Category: Contest

Some Hidden Threats to Critical Infrastructure, by A.C.

In an increasingly interconnected world, the security of critical infrastructure, particularly power grids, is paramount. While geopolitical tensions often dominate headlines, there are some extremely concerning threats that aren’t getting as much play as they should: the potential for foreign actors to exploit vulnerabilities in seemingly innocuous imported components. In the essay, we’re going to chat about some recently uncovered instances of undisclosed communication devices embedded in critical infrastructure components, such as solar inverters and port cranes, highlighting the severe risks these “backdoors” pose to national security and even you as a private citizen (prepper or not). We’re also going …


Setting up a Command Post for TEOTWAWKI, by 3AD Scout

As a young Private in the U.S.Army, I had wondered what happened inside the company Command Post (CP) or Tactical Operations Center (TOC). I had the opportunity to work in our unit’s Headquarters Platoon, including working in the TOC. Before my personal experiences working inside the TOC, I believed the TOC was where all the officers went to keep warm, get hot coffee, and sit around. After working in the Company Headquarters Platoon, I got reassigned to the Battalion Headquarters Company in the Scout Platoon. These experiences allowed me to grasp how situational awareness is gathered by scouts, analyzed, and …


A Goldilocks Tale of Three Lake Docks, by Mrs. Alaska

When we bought our undeveloped land on a lake in Alaska, the first thing built was a little dock on the lake, so that boats and float planes could deliver workers and supplies. What type of dock is best in a cold climate where lakes and rivers freeze and thaw? In general, I found that Americans writing from states like Minnesota favored light metal docks that you could pull out of the water at the end of the season.  We saw that approach frequently used in Wisconsin.  From friends there, we have heard that it is something of a seasonal …


How Do You Define an “Emergency Situation”?, by A.Y.

An emergency, as Webster’s Dictionary defines it, is: “…an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action, or an urgent need for assistance or relief.”  Throughout our lifetimes we may see many types of emergencies not just the Schumer Hits The Fan (SHTF) types of emergencies such as nuclear war or economic collapse that we should be prepared for. I have found that in my life choosing the prepper lifestyle has aided me in many such emergencies.  Once, for instance, I found when I was laid off from work that my preparedness and stringently frugal …


Traveling in Austere Situations – Part 2, by Dr. Rick

Camping in fair weather Getting adequate sleep and rest is crucial for your survival, even if you are only traveling a short distance, especially if you are already deprived of it. Your situational awareness and decision-making abilities deteriorate quickly without adequate rest and sleep. That’s not good for you. Climate and weather play big roles in your sleep experience. Another situation that will impact your night’s sleep is whether you are being followed or not. To get the best night’s sleep, you’ll need shelter. In fair weather, shelter is not a major concern. Sleeping “under the stars” is a romantic …


Traveling in Austere Situations – Part 1, by Dr. Rick

In my two recent SurvivalBlog articles, I made suggestions about the equipment you’ll need in your GHB (Get Home Bag), BOB (Bug Out Bag), and your INCH (I’m Never Coming Home) kit. What was not covered was travel and the conditions you might encounter. Traveling is austere conditions is the subject of this two-part article. What is common to both parts is the weather. Traveling will not be easy. Reality check: traveling and resting in austere conditions will not be a sightseeing nature stroll or a “glamping” trip. You must pay attention – all the time. If you are out …


Preps Starter Kits for Reluctant Families – Part 2, by A.F.

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) Two is one right? In addition to the filter in each kit, a water purifier was included. The difference between the pair is that a filter is uses mechanical or physical means to restrict the passage of solids (dirt or microorganisms) to achieve safety. A purifier in contrast uses chemical or ultra-violet methods to sterilize water. The Aqua Research H2gO purifier uses brine (here it is table salt dissolved in water) electrolysis to generate a concentrated chlorine solution that is mixed into your source water to disinfect it. This is very similar …


Preps Starter Kits for Reluctant Families – Part 1, by A.F.

