majority of college administrators and faculty members oppose guns on college campuses according to the New York Times, but several student organizations pushing for concealed-carry have cropped up in recent years:

Many students who support current legislation have joined the lobbying group Students for Concealed Carry. Crayle Vanest, an Indiana University senior who recently became the first woman on the group’s national board, said she should be able to carry her licensed .38-caliber Bersa Thunder pistol on campus, where she said she had walked unarmed after her late-night shifts at a library food court.

Universities are under a ton of investigation for how they handle sexual assaults — that shows how safe campus maybe isn’t,” said Ms. Vanest, who is lobbying Indiana lawmakers.

“Our female membership has increased massively. People who weren’t listening before are listening now.”

Indeed.

Women are starting to realize that no campaign poster, web site or campus pledge is going to protect them from a sexual predator who means to do them harm.

What will protect them from these animals, as Assemblyman Fiore so eloquently stated, is a bullet to the head.

Check out:

New Open Carry Georgia law allows guns in some schools, bars, churches

 

Victory for Self Defense as Judge Rules Students Can Keep Guns on College Campuses

 

NC Sheriff Tells Citizens to Carry Guns

 

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

 

Via: shtfplan

To Camo or Not To Camo?

When considering what one needs during a TEOTWAWKI scenario, clothing is always on the list. We often choose our clothing based on the features of either looks or functionality. However, when preparing for TEOTWAWKI, we need to take both types of features into consideration, especially with camouflage!

Almost every person I know plans on using some type of camouflage, whether its a military or tactical pattern that is their choice for everyday use. This is perfectly acceptable, but I constantly tell them that they should not limit themselves to just one pattern. Let’s look at two scenarios that may affect what one might wear or carry.

Scenario 1:

You are at home when you learn that a TEOTWAWKI event has taken place. It is just you and your significant other. You expect other members of your family/party/clan to arrive within days.

Scenario 2:

Your car stops on the highway (due to EMP or other TEOTWAWKI event). You now have to beat feet to your home, which is miles away.

The first scenario is one that most of my friends are prepared for. “What do I need to store and keep at my location?” is typically the question they ask. In a catastrophic event, our clothing can keep us hid as well as play an important role in identification. Most families/groups that prep together, plan together. These groups generally plan to store and keep some type of camouflage/military clothing around for use (hunting, guard force, working, and so forth). It is important to consider who will wear what and when they will wear it. If you don’t already know your group’s answers to the following questions, you should develop some:

  • Will only the guard force wear camo?
  • Is that camo going to be different from what our food gatherers (and hunters) wear?
  • If the guard force are the only ones wearing camo, how will we tell who belongs in our group and who doesn’t?
  • Is our camo/military pattern easily accessible?
  • If it is, do we (as a group) run the risk of someone infiltrating our home/camp?
  • If we go with an unusual camo pattern (for identification), will it be functional in our area?
  • Is our pattern available for warm and cold weather gear?

These are just a few of the questions that groups should identify and brainstorm when conducting their planning. Also, the most practical camo patterns are the most expensive. Groups need to ask themselves if all members can afford the more expensive multi-cam or digital patterns. In addition, groups need to make sure all members have that camo on them in their bug out bags/G.O.O.D bags. Those camo/military patterns have a whole different use when you’re confronted with scenario #2.

The second scenario is one that most of us fear– being away from our “safe haven” when the manure hits the fan. Let’s say that the individual in the second scenario is trying to get back to those in the first scenario (their group/family at home). Camouflage is also something to think about in this scenario. Once again, all of my friends tend to think they will just get camo’d up and head out. However, there are lots of things to consider in this scenario.

  • Will my group be expecting me to arrive in camo or civilian clothes?
  • Am I going to travel during the day or night, and will that help or hinder my camo?
  • Do I want to put on camo and risk looking like a militant/prepper type, which can also be confused with law enforcement?
  • Do I want to wear civilian clothes and risk being spotted crossing someone’s land?
  • Whose land am I crossing, and do they know me? (Others may be prepared as well and may attack, if they feel threatened by me.)
  • What does the terrain look like that I will be crossing, and does my camouflage coincide with that terrain?

Just like the first scenario, these questions need to be addressed during your family/group meetings. These questions need to be applied to your gear as well. For example; having a woodland digital patterned backpack can draw unwanted attention to yourself. However, a bright backpack could single you out, if you’re trying to conceal yourself.

