Notes for Sunday – April 10, 2016

10 April, 1796 is the birthday of James Jim Bowie, who died March 6, 1836 at the Battle of the Alamo.

o o o

Today, we present another entry for Round 64 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating an AquaBrick water filtration kit with a retail value of $250, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  3. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  4. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  5. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  8. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 LifeStraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 64 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Crises Preparation- Part 3, by B1

Without Electricity

If you have a portable generator and/or a whole house generator, that is great. However, how much fuel do you have to run it? Do you have enough set aside to last you several months? The less you run it, the longer it will last. You should only run it for the bare necessities. Do you honestly need lights? No. Invest in candles and lanterns. The generators should only be run at the bare minimum. They make noise and draw attention from criminals. They should only be run during the hours of less activity outside, so as not to draw too much attention. They will also need to be locked up or secured somewhere when not in use. Will your generator be big enough to run some source of electric heat? Again, we will be approaching winter time, so you will need heat. Do an inventory of things that require batteries and have extra batteries on hand for those items. Again without electricity, how will you cook and stay warm? Do you have a wood stove? The outside ones are great, but without electricity they may be useless. If you have a fireplace and wood stove in your house, that’s great. If you don’t, you may want to try and get them. Installing a wood stove is not that hard. However, it may be outside your budget. Also, with a wood heat source comes the need to have wood to burn. You would need to get busy cutting wood now and have enough on hand to last you for two winters. Keep in mind, if this is your only source of heat and cooking, it will require more wood because you are using it more. Charcoal or gas grills are good for cooking but not good for heating a house. Again, whatever you plan on using, you must have stockpiled enough fuel or wood to sustain it for a longer period of time. Imagine being without power all winter. I suggest planning everything for at least six months of preparation.

Water

Water is very important, obviously. What is your plan for water? You may not have running water in your house during a crisis, or it may be contaminated. Invest in water purification items. These can be found easily on the Internet. Research it and find what’s best for your household.

If you have no well or city water, I suggest stockpiling it. I don’t recommend bottled water, since it is not cost effective. Maybe some if you need to bug out, so get camping type containers that are large and can hold a lot. I don’t know what else to suggest. This will be the biggest struggle. Water is the life source. Think outside the box and look into things such as a rain water collection system and snow melted, using a ater purification system; this water is drinkable after being purified.

Food

You will have limited sources to cook the food and keep it refrigerated. Of course, in winter it could be kept outside. You will want canned food and dry packed food with a long shelf life. Rice is a good example since one cup of uncooked rice would feed a family for one meal. Look for foods that have a long shelf life that don’t require refrigeration or a lot of preparation to get them ready to eat. Look for foods that are healthy and full of the essential vitamins and nutrients you need. Look at the types of food you are getting. You don’t want something loaded with sugar or bad carbs. Corn is not good for you; it’s pure sugar. Ramen noodles, while inexpensive and easy to cook, offer no nutritional value. You could starve to death eating these alone. Keep in mind things like powdered milk and dehydrated foods. If you have very young children, do you have enough baby food for them? Look at the expiration dates on everything you buy. Obviously, you want the ones that will last longer.

Garden

It is late in the season to plant now, but will you have seeds for next year to plant? You could plant root crops now that will grow in to early winter. This might include turnips, potatoes, et cetera. Yes, potatoes are kind of boring, but they can be eaten raw and one plant produces many of them. You get several meals off of one plant. If you have a yard, plant something.

Chickens and Pets

Enjoy their eggs. Do I need to say more? This is another food source. If you have a rooster, then you will have more chickens eventually. Chicken eggs also do not have to be refrigerated. As long as they are not washed off, they can sit on your counter for weeks before going bad. If you’re stockpiling food for yourself, you will have to do the same for your pets, unless you don’t plan on them being on the dinner table. The same is true of your chickens, if you have any; they will need food during the winter. A friend of mine, Matt, shared with me information for feeding chickens in warmer weather. Get a bucket with a lid. Put several holes in it on the sides. Secure the bucket to a pole off the ground in your coop. Place all of your food scraps in it. This will attract flies and bugs. The larvae and bugs from this will fall to the ground for the chickens to feed on.

