Category: Retreat Security

Letter Re: Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs–Planned Tactics for TEOTWAWKI

Hello Mr Rawles About a month ago, I read your book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It”, followed a week later by “Patriots“. I quickly realized how unprepared I was for even possible but probable emergencies. I started to ask question of coworkers of what they would do in an emergency. One co-worker was a former motorcycle club (gang) member. He told me that he would get with some of the club members in the area. This could be as many as 50 to 60 members. They would have plenty of “bullets” and plan …


Now You See It, Now You Don’t — The Value of Concealment, by Joe M.

Unless you’re lucky enough to actually live at your retreat in case of a TEOTWAWKI event, you are probably a little concerned with theft at your home away from home. Even if your primary home is your retreat, in the event of a break-in is your cache of “goodies” safe? Sure you might keep your supply of rifles, handguns, and shotguns locked in a gun vault the size of Grandma Shirley’s casket, but if thieves are given enough time they will haul the vault and anything else they find off into the night, leaving you empty handed and even worse, …


Letter Re: Confronting Kleptocracy–Identifying the Looter Mentality

Dear Mr. Rawles, I would like to make a few comments on your post titled “Confronting Kleptocracy – Identifying the Looter Mentality”. Although my education and profession are in medicine, I have been long interested in social anthropology particularly as it applies to the average “citizen” confronted with a breakdown in modern society. As you are well aware, our society exists by means of a fragile web of precisely balanced interconnected dependencies. This web was not created overnight but has developed over several generations. At present we enjoy life at a time where the poorest people in our modern culture …


Some Needful Things

I’m often asked by my consulting clients about my specific gear recommendations. I’ve noticed that I repeat mentioning a lot of these, so to save time in my subsequent consulting calls, I’m posting the following list (in no particular order): Gamma Seal Bucket Lids. We use these constantly with our bulk storage wheat. rice and beans. K & M Industries waterproof match cases. The best, made by a Mom & Pop business Gerber Omnivore LED Flashlights. These can use AAA, AA, or CR-123 batteries. Sadly, they’re made in Mainland China. Maxpedition gear bags. Incredibly tough and well-made. Dakota Alert infrared …


Letter Re: Confronting Kleptocracy–Identifying The Looter Mentality

Dear Mr. Rawles, To follow up on your recent blog article, it is sad that we live in a society where people will lower themselves to such activities as crime on the streets. That crime is regrettable, but in the aftermath of TEOTWAWKI, looting will be an absolute unacceptable crime. It will become rapidly, a capital crime. Just as in the 19th Century, horse theft was punishable by death, so will be looting in the aftermath of any societal breakdown which results in any of the scenarios envisioned by either you, or your readers. Essentially, “Rule .308” will apply in …


Letter Re: Radio Communications for Retreat Intelligence Gathering

James Wesley: Ron Y.’s article posted on Sunday is interesting and helpful to those who don’t spend much time around radios other than, perhaps, their favorite music station. For those of us who have had a lifetime of radio listening and, in my case, work with public service units in times of disasters small and bigger, there are a few things I’d add. First is the scanner section of Ron’s information. My work desk has four scanners going at all hours that I am awake. Any one of them might flag something that is of interest or warrants tracking. Frequencies …


Five Letters Re: Long Term Situational Awareness Can Give You The Edge

Jim: I am horrified by Saturday’s posting by Todd. Okay, if we ever get to a position like in The Road, with the huge majority of mankind dead and civilization totally disintegrated, that is another topic. Really, what are the chances of that happening? Extremely slim. What makes Todd S. think he so God Almighty special that his own personal survival makes it okay to loot, steal, trespass, and pillage? Instead of striving to rise to the occasion, to be a better man and set an example of, not our baser selves, but the free will, thinking, compassionate humans we …


Two Letters Re: Long Term Situational Awareness Can Give You The Edge

Mr. Editor: Since stumbling across SurvivalBlog a few months ago, I’ve been amazed at the amount of valuable information contained here. This site has become a daily read for me, and I’ve learned much from the contributions here. That said, however, I did find some of what Todd S., the writer of “Long Term Situational Awareness Can Give You The Edge” to be both disturbing and impractical. First, the disturbing part. What the writer does not plainly state, but what is clearly implied, is that when he decides that when a particular societal situation arises, and he wants food, he …


Letter Re: Finding Community

Jim, A quick observation about a dog’s ability to judge character or to determine a person’s intentions: They can’t, they have no clue; they are terrible at it. What a dog can do, however, is study their master. Remember, we are their world and the object of their attention 24/7. Your dog knows your thoughts almost as fast as you think them. After all, they have nothing better to do but watch you. So if your dog doesn’t like someone new, they are picking up that vibe from you, and acting on it. Your dog doesn’t care about hurt feelings …


Letter Re: Honeybees for Retreat Defense

Dear Jim, I’m very sorry to hear about your recent loss! God Bless! Thank you for all the work you put into your survival blog to get the much needed word out! It is much appreciated! My wife and I live in the mountains of Western Oregon and the following is one of the defensive strategies we use that may be of interest to your readers. A good defense from mobs for a couple living alone is bee hives. A hive of bees tipped over will attack anything that moves within 50′ to 100′ of the hive day or night. …


Letter Re: Operational Security (OPSEC) 101

Jim, et al, Your reader was correct about what your garbage, mail, kids, etc. say about you as a preparer for when TSHTF. But keeping everything too close to the vest has negative consequences, too. So it’s very important to remain open and friendly. Not only is this the right thing to do morally, but it also offers a layer of “social protection” if needed. This is especially vital if you have no choice but to stay where you are in a compromised area. Some tips, if this is a struggle for you: First, don’t be a recluse. Everybody knows …


Letter Re: Operational Security (OPSEC) 101

Dear Mr. Rawles, The importance of operational security is well known by most of the readers of this site. It is, however, easy to assume that as long as one doesn’t blab it all to the neighbors one is doing just fine. This may not be the case. Security breaches come in more forms that loose lips. There are lots of little ways to betray what is going on behind the quiet facade of 101 Preparation Place. Do you realize what you throw away tells about what you have? An old lawnmower at the curb reveals my neighbor just purchased …


Letter Re: Terrain and Arboreal Camouflage for Retreats

Mr. Rawles, Well, we survived this latest storm but it gave me time to finish your novel “Patriots”. It was a very easy read and full of useful information. I know I have so much to learn. It really has helped me put things into perspective as far as priorities and what is or isn’t important in life. I can only think of two areas that were not covered well enough that I feel would help in this type of environment: The first area is the design and use of landscape and terrain to help conceal a retreat. The impression …


Letter Re: Neighborhood Panic Alarms, and Helping Your Neighbors With Home Security

James, I would like to send a quick note along to any of your readers who still live in suburbia. My wife told me about an email going around suggesting that you keep your spare car keys at your bed stand when you retire for the night. If something goes bump in the night you can use your panic button to set your car alarm off to do anything from deterring trespassers that you hear outside to alerting your neighbors that you have an intruder and are in dire need of help. I thought it through and decided to take …


Letter Re: Post-Collapse Charity OPSEC

James Wesley: A buddy of mine and I were talking about giving out food in a post-collapse world and it occurred to us what we give out could have an impact on your operational security (OPSEC). Unless you come upon the refugees in the middle of your garden, then they’ll probably think (unless you tell them or give them reason to believe otherwise) that you are in much the same situation that they are in. The type of food you give charitably could be a message in and of itself. Give them store-bought food standard-form (processed food that can be …