The purpose of this article isn’t to tell you what to do or what not to do. It is here to get your minds thinking. This will provide a guideline for those getting ready. Neither is wrong or right, but hopefully a person can use what’s above to make an educated purchase and prepare the best they can for their situation.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

 

 

Via: survivalblog

35 Excuses That Will Doom The Non-Prepper

As of today it is estimated that ONLY 1% of the population actually goes to much of any effort to prepare and store up enough of what they need to survive a true calamity. This means a huge majority of the population fails, yes fails, to have much of anything if and WHEN what they need each day to live evaporates quickly. Most people have no clue what life will be like after the grocery stores close. They simply cannot grasp the horrors that will befall those people that have not put away for tomorrow or prepared contingencies for life threatening emergencies.

Instead of taking some time, effort, and money to safeguard themselves and their families, they have a wide array of reasons (excuses) for why prepping is crazy and not at all necessary.
There exist a magnitude of what are called TRUE civilization altering or world-as-we-know-it ending events that could happen. Many have already occurred throughout history, as well as within just the last decade. The fact is , it’s only a matter of time before these catastrophes happen again.

People who choose not to prepare for their families will be faced with life and death situations that few have ever experienced before.
Without water people will die within a few days. Without food people will die within a few weeks. Without everyday necessities people will die in hordes from varying ailments and diseases. Without what they are accustomed to on a daily basis, people will suffer and most will die. This absolutely does not have to happen to such a high percentage of the population, but sadly it will unless more people understand there is no real excuse for NOT preparing. The following are 35 of the most common excuses and causes cited by the 99% of the population who don’t prepare.

1. Oh come on, it is never going to happen, my area is safe, I am safe.

Fact or Answer: The overall odds increase of having a mega or even a lesser catastrophe as the population grows and cities grow in size. Just like increasing the size of a target, it is easier and more likely to get hit. Even if your area doesn’t get hit, your location can be cut off from getting vital supplies from areas that DID get hit. Every single spot on the planet is a target, from natural disasters to terrorism to war to pandemics to a black swan event that no one expects. No one is invulnerable anywhere and living this way is delusional and totally unrealistic.

2. I am convinced that everything is recoverable and my area will get back to normal quickly.

Fact or Answer. The media and government have longed ingrained into people’s minds that no matter what happens, it is repairable. Fortunately up until now there has not been a type of event that is so severe and widespread that recovery is very long or requires massive clean-up involving millions of people and trillions of dollars. There are potential disasters that occur on regular time frames that could easily be ranked as hundreds of times worse than anything we’ve ever seen in our lifetimes. The New Madrid fault zone and San Andreas fault are a couple of examples. A solar induced super EMP (electro magnetic pulse) which occurred in 1812, 1857, and 1859 is another. Fukushima is a recent example how bad things can get almost in a matter of just 24 hours.

3. No matter how horrible it is, help will eventually come, I just have to wait it out.

Fact or Answer. Help can come IF there are people and resources available. All of the recent disasters have been fairly isolated and allow the majority of the unaffected population to come to the rescue of those in need. What happens when an entire country is affected – or most of the world? Assuming that your government or someone will reach your area with help and supplies no matter what is dangerous. The government is going to spread help to areas of the highest priority FIRST. Your area could be weeks or months away from help and you could be long dead before help and supplies arrive.

4. Even if something happens, there are plenty of food and supplies for everyone in my city.

Fact or Answer. Ever seen towns and cities cut off by winter storms? Food in supermarkets, food warehouse stores, and restaurants, are extremely limited – perhaps one to seven days at best. To prove this take your population where you live and divide this by the number of grocery stores in your city or town. Now go into one of these stores and look around and consider how fast a few hundred or a few thousand people could empty that store. You see all those trucks coming in each day carrying food and supplies for these stores. Imagine those deliveries stopping. Food will disappear faster than anyone can imagine.

5. My state government, my community, my neighbors will not abandon me and let me starve.

Fact or Answer. It’s a pure numbers game. If food and other necessities are not there for the state to distribute, then everyone who has failed to put away for such a disaster will go hungry. Your neighbors are likely to be in the same boat as you if 99% of the people don’t prep. Those that did prepare are likely to not share with a bunch of people that choose not to. Taking food from those that did store up will not be an easy task, as they will likely be well armed. It is extremely selfish to expect your neighbor to sacrifice their family because you determined that preparing was too much effort. Simply don’t be the 99% that don’t prepare.

