Failing to Prepare is Preparing to fail

"Surviving to Fight means Fighting to Survive"

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Prepping Page Two

Rouge EMP Attack
There are two types of EMP attacks that could return the developed West to an 18th century agrarian lifestyle that would cause millions of deaths.

One is a direct hit from a solar flare.

The other would be an EMP from a nuclear explosion in the atmosphere about 50 to 100 miles above the earth and all it would take is a basic missile and a crude nuclear device.

In the US alone it has been estimated that a direct hit from either could cost $2 trillion in damage the first year and a recovery time frame of four to 10 years.

That means it would affect upwards of 230 million Americans, leaving them without food, water, power, heat and communications –in fact anything that is dependent on the electrical grid and all of its branches would be gone.

Starvation and death would be inevitable for millions, I believe.

It has been recently stated that Iran was using talks with its enemies to stall the international community while it develops a nuclear weapon and delivery system.

Way back in 2007, unclassified US intelligence said Iran is going to have a nuclear weapon and a delivery system by 2015. That was way back in 2007, and it is thought they are right on the road to making that a reality.

Since then, Iranian officials have been explaining that the agreement affirmed their right to pursue a nuclear program.
 
What I cannot understand is that U.S. utility companies have been resisting efforts to harden the grid and local utilities against an EMP attack.

The SHIELD Act, introduced by Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., would give the federal government authority to get the utilities to undertake protective measures.

However, the legislation may not be going anywhere in Congress.

When emergency planners from the White House down to local police and fire departments find themselves tasked to plan for an EMP catastrophe in the context of an unprotected electric grid, this will bring enormous pressure to bear on the electric utilities and the NERC.

The NERC, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, which represents the electric utility industry, is tasked with protecting bulk power transmission on the grid. However, the federal government currently lacks authority to get local utilities to protect against an EMP.

By the way last July, a North Korean freighter was intercepted carrying components of Cuban SA-2 surface-to-air missiles in the Panama Canal, these are nuclear capable missiles.

The loss of the electrical grid would be a nightmare, triggering cascading failures of all the critical infrastructures on which society depends.

A “super-EMP” nuclear bomb is lighter than regular nuclear weapons and is designed to emit greater amounts of gamma rays, a form of electromagnetic energy. It’s the most destructive type of EMP event.

If fact I would say that even nations with “defensive” missiles could load them with nukes and deliver an EMP death blow to any country.

I have to say that if armed with a nuclear warhead and launched from a freighter, the SA-2 is technically possible to use offensively for an EMP attack.

Imagine if one armed SA-2 were to be launched from a freighter off, say the U.S. East Coast and exploded high over the highly populated region stretching from New York City to Washington, D.C., the resulting EMP could knock out the Eastern grid that services some 70 percent of the U.S. population.

The people are then left without electricity, which stops almost all economic activity, including financial accounts and transactions. There would be no more fuel or water, because pumps use electricity. The delivery of food and other goods would stop when the fuel runs out.

There can also be a non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NNEMP) using microwaves and carried in satellites, missiles, drones, and ships.
 
The threat of an EMP has been demonstrated by nuclear tests, in 1962, in a project called Operation Starfish, the U.S. military set off a nuclear bomb 240 miles above an atoll in the Pacific Ocean. The resulting electromagnetic pulse (EMP) affected the electric grid in Hawaii, blowing out street lights and creating telephone power cuts and radio blackouts.

It is possible to protect electronics from an EMP, and the militaries of the world have been hardening their equipment. But nothing has been done to protect the civilian infrastructure, especially the electrical grid.

We have enemies that could deliberately destroy our economy. I think it unlikely that Russia or China would commit such destruction, but North Korea might, and there are of course terrorists who would enjoy such a catastrophe.

It is in human nature to discount and ignore important but not imminent threats. Political campaigns focus on current hot topics which seem trivial compared to the existential threat of an economic catastrophe.

Perhaps this is why everyone does not prep.

I think that the problem has been that there have been alarmists who have stoked fear of disasters which have not happened. But EMP is a real threat, recognized by the military, government officials, and scientists.

Even if the we are not deliberately attacked, there is an on-going threat from geomagnetic solar storms. There was such a storm in 1859, the Carrington event, which destroyed telegraph transmissions.

There would be time enough to shut off the electric grid, if the system were prepared. But to date worryingly there is no plan or practice exercises to do so.

The EMP threat makes terrorism an existential threat to all the economies of the world.

Public attention has been focused on local attacks such as occurred in Boston and Paris, but few are discussing the global threat.

Most people believe that the prime responsibility of government is to protect the people. I have to say that this belief is so far from the truth. The truth is, it's up to you to protect yourself.

I think that it is only a matter of time before an EMP weapon is used against us.

What I am saying is we must prepare for life in the 1800's that is life without electricity.

ISIS and the Threats We Face

The rumours are that ISIS militants have likely seized nuclear materials to make a "dirty" bomb,

The montrous fiends with the Islamic State hope to add another horrific weapon to their arsenal of terror — a “dirty” bomb.

The bloodthirsty jihadist group looted radioactive chemicals from government labs as they rampaged across Iraq and Syria and hope to assemble explosive devices with them, according to Australian intelligence officials and ISIS propaganda.

The militants bragged in Dabiq, their perverted publicity magazine, that they could soon have the capability to build or purchase nuclear weapons.

But I would sat that a more immediate threat could be “dirty” bombs — devices that use conventional explosives to spread radioactive or other hazardous materials.

Australian intelligence officials were so concerned about the group’s intentions, they called for a meeting of the “Australia Group,” an international forum for stopping the proliferation of chemical weapons.

If you do not think that ISIS “is likely to have amongst its tens of thousands of recruits the technical expertise necessary to further refine precursor materials and build chemical weapons,” then you have you head in the sand I would say.

My concerns over a potential radioactive weapon in the hands of ISIS come a year after Iraqi officials warned the UN the group had obtained materials that could “be used in manufacturing weapons of mass destruction."

Although the detonation of a Dirty Bomb would not kill many people, that is in fact not its intended purpose, its real purpose is to spread fear, in fact to terrorise the local population and denie access to a location for a period of time.

There’s a big difference between radiological weapons and nuclear weapons, for one think a dirty bomb is far less powerful. A dirty bomb is different mostly because it causes more fear, which is what terrorists want.

But terrorists have never deployed such a device. However I believe that it is only a matter of time before we see such a device detonated on our streets.

Chlorine bombs are another weapon sought after by isis, who are known to be recruiting supporters with chemical degrees and the knowledge to weaponize this gas.

The have already used chlorine bombs on peshmerga fighters in northern Iraq in January.

So what can you do to mitigate the effects of these terror weapons if or should I say when they are used against us on our streets.

If a terrorist attack occurs, it is important that you remain calm and follow instructions from local officials and emergency service personnel.

You should be aware of your surroundings and watch for additional attacks.

Listen to local TV and radio for directions and travel information and instructions from local officials. If you are in a position where the attack occurs near you, check for injuries and provide firstaid.

This is a situation when a GHB will be of use as well as a plan on how you will get home.

Here are a few safety first tips:

Stay inside your home, work place or any other accommodation you are in at the time.

Do not go out onto the streets.

Be alert to local news developments.

Stick to any imposed curfews or security restrictions.

Be aware of conspicuous or unusual behaviour. Unusual behaviour and strange devices should be reported to the police or security personnel promptly.

If you are in a building close to the site of a terrorist attack, stay away from the windows

If in the vicinity of an attack, do not stay to watch what is happening, as you will only get in the way of the emergency services. There is also a risk that additional attacks may occur.

Biological and Chemical weapons may be the most devastating and uncontrollable weapons ever made by man.

Biological weapons are any man made weapon caused to disperse viruses, bacteria, or toxins derived from living organisms to cause death or disease within humans.

I would say that in the event of a future terrorist attack, the means in which the attack would be achieved would be through the use of bio-chemical weapons.

This is not hard to believe, considering most bio-chemical agents can be created in ones own home with readily available materials.

Due to the nature of biological and chemical weapons, the most widely predicted use for such weapons would be against the populace of a nation, where it may inflict massive fatalities and economic destruction.

However this does not mean that a bio-chemical attack is unsurvivable, with proper knowledge and readiness it can very well be a crisis that one can overcome. In fact as with surviving Nuclear attack it is a matter of knowledge and learning a new set of rules.

If a chlorine gas bomb is detonated then be aware of any yellow-green gas floating around with the strong smell of bleach.

Some soldiers in WWI described it as pepper and pineapple. If you are exposed to chlorine gas, you may have trouble breathing or seeing and will feel a burning sensation.

Move quickly into an area with clean air in order to minimize exposure to the gas. Better still is to move up-wind as quickly as possible as the gas can only go where the wind blows it.

If indoors, say a shopping centre then exit the building as quickly as possible.

If outdoors, move to the highest ground. Since chlorine gas is more dense than air, it will sink to the ground.

Grab a cotton pad or any fabric and soak it in urine. Or use the N95 mask in your GHB or EDC, you do have one don't you?

Hold it up to your nose as a mask. The Canadian military survived the first large-scale chlorine gas attack in WWI by using urine instead of water, under the presumption that the urine crystallizes the gas.

You will then need to remove all clothing that may have been exposed to the gas, being sure not to let the clothes touch your face or head.

Cut the clothes off so that they don't need to make additional contact with your skin as they're peeled off. Seal the clothes in plastic bags.

Clean your body thoroughly with a lot of soap and water. Rinse your eyes with water if your vision is blurred or your eyes burn; if you wear contact lenses, throw them away.

However, water mixed with Chlorine gas can turn into Hydrochloric acid, so be careful. .

I am not in the business of scaring people but I am keen on informing you dear listener of the real threats that I think we face.


How Much Food Preps do You Need

Survival food storage is an insurance policy of sorts, against emergency, disaster, or worse.

The amount of food that any one person chooses to store is a personal choice and is related to your risk tolerance, your resources, your perception of a disaster’s likelihood, and of course your motivation to store food, and more…

Common sense tells us that short term disruption scenarios, or "every day" emergencies, are probably more likely to occur than some of the greater disaster scenarios, so you might think that preparing for ‘ordinary/every day’ disaster is good enough.

On the other hand, although a SHTF scenario may seem more unlikely to some, the fact is that should it occur, it will impact you in a much more severe way.

And having not prepared for that, will or could be life threatening.

So, how much is enough?

For a car-kit, a 72-hour-kit, a bug-out-bag kit, the generally accepted rule-of-thumb is 3 days worth of food, for each person.

The idea with this, is to have enough food that would cover the reasonable amount of time that it might take for you to get from point-A to point-B.

The idea being that point-B will have the food and supplies that you may need.

For a food supply at home to ensure against most of today’s ‘expected’ disasters that might come your way, I would suggest a 30-day supply for every member of the household.

The reason I say ‘expected’ is to cover things that would not surprise us terribly, like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, winter snow/ice storms, flooding and other geo-physical events.

These events are regional, and recoverable generally in a reasonable amount of time.

For a food supply at home to ensure a greater supply for those disasters which may not recover in a reasonable amount of time, the next step up is a solid 3-month supply for every member of the household.

While a 1-month supply is very easy to collect, a 3-month supply will require a little bit more effort. However it’s still very easy.

When you’re building your food storage, concentrate on bulking up on the foods that you normally eat. I’ll leave it at that for this category (up to 3 months).

The next step is a big one.

Once you’ve stocked up a 3-month supply of food (at least 2,000 calories per day per person), and if you feel the necessity, you need to focus on 1-year.

A 1-year food storage plan will cause you to start thinking more seriously about shelf life, the types of foods, how they’re stored, how they’re preserved, the variety of food, the foods that are more fitting for long-term storage, a balanced approach, food rotation techniques, and more…

Stepping up to a 1-year plan is more difficult in that it will require you to do some research to decide what will be successful for you, and the right way to go about it.

So why would anybody want a 1-year supply of food? Isn’t that way over-the-top?

Unfortunately, many people today will think that you’re a bit ‘crazy’ if they know you’ve stored a 1-year supply of food. It’s too bad that this is how it is… sad really.

By attempting to be responsible for yourself, you’re potentially looked at as a nut case.

So… don’t tell anyone.

Again, why would anyone need a 1-year supply?

To survive a SHTF scenario.

Could it happen?

Yes, of course it could.

Is it likely to happen?

Maybe, maybe not.

The question you should be asking yourself instead is,

Is my life worth a 1-year supply of food?”

Well, is it? What’s your life worth?

You might ask, “What is a SHTF scenario, and how would it affect my ability to get food from the shops or from an organized relief effort?”

A SHTF scenario is one where some, or many, of the interwoven systems that enable our modern-day living, will break down to a degree where life as we know it becomes social chaos.

It is a collapse scenario where food will run out in the shops, not to be re-stocked.

A scenario that affects more than just a local region, and is sufficient in magnitude to last for a long time… long enough for people to starve and become desperate.

It may seem very unlikely that a SHTF scenario would ever occur, and that you would never need to keep a 1-year supply of food.

But the thing is, we get lulled into a sense of false security because it’s never happened to us before. Therefore, it will never happen to us…

It is a risky proposition to assume that everything will always remain as it is.

So, is 1-year enough?

Maybe. But in a worst-case scenario, I do not believe so. Here’s why…

If we had to become truly self-reliant (for whatever reason – which is beyond the scope of this piece), a major source of food will be whatever we can grow ourselves.

I wonder how many people who have stored 1-year of food will be successful the following summer growing a garden of food which produces enough to keep them going for yet another year?

If they fail, in any way, they’re potentially in big trouble as death would be on the cards.

It seems to me that in order to provide yourself a cushion for problems like this, a 2-year supply of food should be quite adequate.

This is why it is so important to start experimenting with gardening (and its problems), and food preservation techniques, BEFORE you need to rely on it for survival.

Don’t expect that your first crop is going to be entirely plentiful.

So we’ve come from a 3-day supply of food, all the way to a 2-year supply of food.

How much survival food is enough?

It seems to me that 2-years will be enough to store ahead of time.

If you can’t manage to procure enough of your own food during the 2nd year following SHTF, then perhaps you weren’t meant to survive.
The Kids EDC School Emergency Kit

OK, so you have a GHB and a 72hr BoB great, but what about your children?

As a Grandparent of two small children of pre-school age and of school age my SHTF fears have nothing to do with pandemics, roving hordes of marauders or an EMP taking out my iPhone.

My biggest SHTF fear is that “something” could happen while my grandkids are not with me that could put them into harm’s way.

I think a lot of grandparents and parents who are preppers share this same fear.

As preppers we diligently prepare for disasters of all sizes by storing supplies, practicing skills and always being aware of our surroundings so that we can be prepared for any potential threats that may come our way…but is a 5, 10 or 15 year old child capable of understanding practical preparedness?

We’re adults. We have the maturity to think long-term and be prepared for disasters. However, when I look at my 3 and 4 year old grandkids going off to school every day,

I always get uneasy about what “could” potentially happen when they’re away. There are several alternatives for traditional schools, but most of us are not in a position to homeschool or explore alternative schooling.

I think it is is OUR responsibility to prepare our kids for school emergencies (not the school’s), how to put together a child’s everyday carry school emergency kit and a few tips that can help you breathe a little easier while your kids are away.

Isn’t the school supposed to be keeping my kids safe?

First and foremost, it’s not the school’s responsibility to keep your kids safe…it’s yours.

Yes, the school has a legal obligation to look after your kids while they are in school, but as any parent will tell you, schools aren’t perfect and no plan is full-proof.

Ultimately it is your responsibility to prepare your children to respond to school-place disasters.

Think about all the disaster scenarios that could come up during the school day; Lock-downs, weather emergencies, bus accidents, delays in transportation and even the most terrifying of all, an active shooter/terrorist inside your child’s school.

Yes, it is the school’s legal obligation to care for your kids, but if you think every school’s emergency plan (if they even have a plan) to handle these situations are full-proof… you’re delusional.

As parents we have to take an active role in our kids school safety, no matter how prepared the school may seem or how redundant our preparations may seem.

Everyday Carry (EDC) School Emergency Kit

I’ve seen a lot of School emergency kits posted in the past. Many of them include knives, paracord, fire-starting implements… basically everything they need to get expelled from school.

Look this isn’t the kids’ version of Man vs. Wild.

The chances of your kids ever needing any of these things is next to nothing and the chances that your child will be caught with these items and face disciplinary action is extremely high.

Be smart about what you’re sending with them to school. Always keep in mind Risk vs. Reward.

Before putting together your child’s EDC school emergency kit, take the time to send an email or make a phone call to their school.

Explain to them that you are simply a concerned parent who would like their child to be more prepared for emergencies and that you’re putting together an emergency kit that will be in your child’s possession every day, will rarely (if ever) be used and that you just want to make sure there will be no problems.

Include all the items you believe your child should have every day and ask what the official policy is on these items.

Many schools have banned any sort of bladed instrument, any sort of medications (even over the counter) and some even believe that your child shouldn’t have a way to contact his or her parents in the case of an emergency and have banned mobile phones completely.

As for mobile phones in school – A lot of schools have banned them altogether. I adamantly oppose this policy. Mobile phones are a link to your child when you aren’t there.

I won’t publicly suggest that anyone break school policies, but mobile phones can be turned off and there shouldn’t be any reason for anyone to know your child has a mobile phone in their backpack unless it is an emergency.

In a nutshell…when your kids are old enough to have a mobile phone they’re going to have one, school policy be damned.

However this choice is obviously completely up to you.

Here is what I suggest that you include In your Child’s EDC School Emergency Kit

Various sized Band aids (including finger bandages)

Gauze and tape

Chapstick

Burn cream

Children’s pain meds / fever reducer

Children’s allergy medication

Whistle

Disinfectant wipes

Water bottle

Trail mix

Change of clothes

Handwarmers

Mobile phone & charger

Medical information card – Include any known allergies, blood type and any important medical history.

ID card with parents full contact information as well as contact information for at least 3 other trusted people

Tips for the prepared parent

Take time to visit with the school’s Head and discuss all possible emergency contingency plans.

If you are unsatisfied with the answers you receive, escalate the situation to the school’s govenors.

Even if you have to involve the media to get this information, you deserve to know the school’s procedures for keeping your child out of harm’s way in an emergency.

Talk to your children about how to respond to various school emergencies. Drill them on the exits in their class, what to do in the case of a fire or other weather emergencies.

Make them as ready as possible to respond responsibly to various threats that they could encounter.

Teach your children to respect their teachers but be sure to teach them that ultimately they need to do whatever it takes to stay safe in a disaster scenario, whether they are following the rules or not.

Even if you are uncomfortable with your child having a mobile phone, be sure that they know how to use one and know all important contact numbers by heart.

Teach your children to pay very close attention to and listen to the police or other emergency service personal.

Teach them to use their EDC ID cards to help first responders reconnect them to you as soon as possible.

Final thoughts

A lot of us weren’t born preppers. At some point, most of us had some sort of “Wake Up” moment that opened our eyes to how fragile the modern world is and we decided that we needed to take a little more responsibility and control over our lives to prepare for all the bumps and roadblocks it has to throw at us.

A lot of us resent the time before our “awakening”, wondering how we could have been so blind to everything around us. Well, the reason is because you probably weren’t taught preparedness from an early age.

This needs to change.

We all need to be teaching our children what to do when things go wrong. We need to teach them to accept responsibility over themselves and to not rely on others to take care of them.

In short… we need to teach them how to survive.
Eating Road Kill

In rural areas in the 20th century road kill was considered a table delicacy for many who would otherwise be going without meat.

Deer, various birds, rabbit etc. and a variety of other animals killed by vehicles and left lying on the side of the road became an important source of protein for many a family.

Around here at this time of year it seems that every game bird and wild animal wants to committ suicide as our roads are strewn with road killed food.

An important feature of road kill is that the hunting has been done for you. 

There the animal lay; all you needed to do was pick it up, skin it, dress it, and cook it . A gift from God a hungry man should not pass up!

Many people have considered road kill to be a windfall.  As long as the kill is fresh and the animal looks healthy, its meat is perfectly safe to eat.

As with all meat, be sure to prepare it properly before consumption.

So You Won’t Eat Road Kill? Or You Don’t think you could eat road kill?  

That’s simply because at this time you can afford to snub your nose at such easy free meat.

Sure, right now many of you are squeamish at the thought of eating road kill. 

After all, your stomachs are regularly full and probably have been for all of your life. 

You have never experienced first-hand what it is like to go hungry for several days straight – or even weeks. 

Your cupboards are well stocked, and as much food as you could possibly want is waiting for you at the local shop. But remember that could all change.

During times of natural and man made disaster or economic collapse food sources can quickly dry up. It’s amazing how preconceived food prejudices are soon rejected when real gnawing hunger sets in. 

After a few months without enough food to eat, you will think nothing of eating insects, worms, rats, or anything else that comes your way. 

Served veg and gravy a nice road kill badger roast would be a seriously welcome addition to the dinner table.

When you think about it, what’s the difference whether that animal was dispatched at the abotrior , by a hunter in the forest, or a speeding vehicle? 

I would say none. As long as the meat is reasonably fresh and well-cooked it will not matter one bit how the animal met its end. 

What does matter is feeding yourself and your family; road kill could put meat on the table when food is scarce and your survival is at stake.

Road Kill is Good Food, Road kill is traditionally accepted mealtime fare in many areas. In my neck of the woods pheasants are daily hit by motorists speeding through the countryside.

The local gamekeeper reckons he loses up to 35 to 40 per day on the roads around the estate.

Just as when you shop for meat at the supermarket, you want to insure your road kill meat is fresh and has not “gone off”. 

Although obvious signs of potentially spoiled meat include smell and the presence of scavenging insects, maggots, and the like, meat can also be spoiled without these signs. 

You must cook all meat thoroughly in order to destroy any disease causing organisms or parasites.

If you find road kill on a stretch of road you had just passed over several hours before, then chances are your road kill is reasonably fresh and you are in meat. 

As in all things, the best survivors are aware of their environment and open to opportunity as it presents itself, however unexpectedly. 

Road kill meat is a potentially valuable resource in times of need and not to be overlooked by the hungry survivor.

Remember in the UK if you hit and kill game on the roads YOU are not allowed to stop and pick it up however the driver of the vehicle behind legally can.

Home Made Emergency Survival Bars

Ingredients

3 Cups of cereal (oatmeal, cornmeal, or wheat flakes)

1/4 tsp. salt

3 Tablespoons honey

2 1/2 Cups powdered milk

1 Cup sugar

1/4 Cup water

Why not add raisons if you like

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a bowl. Bring water, honey to a boil and add to the dry ingredients. Mix well. Add water a little at a time until mixture is just moist enough to mould.

Place in a small square dish and dry in the oven under very low heat.

Wrap and store

This will make 2 bars, each containing approx. 1000 calories or enough food for one day. These will store for a long time if they are cooked until quite dry, and are excellent for emergency packs, etc. Eat dry, or cooked in about 3/4 Cup of water.

One bar contains only half of the nutrients of the whole recipe and therefore you may wish to set aside two bars per day to get the following:

Probably the biggest problem is the low vitamin C. However, in a pinch, a person could live a long time off these bars alone.

They are also a bit short in the calorie department, but are excellent in protein, over half of the B vitamins, and excellent in the minerals category.

I think that nutritionally they really smash most of the expensive bars you can buy from the different shops etc. and properly sealed would probably last as long.

Although I actually make them just to take with me and they beat trail mix by miles.

High Energy Survival Bars

Ingredients

2 lbs pitted dates

2 lbs figs

2 lbs raisins

2 cups cashew nuts

2 cups sesame seeds

2 cups peanut butter



Directions

Mix all ingredients except for peanut butter through a meat grinder or use a pestle and mortar

Add peanut butter and mix well.

Roll out into 1/2 inch thick sheets.

Cut into bars and wrap well.

This amount will make around 60 2 ounce bars

Home-made Survival Energy Bars

This home-made energy bar recipe is packed full of goodies and will sustain even the most exhausted prepper, survivalist or zombie hunter out there.

Wrap them individually and make extras for tucking into BOB (Bug Out Bags) or GHB (Get Home Bags) backpacks etc.

Ingredients

1 egg

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup granola or your own mix of course.

1/2 cup raisins (or any chopped dried fruit)

1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts (or your favourite nut)

A large box of M&M’s or smarties or again your choice.

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Generously butter or oil an 8 x 8 inch square pan (preferably non-stick).

Crack the egg into a medium sized bowl.

Add the sugar and vanilla extract and mix thoroughly.

Stir in the granola, raisins, hazelnuts and M&M’s and mix until combined.

Transfer to the pan and distribute evenly over the bottom, pressing firmly with your hands. Bake for 25 minutes.

Cool and cut into bars or squares. Serves 8 to 12.

Why not add powdered Vitamin C to the mix. It is easy to make your own with lemon or orange peels by cutting them up into small pieces and drying in a dehydrator/oven and then grinding them up with a coffee grinder/ pestle and mortar.

Prepared for Disaster

Are you prepared for a disaster that could affect the daily function of your life or the lives of your family members? Or do you even believe a disaster will ever affect you?

Blizzards, floods, power cuts, and who knows what else happens all the time. Still, most of us ignore the warnings. "It can't happen here," some say. "The government will take care of me if it does," others think.

But not only do they happen, they can happen to you. And when they do, you will be on your own. The recent UK flooding events have proved this. Look at the total disruption of transportation when it snows for example. 

There were even hundreds of motorists stranded on UK motorways over night due to heavy snow fall.

This was followed by the immediate and complete paralysis of air transportation at major international airports. Thousands were stranded for days on their own in strange cities.

As serious as these events were, they pale in comparison to the possibilities. Consider a major biological or nuclear attack or accident. Hundreds of thousands of casualties are predicted in some scenarios.

These disasters or attacks would overwhelm local, regional, and national emergency resources and cause widespread panic. Transportation would stop, markets would be stripped of food within hours, essential emergency services would be overwhelmed, and food, medical supplies, and emergency service workers would be sent to the disaster area, leaving critical shortages in local areas.

Are you prepared?

Now, more than ever, you need to prepare for the possibility of disasters or attacks on a scale and type never before imagined. It is your duty to yourself, your family, and your country to be prepared.

Some of us need to be prepared for being at "ground zero." Certain areas are the most likely direct targets of terrorists or natural disasters. All of us need to be prepared to be indirect targets, those affected by the temporary collapse of our nation's infrastructure.

In short, we all need to be able to live self-sufficiently for a period of time.

What to prepare for will depend on your geographical area. Natural disasters and the risk of major terrorist attacks vary by where you live. The first thing you need to do is make a list of the possible disasters for which you need to prepare.

Some of the things you will want to consider include natural disasters, such as blizzards, floods, and even wild fires, as well as technological disasters, such as nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) attacks, and hazardous material accidents.

Don't forget cyber-attacks, the possibility that an enemy could attack our computer systems, shutting down electrical, gas, communications, transportation, and emergency and medical services. What about attacks on our farms and agricultural processing plants? While they would likely affect only a small number of people directly, they would completely shut down food production and distribution systems.

While there are many things to plan for, your response to all of them is one of two things: stay at home or evacuate. For blizzards, earthquakes, cyber-attacks, nuclear fallout, quarantine after biological attacks, and collapse of the infrastructure, you will want to stay at home. 

For floods, hurricanes, or with some advance notice of NBC attacks, evacuation may be your course of action.

Whenever possible, staying at home in your own environment and with your own emergency supplies is the best choice. 

When you evacuate, you are essentially a refugee at the mercy of government evacuation centres or the compassion of the local population.

In a major disaster, don't expect to be welcomed by the locals who are struggling with their own survival.

In all situations, you will need to be able to think for yourself. Confusion always accompanies a major disaster and initial information and instructions may be conflicting and incorrect.

So, monitor the radio and television for official instructions on what to do, such as whether to evacuate or not, but don't assume they are correct. Make your own decisions based on your plans and preparation.

Riding it out at home or as we say “Bugging-In”

Key to your survival is preparing a disaster supplies kit, essentially the stockpiling of all materials that you would need to live on if you are cut off from outside utilities, water, and supplies. Once a disaster occurs, there won't be time and materials may not be available.

How long you will need to be self-sufficient is hard to say. My advice would be that everyone store enough food, water, and supplies to take care of their family for a minimum of three days.

Preparing a "72-hour kit" is a good idea. It can be used for immediate evacuation and part of your overall disaster supply kit. Place items in a portable, easy-to-carry container, such as a large plastic box or duffel bag, ready to grab at a moment's notice.

But, is it enough? A blizzard, earthquake, quarantine, or nuclear fallout could confine you for much longer. You need to be able to take care of all the needs for your family for a period of at least two weeks and possibly longer. 

Having supplies for one to three months is not all that unreasonable or hard to accomplish.

There are six basics that should be part of your home disaster supplies kit: water, food, first aid supplies, tools and emergency supplies, clothing and bedding, and special needs items.

Tools and emergency supplies should include such things as battery-operated radio and flashlights with extra batteries or wind or solar powered versions, cups/plates/utensils, non-electric can opener, matches, lantern, fire extinguisher, hand tools for repairs and to turn off household water and gas, a whistle, and plastic sheeting. 

For sanitation, include toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, personal hygiene items, disinfectant, and household chlorine bleach. Many more items can be added. 

Think through the things you use on a daily basis.

Clothing and bedding Clothing and bedding would include a change of clothing and footwear for everyone in the household, rain gear, cold weather clothes, hat and gloves, and blankets or sleeping bags. Remember, a house or car can get very cold without heat. 

Prepare for the worst weather that you might encounter.

Store your disaster supply kit in a convenient place that is known to all family members and make sure they know your family's disaster plan. Evaluate your kit once a year and update it according to family needs.

Evacuation

You may not have much time to prepare when you need to evacuate. A hazardous materials spill could mean instant evacuation, so always have a smaller version of your home disaster supply kit in the boot of your car.

When you have advance warning of an evacuation, bring your portable "72-hour" disaster supply kit, along with additional food, water, and clothing. Keep important family documents in a waterproof, portable container, ready to bring with you in an evacuation.

