Year: 2012

How the Average American Can Prepare for the Coming Collapse, by R.M.

It is very difficult for the average middle class American to prepare for the coming collapse; those that recognize the need still see it as maybe too late to do anything or there is too much to buy and prepare to be completely prepared.  Unless you are independently wealthy, that may be true, it is nearly impossible to be 100% completely prepared for all eventualities. The first thing you need to do is to prepare your soul and your family, they have to understand and be on board.  Your family and yourself must first get right with God if you …


Letter Re: Stress and Depression in Disasters

James Wesley: I often times read through the literature and blogs that speak of survival and the process of survival and one staggering issue is all too often neglected. The psychological and emotional aspects are all too often placed in the distant background or worst ignored altogether. I may not be a psychologist but I know from my own personal demons and experiences that stressful situations can slowly begin to affect the decision making process. In a survival situation a foolishly made decision can and most likely cost you dearly. Any situation that requires that you begin to think about …


Three Letters Re: Some Thoughts on Burning Coal

Mr Rawles, To chime in on the “heat to electricity issue”: A Stirling engine or “hot air engine”), might be what Dale from Vermont is looking for.  There are not many commercially available – one company was making them in New Zealand before the earthquake, but a quick Google search has also revealed that they moved their manufacturing to Spain. There may be others.  According to their web site they haven’t yet resumed their ‘off-grid’ line of  engine production. They can be quite efficient, and run off any heat differential.  For example: Hot air temperature and a cold spring, or …


Safecastle Freedoms Awards Announced

Safecastle has announced the winners of their video and writing contest. I was pleased to see that a SurvivalBlog writer won first prize and that second prize went to a piece that was originally posted at one of our favorite self-sufficiency blogs, Rural Revolution. (Edited by Patrice Lewis.) Article Category: 1st prize: “What is a Well-Stocked First Aid Kit” by K.M., SurvivalBlog.com – Prize: Katadyn Pocket Water Filter 2nd prize: “Preparedness for Young People” by Maria S, Rural-Revolution.com – Prize: Excalibur 9-Tray Dehydrator Video Category: 1st prize: “Survival and Prepping – The Basics” by Falcon15, Survivalmonkey.com – Prize: Katadyn Pocket …


Economics and Investing:

Jason G. suggested this XtraNormal You Tube clip: Confiscation Through Inflation. Best-selling investing author, former Marine (and prepper) Richard Kiyosaki talks some gloom and doom. C.D.V. sent this: Gold for Oil: India and Iran Ditch Dollar. (Does this sound familiar?) The Great Economic Storm: We Are Living In The Greatest Debt Bubble The World Has Ever Seen Items from The Economatrix: Existing Home Sales Hit 11-Month High In December One Million Homeowners May Get Mortgage Writedowns Refinery Shutdown Could Push Gas Prices To $4 Sell Treasuries, Buy Gold


Odds ‘n Sods:

Mary F. sent the link to this sobering video, that has a quite post-apocalyptic vibe: Dismantling Detroit. The accompanying article states: “The past is achingly present in Detroit, and the way its citizens interact with the hulking physical remnants of yesterday is striking… The young men… were the cleanup crew in a shaky empire.”    o o o Reader David A. wrote to note that restaurants buy salt in bulk, so if you visit a restaurant supply store or a mailorder outlet or a web site like TheRestaurantStore.com you can purchase 25 pound bags of salt for less than $5 per …



Notes From JWR:

There are now so many articles in the queue for the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest that any submitted between now and the end of the month will probably run in the next round. (And of course eligible for the same prizes.) Thanks for your patience! Today we present another two entries for Round 39 of the contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for …


Profitable Homesteading: How to Thrive in a TEOTWAWKI World, by Dusty

The idea of homesteading is not a new one.  As a species, we humans have mastered the art of living off the land better than any other species, learning along the way to capture fire, clothe ourselves and even preserve food that we grew to later nourish us. We weren’t content to stop there though.  Mankind “evolved” to reassemble natural materials into unnatural materials such as plastic and combine countless ingredients produced or grown by man into processed foods such as Twinkies, which we figured we might as well wrap in plastic.  Although the modern age has brought many possibilities, …


Preparing for Inclement Weather, by Russ X.

I am not trying to offend anyone or represent myself as an expert. I know there are many preppers on this forum that will see none of what I am writing here as new. However, some people may need this information or have not thought of it. As for me a lot of this was learned over 13 years in the active Army and seven years as a policeman. I was placed working and living in some of the most inhospitable weather situations someone could find themselves in. Enough of my ranting and I will get to the point. As …


The Drug Seeker Threat in Disasters, by Dr. Bob

People in the general public have little to no idea just how bad the drug abuse of prescriptions medications is here in the US.  Our recent discussion with our church small group spurred us to write this review for your thoughtful review.  Some fun facts to start us off, courtesy of one of my reliable medical reference sites, UpToDate:   6.2 million Americans in 2008 admitted to non-medical use of prescription drugs, 2.5 % of the population. The number of Americans who have abused prescription drugs exceeds those who have used cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, ecstasy, and inhalants combined. A 2005 …


Letter Re: Some Thoughts on Burning Coal

Sir, Probably the biggest gap in our survival preparations at present is having a good source of energy if we have to stay underground for an extended period. If surface conditions are such that we cannot venture outside, then most likely there will be problems with our photovoltaic panels, solar water heater and hydropower, all of which are above ground. With currently available technology, propane seems to be the only reasonable solution to support heat, hot water, and electricity. Propane can be stored indefinitely and furnaces, stoves and generators that run on propane are readily available. However, storing enough propane …


Letter Re: The Overnighters: Coming to a Neighborhood Near You

Hello Mr. Rawles,  I felt compelled to write in regarding Frank C’s recent article, The Overnighters: Coming to a Neighborhood Near You, and share my experiences working in the non-profit world over the last four years.  While my experience is significantly different from Frank’s, he is in my opinion right on the money.   I live and work in a northeastern state.  The state has a low population, is very rural, but has a massive “public assistance” community within its borders. In other words, lots of “social programs.”  I am a die hard capitalist, gun-owner, conservative, Christian.  Not the best prepper, …


Economics and Investing:

Ted B. sent this: European Union agrees on Iran oil embargo The Economist reports on Romania: Anger management: The government struggles to contain a growing protest movement Courtesy of Rex N. comes this link: Danger Ahead! Says the Bank of Canada Over at KITCO: Comex Gold Ends Higher On Bullish “Outside Markets,” Positive Technicals Items from The Economatrix: Gold Bottom Targets Trend to $4,000 IMF in Need For $1 Trillion / The Private Greek Bond Fiasco The Debt Supercycle Reaches its Final Chapter Jim Sinclair:  There Will be a Run on Gold Stored in the US On Banks Refusing Cash …


Odds ‘n Sods:

H.D. in Ohio mentioned this fascinating paper in the medical journal Nature Neuroscience: How unrealistic optimism is maintained in the face of reality. In essence, some people’s brains aren’t wet-wired to accept the the prospect of calamity. This may explain why trying to convince some of your family members to prepare is like talking to a brick wall.    o o o Some good privacy news: High Court Rules Warrantless GPS Tracking Unconstitutional    o o o A new M9 solar flare has everyone’s attention. It is the biggest since 2005. BTW, I recommend signing up to receive free solar …