6. I have a 3 day supply of food, the government and others tell me that this is plenty.

Fact or Answer. Three days go by awfully quickly, and as we saw in Hurricane Katrina help took much longer than that to arrive. If it is possible, a bare minimum of 30 days’ worth of food, water, and other supplies should be considered for all families. In the past, during “lightweight” SHTF events, help arrived 1-2 weeks after the disaster occurred such as areas hit by a great earthquake or mega hurricane. Severe disasters require much longer times for real help to arrive.

7. I have lots of credit cards, I will purchase anything I need in my city or nearby cities.

Fact or Answer. First of all, credit is something that ONLY works when systems connected to the outside world function properly. People think that these little “magical” pieces of plastic will save them in all circumstances. This misconception is something that will flatten those who go out and try to buy food because the banks are not allowing or are simply unable to process any credit or debit cards. Cash is necessary for buying what you need – have a fair amount in ALL denominations from 20’s down to 1’s. Additionally, if your backup plan is to drive to another city to purchase emergency supplies you may not be able to get out of your area due to lack of fuel or closed roads. Again, have your own supplies BEFORE it happens.

8. My water faucets will have water, even if it is temporarily shut off, they will not let us go thirsty.

Fact or Answer. Water pipes that bring water to your home require power, without power there is no water. Those expecting water trucks to bring drinking water to their neighbor should not count on it. Those who plan on drinking unsafe water from ponds, lakes, and other catchment basins are just asking to become very ill. If someone doesn’t store much food, at least there should be water stored for drinking. 1/2 gallon per person per day minimum, not to forget the household pets either. Water could be down for weeks. Cases of bottled water are one way to store water for longer terms and can be neatly stacked in a small corner of your home. Many stores sell safe water storage units that can be filled up with plain tap water. A good water filter is something that all households should have for outside water should city supplies be inoperable or contaminated. Learn how to catch rainwater and dew. Dehydration is something that will kill scores of people because they have not taken water storage seriously. Without clean water you’re dead in 72 hours.

9. There is no room to store supplies that will never be used anyway.

Fast/Answer. Vertical storage is one way even very limited amount of space can be used to put away what someone’s needs. There are all sorts of “dead spaces” around the home. Under the bed, closet shelves, or your garage are a couple of ideas. Square footage of a home is 2 dimensional, as there is usually about 8 feet of space up to down between ceilings to floor. Even people living in tiny apartments find room to store up emergency needs.

10. I can’t rotate supplies, everything will get old and have to be thrown away.

Fact or Answer. Many items can be consumed way past the ‘best by dates’. Those that feel that they still can’t store up items even in cans because of some use by or best by date, can store up a lot of other items that don’t have to be rotated. There are everyday items that can be forgotten about and will still be just as good as when you first stored it. Sounds crazy, but there are items that will fetch a high barter value that people need and want. Toilet paper is one key supply that can be traded for food and other items because it will never lose its demand. Other barter items such as cigarettes and alcohol have extreme value just about everywhere. It would be wise to always store up what you eat each day in cans, as canned foods have a very long shelf life so long as they are kept dry, cool and undamaged.

11. I don’t have extra money to store up anything for disasters.

Fact or Answer. There are many coupons online, in newspapers, and in stores. Manufacturers want to attract new customers to try their product so badly that they often offer food for free or near free. People live on coupons with very limited money sources using coupons. Stores also offer reduced pricing on overstocked items. Collecting these supplies will add up if one is willing to start doing so. Never pass up an opportunity to get something for free, especially if it can be stored for later use or barter.

12. It is too much work to bother with.

Fact or Answer. Even a person that is hardly an expert prepper who has stored up something will fare far better than the 99% that have not. Simply picking up extra food and other supplies at the market each time and putting these into boxes in some isolated part of the home will add significant reserve supplies. This is very limited effort that will reap huge results WHEN you need it. You don’t have to work that hard to put away a decent amount of what you will need someday.

13. I have absolutely no idea what to store or how much.

Fact or Answer. What do you use each day and every week? This is what you want to store up. Buy your regular household staples in jars, bottles, or well-sealed packages for longer term storage. How much can be determined simply by asking yourself, ‘how long do I want to be self-sufficient during a disaster?’ Have a time frame – a month, two months, etc. You should be able to easily determine how much of something you will use in a certain amount of time.

