Monthly Archives: April 2015

Reliable Ham Radio Post-Disaster Security Communications

Guest post by PrepperDoc

———————

Many preppers’ post-disaster communications plans are built upon low power (“QRP,”  typically 1-5 watts output power) ham radio equipment, able to easily obtain power from small battery or low-power solar sources.    They may believe that after a disaster, interference from higher-powered stations, noisy power lines, electric motors, and a host of computers will be squashed, and their 5-watt level signals will easily make all the necessary communications.  Depending on their communications requirements, they may be badly disappointed in the real event!

Survivors may have widely varying communications needs which might be broken down roughly into three categories:  1) ability to listen to (and possibly contribute to) news reports to/from undamaged states or nations;  2) ability to obtain same-city, intra-state and next-state-over reports of situation-on-the-ground (5-300 miles);  3) short-range communications within a neighborhood.   #1 is easily handled by low-power ham gear (or even shortwave radio receivers) because there may be multiple possible transmitting stations from which to choose; simply find one you can hear.   #3 can be handled by direct (simplex) communications using low-power walkie-talkie FRS/GMRS or ham transceivers.  (Store several in a Faraday cage!)   It is middle-distance #2 — reliable communication/information gathering from 5-300 miles — that is problematic.   You may find a network of several reliable early-warning sites in nearby cities and just across the state border, and have a need to maintain RELIABLE (not hit-or-miss) communications with them daily for updates on security issues.   It is nice to know of oncoming trouble farther than “smoke-distance.”

VHF/UHF walkie-talkies simply can’t fill this need with their line-of-sight propagation.   And ground-wave (limited at any frequency above 3.5 MHz) transmissions will not cover the distance.   One report found 7MHz ground wave unreliable even at 15 km.   This 5-300 mile range is the realm where Near Vertical Incidence Skywave communications (NVIS), bouncing near-straight-up radio waves off the ionosphere miles above us (usually the F layer but sometimes the E layer) is the only suitable propagation system.  [1]

The properties of the F layer are important to your success.   First, it is at least 150 km above the earth, so your signal is going to travel 300 km just to get to the other side of your town.   Modeling your antenna as a point-source, your signal is going to be significantly dispersed and therefore much weaker after traversing that 300 km round-trip distance!

Secondly, the F layer has variable ionization (more during the day, and during maxima of the 11-year sunspot cycle) and is only able to reflect signals at any given moment up to a certain “cutoff frequency” that depends on the both the ionization and the angle of incidence.   Vertical signals (needed to get to the other side of your city) are the hardest to refract/reflect.   The maximum frequency that successfully reflects vertically is called the Critical Frequency.    Somewhat higher frequencies may refract at lesser angles — but constrained by geometry, they will come back down much farther away, leaving you with a “skip zone” of impossible communications.

And unfortunately, you probably can’t use the exact OPTIMAL frequency at any given circumstance. Your prospective counterparties are mostly other amateur radio operators.   Ham radio equipment typically is designed to work only in certain designated frequency bands — the 3.5-4 MHz (“80 meter”) and 7-7.3 MHz (“40 meter”) are usually the key ones for reliable NVIS communications.   During nighttime around sunspot minima, only the 3.5-4 MHz band may be functioning for NVIS.   During the day, both 80 and 40 meters may reflect in more years of the sunspot cycle — but now add in the problem that the lower level D layer, activated by sunlight-accompanying xrays,  will all but wipe out 80 meter communications.   The D layer’s power-absorption declines by the square of the frequency.  As a result, you prefer to use the very highest frequency that works, optimally just below the critical frequency.  During daytime, the critical frequency may be 7MHz or even much higher, but many ham transceivers off only 7MHz,  14MHz, 21MHz & 28MHz choices.   Thus you may have additional D-layer absorption due to sub-optimal communications frequency.  During the night, the sun’s xrays disappear, and the D layer dissipates, so 3.5-4 MHz signals, which are usually safely below the critical frequency even during sunspot minima, become much more useful & important. For reliable nighttime NVIS, you probably need 80 meter capability, which requires large antennas for good efficiency (or else higher power).  [2]

The ultimate goal is simply to provide a signal to the desired receiving station that significantly overpowers the NOISE that the recipient encounters.   Inexperienced operators may require signal-to-noise ratios of 10 dB or more for successful communications.

Even after an EMP-type disaster, there may be more radio noise than optimistic low-power proponents expected.  Why?  Because much of the radio noise in the high frequency bands is the result of tens of lightning strikes every second, all over globe, whose radio-signature is carried around the world by the ionosphere just like any other radio signal. [3]   Even after an EMP, this noise source will still exist.   Further, ham radio stations in undamaged nations will still be on the air — and likely far busier than ever before!  There will be plenty of strong signals with which to contend.   Finally, while power lines may be silent and most computers dark, a new source of man-made radio interference may burst forth–dozens to thousands of power inverters of all types providing power to persons all over your city.   Even the sine-wave inverters have powerful switching signals as part of their makeup, and I was surprised to find a very troublesome amount of interference coming from my very own backup power system, wiping out weak-signal reception!   The addition of a heavy-duty filtering device in my inverter’s power lines to my home knocked this down considerably, but few survivors are going to have prepared this well, so houses all around you may be radiating radio hash.  (Consider a device similar to:   http://www.amazon.com/Power-Single-Phase-Filter-CW3-20A-S/dp/B00D0U83D8/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1428329468&sr=8-8&keywords=power+line+filter )

For NVIS communications, your antenna can also squelch your effort to overcome the noise at your intended recipient’s site:  vertical or whip antennas put relatively little power straight up, further damaging your low-powered transmitter’s chances.   A very comprehensive investigation in the Netherlands demonstrated that a horizontal resonant dipole at 0.15 – 0.2 wavelengths height was optimal [4]  (corroborating work done in the rainforests of Thailand).   For an 80-meter antenna, that means a height in the range of 40 feet; for 40 meters, 20 feet.   Survivors with antennas at first-story roof-level may face a significant power loss of as much as 90% of their effective signal (10 dB).   Likewise, too-high an antenna (from a skyscraper) may also lower vertically incident power.

You can reduce the effective noise (and thus improve your chances) by eschewing voice communications and moving to narrow-band techniques such as Morse code or digital communications — IF your receiver has the ability to filter more narrowly, your operator has the required experience, and in the case of digital, your conversion equipment survived the disaster.   In our group, we have some new operators who simply cannot use these more-powerful techniques, so we are limited to voice (single side band, about 2 kHz bandwidth).

Beginning to see why QRP low-power ham radio may not meet your security communication needs post-disaster?  Basically, there were very good reasons why the most popular ham radio gear of the 1960’s and 1970’s offered a full 100 watts of output!   Furthermore, what if there is a second EMP strike? Or third?   Will your transistorized low-power ham radio is connected to an antenna during one of those strikes because you depend on it for communications?   It may well be destroyed.    The most impervious gear to simulated EMP attack in testing was vacuum tube gear:  the type of transceivers that had the 100-watt output.

