Packing a Realistic Bug Out Bag

New article about things you need to think about when packing bug out bag:

#1. Bugging out into the wild:
This, for most people, is simply not a viable option.  Think about it logically.  A disaster has happened that was bad enough to force you out of your home (be it wildfire, floods, hurricanes, etc.).  That would mean it would force tens/hundreds of thousands of other people to evacuate as well.  Public or private land will be a no-go as other people will try to go there as well (and rest assured the owners of the land will be looking for people trying this).  Hotels, shelters, rest stops, campsites will either be full, too crowded or too dangerous.  Unless you own some decent land that's excluded enough not to draw attention or a place that's well hidden and not many people know about, it might be best to just meet up at a friend’s/families house.  Remember:  This isn't some macho "live off the land", this is your life you’re risking.   
 more: Packing a Realistic Bug Out Bag

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Survival Kit Essentials - The Space Blanket

After considering food and water, what other items should one have on hand in case of an emergency or disaster situation? Depending on where you are and what type of emergency or disaster situation you are most likely to encounter, there are a number of different survival items and tools that can prove invaluable to your survival. This short is going to focus on one of the most essential survival items that applies to most if not all environments and situations. Future articles will break down additional items that pertain to common and specific environments and situations.
Let me introduce the good old space blanket. Why does almost every survival kit or bug out bag have one of these? Because along with dehydration, exposure is something you need to prepare for above all else. Living in our climate controlled world it is easy to forget just how brutal the elements can be to the human body. Be it heat or chill, when one is exposed to an extreme for a long duration of time without shelter or protection, bad things happen. Having a good space blanket can literally mean the difference between life and death. Not only can it provide shade against the heat, it can keep you warm in the cold and block wind and rain.
Did you know that space blankets were developed by NASA in 1964 for the US Space Program?
Key benefits for warmth:

• Minimizes heat loss caused by thermal radiation, water evaporation and convection
• Windproof
• Waterproof
• Key benefits for keeping cool:
• Reflects up to 97% of radiated heat

Note: survival blankets should not be wrapped around your body but instead used as shade covering when dealing with extreme heat.
There are several types of space blankets available to consumers. The most common is the standard Mylar survival blanket. These are the most cost-effective, lightweight, and easy to pack. They can be found in just about any sporting goods store and from a multitude of online retailers. Unfortunately the standard blankets tend to be a bit too lightweight and have been known to rip and tear. They can also be challenging when the wind is up or when one is caught in a real downpour. A better choice is a more robust Mylar survival pouch, Mylar survival bivy, or Mylar sleeping bag. These are thicker, larger, and are designed to cocoon the user to better protect them from the elements. Due to the heft and increased thickness, these deluxe space blankets hold up better during an emergency or disaster situation and are much easier to use. They are harder to find in local stores but available via online retailers.
Whatever type of space blanket you choose to go with; having one in your arsenal is a vital component for any survival situation. Most pre-packed survival kits and packs come with either a survival blanket or a survival pouch. Being how affordable they are it's never a bad idea to pick up a few spares for the car, boat, or even office. They also make great gifts. What's better than letting a friend or loved one know that you care about their survival? And besides, they are just plain cool looking.

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Survival Techniques

Check out our new article on basic Survival Techniques:
Survival Techniques
Sample text:
There are many situations which can be encountered that need basic techniques and survival gear to get through the challenges of unforeseen incidents. In this article are the techniques which one should master to survive in any dangerous situation.

Bug Out Bag Checklist Checklist for Preppers and Survivalists

Check out our checklist and advice for your bug out bags:
Bug Out Bag Checklist

Sample text:
A bug out bag (BOB), also referred to as a Get Out Of Dodge Bag (GOOD Bag), is a pack that has all the necessary items for any survival situation for 72 hours or longer. Below I’ll provide a detailed checklist that will give you a good understanding of what you should have in your bag. Remember that when you pack to think about the weight of each item and ask if it will be worth carrying it. Most times more gear will be better, but just keep weight in mind.

Survival Kit Essentials - The Space Blanket

After considering food and water, what other items should one have on hand in case of an emergency or disaster situation? Depending on where you are and what type of emergency or disaster situation you are most likely to encounter, there are a number of different survival items and tools that can prove invaluable to your survival. This short is going to focus on one of the most essential survival items that applies to most if not all environments and situations. Future articles will break down additional items that pertain to common and specific environments and situations.
Let me introduce the good old space blanket. Why does almost every survival kit or bug out bag have one of these? Because along with dehydration, exposure is something you need to prepare for above all else. Living in our climate controlled world it is easy to forget just how brutal the elements can be to the human body. Be it heat or chill, when one is exposed to an extreme for a long duration of time without shelter or protection, bad things happen. Having a good space blanket can literally mean the difference between life and death. Not only can it provide shade against the heat, it can keep you warm in the cold and block wind and rain.
Did you know that space blankets were developed by NASA in 1964 for the US Space Program?
Key benefits for warmth:

• Minimizes heat loss caused by thermal radiation, water evaporation and convection
• Windproof
• Waterproof
• Key benefits for keeping cool:
• Reflects up to 97% of radiated heat

Note: survival blankets should not be wrapped around your body but instead used as shade covering when dealing with extreme heat.
There are several types of space blankets available to consumers. The most common is the standard Mylar survival blanket. These are the most cost-effective, lightweight, and easy to pack. They can be found in just about any sporting goods store and from a multitude of online retailers. Unfortunately the standard blankets tend to be a bit too lightweight and have been known to rip and tear. They can also be challenging when the wind is up or when one is caught in a real downpour. A better choice is a more robust Mylar survival pouch, Mylar survival bivy, or Mylar sleeping bag. These are thicker, larger, and are designed to cocoon the user to better protect them from the elements. Due to the heft and increased thickness, these deluxe space blankets hold up better during an emergency or disaster situation and are much easier to use. They are harder to find in local stores but available via online retailers.
Whatever type of space blanket you choose to go with; having one in your arsenal is a vital component for any survival situation. Most pre-packed survival kits and packs come with either a survival blanket or a survival pouch. Being how affordable they are it's never a bad idea to pick up a few spares for the car, boat, or even office. They also make great gifts. What's better than letting a friend or loved one know that you care about their survival? And besides, they are just plain cool looking.

What Are The Main Types of Emergency Lighting and How They Are Used?

Emergency lights come in many forms and are used to illuminate an area during an emergency or when power goes out in a building. The main forms of emergency lighting are typically those powered by the backup generator of a building, batteries, and even solar power. This type is often used for a safety light, a standby one, and to illuminate escape routes.
 
Backup Generator Lights
 
Many buildings have a backup generator installed that supplies emergency power. This is often provided by a diesel engine or an engine that is powered by natural gas. Emergency lights are wired to switch on if the generator is activated. They are often used to power low-level lighting that allows people inside of a building to find their way out safely.
 
Batteries and Solar Power
 
Some types of emergency lights are designed to run off of batteries. When power does out, the batteries in these lights are used to provide temporary power. You can also find other types that will run on solar power. These lights also use a battery, but the battery is being charged by the sun. Batteries for a solar light are kept constantly charged. A flashlight is an example of a LED emergency one requiring a battery.
 
Safety Lights
 
This type of lighting is also known as high-risk task lighting. These ones are used to illuminate places or areas in a building that need to be accessed in an emergency. This includes the access to stairwells or hallways that would otherwise be dark if the power went out. Manufacturing plants often have this type of lighting to allow workers to quickly exit a building or to shut down equipment.
 
Standby Lights
 
These lights are installed in buildings that have a backup generator. When a power failure occurs, these are used to allow critical work to continue. They are often found in hospitals, fire stations, and in other buildings that require continually running services. Standby lights will activate and power on if a power failure occurs or the main power goes out.
 
Escape Route Lighting
 
Hallways and paths that are used to evacuate a building will require escape lighting. These will often be LED emergency light that are floor mounted. When power goes out, these lights are used to provide a lighted path to an outside door or exit out of a building. The use of escape lighting is designed to keep a person from getting disoriented. A common area for escape lighting is a movie theatre.
 
