Don't Be Like Everyone Else!

It truly is terrifying to look around in a crowded public place and realize you might be the only one fully aware of your surroundings. 

People are so enthralled into their daily rituals and phone checking to understand things can go south in a blink of an eye. Having your eyes up and watching what is going on could be the big difference between dying and surviving a sudden dangerous situation. 

I walk through Walmart and see people loading up their food carts. But it's only enough for the week. Why? It's so simple to slowly build up your emergency supplies now!

You don't have to go to the store and spend hundreds of dollars for supplies tonight. But at least buy a few extra items each time you're there. If you eat tuna, buy a couple extra cans. Maybe you like pickles. Buy two jars instead of one this time. 

Those few extra items will add up to a large stockpile. A larger stockpile than your neighbors. 

Because I guarantee none of your neighbors are prepared! 

Don't find yourself in a nasty situation without any supplies. Don't find yourself looking back on today, realizing how easy it would have been. 

Don't put yourself in that situation. 

Keep on prepping!

Three States Warned of Potential Terrorist Attacks on Monday

If you live or will be visiting Texas, New York or Virginia next week, be vigilant and monitor your surroundings at all times. Any suspicious activity should be reported to authorities in order to prevent any potential attacks.

Even if you live furthest away from any of these states, I would not consider your area safe. Just because these states have been named does not mean there aren't other states in the scope of would-be terrorist attackers.

Protect yourself and your neighborhood. Do not casually rely on the FBI and Homeland Security to prevent attacks before they happen. Intelligence typically prevents these attacks but when the intelligence community warns us, we must be ready.

Keep on prepping!

Prepare for Cyber War

Cyber war may now be our single biggest threat heading into winter as attack allegations continue between US and Russia.

Russia continues to deny recent attacks on American websites including the DDOS attacks which interrupted sites like Twitter and Reddit on Friday. Jester, a powerful American vigilante hacker, has warned Russia against further attacks by hacking into their Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

While most of the recent attacks have been on Democratic platforms and aimed at interrupting Hillary Clinton running for President, you can bet the attacks will grow to affect every American. These acts cannot be condoned as it welcomes future foreign attacks on a system we rely on for survival.

Every system Americans have come to rely on is connected to the internet and is vulnerable to cyberattack. The electrical grid, water treatment plants, financial systems and nuclear power plants.
If you think our systems our impenetrable to an attack you will be one of the surprised sheep when it happens.

Prepare yourself for an extended interruption in our electrical grids or financial systems as foreign affairs continue to spiral into dangerous territory. Threats of war are usually just threats but we have now experienced direct attacks from a foreign government and it is time to be prepared for more extensive attacks.

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!

How To Always Protect Yourself

News of mass shootings and terrorist attacks continue to increase and until people start standing up for themselves and stopping these individuals, we will proceed on this downward spiral.

 Keeping you and your family safe should be your number one priority everyday!

BE ALERT
Always be aware of your surroundings. Always! As humans, we are built for survival. Our senses are there to protect us and warn us of problems. Use them and always scan your immediate area for potential threats.

KNOW YOUR EXITS
Escaping a threat and seeking help is always the best option before attempting to stop the threat yourself. You can either end up hurting yourself or going to jail because you used unnecessary force. The Police are trained to stop threats and protect others.
If it's an option, always escape and seek help! Living to see another day is not a cowardice act.

DEFEND YOURSELF
When escape is not an option and you must defend yourself, your goal is now to incapacitate the threat so that you can escape and seek help. Let's talk about the multiple levels of self-protection.

Most states allow law-abiding citizens to obtain permits to legally carry a handgun for protection. I understand not everyone is comfortable carrying a gun around and that's ok. But before ruling this out, I would recommend going to your local firing range and getting comfortable through personal training with a gun instructor.

Keep in mind that pulling out a gun is the last form of self defense you ever want to employ. Many people have gone to jail because they used a firearm unnecessarily in a situation that didn't warrant the use of a gun for protection.

Another form of protection is carrying a folding tactical knife. Many businesses do not allow guns on their premises, so carrying a knife at least prevents you from being helpless if a situation arises. I highly recommend a TAC Force Assisted Opening Tactical Knife as the spring mechanism allows you to open the blade much faster.