14. I don’t need any protection after a disaster, the police, National Guard, military will protect us.

Fact or Answer. Even those that don’t like firearms should consider owning one. The larger the distance between an attacker and your family, the less chance that someone you love will get injured or killed. A firearm gives you this distance. At least have something to defend your family with. There are some real psychos out there that will certainly take advantage of the lawlessness that will come with no police or military force. How many police does your city have per citizen? This ratio is one golden reason to have self-protection before, during, and after a disaster. There may be no way of reaching law enforcement even if they are available after a true disaster as all cell towers and phone lines may be fried for whatever reason.

15. The power grid will come back on, until then I have LED flashlights that last forever.

Fact or Answer. First of all when they say on commercials that the light will last for 100,000 hours they are referring to the bulbs. Batteries run out of energy. You should have many extra batteries to avoid the dark with LED lights. Many accidents happen in the dark and flashlights should not be the only source of lights. Candles are cheap and last several hours and can be used to warm up food and a small heat source. You don’t want to live nights without some source of light – it will get so dark sometimes that you won’t even be able to see your hand in front of your face. Besides light, the power grid may not come back up for weeks, or ever if something catastrophic enough has happened. Another grave consideration is what is called temperature control of your environment as excessive cold or heat kills hundreds or thousands of people in stable times every year. You will likely lose the ability to stay cool or warm in the event of a power grid failure. Weather insulation of your surroundings before anything occurs is a preparation that many should consider doing NOW. A back-up electric generator with back up fuel is one option. For those who can afford it or know how to build it themselves, a solar or wind driven electric system is a viable long-term solution. You may have to live a long time without power, as the grid is a lot frailer than people realize, so consider alternative energy supplies now.

16. Again and again I hear these fear mongers exaggerate the threat level, another false alarm.

Fact or Answer. While Y2K, the Mayan calendar and many others have been wrong, there have been many times when a disaster has been a lot worse than anyone could have predicted. Two of the most powerful tsunamis caused calamities that rank the worst of all time — one is widespread radiation release in Japan, and event that is likely killing people as you read this. Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Wilma, and recently Sandy were far worse than predicted. Tornadoes have destroyed entire cities. Deepwater Horizon caused the worst oil disaster on record. Many wars and terrorist attacks have brought untold suffering in this century alone. These are still lightweight disasters and are dwarfed in comparison to what has happened before and will happen again. Preparedness is the only answer for the common person to help survive what is eventually coming.

17. I have a good car and family in other areas, if anything happens I will just go stay with them.

Fact or Answer. One of the worst assumptions is that family or friends will openly accept you and yours and let you live with them. Even if they do, you may not be able to get to them. Your car or vehicle may be disabled for any number of reasons, or the roads may be unusable because law enforcement will not allow ANY travel or because they have been destroyed. Planning on how to stay safe where you are should be your foremost option. Bug out only as a last resort (unless you have a complete bug out strategy and destination already in place).

18. I work all week long and I am going to spend my extra money on fun rather than fear.

Fact or Answer. Self-indulgences seldom have much or any lasting benefits. People often blow their money on something that was nothing more than fleeting fun. In the end it is often expensive and worthless. A good plan is to do anything that will bring long time enjoyment and help you live your life with less stress. The amount of stress you and your family will suffer after a true disaster strikes and you have nothing to feed yourself and your family will be well beyond what any job or most of life’s agonies can bring. Entertainment can help live life better. Not storing up for emergencies can help end your life in true anguish.

19. Survival supplies taste bad, I can’t live on this for long at all.

Fact or Answer. Some supplies have high sodium contents, others are near or at gourmet levels. Practically everything that someone enjoys can be found in a can at the supermarket or other food retailer. Just because food is stored up, doesn’t mean that it has to taste bad. Most of what people cook for everyday meals – rice, beans, flour, oatmeal, etc. – can be stored for quite a while.

20. If a true catastrophe occurs we are going to die anyway, besides that I don’t want to live through it anyway.

Fact or Answer. To each his own, but when you look at the faces of your family or your own face in the mirror, this feeling kind of changes its tone. Even during the worst disaster there are going to be survivors, why should it not be you and your family? Here is something very few people understand – after a very bad catastrophe the planet and the life, vegetation and animals, have a remarkable recuperative ability. In other words, times are likely to get better each day after a true disaster. There are of course exceptions, but in all likelihood there will be slow to moderate improvement as time goes on. The main objective to have enough of what you need to get through the worst parts of it.

