Honor: 0 [ Give / Take ]
48 entries this month
PRIVATE ENTRY
14:35 Sep 30 2013
Times Read: 563
• • • • PRIVATE JOURNAL ENTRY • • • •
A Ritual for Forgiveness...Sent to me from the Goddess and my Ascended Masters...02:19 Sep 30 2013
Times Read: 577
I have read many many people in my lifetime. Some online, others in person, at events and even some who have walked up to me out of no where looking for answers for their pain. Pain from their past, from past lives, from situations they are currently in...
I have never shared this with anyone, but feel this is the place to share it. **Please do not copy or paste this. You may use this for yourself if you feel the need. You may share this with your group or coven, but it is not to see the outside world. It is not intended for profit of any kind, and if you do, the three fold law will find you. Trust me, I have seen it happen. This did not come from me. It was given to me to help others. I have been told to share this with you. Someone, if not many need this ritual. Here it is.
When you have deep pain, pain that has followed you all of your mortal life, or eternal life through many hosts, the result is the same. Pain can destroy most people and it usually destroys those closest to you. If you are a Vamp everyone else can feel it too.
Take a piece of white paper, and with a fountain pen, or feather and quill with jarred ink, write down JUST THE NAMES or A BRIEF DESCRIPTION. This is not intended for you to relive the whole experiences. Mine was three pages long double sided... I warn you, this can be painful but well worth it.
Once you have them ALL written down, drive to the nearest ocean, or body of water. You must be there alone, or if someone is with you, they must give you private time to do this. Take with you some matches, or a lighter, a white or black candle. Once you reach the ocean, look out into it and ask the deities of the ocean for a deep cleansing. Ask the watch towers to keep you safe. In return you will honor and respect them always. Sit in the sand, draw three circles around you with the end, not the lighting end, counter clock wise. Sit without anything crossed, and close your eyes. Breathe in the very life of the ocean and all its power. Ask for a soul cleansing from everyone listed on this paper. Light the candle and place it in front of you in the sand. Repeat these words:
"I bring to you all those who have harmed me, wronged me or hurt me. I ask that you cleanse me from all pain and allow me to live my life the way it should be. I ask not only for myself, but for those I wish to help in this lifetime. I myself cannot harbor such things while helping others. With each wave wash away each pain, draw it to the depths of the sea. As the moon rises and falls, waxes and wanes...bring me healing and happiness again and heal me.
As my will so mote it be...
After saying this once, light the paper on fire with the flame of the candle and speak those words again in the smoke. Once the paper is gone, feel all the pain being drawn away out of your body with every crashing wave and into the sea...
Meditate, and allow yourself the luxury of feeling good again.
Before you close your circle, place your hands into a triangle, and say: I humbly thank you for the gifts I have been given and am about to receive. As my will so mote it be! End your circle, and then bring your candle home with you. When you start to think about those things again, light the candle, close your eyes and listen to the waves, see the smoke and KNOW that they took it all away. Welcome to your new happiness, a gift from the Ascended Masters.
**If you do not have access to the ocean, as long as it is RUNNING water, the effects are the same.
I also find that being a Seeress, you can often find yourself thinking about those you watch over. This ritual is the way I cleanse myself from such sorrows and begin a new day.
Blessed Be!
~Morganna777
Car B.O.B. (Bug Out Bag) Link to purchase ready made supplies...17:26 Sep 28 2013
Times Read: 585
http://calquakeinlandempire.com/storetitles/kits/carkit.html
Survival kit: How to make a paracord lanyard Link with videos...17:25 Sep 28 2013
Times Read: 586
http://beforeitsnews.com/survival/2013/03/survival-kit-how-to-make-a-paracord-lanyard-2464504.html
PRIVATE ENTRY
17:23 Sep 28 2013
Times Read: 587
• • • • PRIVATE JOURNAL ENTRY • • • •
How To Survive Anarchy And A Collapse Of America Saturday, March 2, 2013 11:0317:19 Sep 28 2013
Times Read: 589
Anarchy and America's Collapse
In A Real-World Hunger Games, Life Will Be All About Survival. Here’s How to Survive Widespread Disaster and Chaos.
by Mark Lawrence, Copyright © SecretsofSurvival.com. All rights reserved.
Life turned upside down. Riots. Looting. Anarchy. It’s going to take a lot more than just a few survival tools to stay alive in a time of mass-chaos as this. Danger at every turn.
Are you going to be able to survive when murder and mayhem are unleashed on the land?
Today I hope to point you in the right direction. This just might keep you alive. Or I might get you killed. Depends on the situation. You might want to pay close attention.
Survive A Complete Collapse
There’s a lot of worry about the threats our world faces today — which is one reason we continue to see movies and television shows set around a story of widespread disaster — such as this season’s new show, NBC Revolution.
Many people feel that we may see widespread disaster in our lifetime; catastrophic disaster. A complete collapse of society. News stories of massive natural disasters and threats from terrorists and rogue governments each year continue to add fuel to the fire.
More and more people expect a catastrophe of some sort to take place — and many people are preparing for that, maybe a bit like Noah prepared when God told him to build an Ark several thousand years ago because a flood was coming.
Catastrophe
We’ve covered a lot of topics on this site — many having to do with simply being prepared for disaster. This article is going to take us to the days and weeks after a disaster where the damage and desperation is so widespread that it’s clear that something truly catastrophic has taken place.
Life will be all about survival.
Right now I can tell you about great survival tools but these are useless if you don’t have any knowledge about what it takes to actually survive.
What I’m going to talk about next is an important survival skill that if used effectively may keep you alive and out of danger again and again.
Ready to survive?
Be Ready and Able to Move Fast and Cover a Lot of Ground
Let’s say the day of disaster strikes and the world as we know it is turned upside down in just a few short days.
Massive terror attacks. Natural disasters. Riots. Looting.
Anarchy.
It’s important to know this — even if disaster and terror attacks and riots and looting are taking place many miles away, your life may still be in danger — though you may not feel like it at first.
Expect danger to be headed your way. That way it doesn’t catch you off guard when it arrives.
Danger in Many Forms
It might be 250 outlaw bikers rolling into town to help themselves to whatever’s left on store shelves … and set on fire and maim anyone who gets in their way or just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It might be a weapon-wielding mob of 5,000 pissed off gang-members and their cohorts from a nearby city abandoning their neighborhood having heard that there would be food and shelter in the suburbs.
Or you may find out that a terrorist cell had been planted in your community (one of many across the U.S.) — communicating with one another prior to the day of disaster through multiple jihadist websites — and now they were systematically going from house to house, dragging families out and executing them, one by one… Until the town or city was theirs; local police hunted down and executed — no match for the firepower wielded by these jihadist terror groups, many with military training from nations such as Iran and Lebanon, Afghanistan and Iraq, Somalia and Libya.
Fight or Flight
If events come to your neighborhood and conflict erupts nearby, don’t rush into the middle of it. That’s a great way to get killed, and your family killed also (they’re dependent on you keeping a level-head and staying alive).
So at the first sign or sound of chaos coming to your community, take a step back, find a place of concealment, and survey the situation.
What you’re going to see is anarchy. These people causing mayhem have been waiting for this moment all their lives. These people are evil and all they want to do is hurt and maim and kill.
Are you armed, can you fight, do you know how to shoot, and can you save people from a dangerous mob?
Be in prayer about that — the Bible calls us to love our enemies but it also calls us to protect the weak, care for the sick, help the needy. Look to God in prayer — maybe he’s calling you go to the aid of that person who needs help — or maybe he’s not. If you’re one man with just one gun and you’re facing a mob of 50 men that is terrorizing a family — what can you do? You’re just one man. You’ve got just one gun.
As hard as it is to accept — this family is at the mercy of God. You’re not going to be able to save them. Not unless you’re Rambo. And that’s still not a promise. Don’t blow your cover. Stay out of sight.
As they’re beaten by the mob the best thing you can do is make a retreat to safe ground. The mob may leave and maybe later in the day or evening you can return to see if there’s anything you can do to help the family that’s been beaten and left for dead.
But if they’re being murdered one by one don’t hesitate to come to their aid, but do so with a plan of attack in mind.
Taking on the Mob
You can take on this mob but that’s going to call for boldness. Leave your place of concealment, sneak up on the mob as close as you can get, aim your gun at the ring leader, or ring leaders (if it’s clear who they are), and shoot.
Don’t take this course of action unless it’s clear that the lives of these people are in danger. No need to kill if it’s just a standard beating, as strange as that is to consider. But if they’re being murdered, about to be murdered, that’s a different story.
There’s an old saying “strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter”. If this mob has worked itself into a frenzy and their attention is on the family being attacked, they may not see you walk up, take aim, and start shooting.
Some of them are going to scatter, fearing for their lives. Some may pull guns and shoot back (always assume someone has a gun).
http://www.secretsofsurvival.com/survival/survival-anarchy-americas-collapse.html
WND EXCLUSIVE AMERICANS WARNED BANK 'BAIL-INS' COMING Experts say institutions will grab deposits without warning Published: 16 hours ago author-image F. MICHAEL MALOOF 17:17 Sep 28 2013
Times Read: 590
WASHINGTON – With the United States facing a $17 trillion debt and an acidic debate in Washington over raising that debt limit on top of a potential government shutdown, Congress could mimic recent European action to let banks initiate a “bail-in” to blunt future failures, experts say.
Previously the federal government has taken taxes from consumers, or borrowed the money, to hand out to troubled banks. This could be a little different, and could allow banks to reach directly into consumers’ bank accounts for their cash.
Authority to allow bank “bail-ins” would be in lieu of approving any future taxpayer bailouts of banks that would be in dire need of recapitalization in order to survive.
Some financial experts contend that banks already have the legal authority to confiscate depositors’ money without warning, and at their discretion.
Financial analyst Jim Sinclair warned that the U.S. banks most likely to be “bailed-in” by their depositors are those institutions that received government bail-out funds in 2008-2009.
Such a “bail-in” means all savings of individuals over the insured amount would be confiscated to offset such a failure.
Get “I Want Your Money” and find out what may be coming to your neighborhood.
“Bail-ins are coming to North America without any doubt, and will be remembered as the ‘Great Leveling,’ of the ‘great Flushing’ (of Lehman Brothers),” Sinclair said. “Not only can it happen here, but it will happen here.
“It stands on legal grounds by legal precedent both in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.”
Sinclair is chairman and chief executive officer of Tanzania Royalty Exploration Corp. and is the son of Bertram Seligman, whose family started Goldman Sachs, Solomon Brothers, Lehman Brothers, Bache Group and other major investment banking firms.
Some of the major banks which received federal bailout money included Bank of America, Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase.
“When major banks fail, they are going to bail them out by grabbing the money that is in your bank accounts,” according to financial expert Michael Snyder. “This is going to absolutely shatter faith in the banking system and it is actually going to make it far more likely that we will see major bank failures all over the Western world.”
Given the dire financial straits the U.S. finds itself in, these financial experts say that Congress could look at the example of the European Parliament, which recently started to consider action that would allow banks to confiscate depositors’ holdings above 100,000 euros. Generally, funds up to that level are insured.
Finance ministers of the 27-member European Union in June had approved forcing bondholders, shareholders and large depositors with more than 100,000 euros in their accounts to make the financial sacrifice before turning to the government for help with taxpayer funds.
Depositors with less than 100,000 euros would be protected. Considering protection of small depositors a top priority, the E.U. ministers took pride in saying that their action would shield them.
“The E.U. has made a big step towards putting in place the most comprehensive framework for dealing with bank crises in the world,” said Michel Barnier, E.U. commissioner for internal market and services.
The plan as approved outlines a hierarchy of rescuing struggling banks. The first will be bondholders, followed by shareholders and then large depositors.
Among large depositors, there is a hierarchy of whose money would be selected first, with small and medium-sized businesses being protected like small depositors.
“This agreement will effectively move us from ad hoc ‘bail-outs’ to structured and clearly defined ‘bail-ins,’” said Michael Noonan, Ireland’s finance minister.
The European Parliament is expected to finalize the plan by the end of the year.
The purpose of this “bail-in,” patterned after the Cyprus model, is to offset the need for continued taxpayer bailouts that have come under increasing criticism of the more economically well-off countries such as Germany.
Last March, Cyprus had agreed to tap large depositors at its two leading banks for some 10 billion euros in an effort to obtain another 10 billion European Union bailout.
While this action prevented the collapse of Cyprus’ two top banks, the Bank of Cyprus and Popular Bank of Cyprus, it greatly upset depositors with savings more than 100,000 euros.
WND recently revealed that the practice of “bail-ins” by Cyprus a year ago was beginning to spread to other nations as large depositors began to see their balances plunge literally overnight.
A “bail-in,” as opposed to a bailout that countries especially in Europe have been seeking from the International Monetary Fund and the European Union, is a recognition that such outside monetary injections won’t be forthcoming.
Sinclair said that the recent confiscation of customer deposits in Cyprus was not a “one-off, desperate idea of a few Eurozone ‘troika’ officials scrambling to salvage their balance sheets.”
“A joint paper by the U.S. federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Bank of England (BOE) dated December 10, 2012 shows, that these plans have been long in the making, that they originated with the G20 Financial Stability Board in Basel, Switzerland, and that the result will be to deliver clear title to the banks of depositor funds,” Sinclair said.
He pointed that while few depositors are aware, banks legally own the depositors’ funds as soon as they are put in the bank.
“Our money becomes the bank’s, and we become unsecured creditors holding IOUs or promises to pay,” Sinclair said.
“But until now, the bank has been obligated to pay the money back on demand in the form of cash,” he said. “Under the FDIC-BOE plan, our IOUs will be converted into ‘bank equity.’ The bank will get the money and we will get stock in the bank.”
“With any luck,” Sinclair said, “we may be able to sell the stock to someone else, but when and at what price? Most people keep a deposit account so they can have ready cash to pay the bills.”
Such plans already are being used, or under consideration, in New Zealand, Poland, Canada and several other countries.
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/09/americans-warned-bank-bail-ins-coming/#F7ttt1kZF81soAXX.99
Senator: On Verge Of Civil War As Politics Hit Civil War Levels Friday, September 27, 2013 10:56 017:14 Sep 28 2013
Times Read: 593
(Before It's News)
According to Democratic Senator Tom Harkin, we have reached one of the most dangerous times in American history and that politics have reached civil war levels. The headline today on the Drudge Report echoes the same sentiment: Politics in America have reached civil war levels. Harkin even compares politics in America today to what it was like prior to the break up of the Union prior to the Civil War. “This is like the movie High Noon.”
These times are not just congressional business as usual, Harkin said. In fact, it’s something much, much more dire:
It’s dangerous. It’s very dangerous. I believe, Mr. President, we are at one of the most dangerous points in our history right now. Every bit as dangerous as the break-up of the Union before the Civil War.
Power Outage Wreaks Havoc in NYC: “There Appears to Have Been No Plan for This Type of Catastrophic Failure” Friday, September 27, 2013 16:02 0: Read this for yourselves...
17:12 Sep 28 2013
Times Read: 594
(Before It's News)
nyc-poweroutage
(Pictured: Thousands of commuters at Grand Central Station try to figure out how to get home amid power outage)
Outgoing Department of Homeland Security Head Janet Napolitano has repeatedly warned of the imminence of a widespread power outage originating from a rogue attack on the nation’s electricity grid.
