Magnetic Poles Shifting Soon?

Scientists continue to point towards a potential magnetic pole shift in our near future.

What Does That Mean?

Every 200,000 to 300,000 years, the earth's magnetic poles switch causing our magnetic field to weaken. The magnetic field is what protects living things from UV Rays and dangerous cosmic rays. The last pole switch occurred 780,000 years ago so we are way past due.

The problem is that there is no agreement on what might happen to human life after this shift.

Some believe the effects will be minimal while many others are stating this could be the next extinction.

What is agreed upon is these solar storms can have dangerous effects on the systems we have come to depend on. Cell phones and even the electricity entering our homes may suddenly stop working.

This might not sound like a big deal on face value but after numerous government studies, it's widely accepted now that today's human population would not survive very long without electricity. The conclusion being 95% of humans would perish in the first year without electricity.

What Should You Do? 

Preparing for a pole switch isn't much different than preparing for any other disaster. You're mostly preparing for an extended period without electricity.

That means clean water, lights, fire starting material, food, medication, transportation, bug out plans, etc.

Having a plan in place will prevent panic within your home if an emergency like this occurs.

Keep on prepping!

Why I Became a Prepper

Most of the population is not prepared for a disaster situation and I will admit I used to be one of them. I wasn't always attentive to my surroundings and the aware of the possibilities of our great country coming under attack.

When you think about it, it's easy to become reliant on the systems our government has put together for us. Electric, heat, food supply, clean water are all now necessary systems for the survival of the majority of US citizens.

US Congress once did a study and found that if the country were to lose the electrical grid, 98% of Americans would be dead within the first year because we wouldn't have access to food, water, medicine etc. You get the idea. 

I never thought about what would happen if those systems suddenly became interrupted. I never wondered what I would do if I couldn't drive down the road to the grocery store and replenish my food supply. Or what would happen if I turned on my faucet and no water came out. 

Disasters typically don't give us a heads-up that they're coming so that we can run to store and stock up on supplies. 

One day, I found the book Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse and began reading.

It's not my typical book, as I prefer to read non-fiction. Even though this book is fictional, there are many facts about survival tools and firearms that it's hard to classify it completely as fiction.

This book opened my eyes to not only the immediate dangers of a post-collapse America but also the threats that occur months down the road as vagrants and gangs try to survive by killing and stealing.

When the shit hits the fan, this book will be the number one reason that I will be ready.

Must-Have Survival Books

Preparing for a disaster is all about acquiring information and maintaining this information for when it's needed. There are lots and lots of books written about surviving in disaster situations, but I've already spent my money on many of these and know which ones to recommend.

Let's get started!


SAS Survival Guide is a great general guide to surviving in any situation and climate. 



Shelter is the top priority so make sure you're familiar with all types.




A Field Guide to Wild Edible Plants is a must-have because you must know what is edible and what isn't. 




Know how to protect yourself and your supplies.



Read as many books on the subject and when you're done, store them in waterproof sealed bags just in case you need to leave in a hurry. 

Keep on prepping!

Are Your Water Preparedness Plans Enough?

Lack of space is a huge deterrent when people begin storing clean drinking water. The containers add up real fast if you're planning for a gallon per person per day. Even folks with a private well will need backup plans for accessing the water without power. But don't give up on your prepping plans just because you can't store months of clean water. Most of us can't either. Fortunately, there are affordable options for those of us who can't bury a 10,000 gallon water tank in our backyard and fit it with solar powered pumps and 24-hour military-trained armed guards.

My number one device in my bug-out bag is my LifeStraw Personal Water Filter. The LifeStraw is only $20 and will filter up to 1,000 liters of water down to 0.2 microns removing 99.999% of water-borne bacteria. This $20 straw can supply a single person with over 260 days of clean drinking water. Each of my family members are equipped with one of these.

The next water purifier I keep with my main supplies in my house is the SteriPEN Traveler 3-in-1 Water Purifier. This purifier uses UV light to kill organisms. At $42 for 3,000 16-oz treatments, it's a good backup to have in addition to the LifeStraw. The only thing I do not like about the SteriPen is it relies on AA battery power where as the LifeStraw does not.

 If you are aiming to supply safe water for more than yourself, I highly recommend the LifeStraw Family Water Purifier. LifeStraw has introduced the new LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier for $75 which will filter up to 18,000 gallons of water, enough for a family of four to stay hydrated for 3 years. No power is necessary for this purifier as it uses gravity to filter the water. So, three years of clean water for $75 and you don't have to store containers of water around your house? Folks, this is a no-brainer purchase if you ask me.


