Category: Retreat Locales

Letter Re: Western Nebraska as a Retreat Locale

James, As a regular SurvivalBlog reader and a prepper, I would like to say western Nebraska is as close to the American Redoubt without being there. I have considered the reasons you have not include Nebraska, and though they are valid for eastern and central Nebraska, I believe if you stick to the western section, the Platte River Valley and the Sand Hills offer an attractive option. The main things I find appealing, inexpensive fertile crop land, good plentiful clean water, a plethora of wildlife (Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, and Turkey) great fishing holes everywhere, and few people per …


Self-Sufficiency Gardening in Climate Zones 8 and 9, by David G.

Unemployment is rampant. The government is bankrupt. Foreclosures are everywhere. And one day soon, you may find your local grocery store has closed and shut off your supply of Hot Pockets. Most of us have never had to grow our own food. Those that have grown their own generally do it as a hobby – or as a way to get a vine-ripened tomato without selling a kidney.. Climate zones 8 and 9 [found in much of Arizons, parts of Florida, and the regions at the north end of California’s Central Valley] are not a gardening paradise. If you go …


Taking The Gap–Your Move to The American Redoubt

I will soon be interviewed by John Jacob Schmidt on Radio Free Redoubt. The theme of this podcast hour will be “Taking The Gap”. My goal is to exhort listeners to re-prioritize their finances and set a goal–with a date attached–to make the move to the American Redoubt. (This region includes Eastern Oregon, Eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.) I urge preparedness-minded Christians and Jews of all races and from all walks of life to make the move, soon. I sincerely believe that the American Redoubt the will be the safest and most free place to live in North Americas in …


Buying Land in the American Redoubt, by G. in Virginia

I have been involved with the buying of land and homes since I was able to carry a hammer or a two by four. While I have worked many different jobs, I have always returned to my love of real estate over the years. Currently, I own several houses, and my proudest achievement, is the acquisition of 40 prime acres in Montana! This is after almost a year and a half of searching in The American Redoubt for the piece I wanted at the price I wanted with the restrictions I wanted. Now that I have my slice I would …


Prepping While Unemployed, by Paul H.

I am writing this because I have talked to so many people who believe that there is little they can do to prepare because they have no job.  There is a difference between having a job and working and although I have not had a real job now for over three years, I continue to work six days a week.  I had already been unemployed for almost a year by the time I started reading your books.  Having moved to this small city for a job in finance, I paid cash for an old mobile home in a trailer park …


Letter Re: Urban Evacuation–When The Plan is No Plan At All

Dear Jim: I am writing in response to the recent posting entitled: Urban Evacuation–When The Plan is No Plan At All. Several years ago when driving North out of Baltimore City, I noticed some blue and white signs which said:  “Emergency Evacuation Route”  They had a big blue arrow pointing North and nothing else.  The next time we were in the City I began looking for the signs.  I found them and began following them all the way.  They ran for miles out of the heart of the City and then just stopped … somewhere near the City line.  But, …


How To Find a Bug Out Location Without First Going There, by Jen L.

I live about 30 miles north of Denver, Colorado – where there’s a metropolitan population approaching three million.  I own a 4×4 vehicle, but rarely go to the mountains and decided it was time to find a bug out location without having to go there.  Perhaps I should mention that I’m a 60 year old female, and my husband thinks the whole concept of survival is complete rubbish!  And while I own a GPS, I’m going to show you how to do this for free so you can prepare for a TEOTWAWKI situation. The USGS has maps that are scaled at 1:50,000.  The “New Generation” maps …


Ultimate OSPEC in Your Underground Shelter–Or Just Do Your Best, by Charles D.

I needed a road trip to clear my mind and consider my G.O.O.D. route while on a road trip.  My Saturday journey was west on I-70 from Denver on a sunny fall day.  Around 60 miles up the hill from Denver is the gateway into the Colorado Rockies which is the Eisenhower / Johnson Tunnels that cross under the Continental Divide into the Summit County. These tunnels help avoid the winding but beautiful Loveland Pass that is often closed due to snow and poor conditions in the winter. They send the Hazardous Material trucks over the pass when the road …


Three Letters Re: A Single Mom’s Desire to Relocate

Dear Mr. Rawles, I love your blog and visit it daily. You recently recommended a lady consider North Dakota (in Letter Re: A Single Mom’s Desire to Relocate), saying “You might also consider the Oil Patch of North Dakota, which is presently booming and has a considerable surplus of bachelors.” My wife and I have been considering going there only because we’ve been out of work for quite some time and things are looking bleak. Researching the area we found at least one negative: there is some significant concern that a highly toxic material called Erionite has been used as …


Letter Re: A Single Mom’s Desire to Relocate

Mr. Rawles: I am a Registered Nurse with some money saved up, and a two year old son.  I don’t know if I can do it all myself. I have had this impending feeling that I need to leave where I am on the East Coast. I feel God has put this restlessness in my heart for a reason. I find myself looking at rural land and farms to purchase practically every night. I feel as if something is coming and I need to get my son out of harm’s way. Basically I don’t know where to start or even …


Letter Re: Farmer’s Markets in the American Redoubt?

Sir: I’ve been a follower of SurvivalBlog for some time. We’ve seen this mentioned before: building communities of moral, responsible,  and like-minded citizens (in the Robert Heinlein sense of the word) has strategic advantages. I would go a step further and say this process is, in fact, crucial. I number among the many souls who wish to relocate and become self-sustaining but all to often find ourselves in a serious minority among our immediate circle of relationships, as well as beset by other challenges to overcome. Our particular circumstance may vary: Maybe we’re small business owners in a depressed area, …


Letter Re: Farmer’s Markets in the American Redoubt?

Dear James- I just recently found your blog through a story on The Daily Crux by Stansberry and Associates. I am very impressed by the amount and quality of the info. I now feel less alone! The people that I have tried to talk to here don’t have a clue-they either say that if something bad happens they know we will take care of(feed) them or they say that they have guns and will take what they need. I only know of two other preppers and they are many miles away. We run a greenhouse business and vegetable farm in northern Wisconsin. …


Letter Re: Observations on a Prepper Family’s Move to The American Redoubt

James: My husband and I fell in love with a section of [what is now called] the American Redoubt long before I discovered SurvivalBlog.  We dreamed of retiring in that part of the country as so many of his co-workers have done.  We even went looking for property years ago in the hopes that we would have a place to go to in our old age.  We couldn’t afford any at that time, but the idea stayed in the back of our minds.  Our dream was put on hold when he suddenly passed away, but after he died I got  …


Letter Re: A Disaster Survival Strategy for Urbanites?

Hi Jim, I just finished reading “Patriots” and can’t wait to being reading “Survivors”. I live in the Queens borough of New York City with my family in an apartment building and was wondering if there were any specific guidelines relating to survival in a city such as New York? We do have the ability to G.O.O.D. but I am concerned about a situation where we would have to hunker down at home. I am just beginning to educate myself about survival techniques and strategies. Thank you in advance for any guidance, Sincerely, – Derrick A. JWR Replies: I do …


Letter Re: Another Job Opportunity in The American Redoubt

Sir, I’m a country kid who never knew other people were hopelessly dependent on “the system”. I got interested in being prepared while serving as a US Marine during a Mountain Warfare and Survival course in Bridgeport, California. I now live in Wyoming which has just opened up concealed carry to responsible citizens without having to have permit. While reading your books you’ve talked about employment near a retreat in the American Redoubt. I work for the Wyoming Department of Corrections (WDOC). They pay very well and offer a retirement following 20 years of service. New officers start out at about $17 …