Category: Retreat Security

LED Grow Lights for Indoor Food Production, by J.H.

Lighting products based on Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology continues to improve. Not only are lights getting cheaper, but the individual LED components are getting more higher powered and both efficiency and lifetimes/longevity are improving. Over time, LED technology is poised to replace the problematic and often loathed Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) as the preferred alternative to traditional incandescent light bulbs. However, this article is not about ordinary lighting applications but rather LED lighting specifically used for indoor growing applications. The benefits of LED lighting for plant growth, particularly as the technology advances, are truly revolutionary and will change the …


Arming Your Neighborhood in a World Gone Feral, by E.M.

I occasionally prowl prepper forums to read the opinions being expressed on various survival-related matters. Some people offer opinions that provide excellent insight into a particular problem or concern. Other people offer opinions that reveal profoundly weird or nonsensical views about issues. Of course, that situation certainly isn’t limited to the field of preparedness. I recently saw a posting on a forum by someone who asked whether, in making his preparations for a possible societal collapse, he should acquire “pass out” guns to hand out to his neighbors who, though mildly interested in survival matters when he discussed it with …


Prepare Without Looking Prepared, by Farm Operator

“Have you watched Doomsday Preppers? Man, those people are crazy!” “We’ve got this neighbor down the street who’s prepping for the end of the world. What a weirdo!” We’ve all heard these comments (or similar ones). As for the wife and me, when friends, delivery men, in-laws, out-laws, offspring, or third cousins (who only show when they need something) come by the house, we don’t want them thinking we’re crazier than we are. Most importantly, we don’t want them knowing we’re prepping. For obvious security reasons, we don’t want those cousins to be the first at our doorstep when SHTF. …


Two Letters Re: Moving Females in SHTF Scenario

HJL, Regarding C.B.’s article on moving females, I have a few suggestions. I have long, thick hair that goes to my waist and for many years had the constant frustration of trying to figure out what to do with it when I was getting dirty (hunting, butchering, cleaning the barn, ect.). Tucking it into a hat never worked for more than 20 minutes at a time. First, the cap or cowboy hat or what ever was in constant danger of being knocked off my head because of the extra mass under it or blown off by our wonderful winds in …


Letter Re: Moving Females in SHTF Scenario

Dear HJL, I’m a female and had some thoughts regarding C.B.’s letter on moving females. On one level, I was a little surprised that we needed special handling but agree that there are predators who do look for the most vulnerable victims out there, whether it’s TEOTWAWKI or not. I think my concern is that if someone is attempting disguise and the expectation is conveyed to them that they will be more vulnerable, it may pump up the fear level in them and that fear will show. I don’t think it is all that easy to truly disguise a female …


What to Expect When Planning A Hardened Shelter With A Professional Team of Engineers and Architects, by D.C.

I’m writing this article to persons considering developing their retreat with a fortified shelter. Here, I will thoroughly explain the expected preparation and process we went through on our shelter design and construction phases with our design professionals (engineers and architects) and other building industry professionals (general contractors, subcontractors, and product vendors). I am a licensed architect, with licenses in more than eight states and over 25 years of experience. Much of my career has been spent in highly technical commercial work (MRI suites, computer data centers, pharmaceutical labs, and so forth). For a mid-career alternative, in 2001, I also …


Moving Females in SHTF Scenario, by C.B.

The topic I want to discuss might seem pretty obvious to some of you and not so obvious to others. This article is going to discuss the transporting and safety of tactically untrained female members of your group. I’ve been a prepper for a number of years now, and I really haven’t ever seen anything on bugging out to a retreat or anywhere for that matter with untrained females in a SHTF scenario. First, let me give you some background on myself; it might help to establish some credibility with some of you. I have served in the U.S. military, …


Letter Re: Lessons Learned

This article is not be representative of many insurance policies. I am a insurance agent. First, I am sorry they had to go through such a horrible tragedy. People need to remember insurance policies vary from state to state and policy to policy. For the policies that I manage, these are the issues that are different: First auto policies are not replacement cost. They are blue book value (aka NADA), less your deductible. You could very well end up upside down, meaning you could still be paying payments on a destroyed vehicle, where you owe more than it’s worth. The …