These may include your will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds, passports, social security card, bank and credit account numbers, family documents (birth, marriage, and death certificates), inventory of valuable household items, and important telephone numbers.

It would be a good idea to always keep some cash in this container, so you have it for an emergency. If there is time, valuable family heirlooms or photographs can be added.

Now that you have a basic plan for any emergency, let's consider plans for some specific risks.

Nuclear attack/accident

A nuclear disaster could result from an accident at a nuclear power plant, a detonation of a nuclear device by terrorists or a rogue nation, or an explosion of a "dirty" bomb, an explosive surrounded by radioactive material. Individuals at "ground zero" will have little chance of survival.  

The risk for others is the exposure to radiation.

Radiation is dangerous because of harmful effects on the body. In large amounts, radiation can cause radiation sickness, thyroid and other cancers, and death.

These effects are greater the longer a person is exposed to the radiation and the closer the person is to the source. If radiation is released into the atmosphere, it can travel for thousands of miles, contaminating the ground and living organisms as it settles back to earth on dust or rain.  

This is called fallout radiation.

Time, distance, and shielding are the factors that minimize exposure to nuclear radiation. Most radiation loses its strength fairly rapidly, but it is important to limit the amount of time spent near the radiation source.

The farther away an individual is from the radiation source, the less exposure. Shielding is a barrier between an individual and the radiation.

Concrete, earth, and structures are good shields. Depending on the distance from the source, the best protection from radiation fallout may be to remain indoors.

After a nuclear disaster you may be advised to evacuate. If so, remain calm, pack your evacuation survival kit in your vehicle, and follow the evacuation routes out of the area. If there is time before leaving, close and lock windows of your house, close fireplace dampers, turn off air conditioning, vents, fans, and furnace.

Doing these things will make your house safer when you return by minimizing exposure to the inside of your house to fallout.

If you are advised to remain at home, bring pets inside, secure your house from fallout by closing and locking doors and windows, closing fireplace dampers, turning off air conditioning, vents and fans.

If your emergency supplies are stored in a garage or barn, bring them inside and, if there is time, store additional water in tubs, sinks, and available containers. Inside the house, the safest area is a basement or underground area, followed by an interior room with no windows.

Stay inside until authorities say it is safe to go outside. When coming in from the outdoors after exposure to fallout, shower and change clothes and shoes. Put the contaminated items that were worn outside in a plastic bag and seal it.

Open water sources (streams, creeks, lakes), fruits and vegetables from outdoor gardens, and livestock will all be contaminated. Do not eat or drink products from these until you know it is safe.

Bioterrorism

Very few people were actually infected in the anthrax attacks in the USA after 911 because it took direct physical contact with the bacteria to develop the disease. Other biological agents are contagious (passed from person to person), however, and are much more dangerous.

Biological agents are microorganisms (bacteria or viruses) or toxins that produce diseases in humans. The Centre For Disease Control (CDC) lists 17 biological agents that may be used as weapons, including anthrax, smallpox, plague, and botulism.

They are not immediately detectable, may take days to grow and spread, and it is impossible to know when an attack occurs. While preparations are being made for defence against such attacks, nobody really knows what to expect.

Fortunately, most of these biological agents are hard to make into weapons. Worst-case scenarios, such as suicide terrorists infected with smallpox travelling through metropolitan areas, are staggering, however.  

Thousands of victims would overwhelm medical services and die.

Likely? Hopefully not, but who knows? Those at "ground zero" who are infected will need professional medical help.

With air travel, people will spread the disease all over the country before we even know an attack occurred. 

The rest of the country will shut down as soon as authorities realize what happened.

Expect widespread closure of the country and mandatory quarantines. Transportation, food, and vital services will stop. Plan to stay at home if advised or ordered and avoid exposure with outsiders who may carry disease. 

Your stockpile of food and supplies should get you through this disaster. You may want to have some medical-type masks and gloves on hand.

Should you stockpile antibiotics in preparation for such attacks? Authorities say no and this may be practical advice. 

A large number of different types and amounts of antibiotics would need to be stored to protect your family against all likely biological weapons.

Many of the diseases are viruses, not treatable with antibiotics, and those treatable by antibiotics might be altered to make them resistant to available antibiotics. Besides, you will need professional medical care if you are exposed.

Chemical terrorism and hazardous spills

Chemical agents are gases, liquids, or solids that are poisonous to humans. Depending on the type and amount of the material, exposure to chemical agents can cause illness or be fatal.

Chemical agents include chlorine or ammonia gases that are transported on trains daily, other hazardous industrial chemicals, and chemical warfare agents, such as nerve agents, blister agents, blood poisons, and others.  

The CDC lists 58 known chemical warfare agents.

Some nerve agents, such as Sarin, used in the attack in Japan, kill quickly. If you are at "ground zero" in such situations your only chance is to evacuate immediately.

A hazardous materials spill is probably more likely than a terrorist chemical attack. For gases and other chemicals that spread in the air, evacuation to avoid exposure is critical.

Leave the area as soon as you are aware of the incident. Full face respirators (gas masks) may be useful for escape in such situations. Buy good quality, new masks designed for industrial or rescue use, not army surplus masks.

Natural disasters

Natural disasters are somewhat easier to prepare for—you either get out of their way (evacuate) or you protect yourself indoors.

In floods Sandbag doors and windows, move furniture and other items to higher ground, and evacuate if necessary. Do not drive or walk through flood waters and stay off bridges when they are covered with water.

Be prepared

Bad weather Preparation should include boarding up windows and flood-proofing your home. Bring in outside furniture, bicycles, and rubbish bins. Listen to recommendations of emergency officials and evacuate if advised. If not advised to evacuate, stay indoors and away from windows.

Blizzards Stay indoors and use the telephone only for life-threatening emergencies. Use fires safely and properly ventilate. It there is no heat, cover windows, close off un-needed rooms, and stuff towels in cracks under doors.

Wear layers of warm clothing. Eat and drink plenty. Food generates body heat and water helps circulation to keep the skin warm.

It is important to know what to do and have a plan before a disaster strikes. The internet can provide additional information for preparing for and dealing with natural disasters and terrorist attacks. 

Consider your risks, develop a plan, prepare your disaster supplies kit, and discuss with your family what to do in case of an emergency.

Remember, the future belongs to those who prepare. You must be ready before disaster strikes.
Home-Made Firestarters

I got this idea from Cindy and Greg while at the CUP Bug-Out Weekend and thought I would make my own.

These fire starters are very light and perfect for trips into the woods etc. They weigh only 1/10 of an ounce. They will burn for about ten minutes – which I think is enough to dry out all but the wettest kindling.

One very nice feature about these is they can be made using only recycled materials, so material cost is zero. Aside from the time it takes to melt the wax, you can easily make ten of them in five minutes.

I have included instructions for a longer burning version which are better when weight is not a factor.

Materials
Some corrugated cardboard, scissor, wax scraps, wick scraps or string (non synthetic) , and the usual candle making supplies will be needed.

Step 1

Since the longest part of making these is melting the wax, start wax heating in a double boiler. If you don't have dedicated candle making equipment use a coffee can place in an old pot. I use scraps from the shop, drippings, half burned candles, failed experiments, etc... for the wax.

Step 2

Prepare the cardboard by cutting into 2 inch by 7 inch strips. This is easiest with single face cardboard (corrugations are exposed on one side). If all you have is regular double face cardboard (such as from a box), then one side needs to be peeled off.

Step 3

Roll the strips up and tie with string. Then trim the string.





Step 4

Drop the cardboard rolls into the hot wax. Allow to soak for a few seconds. Remove with a wooden spoon, fork, tongs, or implement of your choice. Do not stick fingers into the hot wax. As you remove the rolls, allow the excess wax to drain back into the melting pot.

Step 5

Allow to cool.

Longer Burning Fire Starters

The following additional steps may be used to create a fire starter that burns longer, although they weigh about one ounce each.

Step 6Allow the wax to cool to 155 - 160 degrees F.

Step 7Insert wires into the ends of the rolls. This will allow you to dip them easily (they float). Dip them, alternating from one to the next, until a nice coat of wax is on each

Step 8Allow to cool. Remove the wires.

Summary
To use, just light the edge of the cardboard.



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Some Useful Tips

Knowledge is power and with that in mind here are some totally random tips that will make your lot a little easier.

Add tampons to your medical kit. These are great for absorbing blood from a wound. However, don’t actually insert it into a wound as this can end up doing more harm than good. Just hold it against the wound and apply plenty of pressure.
lighters. There’s a plethora of information on ways to start fires (matches, bow drills, fire pistons, etc). I recommend magnesium fire starters since they can’t break or be ruined by water. But don’t forget to buy a bunch of Bic lighters, too. They’re cheap and they last a long time.
Designate a common contact. This is someone that any member of your family can call and leave a message with in case you all get separated and are unable to communicate with each other directly.
Don’t attract hungry people. If there is a food shortage where people are actually starving, avoid eating things that have to be cooked and opt for foods that can be eaten right out of the tin or box. If you do cook, don’t cook with spices. You don’t want the smell of your food attracting dangerously desperate people.
Dryer lint makes great kindling. Once you get it burning, add paper, then progressively larger kindling. If the fire is weakening, add smaller shavings again.
Find alternate routes. Most cities have an official evacuation route. Study it carefully, then look for an alternate route because the official route will be too crowded.
Get all the water you can. If you get a warning that a disaster is about to occur, fill up every container you possibly can. Fill your bath, your sinks, rubbish bins, Tupperware containers, pitchers, jars, everything. Get tap and your water hose going. Don’t worry if the containers aren’t clean. You can purify the water as you need it.
Get plenty of sleep. During a crisis, it can be difficult to sleep, but it’s very important if you want to stay effective and alert. Get a sleep mask and ear plugs and sleep in shifts so you won’t have to worry about keeping an ear out. If you don’t get enough sleep, you could make a life-threatening mistake because of your fatigue.
Get some Pepto Bismol. It’s hard to function in an urban survival situation if you have an upset stomach, and dehydration is dangerous if water supplies are limited. If you haven’t yet, stock up on some extra Pepto Bismol.
Go old school. Start thinking about how people used to get along before all these modern conveniences. Next time you go to a car boot sale keep an eye out for hand push lawnmowers, hand wind mixers, manual typewriters, clothes lines, and so forth.

Grow high calorie foods. When people start their own gardens, they usually like to grow easy foods like squash, tomatoes, cabbage, and other common vegetables. The problem is that most of these don’t provide many calories. When gardening, try growing high calorie foods like nuts, beans, corn and potatoes.
Hide cash around the house. Lately everyone has been worried about price inflation. However, if there is an earthquake, hurricane, terrorist attack or some other type of temporary disaster, most ATM’s won’t work and shops may only accept cash.
Keep your freezer full. A freezer that’s completely packed will keep meat frozen for two days, but a freezer that’s half full will only keep meat for one day. If you don’t have enough food to fill your freezer, add water bottles until it’s full.
Remember to breathe. If you find yourself starting to panic, breathe in deeply for 3 seconds, hold your breath for 3 seconds, breathe out for 3 seconds, hold your breath for 3 seconds, and repeat. If you hyperventilate, you’re liable to freeze up in a dangerous situation and put yourself at risk.
Soak up the sun. Many people don’t realize this, but sunlight is incredibly good for you. It helps your body produce vitamin D which kills harmful microorganisms and strengthens your immune system. Also, if you put water in a clear bottle and leave it where the sun will shine on it for a few days (a total of 48 hours of sunlight just to be safe), your water will be purified.
Stock up on wet wipes. Proper sanitation can be a huge problem after the SHTF. Without running water, disease spreads quickly. Instead on using up your water supply to wash your hands, keep wet wipes or individually packaged alcohol wipes on hand.
Store your batteries longer. If you have batteries in something like a radio or flashlight that you won’t use until TEOTWAWKI, there’s a good chance the batteries will be dead by the time you need them. Wrap the batteries in plastic wrap before putting them in the device. This way they’ll keep their charge longer.
Take care of your feet. Make sure you have good shoes and extra socks. If your feet get wet, dry them off and keep them warm. On the other hand, if they dry out too much, use lotion or bag balm to keep them from cracking. Painful feet can ruin your morale and effectiveness.
Turn your flashlight into a lamp. You can do this by strapping the light end to a milk jug full of water. This trick helps distribute more light around the room.
Use superglue to close wounds. Although you’re probably better off using something like Dermabond, superglue can also be used in emergency. Depending on the severity of the gash, it could take several bottles. Be warned: it will sting, and some people could have an allergic reaction.

The V2 Silent Pocket Review

With the Silent Pocket® shielding technology - you can make any device undetectable.

Silent Pocket is a proprietary wireless shielding technology that is embed into sleek leather goods, such as wallets, cell phone cases and tablet sleeves.

Silent Pocket offers a comprehensive line to protect all your devices – cell phones, credit cards, passports, tablets, and computers.

And beyond basic RFID protection, they block out all signals, including cellular, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, and NFC in all frequencies.

Their unique dual-pocket design gives you the choice to go on or off the grid, all with beautiful, stylish protection in high-quality leather.

Most preppers aim for the ideal lifestyle for them, "living off grid", you know minus any dependence on the system at all.

But there is in our everyday lives another type of "off the grid living" that is available to everyone prepper or not.

Recently the news was full of stories about false mobile phone masts used to monitor anyone within their reach without that persons knowledge or permission known as “Stingray boxes”, the technology is believed to be used to track police suspects.

And if you believe that you will believe the moon is made of cheese.

They work by mimicking legitimate phone masts, connecting to all the mobiles in the vicinity, but they then pick up the international mobile subscriber number (IMSI) and electronic serial number (ESN), which can be used to give the precise location of the phone. They also allow for the interception of texts and conversations too.

Here is a link to the Mobile Phone Base Station Database You might even find a mobile phone mast that is NOT in the database????


This is a "warrantles" attack. it is snooping, it is an invasion of privicy and I am not happy about it, the question is are you?

In the old days the police and security serviced required a judge signed warrant to tap your communications, this system simply by-passes that need.

The old saying "if you have nothing to hide what is the problem" is in fact to me the problem, my private communications should be just that private.

I mean would you go into a public place and let anyone scroll through your phone contacts, or put a private conversation on speaker in a crowded area, of course not, because that is all private information.

So what can I do about it I hear you ask? the answer is very simple use a Silent Pocket and go instantly off the grid electronic wise.

With the Silent Pocket you can instantly block cellular, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, RFID,& NFC in all frequencies.

With the Silent Pocket your mobile phone cannot be tracked it as simple as that, now combine that technology with style in quality leather and you have a silent pocket.

But does it work? well the answer is a resounding YES. And very well too.

I gave a TrackR to my partner and sent her off into town. My idea was to use the TrackR to locate her and when with in a short distance to use bluetooth to locate her mobile.

The first run was simple for me as the TrackR located her in Sainsburys Cafe and the bluetooth found her mobile.

With test two I again sent her off with a TrackR but this time with a Silent Pocket too.

However this time my instructions where when I ring you put your mobile and the TrackR into the silent pocket.

The TrackR did its job and found her in the car park at Argos, so I rang her. Withing a minute the TrackR lost the signal and when I got to the car park the bluetooth did not find her mobile.

Yes Silent Pocket works and if you do not want to be spied on then get yourself a Silent Pocket you know it makes sense.

Hey Tom,

Just to let you know, we’ve added the
Woodcrafter axe and camp craft course for 2016 to our website.

This new course that Paul Kirtley ran in May this year has had great feedback from those who attended.

Paul has also been asked by quite a few Frontier customers to run the course next year and he has allocated a week in late April to do so.

The date is now live on the website and early booking is recommended. You can get your deposit paid now and the balance won’t be due until early 2016…
The Woodcrafter: Wilderness Axe Skills And Woodland Campcraft

All the best,

The Frontier Bushcraft Team
www.frontierbushcraft.com

Well good luck with that one guys so you heard it here first so bet booked guys.

Ian Coultard from the CUP weekend and the owner at Hikers Haul of Survival has a great wildfood series running on his youtube channel, Ian looks at a plant in each video and really shows you how to indentify it.


GIANT HOGWEED

Its the summer preppers and survivalists across the UK will be heading for the hills to practice their skills and to simply enjoy our countryside and it wonderful nature.

But be warned there is a very dangerous toxic plant which causes the skin to become incredibly sensitive to UV radiation in sunlight and getting its sap on your skin can result in burns, blisters and sores.

Giant hogweed was originally brought to the UK from Central Asia in 1893 and now commonly grows on riverbanks and wasteland.

If the plant’s sap is rubbed into the eyes, it can cause temporary or permanent blindness.

The NHS advises those who come in contact with the plant to cover the affected area and wash it with soap and water.

Last week reports of about half a dozen children suffering horrendous burns from the plant emerged.

A seven year old, was left with a permanent scar after her arm blistered when it touched the plant on a family walk in Clifton Country Park, Salford, Greater Manchester.

While four teenage boys suffered agonising blistering after coming into contact with giant hogweed in Moses Gate Country Park, Bolton.

Most recently a girl of 10, was building a den by a riverbank in Loch Lomond during a family holiday when she plucked the weed out of the ground and was left needing skin grafts.

THE DANGERS

Giant hogweed sap contains toxic chemicals known as photosensitising furanocoumarins, which react with light when in contact with human skin, causing blistering within 48 hours.

Effectively the toxic sap prevents the skin from protecting itself from sunlight, which can lead to very bad sunburn and scarring.

If accidentally rubbed in the eyes, the sap can cause temporary or even permanent blindness.

Anyone who comes in contact with the weed is advised to cover up the affected area, to prevent the sap reacting with sunlight, and to wash it with soap and water.
So be careful out ther
Bugging Out as a Group

The Bug Out Bag (BOB) is a tool designed to provide an individual with the tools and equipment to Survive a trip to a safe location in case of a sudden threat or disaster.
The BOB can also be referred to as a Get Out Of Dodge (GOOD) bag, 72 Hour Kit, Grab Bag or I’m Never Coming Home (INCH) bag. In my view it’s far more likely that an individual would evacuate, or be bugging out together with family members and friends than doing so alone.

The size of groups can vary but ideally groups should have four to six members. The reason why this is an ideal number is that such a group can share the basic equipment needed:
Shelter in the form of for example a tent and stove for preparing food just to name a few items. If a party consists of more than 6 people I would suggest that the group is split into smaller sub-groups that share tent and stoves.
Carrying a fully equipped BOB is hard for a single individual; a single individual can’t carry all forms of specialized equipment. A larger group allows for more specialized tools and equipment too be brought than what a single individual can carry.

The hardest questions for a Bug Out scenario is when should you bug out. What kind of circumstances should trigger such a response? Here a risk assessment can help to identify potential threats but in a real crisis situation you will always have to make decisions based upon incomplete and often contradicting information.
This will also have to be done under time pressure. It’s hard to manage and understand a crisis even for government agencies with enormous resources and a large staff.
Knowledge and research about potential threats can help you understand how previous events have unfolded and what consequences they have had. Researching different risks in the form of Man-Made and Natural Disasters that is likely to manifest in your local area can help you make better decisions based on limited information.

It’s also important that groups create routines for establishing contact if electronic communications goes down or are interrupted. Meeting points and alternative meeting points and possible routes should also be addressed.
If one group decides to evacuate, where does this group leave messages to other concerning the route taken and the people who have evacuated.The Bug-Out
A briefing before the Bug-Out is important so that all members know what the intended route is. Where should the members rally if the group members get separated? If the group is large walkie-talkies can be a useful tool for communicating between the different members of a large group especially if it’s stretched out during a Bug-Out or travelling in different vehicles.

If the party travels by foot the party should stop after 15-30 min and regulate clothing so that people don’t sweat or are getting cold.
If the members sweat too much dehydration may soon become a serious problem. When the group stops take time to adjust the packs so that they are comfortable to carry.
Make a habit of often checking that your vital equipment like your knife rests in its sheath. When a group makes a stop also make sure that all the members are present.
Never let any individual stray away alone without the group stopping, if something must be done members should always try to stay together with another individual. The pace of the party must be governed by the weakest members in the party, if members get to tired the risk of accidents and injury increases so make sure to make a short stop once per hour or after passing through rough terrain.
Checking up on the members and taking care of each other is also critical. Everything from blisters, back problems, dehydration and other problems are much easier to deal with in an early stage. It’s also important for how the social dimension of the group is working.

The party members should regularly be checking the terrain behind them; especially those how walk in the rear of the party. This is very important because it can be very hard to find the way back since the terrain looks very different going back the other way. In high risk areas it can also be important to see if anyone is following the party.

The rest of the members should also keep an eye open and be aware of the surrounding environment; it can be a good idea that different members keep attention to designated directions. By being alert the party can spot dangers, find water, shelter, eatable plants and sometimes other equipment that can be useful.
Setting Up and Breaking Camp
When a Group makes camp for the night it’s important that every member of the party helps out with the different tasks that must be done. Some of the tasks that should be done are
Raising the tent or arranging shelter.
Collecting fire wood and get a fire going in a secure location. Whenever there is fire wood available this should be used to save fuel for the stoves.
Prepare an evening meal.
Collecting and purifying water.

From the time that a party wakes up in the morning until the party has eaten breakfast, cleaned up and attended to hygiene, packed tents and are ready to leave normally takes 1-2 hours.

Advantages
A Group are likely to have more areas of expertise than a single individual.
In case that an individual get injured the others can give care or in a worst case scenario carry this individual on a stretcher.
More specialized equipment can be brought helping the group to cope with more situations.
The carrying load for each individual will be lower if a Group shares tents and stoves.
Disadvantages
Moving with a large group often takes longer time.
The Group can have members with a poor physical fitness, children and elderly or even injured people that slow the Group.
Some members are likely to have low quality equipment/clothing or be lacking some equipment.

Another important aspect is getting to know the other members of your group. Engaging in activities like hiking is an excellent way both to test equipment, routes, clothing, increase fitness, getting experience and getting to know the other members of a possible group.
What are the strength and weaknesses of the members? What skills do they possess and what skills do they lack? What skills can the different members help each other obtain?
Working out differences within the group before a real crisis is also important; a real crisis will be extremely hard both physically and emotionally for a group evacuating an area.
Latent conflict within the group may then become a big problem. Learning how to deal with conflict within a group is something that should be dealt with before an emergency.
It’s hard to know how people will react under extreme pressure, but hiking, camping and hunting trips before a real emergency will provide some opportunities to deal with these issues before. Bug Out Vehicles (BOV)
Vehicles can make it possible to travel over distances that would take weeks to travel in a matter of hours if the conditions are excellent.
A vehicle intended to be used when bugging out is often referred to as a Bug Out Vehicle or BOV. Vehicles also allow heavier equipment to be brought along.
However, during an large scale evacuation from a city or urban area roads can turn into to traffic jams that can stretch for miles where the traffic comes to stand still.
This problem may be reduced in some cases by taking roads that normally aren’t used too much but this is still not a guarantee.
In addition to cars and trucks other alternatives can be used depending on terrain like boats, mountain bikes, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles or even air planes depending on your situation and budget.Stashing
One tactic that is often thought of is the option to stash heavy equipment along possible Bug Out routes or at alternative locations like the homes of family members or friends.
Some equipment can be outstanding for wilderness life and survival, however these items are often too heavy or bulky too be carried over long distances witch make caching them a possible alternative solution.
There are of course risks involved in stashing equipment, it can be stolen or destroyed by weather just to name a few. If you have to evacuate by another route than the intended one you will be unable to take advantage of the equipment. If you are planning on using this tactic you must consider the pros and cons of different locations and methods. Example of items that can be considered
Dutch Ovens
Larger Tents with Woodstoves
Large Tarps
Heavy Duty Wool Blankets
Large Water Containers
Tools like Axes, Shovels, Hammers, Rope, Pick axe etc
Fire wood and fuel for vehicles and stoves
Equipment vs Skill and Experience
Equipment can help individuals cope with different kinds of crisis and survival situations by providing tools that makes it easier to find solutions for different kinds of problems.
Clothing and shelter provides protection from the elements; compass, map and GPS can makes navigation in un-known territories much easier; a headlamp, chemical lightstick or flashlight can provide light during nights, knives and tools like axes makes it possible to handle a number of different tasks that are almost impossible to do my hand.
Fire steel, matches and lighter makes it much easier to start a fire and so on. However, no matter how much gear you carry your physical and mental endurance, skills, knowing your local area, the will to survive, knowledge and most of all the persons next you will most likely be the crucial factors that determine if you survive or not.

Every situation, climate and setting is unique and requires specific skills and equipment to deal with it.
There is no One Size fits all when it comes to Bug Out Bags. There is a huge difference if you are putting together a kit for a desert climate, jungle, winter, arctic, wilderness or urban setting.
In most regions there are people how spend time outside as wilderness guides, military, hunter, hikers and many more. Find a local expert and take advice from the people who  know your local situation best – the people who live and spend time there.
 
Preppers will be next
My fellow preppers the times are a changing for real. Governments here and in the US are planning to curtail our liberties in the name of freedom and security and that we all know is a total con.
If they were bothered about security then our borders would not be left open to all and sundry to simply walk across.
It they were bothered about freedom then they would not be forcing GM crops on us, stopping us from growing food or from storing water, they would not be planning to take our guns away and they would not be snooping on us at every turn, would they?
I have mentioned on previous shows that it is now illegal in New Zealand and some US states to grow your own food and to sell it or give it away or to store rain water.
I also mentioned in last week’s show that the EU is now planning to make it illegal to store heirloom seeds or grow anything that is not on their list.
Most of these liberties are openly enjoyed by the general public, but my friends they are actually aimed at you the prepper and survivalist to prevent you being able to independently survive.
If a new law is passed here in the UK then anyone who criticises Sharia law or gay marriage could be branded an “extremist” under sweeping new powers planned by the Conservatives to combat terrorism.
Theresa May, the Home Secretary, unveiled plans last month for so-called Extremism Disruption Orders, which would allow judges to ban people deemed extremists from broadcasting, protesting in certain places or even posting messages on Facebook or Twitter without permission. Who does this woman think she is?
Mrs May outlined the proposal in a speech at the Tory party conference in which she spoke about the threat from the so-called Islamic State – also known as Isis and Isil – and the Nigerian Islamist movement Boko Haram.
These new orders which will be in the Conservative election manifesto, would extend to any activities that “justify hatred” against people on the grounds of religion, sexual orientation, gender or disability.
The obvious problem with this is that Leftists and Islamic supremacists constantly advance the false claim that opposition to jihad terror and Islamic supremacism is justifying hatred against people, and the Cameron government clearly endorses this view. So this law will be used to curtail any opposition to the advance of Sharia in the UK.
In the US the Government is actively seeking those who criticize government, specifically Barack Obama, and arresting them without charging them. They are remanded to mental health institutions where they are given “training” on how to view the world.
Remind you of a little book that George Orwell wrote?
It gets worse.

Most of the victims of the government’s kidnapping scheme are veterans.
In the four years since the start of Operation Vigilant Eagle, the government has steadily ramped up its campaign to “silence” dissidents, especially those with military backgrounds.
Coupled with the DHS’ dual reports on Right wing and Left wing “Extremism,” which broadly define extremists as individuals and groups “that are mainly anti-government, rejecting federal authority in favour of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely,” these tactics have boded ill for anyone seen as opposing the government.
One particularly troubling mental health label being applied to veterans and others who challenge the status quo is “oppositional defiance disorder” (ODD).
The ODD denotes that the person exhibits ‘symptoms’ such as the questioning of authority, the refusal to follow directions, stubbornness, the unwillingness to go along with the crowd, and the practice of disobeying or ignoring orders.
Persons may also receive such a label if they are considered free thinkers, nonconformists, or individuals who are suspicious of large, centralized government… At one time the accepted protocol among mental health professionals was to reserve the diagnosis of oppositional defiance disorder for children or adolescents who exhibited uncontrollable defiance toward their parents and teachers.”
The case of 26-year-old decorated Marine Brandon Raub—who was targeted because of his Facebook posts, interrogated by government agents about his views on government corruption, arrested with no warning.
Labelled mentally ill for subscribing to so-called “conspiratorial” views about the government, detained against his will in a psych ward for standing by his views, and isolated from his family, friends and attorneys—is a prime example of the government’s war on veterans.
So how many of you admit that you too have had such thoughts about the parasites in our elected houses?
OK we only have ourselves to blame as we voted for them. But they are now becoming a deadly enemy as they trample over our laws and constitutions in a mad race to their NWO.
Successive US governments have continuously chipped away at the provisions of the American Constitution to a point where it in real terms no longer exists.
Here in the UK a former Prime Minister was either black mailed because of his alleged paedophile activities or openly conned the UK into the vile EU government that now passes over 70% of our laws.
Now is the time to practice OPSEC as if they do not know what we’re doing then there is less chance of them being able to disrupt our plans.
If your laws allow you to open carry or to concealed carry, or as it is in the UK carry a non-locking pen knife with a 3” or less cutting blade then you must exercise this right as if you do not it will be removed that I can say for sure.
Surely now you can see that our elected government is following a pre-planned course of oppression against its very only population and it therefore now more than ever up to us to secure our own future and the system has no intention of helping us no matter what happens.
 

Are you Prepared to Survive
The most important part of the survival is being prepared to survive for an extended period of time whenever you leave the comforts of civilisation and the nearness of travelled roads.

Many of us either are - or will be - involved in wilderness activities of one kind or another, whether as part of your job or as recreation.

Survival preparation is just as - if not more - important when you are flying from one place to another and your flight plan takes you over untracked wilderness, deserts or snow caped mountains.

Most of the following suggestions in this section are geared towards land survival.

There are some key areas you need to be aware of in order to survive over a long period.

Yes it is true that most people who survive are rescued or find their way back to civilisation within three days of becoming lost or being injected into a survival situation through illness or accident while in the wilderness.

But - and this is what is most important to you - there are some people who have to survive for weeks or months before they return to the comforts of modern society.

If you ever have the misfortune to become one of those people, a strong background in survival knowledge and technique may just save your skin, as surely as ignorance will likely cost you your life.

There are still significant numbers of wilderness fatalities who would still be alive - if only they had learned the skills they needed to survive.

