Patriots,
Last week I discussed some of the
geo/socio/econo/political reasons as to why we should be very
concerned about our immediate and long-term security. In an uncertain
world, we must be sure in our ability to safeguard our well being and
keep our families safe.
Depending on where you live, your
requirements and strategies will differ. Also, are you preparing for
a natural disaster, economic collapse, or general TEOTWAWKI (the end
of the world as we know it)? Depending on your inspiration, you will
likely think either shorter term (earthquake, hurricane, etc.) or
longer term in the event of an EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) attack,
economic collapse, etc.
Bug Out, or Defend in Place?
Some people elect to have a bug out
plan, a piece of land they can escape to and ride out the calamitous
event. They have shelter, supplies and a plan to exist there as long
as needed. Others opt to stay in their homes and ride out the
difficult times. Each plan has its pros and cons. For example, have
you considered that others may be trying to vacate an area at the
same time? Look at the 90-mile gridlock that occurred during
Hurricane Katrina. Do you have the ability to make it on one tank of
gasoline, and if not, do you have extra fuel, or do you expect to be
able to refuel along the way?
If you plan to stay home, do you live
in an urban area? If so, are you prepared to defend what you have
worked to stock up on? Many people will not be prepared and will do
anything to feed their families.
So, you have decided to become more
prepared, where do you start? There is NO shortage of resources for
someone who has decided to join the population of preppers, and my
blog here is merely intended to inspire those who have not started
yet to do so. To get started, you will need to focus on the
following essentials: food, water, shelter, basic supplies.
Water: Store as much as you can, and
have a way to purify more as needed. As to amount, figure on a
minimum of one gallon per person per day. One thing I have done is
take empty shampoo and other soap bottles and fill them with water
when they are empty. The residual soap can be used for getting
clean, as hygiene is often overlooked in prepping. Bleach, iodine tincture, pool shock and boiling are common ways to purify
water. There are home filters you can use (such as Berkey) but they
may or may not be able to keep up with your rate of use. Also, if
you plan to be on the move, consider a personal filtration system,
such as a Life Straw.
Food: There is a plethora of food
suppliers flooding the market; I am guessing many of you have seen
the food buckets, with meals in Mylar bags. These are not bad; in
fact, I have several myself. However, do not expect to use these as
your sole source of food, as they are far too high in sodium for a
human to eat as their regular source of nutrition.
Also look to buy foods in bulk. You
can buy wheat, flour, rice, etc. and store for long term using
food buckets with oxygen absorbents.
Diatomaceous Earth will also kill any eggs that hatch and is
harmless to ingest, or you can rinse it
off rice and other grains.
Stock up on inexpensive food as well, canned
pastas, ramen noodles, soups (Chunky is high in calories and nutritional value for the price and does not
require a can opener.) Spam is another staple that can also be used as pet foot or bait, if you don't want
to eat it. Canned meats, fish, etc. are a good source of protein.
I like to can my own food, and it is
actually very easy. I make meals that are ready to go and you can
eat them hot or cold. Soups, stews, chili, even game meat, chicken
and fish work. Experiment and cook the meals you and your family
enjoy, that will make life easier when you will already be
struggling.
You can also buy a wide variety of
freeze dried meats, fruits, vegetables, butter and milk. I keep
bouillon powder and you can make an impromptu soup when needed.
Dried herbs and seasonings will last a
long time, and will be appreciated when you have to put these meals
together. For a sweetener, large bags of sugar can be stored in food
buckets and honey is an excellent product, as it has an indefinite
shelf life (some has been found in Egyptian tombs and was still
good!) and is a great source of energy. Get the “real” honey
which contains pollen and you get an immune system boost as well.
Don't overlook coffee, even instant,
the packets are great barter items. And if you think you won't miss
coffee, guess again...
Have a way to prepare your food, as
well. I keep a camp stove handy and store up on propane for it. If
you have lots of wood available, fire is nice as well, just beware of
inviting undesirables who may be lead your way from the smell of a
hot meal. Loud generators are also a signal to others that warmth
and food are to be had. Avoid their use if possible, if you are in a populated area.
Shelter: If you plan to stay in, also
known as bug in, or defend in place, make sure you are able to secure
your living area and supplies. Whether you choose to remain in an
urban area is a personal decision, but beware of the risks of lawless
behavior. Hurricane Katrina comes to mind. Do not expect protection
from law enforcement, as they will be too busy, or, in the case of
Katrina, may abandon their posts to be with
their own families, or even worse, join in on the lawless behavior
themselves. You WILL be on your own.
Bunkers are also an option many have
chosen, some are along the lines of storm shelters, others are elaborate
bunkers suitable for living in for months at a time; they even come
equipped to house families in the event of a nuclear disaster, with
air filtration systems. Again, do your research, only you know your
family's requirements and budget. RVs can be used as both bug out
vehicles and shelters at a bug out location, IF you can get
to it.
Basic Supplies: Along with the foregoing essentials, it
is important to really consider the often overlooked items that, once
you can not go to the store and buy them, will be sorely missed.
Medical supplies, hygiene items, can openers, bottle openers, fire
starting materials (I never throw out laundry lint, nothing beats it
as kindling!), extra clothing and emergency shelters, like tarps are
all must-haves, in my opinion.
Some people stock up on items that will
be useful in a barter situation some day. Alcohol, ammunition
(personally I can NEVER part with the latter), canned food, or
anything you can imagine are sources of trade. Make sure you have
clothing and footwear for all seasons. Tampons are an item that are
often overlooked, and have many uses, above and beyond the
traditional one. They make excellent fire starters and are carried
around by many for wound treatment, particularly deep puncture
wounds. Sanitary pads are also useful for absorbing a lot of blood
from a laceration.
Personal Defense: preppers run across
the board in this area. Some choose to be peaceful and will refuse
to harm another human being even if their lives are in danger. That
is their choice. Others are ready to protect themselves, family and
supplies by any means necessary. Know what is right for you and
train enough to have your means of defense be second nature before the
time you need to rely on it.
If you opt to incorporate firearms into
your plans, remember to keep on hand any extra parts that may need to be replaced, as well as products for
keeping your guns cleaned and lubricated. If you have not already
stocked up on ammo, do so now.
Communications: count on not having
cell phones or email. Some turn to ham radio, some have CB, and
there are hand crank am radios available. I would suggest keeping
emergency electronics in a Faraday Cage in the event of electrical
interference, such as an EMP.
In summary, prepping may seem
overwhelming at first, but you can start small by adding a few items
when you go to the store. There are many on-line communities and
books available to help you, many electronic books are offered for
free. Get started, and enjoy the process, because in the worst case,
you will save yourself some trips to the store during a bad storm or
if you are ill and don't feel
like shopping, or have a financial
setback, like the loss of a job.
Please check out this page, and do not fool yourself, the advice this gal has transcends gender!
http://prepperchicks0.homestead.com/
http://prepperchicks0.homestead.com/
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