They know such an event is coming, and in a couple of months they’ll be running a full-scale simulation involving hundreds of government agencies and businesses across North America to prepare for it.
The fact of the matter is that America is not ready for such an event – be it a man-made attack or a natural disaster.
Yesterday morning a massive power outage struck New York City’s metro rail system, stranding thousands of passengers and causing hours-long traffic delays in and out of the city.
This is just a taste of what we can expect if it were to happen nationwide all at once:
Tens of thousands of commuters scrambled Thursday for alternative transportation between the Connecticut suburbs and the city as a power failure disabled one of the nation’s busiest commuter rail lines for a second day.
Parts of Interstate 95 were backed up for hours as transit officials scrambled to find alternative power sources and avoid what they said could be weeks of snarled commutes.
…
Amtrak trips between New York and Boston are running as much as 90 minutes late because of congestion caused by the commuter line outage.
…
Marjorie Anders, a spokeswoman for Metro-North, said officials are working to accommodate riders after power was lost along an 8-mile stretch of track… The line serves 125,000 daily passengers at 38 stations in 23 towns.
…
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy warned that repairs could take more than three weeks.
..
“This is not an act of God as we normally treat weather conditions,” he said standing in Grand Central Thursday night. “This is a failure, for one reason or another, of the system.”
The New York-based utility Consolidated Edison plans to set up three transformers to bring 13,000 volts to a line that failed Wednesday, but it is unclear how many trains could be served with the added power since the line normally requires 138,000 volts, Malloy said.
…
“There appears to have been little to no plan for this type of catastrophic failure,” he said, explaining that a two to three week repair time was unacceptable.
The source of a power failure has not yet been determined, said Allan Drury, spokesman for the utility Consolidated Edison.
Source: USA Today via Steve Quayle
After hundreds of billions of dollars spent by Homeland Security, FEMA and other emergency agencies, there was no plan!
It should be clear that, despite all of the rhetoric coming from emergency planners over the last decade, New York City (and the country as a whole) is totally exposed to a large-scale catastrophic emergency that brings down the power grid.
This isolated incident, like Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, prove yet again that the system as a whole will break down rapidly should disaster strike on a mass scale.
Whether a grid-down event comes a as result of a cyber attack, super EMP weapon, or a solar flare from the sun, the consequences would be devastating and almost instantaneous.
Millions of people would be stranded with no way to get home. Grocery and convenience stores would empty of food and potable water within a matter of hours, perhaps even minutes. Transportation, communication and commerce systems would come to a standstill.
This would be nothing short of one of the most horrific scenarios imaginable.
What’s more, as evidenced by the events in New York, should the three major power grids across the country go down, there is no bringing them back in a timely fashion. Former Congressman Roscoe Bartlett has warned that the grid components required, such as transformers, are not easily available and could take as long as 18 months to bring online.
We could have events in the future where the power grid will go down and it’s not, in any reasonable time, coming back up. For instance, if when the power grid went down some of our large transformers were destroyed, damaged beyond use, we don’t make any of those in this country.
They’re made overseas and you order one and 18 months to two years later they will deliver it.
Our power grid is very vulnerable. It’s very much on edge. Our military knows that.
That’s a huge problem, and one that promises to lead to a widespread population “die-off”, as noted by a recent study from the Center for Security Policy:
Within a year of that attack, nine out of 10 Americans would be dead, because we can’t support a population of the present size in urban centers and the like without electricity,” said Frank Gaffney, president of the Center for Security Policy.
That’s why Roscoe Bartlett and others have suggested that those with the ability to do so should move their families out of major cities and prepare an individual preparedness plan to ready themselves for the absence of government assistance for extended periods.
The threat is real and today’s events in New York should make it clear to everyone that we are not ready for it.
Copyright: SHTF Plan
Ghost caught on tape after fatal car crash in Spain...17:09 Sep 28 2013
Times Read: 595
http://beforeitsnews.com/strange/2013/09/ghost-caught-on-tape-after-fatal-car-crash-video-2451610.html
Very useful, printable checklists for all kinds of Emergencies...17:03 Sep 28 2013
Times Read: 596
Below is the link to the website where you can actually download the PDF file, print and use as a checklist for preparations. I thought this might help as things can get pretty expensive when doing this all at once. If you print these lists, and you happen to see things on sale, check your lists and get a double bargain!
http://beprepared.com/education/preparedness-checklist.html
Emergency Vehicle Preparation on Youtube Video...16:59 Sep 28 2013
Times Read: 597
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUiWG694gyM
A real story of a man who lives in Alabama...Emergency Bags for Your Vehicle, by Z.T.
16:57 Sep 28 2013
Times Read: 598
Saturday, Mar 2, 2013
Most preppers probably have a pretty good handle on how to assemble a bug-out-bag (BOB). And, it’s probably so large and ungainly, that it gets stuck in the closet, just like mine. Let's be honest, are you going to have it when you need it? I think we have covered the likelihood of being at home when “it” happens in plenty of detail in the past. We have seen that the chances of you being at home on your couch with your BOB beside you are slim. What about all the other situations? In other words, where to you spend a sizeable quantity of your life in a situation that can easily turn against you? And, in this situation, are you adequately prepared? Lastly, are you just thinking of yourself, or thinking of your dependents…who are what really matter.
Ironically, about a month ago, Alabama had one of those Jesus Is Coming moments when the white stuff from hades started falling. If you don't catch the joke, it's that Alabama shuts down at just the threat of severe winter weather. I was sitting here in my office when the loud speaker told us to go home. In the ice and snow. 2,500 people all recklessly driving to pick up their kids. Not only does Alabama shut down, but Alabamians don't know how to drive in bad weather, of any kind. But they are particularly incapable of driving in snow and ice. Case in point is that on Interstate 65, wrecks caused 24 hour delays. Most of these delays were between exits in a very rural area. Families were trapped in their vehicles for a whole day.
I guess you can see where I am going with this article. The fact is, you use your car every day. You spend a sizeable amount of your life in a car. And of all things that you do, driving is probably both the most dangerous and most likely to put you into one of these situations. Here is the kicker: it is also the most likely time that you will have to fend not only for yourself, but for your entire family. Face it, being stuck in the snow for 24 hours is bad. But, you…by yourself…could hump it, if you had to. It wouldn’t be the end of the world. But it wouldn’t be the case for me.
So, my wife...ever supportive of this hobby of mine...saw a real application of survival prepping. She asked me to make an emergency kit for the car. While most of you reading would think about gas cans, flashlights, and tow straps, recall that many of us have kids. Young ones. We can't just start humping it up the interstate. We need food, water, and warmth. Now, I know times are hard and people have a tough time spending money on things they will probably never use. But, you can't put a price on safety, convenience, or comfort. These things do happen. All the time.
I am going to show you how to put together a simple kit that will buy you 24 hours of comfort and assurance for you and your family. And I am going to do it on a budget that anyone can feel good about, while maintaining the useful space in your vehicle.
After a few weeks of procrastinating, I finally got serious (and got paid...). The first thing I did was to shop at the Emergency Essentials web site. They have plenty of “all in one package” items, but not only was the all in one survival bags a little bit more than I wanted to spend, it took the fun out of shopping and building it for myself. Not only that, but everyone is different in their level of survivability. I started out by buying the 72 Hour Improved MRE kit. This cost $58 dollars.
Contents of the Improved MRE 72-Hour Food and Water Supply
MRE Main Dish Entrees 9
MRE Side Dishes 6
MRE Dessert 6
MRE Drink Mix 3
Water Pouch 18
Bread/Biscuit 3
Peanut Butter 2
Jam Packet 1
Cheese Packet 1
Hard Candy 3
Accessory Pack 9
Now, that's a big box of stuff, and honestly, as I counted up the calories, I realized that we didn't need all of this, nor could we fit it in the car conveniently. I figured we needed a solid 1,000 calorie meal and days’ worth of water. After all, we are American and it would take weeks to starve us fat people. But kids get cranky and it's hard to keep your wits about you when you have 3 of them telling you how hungry they are. Turns out, by counting the calories in each item, it took one MRE main dish, one dessert, and one fruit for a 1,000 calorie meal. Multiple that by 5 and I actually had 1 person's day worth of food left over, which I added to my 24 hour bag.
Additionally, I added:
Wool survival blankets for $11.99. That's a steal. These things are heavy and huge. And they normally cost $25.
5 Hothands Super Warmers. I bought these for $1 each.
3 Mylar emergency blankets. I bought these in a lot of 10 from Amazon for under $5
3 glow sticks. I bought these in a lot of 10 for $11
Baggie of vitamins and OTC pills.
One large flashlight
Basic hand tool kit
Straps and bungee cords
Can of Fix-A-Flat
Even after I put this together, I noticed that there were some other things that I think should be added, but aren’t necessary. For you, they may be, so don’t forget about things like playing cards, sanitary wipes/toilet paper, extra plastic sacks, spare sets of clothes, and, if you need it as we do, baby formula.
While the people reading this already are like-minded and see the benefit of this kit, I am trying to appeal to those that aren’t. The Top Two Questions you are asking are: 1) I bet it’s a lot of money for something I will never use and 2) That much stuff would be impossible to fit in my vehicle. These two questions were foremost on my mind when I put this together. Why? Because like everyone else, I am on a budget and I have three children and all of their stuff. Yet, it fits nicely behind the back seat of my Chevy Yukon. It isn't very heavy. The total cost was under $60.
WORKPLACE PLANS for Emergencies...16:54 Sep 28 2013
Times Read: 599
Like individuals and families, schools, daycare providers, workplaces, neighborhoods and apartment buildings should all have site-specific emergency plans.
Ask about plans at the places where your family spends the most time: work, school and other places you frequent. If none exist, consider volunteering to help develop one. You will be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead, and communicate with others in advance.
For more information on working together, visit Citizen Corps.
WORKPLACES
If you are an employer, make sure your workplace has a building evacuation plan that is regularly practiced.
Visit the Business section for more information.
Take a critical look at your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system to determine if it is secure or if it could feasibly be upgraded to better filter potential contaminants, and be sure you know how to turn it off if you need to.
Think about what to do if your employees can't go home.
Make sure you have appropriate supplies on hand.
Read more at Build a Kit and Staying Put.
For more information on working together, visit Citizen Corps and our Neighborhoods and Apartments section.
Vehicle Emergency Bag/Supplies...16:52 Sep 28 2013
Times Read: 600
In case you are stranded, keep a kit of emergency supplies in your car. This kit should include:
Jumper cables
Flashlights and extra batteries
First aid kit and necessary medications in case you are away from home for a prolonged time
Food items containing protein such as nuts and energy bars; canned fruit and a portable can opener
Water for each person and pet in your car
AM/FM radio to listen to traffic reports and emergency messages
Cat litter or sand for better tire traction
Shovel
Ice scraper
Warm clothes, gloves, hat, sturdy boots, jacket and an extra change of clothes
Blankets or sleeping bags
Also consider:
A fully-charged cell phone and phone charger
Flares or reflective triangle
Baby formula and diapers if you have a small child
Be prepared for an emergency by keeping your gas tank full and if you find yourself stranded, be safe and stay in your car, put on your flashers, call for help and wait until it arrives.
September 29th, 201304:36 Sep 28 2013
Times Read: 608
I have had an extremely busy week, both with the Universe and work. The spirits are all restless, and they are reaching out to me everywhere I turn. The visions play in my mind like watching a movie in full color. The messages are always different, but each with their own sense of urgency. Lately, they have been a message to me. A warning of what I already know is coming. It is basically a message to mortals, to either "Wake up or give up". I can feel the winter crawling in like a slow rolling cloud. The air is crisp, and evenings and nightfall cold. It is going to be a very very cold and blustery winter. Look at all the animals, how they are acting, and the coats they are growing. They ALWAYS KNOW. If you do not live in an area where it snows, then be ready for radical and extreme weather. Tsunamis, Hurricanes, and Tornadoes. They all feel the need to tell me, and this I know: When a spirit takes all their energy, or close to it to become a full body apparition to get you a message, you had best be listening. Not all of them recover so quickly after. I am blessed in knowing them. They watch over me, warn me, and even guide me when I ask... it is the Druid in me that calls to Nature, to the Ancients and those wise ones who have crossed over. Frankly I trust them more than I trust most humans. Their goal is to preserve me, not hurt or try to destroy me. I was born this way. I have come to accept it. However, having said this, it is not always the glamorous Hollywood.
I wish you all a pleasant evening, and I will write more in the morning.
Blessed Be!
~Morganna777
For tons of Amish Canning Recipes please use the link below...20:38 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 628
http://community.tasteofhome.com/community_forums/f/30/t/189370.aspx
Amish Tomato Jam...20:35 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 630
3 pounds (about 6 large) ripe tomatoes
1 lemon, sliced thin
3 cups granulated sugar
Skin, core and quarter tomatoes. Remove seeds. Put tomatoes in saucepan and bring to boil. Simmer, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes. This should yield about 3 cups pulp (adjust other ingredients accordingly if it varies from this). Return tomatoes to pan. Stir in lemon slices and sugar. Bring to boil and continue cooking, stirring constantly until jam thickens. Pour into jars and seal.
**Please note: Normally I would post recipes in The Cauldron section of my page, but since we are doing Disaster Preparedness today they are posted here.
Enjoy!
Amish Canning Recipes Relish, pickles, canned fruits, and other recipes20:33 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 631
The Amish are prolific canners, essential when you have a large family and big garden to match. Amish can all varieties of fruits and vegetables as well as meats, soups and stews, and other foods. Below you’ll find canning recipes for some classic Amish and PA Dutch canned goods, such as Chow Chow, Pepper Relish, Red Beet Eggs, and more.