What do you need before you are really prepared for survival? A positive attitude, training and practice, and a few essential pieces of equipment.

ATTITUDE!

You need to want to survive and you need to believe that you can. Otherwise, you become too easily depressed and willing to give up the fight - and it really is a fight - against the worst that circumstances, climate, weather, terrain, natural enemies (like wild animals and mosquitos) and remoteness can throw at you.

As we sit in front of our computers – we have things pretty good, although we may be getting further and further out of shape if we spend TOO many hours here!

Things can be a whole lot different if you are faced with an airplane that will never fly again, the beginnings of a three-day blizzard, and two hundred kilometres to the nearest road, with injured companions.

Things are also a lot different if you are lost having finally figuring out that you are not where you are supposed to be - and that you haven't the foggiest idea of just where "here" is!

Think it can't happen? Ahhhh, but it does! Nearly every day...

People who spend a great deal of time in wilderness areas will probably never admit to being well and truly lost - though they may confess to having been "a bit confused for a couple of days a time or two".

A positive outlook, no matter how bad the situation, is one of the keys to keeping you alert and aware of what's going on around you. If you become depressed and give up, your chances of long-term survival decrease drastically.

Training and Practice

No matter how positive your attitude, you will not do well in a survival situation without the knowledge and skills you need to live off the land with only the barest minimum of equipment and supplies.

It takes time to gain these, and you cannot learn everything you need to know from books or websites alone, no matter how good the information or how reputable its author(s).

Your primary survival tool is your brain, and it can never be fully effective without the experience of actual survival living situations and skills practices.

There is absolutely no substitute for starting a fire in the rain without using a lighter or any matches, any more than there is a substitute for preparing food you have obtained by collecting plants or killing animals... Some of the essential tasks of survival are rather less than pleasant, but you need these skills to keep yourself and your companions alive and healthy enough to continue surviving.

Survival courses require a combination of classroom-style work and hands-on experience with the techniques and tools. While some of the training can take place during your usual meeting time, you will need at least a full outdoor weekend for the practical side of even an introductory course.

More time will be required for survival training courses that will help you build your skills to a level where you will be able to survive a majority of situations.

Your skills will also improve if you haul them out and use them frequently. You can also challenge yourself from time to time by spending a weekend with a planned survival camp.

Equipping to Survive

There really is not space enough here to tell you how to build survival kits, and doing so in this format would leave you without the training you will need to be able to effectively use the items in the kit.

However, there are a few basic principles involved in building a survival kit for yourself that I can mention to get you thinking.

Before you begin building your survival kit, you need to decide what its purpose is. Will it need to be small enough to put in your pocket, or will you be able to carry it in your backpack or a small daypack?

If it's for your pack, what will you have left over if you lose the pack in a stream crossing or through some other misadventure?

Your survival kits (the one in your pocket and the one you add to your pack) should change in content with the season.

For instance, you will need more ways of getting fires started really quickly in the winter-time than you will in the summer, when you will want to trade out some fire-starters for insect repellents.

In addition to whatever else you put in the kit, you should consider getting a miniature survival guide - one that has a good plant-identification section. While this may seem to be a trivial recommendation, there are plants that mimic each other in appearance, with one being edible, and the other, well, not...

Your best source of information for building an appropriate set of survival skills for yourself will come from a combination of good research and quality survival information.

 

Could you live the Prepper Lifestyle?

Living a prepper lifestyle is not only good for preparing for the future, but it’s a great way to live a less stressful life. Many people get tired of the rat race and long for something more calming.

A few give up their suburban lives and head for remote locations. That’s not what being a prepper is about.

Being a prepper is not about pulling yourself away from society and living like a hermit.

It’s simply living a life that doesn’t rely on the others to see you through a short term or long term disaster. While being a prepper is a great way to live, it’s really not for everyone.

So how can you tell who’s a good fit and who will absolutely hate living the life of a prepper? First, living the prepper lifestyle takes a complete commitment. The life is not for you if you think you want to dabble in it and see how it goes.

You’re either into it, or you’re not. If you’re ready to give up the way you’ve been living until now, and you’re ready to break free of the capitalistic mentality taught by society, then the lifestyle is for you.

If you know that you’re ready to walk away from being dependent on others for your needs, then this is for you. You have to believe that what you’re gaining is a better life for yourself and your family.

If you know that you’re ready to get organized and are committed to building your short term and long term list of goods and supplies, then the prepper lifestyle is something you’d find to be a good fit.

Being ready to become totally self-sufficient is a good clue that you’re ready for a life change. If you’re ready to learn about self-protection and first aid and how to take care of yourself and your family through anything, then you’re ready.

Being a prepper is not about living to the extreme the way the wacky survivalists you see portrayed on television live. It means you accept that there are things outside your control that could impact your life greatly, such as disasters, government collapse, etc. – and you want to be ready for whatever comes.

That’s when you know you’re ready for the prepper lifestyle. But not everyone who thinks they are, actually is ready.

If you’re in a relationship and your partner is dead-set against it, hates it, wants no part of it, you’re not ready if you don’t want to risk ruining the relationship.

You’re not ready if there are certain things in your life that you feel you absolutely can’t give up – such as a daily trip to the local pub or that expensive cup of coffee.

You’re not ready and the lifestyle is not for you if you set aside money for supplies but then spend it on going out to eat or shopping for a new pair of shoes or the latest video game.

You’re not ready if you have a deep attachment to the conveniences of life and rely too heavily on technology. You can’t imagine your life without modern technology is a sign you’re not ready.

If you have an unwillingness to learn how to prepare for the future or aren’t interested in sustainable living, then you’re not ready for the prepper lifestyle.

But most people can I think see a day when the worst case scenario happens, and if it happens to you, you’ll have to deal with it – ready or not.

 


 
Organizing your every Day Carry
Having a proper every day carry (EDC) setup is one of the most important things you can do to be prepared, well, every day.


While you can get separated from your bug out bag and might not be able to get home quickly, your everyday carry is always on you to help you survive and get things done.


I have covered some basics on the best every day carry setup before, but that’s really only useful if you’re starting from scratch.


If you just want to fine-tune your EDC however, there isn’t a lot out there to help. Lucky for you, I have compiled a list of five ways to fine-tune your EDC setup so it’s more useful and always at hand.


When starting out with every day carry items, it’s common to start with things that go in your pockets. This is great until you run out of room and your EDC makes you uncomfortable.


Once you’ve got some EDC experience, try moving to other locations on your body for keeping items. The most common upgrade is moving to your belt.


By keeping your knife or multi-tool on your belt along with other small items, you can free up space in your pockets while keeping everything you need on you.


You don’t have to go crazy here and have a belt that would rival an SAS Trooper, but simply keeping your knife, fire starter, and multi tool on your belt can give you a lot more space than you had before. Moving past your belt, think about your trousers and shirts with additional pockets that can hold items, too. By spreading your EDC out over your entire body, you ease the burden and make it far more comfortable.


Weight vs. Usefulness


If you’ve had an EDC setup for some time now you probably realize that not everything that you think is vitally important really is. It’s easy to go overboard and fill your pockets with things you MIGHT use at some point.


If you’re feeling weighed down by your EDC it might be time to take inventory of what you’re carrying and see if the weight of each item is really worth it.


For example, you might carry a small water filter straw with you in a cargo pocket, but you could lighten the load by using a small pill container with some water purification tablets in it.


Another weight-saving idea is the use of a small LED light instead of a standard torch/flashlight.


While the torch/flashlight is better, the keychain light can free up space for other more important items.


KISS


If you only follow one tip in this list, make it this one. KISS stands for Keep It Simple, Stupid. Don’t overthink your EDC setup by trying to plan for every possible scenario. Your EDC is meant to give you a leg up on everyone else, not to be a mini bug out bag.


Keep things simple and don’t stress out about it. Keep the essentials like a source of fire, a knife, a multi-tool, watch, and a weapon if you’re able to.


Beyond this just include items that make you feel safe and comfortable without trying to plan out scenarios. Trust me, even the most basic EDC setup is far more than the average person has.


Less is Sometimes More


Having an elaborate every day carry setup is great, until it’s so elaborate that you stop using it. The idea of an EDC is to have it with you every day.


If it takes 15 minutes to load yourself up chances are you’ll leave the house from time to time without it, and that’s not good at all.


It’s often better to have less items with you that you carry all the time than a lot of items that you only carry every now and then.


Think about what you need and ask yourself what would happen if the SHTF and you didn’t have the item in question? Would it make a difference? If not, ditch it and free that space up for something else.


The less items you have the less chance you have at forgetting something or losing something, and that means the pieces you do use are more valuable and overall better.


Trial and Error


Finally, don’t be afraid to change things. I have talked about changing your EDC for colder weather, but you can make changes to it every day if that suits you.


Try items out and if they don’t work, ditch them and find something new. Don’t put up with pieces in your EDC that you’re not in love with.


These are things you have with you 24/7, so you better love them or else you’ll hate carrying them.


Try a few setups out to see how they work and if you like them or not. Try your knife in a front pocket, back pocket, belt…try it all.


You won’t know what you really like unless you try a few different ways.
Avoiding Civil Unrest

Civil Unrest has occurred in pockets across the country over the past few years and is perhaps one of the more likely scenarios that could adversely affect us in the future.  

It’s possible that we could see more protests and riots like those organized in Ferguson, here in the UK.

We only have to look back to the Mark Dugon incident   Other widespread civil unrest could be caused by financial inequities or collapse, food shortages, loss of confidence in government, or storms that leave people homeless.

Or at least that is our perception, I however am aware of under hand police tactics used to infiltrate groups of peaceful protesters and stepping the level of protest up to and including violence, therefore justifying the police taking action to disperse what was planned to be a peaceful law abiding protest.

Of course there is always the chance of peaceful protests turning violent because of outside agitators that flock to any event where they think they can run amok.  These anarchists are the cause of much of the violence we see on TV at what would otherwise be peaceful protests.

While civil unrest is something that can strike any part of the country it is perhaps the most straightforward to avoid.  In the past we have seen civil unrest in large or even medium sized cities but it has not spread to the suburbs.  On a few occasions there may have been minor fights between picketers in small towns but nothing like we saw in London or the Bradford riots.
So how exactly do you avoid getting swept up in any type of civil unrest?  Having lived in Northern Ireland during the height of the troubles I can saw that I have seen many street riots but avoided many, many more by simply staying away from their location, going around it or putting of traveling that day until things had calmed down.
Remember in an emergency, population density is your enemy.
Secondly, keep an eye on the local and national news.  Civil unrest occurs most commonly from a planned protest or event.  If you hear there will be picketing, protests, or even a “peaceful march” in a particular location you should avoid those areas completely.  
If you were planning on going into the city for a business meeting or to shop simply reschedule it for another day or better location outside the city.  Simply staying away from locations that are likely to flare up with protests is not difficult.  Avoiding flash flooding for example that’s bearing down on you is much tougher to do…
If for some reason you find yourself in a place that is quickly becoming a hot spot you should leave the area immediately and by any means possible.  If that means leaving a car behind and walking out to a safer spot then that may be the way to go.  Don’t think that vehicle glass offers you any kind of defence.  A heavy tool or large rock makes quick work of it.
There is always the possibility that civil unrest could become more widespread than it has in the past.  If that is the case you should have plans in place to fortify your home I recommend using the plywood you should have stored in your garage and covering up any vulnerable windows.  The use of firearms in a situation like this is something that needs to be carefully considered and researched. As any use of “weapons” is your choice and you will have to justify your actions at a later date.
Personally I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
So, while there are many disaster scenarios that we can do very little to avoid (although we can still prep and plan for them) civil unrest is one situation that with good situational awareness we can avoid altogether.

Do we really need to prep?

Quite often our detractors will counter our preparedness plans with the age old argument, you are wasting your time if it happens we will all be dead, well I say what if? What if you did not die what would you do then, how could you survive?

VIOLENT solar super storms could destroy life as we know it at ANY MOMENT, shocked scientists have warned today.

It is “only a matter of time” before a catastrophic eruption on the surface of the sun hurtles towards the planet with devastating consequences.

The Earth could be the target of an explosion equivalent to “10 billion Hiroshima bombs exploding at the same time”.

It has emerged crisis meetings have been held to discuss how to limit the damage of solar super storms which present a “long-lasting” threat to all forms of life.

Scientists warn communication systems will be crippled, vital services such as transport, sanitation and medicine will close, and loss of power will plunge the planet into darkness.

Without power, people would struggle to fuel their cars at petrol stations, get money from cash dispensers or pay online.
Water and sewage systems would be affected too, meaning that health epidemics in urbanised areas would quickly take a grip, with diseases we thought we had left behind centuries ago soon returning.
The warning comes as Britain is experiencing one of the hottest summers on record. Scientists have warned of "highly unusual activity" on the surface of the sun which has already sent smaller solar flares spiralling towards earth.
Solar storms are triggered when coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun tear into the earth’s magnetic field ripping it apart.
This triggers huge surges of electrical currents which lead to widespread power outages and destroy machinery which use electricity.
So judging by the law of averages I would say it is only a “matter of time” before a violent solar storm smashes into Earth.
Our planet is in fact facing a repeat of the devastating solar super storm of 1859 - dubbed the Carrington Event after English astronomer Richard Carrington.
Carrington spotted a solar flare before terrifying fireballs hurtled across the atmosphere making people think it was the end of the world.
Its impact on civilised life was relatively small as there was less reliance on electronics, a similar event now would be nothing short of catastrophic.
We must realise these super storms are large enough to cause serious damage and they happen quite often relatively speaking.
It is only now, when we are so dependent on technology that we are so vulnerable, and one is overdue by about five years.
NASA scientists say a Carrington-level event happens every 150 years with the next one currently five years overdue.
The likelihood of one occurring in the next decade is as high as 12 per cent, they added.
DOOMSDAY WARNING the World will end in the next SEVEN YEARS, warns terrifying prophecy
Floods, earthquakes and deadly plagues will finish all humanity and the civilised world as we know it.
The horrifying forecast is being made by some Christian groups who predict the “Rapture” phenomenon will bring about a global Apocalypse before 2021.
Traced back to ancient Biblical texts, believers claim warnings of the impending Armageddon also signal the second coming of Jesus.
They say similar events have been charted in ancient history including the Biblical Flood of 2,348 BC, told in Genesis, and the Three Plagues of Egypt.
Though dismissed by some, others insist such calamitous theories are true and warn the impending catastrophe will destroy the planet.
Dr F. Kenton Beshore, President of the World Bible Society, says the "Rapture" is likely to occur between now and 2021 before the Second Coming between 2018 and 2028.
So there you have it two reasons why you must prep.

What to do when you bring the bacon home?

As good as mass-produced bacon is, curing and smoking your own at home kicks things up to a whole new level.

Once you master the technique, the flavour options are endless. Like your bacon with a kick? Bump up the red or chilli powder.

Like it sweeter? Try extra honey, brown sugar, real maple syrup or sorghum or molasses or treacle in your cure.

While the curing process takes some time, the recipe itself is a simple one. Any smoker will work, but electric models make it easier to maintain the necessary low smoking temperatures needed to get the bacon just right. Wood choices can be as varied as you want them to be, but hickory and apple are the two most popular. 

Curing bacon at home is so simple that the hardest part of the whole process can be procuring the pork belly itself.

Bacon made from wild pigs is a bit leaner than its store bought cousin, but it tastes pretty good.

Prep Time

7-9 days
Cook Time
6-8 hours on the smoker
Ingredients
A whole pork belly from the butcher shop normally runs around 10-12 pounds.  A belly from an adult wild pig around 4-6.  The following recipe is enough cure for 5-6 pounds, if you buy a whole pork belly, just separate it into two, more or less equal, pieces.
5 pound piece of pork belly, skin on or off, your choice
1.5 teaspoons pink salt (cure also known as Prague Powder number one, available on the internet at around £4 for 250g)
1/2 cup Maldon salt
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup sorghum molasses, if you can’t find that then use molasses or treacle
1 Tablespoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 gallon Ziplock bag
Cooking Instructions
Begin by mixing all dry ingredients into a small bowl. Rub the cure into the exposed surfaces of the pork. Really work it in, make sure the belly is well coated with the cure. Place the pork into a two gallon Ziplock bag and pour sorghum over the top of the meat (honey works well too) and seal the bag. Place the belly flat into a pyrex dish (the bag will leak a little, they always do) and put it in the fridge. Flip the pork once per day for 7 to 10 days.
I often get asked, "How do I know when it is finished curing?" The answer is, when it tastes right to you. After day seven or eight, open the bag and slice a tiny sliver from one side.
Rinse it well under cold water and fry it like you would bacon. If you like the flavour, it is finished. If you would like the salt and spice to be a bit stronger, let it soak another day or two. Remember that the outer surface is always quite a bit saltier than the inner slices will be.
Now that the bacon is fully cured, remove it from the bag and rinse thoroughly under running water. The next step is to let the bacon dry completely to form a sticky pellicle.
I prefer to do this by placing the bacon on a wire cooling rack and running a low speed fan over it for six to eight hours. 
Your bacon is now ready for the smoker. A good remote meat thermometer comes in handy at this point.  
I like to start my smoker at 175 degrees.  Maintain this temperature for 3-4 hours then bump it up to 200 degrees to finish.
You are looking for an internal temperature of 150 degrees on the pork belly. Once you reach this point, the bacon is finished. Remove from the smoker and let the bacon cool completely before slicing.
I like to let mine come to room temperature, then place it into the freezer for an hour or two. The freezer helps to firm the bacon and makes slicing easier. 
The fastest way to slice bacon is on a deli style meat slicer. A good sharp knife works too. Cured bacon will keep up to a year when vacuum sealed and kept in the freezer.  
Use your homemade bacon just like you would bacon you buy from the supermarket. It makes a fine breakfast, wraps nicely around a pigeon breast or chunk of deer or steak, and seasons a pot of campfire baked beans like nothing else. After you get the basic recipe down, try flavours to make your own perfect blend.

Thinking of Bugging-out?

I am always thinking about what I would do if I needed to bug out. I am continually re-drawing my bug-out plan as, as you know I plan to bug-in unless ordered or forced to bug-out.

I now live in a semi-rural area but to be honest in a SHTF scenario I’m not so sure I am far enough away from expected hungry looting hordes.

The following considerations for a bug out location are based on my location and what I am currently thinking about to make the best decision possible for me and my family. Your circumstances will be a different, but the basics of picking a bug out location stay the same.

Of course, let’s be honest bugging out could potentially be something we all need to do, and picking a good bug out location requires thought and planning.

As you begin you’re planning for a perfect and safe bug out location there are a number of different factors to keep in mind like distance, location, finances, accessibility and many more.

Without the proper planning you could find yourself with a bug out location that is inaccessible during a SHTF situation or a location that is ill equipped to sustain you and your family for any given period of time.

Knowing how and when to bug out is great, but if you have nowhere to go you might as well stay put. There is no reason to leave one dangerous situation and then put yourself into a situation that you are not properly prepared to handle.

This is why we preppers prepare. This is why survival skills and educating ourselves is just as important as stockpiling food and water, if this stuff runs out, we need to be able to get more, and having a good bug out location could help us do that.

Here are a few things to take into consideration when you are looking for a good bug out location, and keep in mind, your situation will be different than mine.
Location
Picking a location to bug out to is important for not only security, but self-sufficiency as well. The way you prepare will be different for bugging out to the mountains than it will be for bugging out to a low land area.
In a mountain area you have more natural resources available and more possibility’s available when it comes to defences, but you also need to have wilderness survival skills, especially because of those now wild and roving packs of ex K9 pets, wild boar and even farm livestock that could possibly also be hungry and thirsty.
These animals could be a great food source, or you could be a great food source for them.
In the low lying areas you will have less cover and concealment so it’s probably a good idea to get as far away from other people and main roads as you can. There will be less wildlife in the low lying areas and less trees for building and fire wood, but one benefit could be that you would have more options when it comes to farming as long as you have a good water supply.
How Will You Get There?
Getting to your bug out location will be just as important as having one in the first place. When choosing a location have at least 3 different routes you can take to get there. Another rule of thumb is to pick a location that is within one tank of fuel, you won’t be able to stop to re-fill if the power is off and you probably wouldn’t want to anyway.
Pick routes that will not lead you through hot spots or danger zones, avoid populated areas.
How Long Do You Plan on Staying?
How long will your location sustain you and your family? Purchasing an empty plot of land and continually building up your resources and defences is a low cost way to take a bug out location that you could survive at for a week or two, to a location that you could survive for many months or indefinitely.
If you plan on staying at your BOL long term, self-defence and self-sufficiency will become more and more important, your supplies will eventually run out and someone will inevitably cross your path.
Living Off the Land – Survival Skills
Unless you are Lofty Wiseman or old framer bill you are probably not going to be able to live off the land. Everyone knows the basics of gardening or hunting, but these are skills that take years of practice, you could very well starve because the animals you weren’t able to kill ate all your crops.
Seriously though, you will need skills to supplement your food supply, but you need to have food stored while you develop your skills.
Does the land you plan on bugging out to have the natural resources you need? What you are able to hunt and grow will need to be a factor when you supply your bug out location. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself.
What wildlife lives in this area?
Is the soil fertile enough for gardening?
What crops can I grow?
Is there water nearby for farming?
Will I be able to have livestock?
Is There a Natural Source of Water Nearby?
As usual water is the most important part, without a natural water supply nearby you will probably find yourself heading off to find water, and putting yourself in danger. A container or water storage is OK, but at some point you will need a well, river or some other natural water source nearby.
Building some sort of water catchment and water storage is also a good idea to add to your supply.
Weather
Weather will play a role in how you prepare also. In the Scottish Highlands or near me on the North Yorkshire Moors you must take winter into account. You will need to be able to survive for at least 3 months without any food source other than what you have stored.
Plan for severe weather, floods, blizzards, natural disasters or even manmade disasters which could really mess with your survival plans.
Make sure and take your local weather into account when you are thinking about a bug out location.
How warm will your shelter be in the winter?
Will your crops or shelter be damaged by flooding?
Is your shelter strong enough to withstand strong winds?
Do you have supplies to get you through any severe weather?
Protection – Geographic Camouflage
Protection is not just guns and ammo, protection begins at your perimeter. As I said earlier, mountain areas offer more protection and natural camouflage but require more survival skills, flat lands will require you to be further off the beaten track and have more ingenuity like building underground or other camouflage.
How hidden is your bug out location?
How easily can someone find your location?
How easy would it be for someone take what you have?
How will you defend your location?
Shelter
We all need shelter to survive and withstand the elements. Shelter is also important for avoiding extreme temperatures that could ruin your stored supplies.
There is more to shelter than just putting a roof on some walls. There are many options available when it comes to shelter that don’t require you to be an architect or construction worker, here are some examples.
Shipping containers
Underground shelter
Trailer home or mobile home.
A log cabin or even a teepee
This is just a few ideas, but if you use your imagination you can come up with some unique ideas based on your situation, and sometimes the more unique, the less likely people will see it as “shelter” or “storage”
Population
Population should be a consideration not only for where your bug out location is, but you should also take into account the population along the way to your bug out location.
Always have at least three routes to your location, you never know if one of your routes will be impassable because of riots, traffic or infrastructure damage.
This is a big choice I have to a make, do I go west through? Or do I go further east? I would feel more comfortable going east towards the coast, but before I choose that I need to see if there are a few safe routes I can take that don’t lead me through any populated areas.
Who’s coming?
Who else do you expect at your bug out location in the future? It’s never a good idea to tell everyone about your plans, but you might have a few family members that you will want to help in the future.
If you are prepping and stockpiling supplies for 5 people, make sure you take into account that if someone else comes into the picture you are going to go through your supplies more quickly.
Having more people with you could potentially help with building, farming and hunting, but it will also require more supplies so it’s always good to have a little extra just in case.
So I suggest you get planning.

Prepared for Disaster

Are you prepared for a disaster that could affect the daily function of your life or the lives of your family members? Or do you even believe a disaster will ever affect you?

Blizzards, floods, power cuts, and who knows what else happens all the time. Still, most of us ignore the warnings. "It can't happen here," some say. "The government will take care of me if it does," others think.

But not only do they happen, they can happen to you. And when they do, you will be on your own. The recent UK flooding events have proved this. Look at the total disruption of transportation when it snows for example. 

This was followed by the immediate and complete paralysis of air transportation at major international airports. Thousands were stranded for days on their own in strange cities.

As serious as these events were, they pale in comparison to the possibilities. Consider a major biological or nuclear attack or accident. Hundreds of thousands of casualties are predicted in some scenarios.

These disasters or attacks would overwhelm local, regional, and national emergency resources and cause widespread panic. Transportation would stop, markets would be stripped of food within hours, essential emergency services would be overwhelmed, and food, medical supplies, and emergency service workers would be sent to the disaster area, leaving critical shortages in local areas.

Are you prepared?

Now, more than ever, you need to prepare for the possibility of disasters or attacks on a scale and type never before imagined. It is your duty to yourself, your family, and your country to be prepared.

Some of us need to be prepared for being at "ground zero." Certain areas are the most likely direct targets of terrorists or natural disasters. All of us need to be prepared to be indirect targets, those affected by the temporary collapse of our nation's infrastructure.

