As husbands and parents, our job is the safety and security of our families. Whether you believe there may be food shortages, financial collapse, power outages, hurricanes, ice storms, or whatever in the future - it is your job to evaluate the risks, and take steps to minimize the danger to your family.
I wasn't a boy scout as a boy, because we had a large family and money was too tight by the time I came along. But I did have a "Boy Scout Handbook", which I read cover to cover. I drank it in. I couldn't wait to learn and practice everything in the book. For years, it was my survival 'Bible' as I would practice as many skills as I could. I would make first aid kits, build fires, make emergency shelters, and set traps for animals. As I got older, I read other books and try to gather as much knowledge as I could so that I would be prepared for any eventuality.
I have always believed that knowledge was power, so I never trusted my education to the government. I went to government brainwashing camps, a.k.a. public schools... but I also did independent study, and searched for credible sources. It seemed to me that the government had a conflict of interest, when it came to education. Anyone above the age of 10 should realize that the governments main desire is more power. So why would anyone believe that an education provided by the government would be anything more than a way for them to dumb us down and make us dependent upon more government?
Once you grasp that concept, and once you begin uncovering lies that the government has told us, you begin to question everything. If you are over the age of 20, and haven't realized yet that the government lies to us, then you have probably worked VERY hard at trying ignoring the truth. Government lies are such common knowledge, that I won't even take time here to begin listing them. To be honest... I would have a much more difficult time trying to think of ANYTHING that the government has EVER said that was true. (If I get enough requests, I will be happy to do an entire 700 word post on government lies)
The point is, no matter what we are taught in school or what crap we are fed by the Main Stream/corporate controlled Media, we are still responsible for knowing the truth, anyway. We are responsible for our OWN safety and that of our family. We are responsible for our own health and well being - no matter how safe Monsanto tells us that GMO foods and aspartame are. In my search for the truth, it has become crystal clear to me that we are on the brink of a disaster. Have you ever noticed birds before a storm? Or how busy the squirrels are before the winter? Or that rats jump from a sinking ship? If you have, you can compare our government - and governments all over the world, to those wild animals. They are working furiously to prepare for some disaster. Something is going on. Governments are preparing for civil unrest. They are building underground shelters, detainment camps, re-education facilities, and they are increasing security at federal buildings. They are also looting countries without apology or much pretense. And like rats jumping from a sinking ship, the elites are building underground bunkers and moving to ultra-secure island facilities in record numbers - well away from high population areas. Yes, something is in the air.
If you've done any research on the impending disaster, you have either already begun your preparations, or have thought about preparing for disaster, but find it so overwhelming that you don't know where to begin. If that's the case, I'm here to give you some basic ideas, encouragement, and try to point you in the right direction.
First, don't allow yourself to be overwhelmed. You need to accept that time is of the essence, and that there is no more time to waste. You need to tell yourself that you WILL begin preparations TODAY. If you are goal oriented, I suggest that you establish how much time and money you will commit each week to begin working on this critical issue. Do not set an end goal, because there is no reason to ever stop trying to be more prepared. You just need to take comfort in knowing that you will start today, to do the best that you can with what resources that you have.
Next, realize that there are different categories to work on. You can do a little bit towards each category, or you can try to prioritize and work on whatever you highest priority is, and do frequent re-evaluations.
Some of these categories include:
- water
- food
- shelter
- self-defense
- spiritual readiness
- first air education
- emergency disaster plans
- community plans
- training and practice
Obviously, water and air are our most critical needs, so your disaster plans need to ensure that in the event that you bug in or bug out, that you will have access to necessary water. If there is not a source of pure water, you will need to store water, as well as multiple ways to filter and/or purify water. Most people spend most of their time and money on food storage, but water should be a much higher priority.
You need balance in your preparation
Don't spend all your money on guns, ammo, and silver, and nothing of food. Also, don't neglect the need for education. If you own, but don't know how to use a gun, or how to prepare meals from long term stored food... then you're not really well prepared at all, are you?Food, water, firearms, and tools are all important; But more important is the preparedness mindset. This comes through knowledge, skill training, and preparation. Once you decide that you won't be a victim, that you will take personal responsibility for your own safety, and that you will learn the skills and do what is necessary to protect and feed you family regardless of what disaster may come... then you have the beginning of a prepper mindset. Preppers, survivalist, self-sufficient people all have the same mindset. Being prepared doesn't mean the same thing to all people. To some, it might mean having the means to grow and raise all your own food on your own land, and have enough money available to pay all of your bills and taxes for two years. To others, it might mean having a years worth of supplies on hand. To others, it might mean having the skills to live in the wild indefinitely. But if you have a family, it is your responsibility to look after their well being, so descide what level of preparedness will be required and get busy.
If you believe there will be civil unrest, you need to determine what level of attack your home can withstand, if you will need weapons, what level of training you will need with them, and at what point will evacuatuating your home increase your odds of survival. If you do have to evacuate, do you have a place to go? Do you have a plan?
Are you physically and spiritually strong enough for the future that might be right around the corner? If not, then start working on that. This can be even more important that food. If you can't carry a back pack, or walk a mile, or carry an injured family member, or stay awake and stand guard for 4 or 5 hours... then you may need to raise the priority of the importance of getting these things in shape.
If you only have $50 and 10 hours a a week to spend on your preparations, you might decide to break it down like this:
- 30 minutes - Save and fill containers with water. (each adult will require around 1 gallon per day of drinking water). If you are lucky, look for used 30 gallon and 100 gallon tanks that have shipped or stored food grade material. Sometimes corn syrup, or other items were shipped in them and you can get them for free.