Amish Canning Recipes
Cucumber Pickles
Mustard Pickles
Dill Pickles
Bread & Butter Pickles
Sweet Peppers
Pepper Relish
Corn Relish
Pickled Green BeansChow Chow
Pickled Eggs & Red Beets
Pickled Red Beets
Brine
Pickled Pears
Ginger Pears
Spiced Gooseberries
CUCUMBER PICKLES
24 cucumbers
1 quart onions
Salt (about 1 cup)
1/2 ping olive oil
1/4 pound ground mustard
3 tablespoon black pepper
3 pints cider vinegar
Peel the skins off the cucumbers. Slice cucumbers very thin, then add the peels and sliced onions and cover with the salt. Let stand overnight. Drain well and then add the olive oil, pepper and mustard, stirring slowly. Add the vinegar and mustard, stirring slowly. Finally, add the vinegar and pour into air-tight jars. Let stand for 6 weeks. (adapted from Pennsylvania Dutch Cook Book of Fine Old Recipes)
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MUSTARD PICKLES
2 quarts green tomatoes
2 quarts small sweet pickles
2 quarts small white onions
1/2 dozen green peppers
2 heads cauliflower
1 cup salt
3 quarts white wine vinegar
1 cup flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 pound mustard
1 ounce celery seed
1/2 ounce turmeric for coloring
Separate the cauliflower into florets. Peel the onions and slice the peppers very fine. Slice the tomatoes and then combine all four ingredients. Cover with the salt and let stand over night. Drain. Next cover with boiling water and cook until vegetables are tender. Drain again. Heat the vinegar and pour over the flour, sugar, mustard, celery seed and turmeric (turmeric is a plant in the ginger family which is dried and ground into a spice) which have been mixed together. Mix well. Add the pickles to the cooked vegetables. Pour over the liquid, then cook for around 10 minutes (or until the mixture thickens). Pour into sterilized jars and seal. (adapted from Pennsylvania Dutch Cook Book of Fine Old Recipes)
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DILL PICKLES
Cucumbers
Dill
Onions
Garlic
Pickling spice
First, make a brine syrup using:
1 1/4 cups sugar
4 1/4 cups vinegar
1/2 cup coarse salt
4 cups water
Next, wash and sterilize pint or quart jars. (If you have 6-8″-long cucumbers, leave them whole and use quart-size jars, but they can also be sliced and packed into the pint-size jars.) Place two heads of dill in each quart jar (or 1 head in each pint jar). Add one small onion, one clove of garlic, and 1/2 tsp. pickling spice to each jar. Wash and dry cucumbers and pack them whole, or sliced, into the jars. Heat the brine until it reaches a boil. Pour over cucumbers in jar. Place lid on jars and screw tight. Next, put the filled jars into a water bath and bring the water to a full, rolling boil. Turn off heat and let the jars sit in the hot water for 5 minutes, then remove. Finally, seal the jars. If syrup is left over, you can save it in the fridge to be used later. (adapted from Plain and Happy Living: Amish Recipes and Remedies by Emma Byler)
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BREAD & BUTTER PICKLES
1 gal. cucumbers
8 onions
½ cup salt
2 green peppers
2 red peppers
Slice cucumbers, peppers and onions. Pack in ice, and let it cool for 3 hours. Place a heavy weight on top the pickles (you can use a plate with a weight placed on top). Drain well and combine with:
5 cups sugar
2 tablespoons mustard seed
2 tablespoons celery seed
1½ teaspoons turmeric
½ teaspoon ground cloves
5 cups vinegar
Mix well. Pour this mixture over the pickles and then simmer for half-an-hour. Seal bread-and-butter pickles in hot jars.
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SWEET PEPPERS
Red, yellow, and green bell peppers
To make the syrup, you’ll need:
4 c. water
1 c. vinegar
5 c. granulated sugar
Combine the above ingredients and bring them to a boil.
Next, slice red, green and yellow bell peppers into strips. Pack peppers into jars and then pour the syrup over them. Finally, cold pack for 5 minutes. (adapted from Cooking & Such magazine, Mary Ann Esh and Elizabeth Esh, Winter 2011-2012)
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PEPPER RELISH
12 sweet red peppers
12 sweet green peppers
8 small onions
1 qt. vinegar
1½ cups sugar
2 tsp. salt
Seed the peppers and chop fine with the onion. Place in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand for 5 minutes. Drain and cover again with boiling water, let stand for 10 minutes longer. Place in colander or cheesecloth bag let drain over night. In the morning add the vinegar, sugar and salt. Boil for 20 min, then place in hot sterilized jars and seal.
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CORN RELISH
9 ears corn
1 qt. vinegar
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1½ tblsps. dry mustard
1 tsp. turmeric
1 medium head cabbage
2 medium onions, chopped
3 red peppers
2 green peppers
Cook corn in boiling water for 2 minutes. Dip in cold water and cut grains from the cob. Chop the cabbage, onion and peppers into small pieces and add to corn. Mix vinegar, sugar, salt and spices and heat to boiling. Add the corn and vegetables and boil for 20-30 minutes, until vegetables become tender (stir frequently). Pour corn relish into sterile jars and seal. This makes about 8 pints.
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CHOW CHOW
Chow chow is a tangy relish popular on Amish tables, providing a great contrast to warm dishes.
2 qts. chopped cabbage
1 qt. chopped green tomatoes
6 large onions, chopped
3 sweet red peppers, chopped
4 tablespoons dry mustard
3 tblsp. white mustard seed
1½ tablespoons celery seed
½ tablespoon ginger
vinegar to cover (about 8 cups)
1 tablespoon cloves
2 lbs. sugar
salt
Place each kind of vegetable into a separate bowl. Sprinkle a small amount of salt over each vegetable, and let stand 4 hours. Press juice from each vegetable and combine. Mix the dry ingredients and rub into a paste by using a small amount of vinegar. Then add all the vinegar and bring to a boil. Put in the vegetables and cook slowly for 20 minutes. Pack in sterile jars and seal. Cover jars with boiling water and simmer for 15 min. This recipe makes 2½ quarts.
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PICKLED GREEN BEANS
2 cups green beans
1 cup vinegar
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Clean and cook whole green beans, and put them into a sterile pint jar. Boil the water, vinegar, sugar and ⅛ tsp. salt. Pour this mixture over the beans and seal the jar.
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PICKLED EGGS & RED BEETS
Boil young beets until tender. Skin beets, and cover with the liquid described below.
To make the liquid, boil together for 10 minutes:
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup cold water
Small piece of cinnamon
3 or 4 cloves
Let the beets stand in this liquid for several days. Remove the beets, and add whole hard-boiled eggs to the liquid. Let pickle for two days before eating. (adapted from Pennsylvania Dutch Cook Book of Fine Old Recipes)
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PICKLED RED BEETS
3 lbs. beets
1 stick cinnamon
1 teaspoon whole allspice
½ cup sugar
6 whole cloves
1 pt. vinegar
½ cup water
Boil beets until tender, and then remove skins. Tie the spices in cheesecloth. Heat vinegar, water, spices and sugar to the boiling point. Add beets and then boil for 5 minutes. Pack into sterile jars and then fill with hot liquid. Seal.
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BRINE
2 cups water
2 cups vinegar
4 cups sugar
4 tbsp. salt
1 tbsp. mixed pickling spice ( put into sloth and seal with a twistee.)
Bring brine to a boil before adding redbeets. For redbeets use 2 cups of the cooked redbeet water. (adapted from R&E Sales, Monroe, Indiana)
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PICKLED PEARS
14 pounds pears
1 quart cider vinegar
6 pounds sugar
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon stick cinnamon, broken in pieces
Any good preserving pear may be used. Slice and remove the core or pickle whole (it’s best to use the slicing method if you use Sickel pears). Peel the pears. Place spices in a small cheesecloth bag and add to the vinegar and sugar. Bring mixture to a boil, then add pears and cook until tender. The pears will take on a clear appearance when they become tender. Remove them with a spoon and place them into sterilized jars. Boil the syrup until it thickens. Finally pour the syrup over the pears and seal. (adapted from Pennsylvania Dutch Cook Book of Fine Old Recipes)
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GINGER PEARS
5 lbs. hard pears
3 cups water
5 lbs. sugar
½ cup chopped preserved ginger
3 lemons juice and rind
Pare and core the pears. Dice or cut into thin slices. Add water and cook pears until tender. Add the sugar, ginger, lemon juice and grated rind. Let the mixture simmer until thick and the pears become transparent. Pour pears into sterilized jars and seal. This recipe makes 5 pints of ginger pears.
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SPICED GOOSEBERRIES
5 lbs. ripe gooseberries
4 lbs. brown sugar
2 cups vinegar
2 tblsps. cloves
3 tsps. cinnamon
3 tsps. allspice
Wash and pick over the gooseberries. Combine gooseberries with spices, sugar, and vinegar, and cook slowly until the mixture becomes rather thick. Pour the spiced gooseberries into sterilized glasses and seal. This recipe will make 5 pints.
How to Save Tomato Seeds,By: Ben Sobieck | September 3, 2013 20:24 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 632
How to Save Tomato Seeds
Grab a few good tomatoes, a knife, some water and a small plastic container. Even if you plan on harvesting a lot of seed, don't use one large container. Use several small ones. That way if one becomes contaminated or spills, you're not out too much.
Starting tomatoes from seedUsing tips from Living Ready author Stacy Harris and inspired by the information in her excellent new book, Recipes and Tips for Sustainable Living, I learned how to save tomato seeds using a pretty straightforward and easy method. It already has me thinking about starting tomatoes from seed indoors next spring.
Heirloom tomato seeds harvested using the following method should last a few years if preserved in a cool, dry, dark container.
How to Save Tomato Seeds: What You’ll Need
Grab a few exceptional, homegrown, heirloom tomatoes, a knife, some water and a small plastic container. Even if you plan on harvesting a lot of seed, don’t use one large container. Use several small ones. That way if one becomes contaminated or spills, you’re not out too much.
How to Save Tomato Seeds: Squeeze ‘Em Out
Cut the tomatoes in half and squeeze the seeds into the container. Don’t worry if some of the pulp comes out, too.
How to Save Tomato Seeds: Add Water
After all the seeds are squeezed out, add an equal amount of water to the container.
How to Save Tomato Seeds: Wait Three Days
Let the container sit in a warm area outside for about three days. This will ferment the contents of the container. (That’s a fancy way of saying the seeds will start to rot.)
How to Save Tomato Seeds: Mold is a Good Thing
Mold will start to form on the surface of the seed mix. That’s a good sign you’re on the right track.
How to Save Tomato Seeds: Add More Water
After three days of fermenting, it’s time to separate the good seeds from the bad. Fill up the container with water and let the mixture settle. The good seeds will sink. The bad ones will float.
How to Save Tomato Seeds: Removing Bad Seeds
Dump out the seeds that float. You’ll be left at with good seeds at the bottom.
How to Save Tomato Seeds: Panning for Gold
Keep working out the seeds that float until you’re left with the best of the best at the bottom. It’s a little like panning for gold.
How to Save Tomato Seeds: Let ‘Em Dry
Strain out the good seeds from the water. Let them dry on a plate for a few days. The seeds are finished drying once they don’t stick to the plate. They should be bone dry. One way to test is to shake the plate. If the seeds move around easily, they’re done.
How to Save Tomato Seeds: Preserve Those Seeds
Store the dried seeds in a cool, dry, dark place inside a tightly sealed container. They’ll stay fresh for a few years. Start seedlings indoors in the spring, then do the process all over again in the fall. Heirloom gardening is as fun as it is delicious and sustainable.
- See more at: http://www.livingreadyonline.com/homesteading/how-to-save-tomato-seeds#sthash.ViRnRU5U.dpuf
Share This: Guide to the Best Firewood By: Editor James Card | September 17, 2013
20:23 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 633
Best FirewoodEditor’s Note: This guide to the best firewood is excerpted from the Winter 2012 issue of Living Ready.
One of my friends once said as he looked over his personal library, “When I have a lot of good books I feel wealthy.” I feel the same way about firewood, but different types of firewood have different characteristics. Some burn fast with intense heat and some burn slow and ooze heat throughout the night. Others kick off too many sparks or smoke. Some wood, such as hickory or maple, are great for smoking meats, while evergreens, like pine or spruce, will leave your pork chop with a Pine-Sol flavor.
To help narrow things down, Living Ready put together this guide to the best firewood. Look for the embed code below to paste it onto your own website or blog.
Species Heat lbs./cord Ease of Lighting Coaling Qualities Sparks Fragrance
Alder Med-Low 2540 Fair Good Moderate Slight
Apple High-Med 4400 Difficult Excellent Few Excellent
Ash High 3440 Fairly Difficult Good-Excellent Few Slight
Beech High 3760 Difficult Excellent Few Good
Birch (White) Med 3040 East Good Moderate Slight
Cherry Med 2060 Difficult Excellent Few Excellent
Elm High 2260 Very Difficult Good Very Few Fair
Hickory Very High 4240 Fairly Difficult Excellent Moderate Excellent
Ironwood Very High 4000 Very Difficult Excellent Few Slight
Locust (Black) Very High 3840 Difficult Excellent Very Few Slight
Madrone High 4320 Difficult Excellent Very Few Slight
Maple (Red) High-Med 3200 Fairly Difficult Excellent Few Good
Maple (Sugar) High 3680 Difficult Excellent Few Good
Mesquite Very High N/A Very Difficult Excellent Few Excellent
Oak (Live) Very High 4600 Very Difficult Excellent Few Fair
Oak (Red) High 3680 Difficult Excellent Few Fair
Oak (White) Very High 4200 Difficult Excellent Few Fair
Pecan High N/A Fairly Difficult Good Few Good
Walnut High-Med N/A Fairly Difficult Good Few Fair
- See more at: http://www.livingreadyonline.com/homesteading/best-firewood-guide#sthash.QkMPQtDK.dpuf
Tips to Save Money on Food By: Tracy Schmidt | August 28, 2013
20:20 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 633
How to Save Money on Food
Use these self-sufficiency and homesteading tips to save money on food.
I am a woman who prefers to cook from scratch. I have loved cooking since I was a kid and hope my children follow the same path.
To me, knowing how to do things from scratch is a primary way to save money on food. You pay for convenience.
Conversely, you save money on food by spending your time doing things for yourself.
How to Save Money on Food at Home
Determine which foods you use are the most expensive to buy. Purchase them when they are in season or grow them yourself and preserve them. Start with things you need in bulk, for example, tomato sauces.
I raise about 30 tomato plants a year. To save money I start them from seed myself. I actually start almost everything in my garden myself from seed because while it is cheaper to buy plants than buy produce, it is cheaper yet to start the whole cycle from seed to table yourself.
Starting things from seed enables you to pick high-yield varieties with shorter growing times. If you have a small greenhouse like I do, you prolong your harvest season by starting to grow things from seed like cucumbers, melons, peppers, summer squash, tomatoes, etc.
How to Save Money on Food at the Grocery Store
Tips for saving money on food
Keep learning how to save money on food through self-sufficiency with the author’s Living Ready University Online Course, “Food Preservation & Garden Planning.”
When you buy items at the store stock up on things that will store for longer periods of time when they are on sale like pasta. Stock up on basic canned produce like diced tomatoes you can use for many purposes.
I dry lots of vegetable and use them to make cream soups, in stews, chili, dips, salad dressings and casseroles like scalloped potatoes. I grow herbs myself and dry and freeze them to use throughout the year. They tend to be expensive at the store.
When I can get bulk blueberries and peaches I can them for pie filling and make my crust from scratch. You can make-ahead dry ingredient bags for pancakes, waffles, breads, cakes, pizza crust and cookies. I make spaghetti sauce, dehydrate it on fruit roll trays, freeze the dry product to put on pizza and use in lasagna. I make pizza and freeze it to cook later. I make large batches of cookies and freeze part of the batch to have at a later time.
Once you know how much you need to have on hand in preserved food, you can supplement that with smart store buying and really come out ahead. If you have a busy lifestyle and quick-fix meals you can get there with preserved foods.
One of my favorite meals is canned venison over extra-wide egg noodles. I crack open a can of meat and throw in some canned beans and carrots. I boil it for 10 minutes because of the canned beans, check the seasoning, thicken with 1/4 cup flour and pour it over a bed of egg noodles. It doesn’t get much easier than that to put a meal on the table. All the cutting, peeling and chopping has already occurred and it is like I am eating at a great restaurant.
We grow our own onions which we turn into onion rings. We then freeze any leftover onions chopped before they can get rotten and I use them all winter for cooking in soups and casseroles. The key to saving money on food is good planning so you know how much you need to have on hand of meats, fruits and veggies to feed your family. Then you should look at achieving that goal from the cost and storage stand point.
If you do the planning you will be able to save money on food to its maximum potential.
- See more at: http://www.livingreadyonline.com/homesteading/tips-to-save-money-on-food#sthash.emfkhlyI.dpuf
Link to a Free Download of Wild Edible Plants...20:06 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 634
http://www.livingreadyonline.com/heres-your-download-edible-plants-guide/
If you register they also have a free newsletter and lots of information that may be of use.