Another great item to keep on hand is Pepper Spray. Pepper spray is a non-lethal form of self defense and it will incapacitate your attacker, whether human or animal. I always keep pepper spray on me when I'm walking my dogs to protect us from other dogs. I'd rather not use lethal force against an attacker if I have the option.

The last form of protection you have in your arsenal is hand-to-hand combat. I don't suggest this even if you're a highly trained in mixed martial arts. Again, your job is to get away from the threat as fast as possible and a street fight is rarely quick.

Do yourself a favor and always make sure you have some form of protection on your person at all times.

Keep on Prepping!

Factors to Consider in a Survival Retreat

For the person who wants a plan B for shelter that does not consist of a tent or sleeping under a tarp, a survival retreat is a must-have. Survival retreats do not have to be expensive either. Hunting land can be had pretty cheap and small cabins can be built with the surrounding trees if you have the expertise.

I have compiled a small list of things to consider when looking for a safe place to flee.

Distance From Home

Typically, you will want your emergency shelter to be within a gas tank trip. For most vehicles, that's no more than 400-500 miles. Not knowing what kind of disaster you'll be fleeing, you will want to be able to get there quickly. If you live in Indiana, a retreat in Utah will be pretty pointless.

Distance From Civilization

The point of an emergency shelter is to get away from everyone else. As supplies dwindle, people will turn to violence and you do not want any part of that desperation. I would suggest you look for property that is at least 100 miles away from a major highway and at least 300 miles from a major city. As society begins to collapse and supplies run short, everyone will be making their way to the country. The farther away from civilization you are, the less chance you have of anyone finding your retreat and attacking it.

Access to Fresh Water

Everyone knows how important water is for your survival so make sure you have fresh water close by. Either a fresh spring or flowing water is a necessity. Make sure access is fairly simple also, like a manual pump.

Plentiful Natural Resources

How much firewood will you need to cook and keep your family warm? Is there space for a garden? What types of animals frequent the area? It is also nice if there are natural choke points, high points and other factors which can assist in defending your home. Plan on being discovered and needing to protect your home from desperate folks.

Secrecy

The last factor is keeping your emergency plans secret, from everyone. The best retreat is one no one knows exists. When looking at properties, make sure no one knows what you are doing. If you are dealing with an agent or a bank, they do not need to know your plans. If you are building a new shelter, try and use very few contractors and just explain it as a hunting cabin. The last thing you want to happen during an emergency is to arrive at your retreat to find the real estate agent has already taken residence and is using your supplies. A person willing to take your property, is also willing to take your life to keep it.

I hope these points help and please feel free to add some factors you think I missed in the comments.

Keep on prepping!

Ebola Experts Warn They are Wrong

At this point, in my opinion, being an expert on Ebola means nothing. So-called experts are now coming forward wondering if they could be wrong about the rules of transmission.

"There is no proof a person has to be symptomatic to transmit the disease."

"There is no proof Ebola is not mutating and possibly becoming airborne."

Open your eyes and see the warning flags. If an expert is saying, "I don't really know", then we have a problem folks.

What is even more concerning is the potential for Ebola to mutate into an airborne virus. If this happens, the discovery will come too late. The virus will spread faster than a wildfire.

At this point, I don't believe there is much to worry about. But it is wise to keep your ears to the ground and monitor cases as they are reported.

Protecting your family is the number one concern and the only way you can do that is by keeping a safe distance from people out in public and practicing hand washing and limiting the common habit of touching your face.

If this virus begins to spread outside of the Dallas area, I won't think twice at barricading myself and my family inside for the next few months until this passes. After-all, you can't get the virus if you limit your exposure to others.

Be safe and keep on prepping!

Ebola: Coming to an Airport Near You

Can this story seriously stop following the plot of a bad 1990's pandemic horror movie?

Now America is flying the American patients back to Atlanta in order to treat them. Full Story Here. Yes, that is correct. We have sent a special medical jet over to retrieve them and bring them...and the disease...back to us.