So what is documented about successful and reliable short-to-mid-range NVIS communications in the real world?   Working in the rainforests of Thailand, with relatively optimized antennas, 15-watt output transmitters were reliable for NVIS communications 80% of the time.   My own group found that with newbie operators and horizontal dipoles at various heights, cross-city (30 mile) communications were sometimes possible on voice, and even more likely on Morse code, but that experience made a very big difference.    A Netherlands group did extensive research at a near-optimum frequency of 5.39 MHz for their conditions, using a high-power 850-watt output transmitter and had excellent signal to noise ratios of 50 dB in NVIS communications.[4]   Their powerful transmitter even showed evidence of a readable signal that may have been carried the other way–traversing almost the entire globe to reach their recipient; but this signal was some 40 dB weaker.   Their advantages over many low-power stations were significant:   Their 850 watt station was 22 dB stronger than a 5-watt QRP station,  had an optimized antenna (possibly 10-20 dB better than a poorer antenna) and optimized frequency (excessive D-layer absorption due to lower frequency might have added another 10-20 dB of loss).   Hence their 50 dB signal to noise ratio could easily have been obliterated by a ham operating a 5-watt station (-22 dB), with a suboptimal antenna (-15 dB) and suboptimal frequency (-15 dB)  (total degradation:   52 dB) even before considering the difficulties of inexperienced operators.  An excellent advisory on NVIS emergency communicates notes success with 25 watt (output) signals. [5]

My conclusion is that your communications preparations should definitely include a simple wire dipole antenna at 30-40 feet, either resonant or long-wire horizontal dipoles (with antenna tuner) for both 80- and 40- meter ham radio bands, and possibly additional higher frequency bands for daytime use.    You should also develop a healthy dose of experience (Morse code ability and a narrow receiver filter would be great!).   But it is obviously easier to “turn down” the transmitter power on a 100-watt (or higher) tube type rugged EMP-resistant vacuum tube transmitter to save energy, than it is to try and make a low power 5-watt QRP transistorized transmitter communicate amidst stronger signals and broadband inverter-generated hash interference, while worrying that your equipment might at any time be destroyed by a follow-up EMP strike.    So it might be worth it to plan ahead to provide both ham radio equipment and electrical power for a higher power transmitter, even if you do succeed at times with a QRP transceiver.

REFERENCES

[1] NVIS Army FM 24-18.  Appendix M with Graphics.   http://kv5r.com/ham-radio/nvis-army-fm-24-18/   (An excellent tutorial.)

[2]   HF Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) Frequency Band Selection.    Accessed at:   http://www.idahoares.info/tutorial_hf_nvis_band_selection.shtml

[3]   Bianchi C, Meloni A:  Terrestrial Natural and Man-Made Electromagnetic Noise.  Accessed at:    http://www.progettomem.it/doc/MEM_Noise.pdf

[4] Witvliet BA et al, Near Vertical Incidence Skywave Propagation:  Elevation Angles and Optimum Antenna Height for Horizontal Dipole Antennas.   Accessed at:   http://www.agentschaptelecom.nl/sites/default/files/2015_-_witvliet_-_nvis_elevation_angles_and_antenna_height_-_ieee_ant_prop_mag.pdf

[5] Idaho Amateur Radio Emergency Service, HF near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) Frequency Band Selection.  Accessed at:  http://www.idahoares.info/tutorial_hf_nvis_band_selection.shtml

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via:  thesurvivalistblog

Assimilate The Ideal SHTF Bug Out Team

Guest post by Dr. John J. Woods, a contributing author to SHTFBlog & Survival Cache

——-

You have two options when it comes to conducting a full-fledged Bug Out operation.  One is to go it alone or with the immediate family or facilitate the creation of a SHTF Team to share the mission.  There are pros and cons to either route you take.  However, for this treatise let’s explore some of the attributes to building a sound Bug Out Team (BOT).  Hey, if you guys can create acronyms that nobody understands then why not me?

 

Positive Attributes

What one can do well, two can do better”? “There is strength in numbers”.  “There is NO ‘I’ in TEAM”.   For the many of you SurvivalCache.com and SHTFBlog.com readers that work in organizational leadership roles, management, or lead your own businesses, then you have likely heard such statements.  These are often remarked to motivate and encourage others.

Even if you are not in a “boss” role, you may be a member of some kind of team.  It might be shift coordinator, a production line worker, fast food employee, 2ndbaseman on the company softball team, or you serve on a civic organization committee, church delegation, or some other role where tasks or responsibilities are shared with others.

Whichever role you play in life, hopefully you recognize the advantages of having co-workers, colleagues, and others to spread the burden of the effort around.  Distribution of skills performance is one of the biggest positives of working with a team.  Everybody has particular things they do best.  It might be cook, the ability to build things, fix things, guard others, garden, train members of the team to do things, or procure supplies, whatever.


A solid, effective team effort is hard to ignore.  When teams really work together much can be accomplished.  This arrangement could mean survival success when it comes to a team approach to a SHTF response.  Just the simple element of having other human contacts can go a long way to achieving a measure of survival satisfaction.  Going it alone is simply not fun.

Building a good SHTF is not easy.  There are many issues to consider beginning with trust, honesty, compatibility, balance of skills, personality types, supplies and gear brought to the table and such.  Creating an effective team is all about cooperation.  Too many chiefs and not enough Indians can destroy productivity.  Everything must be in a careful balance.

Orchestrating a SHTF team can be a full time job.  A leader is definitely needed, but they must have a benevolent heart…up to a point.  Sometimes hard decisions have to be made.   If you want a good example of such group dynamics, then watch the TV series Falling Skies.  In this program you can see how working together achieves much, just as diversity of purpose can be disruptive.  It is a very fine line.

Downsides


Human nature can be a curse.   As I often say about people, “Where two or more human beings gather together, somebody isgoing to bitch about something”!  I laugh at this all the time when I hear the complaints that come into my office on a daily basis.  Most of my entire day is spent herding cats.  Somebody hurt somebody’s feelings or stepped on their toes…..all BS.  You’re adults folks so grow up.

Though it is sexist to say so, those of you men in management roles of any kind that have females employees subordinate to you, then you know what I mean.  Even the women in my organization realize most of them cannot get along for very long at a time.  Just go to an organization function or church luncheon and watch who is watching who!  Frankly I cannot recall having ever stared at the suits other men were wearing, though I admit I do check out neckties from time to time.   Now ladies no need to be offended, because you know I am right.

Now, to be honest I do see such behavior on the part of men.  It usually takes place at the gun range or hunting camp.  Even then though, we are focused on the new gun somebody has, a new hunting ATV in camp, or some new pair of boots or whatever.  I am the first to be jealous of somebody’s new SHTF weapon until I get one, too.

All that said, to say, if there is one huge downturn in the formation of a SHTF Bug Out Team it is the composite membership of that team.  Even if, and that is a big, big if, you screen or get screened, there are going to be moments when folks disagree on most everything the team is doing at one time or another.  That is the human nature part.

The trick is working through these issues to build an even stronger team.  Ideally a natural leader would emerge, otherwise the team will have to evolve until one surfaces.  Somebody has to ultimately be in charge.  There is no getting around that and unfortunately a democracy does not always work well when critical decisions need to be made.

If you cannot play well with others, then you have no business trying to initiate a SHTF Team or joining one.  It simply must be a cooperative effort with every member contributing to the cause.  And don’t go to the table with an empty plate.

Just remember the famous Benjamin Franklin quote, “If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately.”

Team Member Profiling


If you had to sit down to assemble job titles or individual’s skill sets for an ideal SHTF Team then what would you include.  The list might look something like this:

  • Carpenter
  • Electrician
  • Plumber
  • Hunters, anglers, trappers, campers
  • Medical personnel, doctor, nurse, physician’s assistant
  • Farmer, gardener, horticulturalist
  • Military grunt
  • Teacher, child care specialist, senior care person
  • Procurement specialist  (remember Sgt. Petersen in the movie, Green Beret)
  • Mechanic, engines, generators, other equipment
  • Cook, food preparation
  • Security guard/Police officer
  • Many multi-task people, doers, givers, cleaners, set up, fetchers, general help
  • Weapons specialist
  • Seamstress
  • Judge
  • Please, no lawyers

I am sure you can think of other “personnel” types you might like to see on an ideal SHTF Team.  In many cases some of these skills might be combined within the capabilities of the same person.  Many maintenance manufacturing workers these days are cross trained in many task areas.  Medical personnel could also have wide ranging skills.

Even within certain specialties there could be multiple task people.  If somebody is a weapons guy, then ideally you would want them to be knowledgeable about rifles, assault type firearms, handguns, shotguns, and maybe archery equipment, too.  Teachers can know a lot of things about a lot of issues.  Use them appropriately to fully contribute to the team.