Lack of clean water will be the number one killer after a disaster so please do not skimp in this area.

Keep on Prepping!

10 Must Have Survival Items Under $25

Prepping can be an expensive activity when you think about all of the food, water, and guns people recommend. Thankfully for Amazon, there are many useful items which can extend your survival at an affordable price. Purchasing through these links doesn't cost you anymore money and it gives me a small financial stimulus.

1.  Texsport Reinforced Rip-Stop Polyethylene Tarp (Camouflage, 10 x 12-Feet) Shelter comes first. Protecting yourself from the elements is the top priority when trying to survive. This tarp will help you stay dry for $17.40.

2.  Light My Fire Original Swedish FireSteel Army 12,000 Strike Fire Starter - Black Next you need fire. Fire not only provides warmth and safety, it also gives you another back-up plan for clean water. Remember, boiling water is a proven method for acquiring clean water. $15.99

3. LifeStraw Personal Water Filter At $19.95, this water filter will clean up to 1000L of water giving you close to a year's supply of clean drinking water. No question there should be one of these in everyone's survival kit.

4.  Potable Aqua Water Treatment Tablets At $5.99, this is your back-up to clean water if the LifeStraw fails. The downfall is one bottle will only treat about 4 gallons of water. You might want to pick up a couple.

5. GSI Outdoors Straight Pot with Lid (Blue, 3.5-Quart) You need something to heat your water in don't you? If you plan on relying on the boiling method for clean water, you better have a reliable pot for collecting and heating the water. $18.69

6.  Rothco Type III Commercial Paracord (Black, 550-Pound/100-Feet) Paracord has many uses in the wild and it's only $7.49 for 100'. Enough said!

7.  1/2 Dozen (6 PAK) Duke 110 Single Spring Body Trap for Mink, Muskrat, and Weasel Trapping is an excellent method for acquiring protein rich food. Set up the trap, walk away, come back later to your next meal. $24.25 for 6 traps.

8.  2pk blue 721 Mens Merino Wool Calf Boot socks for Hiking and Camping What are socks doing on a survival list? You'll thank me when you are out in the woods with warm comfy feet. Only $19.90 for a 2pk.

9.  6 Mechanical Fisher's Yo Yo Fishing Reels -Package of 1/2 Dozen- Yoyo Fish Trap Don't forget fish when planning on food sources. Yo yo fishing reels catch fish while you're away setting up camp or gathering fire wood so you have something to eat before bedtime. Have 6 of them working for you for $18.33.

10.  Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Series, Folding Sheath Knife I hate to recommend a survival knife on a discount list, but this knife is fairly reliable, and well, you need a knife. For the budget conscious survivalist, this knife is sufficient and only $18.53.

Keep on prepping!

Bug Out Bag

Here is another great poster I found describing the gear you should have in your bug out bag. Don't forget a small reusable LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

 

I did not create this image and could not find where this one originated from in order to give credit. 

Some of my other popular posts:  

What are you prepping for?

Guide to water filters 

Storing Clean Water for Emergencies

After oxygen and shelter, clean drinking water is the next essential component to our survival. FEMA recommends each household have at least 3 gallons of water stored for each resident. This is roughly a 3 day supply of clean water. I prefer to be extra prepared and have a few extra weeks beyond those first 3 days. Here is how I store my water:

My water storing supplies

Used soda and juice containers are perfect for storing emergency water. The steps I follow are:

1. After the original beverage is empty I wash the container and lid very well with some dish liquid soap. Rinsing is extremely important because you do not want any soap residue giving you diarrhea in an emergency situation. 
2. After the containers are washed, I add a few drops of bleach (5%) to each container. Next, I fill each container 1/3 full with water and tightly screw the cap back on. I shake each bottle making sure the bleach solution touches all parts of the container. This allows my containers to get all sparkly clean and germ-free. I allow the solutions to sit in the bottles for at least a half an hour, then empty and rinse. 
3. I like my containers to air-dry for a day or two and then they are ready to be filled with tap water. NOTE: Because my city supplied water is already treated, I do not add any bleach to my stored water. Your situation may be different than mine so you may need to add a few drops of bleach to each container. Typically, if you are filling a 2-liter bottle, 5 drops of 5% bleach solution is enough.
4. My containers of water are stored in trash-bag lined milk carton type containers. The trash bag protects everything from water damage if a bottle fails and leaks water. 
5. I attempt to rotate my bottles every 6-12 months and re-sanitize everything before refilling with fresh water.

