Month: November 2024

Lessons From Hurricane Helene – Part 1, by A.F.

The following recounts some Hurricane Helene lessons learned from Western South Carolina. Our power went off for the final time around 5:30 on Friday morning. It had blinked on and off twice earlier in the night, but I didn’t pay the warnings any attention. In the end, we were without power for nine days and only tonight as I’m writing this, 26 days post-storm did we get our regular Internet service back. I am fully aware that these are First World problems and compared to so many, Helene took it easy on us. Beyond ensuring that our vehicles were fueled, …


SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. The emphasis of this week’s column will be on some American Redoubt election results. Region-Wide In the left-leaning Inlander: Election results 2024: Who won, and which races are too close to call in the Inland Northwest. o  o  o Two Oregon counties reject measures to dial back …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Insurgents do not just use asymmetric tactics; they do so in the context of asymmetric strategies. The insurgent’s most fundamental objective is simply to thwart the counterinsurgent’s objectives. We may think of this as “monkey wrench power.” Throwing a monkey wrench is a form of sabotage. The purpose of sabotage is to interfere with a competitor’s goals and interests and to create disorder. Disorder is the strategic friend of the insurgent and the foe of the regime. Insurgent movements often do not aim for decisive victory, but rather to prevent the counterinsurgent from achieving victory. They seek to be winning, …


Preparedness Notes for Monday — November 11, 2024

November 11th is of course Veteran’s Day. If you value your freedom, then thank a veteran. — This is the birthday of General George S. Patton, Jr. (born 1885, died December 21, 1945.) — We’ve started a Week-Long Veteran’s Day Sale at Elk Creek Company. The prices of all of our in-stock military-issue rifles (and sporters) and our military-issue revolvers have been deeply reduced. Place your order before Monday, November 18th. — Today’s feature article is a review written by SurvivalBlog staffer Tom Christianson.


Cleveland Kydex Axe Sheath, by Thomas Christianson

I have a Cleveland Kydex Axe Sheath for my Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Axe. The sheath does an excellent job of protecting the blade from damage. It also protects surrounding objects from being damaged by the blade. The sheath is tough, has stood up well to a year of hard use, stays on the blade well, and is easy to slide on or off. The primary advantage of a Kydex sheath over leather is that Kydex does not attract and hold moisture as leather is often prone to do. It is also more wear and weather-resistant than leather. Cleveland Kydex …


Recipe of the Week: Granny M.’s Granola Bars

The following recipe for Homemade Granola Bars is from SurvivalBlog reader “Granny M.” This recipe makes a more chewy-style granola bar. Ingredients 4 ½ cups rolled oats 1 cup whole wheat flour (you can use regular white flour.) 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp vanilla ½ tsp salt ½ cup butter 2/3 to 3/4 cup of honey ¼ cup brown sugar Optional Additions: Chocolate chips (1 cup) and miniature marshmallows (1 cup), or Chocolate chips (1/2 cup) and peanut butter chips (1/2 cup), or Craisins, coconut, chopped almonds (to taste), or Cinnamon and raisins — I  suggest no more than 1/2 tsp …



The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The only proper purpose of a government is to protect man’s rights, which means: to protect him from physical violence. A proper government is only a policeman, acting as an agent of man’s self-defense, and, as such, may resort to force only against those who start the use of force. The only proper functions of a government are: the police, to protect you from criminals; the army, to protect you from foreign invaders; and the courts, to protect your property and contracts from breach or fraud by others, to settle disputes by rational rules, according to objective law. But a …


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — November 10, 2024

On November 10, 1885, German engineer Gottlieb Daimler unveiled the world’s first motorcycle, Der Reitwagen. — November 10th is remembered in the United States as the “birthday” of the U.S. Marine Corps. — And November 10th is the anniversary of the sinking of the Great Lakes ore ship Edmund Fitzgerald, in 1975. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 115 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could …


Are You Prepared? For What?, by Mrs. Alaska

Throughout the country, kind people volunteer their time and talents to help others harmed by natural or personal disasters. However, we can only help others if we are first prepared to take care of ourselves and our families. The following are real situations that have happened to us, or people that we or our friends and relatives know. What would you do in this or an analogous situation where you live? Perhaps these questions could prompt useful and interesting discussions among family or other groups. In ice-fog conditions, your car goes off the road and down into a ditch where …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR, based on a suggestion by SurvivalBlog reader Mike R.: Meme Text: Artificial Intelligence Natural Stupidity News Links:  What are some of the dumbest things Ocasio-Cortez has said or done? AOC Puts Her Stupidity On Display. Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks! Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — November 9, 2024

The Great Boston Fire of 1872 occurred on November 9th, 1872. Nearly 1,000 buildings were destroyed in the fire. — November 9, 1938 was “Kristallnacht”. Be forewarned, folks: Once a group in any society has been singled out for ridicule and persecution, then they can be systematically attacked, physically. Someday it may be “Constitutionalists” who are targeted. — After several weeks of civil unrest, the East German government announced on November 9th, 1989 that all GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin. Crowds of East Germans crossed and climbed onto the Wall, joined by West Germans on the …


Post-Election Report From a “Blue” City, by Dalkon

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): -Report from blue neighborhood in mid-size blue city in blue region of blue state -Much quieter than expected… unsettlingly quiet -No preps, contingency plans, or daily routine changes ended up being needed -Suspect private planning happening for future event(s) -Suspect collective action actors may be drawn to larger cities, for now I’m going to keep details vague for privacy, but will give you enough to sketch out some context. Even though both my spouse and I have been SB readers for over a decade, we live in a blue neighborhood in a blue city in …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds …