Category: Emerging Threats

How Long Can You Tread Water? by Tom S.

Noah may have questioned God about why he should build such a big boat.  To quote the comedian Bill Cosby, God might have asked: “How long can you tread water?” In the event of an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) burst 250 miles above Kansas or a super solar flare, the loss of the electrical grid would stop almost all food production and importation in the USA.  Some estimate there is, at any given time, more than 1,000 pounds per capita of food in consumable form available in the USA.  Unfortunately, it is very poorly distributed and will not be available to …


Letter Re: The Stamp of Idiocy

James: Here in Michigan Food Stamps are paid electronically to each person’s account. The recipients are then issued a card to pay for their purchases. The card has a picture of the Mackinac Bridge on the front so they are referred to as “Bridge Cards.” The Mogambo Guru’s Stamp of Idiocy article states that over 40 million people receive Food Stamps. This is scary to think about. But a few of my observations makes one wonder how many people actually deserve the benefits. When I picked my daughter up from school last month both my wife and I were appalled …


Surviving A Home Invasion Robbery, by Susan G.

On August 2nd, 1997 I had the hardest choice in my life to make, that was to survive.  Masked men wearing camouflage and carrying guns kicked my front door in at 12:40 am.  I was sitting about five feet from the front door waiting for my son to arrive home for the evening.  I heard my doorknob jiggle.  I thought it was my son trying to get his key in the door.  I made it within two feet of the door and stopped because I had not heard him set his car alarm.  With one kick from a 299 pound …


Is Modern Society Doomed to Collapse? Understanding the Complexity Trap

I’ve often written in SurvivalBlog about the over-dependence of modern societies on technology. Our level of dependence on high technology is large, and steadily growing. Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle summed up over-dependence on technology in their novel Lucifer’s Hammer: “Whole nations depends on technology. Stop the wheels for two days and you’d have riots. No place is more than two meals from a revolution. Think of Los Angeles or New York with no electricity. Or a longer view, fertilizer plants stop. Or a longer view yet, no new technology for ten years. What happens to our standard of living? …


Seven Letters Re: You Versus the Perps, their Lawyer, and the D.A.

Mr. Editor: As a firearms instructor for more than 20 years (including concealed carry and personal protection), there are a few things to remember in an encounter: “I think I’m in shock and need to go to the hospital.” Often more true than you might think. “I want to talk to my attorney.” He who calls 911 first is the “victim”. Prior to the point where you will be using force against one or more opponents, you should call 911 and keep the line open. The call is recorded and can be used in your defense. If things happen too …


You Versus the Perps, their Lawyer, and the D.A., by P.J.

I’m writing anonymously because I’m facing misdemeanor charges for spraying a trespasser with mace. Our county has an anti-self defense district attorney. Being next to three fraternities, I’d been having problems with trespassers; this was third time I saw them. (There was evidence of past intrusions; I’d videotaped it and will submit as part of my legal defense.) To prep, I’d purchased a mace-pepper spray-UV dye compound in a canister about the size you see for bear, with a range of 20 feet or so. I saw two trespassers in the side lot from the kitchen, where I leave lights …


How to Create a Risk Mitigation Plan for Hard Times, by J.A.

We are a family of five living in Houston, Texas. Within the past several years, we have faced several dangerous situations where we were caught blindsided. Among those where several hurricane evacuations, and most recently, we experienced a forced evacuation from our home, after a chemical plant leaked and exploded nearby. Prior to these incidents, we had no thoughts of survival skills, prepping or preparing for disaster. While these experiences were very unpleasant, we are actually thankful for them because they served as a huge wake up call for our family to prepare. One of the most important things we …


Letter Re: McAfee Report Highlights the Vulnerability of SCADA Systems

Hello, McAfee recently sponsored and published a report on global cybersecurity gives some startling statistics on the preparedness of critical infrastructure in various countries to attack. It is available for free download, as a PDF. Here is a brief excerpt on security for Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) , which run our infrastructure: Executives generally reported very high levels of connection of SCADA systems to IP networks or the Internet, despite widespread acknowledgment about the risks involved. Seventy-six percent of respondents with SCADA/ICS responsibilities said their networks were “connected to an IP network or …