21. Survival and prepping for the worst is negative, as long as I stay positive, only the positive will happen.

Fact or Answer. One of the most positive things is to have what you need when the situation presents itself. Too many people live like the proverbial ostrich with its head buried in the ground. Not being realistic with worldwide situations that are way beyond your control is negative. It is denial. Wishing that the economy will not collapse, a mega earthquake will not hit an area way overdue, that war will not develop in the Middle East and so on, will most likely not work. Prepping and being ready for such an event(s) will work to help better safeguard you and your family and increase your chances of surviving it dramatically.

22. Preppers / Survivalists are radical, paranoid, conspiracy driven out of touch with reality, I don’t want anything to do with them.

Fact or Answer. Out of touch with reality is depending on the government to come to your rescue when they simply can’t because of the magnitude of a particular disaster. Preparing and storing up food, water, and other needs has nothing to do with associating with anyone but your immediate family and friends. If you don’t like preppers and their way of thinking, no one is saying you have to become friends with anyone to store up what you need for later. Letting your personal views of people that prepare influence your family’s well-being for the future makes no sense. Buying insurance in the form of what your family will need after it becomes no longer available for an undetermined period of time makes excellent common sense for everybody.

23. I don’t know why everyone is so worried, times are better and safer now than ever in human history.

Fact or Answer. The old doomsday clock put out by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists puts the clock at 5 minutes to midnight. Since 1960 the clock has only been closer to midnight between 1981-1988 during the height of the cold war. In 1991 it was set at 17 minutes to midnight. Most of the time it was set 7 minutes or higher. As competition grows with increasing population, resources grow less plentiful. While it can be argued that the earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural disasters are all part of a regular cycle, man-made conflicts and needs are something never experienced with 7 billion people trying to get what they need out of limited resources of water, food, arable land, energy and much more. If anything, times are becoming a lot scarier and gives even more support to the notion of preparing to what the future may hold for us.

24. There is so much to prepping, I’ll take my chances that nothing will happen.

Fact or Answer. There is a lot to knowing what to do after a disaster, but it takes little no know to simply put away what you need every day in life. Just the simple act of putting away canned food and water and other necessities like toilet paper will put you into a better situation that most of the people you know. Those people that even put away a month’s worth of what they need will likely survive better than at least half of the population after a mega SHTF event. Just start putting away and continue it and someday you will probably be grateful you did.

25. All my investments go right into what makes me money and gives me security for the future.

Fact or Answer. Many people cannot find a better investment for the future than to have what they need within arm’s reach. Banks are closed most of the time, and online trading is only good if the internet and phone lines are up. While having a stable portfolio is important, especially if nothing happens, not having an investment in the things you use each day to live life with ease makes no sense. Buying stocks in precious metals is equally worthless compared to actually having the precious metals in your hands or you’re safe in a situation when the stock and commodities markets collapse or are inaccessible.

26. Why bother storing up that much food and supplies, mobs will just come in and take it.

Fact or Answer. If you tell everyone that your house is a grocery store, then when something does happen you can expect big problems. If no one knows you have food, it is much less likely you will have any mobs come after you. Good self-defense is essential to guard your supplies as many people are cowards and just don’t have the gall to try to force themselves in while being shot at, many times people will back off just because there is a gun aiming at them. Also something to consider is that many people will become quite weak after lack of food and water and after a few days the threat level will diminish significantly.

27. I have a refrigerator and a cupboard full of food, 2 cases of water, a 12 pack of toilet paper, I am all set.

Fact or Answer. So many people are totally clueless to what they DON’T HAVE. First of all the water of 2 cases will be used up in 3-4 days by a family of four. If the power goes off everything in the refrigerator will have to be eaten within a couple of days. A cupboard full of food is not a bad start, but most pantry sizes would store about a week’s worth of supplies. Something is always better than nothing, but people need to see just how much they actually need for a certain amount of time. Exaggerating what you actually have is very counterproductive – and poses a risk to the well-being of your family should disaster strike.

28. If something happens I will just run to the grocery store and stock up before it closes.

Fact or Answer. This is not a bad idea if you see a crisis is imminent. For many preppers, heading to the grocery store at the first sign of trouble and adding goods to what they already have, such as fruit and vegetables that will perish within a short time, may help reduce psychological and physical strains of the initial impact. Depending on this as a plan to stock up because you have nothing in your current supplies, however, is not a good idea and quite dangerous. What will you use to purchase what you need? Do you have cash on hand to purchase these last minute supplies or are you planning on using your possible inactive credit or debit card? Even with a wad of cash, the stores might not be open. Your best course of action is stock up before anything happens, you cannot depend on any store to provide what you need after a disaster.