Don't get me wrong folks, I want these amazing people to survive this. They have done amazing things over there that most of us wouldn't even attempt. They deserve to survive this beyond a doubt, but why are we going down this path? I understand their survival chances improve being admitted into one of our four special isolation units.

The scary revelation then is this: what happens if this spreads in the U.S. and we only have four of these special units across America.

Listen, Europe and Asia are extremely concerned about this disease spreading to their borders. Apparently, they're the only ones because I keep seeing American Drs on TV saying it's no big deal. America is pretty cut-off at this point from the pandemic. That is until yesterday when we decided to voluntarily fly the patients and their virus back to the States.

At this point, it is so crazy it is laughable. This story is so bad, word for word, it could have been sold as the screenplay for the next pandemic movie.

Thanks to our decision makers, the threat is real now. Ebola has crossed our border and we are more at risk today then yesterday.

Keep on Prepping!

Local Police Bulking Up Military Style

As reported by the NY Times , the local police across the nation are receiving lots of military equipment thanks to the wars ending over seas.

The question is: Why do they need equipment like this?

Small, safe towns are acquiring armored vehicles including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. I'm sorry, are there mines on the streets of America we should be aware of? It has always been common practice to leave equipment after a war because of the cost to bring it back. Now we're bringing them back and handing them out like candy at a parade. C'mon folks, this is a blaring warning about what is coming. The police are receiving military supplies far beyond what is necessary to serve and protect and that is because they will be the government's first defense against us, the American people. Your local police are now the protector of the government and its resources, nothing more. 

So why would the government need even more protection? The government is aware that class warfare is on the rise. As the peasants of America, the lower 99%, continue to grow more poor, the rich 1% will need increased protection from angry mobs. Not to mention, Americans are increasingly fed-up with the government working for the wealthy conglomerates instead of us, the constituents, and we are more aware than ever thanks to the internet.

Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do to prepare for a military state. The American people are out-gunned at this point. This is scary, friends.

Image from http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/09/us/war-gear-flows-to-police-departments.html?_r=0

NASA Reports Solar Storm Just Missed Us

So NASA is just now reporting that a 2012 solar storm just missed us and had it hit us, the effects would have been detrimental to the human race. Detrimental because it was strong enough to destroy most of our electrical infrastructure which would have taken years to repair. Even though this storm missed us, you should be extremely concerned.

I say you should be concerned because the government is acknowledging these possibilities exist and we were close to experiencing it firsthand. Imagine the chaos in our country without electricity. The government has documented in separate reports that 90% of our society would die within the first year with no electricity. Losing electricity is the single biggest threat against our country. Even our enemies know this.

I also say you should be concerned because we are just now finding out about this near miss 2 years after the fact. This is proof that we cannot rely on our government agencies to warn us about catastrophic events beforehand. I realized after reading this that my only chance of surviving something like this is to always be prepared. I do not want to join the masses on streets looking for food and water when we all suddenly lose power. I would prefer to be safe and sound with my supplies and I hope you would too.

Some would argue the Earth's magnetic shield would protect us from such an event, but recent news is reporting our magnetic poles have been moving. The last reports show the lowest point of the magnetic field currently resides over North America. America currently has very minimal protection from a solar flare so again don't rely on something you can't control. The only thing you can control is yourself and if you decide to protect yourself and your future.

Keep on prepping!

My Furnace Died

I woke up this morning to a furnace that won't ignite on a day that thankfully isn't below freezing. However, the part my furnace needs won't be here for a couple of days and the temperature is quickly dropping. While the situation isn't dire, my winter survival stock is finally being put to the test. The warm clothing and thick down blankets I have stored away for an emergency situation is now needed and man am I ever happy I took the time to plan for this.

Even though the temperature inside my house will soon be close to the same as outside, I know it won't be forever. This is a temporary situation unlike disasters we may face in the future. Luckily, I get to use this as a practice run and when the house gets too cold, I'll be reaching over and kicking on the space heater for added comfort.

5 Survival Apps You Should Have

Take advantage of the smart phone technology and have survival information at your fingertips in a disaster situation. While there are some disaster which will render your phone useless, it still doesn't hurt to have some of these apps as an extra step in preparedness.