"The day I stop learning is the day you die"...
Blessed Be!
~Morganna777
Recent Postings: Permission to Copy for use in Covens, and Mentorships...19:47 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 635
Hello all: As some of you may have already guessed I am in charge of writing and maintaining a disaster preparedness plan for myself personally and for my work. I have posted a few informational things on here that may be of great assistance to some who are unaware or perhaps naive to danger. I am not one to predict the "End of the World" unless I get that from my guides and hosts. I was born a Seeress and know nothing different. I have not yet received this, but will tell you that the energy has changed, and chaos is here. Just watch the news, weather changes, etc. It is hard to ignore. The recent Boston Marathon Bombings will tell you that we are NOT EXEMPT from anything anymore! I am posting these so that Masters of Covens, Mentorships,Sires, etc, and those who have favored my Journals may copy and paste, and perhaps print what they need to be prepared to their groups, etc. I would rather people be informed than to hide under their pillows and cry for help.
***I would ask, that my daily postings which are usually channeled, be left here and NOT COPIED, as they are a message for those who I watch over. If one of these are a message you wish them to read, then please ask them to Favor my Journals. This includes all who have added me to their list of Friends and Favored my Journals. I also have some writings as I am a writer as well be kept copyrighted.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me and I will get back to you as quickly as possible.
Blessed Be!
~Morganna777
Link to a Video on How to Build a Self Feeding Fire in an Emergency...18:55 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 640
http://survivalskillsandgear.com/building-a-self-feeding-fire-survival-training-for-the-outdoors/
Preparing for Apartment Survival in an emergency...
18:52 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 641
No one knows when a natural or man-made disaster will take place, so it's better to be prepared rather than unprepared when a catastrophe happens. Obviously, the amount of room one has is an important consideration when storing survival items is concerned.
Apartment dwellers typically do not enjoy as much space as someone who lives in a house. As a result, apartment survival can be more demanding and more constraining than preparing for an emergency in larger residences.
With some planning, creativity, and effort, however, apartment dwellers can still be relatively well prepared for unforeseen crises and emergencies that may take place.
The major survival considerations by apartment dwellers include having a survival plan, what to do if there is no electricity or natural gas, how they are going to store food, what to do when there is no running water, and securing their apartment.
Survival Plan
The survival plan for apartment dwellers consists of storing food and water, securing one's apartment, getting alternate heat and light sources, and keeping a well stocked first aid kit in case a natural or man-made disaster arises.
Storing Food
Storing food can be a challenge in an apartment. There may be limited room for food storage, meaning that apartment dwellers usually cannot expect to keep months and months worth of food in their apartment.
So apartment dwellers can become masters at storing light weight food items that do not take up much space. Examples include MREs, military ready to eat meals, or other non-perishable foods such as canned foods and dry meals that only require adding water.
Storing Water
Another big problem apartment dwellers face is the fact that they may not have running water during various man-made and natural disasters. Obviously, water is needed for hydration and hygiene.
Anyone who wants to store water should plan to have enough to consume at least one gallon of water per day per person. A good place to store this water is under beds, on top of cabinets, in unused book shelves, and in closets.
Securing The Apartment
When natural or man-made disasters occur, chances are that many people will be wandering in the streets. This means that anyone living in an apartment (and obviously in houses also) needs to make sure that their residence is secure.
Taking the time to get strong locks for doors and windows will lessen the chance of getting things stolen by thieves. For additional security, furniture can be pushed against doors and planks can be secured to the doors and windows using a hammer and nails.
Light and Heat Sources
If your electricity suddenly stops for whatever reason, make sure you have a number of flashlights, batteries, candles, and matches.
If your heating source is electricity or natural gas, and these services become disconnected, make sure you have plenty of warm clothing and a top-quality sleeping bag for everyone in your apartment. Well made sleeping bags will maintain a person's heat even in sub-freezing environments.
First Aid Kit
Every apartment should have a well-equipped first aid kit, especially for health and medical emergencies. The following is a list of first aid items that should be in an apartment first aid
First aid instruction manual
Antiseptic wipes
Tweezers
Roller bandages
Sterile eye pad
Acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen
Hydrocortisone cream (1%)
Absorbent compress dressings
Elastic bandages
Mouthpiece for administering CPR
Adhesive cloth tape
Insect repellent
Sterile gauze pads (with a variety of sizes)
Alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol
Triangular bandages
Antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide)
Scissors
Burn relief cream
2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)
Adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
Safety pins
Splint
Disposable instant cold packs
Flashlight (with extra batteries)
Prescription medications
Antibiotic ointment
Elastic bandages
Blanket (space blanket)
Calamine lotion
Soap
Oral thermometer
Emergency Survival Kit
The following items need to be easily accessible in case an apartment dweller has to suddenly leave his or her apartment or the city.
Survival guide
Rain ponchos (or large plastic garbage bags)
Toiletry items
Pepper spray
Camper's shower
Cash or traveler’s checks and change
Metal container for boiling water
Windup radio (or battery operated radio)
Duct tape (for repairs and first aid)
Compass
Gloves
Additional clothing
Propane cylinders
Soap
Manual can opener
Small shovel
Trash bags
Pliers
Lip balm
Sunglasses
Cell phone with cell phone charger
Flashlight (with extra batteries)
Paper and pencil
Multi-purpose knife
Matches (waterproof would be best)
Water (one gallon per person per day)
Masks with respirators
Filtration system that will filter up to 300 gallons of water
Prescription medications and glasses
Two meals per person per day
Rope (at least 25 to 50 feet)
Whistle
Map
Rope and string (at least 25 to 50 feet of each)
Collapsible five gallon water containers
Blankets or a high-quality sleeping bag for each person
Water purification tablets
Multi-tool with a saw
Fire extinguisher
Propane heater/cooker
Wax paper
Snow shovel (for winter weather)
Aluminum foil (heavy duty-for boiling water)
Needle and thread
Solar powered short wave, multi band radio
MRE heater (little bag designed to heat military ready to eat meals)
MREs or other non-perishable foods (such as canned foods)
Plastic tie wraps (for repairs)
Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper (When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant or in an emergency, you can use bleach to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water)
Important family documents such as identification and bank account records and copies of insurance policies in a waterproof, portable container
Preparing for Apartment Survival: Conclusion
These are some of many ideas for apartment survival when man-made or natural disasters occur. It is always a good idea to be prepared for such disasters so that people who live in apartments will know what to do and be ready to implement their survival plan.
Dehydrated and Freeze-Dried Foods, Survival, and Everyday Use
18:50 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 642
It is clear that our world is increasingly becoming more concerned with disaster preparedness and emergency survival issues due to threats of terrorism, increasing natural disasters, political unrest, and the unstable world economy.
One way that people are addressing their survival concerns is by stockpiling nonperishable food items such as dehydrated and freeze-dried foods. Not only are these foods nonperishable, but in many instances they can have a 25-year or longer shelf life, they can be purchased relatively inexpensively when bought in bulk, and they can come in a number of entrees.
While many of the online vendors that sell dehydrated and freeze-dried have a dedicated customer base that often buys these food items in bulk for long-term survival, more and more people are turning to these nonperishable foods for everyday use.
For instance, increasing numbers of campers and other outdoor enthusiasts, people who travel to other parts of the world, and individuals who are putting 3-day survival kits and bug out bags together--are turning to dehydrated and freeze-dried foods on a fairly regular basis.
Why Dehydrated and Freeze-Dried Foods Are so Popular
The following represents some of the key reasons why so many people have a fascination with and accept dehydrated and freeze-dried foods
Dehydrated and Freeze-Dried Foods are Convenient. Why bother making a meal when everything you need, including a desert in some instances, is in a food container that will be ready to eat as soon as you add boiling water?
Freeze-Dried and Dehydrated Foods are Light Weight. Think of how heavy some frozen foods and canned goods are. Conversely, freeze-dried and dehydrated foods are extremely light weight, this making them especially attractive to travelers, campers and other outdoor enthusiasts, and people who need to make their emergency survival kits and bug out bags less bulky.
Dehydrated and Freeze-Dried Foods are Economical. Due to the fact that so many people are purchasing dehydrated and freeze-dried foods, the cost of these nonperishable food items has dropped. This is especially the case when purchasing these food items in bulk amounts. Indeed, some people buy a two or three-year supply of freeze-dried or dehydrated foods for purposes of long-term survival.
Freeze-Dried and Dehydrated Foods are Time Savers. There's virtually no preparation time and very little cleanup time when it comes to dehydrated and freeze-dried foods. What could be easier than adding boiling water and having a ready-to-eat meal within a few minutes?
Dehydrated and Freeze-Dried Foods are Tasty. Some food manufacturers are starting to use better ingredients and also using professional cooks to make their freeze-dried and dehydrated foods better tasting and more nutritious.
Freeze-Dried and Dehydrated Foods are Reassuring. People who have taken the time to get dehydrated or freeze-dried foods as "backup meals" have the peace of mind knowing that if they run into some sort of problem getting their primary meals, they always have their favorite nonperishable freeze-dried or dehydrated meals "just in case."
Dehydrated and Freeze Dried Foods, Survival, and Everyday Use: Conclusion
It is apparent that dehydrated and freeze-dried foods are convenient, light weight, economical, particularly when purchased in bulk quantities, tasty, time savers, and they offer people peace of mind.
Because of these reasons, many individuals are stockpiling dehydrated and freeze-dried foods for long-term survival considerations and countless others are eating dehydrated and freeze-dried foods everyday when they travel, go camping or venture into the wild, and when they put together their bug out bags and their 3-day survival kits.
Growing Your Own Food For Long Term Survival
18:49 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 645
For some people the worst of the of a post-disaster that affects millions of people is the extreme social unrest, the crime, and thugs going house-to-house raping and pillaging to their heart's content.
Other people, however, are less concerned with thugs and criminals and more concerned with a shortage of food. Think about this for a moment.
A lot of the food that makes its way into the grocery stores comes from many miles away. If there's widespread destruction and chaos, unfortunately, there's a good chance that the supply chains will broken down, thus resulting in a lot of empty shelves in the grocery stores.
Long Term Survival and Stockpiling Nonperishable Food
This is one of the key reasons why many people who are concerned with long term survival issues stockpile several month's worth or even a few year's worth of nonperishable food items such as freeze-dried and dehydrated foods that have a shelf life of several years.
When people stockpile nonperishable food for several months or years, they are basically planning on society returning to a situation where law and order eventually prevails.
In truth, however, even stockpiling food for ten or more years doesn't make a person self-sufficient and "off-the-grid." To the contrary, food storage, no matter how much food you have, is simply a "stop-gap" measure until the supply chains for food are reestablished.
Stockpile a Surplus of Seeds For Long Term Survival
If people are serious about their long term survival as well as the long term survival of their family, however, they should probably consider growing their own food. One strategy along these lines would be for people to purchase a significantly greater about of seeds than they need for themselves and their families.
In this way, if there's a total societal breakdown, you and your family can grow your own food and either barter food and seeds for other needed items from others or perhaps teach those in your community how to grow food for themselves. Another alternative would be if you became a share-cropper.
n a word, if you have the tools, the skills, the land, and the seeds, you can provide your neighbors with seeds and training in exchange for a percentage of their crops. You can then trade, sell, and consume some of the food you receive from others, thus enhancing the viability of the long term survival of your neighbors.
How to Deal With Unruly Neighbors and Your Long Term Survival
What will you do if some of your neighbors don't want to work, don't have anything to trade for your seeds, and insist on you giving them some of your seeds? This type of scenario, unfortunately, is quite realistic.
Hopefully you can resolve this situation by giving some seeds to your unruly neighbors with the understanding that they need to grow more crops than they need to consume, and therefore need to reimburse you in some way for the seeds and the training you gave them.
Acquire Gardening Expertise For Your Long Term Survival
To help ensure your "value" and long term survival in the community, however, you probably should gain a certain level of expertise in farming and gardening so that your expertise and training are in demand. This may prevent those in your community from simply taking what they need from you--or worse, putting an end to your life.
Keep Your Seeds as Cool as Possible
One final note. If you are going to follow through on the idea of purchasing a substantial surplus of seeds, you will want to store them in a place that is as cool as possible. In fact, for every ten degrees cooler you can store your seeds, you will be able to double their shelf life.
Some ideas for "cold" storage include having refrigerator or freezer space (assuming that your electricity has been reestablished OR you have an alternative energy source such as solar power), putting the seeds in your basement, digging a fairly deep hole in the ground for storage, or plan and rotate your crops based on the amount of seeds you have in storage.
Tips For Avoiding Disaster Fraud and Scams!
18:46 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 647
Unfortunately, natural disasters can attract con artists and opportunists who pose as contractors, insurance agents, government officials, or inspectors. In short, there are unscrupulous individuals who intentionally engage in disaster fraud.
Call Your Attorney General About Disaster Fraud
If you believe you are the victim of price gouging, disaster fraud, or a contracting scam, contact your local law enforcement agency and also report he problem to your State Attorney General. To find their phone number, do a search in Google for your state plus the words "attorney general phone number" (without the quotation marks).
For instance, if you live in Kentucky, enter the following in Google: "Kentucky attorney general phone number" (without the quotation marks).
You can also find a disaster fraud complaint form on the website of your state attorney general. To find their website, do a search in Google for your state and the words "attorney general." For example, if you live in Ohio, enter the following in Google: "Ohio attorney general" (without the quotation marks).
Natural disaster survivors are urged to exercise caution following recent reports of some people who have been conned out of money over the phone by someone allegedly posing as a FEMA representative.
Keep in mind that FEMA representatives never charge money for providing disaster information, disaster recovery related services, or federal financial assistance.
Survivors could, however, encounter people posing as inspectors, government officials or contractors in a bid to obtain personal information or collect payment for repair work.
How To Avoid Disaster Fraud and Scams
To avoid disaster fraud and scams, homeowners can adhere to the following tips:
Never give any personal financial information to a person with whom you are unfamiliar.
Never sign any document without first reading it from top to bottom. If there are any conditions or terms you do not understand, simply ask for an explanation.
If strangers approach you offering to do repair work on your damaged house or other structures on your property, ask to see their identification.
Before you borrow money for any repairs, so your research. Compare quotes and repayment rates and schedules from two or more contractors. If there are significant difference, ask them to explain the reasons to you.
Important Information About FEMA Employees and Contractors
All FEMA contractors and employees will have the following:
A laminated photo ID (remember, a FEMA jacket or shirt alone is not proof of identity).
FEMA generally will only request an applicant's Social Security or bank account numbers during the initial registration process. However FEMA inspectors may require verification of identity.
FEMA staff never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections, federal financial assistance, help to fill out applications, or for providing disaster recovery related services.
FEMA inspectors verify damages but do not recommend or hire specific contractors to fix homes.
Safeguard Your Financial Information and Ask to See the Person's ID
Keep in mind that several legitimate individuals such as contractors, local inspectors, FEMA representatives, and insurance agents may need to visit your damaged property.
Even so, your best strategy to protect yourself from disaster fraud or scams is to always safeguard your personal financial information (such as your bank account numbers, credit card number, debit card number, and your social security number) and always ask to see the person's identification.
Again, remember that federal, state, and local employees are not authorized to accept or solicit money for public services.