Hunt and Trap

Learn how to hunt and make traps to catch food, including squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, et cetera. Even a stray cat could become a meal for you. Tractor supply sells traps that are not hard to work or set up.

Do Your Bit

I understand a lot of this is easier said than done. Some of us live in urban areas where most of this is not possible. Furthermore, we all have different budgets and family needs. Some families or people would not be able to get prepared without help. You may have family and friends that will come to you for help. You might actually be someone that needs to go somewhere for help. If you plan on leaving your home and joining someone else in a crisis, be sure to sit down with them and plan it out before it happens. For example, I hope to have enough provision for my family. Will I have enough to take on another family in need? God willing, I will. Nevertheless, do not allow yourself to be a burden to someone. If there is a plan in place for you to join up with someone else, be an asset not a liability to them. Bottom line: Don’t go there to mooch or be a freeloader. Keep in mind that if you go somewhere else, you need to be prepared to submit to that family’s rules and requirements. Even if you plan on bugging to someone else’s house to get through the crisis, you can still contribute to the provisions and responsibilities. You can still stockpile and take it with you. Don’t show up at some one’s door empty handed, when you have had the means to get stuff. Everyone receiving this letter has been warned of what may come in a crisis. You know what you need to do.

Obviously there is no way I can possibly give advice for every possible scenario or crisis that could come. Remember that for the basics in a crisis, you need:

  • security (against criminals and the weather),
  • heat (in the winter),
  • food and water (and a way to prepare food), and
  • first aid.

This letter I am hoping will give you some idea where to start your planning and preparation. If you have further or more specific questions, contact me. I will do the best to answer them.

First Steps for Right Now

Spiritual Preparation

If Christ is not your Lord and Savior, you will fail in the long run. Many Christians are hoping the rapture will occur before any bad crisis. I am one of them. However, the reality is that it may not happen for several more years. It is better to be prepared then not be prepared. One fear you may want to consider in a crisis of this magnitude: This could and most likely would usher in the one world currency. Whether you know it or not, there are many countries now planning for a one world currency that would make the American currency obsolete. Basically, this could usher in the beginning of the End Times from Revelation. Being spiritually prepared should be your priority right now.

Mental Preparation

A crisis will be dramatically tough on every one. You must accept the fact that something is most likely going to happen, and life as we know it now will change. This goes along with being emotionally prepared. If things get as bad as it has been predicted, this crisis will knock us off our feet.

Physical Preparedness

This is your plan, provisions, health, et cetera. Basically, this is everything I have touched on in this letter.

Remember Who You Should Fear- Part 1, by Sarah Latimer

Not long ago I attended a large, women’s conference for Bible believers with a diverse set of denominational, cultural, and social backgrounds. There, I heard a consistent undercurrent from the attendees as they spoke among themselves on end times, evil, uncertainty, failing economics, Islam, terrorism, failing education, and especially on politics. I’d identify their general focus by summing it up in a word– fear. Little was said about faith, hope, and confidence, though God was mentioned from time to time in the conversations I overheard. There was less joy apparent among believers in attendance than I can recall from any gathering of women, ever, though they were nice and happy to see one another. Still, the mood was somber, once greetings ended and discussions began before and between our training sessions. Though the speakers were primarily Bible scholars, the questions were rarely about the Bible and not even most often about the speaker’s topic; instead, they were more often about politics, political candidates, how the speaker thought the U.S. got into our current circumstances, and what the speaker thought was going to happen and how to get through the coming hardships. Time and time again, I heard speakers tell the group to look to God, obey what He says, and remember that all through the Bible that God’s people are told to not fear but to have peace, even in the Book of Revelation. They did speak of the evils going on in the world and that we needed to be aware and take some specific actions, but they told us to be bold and confident. That didn’t seem to satisfy some of these ladies though, who seemed insistent on clinging to their fear and frenzy. We are repeatedly told in scripture to only fear God, yet some of the ladies were not willing to receive this message.