Additional Information
 
A common type of emergency light is an exit sign that is located over the door for a building. This light is often powered by a battery.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7171774

Preparing For and Surviving Natural Disasters

Are you prepared the next time a natural disaster strikes? Unfortunately, many people have not made the simple and inexpensive preparations necessary to help them get through a natural disaster. What if an earthquake, tornado or hurricane strikes? The direct damage caused by these natural disasters can tear your home apart. What most people don't understand is that these disasters can cause widespread power outages. These outages can cause the closing of supermarkets, ATMs and other important businesses, which could leave us cut off from those basic supplies and services that we normally take for granted.
Fortunately, by taking a few minutes and spending a little cash, you can prepare yourself against these types of disasters. In emergencies, it is important to have the right type of survival kits, communication products and emergency food and water supplies that will help get you and your family through these difficult times. These types of kits are inexpensive, when compared to the money you might have to spend to get the basics you would need to survive. With these types of products, for disaster preparedness, you can be sure your family and pets will be safe and it is all within your reach.
The cutting off of electricity, is one of the most widespread effects of a natural disaster. You won't be able to operate anything electrical that cannot run on an alternate source of electricity. Depending on the extent of the natural disaster, the power could be out for hours, days or even weeks. You will want to make sure there are essential items, easily accessible, when the power goes out. This will guarantee, you and your family, will have what they need until the power is restored and local businesses can reopen.
A flashlight is a natural choice when the power goes out. Hopefully, most people will have one handy. You will also need other devices, such as a cell phone and emergency radio, to call out for help. The radio is important as it will keep you in communication with what is happening around you. A battery-operated radio is nice, however, the batteries will run down. A better choice might be a hand crank radio that you wind every 30 minutes or so. This type of radio will last as long as you need it.
Another necessity is fresh water, non-perishable food and prescription medicine that will last you a specific amount of time. Depending where you live and what type of natural disasters strikes your area, will determine how much of the necessities will be needed. The worst disaster is not being prepared for one.

The First 30 Days: Survival After the Fact

It has happened, the Doomsday scenario has happened and you find yourself holed up in your home, shelter, apartment.. etc. You need Water and Food. If you have been planning for this day you will probably have them stored and ready, if not you need to get them.
Water:
Water is one of the most important items in your check list for survival. But what if you don't have any stored?
Get a garden hose and attach it to the tank output spigot of your hot water heater. Open the spigot and fill a pan with the water, try to pass the water through a strainer with coffee filters lining it. this will filter out most of the big crap that has settled at the bottom of your hot water tank over time.
If you have the ability to make fire, boil the water to kill any nasty bugs that might be in it, or better yet, if you have a pressure cooker distill the water.
You now have some source of water, you can do this to water from a stream, river, or to snow if need be. Also, as gross as it may sound the water tank on the back of your toilet will have anywhere from 2 to 5 gallons of water in it also. Do the same treatment as the water from the hot water tank.
Food:
Anything in a can that you can open, if it is a small can like 15.x oz size, eat it all and eat 3 cans a day. Doesn't matter what it is as long as you get food into your gut!
If it is the 60oz Size, #10 size can, get some resealable freezer bags and dump the leftover from the can into the freezer bag and eat it over the next day and a half. It will be boring to eat and even bland, and selection will be lacking, but that is not the issue right now. You need to survive so you need to eat.
Don't be afraid to eat the cat or dog you see running around, most of us live in a city where deer and other like animals are not around. Learn to Field dress each animal beforehand.
Also you will have very little time between seasons to gather and store food for the winter months. Make the most of your food gathering time and plan well into the future.
Make a garden and plant lots of different vegetables and fruits. Potatoes and onions last awhile but most of your stuff will need to be canned to last through a winter.
City Life:
People will leave the Cities in droves, try to search empty homes for food to eat, just watch out for the gangs that will eventually start coming out also. Do a lot of your work at night via cover of darkness, shutoff your flashlight, get a flashlight that has a red lens so you are not spotted 7 miles away.
In the city you will have to deal with roving gangs out to either kill you and then steal your food, or steal your food and leave you for dead.
GET A WEAPON if you do not already have one.
Most people will die in the first 30 days of starvation, this will leave the groups of people that banded together and planned or that raided others to get their food.
If you Prep and stored food, enough for 30 days, try to lay as low as possible, or better yet get your stuff together and move out after dark to better locations, like out to the country side, BEYOND the suburbs.
Find a high vantage point and a pair of Bino's and search around the neighborhood during the day, and look for flash lights at night.
Be Prepared to move around as you make your way out of the city, plan where you will go next as you make your way to the country side.
Be mindful of the season, if it is End of winter, beginning of spring you will have some time to plan and gather food for the next winter. If it is summer, fall you may have to stay put and collect food for the winter in the city. Just keep in mind in winter you will need warm cloths and a source of heat to keep you warm during the cold days and nights.
Country Life:
Lay low; if anyone comes to your door tell them to go away. Board up your home as much as possible on the lower levels. Barricade your doors on the inside and add in as much security as you can. Build yourself an underground bunker, Root cellar, and storage locations on your property. Houses can be burnt down, you need to make something underground to keep you and your loved ones safe.
A great portion of people will be heading your way form the cities and you will want to be able to defend your home and supplies.
Like in the Cities there will be roving gangs, not as many but just as tough and ruthless.
DO NOT FALL FOR ANY SOB STORIES... they can get you killed.
Band together with your surviving neighbors, you lived next door to them, so you know them, but don't trust them completely, and they have the same agenda, keep their families alive also.
It comes down to surviving the first 30 days and planning ahead. Start now putting food aside for when you need it most, like when it is not available to buy and eat.

It's Time We Prepare Emergency Food

Top 7 reasons to begin a food storage system
Food prices are soaring. Food demand around the world is mounting additionally, the volume of rich terrain for harvesting is running out. It is estimated that about one billion folks go to bed at nighttime hungry and that number is rising by 50-60 million extra since 2008.
Here are several reasons you really should begin a food storage program today
1. Unusual climate patterns are on the rise everywhere. It appears every day there are more earthquakes, tornadoes, severe weather and snow storms. With one of these variables striking an increased amount of people, they can result in a substantial demand on the food which can be found.
2. Family crises may appear any time. Having a weak global economy lots of individuals have already been displaced from their jobs and having 1 week, four week period or longer source of food can easily make a difficult time easier.
3. Common sense isn't usually common nevertheless we should all guard our house from not having adequate food. Many people don't think about their own food supply till there is a legitimate crisis.
4. It's always good to have a supplemental source of food for all those circumstances you run out of fresh goods and you can just go to your pantry and snap up some of ones own ready to eat foods.
5. Food is a great expenditure. Many of us have some type of savings plan however, do you realize that food is the ideal investment you can make? The long term foods that you can buy with be valued at more in the future years and are bound to rise in value. Other investments rise and fall over time but food constantly increases in cost.
6. Outbreaks are a constantly escalating peril for our way of life. The last significant flu killed millions of individuals in 1918 and the past several years we have all heard of the hazard of Avian Flu, H5N1.
7. Brand new technologies makes foods be preserved longer. While using creation of the new technologies, quite a few freeze dried foods last up to 20 years and there now is a canned meat that can last for 15 years. These items can be bought at a very economical price plus there is little concern with waste because they will stay fresh for so many years.
It seems like it really is time for all those Americans to take the all important factor to guard their own families by keeping food for the minor disasters and also the serious disasters that we hope will not take place. Devote some time right now to check your food storage demands and also prepare properly.

Vehicle Go Bag: Survival Bag for Your Car

This is a 2-5 day walking Go-Bag, designed to get you home safely. These items are just a suggestion and an idea to get you to make your own vehicle go bag designed for your location and climate.

• Backpack - Large - Military or camping style
• 2-3 Flashlights and Batteries for flashlights
• 1 head band / hands free flashlight - with red light for nighttime walking
• 2-3 Knives - one for defense and others for basic needs
• Water Filtration device - Pump, Siphon, Gravity feed.. Etc.
• Water Storage device - Canteens, Water bladder, Camel back... Etc.
• 2-3 Fire Starting Kits - make one or buy one
• 3-5 Complete, unopened MREs
• Extra Clothing - for area and season - Dress in layers if needed
• 2 T-Shirts
• 2 Pair Shirts / 1 Sweat Shirt - 1 Outer cargo style top
• 2 Pair Pants / 1 Sweat pants - 1 Outer cargo style pants
• 2 Pairs of underwear
• 2 Face cloths and 2 towels
• 3-4 Pairs of socks
• Extra pair of Sneakers or Hiking Boots
• Light Jacket
• Medium Jacket
• Small med kit
• Small Survival kit - Fishing line, Hooks.. Etc.
• 3-4 Compasses - In case one is lost or damaged
• Toilet Paper - Napkins
• Small Tarp for shelter -
• Rope/550 Cord - 50' Rope (Climbing) - 100' 550 Cord (Mil Spec)
• 2 Leatherman multi-tools

Optional depending on state you are traveling in. (I always carry these items)

• Pistol and 150-250 rounds of ammo and magazines for weapon
• Rifle, 200-300 rounds of ammo and magazines for weapon
• Sleeping Bag system
• Small Bolt Cutters - to cut bike locks (better than walking)

This is just a rough outline of items that you might need in your go bag. It is made to get you to think of what you might need for your specific area and needs. For example, If I was in California I would add more food items and more water storage / purification products. If I was in Florida or Texas, more water storage and definitely sun screen in the med kit.
Also in the northern latitudes I would put more warm clothing and more socks into the go bag. Once you have your bag completed know that the heaviest items will be your weapons, ammo and tools included in the go bag. Take the bag and get used to carrying it on the trails. Go and take it for a spin on a small / short trail at first to get used to it. It makes no sense to make this killer go bag only to not be able to carry it.
Don't forget medical needs, like medications you have to take on a daily basis, or that your family members or pets might need.