The Need For a Winter Emergency Survival Kit
18:45 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 647
Emergency management experts are imploring people who live in the snow belts to get their winter emergency survival kit prepared before the snow starts falling on a regular basis.
How Most People Lose Their Lives in Winter Storms: Outdoor Survival
According to the National Weather Service, most of the people who die from winter storms lose their lives via hypothermia from extended exposure to the cold and from traffic accidents on icy roads.
Invariably, several people will also lose their lives during the winter storms due to the improper use of alternative heat sources when their electrical power is out. Some of these alternate heat sources include the following: camp stoves, grills, generators, and natural gas, propane, kerosene, gasoline, and charcoal burning devices.
If you are going to use any of these alternate heating sources, make sure you DO NOT use them inside your apartment or your home, basement, garage, or any other partially enclosed area.
Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
In fact, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, keep these alternative heating devices outdoors and away from vents, windows, doors, or any other openings that might allow the toxic fumes to enter your house or apartment.
To be extra safe, additionally, due the fact that carbon monoxide is tasteless, odorless, and invisible, make sure you install carbon monoxide detectors all through your apartment or house.
And finally, if you will be using a fireplace or an alternative heating source go the extra step and make sure they are properly maintained and kept away from any and all flammable materials.
A Year Round Emergency Survival Kit
The Federal Emergency Management Agency asserts that every household should have an emergency survival kit throughout the year. Indeed, an emergency survival kit that contains disaster supplies is an essential part of one's personal disaster preparedness plan.
The following list represents the contents of a year round emergency survival kit:
Cell phone and charger
Flashlight and extra batteries
First aid kit that includes a first aid instructional manual and prescription medications
Toiletries
Radio that is hand cranked or solar or battery powered
Nonperishable food (at least a 3-day supply)
Drinking water (at least a 3-day supply)
Tools such as a hammer, socket set, pliers, hand saw, multi-purpose knife, screw drivers, multi-tool, a shovel, and a large adjustable wrench for shutting off utilities
Your Winter Emergency Survival Kit
For the winter, moreover, the Federal Emergency Management Agency also recommends that a winter emergency survival kit should contain the above listed items as well as the following additional items:
Snow shovel
Heating fuel or enough dry, seasoned wood for your wood-burner or your fireplace
Extra clothes and blankets for every family member
Sand for improving the traction of your vehicle
Rock salt for melting ice on your sidewalks
Your Emergency Survival Kit For Your Vehicle
What is more, the Federal Emergency Management Agency also proclaims that each vehicle in your household should be stocked with an emergency survival kit.
The contents of your emergency survival kit for your vehicle should include the following:
Cell phone and power adapter
First aid kit including prescription medications
Tow rope or chain
Emergency road flares
Sand and salt for the road
Blankets
Jumper cables
Extra clothing such as hats, boots, scarves, face masks, and gloves
Flashlight
Radio (hand cranked or battery or solar powered)
Extra batteries
Tire chains
Windshield scrapper
Snow brush
Shovel
Water (one gallon of water per person per day)
Nonperishable food items such as nuts, snacks, energy bars, crackers, dried fruit, dry cereal, dried meats, electrolyte drinks like Gatorade, beef jerky, peanut butter, fruit juice, granola bars, and canned goods (remember to pack at least one or more can openers)
Additional Tips For Winterizing Your Vehicle
In addition to having an emergency survival kit for each vehicle, there a few more tips for winterizing your vehicle. These include the following:
Make sure you never let your fuel tank fall below half a tank, especially on winter trips
Go to your service station, dealership, or mechanic and get a winter maintenance check up on your windshield wipers, belts, radiator, defroster, brakes, heater, battery, antifreeze level, lights, and hoses
Program your radio for emergency messages and traffic reports
Check pressure in your tires throughout the winter and make sure that the chains fit your tires before the first winter storm
The Need For a Winter Emergency Survival Kit: Conclusion
Since natural disasters such as ice and snow storms are so common in the winter, emergency survival kits for your house, apartment, and for your vehicle is particularly important AND key components of a detailed and comprehensive disaster preparedness plan.
Survival Tips when you are traveling...18:43 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 649
Survival Tips When You Are Traveling
Nine Traveling Survival Tips
The following represents a list of survival tips that can help a person stay safe and secure while he or she ventures to other states and other counties.
1. Stay Away From Dangerous Areas
This is one of the most importance survival tips you can follow when traveling away from your comfort zone. When you arrive at a new city or country, get a map at the nearest tourist office and ask the person working there to circle the areas you should stay away from.
To verify this information, ask the hotel clerk where you are staying to do the same. This will help you identify the "unsafe zones" that you need to avoid.
2. Show Would-Be-Thieves That You Have Less to Steal
Some survival tips when traveling are basic common sense. This is certainly one of these instances. Instead of carrying a ton of luggage when you are sightseeing and checking out the scenes and activities, pack simple and light.
A non-assuming backpack (worn on the front of your body in highly crowded locations) lets you move about with your hands free and essentially says to would-be-thieves that you have little to steal. Keep in mind that rather than looking like you are "thief-proof," all that is required is for you to look like less of a target than the people around you.
3. Don't Totally Rely on Your Cell Phone in Foreign or Remote Areas
This is one of the survival tips when traveling that may surprise most people. Certainly take your cell phone with you but act as if it won't work. Phone coverage may be restricted, there may be fewer transmission towers, you can drop your phone, causing it to malfunction, and your battery may drain faster than you anticipated.
4. Don't Flaunt Your Valuables
This is another one of the common-sense survival tips that many travelers simply ignore. In a word, don't make yourself a spectacle.
Try not to be a walking advertisement of your wealth by showing off your jewelry, fancy clothes, or high priced cameras or camcorders. Also refrain from carrying any "designer" camera bags that say "Canon" or "Nikon" on them. Moreover, always keep some emergency cash at the hotel safe where you are staying in case you do get robbed.
5. Stay with Your Vehicle
Here's another one of the survival tips that may run counter to what most travelers may think. If you are driving your vehicle in a foreign or remote area and your vehicle breaks down, you are almost always better off staying near your vehicle as opposed to walking somewhere trying to find help.
If you are stranded, of course try to call a trusted friend or relative on your cell phone for help. If you need to signal a rescue aircraft, use a signal mirror or send an obvious signal by setting a fire plenty of distance away from your vehicle.
6. Tell a Trusted Person Where You Are Going
This is one of the survival tips that ALL travelers need to observe mainly because it just might be the one suggestion that when followed, has the highest probability for a positive outcome.
Before you depart on your trip, make sure to tell someone you trust where you are going, when you are leaving, where you will be staying, how you can be contacted, how long you will be gone, and the date you expect to return.
While you are still on your trip, it would be a good idea to periodically get in touch with your "contact" person to let him or her know how you are and if any of your travel plans have changed.
If you are going camping or hiking, on the other hand, let the park ranger at the station know who you are, where you are going, how you can be contacted, and when you expect to return to the station. Inform your "contact" person and the park ranger when they should contact the authorities for a "search and rescue" mission if they don't hear from you.
7. Pack for Terrible Weather and Assume That You Will Be Delayed
This is one of the survival tips that is basically a variation on the following theme: hope for the best and assume the worst.
Pack for the worst imaginable weather during that time of the year and assume that something will happen that will delay your return. When you anticipate these "worst case" scenarios, you are forced to think about taking extra food and water and what you would do if an emergency causes your to stay several days beyond your planned return.
8. Mentally Brace Yourself for a Plane Emergency
This is one of the more unpleasant survival tips that needs to be stated. If you are traveling by air, anticipate an emergency and what you would do to survive. Many people get injured or perish in totally survivable plane crashes by panicking and doing something in haste without thinking things through in a logical manner.
In many instances, you can avoid a panic response if you prepare yourself mentally before an emergency happens.
9. Stay Away From Civil Unrest
In a world that is greatly defined by political upheaval this is one of the survival tips that is both relevant and helpful.
If you are traveling in a city during a major riot or during civil unrest, stay away from the "action" and instead monitor the events from the TV in your hotel room or from the radio in your vehicle.
If you are outside the U.S., in extreme cases of civil disobedience or rioting, call your embassy, explain the situation, and ask for a specific game plan detailing what you should do. If you are asked to evacuate the country, follow the directions and the guidelines of your embassy.
Survival Tips When You Are Traveling: Conclusion
By observing some basic survival tips when you're traveling to another state or country you can increase your chances of a safe trip.
Some of these survival tips include the following: avoiding risky areas, staying low key without flaunting your wealth, telling a trusted friend about your travel itinerary, avoiding areas of civil unrest, mentally preparing for an aircraft emergency, packing simple and light, assuming and preparing for the worst case scenario, taking your cell phone without totally relying on it, and staying near your vehicle in case it breaks down.
Smartphone Apps and Nonperishable Food Items
18:42 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 650
I just got an email message from the local grocery store informing me that they now have a mobile phone app for an Android and for an iPhone. **You may want to check to see if your local grocers have one and install it on your smartphone. It may seem like over kill, but let me ask you... when the time comes, Do you want to be informed? I DO, and I WANT to be there for my loved ones and family.
I realize that this is simply "good business" for the grocer, but it is also a benefit for smartphone owners who want to check out the latest food prices while they are on the go.
I would imagine that intelligent grocery store managers will be able to collect all the data sent to them by their Android and iPhone customers and update their database of food items they need to stock.
Nonperishable Food Items For Survival Kits and Bug Out Bags
Now just think if the big online stores that specialize in nonperishable food items were to develop their own mobile phone apps. This way, their customers who have smartphones and who are avid campers, outdoor enthusiasts, and who are concerned about survival kits and bug out bags can instantaneously see what's available, what's on sale, and what's new.
This could significantly upgrade and streamline the ordering process and in turn, make important issues such as purchasing nonperishable food items for emergency survival kits and bug out bags much easier, more immediate, and more convenient.
Smartphones and Disaster Preparedness
I realize that a lot of people are critical of the rapid technological advances that are taking place in just about every aspect of our lives. The development of smartphone apps, however, may be one instance of a technological advancement that may revolutionize the following disaster preparedness issues:
How we communicate with friends, relatives, and the local authorities during an emergency
What we pack in our survival kits and our bug out bags
How we order our emergency supplies such as nonperishable food items
How we stay informed of the latest news after a disaster strikes
How we get notified by the local authorities about an imminent disaster
What we pack in our camping and outdoor survival gear and equipment
Something tells me that smartphone apps will make a significant in all of the above disaster preparedness considerations.
Nonperishable Food For Your Bug Out Bag and Your Emergency Survival Kit
18:39 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 652
When it comes to emergency survival kits and bug out bags, one of their key components is food in general and nonperishable food items in particular.
Indeed, we are told to stock up on different kinds of "emergency food" such as nonperishable food items that can be prepared without electricity and without a lot of preparation and clean up.
What is more, if an individual is interested in long-term survival, many nonperishable food items like canned goods have a 3 to5 year shelf life, while military ready to eat meals, on the other hand, can have a shelf life of 25 or more year.
Examples of Nonperishable Food Items
Given the importance of having nonperishable food items for use in times of an emergency or a disaster, the following is a fairly comprehensive list of nonperishable food items.
Almond butter
Baking soda
beverages in foil packets or boxes such as Emergen-C and Capri Sun
Bread mix
Cake mixes
Candy bars
Canned goods
Canned or bottled fruit juice
Cashew butter
Cereal bars
Chocolate
Cinnamon
Cocoa powder
Coconut oil
Cookie mix
Cookies
Corn bread mix
Crackers
Dates
Dried fruits (such as raisins, dried apples, dried bananas, dried mangoes, dried papaya, dried cranberries, dried apricots, dried pineapple, dried peaches, dried pears, dried blueberries, and dried cherries
Dried pastas
Dry beans
Dry cereal
Dry oats
Dry peas
Dry rice
Dry soups
Electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade or Powerade
Energy bars
Evaporated milk
Flour
Graham crackers
Granola bars
Granulated sugar
Grits
Hamburger helper
Hard candy
Honey
Hot chocolate mix
Instant coffee
Instant mashed potatoes
Jam
Jello mix
Jelly
Ketchup
Military ready to eat meals (MREs)
Molasses
Mustard
Nuts (such as peanuts in the shells, macadamia nuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans, and soy nuts).
Oatmeal
Olive oil
Packaged pasta such as macaroni and cheese
Pancake mix
Peanut butter
Pepper
Potato flakes
Powdered creamer
Powdered milk
Prunes
Pudding mix
Pumpkin seeds,
Salt
sea salt
Snacks (such as pretzels, potato chips, bagel chips, baked chips, pita chips, air-popped popcorn, and Fritos)
Soy nut butter
Soy sauce
Spices
Sunflower seeds
Tea bags
Trail mix
Vinegar
Vitamins
Nonperishable Food Items For Your Emergency Survival: Conclusion
Although the above list of nonperishable food items is quite extensive, it is also a little bit understated. Why is this? Mainly because there are certain nonperishable food items such as military ready to eat meals (MREs), snacks, and especially canned goods that are listed as one example of a nonperishable food item when there are in fact many varieties that could have been included under each one of these listings.
For instance, there are at least 35 different entrees in the military ready to eat food line, dozens of different kinds of nonperishable snacks, and hundreds upon hundreds of different kinds and types of canned goods.
This means that emergency survival food doesn't have to be bland, taste bad, or lacking in variety. In other words, with some research, effort, and creativity, a person's emergency survival food list could include hundreds of different types of nonperishable food items.
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Developing Your Disaster Preparedness Plan
18:36 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 654
We hear from ads on the radio as well as from The Red Cross, Ready.gov, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Weather Service how important it is for all households to have a disaster preparedness plan
The idea is that by preparing ahead of time, when a man-made or natural disaster strikes, we will be able to "make it" on our own for at least three days until the first responders finally get to our house, apartment, or place of work.
A disaster preparedness plan is supposed to be a detailed and comprehensive plan for dealing with and surviving emergency situations and that includes an emergency survival kit, a bug out bag, and ways in which people can stay informed about disasters and widespread emergencies.
Smaller Plans Within Your Disaster Preparedness Plan
Although everyone's disaster preparedness plan will be somewhat unique based on their circumstances, the following represents some of the sub plans within your disaster preparedness plan that should be considered by everyone:
Fire Escape Plan. Every member of your family needs to know what to do in case of a fire, the evacuation routes, how to use a fire extinguisher, and where to meet outside the house or apartment. It's a good idea to plan regular "fire drills" similar to what we experienced when we were in elementary school.
Power Outage Plan. If your electrical power goes down, how will you and your family members see at night and eat without electricity? You will need one or more solar or battery powered flashlights (with extra batteries) to see at night and will need to eat nonperishable food items that don't require electricity for preparation.
Loss of Water Plan. If your water supply is turned off, hopefully you have an emergency supply of drinking water that you set aside "just is case." To add to your water supply, as soon as a disaster strikes, if possible, fill your sinks and your bathtub with water. If your water remains off for a longer period of time, you can use the water from your toilet tank (not the bowl), from your hot water heater tank, and from your swimming pool as long as you treat the water with bleach or with water purification tablets.
Meeting Place Plan. Decide upon a meeting place in case a disaster happens while you and your family members are away from home.
Alternate Energy Plan. Prepared ahead of time so that you have ways in which you can use alternative energy in order to generate emergency electricity. Suggestions include a portable generator, portable solar panels that can power charge notebook and laptop computers, and hand-cranked radios that can be used to charge a cell phone.