The following has been on my heart a long while and is one of the reasons I choose to write on SurvivalBlog and that is to convey to the women a core message that I will touch on in this article dealing with fear. Fear is not just an issue that these women at this particular conference are fixated upon. I see it among some of my friends, too. Whether they are talking about it or not, some are making decisions and taking action that are based upon an unhealthy fear– fear of loneliness, fear of poverty, fear of illness, fear of being a victim, and fear of being targeted by someone or some entity in authority who opposes them, or some other fear. These examples of things to fear are nothing to laugh at, mind you. They are real concerns, which we need to address and consider. We should be motivated to prepare for what might (or will) come at some point, but to live in a state of fear is not only unhealthy, emotionally and, thus, physically, it is also unproductive and unfaithful. Fear blinds us and causes us to have tunnel vision upon what we fear. Sometimes, this fixation can cause us to bring to fruition what we fear. For example, a woman who is so afraid of her husband or boyfriend cheating on her may become paranoid and overbearing and controlling to the point that her husband and boyfriend don’t want to be with her, therefore, making it much easier for another woman to step in to the position that should be hers. Of course, a husband is responsible to guard against this, but a wife must keep her fears in check, and this is simply one example of how destructive an ungodly fear and unreasonable tunnel vision fixation can be. In an attack situation, we very well may need to have the ability to intently focus on the attacker with little regard for extraneous matters, such as a thorn in our foot. However, in normal everyday life, we need to be aware of everything around us and keep perspective. We need to recognize that thorn in our foot and remove it so that it doesn’t become infected and become the reason we lose the health we so desperately are trying to hold onto. Having an awareness of the peripheral view is important. Even more important than have an awareness of what’s on the horizon around us is having an awareness of the vertical– the Creator of all things and walking close in connected relationship to Him Who sees everything and knows the way for our escape from whatever comes. There are always three options for the believer– supernatural intervention, overcoming the opposition, and being a faithful martyr. Regardless of what option occurs, we win in the end. We do not desire to be a martyr, but if God allows it to be our time and the circumstances are such, we will go to be with Him. Otherwise, we will continue to “run the race” and “fight the good fight” of the purpose and life set before us.

Store up your beans, bandaids, bullets, and Bibles, and “work as unto the Lord” in all thing, but keep your primary focus on the Commander of the World– God– and secondarily work to be a good supporter of the leader of your household. Build him up, because you will need a bold and confident leader to face peril, if it should come against you and your children and grandchildren. You two need to be united and of one accord, as best as you can do to make it so. Forgive me if I’ve shared this before, but Hugh heard this saying and has picked it up saying, he’ll “charge hell with a bucket of water, if (I) am backing him up.” Does your husband know you’ve got his back like that?

Ladies, whether you are married or single, you can have at least one mighty protector at all times. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and His Son who came as the Word to give us abundant life and forgive our sins that we might have peace, not just in Heaven after we’re dead but right now! The Bible is full of messages from God saying “Fear not”. For those fearing illness and death, in Luke 5:49-56, Jesus said, “Fear not” when he brought the girl to life. The Angel of God often said, “Fear not” when speaking to people. He didn’t just tell us not to fear, but Jesus said in John 16:32-33 “…I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

When David went to the battle between the Israelites and the Philistines to check on his brothers and found the soldiers basically paralyzed in fear over the challenge for someone to fight the mighty Goliath, he (even as a boy) didn’t understand their fear. He had believed the promises of God that his father had taught him and had fought off the animals that attacked his sheep while he shepherded them. So as he stood looking at Goliath, who was mocking God and the Israelites, David chose to boldly go and fight off Goliath without armor and with a mere slingshot and some stones, because he believed. Now, I am quite sure that this shepherd boy had practiced using his slingshot before engaging Goliath. So, we should be in prayer and listening to God, but we should also be practicing using our weapons of defense– guns, rifles, slingshots, crossbows, pepper gel or spray, or whatever– so that when we hear that voice inside tell us that we need to pick up our arms and defend our lives and those of our children, families, and friends or those who cannot, we are prepared to do it. (I’ll have more to write about this topic in my next article.)