Storing clean water is essential to your survival post-catastrophe. If you do not have at least 3 gallons of water stored for each member of your family, this is the moment to get off of your butt. 

Don't forget water filters just in case the help takes longer than expected. Water filters can be a game changer for those who do not store enough water or do not have the room for storage. The Katadyn filter and Lifestraw are highly recommended by all.

Amazon has the best prices for the Katadyn Pocket Water Microfilter and  LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

Cheap Water Filter Option

As I mentioned in a past post, water back-ups are crucial to your prepping plans. Without safe water all of your plans and prepping have been pointless because you and your family are not going to survive. The options we have are storing clean water and having water filters on hand. The problem is you can only store so much water though.

Water filters are a great item to add to your survival cache because they take up very little room and are easy to carry in a bug-out bag. A Katadyn water filter can fetch a hefty price tag, typically around $300. If you have a nice amount of cash to apply to prepping than I absolutely recommend buying the Katadyn filter because it will filter up to 18,000 gallons of water (many years of clean water).

However, if you are like me and have limited funds I believe the cheaper option is upon us. At only $19.95 the LifeStraw will filter up to 264 gallons (almost a year's worth of drinking water). After reading the reviews I believe this is a definite purchase and I have actually bought a few extras. For the price of one Katadyn I can have at least a dozen LifeStraws. I feel much more prepared having multiple filters over one filter because now I have back-ups. Click below to read more about the LifeStraw



If you would like to order the Katadyn filter also, than the cheapest one I have found is on Amazon. Having both filters is the best preparations but do what you can afford. Find one cheaper please tell me.



Ordering through these links does help me, but that is not the reason I recommend them. They have proven to be the best products and these links are the best prices!

Make Your Own Rain Barrel

Rain barrels are extremely useful for storing water for a garden and can be treated and used in emergency situations for drinking water. I use a rain barrel for my rear garden because I hate unwinding 50+ ft of hose and winding it back up everyday.

Instead of buying a rain barrel at the store or online for upwards of a $100, you can quickly make your own out of a plastic trash can. This video gives you a basic understanding of building your own rain barrel. You do not have to build it exactly as shown in the video, so feel free to make changes that accommodate your set-up. My main suggestion is that you place the barrel on a foundation so that gravity is helping the water flow.

WATER - Emergency kit item #1

Focus on water first if you are a beginner to prepping. The first reason for this is because water is so important to our survival and sanity. Not only do our bodies need water but we need it for cooking and cleaning as well. The second reason is because the beginning stages of prepping can be overwhelming and costly. Water is free!
Side Note: For those that have wells, you are better off than us urbanites that are tied into the city lines. Just make sure you have a back-up plan when the power is off and you can no longer pump water from your well. A hand pump can be a great investment that will return your investment many times over.

Most survival sites recommend a minimum of 1 gallon of water per person per day. I agree with this number and believe that some days we will have extra to use the next day. The math portion for this is easy. Just multiply the number of people you are storing for times the number of days you would like stored.

ex: 3(people) x 10(days) = 30 gallons of water to store.

An easy and free way I found to store water is reusing all of my plastic 2 liter pop bottles and juice bottles. If the plastic is strong enough and you can screw the lid on tight than you can use it. Just please be sure to wash the bottles out prior to filling them. Washing won't remove all of the bacteria so I would recommend a couple(2-3) of drops of chlorine bleach in each bottle as well(1/8teaspoon/gallon).

Only use bleach that contains 5.25% hypochlorite and is scent-free.

So if I want to store 30 gallons of water for an emergency situation I would need how many bottles? Here comes more math! There is roughly 4 liters in 1 gallon so we need 2 bottles for each gallon or a total of 60 - 2 liter bottles. YOWZERS! I don't know about you, but I don't have the storage space for 60 bottles filled with water.

There is another option here: Most Americans have a water heater in their home. That tank of water that is sitting in your house will most likely be free of contaminants since it was filled prior to WTSHTF(just make sure you shut the intake water valve coming into your house). My small tank only holds 40 gallons, or about 13 days of water for my family. So I am done right? Depends on if you are satisfied with about 13 days of water storage. I know I'm not. What if this issue lasts longer?

A solution to this problem that takes up little room in your storage is a filter. Filters can turn creek and river water into acceptable drinking water and save the day. With a 13,000 gallon filtering capacity, the Katadyn water filter is my favorite. 13,000 gallons is almost 12 years of clean water for a family of 3. That is worth the cost. I also recommend water purification tablets because they are cheap and can be helpful to remove certain bacteria.

I can write on forever about the different water situations, but this general knowledge will help everyone reading this get started on building their supplies.