Discover What The Best Survival Knives Have In Common

A Survival Knife is one of the most important survival tools that you can take with you during an emergency situation. A survival knife is created specifically for surviving in a backwoods environment, and it is the primary tool for making it through an unexpected emergency scenario. It is the survival tool that you're going to get the most use from and for that reason it needs to be one of the most durable and reliable pieces of survival gear that you own.
Survival knives are available in two different versions: the fixed blade and the folding blade. Foldable knives are occasionally favored since they're smaller and therefore much easier to carry. However, since their tang is really small, they are generally weaker and much easier to break. The folding knives most popular types are lock-back folding and pocket knives.
Fixed bladed knives are typically a lot more rugged and dependable then folding knives. The best survival knife should have something that is known as a full tang, in which the blade runs the length of the handle of the knife. Fixed blade knives including the Bowie Knife, or perhaps a heavy duty hunting knife, are excellent examples of top quality fixed blade survival knives due to their exceptional steel blades and durable handles. Fixed blade knives, nevertheless, are usually thicker, heavier, and very dangerous if not stored and handled properly.
The survival knife is sometimes called a tactical knife; however the two are not the same thing. Both styles of knives can be used for a survival situation, but they are designed to handle different tasks. The benefit of the tactical blade is its usefulness in a number of applications, from hunting to protection, from chopping wood to make other tools like spears or bows and arrows. Another essential feature which a tactical knife offers, which makes it completely different from the common survival knife, is definitely the design of the blade. The tactical knife is often designed with a serrated edge that provides it with the capability to cut through materials of any strength. The tactical knife is multi-functional by design, assisting the camper in a wide range of survival and camping activities.
The type of steel used to make the knife is another important factor. The steel quality of the blade determines the durability of the knife, its strength, how simple it is to hone, and determines how long it's going to keep an edge. Your best option of steel for any survival knife will be choosing one which isn't too hard, which would make the blade very brittle and tough to sharpen. This would limit its usefulness while in an emergency situation. Steel for survival knives come in two types: Stainless steel and Carbon steel.
Carbon Steel knives can rust if used frequently without covering the steel with oil. Survival Knives with Carbon Steel generally have a tendency to maintain a sharper edge longer than stainless steel. Carbon steel blades can be sharpened to a razor-sharp edge and is better to use for splitting or chopping wood, and other heavy duty camping tasks.
Stainless steel is harder steel making it more brittle then carbon steel and the blade doesn't retain a sharp edge as long as carbon steel, however it doesn't rust as easily.
There are a few new blade designs which try to provide the very best of both worlds by either making a high carbon stainless steel, or sandwiching high carbon steel between two layers of stainless-steel. These knives offer the strength of high carbon steel and the ability to resist rust like stainless steel.
In conclusion, any person who needs to use a knife in a survival situation, where their life depends on it, would need one that is created to be difficult to break with heavy duty use, and yet stay sharp, and handle like an extension of your arm.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7114885

Prepare a Personal First Aid Kit for Pets

If you are like most pet owners, your pets are valued members of your family. It is a documented fact that many have risked life and limb to save their precious pets during a disaster. Statistically, however, it is more often small cuts and scrapes that occur that require immediate attention, rather than major disasters such as an earthquake or flood. For this reason, every pet owner should have easy access to a first aid kit specifically created for pets.
What would you need immediately if your puppy fell of the bed and started whimpering? You'd need a first aid kit for pets. Supposing your cat had an altercation with the neighbor's dog and the vet was twenty minutes away? You'd need a first aid kit for pets.
A well-stocked first aid kit for pets is not a substitute for veterinary care, but it could save your pet's life, or at least make him more comfortable, until you can get your pet to a veterinarian. The likelihood that your animals will survive an emergency depends largely on emergency planning done today. Therefore, a first aid kit for pets is a necessity.
What should yours include? To some degree, that will depend upon the type of pet. However, the basics include the following:
2 - Paw Tip Bandage (Knuckle)
2 - Fingertip Bandage
1 - Tape Roll
1 - Trauma Pad (5 x9)
4 -Gauze Pad 4" x 4"
4 -Gauze Pad 2" x2"
1 -Gauze Roll 2"
2 -Examination Gloves
1 -Instant Cold Pack
1 - Tweezer
2- Antibiotic Ointment
10- Alcohol Pads
10 - Antiseptic Towelettes
1 - Bag
1 - Pet First Aid Guide
4 - Leg Splints/Tongue Depressors
10 - Cotton Tip Applicators
1 -Elastic Bandages 2" ("Ace" Type)
2 - Splinter Removers (Lancets)
3 -Sting Relief Pads
Assemble an emergency supply pack which includes the first aid kit for pets, pet food, water, medications, medical records, leashes, a well-fitting muzzle, ID tags and other appropriate supplies. Put this kit in a central location in your home. Remember to take this pack with you when going on an outing, or else prepare a second pack for the car.
The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) offers information regarding managing urgent care situations such as car accidents, wounds, electrical shock, and eye, foot and ear injuries. Their website is http://www.avma.org/firstaid. Additionally, the Red Cross offers a Pet First Aid booklet with suggestions on creating a first aid kit for pets.
What should you do to ensure your pet's survival and to avoid those feelings of panic when an accident or illness occurs? Plan, purchase, prepare and practice. Obtain a first aid kit for pets, and then review the materials it contains. It isn't sufficient to simply have the supplies; you must know how they are used. Learn the necessary skills so your actions become instinctive...even when you are under stress
Planning ahead is the key to keeping your pets safe when disaster strikes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7097743

Flood Survival: What Everyone Should Know

Flooding is something that every country in the world is familiar with. This is why basic flood survival should be known by everyone. Indeed, it has been a problem that we keep on seeing close to us, or in some far off place. We see a lot of news on flooding disasters that have claimed lives and property. Due to the hydrological cycle, we can't seem to get rid of all of the water as it is being recycled through rain, evaporation and storms.
That doesn't mean we just have to succumb to the disaster. Ironically, flooding is one of the disasters that are easiest to manage, given a proper disaster preparedness program.
Floods can be classified into two categories; the regular flood from sustained rainfall over long periods of time and the flash flood. The regular flood is what we normally encounter. It happens when heavy rains run for a long duration. The excess water that cannot be readily accommodated by the soil or storm drains causes the flooding. It steadily rises until it reaches disaster levels.
The second type of flood, the flash flood is more dangerous than regular floods. The fast rate at which the water level rises leaves people no time for safety measures. Some flash floods could happen in just minutes, catching people off guard. Flash floods happen in typhoons bearing heavy rains. During these times, it is advisable to
always have at least one member of the family awake and monitor the water level during the night. You can always catch up on sleep later. Flash floods have been reputed to reach areas where no flooding has ever happened.
Safety Measures During Floods
Minor flooding can be a nuisance. It destroys property and the clean up process is extremely tiresome. Major floods are disastrous. They can claim lives and cause immense damage to property. If you are planning to buy a house or relocate to a new neighborhood, it would be prudent to ask around the area about their flooding experiences.
As much as possible, stay away from areas the have been flooded before. It doesn't matter if the last flood occurred five or ten years ago, the fact that it has been flooded before indicates that it can be flooded again. The flooding indicates its low geographical topography and it's only a matter of time before another flooding occurs.
Unless there have been significant preventive measures implemented to prevent flash floods as well as regular flooding, you cannot safely conclude that flooding won't occur in the neighborhood again.
If you are living in a multi-story house, move important items like documents and fragile personal effects to the upper floors during heavy rains and storms. If possible, move all non-washable items like sofas and mattresses off the first floor.
Avoid driving through a flooded area. Most cars start to stall in six inches of water. It is very dangerous to get trapped in a car during flooding. You can get carried away in the current and washed away to deeper waters.
Basic utilities like electricity and tap water services may be cut off during flooding disasters to prevent other accidents like electrocution and disease from happening as a result of sewage over-flow. Part of your disaster preparedness program is to provide enough drinking water and lighting provisions like LED lamps, candles and matches to last a minimum of 72 hours after the danger has passed.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7090756

