Tag: Emergency Prep

Being Ready

SHTF, The Gun Thing

John Walters has posted his list of 10 essential guns that will help you survive the time when civilization starts to crumble and fall over.  His conclusion says it all:

Ten guns.  Thousands of dollars.  Hundreds of training hours.  This isn’t hobbyism.  It’s insurance against hard times, written in steel and gunpowder.  My uncle understood what I’m only now fully grasping: preparation becomes necessity without announcement, and those ready sleep while others pace in darkness.

Acquire these tools.  Learn them.  Maintain them against the day when phones die and police stop coming.  That day approaches regardless of elections or economic indicators.

Civilization persists where force maintains it.  Ensure you possess sufficient force.

I think that everyone who visits my website with any regularity will be familiar with the concept, because I’ve been hammering on about it for over two decades.

As for his list, I have no problem with anything he says, because his rationale is well supported by common sense.  (I may disagree with a couple of his specific guns, of course, as may any one of you, but that’s absolutely unimportant:  the category and the need they address are well stated.  Also, some of the categories kinda overlap, but that’s also not a major fault:  there’s nothing wrong with a little redundancy, as any fule kno.)

  1. Pump Shotgun: 12-Gauge
  2. AR-15 Platform
  3. Service Pistol: .45 ACP Long-Range
  4. Hunter: .30-06 Springfield
  5. Rimfire Battery: .22 LR
  6. Concealed Companion: Subcompact 9mm
  7. Battle Rifle: 7.62x51mm NATO
  8. Revolver: .357 Magnum
  9. Tactical Shotgun: Semi-Automatic 12-Gauge
  10. Precision Instrument: Bolt-Action .308

One could argue that the “hunter” (.30-06) and “battle rifle “(7.62x51mm) could be addressed by the same rifle (e.g. an M1 Garand), and the “hunter” likewise with the “precision instrument” (e.g. a scoped Mauser in [pick one]  chambering).  As I said, there’s some overlap.

Interestingly, I am deficient in both shotgun categories — I don’t own a shotgun of any description at the moment — and I don’t really have a subcompact handgun either.  (If Clint Smith carries two 1911s, I see no reason why I shouldn’t, or else carry two .357 Mag/.38 Special revolvers, as I sometimes do.)  And really, those handguns are just there to buy me the time to get to the trunk of my car, where Hell Awaits To Be Unleashed™.

I am also somewhat leery of the “precision instrument”, mostly because my eyesight is becoming so crap that any shot needing to be made over 400 (300 even?) yards would see me seeking deep cover or retreating instead.  (I do have a decent precision/hunting rifle or two, of course, but I’m no longer confident of my ability to reach out and touch anyone further out than the above, with any degree of confidence.)

I’m getting to the point, in other words, where my “hunter”, “battle” and “precision instrument” categories will soon be blended into a .357 Magnum lever rifle (with an old Ruger/S&W revolver as a companion piece when it comes to halitosis-range combat).

But don’t let me be a downer:  get out there and do as the man says.  Practice till you can’t practice anymore, and then practice again and again, as often as you can.

Your life may well depend on it.

SHTF List, U.K. Style

SHTF

Here ya go:

Missing, of course, is any mention of firearms (to deter goblins and scumbags from relieving people from their generator, water, food and all the other stuff).

But speaking of stuff:  I estimate that this little list is about 10% of what you would really need should ol’ El Niño come a-calling.  (We’ll ignore for the moment that El Niño poses little danger to Britishland.  Their biggest danger will be that their own government’s actions are likely to cause total social- and infrastructure collapse.)

Anyway:  feel free to list the most egregious omissions, in Comments.

The Doomed Five To Make You Think Again

Disaster

What do you do when society — and specifically, a society’s infrastructure — either fails because of a Random Bad Event or else because of a series of cascading calamities brought on by years of neglect.

Here’s a piece which highlights the five places in the U.S. that you absolutely don’t want to be living in when the above S hits the F.

