Gear Alert: New Feature for Your Survival

I'm creating another new section to the blog called "Gear Alert", and this is a section I'm very excited to get rolling.



What I will do is research and try products that could provide aid to you in emergency situations. The "Gear Alert" section will be all encompassing to include items available in all realms possible need. I'll be testing everything from portable stoves, camping type gear, various water storage and filtration methods, and nearly anything that can be used to aid you in surviving a disaster.

If there is a certain product, or a certain category of products, you are curious about, please drop me a line and I'll be happy to get them on the list for testing. Nothing is off limits as long as it has a practical application. I'll be happy to even try experiments with different methods and techniques which can be used during a disaster.

I'm currently working on the first round of products, and I hope to have the first Gear Alert available later this week.

Preparation is the KEY!

Your Food, Your Life

I'm undertaking a new project for this blog--testing survival foods.

Over the next several weeks I'll be testing the usability, taste, storablility, and best options for building your stores of food. This will include everything from canned items, prepackaged foods, mre's, camping packs, dehydrated items, and other options available for sustenance that can be used in an emergency situation.

I'm excited to get started, although my taste buds and stomach may later regret this little adventure. At the end, I hope to provide you with a list of options best suited for several different catastrophic scenarios, and also provide you with a list detailing what you would need--realistically--for different lengths of time.

I'll also be detailing the systems provided, and others available, created specifically for the purpose of preparing meals without the modern conveniences of a stove, running water, refrigeration, and the advantage of having specific kitchen implements available for use.

If you have any suggestions for food items, specific company branded products, or items you have used in the past you would like me to include, drop me a note in the comments below and I'll be happy to include them in my completely unscientific study.

Wish me luck . . . and pray for me to keep the stomach pumps away.

Think Strange Things Aren't Going On?

How about a self-avowed Communist, who has been arrested twice, set up with a plumb position in the White House--answerable only to Obama?

Could that really happen? Here? In America?

You bet your ass it is happening--right this moment.

Van Jones, the president's Green Jobs Tsar and key founding member of the Apollo Alliance, is set up as one of the president's hand-picked advisers, and he just secured billions of dollars in Federal Stimulus Money for Apollo.

You may want to write, and call, both your Senator and Congressman on this one. How does an unabashed, America-hating, far-left wing fanatic manage to secure a job--any job--within the Federal Government?

Still thinking thinks aren't being turned upside down? Still thinking life is safe and secure, and us Americans are insulated against civil breakdowns, civil riots on a mass scale, and the death of the very Constitution which created the greatest civilization in the history of mankind?

Open your eyes, ask the hard questions of your elected officials, and please make sure you are preparing yourself for the worst possible outcome you could imagine--because, at the rate our government is spinning out of control, the days of Marshall Law and the complete loss of your basic rights as an American is looming just around the corner.

Defense/Security 1A--Part Deux

I'm back--sorry again about the last post. Somehow I lost about half of that post, and I promise you it was by far the best part ;) . Hopefully I can remember the most riveting passages, and this one turns out okay--we'll see. Let's get to it.

So I ended; "Gun lover or not, you should have some type of firearm". Let's pick it up from right at that point.

A large percentage of the populace has moral issues with gun ownerships and firearms in general. Your beliefs are your own, and that's fine. What I would like to ask you to do for the next few minutes is set aside any preconceived notions and beliefs you may have, and try to immerse yourself in possibilities.

In a major event, by the seventh day most resources of food and water will be exhausted. Water Treatment facilities can operate for about five days without power. The water in the tank of your toilet, or filling your bathtub are great ideas, but even that isn't going to get you very far. By day seven most other supplies of water, unless a person planned specifically for this type of event, will also be exhausted. This is a problem.

If you've been through a typical winter storm in the Midwest, you've experienced a forecasted winter storm or large snow event. Store shelves get wiped out quickly, with the basic staples like bread and water being snapped up like all people will be doing is sitting around making toast. In a national emergency, the likelihood of retail food outlets operating after the first forty-eight hour period is extremely unlikely, and grocery shelves will be emptied within the first twenty-four hours. With no supplies to restock, once the current inventories are gone that's it. There will be no other options other then the food you have stocked in your home pantries or in your survival kit.

Perishables will last for about two days, and without power refrigerated and frozen items will be consumed first before they have a chance to spoil. How many people do you think keep a fully stocked pantry, with lots of extra canned goods, pastas, and other items that don't require the addition of some other perishable good to prepare? Look in your own pantry; is that three year old, dusty can of lima beans you can't remember purchasing enough to feed you for a day? Do you have any real items of sustenance you can rely on? If you're like me, your pantry is filled with cream of mushroom soup, pie filling, tomato sauce, and a couple cans of corn--nothing adequate to sustain a single person, let alone a family, for longer then a few days.