God is speaking to us, just like our earthly father speaks to his child, giving warning when he is heading in the wrong direction or a danger is coming as well as encouragement when an opportunity for something good is presented. God’s character doesn’t change with time. I can give testimony after testimony of having personal messages from God, and it is when I draw near to Him in prayer, humility, and obedient living that I can best hear His instruction, whether that is to avoid danger or to receive a blessing.

It is natural for women to want security. It is just a core of who we are. We desire a comfortable and stable home and family. Sure, you may also be like me and love adventure and hate monotonous routine, but we still want stability in our relationships and security that our basic needs will be met. How much more secure can you be than to rest in the loving hands of the One who created the cosmos with the mere power and force of His Word? If we want to align with the most powerful, protective, loving force in the cosmos, we need to submit our lives to God by accepting and following His Son– His Word, who became flesh and died for us and was resurrected on the third day and ascended unto the Father and rules at His right hand, and who will be returning as the Lion of Judah to judge the world and claim those who belong to Him (by their choice and actions) to take them into His Kingdom for all eternity. Now, this is a very simplistic and summarized version of The Gospel, but it is enough to get started. You can ask for forgiveness, repent and turn away from your sinful actions, submit to following Him and learn to live life according to His ways and then walk through this life with the mightiest King of kings and experience great peace in Him. However, HE must be your first priority and the focus of your attention more than anything else in the world, as other things that cause fear will zap your strength and draw you away from Him and the special purpose He has planned for you. This is illustrated by my experience at the conference where some of the women were not as interested in what the speakers were teaching about God as how their knowledge of prophecy might fit into what the ladies were focused on– politics, economic crisis, et cetera. It was clear that politics and economics were more important to some of the women than the very relevant subject of God that the speaker was teaching about. The urgent tone in their voices indicated their emotional anxiety over the things of this world, but Paul tells us very plainly in Ephesians chapters 5 and 6 that:

  • We are to conduct ourselves in a holy manner even though “the days are evil”,
  • We are to submit one to another in the authority God gave (and I am expanding to include instruction from scripture beyond Ephesians below but following its format in identifying authority):
    • God is the head of all,
    • husbands are instructed to give themselves up to their very lives for their wives, and I believe, after doing study in seminary and some study in languages that this means a daily sacrifice of “self” for the well-being of their wife and family, and they are held to the highest accountability to God for the direction and provision of their family,
    • wives are to submit to our husbands who are put in authority as the final headship of the home, praying for them and giving wise counsel but allowing their husband to be the leader and accountable more to God for the family than the wife/mother; we are to build them up with our words and deeds and not tear them down,
    • children are to obey and honor their parents, with adult children continuing to give honor to parents for a lifetime, as it is commanded in the Ten Commandments.
  • We are to stand strong, as Ephesians 6:10-13 states:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

So, women, trust God and also trust the protection and guidance of the godly husband with whom you have entered into covenant. Your husband, if a believer, is being spoken to by God’s Spirit to guide your family. I am sure there are some who may have a fit over hearing this. You may think I’m some backwards woman, but let me assure you that I am not. My background is as a former executive. I have worked in high technology, a man’s world when I first began, and I am no wall flower. However, I have also worked in a company beneath co-CEOs, which was a failing proposition. In any competitive action, there must be a leader who will be followed. A lack of clear, consistent direction and ultimate authority and responsibility in the form of hierarchy is a formula for failure. So, if you are trying to fill your husband’s shoes, you are setting up your family for something less than what is optimum and God’s plan. Women are equal in value, and that is clear all throughout the Bible. Even back in the Old Testament, Rebekah had a say and was the one prompting to leave to go meet Isaac her future husband. She embraced the idea and encouraged her family to accept it, because God had prepared her for this. She was a strong woman and respected. We do not adequately study the strong women of the Bible who supported their husbands. It was when they overstepped their boundaries that they caused problems, such as Sarah pushing Abraham to receive her gift of Hagar to make a child since Sarah had given up hope that she would be able. What a mess this caused! I won’t go into that in this article, but remember that there must be a leader and God says it is the husband. You, wives, are vitally important though, as your husband is declared by God to not be whole without you. Pray for your husband rather than nag and encourage him and build him up; then rest in confidence in him and also in the Lord that there is a plan for you.