In short, we all need to be able to live self-sufficiently for a period of time.
What to prepare for will depend on your geographical area. Natural disasters and the risk of major terrorist attacks vary by where you live. The first thing you need to do is make a list of the possible disasters for which you need to prepare.
Some of the things you will want to consider include natural disasters, such as blizzards, floods, and even wild fires, as well as technological disasters, such as nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) attacks, and hazardous material accidents.
Don't forget cyber-attacks, the possibility that an enemy could attack our computer systems, shutting down electrical, gas, communications, transportation, and emergency and medical services. What about attacks on our farms and agricultural processing plants? While they would likely affect only a small number of people directly, they would completely shut down food production and distribution systems.
While there are many things to plan for, your response to all of them is one of two things: stay at home or evacuate. For blizzards, earthquakes, cyber-attacks, nuclear fallout, quarantine after biological attacks, and collapse of the infrastructure, you will want to stay at home. 
For floods, hurricanes, or with some advance notice of NBC attacks, evacuation may be your course of action.
Whenever possible, staying at home in your own environment and with your own emergency supplies is the best choice. 
When you evacuate, you are essentially a refugee at the mercy of government evacuation centres or the compassion of the local population.
In a major disaster, don't expect to be welcomed by the locals who are struggling with their own survival.
In all situations, you will need to be able to think for yourself. Confusion always accompanies a major disaster and initial information and instructions may be conflicting and incorrect.
So, monitor the radio and television for official instructions on what to do, such as whether to evacuate or not, but don't assume they are correct. Make your own decisions based on your plans and preparation.
Bugging-in
Key to your survival is preparing a disaster supplies kit, essentially the stockpiling of all materials that you would need to live on if you are cut off from outside utilities, water, and supplies. Once a disaster occurs, there won't be time and materials may not be available.
How long you will need to be self-sufficient is hard to say. My advice would be that everyone store enough food, water, and supplies to take care of their family for three days.
Preparing a "72-hour kit" is a good idea. It can be used for immediate evacuation and part of your overall disaster supply kit. Place items in a portable, easy-to-carry container, such as a large plastic box or duffel bag, ready to grab at a moment's notice.
But, is it enough? A blizzard, earthquake, quarantine, or nuclear fallout could confine you for much longer. You need to be able to take care of all the needs for your family for a period of at least two weeks and possibly longer. 
Having supplies for one to three months is not all that unreasonable or hard to accomplish.
There are six basics that should be part of your home disaster supplies kit: water, food, first aid supplies, tools and emergency supplies, clothing and bedding, and special needs items.
Tools and emergency supplies Tools and emergency supplies should include such things as battery-operated radio and flashlights with extra batteries, cups/plates/utensils, non-electric can opener, matches, lantern, fire extinguisher, hand tools for repairs and to turn off household water and gas, a whistle, and plastic sheeting. 
For sanitation, include toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, personal hygiene items, disinfectant, and household chlorine bleach. Many more items can be added. 
Think through the things you use on a daily basis.
Clothing and bedding Clothing and bedding would include a change of clothing and footwear for everyone in the household, rain gear, cold weather clothes, hat and gloves, and blankets or sleeping bags. Remember, a house or car can get very cold without heat. 
Prepare for the worst weather that you might encounter.
Store your disaster supply kit in a convenient place that is known to all family members and make sure they know your family's disaster plan. Evaluate your kit once a year and update it according to family needs.
Evacuation
You may not have much time to prepare when you need to evacuate. A hazardous materials spill could mean instant evacuation, so always have a smaller version of your home disaster supply kit in the boot of your car.
When you have advance warning of an evacuation, bring your portable "72-hour" disaster supply kit, along with additional food, water, and clothing. Keep important family documents in a waterproof, portable container, ready to bring with you in an evacuation.
These may include your will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds, passports, social security card, bank and credit account numbers, family documents (birth, marriage, and death certificates), inventory of valuable household items, and important telephone numbers.
It would be a good idea to always keep some cash in this container, so you have it for an emergency. If there is time, valuable family heirlooms or photographs can be added.
Now that you have a basic plan for any emergency, let's consider plans for some specific risks.
Nuclear attack/accident
A nuclear disaster could result from an accident at a nuclear power plant, a detonation of a nuclear device by terrorists or a rogue nation, or an explosion of a "dirty" bomb, an explosive surrounded by radioactive material. Individuals at "ground zero" will have little chance of survival.  
The risk for others is the exposure to radiation.
Radiation is dangerous because of harmful effects on the body. In large amounts, radiation can cause radiation sickness, thyroid and other cancers, and death.
These effects are greater the longer a person is exposed to the radiation and the closer the person is to the source. If radiation is released into the atmosphere, it can travel for thousands of miles, contaminating the ground and living organisms as it settles back to earth on dust or rain.  
This is called fallout radiation.
Time, distance, and shielding are the factors that minimize exposure to nuclear radiation. Most radiation loses its strength fairly rapidly, but it is important to limit the amount of time spent near the radiation source.
The farther away an individual is from the radiation source, the less exposure. Shielding is a barrier between an individual and the radiation.
Concrete, earth, and structures are good shields. Depending on the distance from the source, the best protection from radiation fallout may be to remain indoors.
After a nuclear disaster you may be advised to evacuate. If so, remain calm, pack your evacuation survival kit in your vehicle, and follow the evacuation routes out of the area. If there is time before leaving, close and lock windows of your house, close fireplace dampers, turn off air conditioning, vents, fans, and furnace.
Doing these things will make your house safer when you return by minimizing exposure to the inside of your house to fallout.
If you are advised to remain at home, bring pets inside, secure your house from fallout by closing and locking doors and windows, closing fireplace dampers, turning off air conditioning, vents and fans.
If your emergency supplies are stored in a garage or barn, bring them inside and, if there is time, store additional water in tubs, sinks, and available containers. Inside the house, the safest area is a basement or underground area, followed by an interior room with no windows.
Stay inside until authorities say it is safe to go outside. When coming in from the outdoors after exposure to fallout, shower and change clothes and shoes. Put the contaminated items that were worn outside in a plastic bag and seal it.
Open water sources (streams, creeks and lakes), fruits and vegetables from outdoor gardens, and livestock will all be contaminated. Do not eat or drink products from these until you know it is safe.
Bioterrorism
Very few people were actually infected in the anthrax attacks in the USA after 911 because it took direct physical contact with the bacteria to develop the disease. Other biological agents are contagious (passed from person to person), however, and are much more dangerous.
Biological agents are microorganisms (bacteria or viruses) or toxins that produce diseases in humans. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) lists 17 biological agents that may be used as weapons, including anthrax, smallpox, plague, and botulism. They are not immediately detectable, may take days to grow and spread, and it is impossible to know when an attack occurs. While preparations are being made for defence against such attacks, nobody really knows what to expect.
Fortunately, most of these biological agents are hard to make into weapons. Worst-case scenarios, such as suicide terrorists infected with smallpox traveling through metropolitan areas, are staggering, however.  
Thousands of victims would overwhelm medical services and die.
Likely? Hopefully not, but who knows? Those at "ground zero" who are infected will need professional medical help.
With air travel, people will spread the disease all over the country before we even know an attack occurred. The rest of the country will shut down as soon as authorities realize what happened.
Expect widespread closure of the country and mandatory quarantines. Transportation, food, and vital services will stop. Plan to stay at home if advised or ordered and avoid exposure with outsiders who may carry disease. 
Your stockpile of food and supplies should get you through this disaster. You may want to have some medical-type masks and gloves on hand.
Should you stockpile antibiotics in preparation for such attacks? Authorities say no and this may be practical advice. 
A large number of different types and amounts of antibiotics would need to be stored to protect your family against all likely biological weapons.
Many of the diseases are viruses, not treatable with antibiotics, and those treatable by antibiotics might be altered to make them resistant to available antibiotics. Besides, you will need professional medical care if you are exposed.
Chemical terrorism and hazardous spills
Chemical agents are gases, liquids, or solids that are poisonous to humans. Depending on the type and amount of the material, exposure to chemical agents can cause illness or be fatal.
Chemical agents include chlorine or ammonia gases that are transported on trains daily, other hazardous industrial chemicals, and chemical warfare agents, such as nerve agents, blister agents, blood poisons, and others.  
The CDC lists 58 known chemical warfare agents.
Some nerve agents, such as Sarin, used in the attack in Japan, kill quickly. If you are at "ground zero" in such situations your only chance is to evacuate immediately.
A hazardous materials spill is probably more likely than a terrorist chemical attack. For gases and other chemicals that spread in the air, evacuation to avoid exposure is critical.
Leave the area as soon as you are aware of the incident. Full face respirators (gas masks) may be useful for escape in such situations. Buy good quality, new masks designed for industrial or rescue use, not army surplus masks.
Natural disasters
Natural disasters are somewhat easier to prepare for—you either get out of their way (evacuate) or you protect yourself indoors.
In floods Sandbag doors and windows, move furniture and other items to higher ground, and evacuate if necessary. Do not drive or walk through flood waters and stay off bridges when they are covered with water.
Be prepared
Bad weather Preparation should include boarding up windows and flood-proofing your home. Bring in outside furniture, bicycles, and rubbish bins. Listen to recommendations of emergency officials and evacuate if advised. If not advised to evacuate, stay indoors and away from windows.
Blizzards Stay indoors and use the telephone only for life-threatening emergencies. Use fires safely and properly ventilate. It there is no heat, cover windows, close off un-needed rooms, and stuff towels in cracks under doors.
Wear layers of warm clothing. Eat and drink plenty. Food generates body heat and water helps circulation to keep the skin warm.
It is important to know what to do and have a plan before a disaster strikes. The internet can provide additional information for preparing for and dealing with natural disasters and terrorist attacks. 
Consider your risks, develop a plan, prepare your disaster supplies kit, and discuss with your family what to do in case of an emergency.
Remember, the future belongs to those who prepare. You must be ready before disaster strikes.


Emergency Essentials
Even though emergency situations don't happen very often, when they do, they impact our lives to a great extent. To minimize or eliminate the negative effects of a certain emergency, you need to be prepared and have the emergency essentials, in terms of knowledge, food, water, shelter, and an escape plan.
When disaster strikes, we are caught by surprise and usually unprepared. But emergencies sometimes have a similar pattern and cause the same problem even if they're different in nature, therefore the steps to prepare for them is the same, for example stocking food and water are steps that can help you in most national emergencies, and that's what we will discuss now.
Imagine there is an emergency in your city, or country, people will scramble to the shops, there will be a panic, looting, and so on will result, if you still decide to go to the store, you will find empty shelves or even closed shops. Wouldn't it be better if when there is such an emergency, you sit with your family, and use the food and water you have stored? You bet it would be.
As you stock food, take into account your family’s unique needs. Try to include foods that they will enjoy and that are also high in calories and nutrition. Foods that require no refrigeration, water, special preparation, or cooking are best. Take into consideration individuals with special diets and allergies such as babies and the ill. Make sure you have a manual can opener and disposable utensils. Don’t forget non-perishable foods for your pets.
Keep food in a dry, cool dark area if possible.
Open food boxes and other re-sealable containers carefully so that you can close them tightly after each use.
Wrap perishable foods, such as cookies and crackers, in plastic bags and keep them in sealed containers.
Empty open packages of sugar, dried fruits, and nuts into screw-top jars or air-tight canisters for protection from pests.
Inspect all food for signs of spoilage before use.
Throw out canned goods that become swollen, dented, expired, or corroded.
Use foods before they go bad, and replace them with fresh supplies, dated with ink or marker. Place new items at the back of the storage area and older ones in front.
The following list shows the rough expiration dates of many types of food. So make sure to replace the easily perishable food more often.
You should use the following within six months:
Powdered milk - boxed
Dry, crisp crackers
Potatoes
These foods should be used within one year, or before the date indicated on the label:
Canned condensed meat and vegetable soups
Canned fruits, fruit juices, and vegetables
Ready-to-eat cereals and uncooked instant cereals
Peanut butter
Jelly
Hard candy and canned nuts
Vitamins
These foods however may be stored indefinitely (in proper containers and conditions):
Wheat
Vegetable oils
Dried corn
Baking powder
Soybeans
Instant coffee, tea, and cocoa
Salt
Noncarbonated soft drinks
White rice
Bouillon products
Dry pasta
Honey
Powdered milk – in nitrogen-packed cans
Having an ample supply of clean water is a top priority in an emergency. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts (half gallon) of water each day. People in hot environments, children, nursing mothers, and ill people will require even more. You will also need water for food preparation and hygiene.
Store at least one gallon per person, per day. Consider storing at least a two-week supply of water for each member of your family. If you are unable to store this quantity, store as much as you can. If supplies run low, never ration water. Drink the amount you need today, and try to find more for tomorrow. You can minimize the amount of water your body needs by reducing activity and staying cool.
If there is an emergency, and you used up all the water you stocked in your home, try the following. Safe water sources in your home include the water in your hot- water tank, pipes, and ice cubes. You should not use water from toilet flush tanks or bowls, radiators, waterbeds, or swimming pools/spas.
You will need to protect the water sources already in your home from contamination if you hear reports of broken water or sewage pipes, or if local officials advise you of a problem. To shut off incoming water, locate the main valve and turn it to the closed position. Be sure you and other family members know beforehand how to perform this important procedure.
To use the water in your pipes, let air into the plumbing by turning on the tap in your home at the highest level. A small amount of water will trickle out. Then obtain water from the lowest tap in the home.
To use the water in your hot-water tank, be sure the electricity or gas is off, and open the drain at the bottom of the tank. Start the water flowing by turning off the water intake valve at the tank and turning on a hot-water tap. Refill the tank before turning the gas or electricity back on. If the gas is turned off, a professional will be needed to turn it back on.


Disaster Activity Children’s Kit
This year saw some bad weather and massive floods here in the UK and around the world we have seen earthquakes, extreme heat, landslides, tsunamis, blizzards and tornadoes which have forced thousands of families to flee their homes.  
Children account for many of the victims displaced.
Parents can help a child get through the long days that follow a natural disaster with an activity survival kit. What are the benefits of a disaster activity survival kit? What are a few suggested items that can reduce stress and help a child cope with the disaster? 
What items should not be taken to an evacuation shelter?
Kids and teens find it hard to camp out in a survival shelter for very long. Some people have to wait for days or weeks after a flood or other weather disaster has passed before they can safely return home. 
A disaster survival kit can help keep a child (or teen) occupied for much of the waiting time. Let the child help pack his kit; older children and teens can pack their own. 
Keeping the kit packed and ready-to-go saves valuable time in the event the family has to evacuate on short notice.
The most obvious reason for having a disaster activity survival kit for each child is to stave off boredom. Here are some other good reasons for building a kid's survival kit?
The child who builds or helps to build his disaster survival kit gets a sense of understanding and control in disaster planning.
Familiar, favourite items on hand will give comfort and hopefully keep stress and anxiety levels manageable in strange surroundings during a disaster crisis.
Items (such as drawing and colouring sets) gives the child an alternative way to vent feelings and fears about the disaster.
Items that make up a child's disaster survival kit depend on the child's age and personal preferences. 
Consider too, where the family is going to be staying for the next few days or longer. Use a backpack or duffel bag to hold a child's survival kit items.
What items are recommended for a child's activity survival kit?
A few favourite books and/or magazines
Writing Pads and pens
Personal CD player, gaming device or other player that uses headphones
Laptop or notebook computer and headphones
Crayons, washable markers, paper and colouring books
Sticker books and word puzzle books
Favourite cuddly toy
Board games and puzzles with large pieces
Deck of cards
Favourite blanket and/or pillow
Small dolls, cars, action heroes and other toys that prompt a child's imagination
In a shelter situation or even in a hotel, don't forget batteries and headphones. Don't count on being able to plug in a battery charger at a shelter, and don't expect Internet service.
If your family is going to take refuge in a local community centre for example? There are rules parents need to be aware of – guidelines to follow when making activity suggestions to a teen or helping a child make a survival kit.
Remember that hundreds of evacuees can add up to a lot of noise unless shelter rules are observed. Know too, that space is extremely limited – spots are taped off in some shelters – so limit your belongings.
Horseplay, loud talking, profanity, musical instruments and loud music are not tolerated.
Plan "quiet" activities like a good book for reading or a diary to write in. If you want music, then bring a radio, personal CD player or similar player and a good set of headphones. 
Don't assume that everyone is going to like your kind of music.
Show consideration when bringing toys for young children. No noisy toy instruments, remote control cars (can cause people to trip, too), whistles, or toys that emit sirens or other loud sounds. 
Please, no balls, Frisbees or anything that might invade another person's space.
Steer clear of games and items with small pieces that could easily become lost. Leave messy things like glue, moulding clay and paint sets at home.
Leave behind sharp items like scissors and craft needles unless it's an older child that is responsible.
Incidentally, if you're going to be stuck in your home's basement shelter for a lengthy bit of time, then you still might want to follow the public shelter guidelines above.
Children will feel less stressed if they're allowed to pack-up and bring a few favourite belongings to an emergency shelter or other place of refuge. 
Stick with quiet toys and devices that will reduce boredom and maintain peace for other evacuees.
It's no fun to leave the comfort and conveniences of home when a weather or land crisis strikes.
Include your children when making disaster preparations and allow them to make an activity kit.
Whole family involvement will make coping with bad weather and flooding and other natural disasters a whole lot easier.

How to get started
Lately I’ve been considering the plight of people who are new to preparedness. How overwhelming this all must be for them.
Even for those of us who have been prepping for years it can still be overwhelming and intimidating. I imagine that for people that are new the task ahead must look like Mount Everest.
Most people begin to plan for specific problems or vulnerabilities and go from there. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this approach, and I believe that looking at specific scenarios is a key part of being prepared for whatever may come this way.
It’s perfectly normal and common to start this way. Most of the time you start thinking about the scenario that first got you started on the preparedness path. It’s ok, and normal, and not wrong. Trust me!
But today I want to advocate an approach that is a bit different than that.  This approach is a bit less overwhelming and it is more practical than war-gaming individual disaster scenarios.
Ignore Specific Scenarios
For Beginners the first thing you need to do is ignore specific scenarios. Yes, this means that I don’t want you thinking about EMP, tornadoes, pandemics, or even the zombie apocalypse.
The reason why I want you to do this is because any time you look at a specific scenario in depth, you end up focusing on specific details and you end up rat-holing and losing sight of the big picture. 
You end up spending a ton of time with no concrete results that you can actually do something about.
In case the term isn’t something you’ve heard before, “rat-holing” is a term used to describe a conversation or process that has deviated from its original productive purpose into a generally unproductive but long and winding detour that eventually comes to a dead end.
The original discussion purpose may be to agree on a course of action. However, if one or more people rat-hole into a specific point of the discussion then the discussion stalls with no actionable outcome.
Figure out What’s Important
The first thing I want you to do is to figure out what is important to your life. Most of the time the basics are clear: food, water, your health, shelter, and power.
Grab a sheet of paper and write it down. Think about what else is important to your life, and go into a bit more detail than I went into here.
Find Your Dependencies
Now for each of these things you’ve written down, figure out what you’re dependent upon for those needs. For example you’re probably dependent upon the power company for electricity, and you most likely get most of your food from the supermarket.
Do this for each item you’ve written down, and now you should have a list of needs and what you are dependent upon for those needs.
Contingency Planning
For Beginners Now it’s time to do the fun stuff. You need to put contingency plans in place for each of these dependencies. But not just anything. I want you to start small, and work your way up.
What you’re planning for is for the disruption in the normal availability of those dependencies. To use the electricity example again, this is you planning for a power cut.
Like I said, you want to start small here, and expand your contingency plans. Start planning for a three day disruption, then a week. Then two weeks, a month, three months, and six months. Go all the way out to a year if you want.
Once you hit two weeks, if you feel more comfortable with different time frames after that, go for it. I’m giving you a guideline, but it’s definitely not some sort of hard and fast rule.
Take as much time as you want. This doesn’t have to happen tonight, or tomorrow. Go at your own pace, and don’t feel like it’s a race. But don’t stall out. Make progress on a consistent basis.
Why This Works
This works because all any disaster is, when you get down to it, is a removal of your support structure and dependencies for a certain amount of time.   
Whether it’s a power cut for a few hours or a job loss that lasts a few months.
By preparing for those dependencies to be unavailable, you’re actually preparing for just about any disaster scenario.  You can dig into specific scenarios once you’ve got the basics accounted for, but by and large just having your main dependencies covered will get you through just about anything.
As with anything in life, though, action is what gets things done. You have to actually work on your preparedness plans, not just put them together.  You have to take action to put those contingencies in place.  They won’t show up on their own.
Wrapping Up
Prepping for Beginners remember…preparedness planning is very personal, and it’s not about planning for the latest and greatest disaster. It’s about structuring your life in a way that you are not completely up a creek without a paddle if the power goes out or you can’t get to the supermarket.
This will give you a sense of peace and confidence that you are able to take care of yourself and your family. When your dependencies give out for whatever reason, you’ll have a sense of security that comes from knowing that you’ll be ok, and you have time to figure out what comes next.
Will You Freeze To Death

If you can’t heat your home and you have no friends or family to go live with–you and your family will be in deep do do.

For many of us preppers, this heat issue is the Achilles heel. Without heat, we may have to forsake food, weapons, ammo and other emergency supplies to stay warm–to stay alive.

You can’t walk into a local communal shelter with rifles, shotguns strapped across your back, etc. Of course many preppers will fire up the generators to keep warm!

How long before the fuel runs out? If the grid does down and stays down, how long before the fuel shortages start? Assuming your generator doesn’t get stolen–because everyone else in the neighbourhood is freezing to death–how many weeks (possibly months) of fuel will it take until the spring thaw! I just don’t see how we can survive even weeks without heat.

Blankets, solar blankets you say? Wood burning stove. Fireplace. Yes, these will help. But here’s the problem. In the UK it is not uncommon to see temperatures (w/wind chill) drop to -30 degrees below zero. Good luck with your solar blanket. People will be tearing the drywall down and starting fires in their living rooms to stay warm.

So the question begs: Will We Freeze to Death? The answer is NO if you are prepared. Can you say wood burning stove! If you don’t have one, get one, even a small one can generate plenty of heat to stay alive! Buy it, install it, stockpile wood and a good chain saw (for foraging).

You must also plan to survive in just one room which is then easier to keep warm than trying to hear many rooms.

Many say the power would be restored within a reasonable timeframe. I say: Are you sure? Severe weather can certainly knock out the power as we see every year

Not too long ago we had the Stuxnet super cybervirus ( ‘Stuxnet represented a nightmare: a dangerous computer worm that in some modified form could be used to attack an electric or telecommunications grid, an oil refinery or a water treatment facility.

This insidious virus infects and disables industrial power grids, water purification plants, telecommunications and more. Stuxnet was suspected of disabling an Iranian nuclear research facility two years ago.

More recently, an article from ComputerWorld.com states “Homeland Security warned that with all the hacking conferences and common pen testing software, the industrial control systems that are connected directly to the Internet could be easily located and hackers could point, click and destroy. So you see dear listener cyber-terrorism is a risk, our grid is vulnerable and likely will continue to be more so in the near future.




Emergency survival Lighting Idea
An oil lamp can have a number of advantages over candles and mineral oil lamps:
Very cheap to run - can even burn used cooking oil
The fumes are less toxic than those of paraffin candles or mineral oil lamps
The production of renewable vegetable oil is less harmful to the environment than petroleum based products (including paraffin candles)
For the prepper and survivalist, vegetable oil is easier to store in bulk, or can even be produced on the home farm
Due to the wider base, more stable than candles, and the flame of any burning wick falling into the oil will be extinguished
Odour free when using olive oil
Making an oil lamp is very easy, quick and cheap, and gives plenty of opportunity for a creative outlet. The basic element is nothing more than a piece of twisted wire, a length of twine, some vegetable oil and a vessel to hold it all in.
However, if you don't want to mess around with a fiddly job or don't have the tools and materials, you could, instead, buy a lamp or just the holder and spare wicks.
You can get one from a small family business in the USA. If you live in the UK you can now buy the lamp or wick holder (made by the same company as the US wick holder) from www.allthingsgreen.net.
The lamp is an octagonal jar with wick, wick holder and instruction leaflet and at £5 makes a very attractive and unusual gift even for the tightest budget. It would appear that price even includes delivery.
To make one you will need:
Pliers or a vice
Wire cutter (may be part of pliers)
A nail or similar for shaping the wick holding coil (diameter as wick)
Wire
Vegetable oil
Container
Making the Wick Holder
The wire should be thin and soft enough to bend into a small circle. I had a roll of tinned copper wire in my shed which did the job, but you could strip a piece of electrical wire, or use whatever you can lay your hands on which will do the job. Steel wire of the same diameter is much tougher to bend. It needs to be a little thinner than 1mm diameter.

Caution when using copper wire - vegetable oil is a fatty acid and when in contact with copper for a while will produce toxic verdigris. I noticed the oil turning blue-green when I used copper wire, probably with verdigris. When using copper wire, to be on the safe side, remove the wick holder when not in use and wipe off any oil to prevent the formation of verdigris.

Caution when using galvanised wire - remove the zinc coating with sand paper or a file to prevent toxic zinc vapours. I don't know if the lamp flame is hot enough to vaporise the zinc coating, but I'd do it as a precaution anyway.

Work out the length by using a piece of twine, wrapping it around the nail about 4-6 times, then tracing the height, the radius of the base, the base circle and the handle the length of wire should be about 35-40cm long.

The height is determined by how much oil you want to have in the container. The top level of the oil should always be fairly close to the bottom of the wick holding coil. The wick needs to be drenched with oil at all times, or it will be burned too fast.
If the oil is too far below the flame, the oil cannot be wicked up as fast as the flame is burning the oil. To avoid the constant need to top up the container, the surface area should be greater than the height, i.e. a wide, shallow container is best.
Here is a good tip drop some pebbles or marbles into the oil to raise the level as the oil is used up.

The handle allows the wick holder to be removed from the container for lighting, and should be long enough to avoid burning your fingers when replacing the holder. If the container is narrow, the handle needs to extend over the edge.
If the handle is likely to be heavier than the holder and base, then the base needs to be counter-weighted by wrapping another turn of wire around the base. The shape of the handle will be determined by the dimensions of the container.
If the container is wide enough to allow the handle to be inside it without the risk of getting burnt when grabbing the handle, then the handle should be below the rim so that the lid can be placed on the jar when not in use.

Start shaping the wire by holding one end of it against the nail with pliers or a vice, and twist the wire around the nail a few times, until you have a coil about 1cm long. Hold the end of the coil with pliers whilst bending the wire parallel with the nail to form the stem, then bend at a right angle.
The Wick
Most plant fibre twine should work. I used cotton twine, but you could experiment with jute, hemp, flax, nettle or any plant fibre.
It should be absorbent and reasonably smooth, which may precludes jute, and other rough cordage. If you have some handy, and nothing better suited, give it a go anyway.
A length of about 40cm will make a reasonable length of wick. Twisting the wick is a bit tricky, and a job best done with another person, though you can hold one end in your teeth as you twist the other end, or tie one end to a door handle or chair leg or whatever, but allow extra length for tying. Twist it under tension until the twine becomes quite hard, then grab the middle, and bring the ends together, still under tension, then let go of the middle, and the two ends will twist around each other to form a thicker, denser cord.

Now feed the twisted end through the wick holding coil from below, until it sticks out about 6mm. The burner element is now finished. Tip: if the wick won't easily go through the coil (it should be tight enough to prevent it dropping out), twist the wick as you thread it in, to firm it up.
Container
You can use any glass jar which gives enough clearance for the flame, any clearance above 4cm should be safe. As stated earlier, the proportions should be more width to height to avoid frequent refuelling. Think of Roman oil lamps, they were shaped like a shallow gravy boat.
If the container is shallow enough for the flame to be above the rim, the container can be of opaque material, like a terracotta dish or heavy saucer.

If you use pebbles to raise the oil level, you may want to use a saucer under the lamp or a small additional dish to keep the oily pebbles after topping up with oil, maybe also a spoon for retrieving the pebbles.

For outdoor lighting it is best to use a sheltering glass container. It is also easy enough to make a portable lantern by wrapping some wire around the neck of the jar, include some loops and hook a long handle into the loops. If the flame is too hot under the hand, you could put the lid onto the container after punching a few holes into it. The beauty of this kind of lantern is that the flame can shine through the base of the jar too, casting more light onto the ground.
Oil
Now you may be thinking, burning vegetable oil must be very smelly. Some oil may be, but olive oil burns very clean and without odour. Smoking oil smells unpleasant, but burning oil does not.
So forget the stench of a smoking frying pan. However, even the smellier types of oils can be used economically outdoors. Perhaps you have a bottle of forgotten salad oil at the back of the cupboard. Here is some use for it.
Or how do you get rid of the deep frying fat after making a few batches of chips (French fries)? Light your porch, patio or garden path. You could even collect waste oil from fast food outlets. Strain it and use it for your lantern.
You could also add a few drops of essential oil for a scented light. The volatile oil will evaporate easily with the nearby heat, before the flame can actually burn it.
Using the lamp
The first time the lamp is used the wick should be allowed to fully absorb oil before lighting it. Keep the wick about 6 mm long, and make sure the oil reaches to just below the coil. If the holder is in a jar, lift it up to light the lamp.
When the flame shortens it is a sign that the wick is also shortening, and it should be pulled up a little with a pin or tweezers. Remove any charred wick. The wick should not burn very fast. If it does, then the oil level may be too low. Top up or drop in a pebble. It is also best not to extend the wick too far, as a large flame is more likely to smoke.
To extinguish the flame use a candle snuffer, purpose made or improvised, or if the handle is inside the jar as suggested earlier, just place the lid on the jar. This will prevent any smoking. Alternatively, the lamp can be tilted and the holder tipped over to submerge the flame into the oil, which will instantly, and smokelessly extinguish the flame.

Does the Bible say anything about the current wave of doomsday predictions and violence throughout the planet?
Movie trailers for the science fiction disaster film 2012 added to the hype, showing entire cities devastated by enormous tsunamis and earthquakes, meteors raining down fiery death from heaven and human history coming to a violent end.

According to Wikipedia, "The studio also launched a viral marketing website operated by the fictional Institute for Human Continuity, where filmgoers could register for a lottery number to be part of a small population that would be rescued from the global destruction."

Other scenarios picture a wonderful change in human consciousness and the ushering in of a New Age. John Major Jenkins, author of Maya Cosmogenesis, describes the coming New Age this way: "Around the year we call 2012 a large chapter in human history will be coming to an end.
All the values and assumptions of the previous World Age will expire, and a new phase of human growth will commence."
Well as we now know he was wrong, or at least he got the date wrong at least.
All the hype about 2012 was based on a mixture of speculation about Mayan calendars, the book The Bible Code, some ancient Oriental prophesies, supposed writings of Nostradamus and a little of the biblical book of Revelation.

But does the Bible say anything about the end of human history?

In Matthew 24:3, Jesus was asked about the sign of His coming and the end of this age.

He gave prophecies of many events to happen before His return. He said there would be religious deception, wars and rumours of wars, famines, disease epidemics and earthquakes, all leading to a time of Great Tribulation when mankind would be on the verge of destroying all life on the earth if the time wasn't cut short (verses 21 and 22).  Could that be a reference to WW111?

Then Jesus prophesied there would be heavenly signs, and He would return with power and great glory (verses 29-30).
While Jesus gave His disciples signs to watch for that indicated His return, He stated clearly that no one knows the exact date except His Father.

In Mark 13:32 we read, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matthew's account puts it this way, "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13).

The Bible does not tell us the date Jesus Christ will return to save humanity from destroying ourselves.

But it does promise that Christ will return and set up a government that will bring peace and prosperity to this earth. In the meantime God doesn't ask us to explore the intricacies of ancient Mayan calendars, or believe the Hollywood film scripts either.

He warns of rampant deception and tells us not to be fooled by those who claim secret knowledge of His return (Matthew 24:4, 23-26).

What are we to do? The purpose of the biblical prophecies and warning signs is to remind us of our need to always be growing closer to God and to be spiritually ready.

We need to be preparing spiritually for Christ's return and the end of this world now, and every year.

"Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matthew 24:44).
UK Blackout Fears are you Prepared?

This is 2014 and believe it or not emergency measures are needed to ensure Britain avoids blackouts this winter, the National Grid boss has admitted.

He says that old power stations could be brought out of mothballs to supply extra energy.

A number of coal-fired power stations have been shut to satisfy EU targets for cutting greenhouse gases.

Four nuclear plants have closed unexpectedly for repairs – although Mr Holliday said two may be ready by the end of the year.

The result is the total amount of electricity that can be supplied could be just 5 per cent greater than demand from consumers.

We could be looking at 1970s-style blackouts. I would say that managers had ‘failed to plan adequately’. 

Winter is on the way depending on where you live and experiencing a power cut can range from being moderately inconvenient to a complete nightmare. Being prepared means that a power cut needn’t be a disaster…

Emergency supplies

Last winter there were families in remote parts of the country where a power cut left them stranded for days without heat, light, cooking facilities and hot water. Shops had to be closed and heavy snowfall blocked roads and railways. With a power cut – no matter where you are – can cause real problems.  

Candles can be dangerous, keeping warm is difficult and milk and food may turn rancid. A little preparation is definitely worthwhile.

Here’s an emergency check-list of what you should have in the house:

Candles, minimum four to five dozen.

Candle stick holders. In a pinch, fold aluminium foil around the candle bases 

Matches and disposable lighters.

Emergency heater

Torches and extra batteries.

Canned goods and dry food mixes

Water and juices.