29. If we become sick after a disaster we have good medical treatment centers that will care for us.

Fact or Answer. Medical response could be overwhelmed and could takes days or weeks to come back online. It is likely that the number one killer after a calamity will be disease. Extreme preventative care of yourself and your family is all too essential. Germ control and ‘hand awareness’ of germs is top priority here. Storage of anti-bacterial soaps, bleach, and other disinfectants are something no home should be without. Investment in a really well stocked first aid kit is an excellent survival item for everyone.

30. Nothing is as bad as it ever seems, stop overblowing everything as doomsday.

Fact or Answer. Tell that one to Hurricane Katrina and Sandy survivors that were told it would not be that bad by the mass media. Tell people in Haiti or people devastated by the two killer mega tsunamis about it not being all that bad. Ask people who went through World War 2, the Korean or Vietnam War, or in Syria or Iraq how much less worse it was. Preparing for the worst means that you can much better handle those worst-case scenarios that have occurred regularly throughout history.

31. If disaster strikes everybody will band together and save the day.

Fact or Answer. Nice sentiment, but throughout history this idealism has proven to be less than reality. Take away the hope of recovery with a bad enough situation and people revert back to the survival of the fittest. Depending on the good will of human nature can and does lead to vast disappointment and individual disaster. Depending on your own self and what you can put away is a lot more stable and reliable.

32. People have become way too civilized to wage a world war and take what you have and act like savages.

Fact or Answer. There are too many examples to disprove this of people’s nature. Given the severity of the circumstances, people are capable of anything as long as most of them can JUSTIFY their actions in their minds. Trust in yourself and then others. Trusting in society’s self-righteousness to not act like criminals is a true stretch. Good self-defense and a cautious nature will take you far.

33. There are food banks and emergency preparedness places nearby to me, they will take care of us.

Fact or Answer. It is all about volume, these places are meant to feed people on a SHORT TERM basis to keep people from starving to death immediately. You will likely have to exist on a snack size package of crackers and maybe an energy bar per day. You might get a couple of bottles of water if you are lucky. Depending on these places for handouts is a losing proposition with any disaster that is even moderately tragic. You could store up way more from a couple of weeks’ worth of extra items bought at the store than what these places are likely capable of feeding you with.

34. FEMA , the Red Cross, and other government agencies are huge and have the whole country backing them.

Fact or Answer. Even if these organizations and government agencies can get to you, their supplies and what they can give out is severely limited, much like local and state run emergency preparedness centers. Think about just how many people one million is and how much daily food that means. Try to think of tens of millions of people needing all sorts of food, clean water and other supplies. The logistics of distribution on this scale is a nightmare for any planner. Even if there was enough food, imagine standing in 4-10 hour lines to get some crumbs and a drink of water. Now imagine going into a room of your house and simply getting what you need. Kind of makes the idea of prepping sound a lot better doesn’t it?

35. I can always wait until tomorrow to start prepping, there is always time.

Fact or Answer. No there isn’t always time. Eventually that tomorrow does come. When world or national events have deteriorated enough to scare many more people into prepping it is probably too late. The best time to start preparing was yesterday, the next best time is right now. Every day that goes by without putting away what you need is going to make it that much more difficult to store up enough of what you need for survival. Time runs out quickly, start preparing today and find out how rewarding it is when you have what you need right there in your own home.

It is not an overblown statement that says 99% of the population could perish during the next mega calamity based on the sole reason that they did not prepare. Without food, water, means of keeping yourself clean and disease free, and the many other necessities that people have become way too dependent on to survive everyday life, people cannot live and won’t. Those rare 1% that choose to prepare and sacrifice those everyday pleasures and expensive distractions will have what they need as flocks of those unprepared will die in massive numbers because society can no longer support them. Those 99%, though, have the conscious choice of not becoming a statistic and truly doing something about it with a lot less than they realize. All it takes is some time, effort and dedication to spending any available extra money and resources on living “life insurance” such as food, water, and everyday needs.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

 

 

Via: shtfplan

The Snow On Your Roof Weighs 7 To 20 Pounds Per Cubic Foot

2015 has brought ‘tons’ of record snow onto the roofs of buildings all across the East Coast.. The weight load of the accumulated snow on a roof is astounding, and dangerous.