Evacuation Chairs And Their Advantages

As a Survivalist, it certainly is important that you be vigilant in your prepping so that you can leave in a moments notice. I confess that I'm a procrastinator. I purchased four 5 gallon plastic gas cans and stored them in my garage. They sat there empty for pretty much 60 days. It so happened the price of gas went lower by 20 cents while they were sitting there, but had gas skyrocketed my survival preps may have been useless.
One of the most important steps to being self sufficient is to make sure you work towards your goal before you are at crunch time. As a prepper you should be taking time at least once a month to look at what you have done, what you still need to do and assess a plan of action to complete these goals. Even something as simple as checking expiration dates on items can become critical so you need to be sure to check on your survival cache on a regular basis. After you have done this a couple of times it will become second nature.
This appears to be somewhat usual among survivalists. Many have plenty of things in the works that are not complete so that when the shit does hit the fan they're barely ready for that emergency. Perhaps you have fallen into this category? Do you got a bug out bag that either sits empty near a lot of other products or possibly hidden in certain place where it is sometimes complicated to access? When was the final time you checked the products so you'd be sure you have the right products inside and that none of them are past it's expiration? Have you thought about various survival situations to re-asses items you have inside your bug out bag and what else that you might need to get? The reality for many is that they haven't.
Why haven't you, do you expect once the shit hits the fan you will have the time to proceed making your B.O.B. or have enough time to get everything prepared? Or would you imagine getting the stuff is as far as you have to go. What could happen if something happens that precipitates bugging out really fast. Say a nuclear blast, a train derailment with toxic fumes, as well as something similar to a large sink hole near your house like happened in Florida in May of 2012. These situations could cause you to quickly evacuate your home. Would you like to be prepared or would you like to be caught with your pants down like countless People in America who barely possess the resources and whits to last even a few days after a major incident?
If you are wanting to learn more about survival training then you should look for forums that can help you find the knowledge that you need to help you become more aware for any doomsday situation. On these sites you will often find many good people willing to guide you along your path to become a prepper. Beware that not everyone on there has your interests at heart so be sure to be safe and not give out too much info about your state of readiness.
Many sites have articles on items such as food canning, dehydrating, drying food, personal safety and many other great topics. When you first start to look at becoming a prepper these topics are often daunting and take a while to jump in and get going, but once you have done this you will find that you learn to take on challenges more easily and that's going to be a mighty fine ability to have if the proverbial shit hits the fan.
Don't be afraid to participate in the conversation as you might have more information than others and might be as much a teacher as a student.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7064096

Cancun, Tropical Paradise or Final Resting Place

Many parents mean well in their crude attempts to teach their child how to swim. It is possible that some approaches stem from impatience and laziness such as simply flinging the kid off the end of a pier or over the side of a boat with the instruction "swim or drown!"
This was my unfortunate experience at the tender age of 7 or 8 years old. The result was not the traditional and smoothly orchestrated overhand stroke demonstrated by an Olympic swimmer, but rather an uncontrollable thrashing and churning in the attempts to keep my head above water. Oh, I must not leave out the accompanied panic and frantic gasping for air and occasional gulp of water. It does not take long for instinct and the love of life to kick in before you start swimming like many of God's creatures would under the same circumstances. From mice, cats, and dogs to horses, hippos and elephants, they all take the dog's lead and begin "dog paddling" to stay afloat and get to safety.
As a result of this barbaric approach to water safety training, I have a fear of deep water, which is any water too deep to for my chin to stay dry. In addition to dog paddling, I learned on my own how to float on my back. As a result, as long as the water is calm, I can go a fairly long distance by alternating between dog paddling and floating on my back using the back-stroke.
This is fine and dandy in a lake, pond or swimming pool. In fact, that is the only way I passed the swimming test in the Navy "Boot Camp", and did not get my fingers stepped on as some did by grabbing the rim of the pool before the allotted time was up. I would never have passed if the test took place in choppy water because I would panic when I got water in my nose!
An electrician never truly respects the danger of electricity until he experiences electrocution short of death as I did. The potential danger from water is no different than from electricity since the results from drowning are identical to electrocution: permanent!
Several years ago, while dog paddling out to a reef off the Cancun shore, I was saved from being quickly whisked out to sea by 10 mile per hour riptide. There was a large cable stretched from shore to the reef specifically for that reason, the riptide. I experienced first-hand for the first time the phenomenon of "your life flashing before your eyes." It was a horrifying experience that was magnified on the last day of our vacation at the Krystal Hotel as we waited on the ocean-side deck for the airport shuttle. We were soaking in the last of the view and smells of the tropical resort when the tranquil atmosphere was shattered by distant screams muffled by the roar of the violent surf created by a recent storm.
Looking in the direction of the screaming, we could see a group of about eight people gathered on shore a couple of hundred yards down the beach frantically shouting for help. My eyes strayed from the crowd over the churning froth and pounding thundering wave to a man struggling to stand upright as he was fighting to get to shore. By this time two more people entered the surf to help this exhausted man to shore. As he reached the beach he collapsed on the ground.
It was then that someone in our group shouted "Oh my God" and pointed out a second man who was a considerable distance from shore, also apparently unsuccessfully trying to out-swim the rip tide. Then I noticed a head bobbing in the water 40-forty to fifty feet further out. Less than a minute later he could no longer be seen; in another minute the second man disappeared beneath the surface. My only thoughts were, where are the life guards, rescue team, how could this happen? That could have been me or my wife!
Paradise was instantly transformed into a place of shock, horror, grief and disbelief and sadly became the overpowering memory of the entire trip and vacation.
You can imagine, then, what it must have been like to experience the same thing again 35 years later in San Diego's surf. I'm referring to getting unexpectedly caught in a rip tide and being swept out to sea, undetected by the life guards or people on the beach. Thank God my wife is an athlete and expert swimmer, because she was able to overpower the current and get both of us to shore before I lost all strength. I was saved once by a cable and once by my wife.
My awareness of the dangers of water is keen; and as a consequence of my close encounters and brushes with death I share this story in hope of saving even one life. There is a device similar to a life ring, only smaller, that can be thrown over 100 feet to a drowning person in seconds without needing to enter the water and risking your own life.
It is a throwable disk with a rope coiled up in it. It is thrown like a Frisbee and makes it easy to reach the drowning person who can grab either the disc or the rope. They can be found in the trunks of almost all police cars, fire trucks, coastguard, border patrol and water rescue teams. They are called rescue discs or Frisbee-type water discs, life saver discs and water rescue discs. Children have used these devices to save adult lives.
In Tennessee six people thrown from a raft were saved using one rescue disc. Those men in Cancun would be alive today if the people on shore had one. These rescue discs have saved thousands of lives and only cost between $32 and $135. What is a life worth?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7056496