Don't forget to buy a solar cell phone charger

U.S. Military Survival Manual FM 21-76

This manual is full of survival tips which will undoubtedly come into handy during any disaster. The best part is the app is free and will work without a signal. A must-have!

ubAlert - Disaster Alert

This is a global social network where users can share knowledge of disasters throughout the world. This app is free but also requires a signal to function. Could be a great warning system of a coming disaster.

First Aid - American Red Cross

The Red Cross app puts expert advice for everyday emergencies in your hand. This app includes videos, quizzes, and step-by-step advice. This app is also free and appears to function without a signal.

 

Police Scanner 5-0

Monitor existing police, fire, and rescue frequencies and stay abreast of activities in your area or around the world. This app requires a connection to function.

Google Maps

It sounds silly, but what happens if a disaster happens in an unfamiliar area. Remember, we have no idea when disaster will strike so we have to always be prepared. The map is available without a signal but you will be unable to use the locate features.

BONUS TIP

Don't forget to have some entertaining apps as well because they can help time pass and keep morals up. Games, books, and even coloring apps can be extremely helpful during hard-times.

 Make sure you have a solar charger

3 Reasons to Prepare for a War in Syria

The United States government has been debating for the past week whether they should attack key military outposts in Syria after the supposed chemical weapon's attack on Syrian citizens. Many countries are looking to the U.S. to do something while other, much larger countries are suggesting we stand down. The threat of this war is much more serious than the media may be letting on and I suggest we listen to the muted warnings and take a look at 3 credible threats and why you should prepare your family.

Hackers

Shortly after the U.S. began contemplating an attack on Syrian soil, The New York Times website went down from a cyber attack. The Syrian Electronic Army claimed responsibility for this attack and promised more if we proceeded with our plans to bomb. A cyber attack on our grid can have detrimental effects on our society and cause chaos within hours as the crazies take advantage of the opportunities to pillage. There are numerous reports claiming our grid is highly susceptible to an outside cyber attack.

Terrorist Attacks

The risk of a large scale terrorist attack is very real if we proceed with attacks. Iranian sleeper cells on our soil could be activated and we have no idea what to prepare for. They could launch a chemical attack, nuclear attack with stolen Russian supplies, attack our nuclear power plants, suicide bomb public locations. The threats are endless. If this country is attacked during war time, it may mean the president will place the country under martial law.

Risk of World War

The threat right now is small, but real. Russia and China have used strong words advising the U.S. to stand down and it is reported Putin has already approved a military strike on Saudi Arabia (our ally) should we strike Syria. Iran has also approved a strike on Israel (another ally) should the U.S. strike Syria. It doesn't take a fortune teller to assume North Korea won't be too far behind if the opportunity presents itself. If you recall in history class, Japan attacked us in World War II while we were busy in Europe. A war of this magnitude would weaken our defenses at home opening the doors to would-be attackers. Thankfully, America has more armed citizens than any other country in the World and we will defend our soil.

Do not stand idly by while others around you prepare.

Keep on prepping!

FEMA Warns Us to Prepare...Again

FEMA is rolling out new ads in September for National Preparedness month. Don't get me wrong, I am happy the government is making disaster preparation a serious family topic with these new ads, but why are they doing it? Do they know something we don't? Let's face it, we are overdue for something big.

According to the article, only 19% of Americans feel they are very prepared for a disaster. That number is scary if you ask me because that means 81% of America is not prepared. That means well over 250 million Americans will be panicking and killing each other if we have an extended national emergency. The ability to stay home while everyone else fights over supplies is just another benefit of being prepared.

I hope these ads will motivate more families to take their future into their own hands and forget relying on others for help.

Keep on prepping!

Entire article here

Prepping With Pets

There is a lot of planning that goes into prepping your family for disaster. Unfortunately, I find that many families leave their pets out of the picture when storing supplies. Either they have forgotten about them or they believe they can just let them outside and they will survive on their own. The latter may be true for some pets but like us Americans, our pets have grown dependent on handouts and won't survive long without help.

Prepping with pets is typically much easier than you think. Because most pets eat the same brand of food everyday, you only have to worry about buying a few extra bags or cans of food and your pet suddenly has a stockpile of emergency food. I recommend you store the same amount of food you stored for yourself. So if you have 1 month of emergency food, so should your pets.