Today I had the pleasure (sarcasm) of shoveling most of the snow off the roof of my 5th-wheel trailer. I should have shoveled it sooner, but it being parked not so close to the house I wasn’t paying it much attention – until yesterday’s snowfall – when I suddenly realized the predicament and hoped that this wasn’t the ‘straw’ that’s going to ‘break its back’ (or roof!).

I just calculated how many pounds of snow was probably sitting there…

With the trailer slides in, the roof dimensions are 36 feet by 8 feet (288 square feet). I estimated that about 2.5 feet of snow was on the roof. That amounts to 720 cubic feet of snow. Light fluffy snow weighs about 7 pounds per cubic foot, while heavy wet snow can weigh up to 20 pounds. I’ll estimate 7 pounds per square foot in my case. So the total weight up there was about 5000 pounds! or 2.5 tons of snow on the roof! Yikes…

I am very thankful that the roof held up. What may have saved it was the fact that the roof isn’t flat, but bowed – which would have been sending some of that weight load down the side frame (compared to a flat roof).

Roofs have been collapsing all around the East Coast this winter, but if you have a camping trailer – be especially aware of the trailer roof because they are not nearly as strong as the roof on your home! Once the roof collapses, you’re SOL and your camper will be ruined. Don’t let it happen

And the snow keeps coming…


The longer you let the snow accumulate on the roof (storm after storm), the more compact it will get – and the heavier it will get (dense – especially near the bottom). I had to leave the bottom 4 to 6 inches alone as it was a mixture of ice and snow.

‘Yours truly’ shoveling in below-zero wind chill today.

As an aside, whenever I’m away from the house out on the property, I always take a portable GMRS 2-way radio for comms back to the house. A word of caution: if it falls into the snow, especially if you don’t realize you did it, have fun finding it… I had to go back to the house and get another radio and talk into it while walking around and re-tracing my steps. I finally found it as my voice emanated from deep within a particular snow drift

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

 

 

Via: modernsurvivalblog

Every Day Carry Items—Mine right this moment

I have been asked many times about my EDC (every day carry) kit.

The kit changes based on time of year, what I’m wearing, where I’m going etc.

For a normal day at the office this is what you will find at a minimum in my pockets and on my person.

This does not take into account things like:

My shoe laces have been changed out to 550 Paracord which has many uses.

I normally carry a computer bag with many more things in it.

Kits I have in my car at different times.

Items attached on my key ring.

 

I am showing this as if I was grabbed and dropped in the wilderness with no other time to prepare.

 

 

So let me run through the list:

Spark Force Fire Starter

About $7.00 at Walmart

(Considering get this soon: Fire Striker w/ Survival Kit – $18.00)

 

Mag Bar Fire Starter

About $6.00 at Walmart

 

Multi Tool Luxury Lighter

About $7.00 at Walmart

(One of these would work to: Floating Lighter – $12.00)

 

Paracord Survival Bracelet

About $7.00 at Walmart

(Although my dad made mine by hand)

You can make them yourself: Make Your Own Paracord Bracelets Book and Kit

 

36 Paracord Projects

 

ChapStick Classic Skin Protectant/Sunscreen Lip Balm, SPF, 4, Strawberry

About $1.00 at Walmart

 

Goody’s Acetaminophen Aspirin Extra Strength Headache Powders, 6 count

About $6.00 at Walmart

 

Band-Aid

About $3.00 a box at Walmart

 

Neck Knife

About $10.00 to $30.00 depending on type and style at Walmart

(you’ll see two in my picture, one on chain with dog tags tapped to it, the other in my pocket as I have not decided how to use it yet.)


 

Signal Mirror

About $10.00

(Although I have a stainless steel necklace my wife bought me whose back works the same way)

 

Spring Assisted Knife with Belt Cutter and Glass Breaker

About $10.00 at Walmart

 

Credit Card Knife



About $23.00 at Walmart

(If you search google you can get these for just shipping costs under $5.00)

 

Pocket Size LED Aluminum Flashlight

You can get flashlights from$5.00 to $100.00 depending how the type and brightness.

I like as high of brightness (lumen output) that I can get for compact and sturdy design

7W 300LM Mini CREE LED Flashlight Torch Adjustable Focus Zoom Light Lamp

Solarrific W4010 Solar/ Handcrank LED Flashlight Keychain

 

Amazon for $7.00

I really like this as it is a nice 2 LED light with solar and hand crank charging.