Survival, Shelter, Fire, Water and Food

When a storm comes we do not think, is this the one? We do not consider is this Armageddon? No we hunker down and survive. We first must define what we are surviving. If it is a tornado, hurricane, tsunami, earthquake or similar natural disaster and we have survived the initial destroying factors, then we can come up with the basics to go on. We develop alternatives to survive, that will work in the short term. But the word Armageddon brings about a totally new scenario. There may initially be normal situations and sufficient fuels and systems that all types of survival may be possible. But, will the capability to replace used fuels be possible? Are public systems grinding to a halt? What are the alternatives? Will this be a God driven Armageddon or a man made disaster? Will things return to normal quickly or will it take years? Each of these questions requires a different answer and solution. We will look at several different situations and potential solutions. Think only of surviving and not of any other alternative.
First let us look at the natural disaster. A flood or tornado causes local damage, but it is possible to provide support from the outside very quickly. The short term becomes the definable need. In a hurricane like the one that hit the Gulf Coast of the United States a few years ago, people seemed to be driven back on their heels and unable to function. The movers and shakers left town and the people remaining were unable to take care of themselves. This was almost unbelievable. In cities there were barbecue restaurants. Many of these have barbecue pits that are mobile. Four men could have rolled these pits to the areas were people were congregating. Many grocery stores had frozen meat lockers were food was spoiling. This food could have been cooked and fed to the multitudes. There are numerous containers around the city that could have been used to make fire. Cooking was possible. Living was possible.
Some of the never-do-wells that rampaged the streets could have worked for the common good. But we have trained our youth to riot in times of civil disturbance or unrest, take what they want and then set and wait for help while drinking beer and coke. These people must be put to work early to channel their energy for the common good. Some police and military and firemen must stay and help the weak and the un-organized. Instead the Mayor was partying at one of the hotels. Some police that they thought were there did not exist. Problems were occurring on the streets. No you do not have to use guns to make people do something, but we do use guns for the common good and security of those that need security.
I picture the woman in a wheel chair, dead and covered with a sheet and left on the walk. The people in New Orleans had no shame. Of course people will die when major events occur. But then we care for their remains until we can normally bury them. People died for lack of electricity and cooling. These were in retirement homes and hospitals. There should have been a major effort to take care of this. Instead we watched our TVs unaware that nothing was being done.
How can so many people be unable to take care of their own environment? Water was ever where and people were without drinking water. People ravaged stores for food, and people were starving. One answer seems to be that the people, who know how to survive, either must stay and help or need to be moved back to the area quickly. Organization is necessary. From the resources available, survival is possible. Once the storm was over, it was possible to make fire and portable electrical units could have been brought in to support hospitals and elderly homes. People who died from exposure should have been provided warmth and comfort. People who were hungry should have been fed. I will say this over and over, do not wait for help. Take action to help yourself and those around you.
Numerous means of making fire ate available. The use of furniture as fire wood is a possibility. Trees, etc. will be available. From the various stores, there should be all types of gas camping stoves and grills and canisters of gas that may be used. Water can be easily filtered and boiled to provide drinking water. But no, people do nothing but sit waiting for rescue. Of course after a short time a large group of people will use up all the resources. This is predictable. In the case of a long term recovery, preservation and rationing of food starts from the beginning. Only then can we survive.
Armageddon will provide the next type of total collapse of mans ability to function. Man will sit and wait to die or for rescue which will not come. For those that chose to life the following will be a start, not a perfect nor an end solution. We all have to think. Armageddon will provide many different scenarios for one or many to survive. For us that believe in God we will continue to live. He may show us the end, but until then we must live. For some of us it will be smarter to move to a more survivable location, and these people will have or will put together bug out bags. This is a bag which will allow us to carry our individual survival gear to a new location. A large back pack comes to mind, but a duffel bag will work, and is suitcase is better than nothing, but is more difficult to carry. Hopefully it has strong wheels. Note, I said carry. There may not be a means of transportation. Transportation may also be a danger because of those without will be seeking to take yours. If you are planning to move, move early by vehicle or plan to move in darkness and by clandestine means. If you are in long lines of refugees then you will be subject to delay, theft and many other dangers. Try to protect yours and your own gear at all times. Do not become a victim, because you failed to prepare.
A thought about man made disaster. What if the current situation continues with the dollar weakening and the inflation continuing to grow? What if the economy breaks and completely comes to a halt? What will happen if your money is no good? No matter how much you have, you can not buy any thing. Quickly people will be rioting in the streets because they are hungry or seek to take everything they can before it is all gone. They Government will have no money, so it can do little or nothing. Even the Army needs pay. Only if people continue to work at the different companies that supply gas, oil, electricity, telephone, government, etc., can we continue to go on. A quick answer is to make their salaries the basis of barter. All others would come off of this basis. Fuel would go to those companies to continue to produce their product or service. Some people might end up without income and others would be over paid. Again the system would falter until something else is put into place or till everything fails. This would be a man made disaster. Are you ready? Prepare as long as you can before money and materials are gone.
First fire or shelter or both, we will need both so be prepared. With no way to make or replace gas, and no way to mine, it will not take long before there are no lighters or matches. Have more than one method to start a fire. Have tinder and some steel wool and a way to make a spark. An old lighter with extra flint or a sparker for a welding system come to mind. Of course a flint and piece of iron will work. A spark into very fine steel wool will start a fire. Into plain cotton it will start a smoldering burn which can be blown or fanned into a flame. Add small pieces of wood to cause your fire to grow. Do not waste all your starter material. Then most dry materials will burn and some wet materials will burn once exposed to a small. Even in a flood there is dry material. Something that is not under water may be use as fuel. Be careful of plastics and some coated woods. Some chemicals give off very toxic smoke or fumes. Do not kill your self or loved ones trying to stay warm. Keep your fire ventilated.
Next a surface to build our fire on is necessary. Any place of metal, rock, cement will do. Try to protect it from wind and rain and make sure it will not contain water. Sometimes even a roof top can be used for your fire, but the fire must be kept small. In the roof and along the edge there is flashing that is thin aluminum. Pull this loose and use it for the fire box. On top of a chimney there is a metal cover and screen, this may be used to build a fire. Just turn it upside down and build your fire in it. A small fire will burn here without damaging the roof or burning it up, forcing you into the water. Look for a metal griddle plate or large skillet to build your fire on or in. You may have to dive under water to retrieve it, but that is better than being cold. This makes a great surface for fire if you want safety. Find two and you have something to cook on. An umbrella will help keep your fire from going out. A golf umbrella is even better, but be careful, you may take off if the wind is high.
If it is still raining, you may have to wait, except on a roof where there is a slight dry spot caused by an overhang. Here is a place to build a small fire and a place to shelter. I would prefer to be on ground, not a roof. If the danger is flood, find a building. If the danger is earth quake or tsunami move to high ground, and find shelter. Exposure is a problem which must be met head on. In warm weather the concern is lessened, except for someone injured. Treat for shock. Some of us who are older can not stand up to the elements. The elders must be protected. If you do not believe in protecting the old, jump into the water and swim to another roof. This roof is for human beings. Or get off my world. Be careful of buildings. If there are explosions or earth tremors, a building could fall. Always be safe.
It is a matter of using your head. Even asphalt shingles will burn. Tear them into strips and light the edges. They will put off a smoky fire, but will provide warmth and the ability to boil water. Pavement will burn if it has enough tar. Tires will burn, but are somewhat toxic. Again, keep the area ventilated. Other materials will burn when wet, but you will have to think and use your head. Get others to use their heads, also. We can find a safe haven, to survive the initial occurrences of nature. Then, we must work to live. Sitting is not a venue. We do not wait for help. It may not come. You always seek to improve your situation. Put the older people to thinking. They have experience that can be used. If not on the current situation, have them think ahead. They can start the planning for the next need. Remember gas grills and ranges will still work. Maybe not the electrical, but the gas will light with a spark or small flame, a match.
If you live in the mud, you become wet and miserable. But with a little effort, we can get dry, raise our living area above the mud and at least have the best that we can have. Get off the ground quick if the ground remains wet. If the ground dries then work to get your bed above the ground or in such a place that you will remain dry if it does rain. Plan for the weather to be windy, and tie down things so that your new home is not blown apart. Tie down the temporary home if necessary. Plan your drainage. I have seen more than one Boy Scout washed away from a small creek developing in their tent. One of my young sons cost me a new camera when he left it on a bedroll in a tent and rain came. Yes, right next to a dry case and a dry bag. By the way, these two items are very valuable. A water proof case from Walmart will keep you matches and valuables dry. A dry bag or two will keep clothes dry and protect valuables. A small hand ax is also valuable on a roof. It provides a way to get back into the house to retrieve food and clothing and other needed survival materials. Again start thinking, and assume there is no one coming to rescue you.
How do you filter and make water drinkable? This was an important need during the New Orleans floods. Any cloth material is a start. Cheese cloth is great and folded several times it will remove most large particles from dirty water. You can pour the water through several times to get out the ugly waste. Of course you toss off the junk between pouring. You should plan to have some containers with lids. These are light and have many uses. Either take some small pots from the kitchen or plan ahead with some really good light weight cooking gear. Some plastic pans and pictures are also useful. The water may still be colored, but boiling will kill the bad germs, and letting the water sit to cool, will allow the material still in the water to settle. Careful pouring or sipping will allow us to have good pure water. With Fire and Water we are on the way to surviving. We have had to find some place to use as a temporary shelter. Next we need food for the long term and shelter. Before we leave temporary shelter, let's think a minute. In a high wind, we need something to protect us from the force of nature. Remember the beaches at Bolivar Island near Galveston? I think that is the area where only one house was still standing. I am sure some of those people thought their houses or at least the foundations would remain. I remember after Camele a few years ago a brick hotel was gone and a flat concrete foundation was all that was left. Only heavily reinforced concrete, designed to with stand both wind and water will still be there. There was a well designed hotel at Galveston, the Flagship, that had to be torn down because of wind and water damage. Do not plan to stay near the ocean. There is just too much water for the forces of nature to use. Do not stay near glass buildings. Things flying in the air will cause glass to become a missile. Get a couple of miles off the coast and get into a low concrete building. But not to low, you do not want to have to swim. If you are caught out in the open, get down. Even a bar ditch with some mud and water is better than standing up in a tornado.
In an Armageddon situation do not plan for the lights to come on or the gas to work. Plan to survive. You will need a place to live that remains safe. What is safe? We live in a world with some people who will take your food for their survival. We must plan for this. We live in a world where some groups/gangs will take all you have. We must prepare and we must survive. As the situation develops, we will see certain things happen. In populated areas, people will leave for safety of family retreats to get away from the people that take things. Others will ravage the area and then leave. Then comes a period when dogs, cats and wild animals will be looking for food because there is no one to feed them. This will be a dangerous time. There will be man hunters and animal hunters. Look out for both. Your safe haven must remain safe and easy to protect, away from trails, walks or streets that people will use. Do not stay if people are passing by all the time. It will be only a short period before someone visits, and it could spell disaster. This is a bad time. Pick friends carefully. If you live in the suburbs, there will be a time of great danger when the masses leave the city, and when the gangs are roaming looking for food. If you live in an area that is not easy to get to, and off the main roads, then you may be somewhat safe, but do not drop your security. Have a bug out plan, for a time when someone comes to visit. It is better to leave than court disaster. If you live out of the way and there are no houses for miles and only one road near by, then you may be safe.
If your neighborhood is empty, check the houses of neighbors and friends. If you know they have gone, and will not return. Feel free to take perishable and canned foods. You can leave them a note if you feel like a thief. Do not break into a fortified home. There may be someone there with a gun. The main thing is to expand your food supply. Local small stores and grocery stores that are abandoned become a source, but will not offer great foods. The good food like chili and other canned meals will go first. Some items will be foods that you do not like, either leave them or learn to like them. Survival is the game. Look for flower, sugar, salt, and anything that you can use to live short term and long term. If a can good has a label and you can use, take it. If it does not have a label, take it, but be prepared to have some unhappy surprises. If you prepared and have a long term supply, you will be in good shape, but be prepared to protect your food. If you laid in a supply of MREs (meals ready to eat) or other dried foods, you will be in good shape. Hunker down, and stay quiet. Do not attract attention.
Next we must save every food item that we have. If it will spoil, then dry or dehydrate it. Don't know how. Think. The sun will dry most foods if left in direct sun light. Protect from birds and animals. Make sure it can drain and can not rot. Roll it over to allow drying on all sides. A dehydrator is made from a light, a small fan and a box with drying shelves. Simple. Adjust it to make it work better. Again, use your head. Do this while there is electricity or plan to use it when you run your generator. Get a small solar cell charger. It will run a light and a fan during sunlight hours. Now is the time to make plans and find materials. You can find them after the disaster, but now is better, Buy a dehydrator and learn to use it. This is fun. Make your own trail mix. Next inventory your food and start planning all meals. Start saving everything and limiting what you eat. A diet is necessary to survive for the long term. Unless we conserve, we can not be insured that we will live. Do not go out and kill all the deer and birds in the area. You may need them next year, and all that jerky will just take up space. Plus fresh meat will become a delicacy. A word about shooting without a valid need to be shooting. First conserve ammunition. Use the smallest weapon you can. Learn to shoot now. You may need it later. A big gun makes a big noise and will bring unwanted visitors. Don't waste ammo. Ammunition may become a dear commodity. A big trading good, also, your survival may depend on it. And yes, you will need a hand gun and a small rifle, .22 or .223. Anything larger is for big game. A.45 hand gun is best for protection up close. If you need a rifle for protection, you will need many and must be in a group. In other words, if your enemy is armed and you only have a small rifle and a pistol consider bug out or surrender.
We can fit this basic approach into any scenario. We are not on a new planet or a deserted island. We are in the world we were born into, but some basic things may have changed. Gas and water lines may be destroyed and electrical line may be down. The lack of these three things will make our environment more difficult, but not unlivable. There should be plenty of shelter. Do not forget seeds. If you have an excess they will be tradable. If you have a great excess, then plant them everywhere. Wild vegetables will be great later, when you are hungry and when they are ready to harvest, harvest the seeds also.
If in the inner city, it will be more dangerous. Each area will have its own pitfalls and useful items. Most scenarios show the people leaving the city. But the country will not support the total population initially. Large groups will have to send back salvage groups to get what is left in the cities. After a time people will migrate back to the cities and barter will become the means of existence. Money is years down the road, except for silver, copper and gold and maybe the exotic metals like tin, aluminum and others that can be heated and reformed. Large supply centers warehouses may become barter centers. It may be a Walmart in a small town. A dollar bill will be worthless. Gold and silver will be only slightly better. Food, clothing, ammunition, maybe water will be some barter items. Weapons, bicycles, rope and similar items will also become very useful and will have worth. Horses and mules will become valuable, but they require food. You will have to plan for them also. Skills will become valuable. At some point every thing will be available for barter.
Coal or oil will have to be found to start an electrical or water system. Restarting these systems also requires a knowledge and material beyond most of our experience. Gas will be even more difficult to bring back on line. Look for alcohol systems to be more popular, as this fuel can be made at home. The stoves are simple and easy to fabricate. If you buy one today, it is expensive, but it will burn the fuel very well and does save fuel. Buy two or three and you will have some trade items. Learn how to make alcohol. It is not hard, and you may need it and can trade it. Another usable gas is methane. Look it up.
This can go on and on. Bio-fuels and alcohol will be important. Trade goods and skills will be important. Security will be important, and you may have to join with good people to survive. Becoming a judge of good is a good skill to develop. God willing, we will not get to this level of need. But it is wise to plan for the worse. We can always start saving for the next, with what we have not used, but starting too late, may cost us our lives and that of our loved ones.
One last item that we must consider is weather. We live in all different types of weather. Some of us live in desert conditions and some in deep snow country. We do not know when the world will come apart at the seams. But, like I have been saying, plan for the worst possible conditions. If it is summer, learn to live like our grandparents lived, before air conditioning. Do not wait until it is too late. Start your body to acclimatize before you have to live in the worst conditions. If electricity is going to stop at some given point, it is better to preserve food and have ice than air conditioning. If it is cold, make sure you have clean drinking water and start cutting down on the heating. Wear more clothes and start looking for more clothing that will keep you warm in all conditions. Again as before, think about your situation and plan for the worst. If it is cold, plan for the coldest winter. You can always remove clothing, but not having enough is bad. If it is hot, plan for the hottest. You may have to build some thick walls, and more shade. Survival in winter will be more difficult for people in the south. They just are not familiar with the dangers of cold. In the North the summers will be easy and the winters bearable, except for those that live in the city and who do not dress for the outside. A cold building is harder to warm than a cave, but is easier to live in. You will just have to learn to insulate and retain heat and find warm clothes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7056894