Extension cords, long enough to reach your neighbour’s house.
Hand tools such as hammer, screwdriver and wood saw.
Seasoned firewood.
Extra blankets.
Paper plates, cups and plastic utensils.
First-aid kit
Fire Extinguisher
Remember to keep these things together and in a place where they will be easy to reach and find in the dark. It’s also a good idea to keep some emergency lighting on each level of the house, a lighter with candles should be fine until you can access the torches.
Try to get children used to candles – from distance! Bath-time is a good time to introduce candlelight – it makes a relaxing atmosphere and your child is safely contained in the tub. 
During a power cut you’ll only be able to use them on high surfaces. Do not walk around with a lit candle, use torches instead to get about the house.
During a power cut
You will find the temperature in your home drops quickly. Keep a small baby close to you for warmth, and consider co-sleeping. Toddlers will need extra clothes and blankets at bed times. A torch may make an impromptu night-light.
However even adults will need extra layers of clothes as well as blankets hats and gloves.
Report the power cut to your electricity supplier immediately. They should have a 24-hour emergency telephone number that is on your electricity bill or in the front of the yellow pages. 
Tell them if you have a young children, elderly person or those with medical problems in the house and ask for an estimated length of time.
If the power cut is going to last several days, consider staying with a friend or relative with power. Having no heat or light is going to be, at the best, inconvenient and at the worst, dangerous.
And finally…
Get your family into good habits. Stairs should always be kept free of toys and clutter in case you do end up stumbling around in the dark.
The 1940's Diet
Are we storing 'too' much food for bugging out? 
Could we actually live on what the British families did in the 1940's?
I know that a rationed diet would be healthier for us as well?
When rationing was introduced in England on January 8, 1940 it was to ensure that food was distributed fairly and that the dwindling food supplies lasted. 
However, rationing did vary slightly month to month depending on the availability of foods increasing when it was plentiful and decreasing when it was in short supply.
Here is the weekly ration allowance for one adult in the 1940’s… (Remember that in addition to this people were encouraged to incorporate lots of fruit and veggies into their diets and grow even more in their back gardens!
Weekly ration for 1 adult
Bacon & Ham 4 oz.
Meat to the value of £1.50 (around about 1/2 lb minced beef)
Butter 2 oz.
Cheese 2 oz.
Margarine 4 oz.
Cooking fat 4 oz.
Milk 3 pints
Sugar 8 oz.
Preserves 1 lb every 2 months
Tea 2 oz.
1 fresh egg per week
Sweets/Candy 12 oz. every 4 weeks
In addition to this a points system was put in place which limited your purchase of tinned or imported goods. 
16 points were available in your ration book for every 4 weeks and that 16 points would enable you to purchase for instance, 1can of tinned fish or 2lbs of dried fruit or 8 lbs of split peas.
Does this sound a lot or little to you?
When you try and produce all your own food from scratch using the above ingredients and realize just how precious or even how difficult it was at times to obtain other necessary food stuffs like flour, oats etc.
It really makes you appreciate how difficult and how IMPORTANT the role was of the1940’s housewife to feed her family and keep them healthy. It was for sure a long and hard job.
I have designed this recipe from the rations available.
BREAKFAST
2 slices of wholemeal (whole wheat) toast with margarine and marmalade or marmite or large bowl of porridge oats (oatmeal) made with water, splash of milk and a little sugar or honey mixed in.
LUNCH
Oslo Meal-
2 slices of whole wheat bread spread with a little margarine or butter small block of cheese grated and placed over salad, fresh lettuce leaves other salad items like carrot, cucumber or tomato and a glass of cold milk
OR,
Meat Gravy
 1 lb mince beef
Corn starch
Water
Thyme
Salt & pepper
Old ripe tomatoes (optional)
Oxo cubes or marmite
DINNER
Two large baked potatoes topped with a little bit of strong cheddar, generous serving of meaty gravy, a chunk of freshly baked wholemeal bread, a few spoonful’s of steamed carrots, big mound of steamed cabbage. For dessert one pear.
OR
A big mound of mashed potato (a blob of marg and some thyme, salt & pepper for seasoning), served with large portions of cabbage and cauliflower and the remainder of the meaty gravy made yesterday. 
For dessert two freshly baked Rock Buns and two steaming hot cups of tea!
SUPPER
Round off the day with a glass or two of milk- usually one small glass of cold milk and a cup of milky coffee. 
The amount depends on how much you have left to use!
This diet depends on what is available or what recipes have been created. 
You can always make veggies stews with beans and pulses in for extra protein.

Aquaponics

What if I told you that you could catch fish for dinner in your back garden?

What if I told you that right up until you caught those fish, they were growing the veggies for the rest of your dinner?

Would you believe me?

Well you should as this can all be done now by using an ingenious method of gardening called Aquaponics.

What is Aquaponics?

Aquaponics is the growing of fish, or other water-based animals, along with land plants in a controlled environment.

It is used to maximize the use of energy and nutrients in the system so that it can harvest the maximum amount of vegetables and fish protein. The word aquaponics comes from the words aquaculture, which is the cultivation of fish or other water- based animals, and hydroponics, where plants are grown in a sterile medium or completely in water.

Basically, the plants extract the water and nutrients that they need to grow, cleaning the water for the fish. There are bacteria that live on the surface of the grow bed.

These bacteria convert ammonia wastes from the fish into nitrates that can be used by the plants. The nitrates are relatively harmless to the fish but more importantly they make terrific plant food.

 What Types of Fish Can You Use in Aquaponics?

Any type of fresh water fish works well in an aquaponic system. Carp can be grown by aquaponics but you can also grow most fresh water fish, trout, and even signal crayfish, (license required).

It’s not just for edible fish! You can also grow any decorative fresh-water fish such as Koi or goldfish. When choosing your fish you will need to take into consideration the temperature at which they can thrive and survive in.

For example most river fish can survive down to temperatures in the low 60s, but won’t thrive until they reach the mid 70’s. Whereas trout will survive up to a maximum temperature of 65, but they will not thrive until their water is in the high 40s to low 50’s. (Temps given in Fahrenheit)

What Types of Plants Can You Grow in an Aquaponic Garden?

There are too many to name. It is actually easier to list the categories of plants that DO NOT thrive in an aquaponics system. Plants like blueberries and azaleas do not work well as they require an acidic environment to thrive.

With some protection all of this will work in any climate. A greenhouse is ideal as you can create a perfect environment for your fish and plants and the bonus is sunlight is free! Also all the water in the fish tank, sump tank and grow beds will create a thermal mass in your greenhouse which helps moderate temperature extremes.

Don’t worry if you don’t have a greenhouse, aquaponics work inside. You can just as easily grow fish and veg in your garage or even your cellar for example.

Benefits of Aquaponic Gardening

Aquaponic Gardening enables home fish farming. Fresh fish for you and your family.

Aquaponic Gardening uses 90% less water than soil-based gardening because the water is re-circulated and only that which the plants take up or evaporates is ever replaced.
Aquaponic Gardening results in two crops for one input (fish feed).
Aquaponic Gardening is four to six times as productive on a square foot basis as soil-based gardening. This is because with aquaponic gardening, you can pack plants about twice as densely and the plants grow two to three times as fast as they do in soil.
Aquaponic systems only requires a small amount of energy, this is to run a pump and aeration for the fish.
Aquaponics does not rely on the availability of good soil, you can literally set up anywhere such as any piece of land big enough, abandoned warehouses, schools, restaurants, cellars and garages.
Aquaponic Gardening is free from weeds, watering and fertilizing. It is done at a waist-high level so prevents back strain.
Aquaponic Gardening has to be organic. Natural fish waste provides all the food the plants need. Pesticides would be harmful to the fish so they are never used. Hormones, antibiotics, and other fish additives would be harmful to the plants so they are never used.
The result is every bit as flavourful as soil-based organic produce, with the added benefit of fresh fish for a safe, healthy source of protein.

When the Power Stops
It is a fact that our country is more reliant on electrical power today than at any time in its history. 
Our way of life – from everyday conveniences and the security of local emergency services to commerce and communications – is contingent upon an always on, always available flow of electricity.
But an aging infrastructure coupled with a rise in natural and man-made disasters threatens our entire modern day digital infrastructure. According to many experts from the private and public sector, we’re just one major catastrophic event away from a complete meltdown of life in the United Kingdom as we know it today.
So, what happens if and when the grid goes down for an extended period of time? Aside from the aggravation of not being able to determine what is happening through traditional media channels, for the Average person, his problems have only just begun.
Our dependency to the power grid doesn’t just stop at the lack of electricity in our homes to power our appliances or an inability to charge our mobile phones; it Is much broader and affects every aspect of our lives.
We are regularly inundated with news reports covering power cuts that last several days or weeks resulting from bad weather or snow storms. During those times, when entire metropolitan areas or regions experience power cuts, we get a glimpse into what a truly widespread emergency might look like.
It is often the case that the first thing residents of affected areas do is rush to the supermarket and DIY stores hoping to acquire critical supplies like food, water, batteries, flashlights and generators.
And while these supplies acquired at the onset of crisis may provide short term sustenance, any long-term power cut situation that lasts for many weeks or months will prove dangerous, and perhaps fatal, to the unprepared.
Consider, for a moment, how drastically your life would change without the continuous flow of energy the grid delivers. While manageable during a short-term disaster, losing access to the following critical elements of our just-in-time society would wreak havoc on the system.
Challenges or shut downs of business commerce
Breakdown of our basic infrastructure: communications, mass transportation, supply chains
Inability to access money via atm machines
Payroll service interruptions
Interruptions in public facilities – schools, workplaces may close, and public gatherings.
Inability to have access to clean drinking water
The last widespread outage in the Northeast with over 80,000 homes without electricity, showed how intimately interconnected and alarmingly fragile our power grid is.
If our society is more reliant on power than at any time in history – without it, we’ve got no commerce, no communications, no clean water – and if power becomes less reliable in the future, the big question is: Will we be able to hack it?
THE TROUBLE with the future of power isn’t that there is one big problem that could knack us. It’s that there are a host of them, any one of which could knack us.
These things that could knack us I would class as Extreme Natural Disasters
This includes earthquakes, hurricanes, snow storms, thunderstorms as well as massive solar storms that have the potential to seriously damage the electrical grid. You don’t think it could happen?
It took just 90 seconds for a 1989 solar storm to cause the collapse of the Hydro-Quebec power grid, leaving 6 million Canadians without power for up to nine hours.
A NASA-funded report noted the risk of significant damage to our interconnected grid in light of the forecast for increased solar activity.
Acts of Terrorism
This category includes, but is not limited to a physical attack on the bulk power system, either at its source of generation or somewhere along its transmission route, cyber-attack on the computers controlling our interconnected grid, electro-magnetic pulse, or an EMP, weapon.
Have you read my “effects of EMP” article. EMP’s will create long-lasting damage that would incapacitate electronic systems across the country and forever change our way of life. 
Cyber-threats are another concern and someone with serious hacking skills could easily take out computers, networks or information stored therein to cause lasting damage to our way of life.
The Ailing Grid
Our ailing power grid is almost as sick as our failing economy. With one malicious event, be it man made or by natural means, it is down. Our power delivery system is as old and stooped as a pensioner. 
As it is upgraded and its capacity is expanded, our rapacious need for more electrical power races to max it out once again.
A wide-spread emergency, such as a massive power surge, solar flare or a rogue electromagnetic pulse (EMP) detonation have the capacity to render our entire power infrastructure useless. 
Transformers and other key elements on which the grid depends could be permanently damaged as a result of massive electric surges.
In an event such as this our immediate problem will be finding a way to order, manufacture and take delivery of the components needed to replace the faulty ones.
Most of the parts made for our electrical grid are made in China – and many are decades old. It would take months to get the parts shipped to this country and replaced.
During the power cut, millions would be adversely affected; some even suggesting that within a year 9 out of 10 Britons would be dead from starvation, disease and violence.
Ladies and gentleman, if there’s one thing that can cause the veritable “S” to hit the fan, this is it.
So how do we remedy and or prepare for a grid down scenario? Think retro – like pioneer retro- and by that we have to go way back to when we were not so dependent on the luxury of on-demand energy in its various forms.
When preparing for a grid-down scenario, we must comprise different contingency plans for short-term and longer-term issues. That being the case, we have to admit to ourselves that it could last longer than we expect and be much more than just a minor inconvenience.
Therefore, the best way to prepare is to start with your basic needs. That is the need for light, heat, water, and food. Therefore we must employ the usual SHTF plans to overcome this potential disaster situation.
The vulnerability of our grid is nothing new to us as preppers. Some have seen this problem coming for a long time and changed their entire ways of life by going off-grid.
They have found alternative sources such as solar, wind and diesel to power their homes and machinery. A majority of us, who have not gone off-grid, are making a concerted effort to avoid dependence on this ailing infrastructure and preparing for life without it.
That being said, all we can do is stay the course, prepare accordingly and continue on.
Peter at buggrub is not only sponsoring the competition on my website he is also offering a 10% discount on all his products. So have you got the gonads, can you walk the walk, dare you, I dear you to buy some buggrub and then eat it, go on I dare you. Peter’s website is www.buggrub.com
Florida Makes Off-Grid Living Illegal

It’s no secret that an opposition to sustainable living exists. Earlier this year, Texas State brought several SWAT teams to a sustainable community and threatened to shut it down.

Each one of the community members were initially handcuffed at gunpoint. It was called “The Garden of Eden Community,” and was totally self-sustainable.

This time, it’s a lady called Robin Speronis that’s come under fire. She lives off the grid in Florida, completely independent of the city’s water and electric system.

A few weeks ago, officials ruled her off-grid home illegal. Officials cited the International Property Maintenance Code, which mandates that homes be connected to an electricity grid and a running water source.

So it appears that our dependency on corporations isn’t even a choice.

In the end, she was found not guilty of not having a proper sewer or electrical system; but was guilty of not being hooked up to an approved water supply.

So what exactly is off grid living?

It means living independently, mainly living independently of the utility companies. Providing your own power.

It does not mean living in the Stone Age, it’s not about bush craft. It’s about generating your own power, your own water, dealing with your own waste.

It’s about being more self-reliant and being less dependent on the system. Perhaps realizing that the system isn’t really protecting us anymore and we have to look after ourselves.

The real problem with off the grid living is that corporations lose their ability to control those who go off grid.

With a completely self-sustaining life style, nobody would ever have to work. What would happen then?

Think about that for a moment.

We would be free to expand and create, to discover our full potential as a race and move forward into the world of exploration and discovery, all the while living in harmony with nature, not against it.

We’ve accepted the monetary system, and deem it necessary for the proper function of society. Money doesn’t ever have to come in the way of necessity, we’ve just been made to believe that it does.

The human race does not need to be dependent on these corporations.

While we continue to feed this dependency, the planet continues to suffer. In order to move forward, we must start cooperating with each other, and realize just how much potential we have to create something magical and amazing.

Bottom line, anybody who has the desire to live off-grid should not be hassled for it, it should be a free choice.

It gets worse.

You may not be aware of this, but many Western states, including Utah, Washington and Colorado, have long outlawed individuals from collecting rainwater on their own properties because, according to officials, that rain belongs to someone else.

The American government is working hard to make it illegal for you to grow veggies in your own yard.

And in New Zealand
They have passed a law that makes it illegal to distribute “food” without authorisation, and it defines “food” in such a way that it includes nutrients, seeds, natural medicines, essential minerals and drinks (including water).

By controlling seeds, the bill takes the power to grow food away from the public and puts it in the hands of seed companies. That power may be abused.

The bill will push up mainstream food prices by subjecting producers to red tape and registration costs. Food prices are already rising due to increased energy costs and commodity speculation, while effective disposable incomes are falling.

Growing food for distribution must be authorised, even for “cottage industries”, and such authorisation can be denied.

Under the Food Bill, Police acting as Food Safety Officers can raid premises without a warrant, using all equipment they deem necessary – including guns (Clause 265 – 1).

Members of the private sector can also be Food Safety Officers, as at Clause 243. So Monsanto employees can raid premises – including marae – backed up by armed police.

The Bill gives Food Safety Officers immunity from criminal and civil prosection.

The Government has created this bill to keep in line with its World Trade Organisation obligations under an international scheme called Codex Alimentarius (“Food Book”). So it has to pass this bill in one form or another.
These facts are in my opinion even more reason to prepare and plan to survive, as you know we are doing it right when they try to ban it.

A Family Plan

What you do, or do not do, is down to have you got a plan or not.

You are driving home and the fuel lights come on, what do you do now? Fill up now or in the morning on the way to work?

But what if?

So you did fill up and drove home you wife was still out working you put the meal into the oven and jumped into the bath.

Then complete darkness, a power cut, what is your plan now?

Where is your wife? Is she OK, is she trapped underground on a tube train? Is she in a massive traffic jam as the traffic light are not working? Oh! And the mobile phone network is down too.

I am sure something similar has happened to many people across the world, and the problem with these disasters both natural and manmade is that they are unpredictable.

We know that they have happened so therefore we expect they will happen again, however we do not know when or how bad they will be or in fact where they will be.

In the U.S. September is National Preparedness Month, We could do with one in the UK to be honest as it would as it would remind people that they should be planning for power cuts and disasters themselves and not be relying on the Government for their existence when these events occur.

Unlike the U.S. the UK has yet to totally embrace the preppers and survivalist mind set, although I have to say things are changing and more and more people are waking up to the fact that if they do not plan to survive such events then they will not survive it is that simple.

Reconnect with Family after a Disaster

Plan for Specific Needs before a Disaster

Build an Emergency Kit

How to… Practice for an Emergency

Planning to survive is not as easy as it sounds unfortunately, I bet that the majority of people in the UK have not even discussed let alone developed an emergency plan for family members detailing what to do and how to reunite in the event of a disaster.

Think back to the earlier scenario…how would your reach your wife? Do the two of you have a designated meeting place or perhaps a point of contact outside of your immediate community who can assist with connecting the two of you and confirming both parties are safe?

Connecting, having and practicing an emergency plan and being within arms’ reach of emergency supplies are all small, simple steps we can take today.  And, frankly, they could mean the difference between life and death once a disaster strikes.

But no reminder, activity or promotion will be as meaningful and as impactful as the one you take for your own life and for that of your family. This also means thinking beyond what’s immediately obvious and planning for those who may not be able to prepare or readily plan for themselves – like those who are disabled, the elderly and don’t forget your pets.

Having Problems Prepping?

The thoughts that bounce around our heads can create a chain reaction of events that can either help us or hinder us all along the way.

These thought processes can also make a big impact on our prepping activities. Regardless of what part of the prepping spectrum you are on, we have certain thoughts on the kind of prepared individual we want to end up being.

When we don’t meet our expectations, we tend to grow frustrated and feel more inclined to give up. When I first began prepping, I wanted to be a hard core prepper and had some pretty grandiose conceptions of how that would be.

I envisioned being the kind of prepper who could live off the land with nothing but a blade, some snares and a water bottle. Have I met this goal? Not really. But I haven’t stopped pursuing it either. I just know that this type of goal takes time to master, and being honest it is not for me if truth be known.

When we haven’t achieved our goals in the time expected, we can begin losing focus and be frustrated. This could be because of the short attention spans our society has.

Our need for immediate results can wreak havoc on a prepper’s long term desire to be prepared. To avoid this, we have to admit at the very beginning this is not a short-lived hobby, but a long term lifestyle change that will take time, energy and an ongoing pursuit for knowledge.

It can take years of studying and practicing skills to get to the point of being a hard core prepper. Years! Anyone who thinks differently is fooling themselves and will set themselves up for failure because of these preconceived notions.

Rather than looking at the end result and growing frustrated because you aren’t at the point you wanted to be, stay focused on the starting point.

Why are you preparing in the first place?

I would say that in order to have a well-rounded supply and knowledge base, we have to start at the very beginning and layer our prepping activities in short term, longer term and sustainable increments. This is the best way to stay organized and ensure that you can succeed in a disaster scenario.

The best way to begin prepping is by making a goal. Something as simple as, “I want to be prepared for a 3 month long disaster.” By setting a goal, you can create a preparedness plan based around this, which becomes your starting point.

Moreover, when you create a goal, you have also created a reference point to turn to in case you get overwhelmed or overloaded with prepping. This reference point reminds you to remember what you’re prepping for. From there, you can gather your supplies and learn your skillsets.

Plan – Set your prepper goals (short and long term), make a strategy, create lists of supplies, make meal plans, create a financial budget to get out of debt, as well as to fund your prepping activities.

Accrue – Begin investing in supplies, practice preparedness-based skills, continue to educate yourself on prepping and ways to promote a self-reliant lifestyle

Apply – When you begin using your food stores, practicing your skills and confidently using your preps, you are applying the knowledge you have learned. Don’t forget to keep accumulating knowledge and learning better ways to prep.

Don’t Lose Focus

Give yourself a break if you haven’t gotten where you wanted to be. It’s not ok to eat, live and breathe emergency preparedness.

Each of us is on our own journey and some may learn faster than others. Learn from others and don’t be afraid to include your mistakes and failures as part of your education.

This is part of the learning curve, and a necessary one at that. Further, take your time with the material and include your family. This could be a great way to teach family members and, rather than carrying “the world on your shoulders,” this gives you some support.

Understand, there will be times when you want to throw the towel in. It’s ok to take a break from prepping. I have, and so have others. The subject of preparedness can be stressful, especially if you are reading about worst-case scenarios all the time.

Your mind and spirit will need a break, and taking some time “to fill the well” can help immensely. Spend time with family and friends, breath, pray, meditate, exercise. Do anything to put your focus elsewhere for a short time and then, when you feel better, start prepping again. This makes you more open to continuing on the prepper journey.

Remember my quest to be the hard core type of prepper? As great as this would be, that’s not where I am now. But, just because I haven’t met this goal doesn’t mean that everything I have done in between has fallen by the wayside.

I am still striving toward this, but know there is a lot to learn along the way; and I’m ok with that.

Whether your goal is to be a hard core prepper or not, give yourself kudos for taking the steps to getting your home prepared and for taking the time to learn new skills. 
We all grow frustrated at times, especially when this is a long term quest for knowledge and skills. My advice to those beginning to prepare is to be patient and remember that prepping takes time.

How much do you know?

As a PREPPER you will need to be 100% self-sufficient as it may be that you are isolated from other survivors for years.

Here are some ideas for you to consider.

HOW many of you are constantly learning new skills?

How many are involving your children in this process?

Remember that children’s brains are like a sponge so they will absorb much more than you and at a faster rate.

How many people have a large collection of HOW TO Books? Have you got any of these books?

Books on hunting

Books on Survival

Books on growing food

Books on soil

Books on building from wood to steel

Books on how to make steel, iron, tools etc.

Books on tinctures

Books on cooking

Books on plants and trees

Books on herbal medicines

Books on human body physiology

Books on fasting

Books on Poisonous Snakes and insects and HOW to do First Aid the list goes on and on ...

How many people have done a First Aid course?

How many people know what CPR is and how to perform it?

How many people know HOW to treat a snake bite?

How many people "KNOW" how to do the following?

Woodworking

Building log cabins
Metal working
Constructing underground tunnels
Extracting Oil from plants
Making bows and arrows
Making natural glue
Make flour from different plants (not just wheat)
Make tinctures
Extracting birch tree oil
Make charcoal
How many people have several of the following?
Axes
Knives
Round wood saws
Single and double person wood saws
Many files for sharpening the above
Manually powered Wood lathe IF possible
How many people have prepared the land around their bunker or home for growing organic food?
Adding organic matter (cow manure etc.) into the soil.
Adding powdered rock dust (AKA: minerals) at least 2 + yards down into the soil.
How many people have created natural defences around their home (or know how to) using things like 2 or 3 layers of different trees with Passive Normal Trees on the outside and then a second layer inside made up of Attack Trees which are made up of plants with thorns, spines and prickles.
Then inside this layer you can run a barbed wire this way when someone runs into this at night, you will certainly know about it.
How many people have studied NATURAL medicine and this includes HERBAL medicine and pressure points?
How many people know what herbal medicine is?
How many people know that PINE Trees have natural Vitamin C and that Pine Bark is also abundant with Vitamin C.?
Did you know that Vitamin C deficiency has been one of the biggest killers of humans through our known history and yet in most cases where people had access to Pine Trees, almost no one utilized this powerful disease fighting natural medicine?
How many people KNOW that just by standing out in the sun for approx. 40 minutes a day you can get all the Vitamin D you need to stop over 90% of cancers and sickness (and it is FREE), Plus it also has been said to stop babies being born with rickets.
How many people know that by drinking RAW unprocessed cow’s milk, you can rebuild your teeth and bones? How many people have a milking cow or 3 on their land? How many actually have some land?
How many people have several EXIT tunnels from their bunker? How many even have bunkers?
There are 101 things I could list here but I hope that you get the picture.
Whatever you think you know now is NOT enough.
FINALLY:
How many of you have actually spent a FAMILY WEEK living next to a river or creek and surviving off the land so that you can make a list of all of the things you will need WHEN you really do need to KNOW implicitly how to do these things.

How Safe are You at Home?

One of the scariest things that can happen is to find an intruder in your home. When it occurs, it’s frighteningly sudden. Often, there is little or no time to react.

By the time an intruder is in the house, it could be too late to effectively keep him at bay. He may be there to rob you and quickly escape, or he could have other intentions, including kidnapping or rape.

The absolute best way to deal with a home invader (or a burglar if no one is home) is to make him decide — while he’s still outside — that your home is not one that he should try to enter.

If you can convince that burglar as he’s scoping out your neighbourhood that he will have a very difficult time accomplishing his goal in your house, you might actually save your life and that of your family members.

Some people believe that their home will never be the target of a burglary because there are more expensive houses in the immediate area that contain more expensive items to steal.

The problem with that kind of thinking is that fact might not matter to a burglar. A burglar is equally interested in determining which houses he can get in and out of quickly without being detected as he is in what kind of loot with which he can escape.

And a more expensive house is more likely to have a more elaborate security system that the burglar doesn’t want to mess around with.

Your choice — before something like this happens — is whether to make it easy for the burglar or very difficult for him.

Before I tell you what you can do to make a burglar decide to bypass your home, including locks, lights and landscaping, there’s something everyone should know.

The weakest link in your home defence could be you or another person living in your home.

Yes, some home invasions begin when a burglar busts through a front door or breaks a window and crawls through it. But many others start with a seemingly innocent ringing of a doorbell.

The burglar might pretend that he’s making a delivery or that he’s collecting money for a charity or informing you about a power cut or water or gas leak, or is just a person in distress who needs to use a telephone or bathroom.

When these deceivers find someone who buys their story, even for just a moment, they can either push their way into the house after the front door has been opened, or perhaps be invited in by a kind-hearted but naïve householder.

Once they’re on the inside, you’re pretty much at their mercy because they will probably have a weapon and there will be no tell-tale sign of a forced entry that a neighbour or passer-by might spot.

So, you and your family members should have a plan in place for every time someone rings your doorbell or knocks on your front door.

And that strategy should include not opening the door until you are absolutely sure you know who that person is. Make sure that a delivery person shows you an ID, and call the company if you have any doubts about that person.

With that in mind I would now like to look at the top 10 ways that you can turn your home into a fortress. Remember, these are crucial for convincing a burglar that your home will be too much trouble for his treachery:

Always keep your doors locked, whether you are home or away. Install solid wood or metal-clad doors, as these are the most likely entry points for an intruder. In addition, upgrade your locks. Grade 1 or Grade 2 deadbolts, accompanied by heavy-duty brass strike plates that should keep doors from being kicked in.

Keep your windows locked. You don’t want windows that can be manipulated from the outside, so keep them from opening more than six inches. Consider installing mounting brackets now so that you could quickly install window bars later if necessary.

Install a security system with a loud alarm and advertise that system with signs on your property. Even before your security system is in place, a loud alarm could scare away an intruder. Post a sign regarding your alarm near the entrances. Make sure everyone living in the house knows how important it is to keep alarm codes confidential.

Make sure your front door has a peephole that gives you a good view of anyone on your porch. Your porch light should be bright enough to enable you to recognize the person before you open the door.

Keep the inside of your house well lit at night. Put your inside lights on a timer when you are away. Make sure newspapers aren’t delivered while you’re gone, and try to keep a car in the driveway.

Take a walk around your home — inside and out — and look for areas where someone could enter without a great deal of trouble. Assess these potential breach points and secure them. If there is a seldom-used door to the outside, install a 2 x 4 barricade on the inside.

Safeguard the perimeter of your home by installing motion-sensor lights on your property. A fence can be climbed, but having one might be enough to make an intruder choose a different home. Keep your shrubbery trimmed in order to reduce the number of hiding places around your home.

Whether or not you own a barking dog, plant a “Beware of Dog” sign near your house’s entrances. Dogs can be trained in defence, or at least to bark when they hear a noise outside.

Keep tools that could be used to break into a home (ladders, crowbars, etc.) away from open view.
Have a family emergency plan. Every family member should know exactly what to do, in advance, if an intruder enters the house. Getting out of the house quickly is best, but if that’s not possible, a previously designated “safe room” is where they should head.
Always keep a pair of trainers, a torch and a mobile phone by your bed.
There is clearly a threat to you and your family in normal times now I want you to consider what I have just said and imagine you are now post shtf.
What changes would you make to these peacetime plans? Then put a plan in place to do just that.

The threats we Face

For years we have been warned loads of times by different people that in order to distract and cover up the extent of the upcoming economic crash, there must be war, military action which would prop up the failing economy, global and domestic, and what we are seeing right now is a massive all-out war campaign.

This past week alone we have seen Ret. Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney warning of a coming 9/11/14 terror attack, United States General Paul Vallely issuing a dire warning that ISIS/Al-Qaeda sleeper cells are already in big US cities, preparing to launch attacks upon the transportation system, the electrical grids and shopping centres.

Ex-CIA Official Mike Morell saying “we need to worry about a 9/11-style attack by ISIS and that he wouldn’t be surprised if ISIS showed up to a US mall with an AK-47.

Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe is saying ISIS would blow up a major US city, which followed Senator Lindsey Graham’s warning of “America in flames” House Homeland Security Chair Rep.

Michael McCaul stating that ISIS is intent on hitting the west, and this is just a small sample of this all-out push and campaign being conducted by the US government, using mouth-pieces on talk shows and interviews, in a campaign to persuade Americans to support all-out war.

You can bet that if this is happening in the U.S. then it will follow here too. We are also targets for ISIS soft target attacks, we have a reputation of harbouring Islamic extremists and allowing them to spread their hate without worry of arrest.

We even allow terrorists to walk our streets freely under the stupid assumption that it is OK as we are following them to see who they talk to and were they go.

And worse of all we allow trained combat hardened terrorists back into our country even though we know what they have done.

The UK government is like a turkey voting for Christmas.

Make no mistake, the threat of ISIS attacking us is very real. They have provided ample evidence that they here, they are in our cities and on our streets and planning their attacks now,

The problem is though those very same terrorists and/or supporters of ISIS, will not just go away or magically disappear once military action against Syria and Iraq begins.

We will face this threat for decades and we as preppers and survivalists must prepare, we have no other choice in this.

Perhaps we should begin with keeping our eyes open and reporting anyone/thing that is strange or out of the norm, write down car numbers, carry an EDC when out and about perhaps a GHB.

If you think I am being paranoid then let me tell you this.