Emergency Phone List Plan. Include the phone numbers for the local hospitals, the fire department, city hall, police, United Way, the Red Cross and trusted friends or relatives in other geographic locations who can be called in case you and your family members become separated during or after a disaster.
To ensure as much as possible that you and your family will be able to stay with your trusted relatives or friends who live out of town, offer to provide the same accommodations for them if they need to relocate during a disaster or an emergency.
Evacuation Plan. If you are forced to evacuate your apartment or house due to a fire, a hurricane or another disaster, make sure you have a ready to grab bug out bag or bags that contain at least a 3-day supply of the following items:
nonperishable food
Water.
Extra wool blankets.
Extra clothes.
Toiletry items.
Cell phone and charger.
Basic tools.
First aid supplies.
Extra cash.
Local maps.
Flashlight (with extra batteries).
Radio. Either a wind up, solar powered, or battery operated.
Copies of important family documents such as social security numbers, title of your vehicle, bank account numbers, passports, birth certificates, investment account numbers, insurance policies, and the title of house all placed in a waterproof, portable container.
Your Emergency Survival Kit
The second component of your disaster preparedness plan is your emergency survival kit. The items for your emergency survival kit will include basically the same items as those that go in your bug out bag.
The only real difference is that whereas the bug out bag needs to be ready to grab and go at a moment's notice, the emergency survival kit will contain emergency items that will be used if your family has to "hunker down" during or after a disaster.
How You and Your Family Can Stay Informed
Staying informed in also an important component of your disaster preparedness plan. For instance, you and your family needs to stay abreast of natural disasters that are common in your geographic location, what emergency notifications your local government uses to alert residents of impending emergencies, and the emergency response system that your local government employs during emergencies and disasters.
Developing Your Disaster Preparedness Plan: Conclusion
Similar to the "fire drills" that you should plan on a regular basis, you and your family periodically need to practice all aspects of your disaster preparedness plan.
In short, if every family member has rehearsed various disaster scenarios and knows what to do, he or she will be more able to respond to an emergency or disaster with logic and common sense rather than with fear and panic.
Four Ways to Prepare for Winter.. It is soon upon us, be ready...18:34 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 655
According to the calendar, winter is just a month away. The following are four practical things you can do now in order to prepare for winter.
1. Prepare For Winter by Stocking up On Quality Firewood
If you have a fireplace or a wood burner you will certainly want to have plenty of top-quality, well-seasoned firewood. This is not only an effective way to help prepare for winter but it is also something that can add a lot of ambiance to your winter living.
2. Prepare For Winter by Making or Purchasing an Emergency Survival Kit
Another way to prepare for winter is to purchase or put together an emergency survival kit in case of power outages or winter storms. Instead of waiting until a storm hits and you and your family are in need of emergency supplies, prepare and put your emergency survival kit together now.
Items in Your Emergency Survival Kit
Your emergency survival kit should contain at least a 3-day supply of the following items:
Non-perishable food (such as pastas, electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade, energy bars, dried fruits, peanut butter granola bars, nuts, Military Ready to Eat Meals, crackers, canned goods, dried meat, dry cereal, , beef jerky, and fruit juice
First aid kit (including a fist aid manual)
Prescription medications
Prescription glasses
Water (one gallon of drinking water per person per day)
Metal containers (for cooking and for boiling water)
Blankets (use wool blankets rather than those made out of cotton)
Matches (waterproof and windproof in a waterproof container)
Cell phone (with a charger)
Shelter (for example, sleeping bags and a tent)
Tools (such as a large adjustable wrench for shutting off utilities a multi-purpose knife, 6 in 1 screw driver, small shovel, pliers, socket set, hammer, manual can opener, and a multi-tool with saw)
Toiletry items (don’t forget the toilet paper)
Extra clothes
Flashlight (with extra batteries)
Eating utensils (or a camping “mess kit”)
Radio (hand crank or solar or battery powered)
Whistle
Plates and bowls
Compass and local map (just in case you have to evacuate your apartment or house)
Cash
Sewing kit
Fire extinguisher
Cigarette lighter
Other supplies that you and your family will need to make it on your own during a disaster
Once you have your emergency survival kit, make sure every family member knows precisely where this kit is located.
3. Prepare For Winter by Winterizing Your Garden Tools
A lot of people take time to winterize their garden but neglect to winterize their garden tools. Take a little time now to prepare for winter by getting your garden tools ready for the snow and the cold weather and they’ll be ready for the spring.
Tips on Winterizing Your Garden Tools
The following list represents some tips on how to winterize your garden tools.
Store small tools such as hand trowels in a bucket of sand soaked in oil to further inhibit rust
Hang shovels and rakes in an easy access, dry area
Sharpen dull tools using a file or a whetstone. Working at a 45-degree angle, start at the outer edge of your tools and move toward the center
Sand rust spots with a wire brush, steel wool, or fine sandpaper and then coat the metal with vegetable oil
Treat wooden handles with a thin coat of paste wax or linseed oil to prevent the wood from splitting cracking
For tools that have caked-on dirt, soak them in water and then brush them with a wire brush. When all the dirt is removed, rinse and dry the tools thoroughly
Remove water hoses from the outdoors and make sure they are properly drained and coiled without any kinks. If necessary, repair leaks with a hose repair kit.
Remove the gasoline in your lawn mower. And make sure to sharpen and clean the blades in order to prevent corrosion.
4. Prepare For Winter by Building a Hoop House
A final way to prepare for winter is to construct a hoop house. A hoop house is an inexpensive greenhouse in which you can grow plants, vegetables, and spices throughout the year. There's a number of videos on YouTube that explain in detail what a hoop house is, how to build one, and that provide tips and suggestions so that your first hoop house project is successful.
To see the original source for this article, click here: Four Ways to Prepare for Winter
Useful internet links...18:33 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 656
www.motherearthnews.com
www.livingreadyonline.com
http://yoururbansurvival.com/
http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/edible-wild-plants.aspx#axzz2fjjUpZvu
Three overlooked items for your bug out bag
17:41 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 658
Bug out bags are one of the most debatable topics when it comes to survival – especially in terms of what to include in one. You can see what we believe are essential items to include in our detailed post here. But not everything you can include are essential for survival, a lot of the time certain things are easily overlooked because of this reason.
Here is a list of some of the most commonly overlooked items that you should consider including:
Photos: When you bug out, you are pretty much leaving everything behind, when means that everything left behind is more often than not going to be destroyed. Photos are one of those precious mementos that once lost, can never be recovered. If you have ever spoken with victims of house fires, or floods, sometimes the thing that they miss most is not all the furniture or gadgets they acquired over the years… it is the photos that they can never replace. We suggest you scan all your photos on to your computer and then store them on a USB. USB drives are often no bigger than a pack of gum so they don’t take up a lot of space which means there is no reason for you not to include one in your bag. You can even slide some real photos in to your bag as well however these will likely get damaged so it is best to back them up on the drive.
Money: This is pretty self explanatory but sometimes people thing of bugging out as only necessary when the world is on the brink of collapse and zombie hoardes have invaded. In reality, infrastructure is likely still in place and you quickly just need to get out of your area due to a hurricane, or severe weather warnings. This means that you are likely going to need a place to stay, and that normally comes at a cost. It is best to include cash as well as a backup credit card in your pack just in case. You never know what position you might be in when you need to bug out, and you don’t want to be worrying about where you placed your wallet before you leave.
Replacement Phone and Emergency Contacts: The reason is very similar to that of money – you don’t want to worry about fumbling around looking for your phone. You want to make sure that you have pre loaded all your emergency contacts on to the backup phone too otherwise it is pretty much useless to you – other than calling 911 or 111. It is also a good idea to back these contacts up to the USB drive that has all your photos on it too.
**Also bring your passport, id, license, and copies of important documents if the originals are locked up somewhere else. When disaster strikes, getting to the bank will seem ridiculous... Share with your children where all of these items are in case you are injured or cannot get to them first. Train them it is only in case of emergency. They will thank you for it later.
What Types and How Much Food Should You Stockpile?
17:37 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 660
Tragedy can strike at any particular time. Most of the time, people aren’t prepared for an emergency. This is quite risky especially to those who live in areas where natural disasters have been known to happen. However, even people living in areas that have no history of calamities should be prepared for any eventuality. There is no part of the world that is completely immune from natural and man made disasters. A building can collapse and enclose you and your family for days, a war can erupt and many other emergency situations can happen. If not well prepared, you can be left desperate for basic needs.
Normally after disaster strikes, it takes about three days for emergency response teams to reach you for help. In some countries, this can even be longer. It is thus recommended that one should stock enough provisions for about one week or to be safe two weeks. This ensures that even if some tragedy occurred and you are unable to move out, your family will be covered for those two weeks.
stock pile foodsGetting to what constitutes essential provisions: these are items that enable survival. They are what we cannot do without. The most important items are food and water. An average human being will not go for more than three days without taking water. And even in this case, why go through all this trouble. Stockpiles of food and water should always be kept in any home. It is advisable that the foods should mostly be high energy carbohydrates and proteins. In times of emergency, one will require more energy than usual. Another of the essential provisions is a standard first aid kit. Some of the important items that a home first aid kit should have are: wound dressings, adhesive tapes, gloves, scissors, pain killers, aspirin, cotton wool, hand sanitizer, petroleum jelly and a first aid manual. There are many more components of a first aid kit, bit I have tried to choose the most essential items.
These items should be stored in a safe place. There are several storage options available. One of them is Mylar bags. These are bags which can be sealed to prevent water and light from penetrating through. This makes sure the food and water inside is safe for long periods of time. However, these items should be replaced regularly.
The types of foods to stock will depend on the kind of emergency you have in mind and its nature. It will also depend on the size of your family and any other dependents that are directly under your care. People who live in areas likely to flood will need to store food that will not be contaminated by the flood waters. Some homes have a secure safe where they get to store all their important items. However, the best storage place is a bunker. This is an underground structure built to resist any damaging force. These bunkers serve as a storage place and a shelter during emergency times. Military meals ready to eat are a good choice of emergency food. These are nutritious foods that are put in water tight cans. These foods do not require any cooking. If you want to eat them warm, just add some hot water. However, during an emergency period warm water might be difficult to get by and in this case; you will have to take your meals cold. Other types of food that one can stockpile are freeze dried foods and canned foods. The freeze dried foods are basically foods that have been prepared and freeze dried. They are basically similar to the military meals. They are ready to eat and can last for a long time without going bad. Canned foods on the other hand are the normal food we find in the stored and grocery shops. These are usually not as longer lasting as the other two already mentioned. However, a wider variety of food can be found canned. These include fish, tuna, fruits, soups, vegetables, meats, and many others. It would be a good idea to stockpile a combination of canned and freeze dried foods. This will take care of the different culinary preferences among the family members.
The benefits of having stocked emergency food provisions is that in times of inflation or times when you are short in cash, you can always pick on the food reserves then replenish them later. Having adequate food reserves will cover you in case of a power failure in your home area. We have become so over reliant on electricity that most people do not imagine how they can survive without power. Normally emergency food will require no heating and thus can come in handy.
One does not have to spend a fortune stocking up on their reserves. In fact not many people will afford to do this. It makes economic sense to stock up your emergency reserves over time. When you go for the normal grocery shopping do add an item or two that goes to the reserve. A can of military meals ready to eat can be found at the stores for around $5. Such a plan is beneficial since you stock up food with different expiry dates. This makes it easier to replenish the stock since you do not have to do it at the same time. Building up a stockpile doesn’t have to be an expensive affair. In fact most people take advantage of shop sales and sales coupon whenever they become available to boost their emergency provisions. This goes a long way in saving your hard earned money.
Always maintain a stockpile of food and water and any other items you consider essential. It might be the difference between surviving an emergency and not surviving. Make sure everything is in a safe place known to everybody in the family and easily accessible.
Creating your own water filter when nothing else is available...17:33 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 661
Creating Your Own Filter
If a survivor is placed in a scenario where there is no heat for boiling or a hand filter, he must get more creative. The best way to purify water in this situation is to make a filter with supplies scavenged. The simplest of these, requires a two liter bottle, some green moss, sphagnum, a charcoal and peat moss mixture, and some small stones. What you need to do is cut the bottom of the bottle out and punch a hole in the lid. Pack green moss closest to the lid, and then add a layer of sphagnum. Next, include a mixture of charcoal and peat moss. At the top, add a layer of small stones, arranged largest to smallest. It is important to note that this will make better drinking water in a dire emergency, but it is in no way comparable to the safety of the other methods talked about in this article. All of the supplies needed should be easy to locate at a local department store.
These methods will keep anyone safely hydrated in any emergency. The most important information for a person to remember in any dangerous situation is to keep calm, and take a moment to inventory the materials in the area. In many cases, the surrounding resources can be used for immediate survival until better supplies can be found.
PRIVATE ENTRY
17:31 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 662
• • • • PRIVATE JOURNAL ENTRY • • • •
Water Purification Guide...17:28 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 663
Water Purification Guide
Method 1:
Water Purifier/Filtration
One of the easiest ways to make water safe to drink is by using portable water filtration systems.
Basicly, you are taking the water in question and passing it through a microscopic filter that is rated for a certain size of organism. The pores in the filter itself are rated in Microns. The smaller the micron size of the pore in the filter, the better it is at removing the organisms.
Here are some common Microorganisms and the size filter you would need to deal with them:
Giardia, Cryptosporidium: (these are around 5 microns or larger in size), a filter rated between 1-4 microns will deal with them just fine
Cholera, E Coli, Salmonella:(Around .2-.5 Microns in size) you will need a Micro Filter rated at .2-1.0 microns in pore size
Hepatitis A, rotavirus, Norwalk Virus (these are around .004 microns in size) you need a filter rated at least .004 microns to deal with it.
When you use a filter, try to use the cleanest water available. Water with a lot of suspended particles can clog the small pores in the most water filters fairly quickly.
If you cannot find clear water, use a prefilter (if one is provided with your portable water filter) to get out the major “junk” in the water before you use your filter. If you don't have a pre-filter try to let the water you want to filter stand overnight to let the larger particles settle to the bottom.
Method 2:
Boiling
Another way to kill microorganisms and make water safe to drink is by Boiling. Its quick, easy, and one of the most sure-fire methods available. According to the Wilderness Medical Society, water temps above 160 degrees Fahrenheit (70 C) kill all known pathogens within 30 minutes. Above 185 degrees Fahrenheit (85 C) it does it in a few minutes.
Water Boils at 212 Degrees Fahrenheit (at sea-level, the higher the altitude the less temp is required to get water to boil), so by the time you get water to a rapid boil you can be reasonably sure that all the pathogens present are dead. Just to be safe, I would suggest that you allow the water to boil for at least 1-2 minutes-just to be sure.
Method 3:
Chemical Purification
There are 2 kinds of Chemical Purification that I would recommend, one is Bleach and the other Iodine.
Chlorine (Liquid Bleach):
Bleach can be more than just something you can use to make your white clothes brighter, it can be a lifesaver in a survival situation.
Use PLAIN bleach (no scented versions). Also remember that Liquid Bleach does degrade in strength as it ages. There is no real way for us to tell if the Bleach we are using is at its full strength or not so if this is a method you choose to use, remember to rotate your stash of Liquid Bleach at least every 3 months or so.