- 1 hour - Purchase dried foods and supplies. (oats, rice, beans, wheat, salt, sugar, yeast, spices, fruits, nuts, coffee, teas, soap, toilet paper, plastic bags, big plastic storage bins, 2-minute noodles, diatomaceous earth, etc) Should be able to store for 5 - 15 years, can be prepared with only water and heat, and should be something that your family will eat. In the beginning, only store essentials, if money is tight. As budget permits, get comfort foods and luxuries ( coconuts, cashews, nutella, cookies, candies, cigarettes, make up, alcohol, soaps, deodorant, razors, games, cards, etc.) Shop at bulk discount stores, dollar stores, LDS cannery, or restaurant supply stores.
- 30 minutes - Work out - push ups, situps, dips, jump rope, walk, run, bounce, chop wood, karate class, yoga, etc.
- 1 hour - Go to YouTube and watch videos on preparedness, prepping, first aid, cooking from home storage, fire arm selection, escape and evasion, building an emergency shelter, and preparedness related subjects.
- 30 minutes - Download podcasts that you can listen to while you drive or while you work out. The Survival Podcast is a great place to start. Go to iTunes. You can put these on any cheap MP3 player.
- 30 minutes at the library to find books on tape/disk on subjects that you need help with, or novels about preparedness or small military tactics. (many libraries have online access now. Search for your city or county library online.)
- 1 -2 hours visiting blogs and forums like Ferfal's themodernsurvivalist.com , The Survival Podcast, Dirttime.com, offgridsurvival.com, survivalblog.com,and search for others.
- 1 hour - Look for a bug out locations. This can be done online, on bike, by car, or by talking with friends. It could be at a relatives home or remote cabin, a favorite camp spot, a cave, or an abandoned building that you know of that is defendable, a used shipping container in the country, an RV on private land, an underground shelter, etc.
- 2 hours - practice skills. Shooting, hiking, building fires, cooking from home storage, canning foods, gardening, raising chickens, build an emergency shelter, martial arts, hunting, tracking, finding and purifying water.
- 1 hour- make an evacuation plan.
Here is a another tip that could save your life, that almost NOBODY I talk to knows about. If you have a 401k, an IRA, or some other retirement account, you can convert it to a SOLO 401K and begin using some of your retirement money to better prepare. By doing this, you could access your retirement money today, tax free, with no penalty, and purchase supplies, property, storage facilities, guns, ammo, silver, NBC bomb shelter, gold, etc, with tax exempt money. You can actually take physical possession of all these things, put your money into your LOCAL bank, and get control of it with a checkbook! Legally, tax free, 100% approved by the IRS. No more asking for permission or waiting weeks for a dispersal or paying fees and taxes to access your money! I can't think of a better use for retirement money than to purchase things today that will be more expensive later, that might also keep you alive in the event of a disaster. Ask for Mark Friedman, at Broad Financial - 800-395-5200 (x329) Please tell them Fran Tully referred you.
Another thing you might want to consider for your disaster preps, is to buy cases of items that you could barter with, give to someone desperate, or sell for a silver dime later. A silver dime is worth around $3.50 today, so find things worth about $2 each, like hard candy, chocolate, Bic lighters, matches, rubbing alcohol, band aids, med tape, tampons, cork screws, can openers, books, dust masks, work gloves, instant coffee, instant soup, rice, beans, filters, wicks for lanterns, candles, box of individually wrapped sugar, boxes of .22s, small cans of lighter fluid, propane, scissors, duct tape, cigarettes(you'd sell one or two at a time for a silver dime), knives, sharpening stone, plastic bags, airline size bottles of liquor, socks, razors, toothbrushes, sewing kits, sardines, canned tuna, canned chicken, spam, hot chocolate, ... anything that will be cheap, have a long shelf life, has high demand, and is easy to store, but could help out a friend or neighbor in need.
Below is a great list of items that you might want to make sure you have plenty of before disaster strikes.
100 Items to Disappear First
1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy...target of thieves; maintenance etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
10. Rice - Beans - Wheat
11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,)
12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY - note - food grade if for drinking.
14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won't heat a room.)
15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.
17. Survival Guide Book.
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)
28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many).
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)
32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit
35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
36. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
42. Matches. {"Strike Anywhere" preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)
45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)
48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)
49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
53. Duct Tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games, Cards, Dice
68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. "Survival-in-a-Can"
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
87. Cots & Inflatable mattress's
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/chickens
From a Sarajevo War Survivor:
Experiencing horrible things that can happen in a war - death of parents and
friends, hunger and malnutrition, endless freezing cold, fear, sniper attacks.
1. Stockpiling helps. but you never no how long trouble will last, so locate
near renewable food sources.
2. Living near a well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.
3. After awhile, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury in war
quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than gold's.
4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity - it's the easiest to
do without (unless you're in a very nice climate with no need for heat.)
5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without
heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy - it makes a lot of
the dry unappetizing things you find to eat in war somewhat edible. Only needs
enough heat to "warm", not to cook. It's cheap too, especially if you buy it in
bulk.
6. Bring some books - escapist ones like romance or mysteries become more
valuable as the war continues. Sure, it's great to have a lot of survival
guides, but you'll figure most of that out on your own anyway - trust me, you'll
have a lot of time on your hands.
7. The feeling that you're human can fade pretty fast. I can't tell you how many
people I knew who would have traded a much needed meal for just a little bit of
toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne. Not much point in fighting if you have to
lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders like nothing else.
8. Slow burning candles and matches, matches, matches
The above list was found on Joyce Riley's The Power Hour - powerhour.com