Bloody Friday is the name given to the bombings by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Belfast on 21 July 1972. Twenty-two bombs exploded in the space of eighty minutes, killing nine people (including two British soldiers) and injuring 130.

If my Father had not told me not to go into Belfast city that day I would not be here now as I would have arrived at Oxford bus station at the same time as the bombs exploded.

You and your family must have a plan, if GOD forbid you are caught up in such an event, as I believe that we in the West are facing our own Troubles and on a very much larger scale.

How to Use the Internet When the Internet Is Gone
OK, here's the scenario: A storm hits the area you live in, knocking out the electricity. Your lights go out, and with it you’re Wi-Fi. Your laptop, still charged, is without Internet.
The local mobile phone networks are both degraded by the weather and instantly overloaded as thousands of people around you call their friends and family to ask, "Hey, did your power just go out? You OK?"
Your phone is getting service, but just barely. Calls are patchy. 3G and 4G Internet aren't working at all, so neither are your apps. All you can depend on is the most resilient, and limited, feature of your mobile phone: Text messages.
Here's how to access the Internet without the Internet:
You can still use Google even if all you have is SMS access. Just add 466453 (GOOGLE) to your phonebook, then text to it as if you're searching.
Here's something you may not have known about your phone number: It has an e-mail address. Almost every carrier operates what's called an e-mail gateway, meaning that you can send and receive e-mails via text.
Here's how to figure out your phone's e-mail address:
If you're on T-Mobile, it's yournumber@tmomail.net
If you’re on Virgin, its number@vxtras.com
If you’re on Orange, its number@orange.net
If you’re on 02, its number@o2imail.co.uk
If you’re on Vodafone, its phonenumber@vodafone.net
Now, to receive your e-mail via SMS, you'll need to forward it to your gateway address: Most e-mail services offer this for free in the settings page. Here's how to do it in Gmail, for example. You'll have to turn this on before you lose Internet access. So, like, now.
Gmail lets you automatically forward incoming mail to another address.
  1. Open Gmail.
  2. Click the gear symbol in the top right.
  3. Select Settings.
  4. Select the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
  5. Click Add a forwarding address in the “Forwarding” section.
  6. Enter the email address you want to forward to.
  7. For your security, we'll send a verification to that email address.
  8. Open your forwarding email account, and find the confirmation message from the Gmail team.
  9. Click the verification link in that email.
  10. Back in your Gmail account, refresh the page.
  11. Select the Forward a copy of incoming mail to option and make sure your new forwarding address is listed in the first drop-down menu.
  12. In the second drop-down menu, choose what you want Gmail to do with your messages, such as keep Gmail’s copy in the Inbox or archive Gmail’s copy.
  13. Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.
Note: While multiple email addresses can be added as forwarding addresses in the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab, Gmail can only auto-forward mail to one address at a time. The address that is currently in use is shown in the drop-down menu next to “Forward a copy of incoming mail to.”
If this doesn't work, and in my experience it may not, depending on your carrier and e-mail provider, you can try an automated forwarding service such as TXTJet.
To send e-mails via text, you can usually just enter an e-mail address instead of a phone number. These same e-mail gateways work in reverse, meaning you can either respond directly to messages forwarded through the gateway or send a new message by entering "email_address@whatever.com" in the recipient box in your texting app. This works on many older phones, too, though typing out email addresses on a T9 keypad will be a chore.
It's not the most graceful process, but it works.
You can do almost anything on Twitter via SMS, which, if you're interested, you can read about here. But in the event of an outage, there are really only two Twitter SMS features you'll need.
To get simple updates from any account, set up an SMS Fast Follow. This does not require your Twitter account, and will keep your text volume low. Just send "Follow [username]" to 40404. (No @ symbol required.) This will let you receive updates from important accounts, but won't let you post. Some suggestions and example for Fast Follows, though yours will be location-specific:
How to add your phone to your existing Twitter account via SMS:
— Send a text to your Twitter code [40404] with the word START.
— We'll reply and ask you to text YES to the Twitter short code.
— Text your username to the same number. Do not use the @ symbol or quotation marks. Send your username ONLY. For example: larrybird
— Next, text your password. This is case sensitive, so be sure you are sending your password correctly.
— That's it! You're ready to go!
Your account can now be used with the whole range of Twitter text commands. A few important ones:
ON: turns ALL your authorized Twitter updates and notifications on.
OFF: turns ALL phone notifications off.
Otherwise, anything you send to 40404 will be posted from your account. (These instructions only work for Verizon, AT&T, and affiliated MVNOs.)
This used to be more functional, but you can still have Facebook forward you notifications and private messages via SMS, as well as post status updates. You can also respond to private messages, which is potentially valuable if you don't have someone's phone number but happen to be Facebook friends.
To activate Facebook via SMS, go to your Facebook account settings and click "Mobile" on the left side of the page. Turn on Facebook Message forwarding and Notifications. (You can customize which ones get through in a submenu.)
Once this is set up, you can also post a status update by texting it to 32665 (FBOOK).
So set these up now just in case.
First Aid Kit and First Aid Training
A first aid kit is an important item of equipment, especially when you are using a knife, axe or saw, therefore, it should be carried on your person (I carry a few select items in a pocket using a small nylon, waterproof pouch e.g. plasters, bandage etc. I call this my ‘small cuts kit’ with the main first aid kit in the rucksack). The first aid kit should be stocked to handle every day and worst case scenarios, as typically you will be a significant distance from medical help. The first aid kit shown in the picture contains
• 42 x assorted plasters
• 10 x antiseptic wipes
• 10 x cotton buds
• 8 x Co-codamol 30/500mg tablets
• 8 x Paracetamol 500mg tablets
• 8 x Ibuprofen 200mg tablets
• 6 x Imodium tablets
• 4 x safety pins
• 3 x dressing pad 7.5cm x 7.5cm
• 3 x dressing pad 5cm x 5cm
• 2 x stretch bandages 5cm x 4m
• 1 x roll of micro-pore tape
• 1 x tube of Savlon antiseptic cream
• 1 x tube of Lipsol cream
• 1 x scissors
• 1 x tweezers
• 1 x needle
• 1 x bottle of surgical spirits
• 1 x field dressing 20cm x 19cm
• 1 x water proof container
The most common requirements will by to treat minor cuts, splitters and blisters. To treat blisters, first clean the affected area with surgical spirits and drain using a sterilised needle (heated in flame) by making a small hole at the edge of the blister and gently push out the fluid.
Then wipe on a little antiseptic cream or surgical spirit and cover with a suitable plaster or gauze and tape. Tip; ensure that the tape does not stick onto the blister as this can cause tearing when removed. If possible remove the cause of the blister in the shoe and increase padding using thicker or additional socks.
At night allow blisters to dry by removing plasters and drain again. A rub with surgical spirits also helps harden and clean the skin and on your feet and between your toes. You should pay particular attention to medium sized cuts as these can easily become infected.
Ensure these are covered with a suitable plaster i.e. keeping the cut clean and immobilised it whilst it’s healing. Tip, if a cut does become dirty keep a clean plaster on overnight, its surprising how easily the dirt is drawn out.
The disadvantage of keeping a plaster on for a long period of time is that it softens the skin, when possible airs the cut to allow the skin to harden (although not recommended I find that a splash of surgical spirits helps).
Worst case scenarios are covered with a standard army field dressing and a selection of dressing pads and stretch bandages. Pain killers included; Paracetamol (general, reduce fever), Co-codamol (stronger), Ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory, aspirin based).
Care should be taken when mixing Paracetamol based tablets i.e. Paracetamol and Co-codamol. Finally, Imodium tablets to treat bowl disorders.
And, last but not least… Knowledge. I have seen extremely fancy first aid kits that would put some A&E departments to shame. They include, defibrillators, suture kits etc. But, if you don’t know how to use these items, they are pretty much useless to you.
GET SOME TRAINING! St John’s ambulance courses are available in most places. Better still and much more applicable to the survivalist’s are dedicated survival first aid courses.
When the Brown Stuff Hits the Fan

Many people nowadays are quite aware that the world they live in is going to the toilet. Aside from the geophysical part that “seems” to be going haywire and could be nothing other than the planet’s cycles, there are plenty of manmade catastrophes that loom on the horizon.

Never has the planet had as many people as now and the more people there are the more competition there is for resources. More countries seek nuclear devices than ever before and with advancements in technology this is a much easier process than at any time before.

Biological and chemical weapons are also much easier to manufacture because of leaps in technology in regards to computers. Oil markets are much tighter because of the countries of China and India and their increasing need of energy to fuel their booming economies, and new finds of oil fields cannot keep up with the demand.

The debacle of the world economies needs no introduction. In short, bad times, really bad times could and probably will be coming to a neighbourhood near you.

Unless you and your family take quite seriously this possibility, if and when something extremely horrible happens, you could very well end up one of the large number of statistics.

Many survival sites have informative and excellent advice on survival that can help you make it through a limited amount of time when everyday life is totally disrupted.

However, what exactly does a person do IF the society that almost all of us have become way too dependent on, fails to recover for an extended period of time, if ever again?

What IF civilization implodes and only begins to recuperate after centuries have gone by? If you watch some of the ideas people have on survival being interviewed on television, you have to wonder what exactly these people are thinking.

The people that have prepared for problems with the world are woefully ready for any disaster lasting for more than a few days at best. One lady thought having a torch was being prepared. Even those that have invested in a years’ worth of food and supplies, there are some basic survival skills that need to be learned and understood to better increase one’s chance of making it through a possible long-term survival situation.

Here are some suggestions on those survival skills that will likely be needed after a nightmare has hit human civilization with a vengeance. Each of these skills can fill an entire article on learning and teaching of it.

So only a brief overlay of each of these will be discussed to long descriptions. Further information can be obtained through many survival books and the many articles on each subject.

Situations and personal handling of SHTF situations will differ widely, but the foundation will likely be there for almost everyone. The main objective is to get people into learning and practicing these survival skills so when something cataclysmic does happen, they can better deal with and make it through intense human tragedy.

Prepare for the worst. Individuals can still hope for the best, but something lacking with many preppers is that they still cannot even think about something really awful happening.

Too many of those that do ready themselves for disasters cannot find within themselves to even discuss with their families and friends a calamity that is horrid and what to do if it should manifest itself.

This denial I think leads to a failure of preparing enough beyond usually a couple of weeks or so. To them, there is still that government or other safety net waiting for them when their preparation runs out.

Learn and train your mind to expect the totally unexpected.

The bizarre often happens, and there are events that are going to freak out even some of the better prepared survivalists. A lot of people will prepare and practice all sorts of drills for various horrors, which is wonderful training.

There still lurks the possibility of something so strange and weird that it shocks practically everyone. By addressing this possibility in your thoughts before it actually happens, you have conditioned your mind to at least accept this.

Training for something strange can be done through other individuals within your circle of allies coming up with sudden scenarios that only their imaginations can fathom.

Learn to live meagre. This is practicing for when times become lean for everyone. If a person wants to avoid the shock of living well to living under a rationed way of life, now is the time to get used to it.

We all take so much for granted – the modern conveniences – it becomes an automated habit to turn on a light switch, flip on the internet, TV, mobile phone, without even considering this could be wiped out within an instant.

We open the refrigerator and there is food, or put food already pre-cooked into the microwave to warm it. We go to the supermarket and get what we need. We have entertainment at our fingertips.

If this is all gone, how will people handle it? Horribly I think if they have not gotten used to going without it for at least part of their lives. A “time out” each day from what we so rely on that could disappear is quite helpful to being ready for if it does go away suddenly.

Find personal motivators to continue on. When it looks hopeless after a mega SHTF episode, having some concrete reason to fight and continue on is an absolute necessity to avoid giving up. Many people will feel, “what’s the point?”, and just stop trying to survive. Someone’s child sitting next to them, a parent, a sibling, a spouse, a friend, someone that means something to you can be that inspiration to continue on. It can be just someone’s desire for life that helps them over the hump. Finding that personal reason to survive and fight on is so important.

Understand the world and potential disasters that await. When you can better expect what could happen, you are less likely to be caught off guard. Timing is everything.

An individual that can bug out before something hits is going to be way ahead of the pack. While predicting the future is probably going to be unlikely, seeing a situation developing and acting on it before it occurs can be a life saver.

By monitoring the news of the world with vigilance you can see something others don’t. By becoming more informed about earth science if you live in an area prone to geophysical disaster can make a great difference.

The old adage about knowledge is power is very true, but knowledge is also part of survival and the more you have the more likely it is that you will survive.

Make plans and stick to them. After a disaster your mind is going to be racing around like a car on a race track. Pre-planning and having a written down set of measures to take will make someone’s life go much smoother when SHTF.

Your own personal plan is ONLY what best fits what you are going to do during and after a disaster. People should also have back-up plans, PLAN B and C and D at least because nothing ever seems to go as planned. Haphazard approaches to the aftermaths of catastrophes are kind of like a chicken running around without a head.
Understand how you’ll react. Some people just cannot handle stress, they freeze up and panic overwhelms them.
Everyone reacts to stress and fear in different ways, and even the most calm in control person can go ballistic or paralyzed with fright. Addressing this issue before something happens and attempting to come to grips with it is essential.
People have remarkable levels of tolerance for bad times and most can dig down and come up mentally with what is necessary to survive. Any phobia or fear is usually better dealt with before being put to the test.
A first step is to admit to oneself that these disasters can and do happen and then thinking over, even writing down how one will handle it. Talking this over with another is invaluable.
Understand the psychology of desperate people. This is a difficult one. After a SHTF event people are just going to go crazy I think.
That neighbour that was in control during many minor emergencies may be the one pounding on your door with whacked out eyes demanding what you have because they did not prepare for anything.
Someone in your own survival group may just blank out in a zombie-like stare. Unexpected times brings out the worst in people and people should prepare for this possibility. You yourself could lose it. Again, preparing for this will help should it occur. You always hope that disasters will bring out the best in your fellow person, but often this is not the case.
Be clever and inventive. When the world falls apart around someone, there is likely not going to be anyone there to repair what you have or somewhere to replace it. You will either have to go without, repair it yourself, or jerry rig up some contraption that will function for you.
Much can be learned by practicing going without your power tools and fixing things using only hand tools and what you can find in spare parts laying around. Using junk to come up with unique devices that work for you will become a necessary skill you will need to master, should society fail to come back.
Learn and condition yourself into a survival mentality. Homeless people become experts at seeing what others consider pure trash as survival tools. The fine art of scrounging around will become a chore that people will have to do to find what they need.
That bottle on the ground after a disaster can be used for many purposes including collecting something you can use.
People must first try to see in their minds what use certain items can have for them. Homeless people have become quite good at this during stable times, everyone will have to learn this skill after times become nightmare-like.
Know where you are going. Whether someone is going to bug in or bug out to somewhere safer, they need to know where they plan to make a stand and stay. Transportation is a very important issue to consider and how much of what they have can be moved to where they are planning to go.
Fuel will be a huge consideration as the lack of it prohibits how far someone can go. Something else everyone should understand is how to read maps. You will likely not have any GPS system to guide you and the good old fashioned paper map may be the only way to show you where you are going.
Understanding topographic maps is also key here.
Learn how to maintain light at night. One of the most depressing situations is to spend night in near to total darkness. Besides this, not being able to see at night is dangerous. Learning how to make candles and wicks should be a skill to consider learning. Fats and other oils will burn and can be obtained throughout nature and the outdoors. Long term solar battery rechargers for torches and LED battery powered lanterns are another option.
Learn how to hide. There will almost certainly come a time after a bad disaster that you will want to avoid being noticed at all.
Learning how to camouflage yourself is a good start. Avoiding detection is concealing yourself from sight, sound, and smell from others. Any activity that a person engages in can be magnified many times when the normal sounds of a busy city or town are now quiet.
Much careful consideration must go into taking this into account if a person wants to remain unbeknownst to others that mean them harm.
Remaining inconspicuous can be difficult in some cases, but it can be done.
Maintain proper hygiene. This is one of the top priorities within the armed forces because disease and sickness can and do take down the toughest of soldiers.
People must realize that after a terrible disaster it is not like someone that goes camping, comes back dirty, and takes a nice long shower or a hot bath. After SHTF the water to the taps, as well the hot water heater, may not work. Bathing on at least a semi-regular basis is necessary to avoid all sorts of bacteria from building up on the skin and causing a variety of health concerning ailments that will then have to be treated. People should plan on just how they will keep themselves clean, even thinking about sponge baths as an option.
How to dispose of waste and proper sanitation. In third world countries and the pre-flush toilet era one of the leading causes of illness and death was and is waste not properly discarded. If the toilets won’t flush because there is no water to make them work, human waste is going to be a huge whopping problem for people trying to survive.
Even improperly burying human excrement can lead to disease. Portable toilets, toilet paper and disinfection (bleach for one) should be one of the top items in any survival kit, lots of it. Also disposal of other trash is an issue that can bring hungry dangerous animals around drawn to the stench.
Burning of your rubbish can be a choice of some, while plastic rubbish bags and the means to find some place to dump them is another alternative.
Learn to control pest and other vermin. This is a problem that led to about half of Europe dying several hundred years ago with the Black Death.
Fleas and ticks carry some terrible diseases.
Even people that stay inside their own homes will have to deal with this problem. People outside will have to contend with the fleas, ticks, flies, mosquitoes, mice, rats, etc., etc., etc. There are many repellents in nature that can help a lot such as citronella, even the smell of garlic that most vermin do not like much at all. Stocking up on insect and other commercial repellents is always an excellent idea. It only takes one bite to make a person deathly sick.
Understand radiation and fallout and how to protect yourself.
This is one of the least understood of the survival precautions taken. There are hundreds of nuclear power plants that could fail after the world goes to the toilet. There are still tens of thousands of nuclear weapons available for war should countries decide to use them.
Fallout is something that you might not even see and until you are sick might not even know you have been contaminated. Purchase of a radiation detector that is protected against EMP is a wise idea. Understanding about radiation accumulation dosage RAD’s and how to shield oneself against it is paramount.
Learn how to forecast the weather. Without knowledge of what to look at before a storm system comes in, someone could be trapped and die when they are buried under snow or a wall of water from a flash flood.
Even one of those pocket weather forecasters that can be purchased at most sporting goods stores is a good start. Other weather forecasting books are available to help someone get a better idea on what the future weather holds for an area that they are in.
Weather is still one of the deadliest killers in the modern age. It will become magnitudes worst when people cannot get weather warnings over a radio or other source. People will have to forecast it themselves.
Learn first aid. Treating yourself and or others will probably be the only thing someone can do as medical professionals are going to be few and far between. Many places offer free classes on first aid because they want people in the community to be prepared. A good first aid book along with a first aid kit is something every household should have before, during, and after a disaster. Primitive conditions should be expected when anyone is helping someone after a catastrophe. A stockpile of antibiotics are always a good idea.
Learn about nutrition. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are nothing to fool around with.
Just look what scurvy, the lack of Vitamin C, can do to someone. Many survivalists and preppers make the critical mistake of only being concerned about calories to keep them going. Vitamins; A, B1 through B12, C. D, E, K, Minerals; Calcium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, Zinc, and trace minerals are necessary to keep a body going. Many survival foods have some of what your body needs, but sadly lack in others. Each person needs different amounts and any survival food supply should make this need as important as the food itself.
Vitamin and mineral supplements should be stocked with food if someone is unsure about what they are getting.
Learn to keep body temperature uniform. The Goldilocks analogy here, not too hot, nor too cold, but just right. Your physical body should remain as near to what your body has been used to as possible.
It is not only uncomfortable being freezing cold or roasting to death, it puts a lot of stress on the body making someone more susceptible to becoming sick. Trying to stay cool uses up a lot of water, and trying to stay warm uses up more calories. Plan ahead with good warm clothes and blankets for the cold.
Find places that are cooler during hot weather. Keeping out the elements where you are is essential and should be given much thought. If living outside, having a good shelter is beyond important. is something everyone should become more familiar with.
How to start and maintain a fire. This is for everyone. Having a fire and keeping it going when you need to has been the essence to the very first people on the planet surviving.
Fire cooks, heats water, keeps you warm, sterilizes items, and gives light. Having a lighter, matches, any starter is one thing, but actually keeping the fire going is another.
Making sure the fire does not cause damage to your home or shelter is something not everyone thinks about. Burning of toxic wood or other material is something to remember never to do.
Keeping a fire not too noticable to others is something everyone should remember because normally a fire means FOOD to a hungry person. While most everyone thinks that using a fire is rudimentary, there is much more to it.
Obtain water and purify it. This is one of the most rehashed subjects of survival but probably the most important one. Most people just assume the taps will continue to flow and water will be there.
Preppers that take water as extremely urgent often forget just how heavy water is and the hauling of water back and forth from a source such as a stream can be difficult as well as hazardous if it is wiser to stay inside for whatever reason.
People need to know that unless water is from a spring it will likely need to be purified and this means some reliable filters or boiling it which requires heat from a fire, along with pots to boil it in.
Aside from drinking, water is also needed to rehydrate food, make milk from powder, and of course cleaning yourself with. We all have to have a certain amount of liquid a day, and juice and other sources will suffice, but water is something that everyone still needs in order to keep their bodies healthy and functioning, as well as to remove toxins in the body. Water need and how much water will be used is something that is often vastly underestimated by many.
Learn how to grow food and or find it. People’s supplies will only last so long, and eventually self-sufficiency with acquiring food will become necessary.
Many people are into seed storing, and in many cases growing your own food will feed the family.
However growing food has many drawbacks that people need to look at. Water is an issue in dry areas as irrigation is very manpower or animal power dependent. The growing season is a huge consideration.
Pest problems are enormous as pest control, pesticides both natural herbicides and chemical, are not going to be readily available. One of the gravest things to contemplate about is actually guarding your yield, as two legged problems could be a bigger issue to your crops than some beetle infestation.
Hungry people will see food growing and take it, 24 hours a day. No one can grow enough food to feed all those seeking food. From a practical sense, it might be a better idea for some to go the hunter and gathering approach.
Learn how to defend yourself and be willing to do it. This almost certainly means owning a firearm and knowing how to use it and be willing to use it to protect yourself or others. Many TV survival documentaries show have people that feel they can defend themselves with knives, clubs, whatever, but in reality against someone else with a firearm they are going to lose 95%+ of the time.
A firearm is an extension of a weapon that has speed and force behind it. Even the humble .22 calibre can stop any person. Many people think that they cannot use a firearm against another person, but this feeling changes abruptly when they see one of their family members at risk.
Some people still cannot use a firearm, and in this case should consider some form of self-defence such as the non-lethal devices including stun batons, pepper sprays, TASERS, even baseball bats.
NO ONE should ever consider themselves to be safe after a SHTF event, NEVER. People can feel that everyone will come together and rebuild society, many good people will, but there are plenty of bad people in this world.
It may come down to you or them. Everyone needs to practice and practice with any self-defence armament they have, so there is no hesitation when it comes to saving one’s life from someone that is willing to take yours.
These are suggestions that people need to address now, before trying to survive the aftermath of a horrible event that sends the normalcy that everyone has become accustomed to down the drain for extended periods of time.
People that prepare have to realize that when civilization stops functioning, so does everything that most of us depend on.
There may never be that safety net there for us to fall into WHEN our stocked up survival supplies run dry. Much of survival is having supplies, as well as backups for when food, water, and other necessities cannot be found.
The other part is being ready for everything our new life could throw in our way. For this we all need to learn survival skills. At least think about it and then hopefully act upon it. When someone thinks about their personal needs, an individual can probably add many more survival skills to. They should become quite proficient with the skills they personally need and can use NOW, before SHTF so they have a better chance of surviving some nightmare series of events that “seem” like an inevitability in the not too near distant future

Chinese Researchers Created Flu Virus Strains
Scientists slam 'appalling irresponsibility' of researchers in China who deliberately created new strains of killer flu virus
Former government chief scientist Lord May accused Chinese team of 'blind ambition'
Researchers created strains in a bid to develop vaccines
Comes as experts warn new flu strain that has killed 27 in China could spread to Europe
One of Britain's leading scientists has hit out at Chinese researchers who created new strains of a killer flu virus in a bid to develop vaccines.
They claim the 'hybrid' flu, which mixes bird flu virus with human flu, could escape the lab and lead to a global health crisis pandemic killing millions of people.
It comes amid rising fears of a flu epidemic as China struggles to contain an outbreak of the virus.
The Bird Flu Virus up close: researchers fear an experimental strain of he killer virus could escape from the Chinese lab that created it
The Bird Flu Virus up close: researchers fear an experimental strain of the killer virus could escape from the Chinese lab that created it
Fears over hybrid flu escaping led to scientists imposing a voluntary moratorium on their H5N1 research, banning transmission studies using ferrets.
However, researchers decided to lift the ban earlier this year, arguing that they have now consulted widely with health organisations and the public over safety concerns.
However, some scientists still oppose the work, saying any work is too dangerous and experimental strains could escape the lab.
Professor Hualan Chen, director of China’s National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory at Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, deliberately mixed the H5N1 bird-flu virus, which is highly lethal but not easily transmitted between people, with a 2009 strain of H1N1 flu virus, which is very infectious to humans.
 GPs advised how to spot bird flu as virus continues to mutate at an alarming rate
The researchers claim the work could help develop a vaccine.
The work of Zhang and colleagues provides a framework for further studies examining how the structure of the avian flu virus influences how readily it could transition to being a pathogen with human pandemic potential,' Science Express, the journal which published the research, said.
The study, which was carried out in a laboratory with the second highest security level to prevent accidental escape, resulted in 127 different viral hybrids between H5N1 and H1N1, five of which were able to pass by airborne transmission between laboratory guinea pigs.
However, it is feared the mutated viruses could escape, sparking a global pandemic.
They claim they are doing this to help develop vaccines and such like,' Lord May of Oxford, a former government chief scientist and past president of the Royal Society, told The Independent.
In fact the real reason is that they are driven by blind ambition with no common sense whatsoever, and the record of containment in labs like this is not reassuring.
They are taking it upon themselves to create human-to-human transmission of very dangerous viruses. It’s appallingly irresponsible,' he said.
It comes as experts warn human cases of a deadly new strain of bird flu that has killed 27 people in China are likely to crop up in Europe and around the world.
Quarantine activities at a bay in Hwaseong City, South Korea. Lord May, a former Government science advisor, warned the 'hybrid' flu, which mixes bird flu virus with human flu, could escape the lab and kill millions
In his first media interview since returning from an international scientific mission to China last week, Professor Angus Nicoll, the head of the influenza and respiratory viruses programme at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), said the H7N9 flu outbreak in humans was one that should be taken extremely seriously and watched closely.
We are at the start of a very long haul with H7N9,' Nicoll told Reuters in a telephone interview.
He said there were many scientific questions to be answered about the new flu strain, which was first detected in patients in China in March having been previously unknown in humans.
The flu has so far infected at least 127 people in China and killed 27 of them, according to latest data from Chinese health authorities and the World Health Organization.
Scientific studies of the virus have established it is being transmitted from birds - probably mostly chickens - to people, making it a so-called zoonotic disease that humans catch from animals rather than from other humans.
Nicoll, who visited Beijing and Shanghai last week with a team of international scientific experts, confirmed what the WHO has repeatedly said - that there is no evidence yet of the virus efficiently passing from person to person - a factor that would make H7N9 a serious pandemic flu threat if it were to evolve.
A worker sprays disinfectant in a live poultry market in Banchiao, New Taipei City, ahead of a sweeping ban on live poultry slaughter in markets that will take effect across Taiwan in two weeks
Nicoll said the 'most pressing public health question' for now was to identify the source of the circulating virus - the so-called 'reservoir' - that is leading to chickens contracting it and sporadically passing it on to humans.
This is likely to take time, with any results unlikely for several months.
He said the ECDC, which monitors disease in the European Union, and health authorities around the world should expect that 'imported cases' of H7N9 flu may well begin to crop up elsewhere.
Flu experts speaking at a briefing in London on Wednesday said those mutations, together with evidence that H7N9 is still mutating rapidly and probably spreading almost invisibly among birds because it does not make them obviously sick, meant this new flu was a 'serious threat' to world health.
You can never predict anything about flu, but it is concerning to see those mutations there, Nicoll said. 'That's why it's important Europe should take this very seriously.'
Nicoll added that he thought the Chinese were doing an 'impressive job' handling, reporting, investigating and seeking to contain the outbreak.
Outbreak Of New SARS-Like Virus Kills 5 In Saudi Arabia
With a new bird flu in China, it's easy to forget that there's another worrisome virus emerging in the Middle East.
Today we got a rude reminder of its presence.
Five more people have died from a new SARS-like virus on the Arabian Peninsula, the World Health Organization Thursday. Two others are being treated in intensive care.
That brings the total cases to 24, including 16 deaths.
Since the virus in April 2012, it has been detected in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the U.K.
There's very little information about the seven new cases, except that they were all reported at the same hospital in Al-Hasa — a region on the eastern edge of Saudi Arabia, bordering the Persian Gulf.
Virologists discovered the new coronavirus after it killed a Saudi Arabian man last summer.
Coronaviruses can cause a mild cold or severe pneumonia-like symptoms.
Bats harbor many types of coronaviruses and were probably the original source of the new coronavirus that appeared in the Middle East.
We have not found any cases anywhere else in the eastern region, Dr. Ziad Memish, from the Saudi Ministry of Health, The National.
The virus is a cousin of SARS, which killed more than 750 people in 2003. Like SARS, nCoV causes severe pneumonia, but it doesn't spread easily between people.
In February, two family members in Britain the virus from a relative who had been traveling through Saudi Arabia. But otherwise, there has been little evidence of person-to-person transmission.
Genetic sequencing shows that nCoV is most closely to a bat virus. But health workers still don't know where the virus comes from.
That's the million-dollar question, virologist of the U.K. Health Protection Agency told Shots a few weeks ago. "We don't really know how any of these patients have caught the virus, except for the two families in the U.K.," Bermingham said, referring to the first 17 cases.
We don't have a good handle on what's happening on the Arabian Peninsula or elsewhere," she added. "But we're hopeful that authorities there are actively investigating their severe respiratory illnesses.
Viruses are one of those things that pop up every now and then. You just don't know when they're going to cause human infections," she said.
And Another Super Bug
Gonorrhea is the second most commonly reported sexually transmitted disease in the U.S.
A growing number of cases are being reported globally of an antibiotic-resistant strain known as HO41
It has been listed as a superbug and doctor are warning it has the potential to become very dangerous very quickly
Gonorrhea is especially common amongst young people aged 15-24
Doctors are warning that an antibiotic-resistant strain of gonorrhoea, now considered a superbug, has the potential to be as deadly as the AIDS virus.
This particular strain of gonorrhea, known as HO41, was discovered in Japan two years ago in a 31-year-old female sex worker who had been screened in 2009. The bacteria has since been found in Hawaii, California and Norway.
In a bid to avoid contracting gonorrhea, in particular the HO41 strain, people are encouraged to practice safe sex
HO41 has so far proved resistant to current antibiotic treatment and so it has been placed in the superbug category.
This might be a lot worse than AIDS in the short run because the bacteria is more aggressive and will affect more people quickly,’ Alan Christianson, a doctor of naturopathic medicine told CNBC.
Nearly 30 million people have died from AIDS related causes worldwide, but Christianson believes the effect of the gonorrhea bacteria is more direct.
Getting gonorrhea from this strain might put someone into septic shock and death in a matter of days,’ Christianson said. ‘This is very dangerous.’
In a briefing on Capitol Hill last week, William Smith, executive director of the National Coalition for STD Directors, urged Congress to target nearly $54 million in immediate funding to help find an antibiotic for HO41 and to conduct an education and public awareness campaign.
A Terrifying holiday bug that can burst your blood vessels
All it takes is an insect bite and you could even fall victim on a trip to France. The growing danger of deadly dengue fever
James Bradley had planned a romantic holiday to Bali as a surprise for his wife. But a few days into their trip, the 33-year-old developed what he thought was flu.
It was, in fact, a tropical disease, and he deteriorated so rapidly his wife Katie feared the worst.
He had contracted dengue fever, a disease spread by infected mosquitoes. While it usually produces only flu-like symptoms, James went on to develop a severe form, which causes internal bleeding and can prove fatal. Worldwide, 20,000 people die from it every year.
With no cure or vaccination, dengue is endemic in more than 100 countries (compared with nine in 1970), and there are 100 million infections every year.
Though it’s a tropical disease, cases have been reported in France and Croatia. After it struck the island of Madeira last year, the World Health Organisation warned of a future European outbreak.
Though it cannot be passed from human to human, a non-infected mosquito that bites someone with dengue then becomes a carrier, passing the disease to the next person it bites.
Infected travellers can also inadvertently bring home the disease to their native country.
Dengue incubates for several days — after the initial bite, the disease multiplies in the lymph glands.
By morning, the fever had hit 40c. I was also being sick and suffering terrible diarrhoea. The hotel called a doctor, who diagnosed gastroenteritis.’
By the next day, James could barely walk.
Not only was James showing the characteristic symptoms — fever, aches and vomiting — but blood tests showed his platelet count was plummeting.
Platelets are the tiny cells that are vital for blood clotting. A healthy person usually has 200,000 to 400,000 platelets per cubic millimetre of blood. James’s had fallen to just over 100,000 — a common level in dengue sufferers. A count of 50,000 can prove fatal.