Sometimes you maybe cannot pick your team members.  For example, your grandfather may be living with you.  You can’t abandon him during a Bug Out.  He might need special care from a health related issue or simply because he may be elderly needing extra assistance.  There may be young children in your family or another member’s family.  So on and so on.  These situations have to be accommodated unless you are a heartless bastard.

Team Selection


So, how do you go about putting a SHTF Team together?  As formal as it may sound, you could create a team application, establish a screening committee, conduct formal interviews, and perhaps even have live skills demonstrations.  However, I am guessing most teams come together along some lines of common interests or contacts.

My Bug Out group is comprised of the guys and families at our hunting camp.  We have quite a few of the skills covered from the list above.  A member or two I would rather see go elsewhere, but that is the human nature part I was talking about.  None of us are perfect.  Ultimately we have to learn to work together; survive together.

If you are limited in your outside contacts and interest groups, then you have to proceed cautiously.  You may have a conversation at work, or a meeting or some other venue that might lead you to think a person would open up about prepping.  Pursue it, but globally by probing with inquiry questions.  “What do you think about the mess this country is in”? kind of stuff.

You may be inclined to defer or beg off certain types of individuals.  Maybe you see no value in somebody with a background in retail sales, real estate, an accountant, or used car salesman, etc.  Truth is though they may possess serious skills of real value to your Bug Out Team.  You just never know so don’t assume anything.

Also Read: Tooth or Tail

Ask about their hobbies. Maybe they are big time primitive campers or their whole family is fanatical about fishing.  Could be they cut their own firewood every year and own all the equipment to do it right.  Perhaps you find out they constructed a new room onto their house all by themselves.  Maybe they participate in Habitat for Humanity projects.


Suppose they hunt and process their own meat cutting and wrapping every season.   You won’t know their backgrounds unless you ask.  You might be surprised.  Ok then, I’ll let you decide if a guy’s only hobby is golf or tennis.

Creating a Bug Out Team what works well together, really gets along, and actually enjoys each others company is not an easy process.  If you decide to go this route, or even joining a team already formed, then examine all the aspects with a critical analysis.  If things don’t work out, you can always back up and go another route.

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: shtfblog

Critical Steps To Survive A Firefight

Firefights are scary and a live-and-death battle – but they are survivable. And as a lawful citizen you are already at a distinct disadvantage.

You do not get to choose the time and place that a firefight happens. It will always be a surprise or an ambush on you and your fellow citizens. This means we must always be prepared. These are my top five ways to survive a firefight.

No. 1 — Have the Right Gun

The best way to survive a firefight is to be able to fight. Unarmed versus a gun rarely turns out well for the guy with empty hands. But when the rounds start going down range, you shouldn’t just have a gun; you should have “enough” gun. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Pocket pistols stink.

Tiny little guns like the Taurus TCP, Smith and Wesson Bodyguard 380 and Beretta Pico are all well-built, functional weapons. They are all guaranteed to go bang when the trigger is pulled and that’s great, but they are poor fighting weapons. Limited capacity, under-powered round, small grip, short sight radius, etc. Maybe you’ll get lucky, but I don’t count on luck to survive.

I’m not advocating carrying a full-sized 1911 or Glock 17. I’m all about compact weapons. Weapons like the Glock 26 are an excellent balance of firepower and size, and the same goes for the Walther CCP. They’re easy to carry but big enough to fight.

No. 2 — Have Proper Ammunition

I’m not starting a caliber debate between proponents of the 9mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP or the 38 Special. What I am saying is to carry a duty caliber. By this, I mean any of the aforementioned, as well as the 357 Magnum, 357 Sig, 45 Colt, etc. I stay away from the mouse gun calibers like 380, 32 (except 327 Federal), 22 long rifle and Magnum (rimfires are nowhere near as reliable as centerfire) and 25 ACP.

Another factor is being equipped with proper ammunition. Winchester white box is good for a lot of things, but not so much for carrying. Modern defensive ammunition has bridged the gap quite a bit between the big three: 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 ACP. It’s gotten to the point where the bigger calibers offer very little advantage but are still very viable rounds. Whenever someone asks me my opinion on carry ammo I always say Speer Gold Dot or Hornady Critical Defense (for compacts), or Hornady Critical Duty (for full size). These rounds are proven over and over again by law enforcement around the world, as well as enough ballistic gel tests to prove their worth.

Avoid the gimmicky rounds like the G2 RIP ammo and research online. YouTuber ShootingtheBull410 has good videos. Ask your local police what they carry, and follow up with: Why do you carry it?

No. 3 — Have Enough Ammunition

It’s very easy to get in the mindset of “I’ll probably never get in a gun fight anyway, so I’ll just take the gun and be good.” First off, that’s a bit lazy and somewhat of an oxymoron. If you don’t believe you would ever need your weapon, then why do you carry it in the first place?

Also, it’s complacent. Complacency kills, and it kills hard and fast. I suggest carrying at least one reload with you, one extra magazine, one extra speed loader, or speed strip. In all honesty, I carry two extra magazines. I’ve been in a few firefights and I could not imagine the fear and desperation that would come with running out of ammo in the middle of a fight.

No. 4 — Know the Difference Between Cover and Concealment

Have you ever seen the movie Lord of War? Nicholas Cage plays an arms dealer who travels across the world and makes millions illicitly selling guns to anyone and everyone. In one of the early scenes it shows some local mobster attempting to kill another mobster. They come with their AK 47s and start spraying, and their intended victim flips the table over and it absorbs dozens of rounds. (It was quite amusing, as little wooden tables are not prone to stopping bullets.)

Some items are great for hiding behind, and some are great for soaking up bullets. Seventy-five percent of a car won’t stop a bullet, but most engines can soak up rounds decently. Cinderblocks rarely take a direct hit but may deflect a round or two, but I wouldn’t count on them to save my life. Bullets are powerful things; it takes dense material to absorb a bullet and protect you.

No. 5 — Get Trained … and Practice

Carrying a gun does not make you a gunfighter; it doesn’t make you anything more than a guy carrying a gun. Training is what separates winners and losers. In other words, just because you have a pair of boxing gloves doesn’t mean you are ready to step into the ring with Manny Pacquiao.

Find a competent source of training that can instruct you not just how to shoot your gun, but how to fight with it.

I’m not saying you need to be a Delta Force member, but some basic instruction can do wonders. More important than training, though, is practice. This is where you will sharpen and refine your skills. Practice shooting with your weak hand, with one hand, from behind cover, from the ground, from a knee … and the list goes on and on. Even practice reloading and clearing malfunctions.

Believe it or not, training can be a lot of fun. In fact, it is easy to get somewhat addicted to it. Once you take your first class, you’ll be hooked, and you’ll want to learn more and more — especially when you see your proficiency increase.

Of course, in a firefight could do everything right and still get hurt or die. You can minimize the risk by being cautious, being well-armed, and being ready for that day if and when it comes.

 

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: offthegridnews

WEEKLY THREAT ROUNDUP 4-19-15

From AlertsUSA

 

 

Terror Threats Mounting
ISIS Calls For Attacks in the U.S. and Europe

April 18, 2015

 

What You Need To Know
Late last week the Islamic State released a new propaganda video (GRAPHIC)entitled ‘We Will Burn America” within which threats of another 9/11 style attack are made, and which calls on supporters here in the U.S. homeland to carry out their own attacks.

“America thinks it’s safe because of the geographical location. Thus you see it invades the Muslim lands, and it thinks that the army of the Jihad won’t reach in their lands. But the dream of the American to have safety became a mirage. Today there is no safety for any American on the globe.” The mujahedeen before although they had less resources, attacked New York and bombed the Twin Towers in the September Eleven attacks. America is now losing billions still to make sure their country is safe. But today, it’s time for payback.”

AlertsUSA again cautions readers that in the days and weeks following previous Islamic State videos calling for faithful Muslims in the West to carry out attacks, such attacks have in fact taken place. The first such call was last September when ISIS released a video within which their spokesman, Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, called for attacks on both soldiers and civilians in Australia, France, Canada and the US. Since that and subsequent videos, the world has seen attacks on soldiers, civilians and government buildings in Canada (see this and this), a hostage siege in a coffee shop in Australia, multiple attacks by Muslims on police here in the U.S. (see this and this) andmultiple attacks in and around Paris, France.