As much as I sometimes complain about living in north Texas, we seem to be in slightly better shape than any of the above areas, although the prospect of a catastrophic power grid failure in June with no hope of repair for months does certainly give one pause.  (We’re little different from Phoenix in that regard;  we have little access to water and life without air conditioning doesn’t seem survivable.)

At least we Texans have one thing going for us:  the chance of becoming prey to people who would take what little we have from us during calamitous times is somewhat reduced by the fact that we are not a disarmed populace — unlike, say, the Atlantic Northeast and Chicago, which are.

I know that we laugh at Europeans when they suffer from a major heat event like this previous summer;  but their summers are really, really short compared to our Western states, so at least they may be able to survive a couple of months, more or less, always with the chance of seasonal rain to help.  A typical eight-month-long dry Texas- or Arizona summer?  Not so much.

Sobering stuff, indeed.

Hunkering Down

SHTF

Let’s just assume that you want to escape the coming Collapse / Apocalypse ahead of time, leaving your current abode and fleeing to a place which conceivably might grant you a chance of survival.  How to go about finding such a place?

Well, one group took a stab at finding a solution, and it makes for quite interesting reading because of the factors used to qualify/disqualify various areas around the Lower 48.  Take a look  [warning:  it’s a long read, but worth it].

Read more

It’s Always Time

SHTF

Over at American Thinker, Michael Devon asks the question:  “Is It Time To Start Prepping?”

As the title to this post suggests, preparing for disaster is always relevant.  For many people — people with any kind of brain, that is — this would not be a time to start prepping as much as it would be a time to take stock of one’s preparations, and either add to such, refine what you need, or address any shortcomings thereof.  Devon’s list is interesting:

Water sources and water filtration.  You will need a minimum of 2 gallons of drinking water per soul per day — For how long, is the question.  I would suggest that 2-3 weeks’ supply is pretty much all the water one can store easily (unless you have substantial property like a farm), or carry in a car.  For longer than that, filtration becomes more appropriate.  How good is your filtration system?
 

Shelter.  This should be located 1–2 hours’ travel time outside urban and suburban metros — Forget it.  In my case, it ain’t gonna happen.  If the S genuinely does hit the F, I will either shelter in place, or drive 15 minutes to Doc Russia’s little festung (we’ve discussed it, often, and I know exactly what I’ll need to bring so as not to be a burden on him but a benefit (added security, an extra gun or two for guard duty, and shall we say “an aggressive mindset” towards protection of mine and his).

Non-perishable food.  You will need 2,000 calories per soul per day with a healthy ratio of carbs, protein, and fat. — I have about two months’ supply for me and New Wife, maybe a month longer if we ration ourselves severely.  After that, it’ll be time to go shopping with an AK.  Of course, there are all the dried food packs (e.g. Mountain and MREs), but that’s your call:  I’ve never found any of them palatable.  I’d rather just have dozens of different energy bars as the last resort.

Prescription medications.  Talk to your doctor and somehow finagle a three-year supply of all your non-perishable meds.  Perishable meds are a more difficult issue to resolve. — Only one of my meds is perishable (glaucoma drops, which I keep in the fridge).  I have about two months’ worth of my meds (New Wife has less, need to do something about that), which I can likewise extend to maybe three by skipping every third day.  With sufficient warning (a day or two) Doc can write me all the Rx I need if I think I’ll need longer.  Also worth considering:  “general purpose” antibiotics like amoxicillin and ciproflaxin.

Personal hygiene supplies. — Covered.  Three months’ worth (at least) of soap, toilet paper, wipes, toothpaste, and so on.

Ten like-minded adults willing to work hard together and to defend the shelter and its souls.  — Nope, not interested in that big a group. There’d be four of us, although I’d really like it — as would Doc — if the Son&Heir could join us, suitably provisioned of course (that Eagle Scout thing, plus a deadly aim when it comes to boomsticks).

2A hardware.  Never come up empty. — I believe we have that part covered.
(I have some too, if necessary.  Also a few extra rounds of ammo.)

Comms.  Have multiple backup and power for all comm devices. — Ugh.  I need to get a couple decent Garmin walkie-talkies.  Batteries, I have about a six-month supply.