One minute of cranking gives about 20 minutes of surprising bright light.

 

Credit Card Size Pocket Fresnel Lens – Magnifier Lenses for Fire Starting

Amazon about $7.00 for three pack

 

 

Check out this articles for more ideas:

 

 

Basic Everyday Carry (EDC) Survival Tools

Thinking about Every Day carry

Choosing a Folding Knife

Catch PERVS & FREAKS with your everyday carry (EDC)

Pocket Survival Kit contest – Entry #11

Pocket Survival Kit Contest – Entry #18

Lighten Up Your Load With a Mini-Survival Kit

Digital Bugout Preps: SCAN YOUR WALLET

Disaster: It’s Not a Case of If, But When

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

Fire Reflector Made of Stones

In this video you will see the process of making a fire reflector out of flat stones. Fire reflectors are crucial to keeping your fire long-lasting and hot. A reflector will reduce wind, which will expend the burning wood faster; preserving resources will help to ensure your survival in an emergency. Thin, flat stones may break due to heat, but this problem can be circumvented by placing the thin, flat stones just slightly farther from the fire. Thicker is always better, if indeed you can find thicker stones.

 

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

 

 

Via: survivalist

Mississippi Outlaws Agenda 21 and Washington State looking to do same

Mississippi legislature passed House Bill 490 (HB490) by a margin of 79 to 36. Introduced by Representative Becky Currie (R), this bill will effectively prohibit Agenda 21 from being implemented in the state of Mississippi. This bill will now move to the Mississippi Senate and assigned to a committee for consideration. In essence, this would be a statewide ban on adopting or developing United Nations policies from all counties and cities within the state.

An Act To Prohibit The State Of Mississippi And All Political Subdivisions Of The State From Adopting The United States Rio Declaration On Environment And The Statement Of Principles For Sustainable Development Known As “agenda 21”; To Prohibit The State Of Mississippi And All Political Subdivisions Of The State From Implementing Programs Of, Expending Any Sum Of Money For, Being A Member Of, Receiving Funding From, Contracting Services From, Or Giving Financial Or Other Forms Of Aid To The International Council For Local Environmental Initiatives Or Any Of Its Related Or Affiliated Organizations To Include, But Not Be Limited To, Countdown 2010, Local Action For Biodiversity, European Center For Nature Conservation, The International Union For Conservation Of Nature And The President’s Council On Sustainable Development; And For Related Purposes.

Source: Legiscan

United Nations Agenda 21, also known as Sustainable Development, has its roots in world socialism, climate extremism and social darwinism. It is a plan implemented worldwide to gain control of all means of production, land, water, minerals, agriculture, energy, education and access to information, and this plan was formally introduced to the world in Rio de Jainerio at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, in June 1992. One can see the overtones of socialism and the needs of the collective being held above the rights of the individual.

Mississippi’s proposed prohibition on UN Agenda 21 is just the beginning of a worldwide push back against this insidious power-grab. The passing of this bill shows a major turnaround in local legislature. Of course, it must be mentioned that there will be other tactics used to push the United Nations Agenda with or without this legislation. New names and cryptic language will be used to usher in this plan regardless of state or national legislation. An excerpt of the bill is quoted here:

The State of Mississippi and all political subdivisions thereof shall not adopt, nor implement, the creed, doctrine, principle or any tenet of the United States Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and the Statement of Principles for Sustainable Development known as “Agenda 21,” adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held from June 3-14, 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, or any other international law contravening the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of the State of Mississippi.

 

Bill to Stop Agenda 21 in Washington State: SB5191

Washington State SB5191 would ban implementation of or participation in United Nations’ Agenda 21 and other similar programs. It must pass successfully through the Senate Law & Justice Committee before it can receive a full vote in the state senate. Please take the following action steps to ensure the success of this important bill.

1. Call the Senate Law & Justice Committee Chair, Mike Padden. Strongly, but respectfully urge him to move this important bill forward to a vote in his committee. A phone call has 10x the impact of an email.

(360) 786-7606

2. Call the rest of the committee members. Again, be strong, but respectful. Urge each of them to take action to move the bill forward and vote YES on SB5191.

Steve O’Ban (R) Vice Chair (360) 786-7654
Jamie Pedersen (D) (360) 786-7628
Jeannie Darneille (D) (360) 786-7652
Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D) (360) 786-7670
Kirk Pearson (R) (360) 786-7676
Pam Roach (R) (360) 786-7660

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: survivalist, survivalist