So as to reaffirm that these calls for individuals to conduct attacks are still ongoing, this past Friday the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) in Topeka, Kansas, arrested one John T. Booker Jr., also known as Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, as he prepared a car bomb for use against the nearby Fort Riley Army post. The FBI states Booker has admitted to attempting to enlist in the U.S. Army so as to be able to carry out an attack similar to the 2009 Fort Hood shooting carried out by U.S. Army Major Nidal Hassan which killed 13 and injured an additional 30. He also has confessed that this effort was intended todirectly support the efforts of the Islamic State.

66th Known Plot Since 9/11

According to the Heritage Foundation, Booker’s plot is the 66th known Islamist terrorist plot or attack aimed at the U.S. homeland since 9/11. It is also the third terrorist plot that has been foiled in the past three weeks.

The U.S. Department of Defense continues to warn soldiers in the U.S. and abroad to lower their military profile while in public as well as to observe operational security standards in their use of social media.

As AlertsUSA has warned on more than a dozen occasions over the past year, (see thisthis and this) there would come a point in time when U.S. and European Muslims who traveled to Iraq and Syria to train with and fight for the Islamic State would begin returning home, many with the intention of carrying out terror operations.

This week a federal grand jury indicted a 23-year-old Ohio man with three counts of terrorism charges after he allegedly traveled to Syria, trained with al-Nusra Front, al Qaeda’s Syrian branch, and then returned home with the intention of launching a terrorist attack.

The Justice Department charges that the man traveled in April 2014 to Syria, where he allegedly received weapons, explosives and hand-to-hand combat training. He is reported to have then returned to the U.S. with orders to carry about terror attacks against military and law enforcement targets.

What Does This Mean to You?

“The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.”

– Winston S. Churchill

While pressures of political correctness demand our elected officials declare that western nations are not at war with Islam, it is important to realize that Islam is, FOR SURE, at war with western nations. The teachings and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad are absolutely clear: Wage war on other religions and bring them under submission to Islam. It is also important to keep in mind that moderate Islam is not what most Muslims believe. It’s what most liberals believe that Muslims believe. There is no moderate Islam taught in mosques or in Mecca.

AlertsUSA continues to monitor the overall domestic and international terrorism threat environment and will immediately notify service subscribers of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens, as events warrant.

AlertsUSA.com

 

ALERTS ISSUED THIS WEEK BUT
NOT DETAILED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ISSUE

4/17 – Multiple CT raids in Melbourne, AUS disrupt major attack targeting upcoming Anzac national holiday celebrations. AUS gov warning citizens to remain vigilant.

4/16 – US Embassy Kenya closing thru at least Tues due to “new and concrete” intel on al Qaeda terror threat. DoD also warning US interests in Kenya of incr threat.

4/15 – AlertsUSA monitoring US Capital lockdown as gyro-copter manages to fly undetected into National Capital Region and land on West Lawn of Capital Hill.

4/13 – USGOV issues new travel warning for Mexico. Warns of widespread safety / security threats from org crime groups. READ MORE: http://1.usa.gov/1aXQR59

4/11 – AlertsUSA monitoring lockdown situation at U.S. Capital. Shots fired outside of building. Suspicious pkg under investigation.

 
 
Homeland Security Threat Info Direct to Your
Mobile Device 
* Get Away Early, Give Your Family Extra Safety.
* In Wide Use By Gov, 1st Responders, Travelers.
* 24/7/365 Monitoring. No Hype. Just the Bad Stuff.
* Issued Hours and Days before the MSM.
* On your Cell Phone, Tablet or Email.
* We Give The Clear Truth, Unlike the MSM.
* Over a Decade in Operation!
 
We are NOT part of the government.
In fact, they are our customers!
 

 

World News Roundup

April 18, 2015
Other Developments We Are Following
AMERICAS

ISIS Camp a Few Miles from Texas?

Gyrocopter Incident In Washington Raises Security Concerns

EUROPE

300 Additional U.S. Army Trainers Arrive In Ukraine

Russia: Foreign Troops in Ukraine Could ‘Destabilize’ E. Ukraine Situation

Russia Threatens NATO Over Missile Shield

Greece Pushed Closer to Eurozone Exit

Muslim Migrants Threw Christians Overboard While Fleeing To Europe

MIDDLE EAST

U.S. Military Option Against Iran Still Intact Despite Russian S-300 Missiles

U.S. Generals Believe Saudi Military Intervention In Yemen Doomed To Fail

Cost Of ISIS War Passes $2 Billion Mark

ASIA

Rapid Chinese Progress on Contested South China Sea Airstrip

U.S. Navy: China May Gain Control of South China Sea

Japan Scrambles Warplanes At Cold War Level


Travel Security Update

The U.S. Dept. of State is the authoritative federal source for information on the security situation at travel destinations worldwide. With tensions rapidly increasing in most regions, readers planning on international travel, even to such common destinations as Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands, are strongly encouraged to do a little research on the security situation prior to departure.

Latest USGOV Travel Alerts and Warnings

Mexico   04/13/2015
Yemen   04/03/2015
Syria   03/03/2015
Ebola Travel Alert   02/02/2015
Worldwide Caution   01/09/2015
Worldwide Alert   12/19/2014
   

 

See all USGOV Travel Alerts and Warnings HERE.

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: threatjournal

How to Make a Candle Out of Anything

Guest post from The Ready Store

 

—————–

Knowing how to make candles in an emergency is a great skill to have. With the right knowledge and skills, you can make a candle out of a wide variety of different objects including fruits, crayons, shotgun shells or even old candles.

Check out these tutorials below to see how you can make candles and become even more self-sufficient.

Bayberries
Early colonists would use berries to make candles. However, it wasn’t the most efficient processes – you need a lot of berries for it to work. With about 4 pounds of berries you can get about 1 pound of wax. Boil bayberries in water and cover. Once the water is boiling remove from heat and allow to chill. A thin layer of wax will form on the top – which you can scrape off and use to create the wax for your candle. Run the wax through a cheesecloth and allow to melt again if needed in order to form into your mold.


Olive Oil
Since olive oil is a fluid, it’s harder to “stick” a wick in of it. Flatten out a paperclip and form it into a shape that will hold onto the wick and the side of a jar. Then fill your jar with olive oil – allowing the oil to spread onto the wick.

Orange
First, locate a large orange and cut it in half. Gently pull away the peel so that it stay in one half-circle piece. You’ll have two orange peel halves – one with a little orange core attached to it. Add about a half inch of olive oil into the base of the orange peel half. Make sure the core gets soaked with olive oil too. Allow the oil to settle for a while and make sure that it’s crusting on the core. Light the “wick” and you’re set to go!

Crayons
Add a bunch of crayons into a bowl of water. Allow to soak for 5 minutes. Collect cookie cutters or any other type of molds you would like. Spray the molds with non-stick spray. This will allow you to easily remove the wrappers from the crayons. Place 10-15 candles in a container that you don’t want anymore. Place the candles in the microwave for about 2 minutes or until they are smooth. Quickly pour the candles into the form that you’ve created because it will harden fast. Let the candles settle for 5 minutes and then place the wick.

Old Candles
Once you’ve used your wax candles, don’t throw them away. You can reuse the wax to create new candles with new wicks that you buy. Make sure there are no wick pieces in the wax and cut the wax pieces into smaller chunks. Spray the inside of a shot glass or other mold lightly with non-stick spray. Set the pre-waxed wick at the bottom of the mold, extending to the top. Now that the mold is ready, set up your melting device (or a double boiler). Set a sauce pan inside of a larger pan filled with water and melt the wax inside. Once the wax is melted, pour into your mold and allow to set and cool.