When the Trucks Stop the UK Stops
OK so you are not a prepper and you think that preppers are a few cards short of a full deck? you assume that anyone that is "preparing for doomsday" does not have their elevator going all the way to the top floor? 
Well, you might want to listen to me first before you make a final decision that all preppers are crazy. 
The information that you are about to hear I hope will shock you.  To be honest, you have no idea how incredibly vulnerable our economic system is to a transportation disruption.  I am continually getting emails and comments on my websites asking "how to prepare" for what is coming, so when I came across this information I knew that I had to share it with all of you. 
Hopefully what you are about to hear will motivate you to prepare like never before, and hopefully you will share this information with others.
Originally, I was going to write an article about the rising unemployment in Europe today.  Did you know that unemployment in the Eurozone is now at a 15 year high?  It has risen for 10 months in a row with no end in sight.
But I have written a few articles about the economic crisis in Europe before.  So before starting on this article I started thinking of all the "preparation" questions I have been getting lately and I went surfing for further information.
The truth is that our "just in time" inventory and delivery systems leave us incredibly vulnerable to a nationwide disaster.
You see, it is very expensive to hold and store goods, so most manufacturers and retailers rely on a continual flow of deliveries that are scheduled to arrive "just in time", and this significantly reduces their operating expenses.
This is considered to be good business practice for manufacturers and retailers, but it also means that if there was a major nationwide transportation disruption that our economic system would grind to a halt almost immediately.
Once store shelves are picked clean, they would not be able to be replenished until trucks could get back on the road.  In the event of a major nationwide disaster, that could be quite a while.
So what could potentially cause a nationwide transportation shutdown?
Well, it is easy to imagine a lot of potential scenarios - a volcanic eruption, a historic earthquake, an EMP attack, a solar megastorm, a war, a major terror attack, an asteroid strike, a killer pandemic, mass rioting in UK cities, or even martial law. If something caused the trucks to stop running, life in the UK would immediately start changing.
So exactly what would that look like?
A Timeline Showing the Deterioration of Major Industries Following a Truck Stoppage
The first 24 hours
Delivery of medical supplies to the affected area will cease.
Hospitals will run out of basic supplies such as syringes and catheters within hours. Radiopharmaceuticals will deteriorate and become unusable.
Service stations will begin to run out of fuel.
Manufacturers using just-in-time manufacturing will develop component shortages.
UK mail and other package delivery will cease.
Within one day
Food shortages will begin to develop.
Automobile fuel availability and delivery will dwindle, leading to skyrocketing prices and long lines at the petrol stations.
Without manufacturing components and trucks for product delivery, assembly lines will shut down, putting thousands out of work.
Within two to three days
Food shortages will escalate, especially in the face of hoarding and consumer panic.
Supplies of essentials—such as bottled water, powdered milk, and canned meat—at major retailers will disappear.
ATMs will run out of cash and banks will be unable to process transactions.
Service stations will completely run out of fuel.
Domestic rubbish will start piling up in urban and suburban areas.
Container ships will sit idle in ports and rail transport will be disrupted, eventually coming to a standstill.
Within a week
Automobile travel will cease due to the lack of fuel. Without autos and busses, many people will not be able to get to work, shop for groceries, or access medical care.
Hospitals will begin to exhaust oxygen supplies.
Within two weeks
The nation’s clean water supply will begin to run dry.
Within four weeks
The nation will exhaust its clean water supply and water will be safe for drinking only after boiling. As a result gastrointestinal illnesses will increase, further taxing an already weakened health care system.
This timeline presents only the primary effects of a freeze on truck travel. Secondary effects must be considered as well, such as inability to maintain telecommunications service, reduced law enforcement, increased crime, increased illness and injury, higher death rates, and likely, civil unrest.
All this would happen almost immediately if there was an EMP attack or a CME event, I suggest that if you are not a prepper that you seriously consider becoming one and if you are a prepper heed my words please.
So you don’t think a Pandemic could happen well these stories will prove you wrong

Prepping If You Are Disabled
Most people assume preppers and survivalist are Rambo types with lots of cool gear and a more than reasonable amount of physical prowess for handling any type of situation that comes along.

Since EVERYONE needs to be prepared for disaster, that stereotype leaves out a goodly portion of the population who are disabled in one fashion or another. Note that disabled doesn't just mean someone in a wheel chair.

Disabilities can run the gamut from being morbidly obese to missing limbs to having severe chronic health conditions to not being able to understand English (and therefore not being able to understand orders to evacuate, etc) to being elderly to having limited mobility to having an acute fear of large groups of people (which would make living in a shelter tricky) to having schizophrenia...

You can see that the range and number of disabilities is quite long but the idea is that no matter what your condition is, you or your carer (ie: the person charged with caring for people with these and other disabilities) needs to take some additional things into consideration in order to be prepared for disaster, including:

What MUST you have to survive apart from the food, water, shelter stuff? For someone on a ventilator, that would be electricity. For someone with severe psychotic episodes, that may mean medication. Make these items your top preparedness priorities.

If you rely on medication, consider getting prescriptions for 90 days instead of 30 days. Also ask your doctor or pharmacist what their plan is to ensure that you will still be able to get your needed medications after a disaster such as a bad weather or flooding.

Plan with someone who can help you. This may be a family member, friend, neighbour, home help or nurse, etc. If you are disabled, start planning now with someone who would be able to help you in the event of a disaster.

How will you let them know if you need help? What if the phones are out, will they come to your house to check on you? 
If you don't speak English, do you have a neighbour who can translate for you or do you have picture books of signs that can help tell emergency responders what you need?

If you are elderly or infirm, does someone else have a key to your home so they don't have to break a window to check on you?

Stockpile the things you need that others may not have and therefore would not be able to provide you in the event of a disaster. This could be hearing aid batteries or specialized medical supplies? If it isn't something that one could usually just borrow from a neighbour, plan on stocking much more of the item than usual

If you are replacing an expensive specialized item, consider saving the old one in case the new on gets broken in a disaster. Dentures, hearing aids, wheel chairs, prosthetic limbs, glasses...even though these items may not fit like they used to after you get used to your new item, in a disaster these items would be difficult to replace immediately and would come in handy.

Be in the best physical shape possible. If you are obese, start working out and going on a diet NOW when it will be most beneficial for you. If you are in a wheel chair, there is no reason not to have exceptional upper body strength developed by working out.
If you are elderly, exercise can do wonders to not only reduce your risk of falls on a normal day but will make you stronger and better able to help yourself during a disaster.
Keep a list of your current medications and a copy of the most recent prescriptions in your BOB. Include doctors contact numbers, contact info for next of kin, and a current medical history with an up to date medication list too.

If you have a spare wheelchair, walker, or crutches, keep the spare in the garage or in an out building. During an earthquake, for example, your wheelchair may end up crushed but if you have a spare one in the outbuilding which suffered less damage, you may be able to use that one.

Evacuate WAY ahead of time. If an evacuation is imminent, don't wait until the last minute; get to a safe spot as quickly as possible. Which would be better? Picking up grandma and safely ensconcing her in a nice hotel for a few days when it looks like bad weather is heading her way or being stuck with a senile and incontinent grandma in the family minivan as you wait in a 10 mile long back up on the freeway with everyone else trying to evacuate at the same time?

The bottom line is that there is no guarantee that anyone will come around to help you right after a disaster, thus the need for preparedness. For those with no disabilities, this would be a difficult time, however for those who rely on others (or assistive devices or medication or other necessary things) it will make the situation many times worse.

For those with disabilities and/or those who care for people with disabilities, the need to prepare thoroughly and immediately cannot be overstated.



Prepping When Cash is Tight
Earlier this week, I realized I have been doing as much prepping as I wanted to. 

I don’t have as much done this far in the year as I had planned and am far behind my goals. Money has become tight, as I’m sure is the case for a lot of people. I’ll be honest; it got me down for about a day.

But! There’s lots that you can do that takes no money at all. I started out by taking inventory of what I do have and looking again at my list of what I would like to have. Reassess and revaluate your goals.

Next I spent hours watching videos on everything prepping and survival that I could find. Youtube is great for this, but make sure you take everything with a grain of salt. The people that make these videos could be anyone, just like you or me.

So really think about the things that these people do and say but there really is a wealth of information out there, for free. So find the videos and take notes. There is also a lot of information on facebook groups and hashtags on twitter.

After that, I decided I could use to be in a bit better shape. If the S were to HTF, being in good physical condition would definitely make it a bit easier.  So, I revamped my workout routine. Anyone can work out and you don’t need gym equipment and you don’t even need to run.

One of the easiest things you can do is sit on the couch and watch an hour long program. Each time there is a commercial, do 20 sit ups or push ups.

That should give you close to 100 in an hour! If that’s too much work, cut it down to 10 or 5 or even 1, anywhere is a good starting point. By doing the exercise in small sets, it doesn’t feel like as much of a work out.

The last thing I did was mentally prepare. I realized that I may not have thousands of pounds tied up in my preparations but at least I have prepared.

That’s more than what most people have done. I thought about what could happen in my area (snowstorms, floods, economic collapse etc) and thought about how my life would be affected.

What would I do in _____ situation? What if _____ happened? And make your plans from there.

What would it take to get you to bug out? Where would you go? What would you bring? Make your plans and constantly reassess them, always be willing to change them and be flexible!

If you haven’t started prepping you better get started soon because the world is facing a number of problems that could spell disaster for life as we know it.

Now I’m not trying to scare people into buying into the whole 2012 end of the world thing, but I do think we’re facing some serious trouble in the very near future.

From the growing Occupy movements that are increasingly starting to turn violent, to the global financial meltdown that’s wreaking havoc on the world, things seem to be getting worse at an alarming pace. The world as we know it seems to be teetering on the edge of a cliff and in my opinion there are way too many people hoping or trying to make it fall over.

But even if the world does fall into chaos, there are things that you can do that will help bring balance and stability back into your life. To start with you need to start preparing to survive whatever lies ahead.

There are lots of notions about preparing that turn out to be myths. The very mention of survival or preparedness can conjure negative mental images that have no basis in fact.

Myth 1 - Prepping Is Expensive. Prepping does not need to cost a lot. You can start small and only purchase things that are affordable. In fact, some preparations, including food storage, can actually save a little money.

Myth 2 - Prepping Takes Too Much Time. Anything, including hobbies, surfing the web, or watching TV, can "take a lot of time." Prepping is a worthwhile activity to which you are able to devote just as much or as little time as you want. It all depends on your comfort level.

Myth 3 - You Need A Lot Of Space For Storage. Anyone can create storage space, whether in a small apartment or a house in the suburbs.

Myth 4 - You Need A Farm Or A Retreat Location. It would be nice if we could each lay claim to a faraway place we could go to, but most of us aren't that fortunate. Instead, just prepare wherever you are, as best as you are able to. Any amount of preparation is preferable to none at all.

Myth 5 - Preparing Will Turn Me Into A Tin-Foil Hatter Living In The Woods Decked Out In Military Gear Threatening People with Explosives.

This image stems from media stereotypes of survivalists. Sociopathic loners like the "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski and right wing militias that really enjoy visions of far-fetched conspiracies to warrant firearm fanaticism.

The truth is, most preppers are normal everyday people who realize the system may not always be around to support them and so feel they have to look after their own personal safety and security. In a time of on-going financial crisis, spectacular natural disasters, and technology run amok, imaginary conspiracies by shadowy government entities really are the very least of our problems.

There are plenty of emergencies we can plan for, which range from events with a higher likelihood of occurring, including unemployment or illness in the family, to natural disasters like hurricanes or floods to rare but extremely catastrophic events such as a terrorist attack or pandemic. 

Whether you're making preparations for a short-term or long-term emergency the initial steps towards those goals are the same.

Even if you're starting from the beginning without any emergency supplies at all, as soon as you get started with the prepping process, you will soon start to see positive results.

As you build on these simple measures, you can expect to be confident in your labour and be rewarded with the confidence that you have done the very best you can to safeguard your household for disaster.



Questions, Questions, Questions
How in the world is someone supposed to actually prepare for an economic collapse?   

What should you do with your money?  How can you make sure that your family is going to be okay?  How can you prepare if your resources are extremely limited? 

These are the kinds of questions people ask me all the time.  Once people understand that the economy has been collapsing and will continue to collapse, then the next step for most of them is that they want to get prepared for the storm that is coming. 

So where should someone get started?  Well, the truth is that no two people are facing the exact same set of circumstances, so preparation is going to look different for each individual. 
But there are certain core principles that we can all benefit from. 

For example, when a financial storm is coming that is not the time to be blowing thousands of dollars on vacations and new toys.  You would be surprised at how many people there are that claim that they have no extra money in their budgets and yet somehow have plenty of money to run down to Wal-Mart and buy a big stack of DVDs. 

When times are difficult, each hard-earned dollar becomes much more precious, and we all need to start getting into the habit of making the most out of our limited resources.  The seemingly endless prosperity that we have all been enjoying for decades is coming to an end, and most of us have absolutely no experience on how to deal with truly hard times. 

If you are under the age of 60, it might be a really good idea to read a book or two on what conditions were like during the Great Depression of the 1930s in America or how people survived in ration UK during WW11. There is a lot that we can learn from our own history.

Another key characteristic that we will all need in the years ahead is flexibility.  Anyone that has spent any time in the military knows that very few plans ever work out perfectly.  As the global economy breaks down and the world becomes increasingly unstable, conditions are going to change rapidly. 
What might work really well in one situation might be the exact wrong thing to do 6 months later.  

If you are not willing or able to adapt to dramatic change then you are going to have a lot of difficulty in the years ahead.

Many people refer to me as a "doom and gloomer" because I plan and prep so I keep pointing out that the entire world is heading for a complete and total financial nightmare.

But I don't think that it does any good to stick your head in the sand.  I believe that there is hope in understanding what is happening and I believe that there is hope in getting prepared.
It is those that are completely oblivious to what is really going on that will be totally blindsided by the coming crisis.  When they finally realize what has come upon them many of them will totally lose it.

I am trying my best to warn people so that they can have a chance to be prepared for what is coming.
I am not spreading doom and gloom.
I am spreading hope.

And I want to make another point.  Generally, things are going to be getting progressively worse as the years roll along.  As I have written about before, I believe that the economic collapse is not a single event.  Rather, I see it as a series of waves that will be punctuated by moments of great crisis.

So advice about preparation is going to be different depending on whether you are talking about the short-term or the mid-term or the long-term.  Hopefully you will keep that in mind as you read my answers to the questions below.

The following are common questions that people ask about how to prepare for the collapse of the economy....

How Do I Get Started?

When the financial crisis of 2008 hit, what was the biggest danger for most people?

The biggest danger was that they would lose their jobs and not be able to pay their bills.

During the last recession, millions and millions of people did end up losing their jobs.
And because many of them were living paycheck to paycheck many of them also ended up losing their homes.

You do not want that to happen to you.

So what I am about to say next is not considered to be very "sexy" in prepper circles, but it is absolutely crucial advice.
You need to have an emergency fund saved up that can cover your expenses for at least six months.

That way if you lose your job or your business goes under you will be able to keep going for a while as you figure out what your next move will be.

These days it takes the average unemployed person nearly 40 weeks to find a new job, and it will likely be even worse in the next major economic downturn.
So make sure that you have plenty of cash saved up just in case.  If you are currently living paycheck to paycheck you are extremely vulnerable.

What Should I Do With My Money?

I get this question a lot.

People always want to know where they should put their money.
Well, my first piece of advice is always to build an emergency fund. Most people do not have one.

After that is done, I am a big believer in not putting all of my eggs into one basket.


Sometimes people will tell me that they are going to take all of their money out of the banks because they don't feel safe having their money in them.

Well, if you stick all of your money in your mattress, what happens if there is a fire or what happens if someone robs you?

That is why I believe in spreading your risk around.  Having money in different places is a good thing.

But one place I would not put it is in the stock market.  If you were fortunate enough to catch the recent rally you should get out while the getting is good.

If you have blind faith in the stock market you are going to be deeply disappointed eventually.  I do not have a single penny in the stock market, and a couple of years from now that is going to look like a very wise move.

Should I Invest In Precious Metals?

A lot of people that write about the economic crisis in this country really advocate investing in precious metals because they tend to hold value over time.

I like precious metals myself, but if you are going to invest you need to get educated so that you know what you are doing.  If you go in blindly you are likely to get burned at some point.

In addition, you need to be prepared for wild fluctuations in price over the coming years.  There will be times when gold and silver absolutely soar and there will be times when they drop like a rock.

So if you are going to play the game you need to be able to handle the ride.

Should I Get Out Of Debt?

Many that write about the coming economic collapse say that you shouldn't even bother to pay off your debts because the financial system is going to collapse anyway.

I don't see it that way.

I don't believe that our banks are going to totally collapse and suddenly go out of existence.
Not in the short-term anyway.
So I believe that it is actually a good idea to get out of debt.   

When financial troubles hit you don't want a horde of collectors coming after you.

There is a lot of freedom that comes with getting out of debt, and in this environment it is wise to become as independent of the system as possible.

What If I Don't Have Any Money To Prepare?

In this kind of economic environment it is no surprise that I get this question a lot.

Many families are just barely scraping by each month and they do not have much money to put into anything.
And I can definitely sympathize with that.

However, I would say that there are very, very few families out there that do not have anything that can be cut out of the budget.

The truth is that most families are experts at blowing money on really stupid stuff.
In general, I recommend that all families do what they can to reduce their expenses.

The smaller of a financial footprint you have, the better off you will be and the more resources you will have to help you get prepared.

Also, now is the time to be looking for ways that you can increase your income.

For many people, starting a side business is a way to bring in some extra cash.  Yes, this will cut into your television watching time, but now is not the time to be lazy.

The time you spend working hard now while the sun is still shining will pay off later.
Don't be afraid to work harder than you ever have before.

Should I Rent Or Buy?

This is a question that I also get a lot, and it really depends on your situation.

If you rent, that gives you a lot more flexibility.  You can move for a new job or a new opportunity without having to sell a house.  And you get to avoid a lot of the expenses and hassles that come with being a homeowner.

If you buy, you get to "lock in" your housing expenses for many years.  In a highly inflationary environment this would potentially be very beneficial.  And interest rates are very low right now.

In addition, it is going to be really hard to rent a really good "prepper" property.  If you are looking for a property that is away from the big cities where you can grow your own food and become more independent of the system, then in most cases you are going to have to buy such a property.

But remember if you do buy, it is going to be much harder to move if something does happen and you need to go somewhere else.

What About My Health Condition?

Over the next few years, the NHS care system should continue operating at least somewhat normally.  But the truth is that our health care system is in horrible shape and it is not a good thing to be totally dependent on pills and doctors.

Even if economic conditions were perfect it would be a good idea to learn what you can do on your own to improve your health.  But this is especially true as we move into a time of great economic instability.

Should I Be Storing Food?

Yes.

However, even though the United States is experiencing an historic drought right now, I do not believe that there will be major food shortages in the UK this year or next year.

Down the road, however, is a different story.

And your food £’s are never going to go farther than they do right now.  As I wrote about the other day, this drought is likely to cause food prices to go up substantially, and so the food you store now might end up being twice as valuable a few years from now.

In addition, you never know when a major disaster or emergency is going to strike so it is always good to become more independent of the system.

I encourage everyone to learn how to grow a garden.  Yes, your space may be limited, but there is no excuse for not growing what you can.

Should I Be Storing Water?

It is always good to have some water on hand in case disaster or emergency strikes.

And you should be rotating whatever water you currently have on hand because you don't want water sitting around indefinitely.

But what is much more important is to make sure that you and your family have access to a source of water that you can depend on if disaster strikes and the grid goes down.

For safety and security reasons, most water supply plants maintain a larger inventory of supplies than the typical business. However, the amount of chemical storage varies significantly and is site specific.

According to the Chlorine Institute, most water treatment facilities receive chlorine in cylinders (150 pounds and one ton cylinders) that are delivered by motor carriers. On average, trucks deliver purification chemicals to water supply plants every seven to 14 days.

Without these chemicals, water cannot be purified and made safe for drinking. Without truck deliveries of purification chemicals, water supply plants will run out of drinkable water in 14 to 28 days.

Once the water supply is drained, water will be deemed safe for drinking only when boiled. Lack of clean drinking water will lead to increased gastrointestinal and other illnesses, further taxing an already weakened healthcare system.

Other Than Food And Water What Other Supplies Will I Need?

Anything that you use on a regular basis or that you would use in an emergency situation is something that you should consider storing up.

For example, if you could not buy any more toilet paper from the shops, what would you do?


Basic things like that are often overlooked by many preppers.
In a previous article, I listed dozens of things you may want to consider storing.  Preparation is going to look different for every family, but hopefully that list will give you some ideas.

What Happens If The Power Grid Goes Down?

This is a very important consideration - especially if you live in a colder climate.

Some people have a backup generator for such circumstances.
Others have set up wind and/or solar systems for their homes.
Alternative energy solutions are great if you can afford them, and they will enable you to become much more independent of the system.

But not everyone can afford to put in solar panels or a big wind turbine.
So do what you can with what you have.

Should I Leave The Big Cities?

A lot of people ask me this, but there is no easy answer.
In this day and age, a good job is like gold.  It can be really, really tough to give up a good job and move to the middle of nowhere.

But without a doubt, society is starting to come apart at the seams and I do expect rioting and major civil unrest in our major cities at some point in the future.
In the end, you need to do what is right for you and your own family.  Nobody else can make this decision for you.

What Should I Do If My Family And Friends Won't Listen To Me?

This is another very common question that I get.

What should people do if nobody will listen to them?
Well, you just have to do the best that you can.  If they won't listen now, just keep planting seeds.  Keep sending them articles that are packed with statistics and information that show why an economic collapse is going to happen.

In the years ahead we are all going to need our families and our friends because communities will endure what is coming much better than "lone wolf" individuals will be able to.

No matter how hard you prepare, at some point you are going to need the help of someone else.


So don't be afraid to reach out to others.

If nobody among your family or friends will listen to you at the moment, you may have to prepare on your own right now.
In fact, you may have to do extra preparation because at some point it is probably inevitable that your family and friends will come to you for help.

That is the perspective that my wife and I take.  We are not only preparing for ourselves.  We are also preparing for the family members that may have to depend on us someday.
Nobody said that preparing was going to be easy.

But beyond any physical preparations, I also believe that it is absolutely crucial to prepare mentally and spiritually.

The times that are coming are going to be incredibly challenging.  They are going to require a great deal of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual strength.

If you are a "lone wolf" that believes that you don't need anyone or anything, then I feel sorry for you and I honestly don't know how you are going to make it.
None of us have all the answers.
I know that I certainly do not.



Common Prepping Mistakes
With the abundance of bad info out there, it’s easy for new preppers to make a lot of mistakes. 

I, myself, when I was a new prepper made many mistakes and I’m sure I’ll make more, but that’s part of the learning process. 

To help you speed up this process, here are some common prepping mistakes you’ll want to avoid:

Not having a survival library. Books are less common these days because we do so much reading on the Internet and Kindles. But if the power goes out, having a good collection of survival books could save your life. 

They’ll give you something to read when you’re bored, and will have important instructions on things like purifying water, building fires, and medical care.

While you want to learn as much of this info as you can ahead of time, no one can know everything, and there are bound to be times when a survival library will come in handy.   

Focusing on supplies instead of skills. Of course, just because you have all the best books on survival doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bother to learn survival skills. It’s possible your books will be destroyed or you won’t be able to get to them.

The same rule applies to your survival food and gear. What if you’re at work when your home is destroyed by an explosion, earthquake or some other disastrous event? Would you still have the skills to survive, or are you completely dependent on your food and gear?

Not having enough water preps. I cannot overemphasize the importance of water. There are many survivalists who have six months of food and only two weeks of water on hand.

Considering that you can survive without food about ten times as long as you can survive without water, you’d be better off with two weeks of food and six months of water.

Don’t do that either by the way, but at least make sure your water will last as long as your food. If you don’t have enough room for that much, there are many ways to collect and purify water.   

Not having enough variety in food supplies. Too many new preppers buy nothing but rice, beans, flour, salt and sugar. If that’s all you have to eat after a disaster, you’re going to be miserable.

Your body will have trouble adjusting to the new bare-bones diet and you’ll suffer from food fatigue, where your survival food won’t be appetizing even when you’re very hungry. 

Make sure you buy the ingredients for a variety of possible meals so you’ll feel satisfied every time you eat.

This leads to my next point…

Not eating what you store. This was the first mistake I made when I started stocking up on food. I bought all kinds of food, sealed it up, put it in the closet, and forgot about it.

Inevitably, some of my food went bad and I had to throw it out. It’s important you store what you eat and eat what you store.
If you’re not sure how to cook meals from the basic ingredients, I’d recommend getting some cookbooks and a guide like Emergency Food Storage & Survival Handbook 10 Common Prepping Mistakes which has a lot of great recipes.

Not having enough vitamins. Personally, I think everyone should be taking multivitamins since most modern diets don’t provide the nutrition we need, but this will be even more important in a survival situation.

The stress of having your life turned upside down, constant threats to you and your family, and manual labour will take a lot of energy and tax your immune system. Vitamins will help keep you strong and healthy, especially Vitamin C.

Relying only on food storage. While the last few points have been about food, don’t forget all your other survival needs. When a lot of people think of prepping, the first things they think about are food and water and they proceed to stock up on them while neglecting healthy and beauty supplies, first aid kids, bug out bags, cooking implements, clothes, weapons and other important items.

While food should be your first priority, don’t forget your other priorities.

Relying only on an arsenal. At the other end the spectrum, there are some preppers who focus all their attention on guns and ammo. The reasoning is that not only will they be able to protect themselves, they’ll be able to hunt their food and trade ammo for other supplies.

This is unrealistic, especially if you’re in or near a city. The little bit of wildlife in your area will be picked clean by others, and most people won’t be interested in your ammo as they, like you, will be looking to trade for food and other vital supplies. Sure, have some weapons for self-defence, but don’t go overboard.

Not taking care of pets. As much as we all love our pets, for some reason it’s easy to forget that they need preps, too.  

Animals require more than just food and water.

Planning on bugging out. Although having a bug out bag and a vehicle survival kit is important, unless you have advance warning of a disaster it will be very difficult to get from your home to your bug out location.

The streets will be congested, roads and entire areas could be inaccessible, and fuel could become unavailable.  
That’s why I think it’s so important to be ready to shelter in place.



Prepping for Beginners
As humans, we are naturally aware of possible threats around us, and often the way a person neutralizes that threat is to create a story of the worst case scenario and begin to prep around that. 

Becoming a person who preps for disasters begins with a level of awareness.  A prepper knows that there are possible threats, and it only makes sense to be as prepared as possible beginning with the basic disaster items to sustain basic needs (food, water, clothing and shelter) and then adding more preparedness layers onto it. 

