Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — February 17, 2026

On February 17, 1940, the Altmark Incident: The crew of the British destroyer Cossack (pictured) boarded the German tanker Altmark in Jøssingfjord, Norway, releasing 299 British prisoners after hand-to-hand fighting with bayonets and the last recorded Royal Naval action with cutlasses. — I just heard that actor Robert Duvall passed away at age 95.  May he rest in peace. – JWR — Using a 13-inch (33-cm) telescope at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, Clyde W. Tombaugh, a 24-year-old American with no formal training in astronomy, discovered the dwarf planet Pluto this day in 1930. — We are nearly done …


SurvivalBlog’s American Redoubt Media of the Week

This weekly column features media 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.  This week: Some more backcountry flying videos. “My Window Is Gone” an Adventure in the Oregon/Idaho Backcountry. (Trent Palmer.) These Kodiak 100 Backcountry Landings Are Insane – You Won’t Believe the Strips! Landing at Ryan Field (2MT1) in West Glacier, Montana. And a word of warning: Idaho Pilots: Roland Steadham was “safest pilot”, knew the area and powerlines well. Montana Knife Company nearing finish line on completion of new …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — February 16, 2026

On February 16, 1960, the newly-commissioned 447-foot US nuclear submarine USS Triton (SSRN/SSN-586) set off on a 60-day underwater round-world trip — the first submarine to do so.  The sub’s skipper, Captain Edward L. “Ned” Beach Jr., was also famous as the author of Run Silent, Run Deep. — February 16,1968: The first US 911 phone system went into service in Haleyville, Alabama. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This can be used for …


Ready Made Resources is Up For Sale!

Most SurvivalBlog readers are familiar with Ready Made Resources – a reputable survival and self-reliance company serving the prepper community since 1996. They have been a SurvivalBlog advertiser for more than 20 years. With the recent cancer death of company Founder & CEO, Robert E. “Bob” Griswold, the company had lost its driving force. His widow is now looking for a buyer who can carry on the mission and the longstanding name of Ready Made Resources. Ready Made Resources has an amazing deep inventory, a large mailing list, and drop-shipment agreements that are still active with dozens of suppliers / …


Recipe of the Week: 

The following recipe for Spring Greens Enchiladas is from SurvivalBlog reader Kurt W. Ingredients 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 2-3 garlic cloves, chopped 4-6 cups of chopped greens, any variety (spinach, chard, mustard greens, turnip greens, etc.) 1 Tablespoon butter 1 Tablespoon flour 1/2 cup milk 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, pepperjack, or Monterey jack.) 6 flour tortillas 15 oz jar (or about 2 cups) of salsa Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a casserole dish and set it aside. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion with a …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

  Today’s graphic: The United States of WalMart. In this map, each polygon contains exactly one Walmart store and represents the area closer to that store than any other. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) JWR’s Comments:  My family lives in the American Redoubt, where the population density is quite low, and the WalMart density is correspondingly low.  Hence, the large polygons seen in the Intermountain West.  It is a two-hour drive to the nearest WalMart from the Rawles Ranch. The thumbnail below is click-expandable.       — Please send your graphics or graphics links to JWR. (Either via e-mail or …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — February 15, 2026

90 years ago, today: The coldest day in North Dakota history. Minus 60 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale was recorded on February 15th, 1936, by a coal miner and volunteer National Weather Service weather observer in Parshall, North Dakota. This remains the lowest temperature ever recorded in the state. Pictured is the Broste Museum in Parshall, North Dakota. February 15th 1809: Birthday of Cyrus Hall McCormick, inventor of a mechanical reaper. Gun developer Richard “Dick” Casull was born on February 15, 1931. Casull passed away on May 6, 2018 after a long battle with cancer. Dick Casull is most famous …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: I’m Curious… In The Latest Epstein Documents Release Why are There Hundreds of References to Pizza, Beef Jerky, and Grape Soda? News Links: Hundreds of Bizarre References to ‘Pizza’ in New Epstein Documents Raise Eyebrows. Beef jerky is mentioned 383 times in the files. The New Epstein Files Are Reopening the Pizzagate Box. Tucker Carlson: Pizzagate Fully Explained in 12 Minutes. 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! …


The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — February 14, 2026

On February 14, 1803, writing the majority opinion text of the landmark Marbury v. Madison case, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall declared that any act of U.S. Congress that conflicts with the Constitution is null and void. — February 14, 1804: Karadjordje led the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire. — And February 14, 1942 was the birthday of the late Prepper/Economist Dr. Gary North. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This …


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 …


The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

“Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. And the glory of …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — February 13, 2026

On February 13, 1633, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei arrived in Rome for trial before the Inquisition for professing the belief that Earth revolves around the Sun. — February 13th is the birthday of Robert Charles “R.C.” Sproul (born 1939, died December 14, 2017), a well-respected American Calvinist theologian — Today is also the birthday of General Chuck Yeager (born, 1923), the first man to break the sound barrier. He passed away on December 7, 2020. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First …