For years, my father and father-in-law would tell us that they had everything under control to handle the natural disasters common to their areas. Healthy pantries, stored gasoline and propane, plenty of firewood, tractors to clear debris or snow, four-wheel drive vehicles for movement and most importantly generators for their wells and freezers. Yet, after each big weather event both of them would tell of what they didn’t quite have ready or of supplies that they should have had. I got into the practice of calling them before inclement weather to ask if they had water and fuel ready or …


Prepare For The Consequences, Not The Disaster, by 3AD Scout

Many Preppers are often asked “what are you preparing for?” The responses are anything from a simple weather event to an extinction-level event. Having been in the field of disaster planning and response for 24 years, I cannot tell you the number of times someone from the public would call looking for our tornado plan, or flood plan, chemical spill plan and on and on. The reality is, many entities do not have disaster specific plans but rather general emergency operations plan that address the similar consequences of several different disasters. With that said, there are exceptions such as entities …


Preparing To Go To Gunsite – Part 3, by N.C.

(Continued from Part 2. This concludes the article.) Flashlight I bought this from Gunsite’s pro shop where they have a couple of options. I bought their bottom of the line (but still expensive to me) Fenix PD36R V2.0 Rechargeable Flashlight for about $100. I agonized a bit over this decision, I did not normatively carry a flashlight and I was not planning to begin carrying one. When I started researching I found that Flashlight guys are like Watch guys, they speak their own language and very quickly start spending huge amounts of money for the model that’s “just right” for …


Preparing To Go To Gunsite – Part 2, by N.C.

(Continued from Part 1.) Physical Requirements Can you stand for six hours a day in the sun and weather? Be brutally honest with yourself here. I saw one gentleman who came who could not. I felt so bad for him. To have spent all the money and time and be unable to actually complete the training would be heartbreaking. On the other hand there were absolutely people north of 60 completing the course. You don’t need to be able to run a marathon but you do need to be able to stand in the sun for several hours. Bear in …


Preparing To Go To Gunsite – Part 1, by N.C.

I think the most important preparations we make are those that overlap in “fun” and “useful” categories. For me, that overlap is best represented in marksmanship. I’ve always loved marksmanship and being a better marksman makes me better able to defend my family if the second worst day of my life happens to be today. I used a SurvivalBlog Writing Contest prize Course Certificate toward the full Gunsite 250 class. The 250 defensive pistol is their standard basic defensive pistol class. Because 250 Defensive Pistol is a 5-day course, the credit that I won writing an article for SurvivalBlog only …


Medical Preparedness – An After Action Failure Report, by WV Underground

The purpose of this article is to outline a series of medical events my family experienced in an three-month window from Christmas Day 2024 to March 1, 2025, followed by a frank evaluation of what gaps this event chain showed in my family’s preparedness supplies and plans. As a healthy, early middle-aged male who has been in the preparedness space for nearly 15 years and regularly follows prepping blogs and podcasts, I like to think of myself as being prepared for most of the events that could disrupt the lives of my immediate family. The typical “beans, bullets, and Band-Aids” …


Basic Chainsaw Maintenance, by Grandpappy

I’ve been sharpening chainsaws for many years, and l’ve noticed that most owners don’t perform basic maintenance on their equipment. They don’t even know what maintenance they should perform after use, such as cleaning, oiling, and unclogging the chain’s lubrication holes. The file that comes with a manufacturer’s chainsaw kit is used to maintain the correct sharpening angle. Not all chains are sharpened to a 30° angle. For example, the Ripping Chaín used in some portable sawmills has a cutting angle of just 10°.


Another Look at Your BOB and INCH Preps, by Dr. Rick

In my most recent article which was posted on June 23, 2025, we looked at and evaluated your EDC and GHB equipment in the framework of survival priorities. Hopefully, you found that information useful. In the preceding article, the focus was on individual preparedness for drastic situations. Now we are going to look at two very different situations. In the two situations presented here, the focus is on family or group preparedness. Both involve evacuation. In this article, we will be looking at your BOB (Bug Out Bag) and your INCH (I’m Never Coming Home) kit using the same survival …