Alternatives to Guns for Self Defense

Can't use a gun in your state? 
No Problem!  Check out our latest article about the Alternatives to Guns for Self Defense

Disaster Preparedness, Before a Disaster Happens

In real-estate they say there are 3 important factors-"Location, location and location." In disaster preparedness there are three important factors; Prepare, prepare, & prepare... Preparing entails a plan and communication of emergency procedures with your family, friends and possibly your neighbors. The stakeholders should plan and practice evacuation procedures and escape routes as well as having regrouping or meeting place strategies for a more serious situation. Planing for sufficient emergency supplies for immediate survival needs in different situations is part of total preparedness. transition...
Communicating a plan to the people willing to be involved is a first step. Schools have emergency procedure packets and they practice fire and evacuation drills. The same kind of thing should happen for a home or office. The home and immediate family members are the inner circle of such a first step. Escape routes out a home and one or more agreed upon meeting places should be established by the occupants of a home. Escaping from a second story or from a basement must be addressed. Alternate escape routes if passages are blocked must be considered. Each home and geographic location is different and each family should discuss and establish a plan that is best for them. transition...
Escaping from a home and having one or more meeting locations close to the home is important and a first step. However, what if a larger disaster forces an evacuation further from home. What if there is an emergency while the family is separated at work, school or during other activities. What if going back to a home is not an option? There must be a plan to meet at one or more safe, prearranged locations. These places could include a school site, a church facility, a friend's home, or many other options. Who is going to go where and what is to happen first, second, third and so on should be part of a detailed plan. How much time will be given before plan "A" progresses to plan "B" that might turn into plan "C" and so on are questions that should be asked and answered... The bottom line is that several thoughtful plans should be made, but begin with a single basic plan and progress to different scenarios. transition...
Once an evacuation or escape has been successful the surviving people will now need supplies. First among these is water. People can survive the least amount of time without water. It has been written that about a gallon per person is recommended. However a person can survive on less than that if it is absolutely necessary. Having the ability to cleanse and purify water might be an easier route to go than to store and transport heavy gallons of water. In addition to water, food should be considered. Much of the time there is food items one can grab from shelves and a refrigerator at home. Ultimately, it would be best to have a designated container with a variety of food items that can be quickly grabbed and taken during an evacuation. Apart from food-clothing, shelter, sleeping gear, as well as lighting and fire making supplies are to be part of a survival kit. transition...
Needless to say each family or group of people will have different needs. But, there are also emergency supplies and preparations that are common to most families and groups. A realization of the need for emergency planning is evident all around us and in the news on a regular basis. Communication and someone assuming leadership in the area of disaster preparedness is the first step to surviving an emergency. Taking action to plan for a home evacuation or a more serious extended evacuation away from a home can relieve confusion and fear. Having the right supplies and ability to sustain drinkable water would be part of a total plan for disaster preparedness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6906915