Electrical systems and chargers.  Solar-powered, and multiple redundancy is essential. — I need to check that my solar stuff is still in working condition.  Also my car’s power inverter.

Barter stuff.  Booze, tobacco products, OTC meds, instant coffee, batteries, Bic lighters.  Barter food. — Good point.  Note to self:  empty out liquor cabinet if decamping.  (The gin and single malt alone would get me whatever I want, for about six months.)  Passing thought:  I don’t smoke, nor do any of the folks in our little SHTF party.  Worth considering getting a carton or two of Marlboros as trade goods?  [/post-WWII Germany]

Metal tools.  Axes, knives, saws, etc. — Covered.  My SHTF bins have enough not only for me, but for Doc as well, if he needs any.

Home Depot stuff.  Lumber, screws, nails, tarps, rope, duct tape, glue, gloves, concrete, etc. — Concrete? LOL.  But I might need stuff like 2x4s and plywood (note:  talk to Doc).  All the other stuff I have in plenty.

Replacements:  clothes, shoes, boots, socks, undergarments, jackets, and hats. — Covered.  Included are things like serious rainwear, gloves (work and warmth), cold-weather gear and so on.

Shiny metals. — Errrr whut?  I have a couple steel mirrors for signaling, but that’s about it.

Transport.  Trucks, motorcycles, fuel, and spare parts. — Just enough to get me to Doc’s, but I always keep at least a half-tank of gas in the car.  Doc has more at his place.

My additions and suggestions:

First aid:  antibacterial stuff (ointments, disinfectants), bandages and so on.  You can go nuts with preparing a list of this stuff, so I tend to go with a simple checklist of what I’ve needed to have handy over the past ten years, and adding things like coagulants and such for more serious wounds.  Rule of thumb:  whatever you think you’d need for OTC meds, double that number.

Cooking: some kind of camp stove or grill with an adequate fuel supply, plus metal pots and pans (like Lodge) that won’t break.  Also cooking oil because butter is perishable.

Extra sugar, salt/pepper and spices.  Great barter goods if nothing else.  Also rice, cornmeal, pasta, cereals and similar starches.

Canned food of stuff you like to eat.  Don’t bother with the junk like asparagus, cream corn and pumpkin which make you barf just at the thought;  go heavy on your favorites e.g. in my case, corned beef hash, chicken and tuna.  Also:  evaporated milk and condensed milk.

Biltong (not jerky).  Two lbs of biltong, if properly rationed out, can keep you alive for a month all by itself.  (You are already making it, using Kim’s Sooper-Seekrit Recipe, aren’t you?)

Feel free to add or substitute as you wish.

Survival Food

SHTF

Back when I was a starving musician and living more or less in the back of a van down by the river (some exaggeration, but not much), I couldn’t afford much in the way of food — “starving”, duh — and so I found myself eating an old boarding-school staple, a South African cereal named ProNutro.  Here’s the scoop on it, in addition to what you can read at the link.

It looks like sawdust, and tastes pretty much like slightly sweetened sawdust.  However, its nutritional value is extraordinary:  one bowl per day, and you will not starve.  In fact, if you have a large bowl for breakfast on a normal day, you may find come dinnertime that you’re not very hungry and could possibly skip dinner altogether.

It’s best eaten cold, with either milk or half-and-half (the latter makes delicious porridge of it), with a little sugar to taste.  However:  if times are really tough, you can use water instead of milk.  It doesn’t taste that great, of course, but it will keep body and soul together.  (I once lived on ProNutro made thus for just over a month, stealing sugar sachets from restaurants.)

It is highly absorbent, and even when you think you’ve used enough milk / water, you’ll still have to add more before you’re done.

I’m actually eating a bowl of ProNutro as I write this, which is what prompted the post in the first place.  Try it:  you’ll either like it or hate it;  but there’s no denying that it works as survival food.  Ask me how I know — oh wait, I already told you that.

Note:  I don’t get any bribes income from any product I recommend on this site.