So, ten days into the event, with no way to resupply and all other normal sources of obtaining food are no longer an option, what do you think is going to happen?

Food and water will become the most prized of commodities. Gold will not matter, money will be useless, and those bonds and IRA's you hold will be junk--but food and water will by the most valuable asset in society. People starving or dying from thirst will harm or kill to keep themselves alive.

In breakdowns of society, as in the case of Katrina, we've witnessed the phenomena of mob rule and pack mentality. Groups of people will band together to share resources and knowledge, with the hopes that larger numbers will increase the chance for survival. People will turn to violence--without hesitation, without regret, and without sympathy--when their existence is jeopardized.

If you do have a moral dilemma with firearms ask yourself this--will your morality and idealism protect your children when confronted with desperate, starving individuals attempting to take your supply of food and water as the only means they have to live? Are your moral beliefs more important then your families lives?

I contend the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution is one of the most important ideas from the greatest political document ever written. That amendment insures your rights to keep and bear arms, and insure your ability to protect yourself. I also believe that the right to protect yourself, your family, your property and possessions, transcends any legislation written by man. This right is God given, or by whatever name you choose to call the greater power in the universe.

A firearm is a tool, just as a hammer or screwdriver, and in and of itself does not have the ability to inflict harm. If you were to set a handgun and a hammer side by side on a table, then leave them there for an extended period of time, when you returned they would still be sitting, unmoved, in the same position they were left. No harm would have come to anybody or anything because a gun, by itself, has no ability to cause harm or injury. In fact, the hammer--a common tool found in every home--has the ability to create harm and death just as easily as a firearm; it all comes down to the intention of the person using that tool.

So, morally evil or not, a gun is simply a tool. And it's the tool best designed to keep you safe, secure, and alive in a time of crisis. Don't let any moral dilemma compromise your personal safety, the safety of your loved ones, and your life.

There are many considerations when choosing a firearm that need to be explored. Do you prefer a handgun or a long gun, or perhaps both? What caliber ammunition are you comfortable and confident using? How available is the ammunition for the weapon you choose? Is the firearm easy to breakdown and clean, easy to use, and offer the safety features you prefer? What types of accessories are available, and which ones would increase your effectiveness with the weapon? In the event of a major apocalyptic event, what's the likelihood you'll be able to scrounge the correct ammo? Will you be able to teach others to use the weapon?

These are just a few things you need to consider, and there are numerous options available for types, configurations, and features available in every category of firearms. You also need to consider your budget--how much money do you have available, and what is the best use of your budget?

In the next post, I'll be delving into some specifics, some recommendations, and some of the key features of importance. Also, in a future post we'll examine some other types of weapons, thoughts on fashioning your own weapons from readily available items, and give you some ideas on how to implement defense strategy. But always remember that a firearm is the most useful and effective tool available for ensuring your personal defense.

A firearm is a tool, so please don't let any moral dilemmas or issues prevent you from having the most effective means of protecting your life in case of disaster.

Preparation is the Key!

Priority 1A--Defense and Security

Typically there is a lull or period of time, just before or just after, a major event comes to pass. The residents of the Gulf Coast and New Orleans had plenty of lead time and warning about Hurricane Katrina. After 9/11, the country seemed to stand still for a period of time before the gravity and tragedy of the attacks set in and people began to either panick or take action.

That lull, that small window of time, are critical to you--and you need to be prepared and able to take advantage of these moments. In the case of most disasters, there will be a chance to reach your home, but you need to act immediatly as events begin to unfold and while others are wasting crucial moments trying to comprehend the meaning of what they see.

Securing you family and your supplies is your first priority.

Get home and gather your family. Have a plan in place so everybody knows to meet at a designated location. your home or wherever else you designate as your "safe zone", to further assess the situation, gather and secure needed supplies, and to enact defensive measure to protect yourself, and your supplies, from physical threat or theft.

During the hurricane blackout we experienced in Ohio, it took about 48 hours before the true nature of people began to shine through. People began to get squirrley, and do things you would never expect. This power outage was widespread in our area, but there was not an threats to life for most people. Supplies like food, ice, gasoline, and generators were quickly snapped up from retailers that remained open dispite having no power--and soon, without normal deliveries, resources became scarce and unavailable.

That time, most people treated the blackouts as just a big campout/cookout, but even then you could see panick and desperation set in with some even though there was no real threat. In situation like this, you learn very quickly who your friends are, who are the givers/sharers, and who is just out to take from others. It was really a very facinating study in human behavior and the effects of stress on a small scale. I was shocked, truley shocked, by some of the behaviors I witnessed out of people I would normally consider strong indivduals and friends. At the same time, it was great to see the amount of sharing, distribution of food and other resources, and general caring shown by most people.