Dosage:(assuming water is clean/clear)
2 drops of Bleach to 1 Quart of water
8 drops of Bleach to 1 Gallon of water
½ Teaspoon of Bleach to 5 Gallons of Water
Stir the water/bleach solution and allow to sit (Dwell time) for at least ½ Hour before Drinking.
If the water is Cloudy in appearance, prefilter or let it sit overnight to allow the larger particulant matter to settle to the bottom of your container. Then pour off the more clear water before you treat it.
Dosage: (Cloudy water)
Double the dosage that you use for Clear water.
You can also use Calcium Hypochlorite (pool shock) to make your own Chlorine solution to disinfect water. Advantages of this are that that the crystal versions of Calcium Hypochlorite are very stable, will last much longer than Liquid Bleach, is lighter and easier to store/move and Liquid Bleach. A 1lb bag of Calcium Hypochlorite will treat around 10,000 gallons of water and is done in a 2 step process:
Make chlorine solution by dissolving/mixing 1 heaping teaspoon into 2 gallons of water
Add 1 part of the Chlorine Solution to 100 parts water to be treated
So, to make it easy:
Add 2 Teaspoons of the Chlorine Solution to 1 Quart Water
Add 8 Teaspoons to 1 Gallon of water
Again, this would be for Clear water if it is cloudy, pre-filter before disinfection and double your dosage.
Liquid Iodine
Iodine is a great option for water purification/disinfection. It has a much longer shelf life than Liquid Bleach (12 years if stored properly). Store your Iodine out of direct sunlight/bright light as it is light-sensitive.
Iodine works best for disinfection if the water is at/above 68 degrees Farenheight (21 C)
Dosage:(assuming the water is Clean/Clear)
5 Drops per quart of water
Allow to sit (dwell) for at least 30 minutes prior to drinking
When water is cloudy, pre-filter or allow to sit overnight when you can to allow larger particles to settle to the bottom and pour off the cleaner water prior to treatment
Dosage:(Cloudy Water)
10 Drops per quart of water
Allow to sit (dwell) for at least 30 minutes prior to drinking
*You can improve the taste of water treated with Iodine if you add around 50mg of Vitamin C to the solution. If you choose to do this, do not add the Vitamin C to the water until AFTER your water has sat for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing the iodine to kill the harmful organisms.*
Other Methods:
UV light:
Theory of operation-
UV light makes the harmful bacteria in the water unable to reproduce, which makes them much less likely to cause havoc when you drink them.
I like the Idea of UV light as a way of making water safe to drink but for me, the jury is still out-especially in a Survival Situation.
The problems I foresee with UV light are:
-You have to replace the bulb at least once a year to maintain proper dosage of UV light. As bulbs age, they give off less light and you may not get enough UV light from an older bulb to render the harmful bacteria sterile.
-You will need a power source (plug in, battery) to use
-You MUST pre-filter the water you are looking to treat, as any particles that are suspended in the water can cast shadows, shielding the bacteria you are trying to kill from the UV light.
Tablets:
There are numerous types/brands on the market today, they are portable and safe when you follow the manufacturer directions. Make sure to pay attention to the expiration dates on the bottles.
So there you go, portable water purification in a nutshell.
Always have at least 2 methods available to you, as you can never tell when you might need it as a backup. As I tend to be slightly paranoid by nature, I use multiple methods to ensure my water is safe to drink. So I may filter my water with a water filter, then boil it, bleach it, or add Iodine.
Be Ready, Be Safe.....Be PREPARED!
Steve Hacht
Survival Tactics
"Bug In Bag"...http://survival-tactics.net/
17:26 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 664
What is a “Bug-In” Bag?
I don't really consider the Bug-In Bag as a “bag” but as a ready-stash of supplies you use in emergency situations. FEMA recommends you keep at least 3 days worth of Food/Water and other emergency supplies. I consider this a BARE MINIMUM for your Bug-In kit. We have all seen that it can take much longer for emergency response teams to arrive with sufficient supplies to help in the event of trouble. I would rather count on myself to be able to provide for my family than hope that the government will arrive in time to bail me out.
I'm not suggesting that you go all-out in the beginning. Start with the essentials and slowly work your way up from there. Soon you will find you will have enough of the basics to help you through whatever problems may come your families way.
With this in mind, lets start looking at some essentials you will need:
This list is Far from all-inclusive!
WATER- At least 1 gallon per-person, per-day(don't forget your pets)
Water Purification supplies- Bleach, Iodine, Boiling, Water Filters (have at least 2 methods available to you).
Food- foods with a long shelf-life and stable at room temps. Military “MRE'S”, Freeze Dried Foods (Remember you will need extra water to prepare these to eat), Canned Foods/Fruits/Veggies, Peanut Butter, Powdered Milk, Jelly, Energy-Bars, Honey (it never spoils), Bags of Rice. Try to store things you like to eat, take into consideration any special diet needs your family may have (store food for your pets too!) and remember that Calories=Energy.......
Vitamins- as our food selections become limited, we will need to have vitamins on hand to supplement the vitamins we are not getting.
Clothing: you should have plenty of these on hand, as you are (hopefully) hunkered-down in your own home or in your pre-planned Bug-Out Location. Having some sturdy (but comfortable) boots around is also a good idea, along with a couple pair of work gloves and some rain-gear.
Needles and thread to repair damaged clothing is also nice to have around.
Fire Starting: Have matches (water proof), Lighters, and other methods available to you.
Light sources: First thing to go out is the power. Have emergency candles, light-sticks, lanterns, flashlights and plenty of batteries. Wind-up and solar-charging flashlights are decent options as well.
Medical Supplies: This a whole other kettle-of-fish, but at a minimum:
Prescription meds-if you take them, talk to your doctor and see about storing as much as you
can. Usually, you can refill your prescriptions before you run out, so renew them as soon as
you can and keep the excess for your “Survival Stash”.
Non-prescription pain relievers (Tylenol, Motrin, Aspirin....), Antacids, Laxatives (changes
in diet can clog you up), Anti-Diarrhea meds (again, changes in diet and to help from
dehydration), If you wear contact lenses have some extras but keep a pair of glasses available.
Band aids (various sizes), Thermometer, Cold Packs, Antibacterial ointment, Cohesive bandage rolls, Sterile Gauze pads (I Prefer 3x3” or 4x4”), Latex Gloves, Sunscreen, Aloe-Vera (good for burns) Tweezers.....
Hygiene Supplies:
Deodorants, Toothpaste, Floss, Toilet paper, Shampoo/Soap, Moist Towelettes/Hand wipes/Hand Sanitizer (water is scarce remember?), Lip balm, Feminine supplies, Razor/shave cream, Disinfectants and liquid Bleach, Insect repellant, 5 Gallon Bucket with tight lid, Trash Bags and Shovel (Do I really have to go into the last 3 items? Remember you may not have any running water, no water=no “flush” and we have to do something with it...)
Tools/Misc Equipment:
Parachute Cord (550 cord), Duct Tape, Manual Can opener, Aluminum Foil, Zip-Lock style bags, plastic sheeting, sleeping bags, Scissors, good fixed blade knife, Compass, Pens/pencils and paper, Multi-Tool, Radio (prefer Wind-up style or solar), Wrench/Pliers/screwdrivers and such, Mess kits or paper/plastic cups and plates, Propane or other non-electric cooking stove with extra fuel, Fire Extinguisher (A,B,C rated), 5 gallon food-grade buckets with tight lids (waste disposal, water storage, food storage), Gasoline and Fuel-stabilizer (you want enough gas to get out of dodge when things settle down or to run other equipment)
Communications:
Land-lines might be up, so having a older style “plug in” (not cordless) phone may be a good idea. Cell towers have around 72 hours worth of battery backup power but I wouldn't count on them. You will just have to get used to the idea that there may be no way to communicate with family/friends who live more than a few miles away.
I do highly recommend a good set of hand-held “walkie talkie” 2 way radios. I prefer the ones with multiple “Privacy Codes” or “Sub Channels” to allow you to screen out other radio chatter and keep your conversations private. Expect to get anywhere from 2-5 miles worth or range out of a good radio (actual range may vary depending on terrain like trees and buildings).
Power:
You may not want to get this in depth, but I find having a portable generator very comforting. I can recharge my electrical devices with it, and can be handy for running power tools and the like if I need to reinforce or repair something around my home.
Solar-charging stations are another must-have in my opinion. Batteries go dead and you will need a way to recharge them.
Books/information:
Keep information you might need close at hand. Medical books, various books on survival skills (Boyscout manual is good start)
Quick reference guides/cheat sheets on water purification methods and other subjects(you can/should laminate them in case they get wet/dirty), Maps of the local area, full atlas with major/minor roads, and even a topographical map may be a good idea.
I know that this is the “Computer Information” age, and that you can store all these items on your laptop or I pad but what happens when the power runs out and/or the computer crashes?
I don't know about you, but I find having actual paper books much easier to navigate and they don't need batteries.
Personal Documents: Drivers License or ID, Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificate, Passports, Will, Deeds, Insurance Papers, Immunization records, Bank and Credit card account numbers, Stocks/Bonds, and emergency contact list.
I would also mention keeping some $$ around might be a good idea as well. If times are really bad, there will be no ATM's working and anyone selling something probably won't take a personal check.
On the subject of $$, it is also useful to keep extra items on hand for barter/trade. Many times you will find that you can trade for things you want easier than trying to buy them. In fact if times are that bad, it may be your only way of getting the item you want or the service you require.
Some items usually high on the list for barter/trade:
-Firearms/Ammunition (though I am not keen on the idea of arming someone who is not part
of my “group” in a survival situation)
-Alcohol (not the rubbing kind)
-Medical supplies especially Drugs/Antibiotics
-Fuel
-Food/Water
Personal Defense:
Firearms of various calibers-but I would suggest:
good for small game hunting and can be used for defense in a pinch.
9 mm, .40, or .45 Caliber pistol or carbine as these are most used by law enforcement and
sporting shooters. Thus making it easier to find ammunition
12 GA shotgun (my preference is a pump action) good for hunting and defense
.223 (5.56 NATO), 7.62 x 39mm “Assault Rifle” semi-automatic rifle(s)
again, as they are used by law enforcement/military and civilian shooters these rounds
should be more common to find than others. And still be used to hunt for food when
needed.
Cleaning supplies/equipment for any firearm you own
Ammunition, without it your firearm is useless so if you think you have enough. Go buy some more.
Repair parts for the firearms you own especially parts that wear-like springs.
Repair manuals for your firearms.
Morale:
It get boring during your down time, even more so for children. Having some board games, playing cards, toys and around to pass the time might be helpful. It can also be a huge boost to stash some candy away in your food stores. It can give you a quick boost of energy when needed and also lift your spirits!
Final thoughts:
Like I said, this list is far from all-inclusive. As your family dynamics change (new children, young ones grow older or mom/dad move in with you because they cannot live alone) things will have to be adjusted. You may also want to take into consideration how many of your family and friends may come suddenly to your door looking for your help if they know you have been preparing. It might be a good idea to keep a little extra on hand for them, or not let them know you had the foresight to prepare.
Keep an eye on your expiration dates, and rotate anything that will expire soon out of your survival stores....
This can be a large undertaking, don't let it dissuade you. Start out slow, buy a few extra cans of food when you are at the store (hopefully they will be on sale too!). Soon you will see you have a decent store of items at your disposal.
Be Ready, Be Safe...Be Prepared!
Steve Hacht
Survival Tactics
"Bug Out Bag" Steve Hacht Survival Tactics
17:22 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 665
There are a few types of Bug-Out bags out there, I generally put them into 2 categories... They each serve a specific purpose.
Get Home Bag-usually stored in a vehicle or at work. Used to give you the essentials you would need to get back to your home in case of emergency while you are away.
Bug Out Bag-Used to get from wherever you are to your pre-planned Bug-Out location or other location of relative safety.
If you are going to bug out by car, you have a lot more latitude for gear selection as you have much more room to pack gear. However you must also plan for the worst case scenario, which would being having to hump your gear on your back. Pack only essentials! I am here to tell you that every ounce counts, and saving even 1 pound worth of gear that you don't have to drag along with you will make your life much better....
Be careful and deliberate in your gear selection, don't sacrifice light weight for something that isn't durable. Remember that what you have is it-Make sure you buy quality gear that will serve you for the long-haul. You probably won't be able to replace any of it real soon.
Bag Selection
So many kinds, makers and styles. From the plain-jane to the Uber Tacti-Cool models. What should you look for??
As far as size, usually bigger is better. I would rather have more room than less. I would try to resist the urge to pack it to the gills. For some reason, if I have extra space I try to fill it up with more stuff. Try to remember you are going to have to carry this thing for (sometimes) many, many miles. It does you no good to have a bag that weighs in at 1 ton fully loaded out if you can't pick it up. Make sure that you can sling it on you by yourself, there may come a time you have to...
Take a close look at the stitching on the bag. Make sure that it is solid, and double stitched (at least). Inspect the straps, I like wide straps that have a high load-bearing (if the max. load rating is available) rating to them. Ensure it is generously padded as your bag can get awful rough to carry when it is digging into your back, shoulders etc...
I prefer a Polymer or Aluminum framed bag with a good waist belt to it. This makes distributing the weight of the pack more even and easier to carry.
If it has zippers, I like large polymer teeth rather than the close-together zipper teeth. This allows for a more secure bag, and reduce the chance that the zipper will have a sudden failure. Nothing stinks worse than having a large portion of your gear dropping out of your bag or worse, having it fly down the side of a hill or into another area where you can't get it back.
I would also suggest a bag that has Molle-style attachment points to it. This makes it easier to attach other gear to it and remove it easily. I would put things on there that you may want to get to in a hurry (like medical gear) and not have to download most of your bag to get to it when you need it.
Now lets move on to some things you will want to fill your bag with:
Clothing:
Try to remember that you may be in this for the long-haul so you will need both warm weather and cold weather gear!
Footwear- I prefer a lightweight Hiking style boot, that allows for ventilation and water drainage. There are also some nice swim-style shoes on the market that won't take up much space in your bag and can come in handy.
Socks- Bring a few pair, something that will keep your feet warm and will wick moisture away from your feet. You won't be able to travel, gather food and water or do most anything if your feet are out of action. PROTECT THEM!
Pants- I am a fan of the lightweight rip-stop style of pants. This is a place where military surplus gear is just fine in my opinion. Make sure you have some under-layer garments available to insulate them when it gets cold. The rip-stop pants are lightweight and not designed for any serious cold weather insulation by themselves.
Shirts- Bring both long sleeve and short sleeve varieties. Again, select a material that will wick moisture away from your body. This will keep you more comfortable when it is hot, and keep you from loosing body heat when it is cold!
Belt- A sturdy belt will allow you to carry your gear that you need close at hand. I like the nylon rigger-style belts as they are study, have a buckle that has a high load bearing weight rating and have the attachment on it that can be used to rappel or as a rescue attachment point in a pinch.
Headgear- keep a wool or other material “watch cap” and/or Ski mask available for when it gets cold. A bandana can be used to keep the sun off you as well. If you are like me (hair-impaired) a hat is a MUST when it is sunny out. Sunburns suck on the top of your head, and will knock you down with monster headaches as the liquid boils off your brain.... In cold weather, you lose more heat from the top of your head than anywhere else. So protect your head...