Solar Flares, Electromagnetic Pulses (EMPs) and Faraday Cages - Surviving 2012

With the economy getting worse in all countries, some to the point of falling apart, it's becoming more important to have a backup plan in case of emergencies. If the entire power grid was wiped out what would you do for power? Even if you have plans of alternative energy through solar panels or wind generators the inverters would be fried unless you had a faraday cage. But what are the odds of that happening? Considering that an HEMP (high-altitude electromagnetic pulse) blast can be the size of an entire nation as big as the United States it's something that everyone should look at as a realistic situation.  Most people try to prepare for extreme situations don't pack a small blackout bag (a bag for electricity outages).


What is an EMP and HEMP attack exactly?
An EMP attack with an electromagnetic pulse generated without the use of nuclear weapon is called an NNEMP (Non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse). The range of an NNEMP is extremely smaller than a HEMP because they require a chemical explosive as their initial power source. That being said we'll be talking about HEMP's since, as stated, they could be as big as an entire country. A HEMP attack is employed by launching a nuclear bomb (even a simple one) 25+ miles above Earth's atmosphere and detonating it. The pulse overloads all electronic devices (and batteries such as the one from a laptop will be "shorted"). If this were to happen and a nuclear bomb was launched ~30 miles above the atmosphere of the United States and detonated above Kansas it would take out ALL electronic operations in the entire U.S. The same kind of reaction is possible with a solar flare (it has the same geomagnetic storm as an E3 area of a HEMP).


But you have a backup plan for your power source?
Unless you have your inverter in a Faraday cage it will be fried along with transformers and power lines. ANY electronics not protected WILL be destroyed. (Whether or not you have a surge protector or if they're not plugged in a socket).  Wouldn't it be good to have some MRE's at that point?
Solar Flares:
A big concern with EMP's are with solar flares, but why is that? A severe solar flare has a similar geomagnetic storm to an E3 area of a HEMP. Solar flares happen every day and in most cases it takes less than a day to reach Earth (sometimes only 17 hours). If your entire city was told you had 17 hours until a solar flare might destroy your city's power for a few weeks would you be prepared? Or more likely you wouldn't have a warning (like the province of Quebec on March 13).
March 13, 1989: The ENTIRE province of Quebec was blacked out when the EMP created by the solar storm found their way into the power grid of the Hydro-Quebec Power Authority. Their capacitors tried to maintain the currents but couldn't handle it and within seconds 6 million people found themselves without power. The only thing that stopped this from happening to the US was the fact the extreme zone hit Canada instead. It would have been an estimated cost of $6 billion damages if the capacitors on the Allegheny Network had been hit like they were in Canada.
Another one that's interesting:
October 29, 2003: One of the fastest moving solar flares to date causes a $450 million dollar satellite to crash to Earth.  How can you protect against a solar flare/EMP? One of the more trustworthy methods is a Faraday cage.


What is a Faraday cage?
A Faraday cage or Faraday shield is an enclosure formed by conducting material or by a mesh of such material. Such an enclosure blocks out external static and non-static electric fields. Two things to remember is a Faraday cages HAVE to be grounded and there can't be any gaps in the protective material. Even though a Faraday cage isn't fool proof it will increase the chance of saving your emergency electronics infinitely (since it WILL be destroyed if it's not protected). The higher the frequency of the EMP, the faster it is. If it goes too fast it will causes a burn out. This is why the cage must be continuously grounded and the openings in the mesh/material cannot be too large. If they holes in the mesh are too large then the magnetic pulse will manage to slip in. A simple Faraday cage would be to get a small box (or you could easily make the basic wooden frame of the box) and use very fine mesh (2x4 brass mesh sheets are fine) and stable the brash mesh on the outside of the box. Make a secured way to get in the box (a simple lid with hinges would work) and solder a ground wire to one of the corners and ground the cage. If you want to go the extra mile to protect against any type of EMP bury the box under a few feet (2-3 feet would work) of soil. You can place all your emergency battery operated equipment in it (remember to include batteries in the cage as well).
With a properly constructed Faraday cage you can most likely protect anything that was placed inside it from an EMP or solar flare.


IMPORTANT:
Electronics that are not properly shielded WILL be destroyed if they are hit with an EMP. It doesn't matter if they are plugged into the wall or not. (There have been rumors that say if your electronics are not plugged in the wall then it they will be fine. This is not true). If you'd like the full explanation as to why you can email/message me.
A Faraday cage that uses only mesh or sheet metal can only shield against a magnetic frequency up to the RF range. Electronics nowadays are useful in the SHF, UHF and VHF range (such as your television). To efficiently protect your electronics from a EMP that is higher than an RF range you need some steel, iron or thick copper.

This is Jeff from Survival Hour and we are dedicated to informing the public how to survive almost any situation and providing the best gear to help. Be sure to check out our Survival Hour blog as well for even more in-depth information.
Also, if you're looking for some alternative energy choices you could check out:
Wind Generators by Hurricane Wind Power

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6895253

Indian tornado - 9 killed:

Indian tornado - 9 killed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGbPlnkob6A&list=UUHabnnqh-7lf4Q665AvzJqA&index=1&feature=plcp

Eskrima, Take Down Defense

 We're posting some videos about self defense.  Trying to get up one a day.  
 Eskrima, Take Down Defense

Found a cool video about a realistic threat of 2012:
2012 Threat

Bug Out Bag Checklist for Preppers and Survivalists

A bug out bag (BOB), also referred to as a Get Out Of Dodge Bag (GOOD Bag), is a pack that has all the necessary items for any survival situation for 72 hours or longer. Below I'll provide a detailed checklist that will give you a good understanding of what you should have in your bag. Remember that when you pack to think about the weight of each item and ask if it will be worth carrying it. Most times more gear will be better, but just keep weight in mind.
The most important thing about a bug out bag is the QUALITY of the bag itself. You will be entrusting this bag with your life, so try to get a good quality. The best ones have a place for a water bladder, straps and good amount of outside pockets.
Remember the four 3's:
3 minutes without Oxygen, 3 hours in harsh weather, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food.
Shelter- Shelter is the most important (3 hours in bad weather). If you know how to pitch a tent correctly then all this may mean to you is packing a tarp and equipment to set it up. If you don't then remember to pack something you know how to setup. Also remember to pack a sleeping bag and anything else you might need to keep you dry and warm.
Water- Water is behind shelter (3 days without water). Pack a few water bladders and remember to keep your water bladder filled with clean water (this may mean dumping the water in it and refilling it every now and again to make sure the water is nice and clean if the situation arises where you need to use it). Also, a water filter can save your life if you run out of water. Never drink water in the wild without boiling/treating it. Recommended amount of water intake is different for everyone but a good way to think about is half your weight in fluid ounces. So if your weight 150 pounds, 75oz a day is your recommended amount. 128 fluid ounces is a gallon so that would mean you need to drink a little more than half a gallon a day.
Food-Food is in last at 3 weeks (that's assuming you have water). Freeze dried food and MRE's are recommended for survival because they are high calorie food rations that will provide your body with the energy it needs. Trail mix also has a lot of calories so you may want to consider packing some to eat while you're traveling. Like water, the recommended amount of calories differs from person to person depending on height, weight, gender and more but try to eat 3,000 calories a day. Never eat below 1,200 calories a day.
Checklist:
Here is a simple checklist for your bag (This is not set in stone, everyone has difference skills and this is just to give you an idea):
Flashlight
A good survival knife
Tape (Duct Tape/Gorilla Tape)
MRE's or freeze dried food
Sewing kit
Some form of getting your hands clean if needed (dish soap, bar soap, etc.....)
Bottles of Water (Water Bladder that's filled would be good too. Water purification tablets and a water filter would be good as well)
Multi-tools are very good to have because they take up less room
Radio (Hand Crank/Solar would be best but battery operated is fine)
Rechargeable batteries for your equipment that needs them.
Camp stove (try to find one that uses multiple fuels)
A copy of emergency and important contacts (include addresses and phone numbers)
First Aid Kit
Money (If you have to leave your city for a few days
Maybe an extra copy of your I.D.
Para cord (preferred) or very strong rope
Map of the area
Hygiene necessities (comb, toothbrush, small can of shaving cream, razor, toothpaste)
A waterproof way of starting fire (flint/waterproof matches/etc...)
Extra change of clothes (include socks and underwear)
Can opener (small one)
A list for defensive purposes:
100+ extra rounds for each of your firearms
a form of night vision sight (Sighting scope, a rifle scope that functions in daylight and night, etc...)
Remember to camouflage all of your equipment (including your bug out bag itself)

This is Jeff from Survival Hour we are dedicated to informing the public how to survive almost any situation and providing the best gear to help. Be sure to check out our Survival Hour blog as well for even more in-depth information.
Check here for some good stock bags to start with(you should add a lot more stuff to them though):
Bug Out Bags

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_J_Jones

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6861263

When it comes to your Survival the only option may be to run. We now sell survival and bug out bags in the store.   