Crisco
This might be the easiest candle to create. Simply shove a candle wick (or a piece of string) into the middle of an open tub of Crisco. You’ll want to use a long stick or skewer to push it to the bottom. Hit the tub on a hard surface to settle the contents. Not only will the gigantic candle burn, but it will burn for 45 days.


Shotgun Shells
It’s probably a given: ONLY use shotgun shells that have been used and are empty. Do not light active shotgun shells.

Add wax to a double boiler – or into a sauce pot that is sitting inside of a larger pot of hot water. Turn to medium heat so the wax is melted but not burning. While that is melting, use an old toothbrush to clean and brush the inside and outside of the shotgun shell. Pour the melted wax into the empty shell and place the wick. Once the wax is cooled and settled, remove the plastic outer layer of the shell with an exacto knife and keep the wax candle on the metal base of the shell. Light-a-way!

Lipstick
We’ve even see someone make a candle out of lipstick! Just twist the lipstick out as far as it can go and lay sideways on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut a slit in the side of the lipstick. Lay the wick into the slit and slide to the middle of the lipstick. Roll the lipstick back into it’s tube and light it up.

Other reading:

How to make a Pine Knot Torch for emergency light

DIY Emergency Lights from Solar Yard Lights

Quick tip for more light.

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

 

Via: thereadystore


Put a BUG in your Bug Out

Guest post by Doc Montana, a contributing author of Survival Cache and SHTFBlog

——————————

A BUG or Back Up Gun is a secondary (or tertiary) weapon included in your plan for when things go sideways big time.


The BUG is more than a sidearm to a primary rifle. A true BUG in your plan is a 100% functional replacement of your preferred carry weapon. A BUG is not an afterthought, or grandpa’s old revolver, or some one-off abomination of a handgun designed with form over function, or style over substance.

BUGs come in many flavors, some quite small like the .380 Ruger LCP, and others just a step down from their big brothers such as the Glock 26 and 27. But no matter the choice, the point of a BUG is the same: it is to backup the primary weapon whether called upon by malfunction, injury, no reload possible, temporarily disarmed, or even tossed to a friendly to double the fight. But we will address a particular tangent of the BUG, namely the Bug Out BUG.

BUGGING your BOB


The Bug Out BUG does not need to be strapped to an ankle, stuffed in your pants, or bolted onto a chest rig as operating LEOs often do. Instead it can ride along in or on your Bug Out Bag, or other piece of “Luggage” you will carry or at least have handy.  Unless you are chasing bag guys, serving warrants, or running to the fight, the Bug Out BUG is just another tool in your mobile SHTF shed.  The Bug out BUG philosophy is pretty much the same across the survival board, but the choice of Bug out BUG is dependent upon three main factors. First, where will you be bugging out to?  If your answer involves wilderness, having two short-barrel auto pistols might not be the best option. In that case a BUG of a more useful caliber like a .22 Ruger Mark III might be a more useful tool. Hunting squirrels with a Glock 26 is entertaining, but not when you’re hungry.

The next question is who will you be bugging out with? Packing a pair of .44 mags might be great for a big guy in a bad neighborhood, but for the rest of us dirty but not Harrys a wrist-breaking pocket cannon is better served for killing engine blocks then for daily bug out duty.  Plus, unless both practiced with and prepared for the recoil of such a beast, the hand howitzers will be one-shot-only due to either flying out of the shooter’s hand, cracking the shooter in the face, or most likely the latter then the former in the same shot.

The final question is based upon that minor detail that connects Point A with Point B.  In order to reach any useful bug out location, you will need to move through space and time. So what does that space look like?  And what time of day do you plan on traversing it? Urban dwellers will have to escape their concrete jungle first before entering the natural world.  Since any situation that requires a real bug out from a city will be dangerous, the urban BUG (or hopefully BUGs) should error on the side of magazine capacity over slim profile.

Are You Experienced?


The BUGs I have carried in my Bug Out Bags, Bug Out Vehicles, and stored with other preps include Glocks, several small caliber wheel guns, and the Ruger LCP, among others. For the Glock 26 and 19, I use Renegade Ridge Tactical Double-Down pistol cases. A Spec.-Ops Mini Pocket Organizer keeps my LCP, mags, and a small Bug Out Bullet Bottle organized.  As BUGs, I like the idea of having self-contained packages with a gun, mags, ammo all secure in a small padded case. That way I can toss the appropriate BUG into a kit, BOB, or BOV.

Don’t SWAT the BUG

Unlike law enforcement attire, your bug out BUG is for bugging out, not daily wear. So imagine shifting your bug out into high gear and stomping on the gas. I assume a holstered sidearm is at the top of your list of bodywear. Some of you will want to slap some additional cordite jewelry to your lower leg or drop a mouse in your back pocket. But the BUG for bugging out is a self-contained shooting kit unto its own that rides shotgun in your BOB kit.

Some Glock Love


I’m one of the lucky many who finds the Glock frame both comfortable and at the perfect angle for natural shooting. The Glockpoints where my mind aims. A 1911 frame in my hand naturally points towards the tree tops. And on the old-school western revolver side, my hand is more likely to fire off a crotch shot rather than at the center of mass. So for me Glocks are the obvious choice.  Adding more points to the Glock scorecard is the fact that any same-caliber Glock can eat magazines of grip size or longer. That means, for instance, a 9mm G17 can run mags of 17, 19, and 33 rounds along with drum magazines.  A G19 can run all of the above plus a shorter 15 round mag. And a G26 can run all of the above plus its own ten rounder. That means any double stack 9mm Glock mag will run in a G26 so if my BUG is a G26, it will eat all my other mags regardless if I am running my G17 or G19 as primary. In my BOB, I have several 33 round Glock mags ready to go which will work in any of my 9mm Glocks so no matter what I grab, I’m good to go. I cannot say the same about my friends who run 1911s, revolvers, Kimber jewelry, and who diversified their handgun calibers.


As if the mag interchangeability is not enough, the trio of Glock 9mms can, in most cases, share holsters. The Blackhawk Serpaholster is a fine choice and the only difference between one made for a G17 and a G26 is the length of the barrel shroud. A 26 in a 17 holster has an extra inch of coverage, while a 17 in a 26 holster extends through the shroud and out the other end. Since all Serpa holsters are open ended, a good barrel inspection should follow any mud wrestling event no matter which gun is in which holster.

All Things Equal


Finally, the issue of quality between primary and BUG is critical. I know many folks who toss some old kit gun into their BOB, you know, just in case. Yet their so-called BUG is little more than a feel-good accessory chosen out of convenience. True Bug Out BUGs do not compromise quality or function because the only use for the Backup Gun is to become the Primary Gun under even worse conditions than a moment ago. Did that make sense? To state it again, your BUG must completely replace your preferred primary weapon when you have lost control of the situation. So pulling a pearl-handled double-barreled derringer out of your belt buckle might have sounded like a cool idea in the store, but never in a million years would you have chosen that gun for this particular moment. So don’t do it now.

Driving home this point further, some of my 1911 friends have their tricked out race gun or super-tuned primary, and then consider an off-the-shelf budget 1911 as a viable BUG due to the similarities in their manual of arms. The chink in this particular armor is that the reliability and performance of a tuned gun does not transfer to a nearby pistol of similar persuasion through osmosis alone. Perfection must be gun smithed into the soul of the pistol. Yet dropping a few more Benjamins of polish and parts on a crippled mechanism that was already limping when it left the factory is a hard bullet to bite. So now the backup gun is already suspect and the fight hasn’t even started yet. On Glock front, quality is a complete and total non-issue across the entire 9mm product line.

The Other Side of the Coin


On the other hand, why would you want to store, cache, bury, or otherwise hide away and almost forget a perfectly good gun? The flip side of the coin allows for a low to medium quality firearm of usable caliber to be squirreled away, especially if you want to back up your bug in or bugout location. In this case, I have an old eight-shot .22 revolver and a few hundred rounds packed away with the extra knives and can openers in one of my food storage areas. The old double action gun is good enough to count on short term and in a pinch, but certainly not anything I would want for EDC during your bugout. I’ve greased up the little wheel gun and sealed it in a watertight box along with several hundred rounds of .22 in various flavors including subsonic. While not my only BUG, nor even my primary-secondary, if the social scene really does fade to black, then a small infestation of BUGs in your plan begins to make sense.