Sunglasses- protect your eyes! Get something that is UV rated, and will keep your eyes protected from and flying debris. My all time favorites are from Wiley X. They are UV rated and Ballistic rated to deal with flying shrapnel. So they should be able to deal with most anything I might come in contact with. Another good choice are the polarized glasses. They are efficient for blocking glare from reflective surfaces such as water and snow (and automobile glass).
Overwear- Lightweight breathable Parka for cold weather. A light windproof jacket is also a must. A tactical vest that you can load out with your essential “at-hand” gear is also a nice option.
Shelter
Even though you can make your own shelters with materials at hand, it may also be handy to have some equipment on hand to make the process a little easier.
Sleeping Bags- are a nice option, but take up a lot of space. If you go this route, get one that compacts down and is as lightweight as possible.
Space blankets- Lightweight and compact, but don't have a long service life. They are useful as a waterproofing method when you make a shelter out of natural materials. I know they are supposed to reflect body heat, but are only effective if there is an air pocket between you and the blanket. They are almost a “one use” kind of item, as they are very easy to puncture. They are also very noisy if that is of concern to you.
Hammock- Decent option for one person, lightweight and compact. All you need are 2 trees. It will also get you up off the ground and away from creepy-crawlies.
Tarp- Probably my favorite option. Very versatile and you can insulate by putting natural materials on top. You can use them from a stand-alone tent, to ground cover, and water-catcher when it is raining. They can be a little heavy depending on the type you get but can be folded up to fit in a relatively small space, and you can use it over and over. They are also easy to repair with a little Duct tape....
If you go the Tarp route, I would suggest getting some “Byers' Super Snaps”. They are reusable grommets for tarps and allow you to tie down a tarp easily.
Edged Tools
These are a MUST HAVE in your kit and for me, in every day life. While I carry folding knives of various flavors on me every day, you would be hard pressed to find me without a fixed blade knife if I am in the woods or just think I may need it for more serious work. I would suggest having at least a couple available in your bag and one or two on your person you can access readily. From cutting cordage, dressing an animal, making tent stakes and fire starting tools to a last ditch defensive tool, a knife is almost too handy not to have one on you at all times.
While I love folding knives for their ease-of-carry and compactness, no matter how high quality the materials I still see the folder as a light-duty tool. The potential for failure under hard use is just to great of a risk in a survival situation. So while I say OK to having a folding knife to do light work with, I would suggest getting a couple fixed-blade knives. I would stick with a full-tang, carbon steel of at least 3 to 6 inches in blade length (3 inches for lighter work, 6 inches for serious jobs). I also recommend a Kydex sheath (it doesn’t mold) , with a good belt/molle compatible attachment point.
Axes and machetes are also useful tools, given the choice between the two I would pick a sturdy machete. You will find it more useful in clearing brush and even certain chopping jobs than a hand ax is.
Don't forget to pack away a way to re-sharpen your knives and tools. A good diamond knife sharpener is the way to go. You can get a lot of use from it, and there are models that fold down to a very small package.
Fire starting Equipment
Waterproof matches, and a few disposable lighters (in waterproof containers) are must haves. I say have as many fire starting methods available to you as possible. That being said- keep a small magnifying lens Ferro rod (or flint steel) and magnesium fire starting equipment in your bag. Learn/practice more “primitive” methods of fire starting before you need to use them for real. Bow-Drills, Hand-Drills, Fire-Pistons (just to name a few) have been in use long before we invented the disposable lighter or matches. So I recommend using these other methods and keeping your “sure fire” methods of fire starting in reserve, for when getting a fire going now may be a matter of life and death.
Water
This one is going to be a little rough. There is no way you can carry enough water in a Bug-Out bag to sustain you long term. It takes up too much space and is way to heavy. So keep water purification items in your bag to purify the water you find along the way. Iodine, Bleach, Tabs and water filters. I also suggest storing your carry water in 1 Qt Nalgene-style bottles and carry a Camelbak to sustain you between fill-ups.
For specific ways to purify water, see the “Quick Guide to Water Purification” pamphlet I have written.
Food
Also another area that you are not going to be able to carry enough of to sustain you for an indefinite amount of time. Things I do suggest you pack in your bag: MRE style meals, Freeze Dried Meals, Emergency Ration Bars, Honey, Peanut Butter.
This is not the time to be worried about fat or calorie content or rather, yes it is. You will be expending a tremendous amount of Calories, even more if it is cold outside. Calories are King, and the more you have access to the better off you will be.
Firearms
You knew it would eventually come to this.......
Firearms by themselves are not that bad to haul around, the ammunition on the other hand...... With this in mind I would say that if you only can bring one firearm with you bring a .22 rifle. Ammo is light, and you can carry a couple hundred rounds (or more) with ease. It is accurate and efficient for bringing down small game, and even larger game with a well placed shot. Using sub-sonic ammunition with it will reduce the report of the firearm keeping your location more covert, if this is a concern to you.
Defensively the .22 doesn’t have tremendous “stopping power” however since the recoil is next to nothing, you can mass a number of shots on target with ease.
If you are able to do so, carry more than one firearm. Pistols are a nice choice as they are lightweight and compact. Match this up with a Carbine of the same caliber so you don't have to carry too many different types of rounds. Having more than one firearms in the same caliber also gives you a backup weapon if one goes down. Keep a portable cleaning kit on hand for them and repair parts.
Medical
A personal medic bag to treat injuries that may occur is a must. Even a small wound in the field can turn into a major life-threatening problem if not treated promptly and properly.
At a minimum I would keep: Sterile Gauze, Cohesive gauze (sticks to itself), Clotting agents (cellox, quick clot) for more serious wounds, Tourniquet, Oral and/or Nasal Airway, Cravats, Antibacterial ointments, Safety Pins, Duct Tape, Benadryl, Skin stapler or suture, scalpel, tweezers, hemostats, Burn ointment or dressing, Pain relievers of various sorts and Gloves.
Keep an ample supply of any medications you may be taking for chronic health issues. Also if you have a good Doctor, he/she may write you a prescription for small amounts of antibiotics and pain meds that can be used in emergency situations.
Information
Keep a few books(paper kind, no batteries needed) on survival skills, medical procedures/treatment, plant identification and the like available for reference. You can also make your own “cheat sheets” on things like water purification, emergency medical procedures... and get them laminated. This way they will not be destroyed if they get wet, or torn when shifting around in a Bug Out bag.
Other Equipment
Navigational equipment (compass-not just the one that may be built into your GPS or Watch), Maps, a cooking pot (for cooking and water purification), flashlight(s) and spare batteries-I prefer rechargeable, Solar charger for recharging your electronic gear, a quality multi-tool, Duct Tape, Paracord, wire (or other) saw, fishing/trapping equipment, sewing needles and thread for clothing repairs, personal hygiene products, Passport/ID, savings/checking and other account numbers, Immunization records (if you have them), Money and/or and precious metals that could be used for barter/trade/purchase if the possibility arises.
Final Thoughts
I know it sounds like a lot, and it is. Just remember that everything you select must have a viable and essential purpose. Always have backup methods available for the most important issues such as: Starting Fire, Food gathering, Water purification, Shelter and Medical needs.
Keep an eye on any expiration dates on items like: Medications, Food rations, sterile medical packages and other gear. Rotate them out as they expire, I like to use my expired medical gear for training.
Don't let putting together a Bug Out bag intimidate you, you have probably done one already. Every time you go on vacation you pack a suitcase, it's just a scaled-down version of a Bug Out bag. It just isn't as in depth.....
Steve Hacht
Survival Tactics
Be Ready, Be Safe, Be Prepared....
What to do when emergency strikes for you and your loved ones...17:16 Sep 23 2013
Times Read: 666
http://survival-tactics.net/
A full moon in two nights...02:49 Sep 19 2013
Times Read: 679
Today was a crazy day, filled with chaos, people looking blank and lost, and the powers that be just seemed to be drifting. The others whom I shall say have gifts have been experiencing what I have. A new level of vibration, still ever increasing. Some have actually asked me for protection and guidance. Those who come to me and are worthy of my time, receive help. Others, need to learn how to deal with it themselves. Please do not think that I am not a humble servant, as I am. I just refuse to be an "enabler". I have found in my life that when major energy shifts happen, I seem to withdraw from everything and everyone and search introspectively. As we all know, "The answers lie within"...It usually is short lived, but I have to ask myself, why? It is not as if I fear, as I do not. It is not that I do not care, as I do... very much. It is my defense mechanism to protect all those I love and would do so with every last drop of blood in my veins. I feel that the general population are becoming more and more disconnected. We live in a world of technology. People text instead of talk. They snapchat instead of paying a personal visit. They call each other for dinner, and they are right upstairs... Parents buy their children IPADS instead of hands on games, and wonder why they lack common sense as they mature.
I feel as if people are regressing instead of moving forward. What will they do when the power grids no longer work? When the satellites are all down? When the grocery markets are empty? Then what? It makes me believe that we have regressed instead of progressed. This site would be a mere memory-as would all the internet.
People are searching, and for what they know not yet... They feel as if something is missing from their lives, and cannot even begin to explain it.
Please know that if this is happening to you, it too shall pass, but not without a lesson from the Universe. The lesson of course is different for everyone, but I can guess what many would be. Stand strong, defend, and prepare for anything. For years I stocked up on all the things that my family needed. My pantry shelves were as full as a small store. When disaster hit me, I lived out of that pantry for almost an entire year on many things. It truly saved all of us. I have a huge respect for the Amish and Mennonites. They take care of their own. If a barn burns, within the week, another is constructed and all the neighbors pool together in times of need. They have no insurance, do not rely on anyone but their own to survive, and survive they do... We could all learn a lot from them. While I do not share their religion, I share their respect for their families.
The energy is so scattered and so strong that people are literally walking into things, forgetting everything, and even so far as to say that they are wandering.
Not surprising. They know not who they are. Until you know this, you cannot go anywhere in life.
Tonight I am charging all of my special items and await for Friday night, the night of the FULL moon. Until then, I look into a mirror and all I see are spirits everywhere... Be safe, and protect yourself and family, close friends, etc. Simpler times are coming.
Blessed Be!
~Morganna777
The Vampire Creed...03:49 Sep 06 2013
Times Read: 698
I AM VAMPIRE....I worship my ego and I worship my life. I am the only God that is. I am proud that I am a predatory animal and I honor my animal instincts. I exalt my rational mind and hold no belief that is in defiance of reason. I recognize the difference between the world's of truth and fantasy. I acknowledge the fact that survival is the highest law. I acknowledge the powers of darkness to be the hidden natural laws in which I work my magic. I know my beliefs in rituals are fantasy, but the magic is real, and I respect and acknowledge the results of my magic. I realize there is no heaven as there is no hell and I view death as the destroyer of life.
Therefore I will make the most of life here and now.
I AM VAMPIRE....BOW DOWN BEFORE ME!
The clouds in the mist...Warning from the Goddess...12:52 Sep 04 2013
Times Read: 709
My opalescent hand waves over a solid body of water, and the mists clear into an image. The image is of darkness. This blackened chaos is moving, ever changing, and ever ready. They will come as a friend in the night, be one among you and wait. They will come disguised as men and women, familiars and friends. She has shown me what is to come. There is fire, burning flesh and rubble. It is not in the physical sense, it is in the astral planes, where so many of us travel. Things are not as they seem, even more unusual than the planes themselves. Even these have changed. They are colder, and more barren. There is fear around the new travelers, and I warn you, if you feel fear, they can smell it... Go home and stay there if you ever wish to return to anything you once held dear...Ready yourself for battle.
The prints in the barren sand are cloven, deeper than the eye can behold. There is only one set, and they are everywhere. The trees are empty and barren and as dead as molten lava cured over thousands of years. This plane was untouched, a paradise, now raped of splendor. The waterfalls evaporated, the glens, charred and smoking. The animals, all fled to another. I did not bring my familiar this time when I traveled, I felt as if something was amiss. She warned me this would happen, and I am sharing it with you. This entity has been denied love, a love they wanted more than anything and is lashing out at everyone and everything. It has a blackened heart. Everyone, of the Light or Darkness need love. It is the one thing written into our plasma, chemicals, or DNA that cannot be removed. Some call it loyalty, others, Respect, and still others, desire allegiance and Leadership. Some, know it for what it is. Unconditional Love. It fades in the mist with each passing day. Some cannot even comprehend the meaning, never mind the execution. There are those that play the part, in a masterpiece performance with hollow words and fallen hands. Others simply exist in this life, doing mundane things, day after day, never tasting passion as if it were a juicy pomegranate dripping down your chin with one succulent bite. A Renfield. Then there are those select few who are wise enough and learned enough to know that it is the one thing that can build armies, destroy empires, and guard all things. it is the glue that holds us all together, ALL OF US. The time is not so far away, and if you are reading this, you will have read my previous posts.We will all NEED TO JOIN TOGETHER as one. There is more power in ONE than in eternity all combined. There is not time for pettiness, for lies, for deals, and for posers. The time is coming. I have been led to be the voice:The one who is not afraid to stand up, open my gates and allow you in. If you mean us harm, you will be vanquished before the thought ever finishes in your brain or the flicker of your eye. Only Unconditional Love can exist here. It is a plane created only for this purpose. I speak the words of the Goddess and from the many lives I have lived. We fight to rid this world of those who mean harm to everyone and everything. We cannot exist in a plane barren and empty. We are meant to LIVE!
We are closer now than ever before, and I ask you, ARE YOU READY??? Can you lay down your prejudices, your hatred, and your harm for the greater good of ALL??? It is your choice. As always there are choices. If you stay, you will be annihilated and be erased as a particle blows sand in the wind...
Ready yourself whatever your choice... The time draws near...
Respectfully,
Curtsy,
Morganna
The energy is shifting....04:13 Sep 04 2013
Times Read: 715
I have decided to devote some free time to write of my Seeress experiences, with the names changed for privacy of course once in a while in my journals. Skeptics live everywhere until it happens to them...
Lady Gaga has a song that I love called "Born this Way", and I can honestly tell you that is my story as if it were written about me. I have had the privilege to talk with her about this via internet. She is one talented lady.
The night beckons me tonight, with a cool and crisp air taunting me to don my favorite cape and take a stroll... It has been a long time since I have ventured off... with intentions to conquer the dark...;)
My blue russian familiars are with me as I am writing this as if they know I am speaking of them. They are beautiful, loyal and very intuitive. My love for animals far surpasses my love for the human race as a whole.
Honor and dignity is gone from this millennium.
The Paranormal activity has been very active, at work, at home, and when I am out and about. They seem to call to me wherever I am. The latest contact I have had was visiting my mates home. He is aware that he does not live alone, well at least no humans live there.
He has a few "regulars" that pop in, but tonight there was a new guy on the block. He hid his face from me, but I can tell you that he wanted to reach out and touch me to let me know he was real. I already knew he was. I reached out, and he vanished. Earlier today, I had contact with a spirit where I work that loves to play with my new phone. It sent me a no school message on it, when in fact there is tonight. There are so many spirits that only wish to be heard, felt, acknowledged. I am open to this, and will listen if I am able at the time. Otherwise, they visit me in the Astral world as well until I put out the DND sign. My point here is that the energy shift is happening, and there are more and more making contact not only with me, but with others who are not willing to see them. Beware if you are not protected or guarded. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain if you act foolishly. Never underestimate the power of a spirit, especially if you are not able to handle the consequences.
I will write more on this later, but guard yourself and loved ones, and always be aware... They are already here....
~Morganna
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