Total Loss Disaster and Lessons Learned, by R2

1

We experienced a total loss fire in January of 2014. All life, minus a few fish, made it out okay. Praise God! This story is a summation of lessons learned regarding insurance, rebuild/replacement options, storage preps, fire-proof safe survival, OPSEC, and much more. I hope you can learn and make adjustments based on this experience. We had a three story colonial home with brick front, vinyl siding, and an asphalt roof. We poured a concrete foundation with a walk out basement, and we had a well, septic system, propane heat, and electric air conditioning and appliances. Our OPSEC was compromised. …


Letter Re: Survival and Prepping in a Homeowner’s Association

Hugh, This article, while I am sure sincere, read like a property builders happy brochure. To think that HOA board members are any more responsive than the Elites in Government(s), is a fool’s dream. Let me put forth my experience with an HOA. I owned a modest, 2 bedroom, 1 bath half plex in a bedroom community of Sacramento. When I moved in, the dues were $75 a month, and for that sum, the HOA mowed my lawn-in front. My home had no backyard, although the rest of the complex had nicely fenced backyards. When I asked why I was …


Survival and Prepping in a Homeowner’s Association, by M.B. – Part 1

As federal, state, local, and county governments reel under the weight of reduced tax revenues, declining productivity, and impossible “unfunded liabilities” (pensions, entitlements and health–welfare services), many communities are only able to continue to operate and maintain their facilities and infrastructure due in whole or in part to self-governed Homeowner Associations (HOAs). “The fastest growing form of housing in the United States today is Common-interest developments (CIDs), a category that includes planned-unit developments of single-family homes, condominiums, and cooperative apartments. Since 1964, homeowner associations have become increasingly common in the USA. The Community Associations Institute trade association estimated that HOAs …


Two Letters Re: Using Homeowners Insurance To Replace Lost Prepping Supplies And Retreat

I have a distinct problem with OPSEC and insurance coverage. It is a blazing example of how self reporting can backfire in an event. The insurance company and your agent know what you have, how much, the dollar value, et cetera. There is no guarantee that the insurance agent, along with others, will just settle into a steady ongoing supply of whatever they need if things got bad via all these people who put insurance coverage as being tantamount to success. Even others getting access to this info, via a myriad of other means, could put you in jeopardy in …


Using Homeowners Insurance To Replace Lost Prepping Supplies And Retreat, by J.H.

First, I am a licensed insurance agent. I prefer not to mention the companies I represent. However, laws differ from state to state. This article is to educate people how to use their insurance to replace their prepping supplies and retreats when disaster strikes. Terms and Definitions to Know There are some basic terms to know when dealing with insurance. I’ve defined some of these terms into every day language: Actual Cash Value– This is also known as the depreciated value. Think about your roof. If you have 20-year shingles that have been on your house for 11 years and …


Why Private Security Will Be A Goldmine In SHTF, by R.M.

To help establish my credentials, I will tell you that I am a U.S. Marine Corps Infantry Veteran with multiple tours to Iraq. After this time, I served with a certain Private Security Firm in Iraq and Afghanistan for over three years, conducting high threat security in very dangerous environments. I understand that not every person will be able to do this; perhaps it will only be a small amount. It will all depend on your personal health and level of training, as well as the market in the area around you. J.W. Rawles in his novels noted a few …


Letter Re: Staying Warm in An LP/OP

Sir, I just wanted to take a moment to comment on the “Staying Warm In An LP/OP” article by M.E. As I read it, I was chuckling and nodding my head. He hit the nail on the head with several of his observations. The recommendations for staying warm are dead on, and the suggestion about using two personnel to man an OP/LP is tried and true. After 23 years in the Army, I know that staying warm is a two-edged sword. If you stay warm enough, the tendency is to drift off to sleep. If you are too cold, your …