One Size Fits Some

Of course any BUG is a compromise in some respects unless you just want to keep one manual of arms by replicating your primary and your primary is perfect. While that is certainly a great way to go, and a highly defensible decision, for those who carry a full-sized handgun, or even a large compact (sorry for the oxymoron), BOB space is limited and weight is to be minimized so most BUGs will be smaller in stature but hopefully will order off the basic ammo menu. Additionally, there is the consideration of whose hand will wrap around the grip, and how much recoil that hand can tolerate. When you consider a BUG option, don’t confuse it with your standard set of weapons platforms. The default gunset for bugging out usually consists of an AR or AK military pattern rifle, a 12 gauge pump shotgun, a thirtyish caliber bolt action scoped rifle, an autopistol of 9mm or larger, and a .22 rifle. That’s a lot of blued iron to pack around so adding a BUG to the mix must be more than just one more bangstick. The primary BUG will need a special home similar to a tourniquet. It must be out of the way, but ever-present. It must be handy but not cumbersome. It must be accessible with either hand. And most of all, it must perform perfectly even though you never want to use it.

My comments:

If I’m buggin out…then I’m probably never coming back, so they’re all coming with me.

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via:  shtfblog

SHTF Firearm Choices

Guest post by Dave H, a reader of SurvivalCache.com

————————-

I read a lot of articles about the best choice of firearms. They generally focus on the AR-15 and the AK47.  I believe the discussions generally miss the point by failing to ask the question of what are you trying to do with the weapon.

For example, if your goal was to stop a vehicle from 800 yards neither the AR-15 nor the AK47 would be an effective choice.  In this case the .50 BMG would be the ammunition of choice and there are numerous weapons to discharge this projectile. My original choice would have been the McMillan TAC-50A.

However, the recent sale of this portion of the McMillan Group places this on hold.  I hope they don’t disappear like CheyTac.  The Barrett M107A1 certainly plays well in this arena as do many of the other Barrett rifles. Other folks make .50BMG rifles like Armalite. They don’t all cost $12,000, like the McMillan, and can be quite effective in stopping a vehicle at long distance.

Long Distance Shots

Let’s say your next objective was to take out individuals from a mile away.


In my humble opinion I believe that taking a mile shot is a waste of ammunition.  There are too many variables that limit the viability of the shot.  The first variable is the shooter.  The average person does not have the resources to train and practice at these distances.  The second variable is the rifle.  Even a sub-MOA rifle could be off feet at this distance.  Ammunition also creates variability.  What do variations of a 10th of a grain of powder do at these distances?  Variations in crimping and any defect on the bullet surface will alter the trajectory of the projectile.  Try and adjust your shot placement for uphill or downhill and then throw in the environmental variables such as temperature, humidity and wind and you will find the shot to be a guess at best.  If you are not convinced then consider the .50BMG discussed above or a round like the .338 Lapua Magnum.  Players in this market space include the above mentioned McMillan with the TAC 338, the Barrett Model 98B, the Accuracy International AXMC and the Savage 110 BA.

What about a threat from 200 – 500 yards?  During SHTF, your goal at this level should be to identify and eliminate the command and communication staff.  It should also be to eliminate as much of the threat before you are in their range.  I believe this is an area where most shooters can be effective with a modern large bore hunting rifle.  The market place is filled with tremendous rifles and ammunition.  Browning, Remington, Ruger, Savage, Sako, Weatherby and Winchester are all large players in this market.  The rifles are affordable to the working person and they are extremely accurate.

There are excellent optics available for reasonable costs. BushnellBurrisLeupold,NikonVortexZeiss and many others service this market.  The scope options are exceptional and include built in laser range finders, bullet drop compensators, illuminated reticles, windage markers and parallax adjustments that can be used as a poor man’s range finder.  Inexpensive laser range finders are also available.  Many of the range finders have a bullet drop compensator that adjust for your bullet group and compensate for changes in angle.  Ammunition has also improved with the introduction of polymer tipped bullets.  The consistency, accuracy and energy are all improved over the past decade. Ballistic charts and calculators are readily available.  Winchester has an interactive ballistic calculator on their website where you can simulate different conditions.  Winchester also has an app for an iPhone. Let’s go back to the threat.  Imagine a group of individuals with reasonable shooting skills confronted with individuals carrying contemporary battle rifles.  They may not be able to stop a battalion, but they can certainly make it hot for smaller groups.

The Battle Rifle


Let’s move the threat from 100 – 300 yards.  In this zone during SHTF, a rapid rate of fire with knock down power would be desired.  This is an area where the AR-10/HK91 battle rifle platform shines.  It has large bullets with excellent knock down power, reasonable accuracy, managed recoil, high capacity magazines and high rates of fire.  PWS, Accuracy International, Armalite, LWRC, POF, Bushmaster, Colt, DPMS, Heckler and Koch, Ruger, Sig Sauer, Smith and Wesson are all makers of weapons in this class.  Imagine the damage a group of reasonably trained individuals could inflict in this zone with these weapons.

Move the threat closer into the zone from 25 – 150 yards and the amount of lead going down range becomes critical.  Your threat is near and reloading becomes an issue.  Accuracy, while always important, becomes the second most important issue of the day.  A rifle that can shoot a 3″ group at 100 yards is just as effective as one that shoots sub-MOA.  This is the zone for the AR-15, Mini-14 and AK47.  Short carbine rifles with high rates of fire, minimal recoil are required to repel the threat. There are an incredible number of manufacturers in this market place and even a larger number of accessories.  Quality, accuracy and price vary dramatically.  Choose wisely.

Close Combat

When we look at close quarters combat one would lean towards the AR-15 platform. However the standard AR-15 may not be the optimal choice. Before you make that final decision consider coming around a corner and you have to swing a 16″ or 18″ barrel. Compare that to a 7″ or 10″ barrel.  That fraction of a second may be the difference of life and death.  So if your threat is in this zone consider an AR-15 with a short barrel.  Technically these weapons are considered pistols rather than rifles.  You may want to add a Sig Sauer Stabilizing Brace to your pistol.


Let’s look at other situations. Assume for a moment that you are guarding a checkpoint into your neighborhood.  You may be in a situation where you need to stop a vehicle at close range.  Consider a shotgun with steel slugs like the DDupleks. They come in 1oz and 1 1/8oz sizes.  They are encased in polymer and are safe to shoot in any choke. Imagine a flat faced steel slug traveling at 1400fps.  Put this in a Saiga shotgun with a 20 round magazine and you are a very formidable opponent to anyone at close range.

What about handguns?  They certainly have their place.  My personal favorite is the 1911 .45acp. But that is just me. When I am asked what handgun someone should buy I generally answer with the one you shoot well.  I know this may sound like a cop-out but it’s true.  For me a 1911 fits my hand perfectly.  I also have a CZ75 that I shoot very well. Then I have an S&W .9mm.  It is a nice little handgun.  It just does not fit me and I struggle with accuracy.  Then there is recoil.  It is better to have a handgun where you can manage the recoil.  Trying to teach someone to shoot a handgun with a .454 Casull would fail because they would develop bad habits from the excessive recoil.  So pick a handgun that you can manage.  Back to the value of handguns, they are easily carried; the variety allows for individual selection, are generally reasonably priced.  They are also excellent in close quarters situations.

How about carbines chambered for handgun calibers?  This class of firearm is pretty interesting.  One manufacturer Hi Point makes a .45ACP, .40S&W and a .9mm.  These firearms are inexpensive and I wouldn’t classify them as a good gun. I would classify them as a good enough gun.  These guns are inexpensive to buy, inexpensive to shoot and pretty effective at close range.  Think of the damage a 230 grain .45ACP bullet will do a 75 yards.  This is a good choice for those on a limited budget where they want to minimize the calibers of ammunition.