Work hard at whatever directions you are given also. We are in a time of testing, I believe. If we call ourselves followers of Jesus or Christians, we must trust Jesus. By this I don’t just mean trusting Jesus with your lips but with your life, trusting in His Words and those of His Father, for they are one and in full agreement. The complete Bible is filled with accounts of God’s deliverance of repentant people whose eyes and ears were focused on Him and trusted Him, and I mean really trusting Him, as His people believing in His promises of blessings (rewards) and curses (discipline) enough to act upon them and listen carefully.

Letter: Copper 1-Ounce .999 Fine Rounds

JWR,

One of the catalogs that I receive has been listing .999 copper rounds (1 1/2″ dia) for sale. All have designs cast into them, with some borrowing classic currency designs like the Morgan and Walking Liberty dollars, and others are more commemorative or political in nature. Are these worth purchasing as a medium of exchange along with the more widely known and accepted silver dollars and rounds? – T.S.G.

JWR Replies: In my estimation those are just a sort of lame collector’s coin, with only marginal resale value. You would be paying up to 10 times the spot value of copper (per ounce), when you buy those. So any resale would be at a sharp loss. You are much better off buying 50-cent rolls of mixed date pre-1981 pure copper pennies, for just a small fraction over their face value. And an even better option right now is to get rolls or full boxes of U.S. Nickels (five cent pieces) at face value from your local bank, with no premium whatsoever. All Nickels minted since 1946 are 25% nickel and 75% copper. And while their base metal value does not quite match their face value, it is again approaching 5 cents. Before the 2015 global commodities crash, Nickels were worth about 8 cents each. I predict that their base metal value will be back up above their face value again soon, so stock up!.

Economics and Investing:

It’s the end of cash and all your purchases will now be tracked and stored. Fingerprints to be tested as ‘currency’ – DMS

o o o

James Rickards-Gold $10,000 to $50,000 per Ounce – G.G.

o o o

Items from Professor Preponomics:

US News

US Factory Data Signals Further Slowdown in Economic Growth (Reuters) Excerpt: “The Commerce Department said on Monday new orders for manufactured goods declined 1.7 percent as demand fell broadly, reversing January’s downwardly revised 1.2 percent increase. Orders have declined in 14 of the last 19 months. They were previously reported to have increased 1.6 percent in January.”

Golden State Pension Deficit: $1.2 Trillion (The American Interest) Excerpt: “It’s common for reports on states’ pension deficits to throw around figures in the hundreds of millions, the billions, or even the tens of billions. But according to a new estimate of California’s pension hole from the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, it’s time to bring out the t-word.”

International News

Lagarrde See Political Dangers Galore with Global Economy Tepid (Bloomberg) Excerpt: “The world outlook is clouded by “weak growth, no new jobs, no high inflation, still high debt – all those things that should be low and that are high….”

OECD Economist: Weak Global Growth May Prevent Governments from Being Able to Pay Pensions (US News & World Report) Excerpt: “…to jump-start growth, countries need continued stimulus from central banks, government spending and tax policies that encourage expansion and economic reforms, such as making regulations more consistent from country to country.”

Greece Challenges IMF Over “Debt Transcript Leak” (BBC News) Excerpt: “A transcript, published by Wikileaks, shows the officials discussing ways of putting pressure on Greece, Germany and the EU to get them to wrap up talks. One of those quoted suggests a crisis “event” may be needed to force a conclusion.”