We also have a good article on what you should pack in your packs.  You can read it here:
Bug out bag

Here is the first paragraph from it:
"A bug out bag (BOB), also referred to as a Get Out Of Dodge Bag (GOOD Bag), is a pack that has all the necessary items for any survival situation for 72 hours or longer.  Below I'll provide a detailed checklist that will give you a good understanding of what you should have in your bag.  Remember that when you pack to think about the weight of each item and ask if it will be worth carrying it.  Most times more gear will be better, but just keep weight in mind."

The Evolving Power of Stun Guns

I have been selling stun guns and other self defense products on my website, Stun Gun Supply, since 2005. In the early years, stun guns were typically of a rectangular shape with some contouring in the shape. All contained two electrodes on top and a battery compartment on the back or side. Typically one to three 9-volt batteries would power the devises depending on the power output. Claimed voltages were 80,000 to 300,000 volts.
A few years later, the first "minis" were introduced. These were also rectangular but with no contouring and quite small, about the size of a pack of cigarettes. Everything was smaller on these units, the electrodes, the power switch and the activation button. They were still easy to operate however and sales skyrocketed.
These units were too small for 9 volt batteries so they were designed for the smaller CR-123A lithium batteries. These provide longer life although a lithium battery cost more than an alkaline.
Surprisingly, these compact units produce high voltages for their size, first 350,000 volts and soon thereafter 950,000 volts. Soon, design enhancements enabled these mini devices to produce millions of volts, or so their makers claimed. (Power outputs are difficult to obtain and the voltage draws down when in contact with a person.)
Almost every new model stun gun introduced in the last couple years has featured a rechargeable battery pack (non-replaceable type). Advances in battery pack design allow high power and low weight, two positive attributes for small carry-along stunning devices. The Streetwise Small Fry series is so small that one can be hidden in the palm of the hand thus allowing the element of surprise in any counter attack.
All rechargeable compacts used to come with a charging cord. The problem with this is that they are easy to misplace. Without it, your stun gun will soon lose its charge with no way to re-charge without purchasing another cord. To solve this problem, makers have introduced units with integrated male plugs that swing out. So to re-charge you just plug the whole unit into the wall outlet.
Customers frequently ask me how long to charge the battery until full and then how long until a re-charge. I urge customers to read the insert that came with the unit. Charging times vary by model type. After the initial charge, unplug the unit. Most are not meant for a trickle charge and over-charging could damage the device.
Most battery packs are of the Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) type. These offer long life and will take hundreds of re-charge cycles. As far as re-charging goes, I recommend giving a short shock burst into the air every month or so. Make sure the spark is as loud and strong as when you first tried it after your first full charge. If not, re-charge.
Some deluxe compacts are now shipping with the new Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries. These are longer lasting per charge than Ni-Cads with comparable self discharge rates. The Streetwise Small Fry series, among others, contains this newest premium battery pack.
Stun guns represent a non-lethal deterrent to intruder crime, whether it's at home or outside. The good news is that the overall trend in stun guns is more power, more choices and stable prices.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6729583

Tips For Modern Survival

We are living in a time of uncertainty. The world is evolving in such a fast pace that it is almost impossible to keep up yet we are expected to. Society expects us to adapt to new things that are sprucing up and for a moment it feels like the world has changed overnight. In every aspect of our lives, things are changing. It is unlike a decade ago. Should you be worried? Yes you should but do not lose hope. Below are some tips for modern survival.
As human beings, we do not naturally respond well to change. It is too risky. Way too uncertain! We gravitate towards things that have stability and as much as we would like to keep it that way, the world has different plans for us. Things happen that are out of our control be they man-made or natural disasters, political revolutions and even current events. They all have an impact in our lives, directly or indirectly.
Being prepared is one way of being a step ahead. Accepting that you cannot be a hundred percent in control will save you a lot of time of being in self denial. Keep yourself informed by being aware of all the risks around you and you are well on your way to surviving these modern times.
Survival is an instinct that is deeply embedded into us. Normally, when everything seems right people often don't know that they have this survival instinct. But should something go wrong, it is the person whose lifestyle has included in it preparedness and a habit of planning that is most likely going to be able to meet the trials that stand in his way.
Modern survival is more than just having supplies for backup. It is a way of life. To prepare for the future which is unknown, start by changing your way of thinking. Liberate your view of everything and keep an open mind. It will save you a lot of heartbreak so that if you hit rock bottom, you will be standing on your feet in no time!
Do not let the system hold you down. I don't mean that you should go against the law. No, that's a sure ticket to jail. Knowing that you have the power in you to transform your life is a way of modern survival. Who said that after you graduate you should get employed? Too many people already do that. You can come up with legitimate ideas to earn yourself a living while doing something that you enjoy!
Do away with things that you do not need. You do not have to have a new car so that your friends can have a new found respect for you. Keeping up with the Joneses has become the new way of life for many. Competing with others to see who can keep up will only lead you to debt. The best way to go about it, remain true to who you are. Cut your coat according to your cloth!
Have your own goals and arm yourself with the know how before stepping into the world. Being smart is the one way you can go through modern survival and come out of it with dignity. Hopefully these tips will help you through these uncertain times and help you enjoy them nevertheless.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6846505

Rats feeling empathy for one another like humans

Calling someone a rat should no longer be considered an insult. The often maligned rodents go out of their way to liberate a trapped friend, a gregarious display that’s driven by empathy, researchers conclude in the Dec. 9 Science.

“As humans, we tend sometimes to have this feeling that there’s something special about our morals,” says neuroscientist Christian Keysers at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience in Amsterdam, who was not involved in the study. “It seems that even rats have this urge to help.”
As many pet rat owners know, rats are highly social animals, says study coauthor Inbal Ben-Ami Bartal, a psychologist at the University of Chicago. Bartal and colleagues wanted to see whether rats would take action to ease the suffering of a cage mate. The team put one rat inside a clear cage that could be sprung from the outside, and left another rat to roam free outside the cage for an hour at a time.
Initially, the free rat would circle the cage, digging and biting at it. After about seven days of encountering its trapped friend, the roaming rat learned how to open the cage and liberate the trapped rat. “It’s very obvious that it is intentional,” Bartal says. “They walk right up to the door and open the door.” The liberation is followed by a frenzy of excited running.

The rats would selectively take action when another rat was in distress: Empty cages didn’t inspire rats to learn how to open the door nearly as well as those who were motivated to rescue a trapped rat. By the end of the experiment, only five of 40 rats learned to open an empty cage, while 23 of 30 rats learned to open the cage to free an occupant. (And trapped stuffed animals fared no better than empty cages.)

“If I open the door, that rat’s distress goes away and my distress goes away,” psychologist Matthew Campbell of Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University in Atlanta, who studies empathy in chimpanzees. “They are affected by what the other is experiencing, and that alone is remarkable.”

To push the limits of the rats’ goodwill, Bartal and her team pitted a trapped rat against trapped chocolate, forcing a rat to choose which one to release. “These rats adore their chocolate,” she says. The results astonished Bartal: The rats were equally likely to free a rat in distress as they were to free the sweets. To a rat, a fellow rodent’s freedom was just as sweet as five chocolate chips. 

And the niceness doesn’t stop there:  “The most shocking thing is they left some of the chocolate for the other rat,” Bartal says. The hero rat left a chocolate chip or two for its newly free associate in more than half of the trials. On purpose. “It’s not like they missed a chocolate,” Bartal says. “They actually carried it out of the restrainer sometimes but did not eat it.”

Interesting read. Spike in firearm purchases in 2011 by 2million

http://news.yahoo.com/fbi-data-shows-spike-firearm-purchases-2011-045125172.html