What about a .22 or an air rifle?  I realize that many people have been killed with a .22. Unfortunately, they lack the immediate knock down power of other calibers.  The .22 and the air rifle may not be the best for defense. That doesn’t mean they don’t have value. They are inexpensive to shoot and therefore are excellent for training.  They are also excellent for survival. An air rifle can kill small game without compromising your position.

Conclusion

To summarize, what weapon should someone buy? Ideally, everyone would have the resources to own and train on several in each category.  However, that is about as realistic as winning the lottery.  I think of defense in zones.  Think about the zones you need to defend.  If you live in an urban area you may never need a .50BMG or .338 Lapua Magnum.  In this case, an AR-15 may be perfect.  If you are on a limited budget then a carbine shooting a handgun round and a handgun or a .22lr may be the right choice.  If you live in a rural area where longer range shooting is possible a large bore hunting rifle or an AR10 type platform may be an excellent choice.  However, don’t forget about close quarters.  Eventually all fights get up close and personal.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

 

Via: survivalcache

Using a Boat as a Bug Out Location

 

 

I’ll let out a little secret here – I’m working on a new book about boats and survival. There are a couple of reasons for this new endeavor, not the least of which is that at one point in my life I was drawn to the ocean like a moth to light. We used to have a very nice power boat and practically every weekend was spent aboard. We voyaged all over the gulf coast, and some of my fondest memories were aboard our cruiser. Work, children and life changed that but one day I may retire on the water.

As a matter of fact, our boat was our bug out location for years. In reality, it wasn’t the perfect vessel for that purpose as it was a gasoline hog and wasn’t designed for extended voyages without re-supply. Boats are like cars, rifles and pizza – they are a compromise. Since we were weekenders, we wanted to get from point A to point B reasonably quickly and that translates into high fuel consumption in the nautical world. It doesn’t have to be that way as there are many designs out there that enjoy pretty good miles per gallon. These vessels are just slower than their gas guzzling brethren.  Probably the best is the original hybrid – a sail boat.


Some people will immediately dismiss the idea of using a boat as a BOL. In researching the concept for the new book, I went to all of the popular blogs and forums reading everything I could find. That didn’t take long as there isn’t a lot out there. At first, that was good news because I like writing about things no one else has. Originality is a good thing. What little I did find on the web basically dismissed the idea of a floating BOL due to practicality.

Now I can list a dozen reasons why a boat isn’t the best choice for a BOL, but practicality isn’t one of them. I asked myself “what am I missing here?”

Like so many things in the blogosphere, people spout off about topics they really don’t know anything about. You could take the word “blogosphere” and substitute it with “Cable News” or “the water cooler at the office” and that statement would still be true, but for us Preppers, the internet is one of our primary resources. When someone lays out a line of crap on the net, many of us Preppers nod our heads and take the information to heart.

I believe most people initially think boats are only for the ultra-wealthy. That’s not entirely accurate. You can purchase a reasonable condition, used sail boat for about the same price as a trailer camper these days. I see ads for hundreds of 25-35 foot vessels for less than $50,000. There are numerous tax advantages for a boat and many banks offer financing similar to a home mortage.

Now, low end used boats are known to be a money pit. Boats are similar to campers in that stuff breaks on them all the time. But for a BOL, they don’t have to be fully functional and ready for a transatlantic voyage. When you compare a boat to a piece of country property, complete with shelter, water and food supply – a boat starts looking like a bargain from a financial perspective.

Many boats are designed to be self-sufficient for long periods of time. This statement should cause the average Prepper’s head to snap up and pay attention. Many have water makers so you have virtually unlimited supply of fresh water. They have sewage systems, redundant power systems and huge fuel storage capacities. All of these items are normally high on anyone’s list of preps. A 35 foot, used sail boat I recently looked at was designed for four adults to enjoy extended stays onboard. It was $29,000. It had solar power, a generator, 12 volt to 115 AC inverter, full kitchen, two showers, microwave, two televisions, radar, GPS, VHF radio, dual voltage frig, dual voltage freezer, and ice maker, and a water maker. Its little diesel motor could move it along at about 10 miles per gallon without using the sails at all. Its 80 gallon fuel tank could run the generator for a long time.

If you want to discuss food supplies, it would be difficult to debate anything being better than a boat – even on fresh water. One could live off of fishing, kelp, oysters, shrimp and costal plants for a long time. Throw in a well thought out “deck garden” and you have a practically infinite food supply.

Energy, or specifically electrical energy, is a mixed bag on a boat. Many sailing vessels have wind turbines and solar systems of limited power. Huge banks of batteries are not uncommon. Some modern vessels even have electric drives. Almost every vessel over 28 feet has a generator. It would not be extremely difficult to set up a boat to be off-the-grid independent if it already isn’t.

From a security perspective, a boat would get mixed reviews. As all of my books denote, people are going to be the biggest problem if it all falls apart. It would be difficult to imagine being able to isolate one’s self more so than on a boat. The only security exposure from being water bound would be the difficulty in hiding. Depending on your geographic location, that may or may not be a problem. Along our Texas coast, I know dozens of private little coves where I have dropped the hook and spent the long weekend fishing. Again, all things are a compromise.

To summarize, a boat makes sense for a BOL in all of the major categories we prep for. Food, shelter, energy, water and security are all equal to or perhaps better than their landlocked alternatives. What strikes me as the biggest positive is the dual usage. Boating is fun for the family. Even if it never leaves the marina, being on or around the water can be a recreational highlight. If it never falls apart – if TEOTWAWKI never happens, boating preppers still would have invested in something worthwhile.

BTW, there is also a forum thread on bug out boats on Zombie Squad.

 

Some nice Comments:

One of the biggest thing you missed about boat as a BOL is the fact that if things get bad where you’re at, all you have to do is pull anchor and make a run for it with all of your preps, gear and your home. The last time I checked you can relocate your BOL in the mountains.
I’ve been around boats all my life, and I’m like and don’t get the problem with boats as a BOL.


Dmitry Orlov of “Reinventing Collapse” (the book) fame and Club Orlov blog lives on a boat specifically for survival. He’s written about it on his blog many times.

—-

Many of us also remember reading the stories of ‘River Rats’ and persons who lived in houseboats during the Great Depression, I’m sure the memories dimmed the bad points, but the good points sounded – good! If you born ‘In The Bayou’, I’ll bet good times would be easy to find.

 

——

As noted above, Orlov has written some on the sailboat as BOV.

http://cluborlov.blogspot.com/2011/06/sailing-craft-for-post-collapse-world.html

The one novel I can think of that heavily features sailing as a BOV is Luke Rhinehart’s Long Voyage back.

http://reflexionesfinales.blogspot.com/2011/07/long-voyage-back-review.html

You could intermix it with Alex Scarrow’s Afterlight which features an off shore oil rig to come up with some interesting scenarios/ideas: particularly of the Gulf Coast.

http://reflexionesfinales.blogspot.com/2011/09/afterlight-review.html

My biggest problem with Orlov, is that he views the sailboat as a free pass. In a severe collapse situation, those with access to waters will use that mobility, and it is fairly sure that some of those people will not be nice. The people of Dark Age Greece, and the Chaotic Medieval Baltic Coasts kept their villages safe from direct approach by water. Even if they were close to the water, they were up some high rocky promenade, or you had to wind your way through tricky swamps to get to village: they were not your fishing or trade friendly locations.

—-

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via:  shtfblog

Bill Gates Warns Of Virus Worse Than Ebola: “We Are Simply Not Prepared To Deal With A Global Epidemic”

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has spent a lot of time in the field of vaccines and medicine, so much so that many consider him to be one of the world’s foremost experts on vaccination and disease trends. He has spent millions of dollars of his own money investing in vaccine-related technologies and is a strong proponent of widespread vaccination programs.

