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!

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!

Win an Underground Steel Survival Bunker

You really can't beat a free underground bunker, can you? And the added accessories just make this a must-have item.

Click on the image above and you will be directed to the entry page. I am not affiliated with the "Rising S Company" or the contest.

Good Luck!

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.

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 

Choosing Land for Your Survival Retreat

Before I describe what to look for when scouting land, please understand that a retreat isn't just for rich people. Do not rule out looking for your own retreat land. Raw hunting land is typically very affordable, especially if a few families pitch in financially. With that said, here are some pointers to follow when choosing land for your prepping plans:

1. Look for land that is far away (100+ miles if possible) from major cities. It is a natural decision for humans to flee to the mountains for refuge from a disaster situation because it is believed that food is plentiful. As you get farther away from the cities, there is less of a chance of encountering violent gangs looking to steal your supplies or hungry families seeking hand-outs.
2. However, make an attempt to purchase land that is within 1 tank of gas away. Depending on your vehicle, that can be 300-400 miles away from your primary residence. Depending on the emergency, driving to your retreat may be impossible. Not to mention the longer it takes for you to arrive at your retreat, the increased chance someone has found it and claimed it as theirs. Are you prepared to fight for your retreat?
3. Make sure this land has a fresh water source (spring or creek). If there is no water source on the property, is there one within walking distance, and will the land owner permit you using their water? I would stay away from riverfront property if possible because you risk being found by refugees using the river as a guide.
4. Land with natural choke points make better choices because they can be easier to defend. Flat land with 360 degree access is impossible to defend. Rocky terrain is much easier to defend.
5. However, not too rocky! Remember, you need land for gardens and possibly livestock if you choose that route. Gardens don't do too well in rocky soil.
6. Typically, the larger your property the better. If you can buy land next to a National Forest, even better. This land can be used for additional resources post-SHTF. 1-2 acres for each family should be considered the minimum parcel size. 
7. Land that is heavily wooded can be more beneficial for those who wish to build cabins with little expense. Check out how this couple built their Alaskan cabin.
8. Finally, make an attempt to learn who owns the neighboring properties. Can an alliance be formed before SHTF? Also, make sure none of your neighbors are the family from the Texas Chainsaw movies.

Finding the perfect land for your retreat may take some time, but don't rush it. You will know when you have found it!

Stay always prepared!

Retreat image from http://flickr.com/photos/85668120@N00/260788007

Learn from Camping

Have you ever gone camping? Now, I don't mean RV camping or camp-site camping with bathrooms and showers and electric. I am talking about miles away from the city; just you and the supplies you brought for a couple of nights. It is much tougher to experience a hardship than just thinking about it. Camping is a great way to experience some the hardships we may be forced to live in.




Camping also gives you an opportunity to try all of those fun camping supplies you have purchased. Testing all of these supplies now when it's not an emergency tells you which ones will actually benefit you. Some may be junk. Wouldn't you rather know now? Experiment with fires, cooking, chopping up firewood, etc. There are so many things you can learn in one weekend in the woods.

What if you had to run from your primary shelter tonight? Do you even have a rough idea of what to grab? Is a bug-out bag enough? Probably not if your secondary shelter is a tent in the woods somewhere. For most of us, this is all we can afford in our prepping plans.

I know we are closing in on the winter months, but it would serve you well to take a weekend and venture into the wilderness of America. See what it is really like to be alone in the cold with no other options. Obviously I don't suggest trying to camp out in freezing temperatures because you are asking for trouble. While this may be a realistic situation, it is a dangerous one you shouldn't choose to put yourself into. Choose a weekend when the temperatures are warm enough at night where frostbite isn't a concern. In other words - Don't be stupid!

Remember, prepping isn't just stockpiling supplies. It's knowing how to survive when all of those supplies are gone.

Camping image from http://bloggerspherepedia.blogspot.com/2012/07/escape-hustle-and-bustle-with-these.html

Shipping Containers - The New Retreat

So preppers across the U.S. have found a new use for those large shipping containers that are used to ship our goods on cargo ships. The containers can be bought, fairly cheap, in sizes ranging from 20ft to 40ft and then can be welded together into any design desired. I first saw this idea on the new show, Doomsday Preppers, on National Geographic. As seen above, the people on that show had a pretty crude design compared to what others are doing. The following example is much more elaborate and expensive. Video of Shipping Container Castle

There are others that are using shipping containers for underground bunkers. I do not know the price of buying and installing a tornado shelter but I am quite sure using a shipping container would be more cost effective and roomier. The following video shows the steps involved to build your own bunker. Video of Shipping Container as a Bunker

I absolutely love the idea of building a retreat out of shipping containers because a good size retreat can be built with very minimal cost. Add solar and wind energy and a fresh supply water, and you have just successfully moved off the grid. If you have the space on your land this would be a fun way to begin building your retreat.

Should You Have a Survival Retreat?

This question often haunts me. If you're like me, you live close enough to the city that staying put might be risky. Staying home has a ton of benefits if you can manage the risks. The thought of quickly grabbing my stored food and water and leaving the rest behind is a scary thought. So a retreat that is far enough away from others but close enough to get there fast helps alleviate these fears because I can easily store goods onsite and this can save me a lot of time if I have to leave my home fast.

Hunting properties are perfect retreat locations because they are always far from city life and usually provide plenty of natural cover. My favorite part about hunting properties is they are very affordable for most of us because the property would be difficult to develop on and therefore considered useless land for developers. A couple of acres is substantial for most small groups but will need to grow as your group grows. It is worth the extra cost if the property has a stream or natural spring because fresh water is the most important for survival. The last benefit I will mention for buying a hunting property is the ability to absorb the surrounding parcels if society crumbles and the owners fail to use it. Some might consider this stealing, but I call it borrowing because you can always vacate the land if the owners arrive.

If you don't know if you should have a retreat, read the book, Holding Your Ground: Preparing for Defense if it all Falls Apart. This book helps you determine if your house is safe WTSHTF using the author's own algorithm which assigns numerical values for your neighborhood, property, highways, etc. If the algorithm states that you could stay in your home, he gives you ideas on camouflaging the property so it looks as though it was already looted by others and also ideas on protecting your house from the inevitable gangs.

If after reading this guide you determine that you need a bug-out plan then maybe a retreat is necessary. Finances are the most important part of prepping so now is the time that having a prepping group of friends and family already in place can help immensely. Buying a property should not be one person's job and I have found that if a group of people pitch in money they will also pitch in the time to prepare the property. Clearing trees, burying caches, building structures, and planning for the future tends to be much easier with a group.

Keep Prepping Friends!