Letter Re: Lessons From The L.A. Lakers Basketball Victory Riot

Hi Jim, I know that several readers have mentioned that they decided to hunker down in the city in their homes rather than bug out if the SHTF. A recent article and video shows what mobs will do when they are happy. Imagine what they will do if they are, hungry, thirsty, and without power for heating or cooling. Fire seems to always be a common denominator in such situations. The last place I would want to be is in or under my house when someone sets it on fire or it catches fire from a nearby house. The bad …


Letter Re: Motorcycles and Motorcycling Skills

Dear Jim, The roads are getting worse, gas prices are high, and the taxes keep going up. Something has to give. So far road maintenance seems to be one of the breaking points. I have witnessed roads evaporate. I have witnessed them get consumed in vegetation. I have traveled in the Sierras in places where the 4WD was getting stuck and knew an off road or dual sport motorcycle would cross these places easily. I can’t help but think while I’ve learned to shoot rifles and purify water and stitch wounds, shouldn’t I put at least as much effort into …


Letter Re: House Passes Power Grid Protection Bill

James Wesley: The House of Representatives yesterday passed the “Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense Act” which is “intended to bolster that national electric grid against terrorist attacks, cyber threats, electromagnetic pulse weapons and solar storms. The Act authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue emergency orders to protect critical electric infrastructure, and to take other measures to address current and potential vulnerabilities.” Given the speed at which government moves, I don’t think I’ll be unpacking my bug out bag or getting rid of my food stores! – Michael H.


Letter Re: Feral Dogs and Coyotes in a Schumeresque World

Dear Jim, Feral dogs and coyotes aren’t a problem over here [in England], but urban foxes certainly are. Here is a recent news headline: Baby twins savaged by fox treated for ‘life-changing injuries’ in separate hospitals All the fox-loving ‘experts’ say that this is an isolated incident, but the reader comments suggest otherwise. I’m not sure how these guys get to be called experts, one on the radio insisted that foxes don’t kill chickens for fun, either. I’ve never had it happen to my chickens (I’m more wily than the local foxes) but I’ve seen the result of a fox …


Letter Re: Feral Dogs and Coyotes in a Schumeresque World

The problem of feral dogs after TSHTF will be a real one. In my part of the country we have a problem with people dumping unwanted dogs. They were cute when they were pups but outgrew the family. Some people would take them to the pound, but with it’s over population and short ‘stay’ led a lot of people think that they were doing the dogs and cats a favor by letting them loose to fend for themselves. This is animal cruelty any way you look at it. There have been several cases where a feral dog joined up with …


Letter Re: The A.N.T.S Network– Institutionalized OPSEC Naivete

James Wesley: Do you want to see a serious breach of operational security (OPSEC)? Then go to the “ANTS Group” web site and click on their map. Zoom in on some of the names and addresses of folks with supplies just waiting to help others. I’m glad to see folks (“ants”) ants willing to help [others], but I’m sorry to see folks getting setting themselves up [as targets] for the [the depredations of the] not so trustworthy or “Golden Horde” (a.k.a. Grasshoppers)! Regards, – M.T. JWR Replies: Thanks for sending that illustration of how not to keep a low profile. …


Studying TEOTWAWKI: Why the “Smartest Men in the Room” are Worried, by F.S.

The purpose of this article is to lay out the intellectual underpinnings of what I will call the neosurvivalist movement. The target audience is those individuals either beginning, or considering to start, preparations for broad societal emergencies. The intended result is to demonstrate that far from being a fringe or extremist movement, neosurvivalism is rational and has emerged as a natural result of broader social, cultural, and technological circumstances grounded in specific historical and contemporary thinking. This movement goes by many names, including survivalism, prepping, emergency preparedness, and so-called “offgrid” or “resilient communities.” Businesses and governments are likewise investing in …