Next, your pet needs water. Typical house pets do not require as much water as us humans so again this isn't a difficult task. If you believe you have enough water stored for your family, store a little extra for your pets. You don't have to store a lot because as an added bonus, your pets can drink from the puddles outside if clean water becomes a shortage.

Finally, if your pet uses medication you may want to make an attempt at acquiring extra. Some vets will understand your reasoning and appreciate you thinking about your pets safety. Other vets may deny you but at least you tried. Depending on the medicine, your pet may still survive long enough until help arrives.

As you can see, preparing your pets for disaster is one the easiest steps to prepping but it is often overlooked. Do your pets a favor and make some room in the survival plans for them.

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!

Newt Gingrich Claims EMPs are a Major Threat

Newt has gone on record again, reminding Americans an EMP would destroy America's grid and most of our lives. Unfortunately, the government and private electrical companies have yet to make a move to protect us.

The threat of any rogue nation launching a nuke above our heads and wiping out life as we know is becoming more of a reality as Iran and North Korea get closer to the launching technology. North Korea may already be there after successfully launching a satellite into space a few months ago.

Hacking is another threat we must be concerned with. Hackers have gained access to our electrical systems in the past and they will continue to find these weaknesses and threaten our grid. Without power for an extended period of time, most Americans will die. Our enemies are quickly learning how dependent we are on the grid and how easy it would be to take away our life line.

I hope you aren't one of the millions of Americans who will turn a blind eye to this threat. As we become more dependent on technology, we also become more vulnerable.

Keep on prepping!

What Guns to Buy for New Survivalists

I wish this was my set-up!

Setting out to purchase guns for your survival plan can be daunting. The list seems to be exponential and constantly growing, but I am here to give you some basic quick guidance. Before we look at my list, please understand guns have their place in a survivalist's plan, but I recommend you focus your initial purchases on clean water, shelter, and food. The list below is based on price, usability and necessity. This means guns with a higher possibility of use and lower price tag rank higher on my list.

1.  22 Gauge Rifle 

 A rifle like the Ruger 10/22 can be had for under $200 and ammo comes extremely cheap. The gun is versatile in that it can be used for self defense and hunting small game. Don't let anyone fool you, you can also snag yourself large game like deer and use it for self defense.

2. Handgun

The caliber of handgun you choose is your preference. The .40 and .45 tend to be popular choices but don't rule out a 9mm. I only rank a handgun above a shotgun if you live in a State with Concealed Carry laws. Shotguns are great, but you can't wander very far around town with one in your pants. If you can get a CCW permit in your State, get it.   

3. 12 Gauge Shotgun

Purchasing a shotgun accomplishes home security and hunting in one purchase. Ammo again is fairly affordable and the sound of a shotgun is a universal "you better get out of here" sound. Buy different shots (bird, small game, buck, slug) when storing ammo so you have multiple uses for this weapon.

4. High-powered Hunting Rifle

.270, 30-06, .338, etc. The beauty of hunting rifles for larger game is they can also be used for self defense WTSHTF. I have these ranked next to last because I am assuming you aren't an avid hunter and this gun will see very little use. Otherwise, you wouldn't be reading this post. However, if you plan on hunting then move it on up the priority list and get out there. Don't forget to send me some jerky.

5. Tactical Rifle

This list can include an AR-Variant, AK-Variant, SKS, etc. I list tactical rifles last because I believe they are more for show and fun. Yes, I would prefer to have one if SHTF, but the cost (>$1000) is a little too high when you factor other necessary gear you could buy with this money. Tactical rifles have tons of optional gear (sights, optics, lasers, lights) which can run you another $500+, and this is before you even began buying ammo. Unless you're one of the few swimming in money, I suggest you hold off on this purchase until your other survival supplies are overflowing. - By the way, I guarantee I am the only author suggesting this.


This list is only a recommendation based on price and necessity. Everyone has a differing opinion when it comes to guns and I look forward to hearing yours in the comments below. In the end, don't let anyone tell you what gun to buy, it is your final decision.

Keep on prepping!


Image source - http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Guns_1000.jpg