Hello Mr. Rawles!
I love your blog, and visit at least weekly, more often daily.
The current economic situation is sickening. I mean, actually making my stomach hurt, as I am not prepared. I just recently was hit on the head with the motivation to get prepared. The only problem with that is that I don’t even know where to start. Food? Weapons and Ammunition? Medical supplies? I am the patriarch of a family of 4. My wife and I, and our two children, both 10 and under. What I could use your advice on is just what I mentioned before, where does someone like me start. We have very little money, we live in the city, and we have no supplies except a Remington 870 Express [12 gauge shotgun] with a couple boxes of ammunition and food from the grocery store for a couple weeks and our camping supplies which amount to a couple days in the woods. I’m extremely worried that I simply won’t be able to help my family survive the coming collapse. I want to be prepared, and I’m motivated.
Thank you for any time you could donate with your advice! – MWS
JWR Replies: Start out by getting a good quality water filter such as the Katadyn VARIO currently on sale at Ready Made Resources and stocking up on canned foods.
If you don’t yet already have one, buy a spare riot “Police” length 20″ barrel with rifle-type iron sights for your Model 870 [1], with “IC” (improved cylinder) choke, or better yet the “Rem Choke” removable choke tubes. These barrels are available with a durable finish to match your “Express” variant.
Buy at least 200 rounds of #4 buckshot, 25 rounds (five boxes of 5) of rifled slugs, and when you can budget for it, a case of #6 birdshot shells for bird hunting and small game hunting
Since your resources are limited, your greatest opportunity to increase your chances of survival will be teaming up with like-minded folks in your area. For some suggestions, see my static page on Finding Like-Minded People in Your Area [2].
Be sure to take advantage of low cost training through the American Red Cross [3], the Appleseed Program [4], and the WRSA [5].
Pray hard, study hard, and train hard.