You need to have a place--secret, secure, and defended, where you store your supplies and other goods. This spot is your Alamo. Secure this area, and all of your resources at the first signs of a major event.

Now that you have your family gathered, and you have your place of storage filled and secure, it's time to look at your own personal security against violence and theft.

Gun lover or not, you should have some type of firearm.

Priorities and Preparation--Your Keys to Survival

Let's get started . . .



Let's say, just as an example, the area you live is hit by a major environmental catastrophe--hurricane, earthquake, volcano, widespread power outage, or something along those lines.



What is your top priorities to ensure you and your family are safe, secure, and can get through a period of time without help from any outside source? What are the most important items or supplies you need to get through?



I've spent a great deal of time pondering this question. There are lists you can download from government sites that give you a run down of things you'll need for a three day window of time, and while these lists are a decent place to start, you should take them with a grain of salt. Use one of these lists for reference only and develop your own list according to your area, nearby resources, and any special needs you may require.



Any information the government provides, including the recommendation that three days worth of supplies are adequate, is coming from the same group of people who couldn't get help to New Orleans for over fourteen days. My thoughts are that you should have a minimum of twenty day supply--and I'll explain the reasons why I consider that to be a bare minimum list in a followup post.



When the government tells you that three days should provide you with enough until the system can be restored to normal capacity---sure. Triple that number at the very least, and it's a good general policy to make your own decisions, based on common sense and reality, as to the amount of time you feel would be needed in case of a major disaster. Count only on yourself, think for yourself, and do whatever you feel is in your own best interest.



To me, there are really three categories that would constitute the number one priority I would need:



1a. Defense and Security

1b. Water

1c. Food



I've made list after list, and it always comes back to these three basics. If you can establish these three, you have a fighting chance even if you have nothing else. You need to think of anything beyond these, with possibly the exception of medications, as purely luxury items. There is plenty more to my list, but these are the most crucial, inseparable, elements you need in order to survive.



It seems so simple, yet it's not. We, as a society, take so many things for granted. People become attached to so many useless items, and they will risk their own lives for material goods or things of sentimental value. How many times have you heard of people running back into a house fire for a box of pictures, or for a family pet? It's not as easy as you think to cast away those types of things we've become so accustom to having. It comes down to this, what is going to help you get through the next ten minutes? You need to think of this in the most basic, most life-sustaining way.

You don't need your record collection. You don't need a locket you inherited from your great aunt. Your child's special blanket is not more important then a gallon of water. Your coin collection is going to be worthless, so leave it behind. It takes a huge shift in thinking to begin seeing life at the most rudimentary level--and that is where you need to be.



This is why preparation is so key. People loss their minds in times of trouble, and they can't comprehend the possibility that life as they have know it is simply gone. The psychological effects of stress, multiplied on a scale of this magnitude, can shred a persons mind and render them not only incapable of maintaining their own well being, but creating a danger to anyone they may contact. Your mind, every bodies mind, is going to try and cling to the idea that everything is going to be alright, that everything is going to quickly return to normal, and that is a very dangerous state of mind.

Preparation is the key. Preparation is the key. Preparation is the key.

The more prepared you are to face these possibilities and challenges, the more your mind will be able to accept a catastrophic event, and allow you to maintain full control of your faculties. Stress, fatigue, disbelief--they are all inevitable, but you need to be able to move beyond that frame of mind quickly and begin to take the strong actions necessary for creating the best chance of surviving.

Preparation is the key--that is your new mantra. Preparation is the key.

Your homework for today is just to toss ideas around in your mind. Ask yourself some hard questions.

----"What do I really need to survive for a month?"
----"What are the most important items I need to have ready?"
----"What special needs do I have, beyond the basics for survival, that I will need to survive for an extended period when supplies and resources are not readily available?"
----"What are my priorities? How can I pare down the list to include only what's essential?"
----"Are there luxury items on my list of priorities that I don't really need?"

Ask yourself these questions as you think in terms of a collapse in the system for thirty days. No help is out there, and nobody is coming to rescue you--you're on your own. I'll put up my list as we get further along, and you will be welcome to take it and use it, or modify it to fit your particular conditions and needs. For now, start to imagine yourself in this type of situation--mull over the tools and objects that could help you, and consider items that may only waste your time, energy, and ability to move quickly should you need to evacuate.

Preparation is Key---live these words.

Your ability to prioritize your needs, for your basic existence, may be the most crucial task toward assuring you live to see another sunrise. For me, there are just three things that are absolute, non-negotiable, that should be the first steps in building your kit or bug-out bag; defense/security, water, food. Everything else needs to be deemed a luxury in comparison.

In the next post I'll breakdown these top three items, and go in-depth about the importance of each, the basic requirements, and considerations that need to be addressed as you start gathering your supplies. Until then, take care.

Preparation is the Key!