Basic disaster items are intended to sustain a person and their family for 3-5 days.  However, many decide to expand their disaster supplies to encompass a longer duration in the case that emergency response is delayed.  This is why preppers believe in having “back-ups for their back-ups.”

Getting Started

When preparing for a disaster, it is essential to have provisions in place to secure your needs.  That being said, beginning a food supply must begin with research.  Finding out how many calories a person needs per day in order to survive, and knowing how much food to store is essential when beginning to prepare.  

Additionally, going to survival/prepping forums to read about what others are doing is another way of finding more research.  Preppers are very open to helping others who want to prepare.  We have all been at the beginning stage of preparing, and it can be overwhelming at first, but the overall goal is to get people prepared.

When beginning to get preparations in place, concentrate of the basic needs of survival: water, food, shelter, clothing and move on from there.  Below are some basic suggestions on items that would be ideal to have in the home:

Water

It is suggested to have 1 gallon of water per person/per day.  Having a 3 day supply of water on hand is a great place to start.  However, many preppers like to be as thorough as possible in their prepping. 

Therefore, I suggest playing it safe and double the amount of water needed.  The extra water can be used for other purposes. Extra water that is stored can also be used if family members such as children or the elderly become dehydrated and need more water. 

Additionally, having an alternative source for water such as a water filter, frozen water in the freezer, and 5 gallon water containers is suggested.  In a disaster situation, a person does not want to run out of water.  Lakes and streams can also be a way to find water, but the water needs to be treated.   

In the case that someone is not near any running streams or lakes, there are places in nature where one can find alternative water sources.

Food

Comparative shopping at the large volume supermarkets typically has better deals than at smaller shops.

Finding local ads from the large supermarket websites can save on fuel money as well as on shopping time. Even Pound shops sell canned goods and food products that would be good for short term/long term food supplies. 

Look for sales all the time and buy as much of the item as your budget will allow.

Using a food storage calculator will help determine how much food is necessary.  There are some considerations to keep in mind before purchasing the food items:

Expiration Dates – It’s best to find items that have expiration dates that are 1-2 years away from expiring, unless that item is used frequently in the home, and can be rotated frequently.
Items on Sale – Go for the deals.   

Typically, there are deals that are advertised in the newspaper.  You do not have to break the bank to get food items.  Just get a little each time you shop.  In season vegetables are typically cheaper.  Larger cans of goods generally have better deals.
The amount of people in the household.

A wide variety of food will help reduce food fatigue.
The serving amount in the food.
Vitamin content in the food.
Any special health considerations for family members.

Medical Supplies

Medical emergencies can occur at the drop of a hat, and having the necessary supplies can mean the difference between life and death.  When an emergency situation arises, one must act calming and decisively. 

In the case of a severe injury where there is a lot of blood loss, there must be supplies that can stop bleeding, cut the pain threshold and calm the patient if necessary. 

Find websites online that deal with first aid care and go through each injury to see what medical instruments and items are needed. 

Moreover, check in your community and see if the St. Johns Ambulance, Red Cross or Medical Centres offer classes to assist in medical emergencies.  Make a list for supplies that can be added to the disaster medical supplies. 

72 Hour Bags

In the case that a person has to evacuate, having a prepared 72 hour kit or bug out bag will expedite the process of leaving as well as keeping things running as smoothly as possible.  A 72 hour bag should have all items necessary to survive for 3 days.   

When preparing a bag keep the main surviving points is mind (water, food, shelter, clothing).  Having a separate bug out bag for the vehicle will also come in handy in the event that someone has to leave their home immediately.

Tools

Tools are a valuable commodity when it comes to survival.  Their usefulness for hunting, digging, cutting, communicating and for navigational purposes are all essential items to have on hand.  

Knives ( to cut large machete type and a smaller hunter)
Multi-tool
Camping shovels
Candles
Hammer or hatchet
Collapsible fishing rod with hooks, line, bobbers, etc.
Flares
Maps, compass or GPS devices  ( Having extra compasses ensures that navigation is accurate).
Rope (paracord),
Knife sharpening stone,
 Torch/s with extra batteries
Written Survival Notes

In a high stress situation that some are not used to, forgetfulness plays a part from dealing with all the changes that are occurring.  Having some manuals to look upon for survival information or for spiritual information to lift the morale is a good idea and does not take up much space in a pack.
Survival Manuals
First Aid Manuals
Survival e-books

Understanding how to survive in different scenarios requires one to constantly be learning in order to be as prepared as possible.  
Prepping is a passion for some.   

For others it is simply to keep their family as safe as possible.   
Whatever the reasoning is behind why you have decided to prep, you will be better off in the long run.



What Is Prepping?
When some people think of prepping, it conjures images of strange people wearing tinfoil hats huddled in a shelter while they wait for the mother ship to return. 

For others, thoughts of a recluse living in a one-room shack in the middle of the wilderness come to mind.

But neither of those thoughts captures the real nature of prepping.

At its heart, prepping is simply preparing for the future. And since there is no certainty of what that future may bring, preppers frequently hope for the best yet prepare for the worse. And with good reason, many preppers feel that we are on the verge of a significant change in life as we know it. So they prepare.

Three Facets of Prepping

For the modern prepper, prepping involves three primary areas: acquiring the necessary supplies, learning requisite skills, and building a community.

Acquiring the Necessary Supplies

Food, water, shelter. We all need these things to survive. Moreover, we all need a continual supply of them. Preppers know this and take steps to prepare themselves in case the supply is disrupted for any reason.

Preppers don’t want the loss of a job or a truckers strike to keep them from eating. So they prepare. They buy extra food when it’s on sale. They grow their own in a garden and preserve it. They buy in bulk and store it for a rainy day.

Similarly, preppers don’t like debt. So they pay off their mortgage, they live within their means, and they work hard at their jobs. They are not afraid of physical labour to provide for their families. 

Preppers don’t want the loss of a job to turn into the loss of a home or car.

Learning Requisite Skills

Prepping may start with food and supply storage, but it doesn’t end there. Preppers regularly learn and practice new skills. They learn to cook. They learn emergency first aid. They learn to hunt with a variety of weapons. They learn to build debris huts and other shelters.

From sewing and canning to fire starting and knot tying, preppers learn important and potentially lifesaving skills before they may need them. It’s part of being prepared.

Building a Community

Preppers recognize that there is value in getting to know other like-minded individuals. We can learn from each other. We can help each other. We can share our knowledge and encourage one another. Prepping is not a zero-sum game; we can expand the pie by helping others.

Additionally, it’s impossible for a prepper to acquire every supply and every skill he may ever need. There’s simply not enough time or money to prepare to that extent. So preppers get to know others in their local community with similar passions yet different skill sets.

If you’re having car trouble, it’s nice to know a mechanic. If you’ve injured yourself, it’s good to know an paramedic. If the food supply is disrupted for an extended period, it’s good to know a farmer.
People helping people; that’s part of prepping.

Where to Start?

Prepping is a journey. And as the old adage goes, every journey begins with a single step. Recognizing the need for and prudence of prepping and acknowledging that you are woefully underprepared is a good first step.

Next, make a plan. Identify where you are with your supplies, your skills, and your community. Then determine where you’d like to be and make a plan to close the gap. If you have 3 days’ worth of food in the pantry and you want 6 months’ worth, prioritize that and plan.

The key is to do something. A plan without an action is simply a wish.

Prepping (verb) is the act of a group or individual preparing themselves and loved ones for any potential threat to life as we know it. There are a few basic things that one would need to know when becoming a prepper, and preparing their family for any potential threats that could come their way, and surviving any ordeals you may face.

First, the basics:
Food
Shelter
Water

These three are probably the absolutely most important things to start off with when considering your survival needs. Why are these important? Well let’s go over each one:

Food - Right now, get up and go look in your kitchen (if you’re home of course) and count the number of days you could survive off of just the food you have at this moment.

You probably counted the food in your fridge too huh? Don't. The reason being is that in most SHTF situations, the electric grid is more than likely to be gone, and any food you have in your fridge or freezer will go to waste within a matter of hours to possibly two days depending on the weather.

So now just look at the non-perishable items that you have. Most people will find themselves with less than three days’ worth of food.. So now consider this, if you’re like most other people, your first thought is to panic and run to the supermarket and try to stock up.

Well guess what, that's what all your neighbours are doing too.  

So now you have to fight to get whatever is remaining in the shops closest to you.

Once the grocery stores are out, then what? In most SHTF situations, transportation and motorways will become impassable or impossible, meaning that the food that is delivered to supermarkets by road will no longer be on its way. 

So with no way to replenish the shops, what do you do? 

That is what prepping is all about, preparing your family with either the ability to grow and produce your own food, or having enough food to last you until proper order can be restored.

Best is to try and have at least 72hrs worth of food for if you need to leave (bug-out-bag), and 90days worth of food in your house for storage.

Shelter - For obvious reasons, this is an important factor to consider first when beginning to prep. Is your shelter reliable for protection against raids?

Natural disasters?

If you answered no to either of those two questions, then your next step would be to consider how to prepare your home or bug out locations for any type of situation.

Many people who live in places where natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes and earthquakes already have plans in place to protect their shelters. But if you aren't already prepared, knowing your location (geographical region), what types of dangers you might be exposed to, and how to properly secure and defend it is going to be important.

Having wood to board up doors and windows, basement to seek deeper shelter and weapons to defend your location is all important things to consider.

Water - One of the most important keys to survival, of any living creature on this planet, is water. In most SHTF scenarios, water will be obtainable for only a short period of time.

With no electricity, how will water be pumped to your house?  

Unless you have a well, you’re out of luck. One of the very first things to do in an emergency disaster situation, is to run to your bathroom and fill up your bath as quickly as you can.

Having extra water on hand will be important, not just for drinking, but for cooking as well. It would be a good idea to have at least 3 months’ worth of water on hand at all times.

Remember, that food and water have a shelf life, and can expire over time. It’s important to think ahead and get food that will stay fresh and eatable for as long as possible.



Bugging Out
When the situation around you is so bad that you have to leave, then go. The military referred to it as "Bugging Out". 

This can be a complete disaster all by itself, but a little prior planning will certainly help. There are three things that you should consider before going anywhere:

Where are you going?
How are you going to get there?
What will you do when you get there?

You should plan for the worst possible situation. If you live in a highly populated area the roads will be jammed up. The airlines may or may not be flying in or out of your area. 

Busses, trains and taxis will be full, if working. Walking may be dangerous. So what do you do?

Consider first: Stay at home. Bunker In. Everything you have is already there. You and your family know where everything is, and you are in an area you are familiar with. But are you safe staying at home? Is there a raging fire close by heading your way? Is there a flood? Terrorist threat or actual terrorist activity?

Is there a nuclear, biological or chemical problem in your area? 

Is the electricity and water still working? Are thugs running rampant? Is it summer or winter with lots of snow? Is there a wild elephant in the yard? You have to consider all the facts before you decide to bug out. If, after all this thinking, you still have to leave, what do you take with you?

Most travel today has to be by private vehicle. Even with the streets jammed with others trying to get away, it is still your best bet for getting out safely. If you haven't already done it, prepare an vehicle emergency kit.

This kit depends a lot on the size of your vehicle, and the number of people in your party. Here's a list of some items you may want to include in your own automobile emergency kit:

VEHICLE EMERGENCY KIT CONTENTS (Minimum)

Extra fuel in an approved container.
Warm clothing for everyone in your party.
Maps of the area you are leaving/going to.
12 Volt tire inflation pump.
Spare tire... a real one.
Blankets, towels, pillows.
Roll of plastic sheeting or large plastic bags.
Torch with spare bulbs and batteries.
Fire extinguisher.
Small shelter or tent.
Small cooking set & charcoal briquettes.
Individualized personal non-perishable items.
Snow Chains for tires.
Folding shovel.
Compass
Tools for vehicle repair
Extra oil for engine and transmission
Change of clothing for everyone in your party.
1 Gallon of water per person in your party, per day. Plan on 3 days

Emergency food for up to 3 days without re-supply, preferably dehydrated types.
Books suitable for all members of your party.
A heavy knife, axe, or machete.
Weapons of choice.

All the above items, except the water, can be kept locked in your car all year long. Water can only be included when the outside temperatures will stay above freezing. A frozen water container will crack, and when it thaws will leak out all over your stuff. Space permitting, feel free to add any other items you think you will need.

KEEP YOUR VEHICLE IN TOP MECHANICAL CONDITION, ALL THE TIME. KEEP THE TANK FILLED. NEVER LET THE TANK GO BELOW 1/4 FULL.

The Best Place to go is the place you've already set up.
Where are you going? And for how long? If you can safely travel, try for a safe place the shortest distance away from your home that you can find.

Is it a hotel on the other side of town, or Grandma's house in another county? The shortest distance to safety gets you off the roads the quickest.

Did you make arrangements with a friend or relative, in advance, to use their home as a "bug out" location? Did you agree for him/her to come to your house if they have an emergency? You should have.

Consider the following when deciding WHERE to go:

Is the location you have pre-arranged under the same threat as you are? Floods and bad weather will cover huge areas, but forest fires are generally smaller in area.

Does the location you choose have all the facilities that you need in order to survive? Is their water and electricity still on, or is it questionable? Are hospitals available?
Can every member of your party agree to where you plan to go?
Is food and water available where you plan to go?
Is the shelter large enough to handle you, your party, and everyone else who may show up to use the same facility?

Is the area you pick in a relatively safe location, or will the situation later deteriorate and force you to pack up and move again?

Are you comfortable with your decision?

Once you've considered all the items above, and you've made your decision, it's time to pack up. Everyone in your party must know ahead of time how much space they will be allotted in your vehicle.

If you have a small car and someone shows up with a trunk full of clothes, you've got a problem. Like a ship at sea, if it's your car, you are the Captain. Your decisions stand...don't back down. Pack all the things you absolutely HAVE to have first. 
Then add all those "nice to have" items next. Don't forget important items.

PACKING CHECKLIST ("Need to Have" items)
The relevant maps with or without a sat nav
Medications for a 30-day supply. Prescriptions for refill, if necessary.

Glasses and spare glasses, sunglasses.
Warm clothing for cold weather, regardless of the time of year.
Extra shoes, belts, gloves, and hats.
Mobile phone/s and 12 volt charger.
At least one change of clothing each.
Extra shoes and shoelaces
Dental care items. Includes false teeth care.
List of names, addresses and telephone numbers for family, friends, co-workers   
Elderly care products, hearing aid batteries.
MONEY. As much as you can get. Hide it.
Female hygiene products.
Baby care items: nappies, food/milk mix, bottles, etc.
Personal hygiene items: Top of list: Toilet Paper
Laundry detergent, softeners, personal soap.
Lose change for vending machines and telephones.
Credit cards, ID cards, Insurance papers.
NHS card/number and National Insurance number
Handicapped persons - special equipment and supplies needed for daily life.
Any special item of apparel that anyone in your party needs to live day-to-day.

Everything else is on the "Nice to Have" list. There are just a few items that I include on my "Nice to Have" list. Most of them involve entertaining children. But, in planning for any trip, water, food, and shelter have to be considered:
WATER: The number one priority on your list of survival items. One gallon per person per day. There must be a means of refilling or re-supplying your water while you travel. If your travel is planned for 1 day...and the roads are jammed...it may take 3 days.

You must have water to live. If the electricity is out all along your route, you will not be able to get either food or fuel. Most of the stores and restaurants on the route will be closed. 

Don't depend on someone else to help you...they're probably worse off than you are.

FOOD: Dehydrated food requires water to re-hydrate it so it can be eaten. Pre-plan what foods you ALL can eat, and add them to your car. Plan at least for 3 days’ worth of food.

You can live a long time without food, but only a short time without water. Do not take foods that are overly salty or make people thirsty. An ice chest of fresh fruit and sandwiches goes a long way.

Small children need milk, so don't forget that item.

Include some snacks to augment the above supply. Don't be afraid to have the same thing 3 days in a row. It's boring but it cuts down on buying supplies. If you include perishable food, you must eat it the first day out, or it will spoil.

The ice in even the best quality chest will eventually melt. (Melted ice = water.) You can wash using melted water from the ice chest...it's very "refreshing"...and cold.

Every car should already have an emergency first aid kit.  

There are many commercially available kits out there that have adequate supplies for up to 3 days, barring catastrophic accidents.

However, most kits only include enough plasters for one person, for 2 or 3 days. Consider buying extras and throwing them in the kit. 

You don't have a first aid kit...get one.

SHELTER: Shelter includes the time you are traveling as well as when you get there. Nobody can drive continuously for 3 days without relief. Eventually, you will have to stop, eat a meal, and sleep.

Hotels and motels may not be available. The roadside rest areas will already be full, if you're allowed in them at all. What to do? If you can find a friendly local in the area off the main road (particularly farmers), you can ask to camp on their property.

Be sure to assure them you will clean up your mess before you leave. You can even offer to pay them for their inconvenience. Private property is safer than public areas in a mass evacuation. But public campsites (parks, forests, etc.) may still be open.

OK: You've got your vehicle fully packed with everything you need to travel. You've counted heads, and everyone is present and ready to go. Are you ready? Not yet.

HOW TO GET THERE? The route of travel between two places in the UK is almost infinitely variable. . Remember there's a lot to think about on how you are going to travel to your destination:

Route Planning Considerations

Does your planned route avoid major populated areas? More people = more problems.
Are all the roads open?

How many drivers are available you trust?

Are there places available where you can reasonably expect to get water, fuel, and food?

Are the civil authorities still available to direct traffic and provide emergency services?
Is another route available, even if it's longer?
Are all the bridges and tunnels open?

Does this route avoid bad weather conditions, or take them into account?
Can this route safely be driven at night?

Can anyone unfamiliar with the route drive it while you are resting?
Does an alternative route offer better conditions and safety than the originally proposed route?

Are there safe areas within a reasonable drive that you can use for emergency sheltering, including camping overnight, if required?

Is driving time a planning factor?

Are mountains, or hazardous terrain a problem for your vehicle?


Can you safely get to "A" from "B"?

You made your decision, you're on the road. You left word with friends in the area you just left on where you were going, and how you plan to get there. You promise to keep others informed of departure and arrival times. 

You know someone will miss you if you don't show up in a reasonable time period. Your plan works perfectly, and now you have arrived where you were supposed to be.

Once at your destination, quickly evaluate the shelter arrangements. Is it too crowded? Is it safe or unsafe. Are there people there you don't trust? Evaluate everything.
If something doesn't "smell right", move on to another shelter. 

The last resort is to sleep on the side of the road or in the car park of a shopping centre.

Ask the local police if there is a safe place to park and sleep. You probably will not be allowed to cook over a campfire in the local shopping centre car park.
Putting tent pegs in concrete is very difficult too. But, assuming the current shelter will be OK, they next logical step is to ask "NOW WHAT?"...

YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE!

You're alive and well. You have money and the tools to survive. Get on with your life. Post-Disaster Recovery is an entirely different problem.



Prepared for Disaster
Are you prepared for a disaster that could affect the daily function of your life or the lives of your family members? Or do you even believe a disaster will ever affect you?

Blizzards, floods, power cuts, and who knows what else happens all the time. Still, most of us ignore the warnings. "It can't happen here," some say. "The government will take care of me if it does," others think.

But not only do they happen, they can happen to you. And when they do, you will be on your own. The recent UK flooding events have proved this. Look at the total disruption of transportation when it snows for example. 

This was followed by the immediate and complete paralysis of air transportation at major international airports. Thousands were stranded for days on their own in strange cities.

As serious as these events were, they pale in comparison to the possibilities. Consider a major biological or nuclear attack or accident. Hundreds of thousands of casualties are predicted in some scenarios.

These disasters or attacks would overwhelm local, regional, and national emergency resources and cause widespread panic. Transportation would stop, markets would be stripped of food within hours, essential emergency services would be overwhelmed, and food, medical supplies, and emergency service workers would be sent to the disaster area, leaving critical shortages in local areas.

Are you prepared?

Now, more than ever, you need to prepare for the possibility of disasters or attacks on a scale and type never before imagined. It is your duty to yourself, your family, and your country to be prepared.

Some of us need to be prepared for being at "ground zero." Certain areas are the most likely direct targets of terrorists or natural disasters. All of us need to be prepared to be indirect targets, those affected by the temporary collapse of our nation's infrastructure.

In short, we all need to be able to live self-sufficiently for a period of time.

What to prepare for will depend on your geographical area. Natural disasters and the risk of major terrorist attacks vary by where you live. The first thing you need to do is make a list of the possible disasters for which you need to prepare.

Some of the things you will want to consider include natural disasters, such as blizzards, floods, and even wild fires, as well as technological disasters, such as nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) attacks, and hazardous material accidents.

Don't forget cyber-attacks, the possibility that an enemy could attack our computer systems, shutting down electrical, gas, communications, transportation, and emergency and medical services. What about attacks on our farms and agricultural processing plants? While they would likely affect only a small number of people directly, they would completely shut down food production and distribution systems.

While there are many things to plan for, your response to all of them is one of two things: stay at home or evacuate. For blizzards, earthquakes, cyber-attacks, nuclear fallout, quarantine after biological attacks, and collapse of the infrastructure, you will want to stay at home. 

For floods, hurricanes, or with some advance notice of NBC attacks, evacuation may be your course of action.

Whenever possible, staying at home in your own environment and with your own emergency supplies is the best choice. 

When you evacuate, you are essentially a refugee at the mercy of government evacuation centres or the compassion of the local population.

In a major disaster, don't expect to be welcomed by the locals who are struggling with their own survival.

In all situations, you will need to be able to think for yourself. Confusion always accompanies a major disaster and initial information and instructions may be conflicting and incorrect.

So, monitor the radio and television for official instructions on what to do, such as whether to evacuate or not, but don't assume they are correct. Make your own decisions based on your plans and preparation.

Riding it out at home

Key to your survival is preparing a disaster supplies kit, essentially the stockpiling of all materials that you would need to live on if you are cut off from outside utilities, water, and supplies. Once a disaster occurs, there won't be time and materials may not be available.

How long you will need to be self-sufficient is hard to say. My advice would be that everyone store enough food, water, and supplies to take care of their family for three days.

Preparing a "72-hour kit" is a good idea. It can be used for immediate evacuation and part of your overall disaster supply kit. Place items in a portable, easy-to-carry container, such as a large plastic box or duffel bag, ready to grab at a moment's notice.

But, is it enough? A blizzard, earthquake, quarantine, or nuclear fallout could confine you for much longer. You need to be able to take care of all the needs for your family for a period of at least two weeks and possibly longer. 

Having supplies for one to three months is not all that unreasonable or hard to accomplish.

There are six basics that should be part of your home disaster supplies kit: water, food, first aid supplies, tools and emergency supplies, clothing and bedding, and special needs items.

Tools and emergency supplies Tools and emergency supplies should include such things as battery-operated radio and flashlights with extra batteries, cups/plates/utensils, non-electric can opener, matches, lantern, fire extinguisher, hand tools for repairs and to turn off household water and gas, a whistle, and plastic sheeting. 

For sanitation, include toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, personal hygiene items, disinfectant, and household chlorine bleach. Many more items can be added. 

Think through the things you use on a daily basis.

Clothing and bedding Clothing and bedding would include a change of clothing and footwear for everyone in the household, rain gear, cold weather clothes, hat and gloves, and blankets or sleeping bags. Remember, a house or car can get very cold without heat. 

Prepare for the worst weather that you might encounter.


Store your disaster supply kit in a convenient place that is known to all family members and make sure they know your family's disaster plan. Evaluate your kit once a year and update it according to family needs.

Evacuation

You may not have much time to prepare when you need to evacuate. A hazardous materials spill could mean instant evacuation, so always have a smaller version of your home disaster supply kit in the boot of your car.

When you have advance warning of an evacuation, bring your portable "72-hour" disaster supply kit, along with additional food, water, and clothing. Keep important family documents in a waterproof, portable container, ready to bring with you in an evacuation.

These may include your will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds, passports, social security card, bank and credit account numbers, family documents (birth, marriage, and death certificates), inventory of valuable household items, and important telephone numbers.

It would be a good idea to always keep some cash in this container, so you have it for an emergency. If there is time, valuable family heirlooms or photographs can be added.

Now that you have a basic plan for any emergency, let's consider plans for some specific risks.

Nuclear attack/accident

A nuclear disaster could result from an accident at a nuclear power plant, a detonation of a nuclear device by terrorists or a rogue nation, or an explosion of a "dirty" bomb, an explosive surrounded by radioactive material. Individuals at "ground zero" will have little chance of survival.  

The risk for others is the exposure to radiation.
Radiation is dangerous because of harmful effects on the body. In large amounts, radiation can cause radiation sickness, thyroid and other cancers, and death.

These effects are greater the longer a person is exposed to the radiation and the closer the person is to the source. If radiation is released into the atmosphere, it can travel for thousands of miles, contaminating the ground and living organisms as it settles back to earth on dust or rain.  

This is called fallout radiation.

Time, distance, and shielding are the factors that minimize exposure to nuclear radiation. Most radiation loses its strength fairly rapidly, but it is important to limit the amount of time spent near the radiation source.

The farther away an individual is from the radiation source, the less exposure. Shielding is a barrier between an individual and the radiation.

Concrete, earth, and structures are good shields. Depending on the distance from the source, the best protection from radiation fallout may be to remain indoors.

After a nuclear disaster you may be advised to evacuate. If so, remain calm, pack your evacuation survival kit in your vehicle, and follow the evacuation routes out of the area. If there is time before leaving, close and lock windows of your house, close fireplace dampers, turn off air conditioning, vents, fans, and furnace.

Doing these things will make your house safer when you return by minimizing exposure to the inside of your house to fallout.

If you are advised to remain at home, bring pets inside, secure your house from fallout by closing and locking doors and windows, closing fireplace dampers, turning off air conditioning, vents and fans.

If your emergency supplies are stored in a garage or barn, bring them inside and, if there is time, store additional water in tubs, sinks, and available containers. Inside the house, the safest area is a basement or underground area, followed by an interior room with no windows.

Stay inside until authorities say it is safe to go outside. When coming in from the outdoors after exposure to fallout, shower and change clothes and shoes. Put the contaminated items that were worn outside in a plastic bag and seal it.

Open water sources (streams, creeks, lakes), fruits and vegetables from outdoor gardens, and livestock will all be contaminated. Do not eat or drink products from these until you know it is safe.

Bioterrorism
V
ery few people were actually infected in the anthrax attacks in the USA after 911 because it took direct physical contact with the bacteria to develop the disease. Other biological agents are contagious (passed from person to person), however, and are much more dangerous.

Biological agents are microorganisms (bacteria or viruses) or toxins that produce diseases in humans. The Centre For Disease Control (CDC) lists 17 biological agents that may be used as weapons, including anthrax, smallpox, plague, and botulism.

They are not immediately detectable, may take days to grow and spread, and it is impossible to know when an attack occurs. While preparations are being made for defence against such attacks, nobody really knows what to expect.

Fortunately, most of these biological agents are hard to make into weapons. Worst-case scenarios, such as suicide terrorists infected with smallpox traveling through metropolitan areas, are staggering, however.  

Thousands of victims would overwhelm medical services and die.

Likely? Hopefully not, but who knows? Those at "ground zero" who are infected will need professional medical help.
With air travel, people will spread the disease all over the country before we even know an attack occurred. 

The rest of the country will shut down as soon as authorities realize what happened.

Expect widespread closure of the country and mandatory quarantines. Transportation, food, and vital services will stop. Plan to stay at home if advised or ordered and avoid exposure with outsiders who may carry disease. 

Your stockpile of food and supplies should get you through this disaster. You may want to have some medical-type masks and gloves on hand.

Should you stockpile antibiotics in preparation for such attacks? Authorities say no and this may be practical advice. 

A large number of different types and amounts of antibiotics would need to be stored to protect your family against all likely biological weapons.

Many of the diseases are viruses, not treatable with antibiotics, and those treatable by antibiotics might be altered to make them resistant to available antibiotics. Besides, you will need professional medical care if you are exposed.

Chemical terrorism and hazardous spills

Chemical agents are gases, liquids, or solids that are poisonous to humans. Depending on the type and amount of the material, exposure to chemical agents can cause illness or be fatal.

Chemical agents include chlorine or ammonia gases that are transported on trains daily, other hazardous industrial chemicals, and chemical warfare agents, such as nerve agents, blister agents, blood poisons, and others.  

The CDC lists 58 known chemical warfare agents.

Some nerve agents, such as Sarin, used in the attack in Japan, kill quickly. If you are at "ground zero" in such situations your only chance is to evacuate immediately.

A hazardous materials spill is probably more likely than a terrorist chemical attack. For gases and other chemicals that spread in the air, evacuation to avoid exposure is critical.

Leave the area as soon as you are aware of the incident. Full face respirators (gas masks) may be useful for escape in such situations. Buy good quality, new masks designed for industrial or rescue use, not army surplus masks.

Natural disasters

Natural disasters are somewhat easier to prepare for—you either get out of their way (evacuate) or you protect yourself indoors.

In floods Sandbag doors and windows, move furniture and other items to higher ground, and evacuate if necessary. Do not drive or walk through flood waters and stay off bridges when they are covered with water.

Be prepared

Bad weather Preparation should include boarding up windows and flood-proofing your home. Bring in outside furniture, bicycles, and rubbish bins. Listen to recommendations of emergency officials and evacuate if advised. If not advised to evacuate, stay indoors and away from windows.

Blizzards Stay indoors and use the telephone only for life-threatening emergencies. Use fires safely and properly ventilate. It there is no heat, cover windows, close off un-needed rooms, and stuff towels in cracks under doors.

Wear layers of warm clothing. Eat and drink plenty. Food generates body heat and water helps circulation to keep the skin warm.

It is important to know what to do and have a plan before a disaster strikes. The internet can provide additional information for preparing for and dealing with natural disasters and terrorist attacks. 

Consider your risks, develop a plan, prepare your disaster supplies kit, and discuss with your family what to do in case of an emergency.
Remember, the future belongs to those who prepare. You must be ready before disaster strikes.

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