Whatever your views on vaccinations, the fact is that Bill Gates is revered for his activities by the global community. Moreover, he has the money and connections to facilitate the implementation of widespread programs, whether voluntary or forced.

In his latest Op-Ed Gates sends a stark message to political leaders and the general public, claiming that a virus even deadlier than Ebola may be on the horizon. According to Gates, should such a virus start spreading the world is ill-prepared to handle it.

The Ebola epidemic in West Africa has killed more than 10,000 people. If anything good can come from this continuing tragedy, it is that Ebola can awaken the world to a sobering fact: We are simply not prepared to deal with a global epidemic.


Of all the things that could kill more than 10 million people around the world in the coming years, by far the most likely is an epidemic. But it almost certainly won’t be Ebola.


Other diseases — flu, for example — spread through the air, and people can be infectious before they feel sick, which means that one person can infect many strangers just by going to a public place. We’ve seen it happen before, with horrific results: In 1918, the Spanish flu killed more than 30 million people. Imagine what it could do in today’s highly mobile world.

New York Times Via The Common Sense Show

Indeed, the reemergence of a deadly virus such as the Spanish Flu would be disastrous.

But should we be worried? According to Dave Hodges we should be.

Bill Gates lust for vaccines knows no bounds. At his and other “philanthropists” (i.e. psychopaths) encouraging, global researchers have begun to reconstitute old viruses, presumably for the purpose of developing vaccines for the deadly pandemics of the past.

In the near future, we may wish we would have followed the old axiom, “Let sleeping dogs lie”, because in an act of extreme insanity, the virus has been reconstituted, by the Center for Disease Control researchers. The reconstituted virus was obtained from frozen tissue samples from a female who died from the virus in the 1918 outbreak.

Unfortunately, the Spanish Flu is not the only pandemic which is being reconstituted and this means even more vaccines for Bill Gates. Howe many will die in order that Gates and his partners will realize a hefty return on investment?


The jury is not out on Bill Gates. He is a man who speaks his mind. In his New York Times editorial, Gates warns us about the return of Ebola as well the re-emergence of other deadly viruses. It would be a grave mistake to not take Bill Gates seriously. What does Bill Gates know that we do not?

Full report

We know that scientists are bringing back the plagues of old, justifying this by claiming they are using these old viruses to create new vaccines. Further, the military has been working on biological weapons for decades, so one can only imagine the kinds of viruses they have in their back pocket.

But one can’t help but think that maybe the public is being set up for future programs that will require forced vaccines.

In recent months we have seen the reemergence of measles in the United States. Though no one has officially pinpointed the cause, it is suspected that the government’s open border policy may be to blame. But the debate over measles centered not so much about how this supposedly extinct outbreak got here, but that everyone needs to be vaccinated.

We’ve heard similar arguments about a coming Ebola vaccine. Though not yet tested, we are already hearing calls for forced vaccinations should one be developed. Amusingly, there’s even talk of a combined Ebola/Measles vaccine.

The end-game is not yet clear, but given that the highly respected Bill Gates is warning of uncontrollable epidemics, there are a couple of scenarios that immediately come to mind. First, the Executive Branch of the United States has no qualms about using Executive Actions and Orders to implement policy, so forced vaccinations could well be on the way should the right crisis strike, and they’ll come complete with widespread martial law declarations. Second, and perhaps even more frightening, is that Bill Gates has inside knowledge of a deadly disease that may soon be unleashed.

Since there would be no cure, your only option would then be to get vaccinated, or, to implement measures to avoid contracting it to begin with.

Tess Pennington, author of The Prepper’s Blueprint, says that we should remain vigilant and look for signs that indicate a viral outbreak is imminent:

The time to make preparations for a worst-case scenario is now. The following are six key warning signs you should be looking for. When these events come to pass or you see these signals, you should strongly consider implementing a self-quarantine lockdown:

  1. Emergency officials say they have the situation under control, but more cases continue to pop up.
  2. Local and state governments officially declare an emergency.
  3. Cases have been identified at your local hospital or at schools in your general vicinity.
  4. The general public begins to panic and store shelves start running out of key supplies like food and bottled water.
  5. Looting and lawlessness occurs within the local community.
  6. The virus breaches a 50-mile radius surrounding your home or town.

If any of these signs begin to appear around you, it’s time to seriously consider distancing yourself from society, and especially highly dense venues like retail stores, sporting events or schools.

Source: When Should I Go Into a Full Pandemic Lockdown Mode And Self Quarantine?

As we saw with the recent Ebola scare last year, Bill Gates has good reason to be warning that the world is unprepared. In October of 2014 a single Ebola patient overwhelmed the medical system in Dallas.

That’s right. The hospital literally closed its doors to new patients.

Consider for a moment what something like this might look like if several cases popped up throughout a major metro area simultaneously. Would all of the hospitals to which those infected with Ebola were taken then shut their doors to new patients?

What this means for you is very simple and it’s something that members of the preparedness community have been warning about since before Ebola was even on the CDC’s domestic radar.

If this virus (or any other contagion) spreads like it did in Africa, our entire health care system will be paralyzed.

One patient.

Now imagine a highly contagious virus like the Spanish flu and “paralyzed” is essentially how we could describe emergency response.

As Pennginton suggests, now is the time to prepare for the possibility of a widespread pandemic. This might include, but is not limited to, protective gear like N100 respirator masksbody suits, and gloves.

And, of course, since there will be no emergency response it is likely that commerce will come to a standstill, which means you should have food, water and other common preparedness supplies at the ready.

 

Also read:

Are You Ready: Pandemic Preparedness

The Well Stocked Sick Room

Quarantine and Martial Law Operational Details: “Those Afflicted… Will Be Incarcerated And Isolated Against Their Will”

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: shtfplan

How to Store Your Medicine

Check out this video from The Patriot Nurse……How to Store Your Medicine.

 

 

Something to think about:

I store my surplus meds inside externally indexed .50 cal ammo boxes with desiccant in a dedicated refrigerator at 50F temperature. Moisture is potent killer of meds so desiccant is always indicated. The sealed ammo boxes exclude any humidity that might be introduced from the refrigerator or refrigeration process. Never freeze as freezing is as sure a killer as heat for meds. If you’re storing antibiotics be sure you understand that some expiration dates are indeed fixed and using certain antibiotics past their expiration date is really bad news. Fortunately however many antibiotics retain efficacy for decades if properly stored in low or no humidity and kept cool.

Always let a refrigerated ammo can of meds (and ammo for that matter) stabilize at room temperature before opening. Doing so precludes atmospheric moisture from actually condensing on the inside of the can (pilots pay attention to the temperature dew point spread for as they narrow fog can result. Fog inside of your med can and any condensation is bad news).

 

——————

 

One way to have meds stored in an orderly way is to sew some elastic onto a piece of fabric in assorted ‘pockets’ [like can be seen on Stomp kits] and slide the meds into the compartments. Unlike a Stomp kit this is both cheaper and can be made to any length you want. Then the whole cloth can be rolled up and put in the cupboard.


This way it will all still fit in the same cupboard space but can be unrolled and kept orderly and easy to see and find what you are looking for without having to empty a basket.

 

Other info:

Fish Antibiotics: http://www.shtfsource.com/collections… ** Discount Code Aquarium6**
SalonPas:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BRUEKI/r…
GlutenEase:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HLXQ4UY/r…

 

Also read:

 

So, You Bought Fish Antibiotics. Now What?

MUST HAVE ANTIBIOTICS, ANTIFUNGALS, AND ANTIVIRALS

Antibiotic Overuse

Survival Antibiotics

SURVIVAL ANTIBIOTICS-2

Using Honey as a Topical Antibiotic: The Honey Bandage

Natural Antibiotics

 

The Truth About Expiration Dates

 

Making Penicillin at Home

 

Suturing Deep Tissue Wounds with Non-Surgical Needles

 

Cleaning Necrotic Wounds in an Emergency

 

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

 

Via: modernsurvivalonline