Personal Economics and Household Finance

5 Big Mistakes to Avoid When You Start Saving Money (Clark Howard) Excerpt: “While the concept might mean different things to different people, it’s really about having control over your own life and your own decisions.”

o o o

SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Venezuela Burning “Venezuela is immolating itself, right now– hyperinflation is rampant, shortages of food and every other necessity are now a normal and ongoing conditions, violent crime is everywhere, kidnapping for profit is skyrocketing, and there are more murders per-capita per-month in Caracas than anywhere else in the world.” – JFJ

o o o

DSV sent in this link to 10 Thrifty Garden Hacks to Save Cash and Make Life Easier

o o o

CIA’s Venture Capital Arm Is Funding Skin Care Products That Collect DNA – Beauty Secrets of the Spies – Sent in by P.M.

o o o

Harry Reid attacks Bundys on Senate floor, calls for Gold Butte protection – B.B.

o o o

How Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen has made al Qaeda stronger – and richer

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” – Matthew 8:2-3 (KJV)

Notes for Saturday – April 09, 2016

Today, we present another entry for Round 64 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating an AquaBrick water filtration kit with a retail value of $250, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  3. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  4. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  5. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  8. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 LifeStraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 64 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Crises Preparation- Part 2, by B1

1

Home Security

Your home should appear shabby, as if you are poor or struggling. (Think of a “redneck trailer park”; no offense is intended.) People living in urban areas will be at a much higher risk for criminal activity. If you look organized and secure, you will be a target for theft, looting, et cetera.

You don’t want to directly or indirectly advertise your stockpile or your plan to anyone outside your trusted circle. When you’re doing your shopping for supplies, do it at night. Neighbors see more than you think. When you store (hide) your stockpile, do it in a place other than the “obvious” places. Store in places like the crawl space under the house, in your washer and dryer (with no electricity, you won’t be using these), and attic. Just use your imagination on this. When robbers come, they will look in obvious places like the basement, safe room, cabinets, et cetera. In a functioning society, 90% of all B&E’s robberies are done by someone who knows you or knows of you. The less you tell and show people, the more secure you and your supplies will be.

Weapons

People have asked me about guns for home protection. In my opinion, a 12-gauge pump shotgun is your best choice for an all-around (hunting, survival, and home defense) gun. There are a few rules to remember about a gun. Do not pull it, unless you plan on using it. Once you have raised that gun, you have just escalated the situation to a point that cannot easily be defused. Be prepared to shoot if you pull out your weapon. Unlike in the movies, walls, doors, and even car doors will not stop a bullet. If you shoot at a target in your house, think about who is on the other side of the wall behind that target. Chances are that the bullet will pass through the target and wall and hit the person in the other room. Know your target and what is beyond it. The bullet will most likely not stop at your target. If you decide you need a firearm, now is the time to decide what type you need and how much ammo you need to stockpile. This depends on what you predict your needs to be and what the gun will be used for. For a shotgun, you have a wide selection of shells to choose from. (Shotguns use shells not bullets.) Know your firearms and their capabilities. The same goes for pistols, rifles and shotguns. Each have their peculiarities and limitations. Whatever you decide, you need to know the weapon intimately and what ammunition is best for your needs. Ammo sells quickly. If something happens, it will be hard to get what you need. Now is the time to have it, before you need it.

Archery is another weapon option. Unlike bullets, arrows are reusable and do not draw attention when shot, because they are quiet. If you have a bow or crossbow, be sure to use the proper length arrows to match your bow’s draw length so that you don’t harm yourself. Unlike in the movies, most crossbows and compound bows cannot shoot a wooden arrow. The sling bow (a sling shot that shoots arrows) is perfect for small game and can even be pressed into home defense, if needed. The sling bow requires little skill to shoot and one can learn to shoot them accurately pretty quick with practice. They are also inexpensive, at about $25 at Sportmansguide.com. They can shoot any arrow that is to your draw length.

Outside Perimeter

Look normal or even cluttered and chaotic. Tall walls, fences, and barb wire around a house is an invitation to a criminal. It is obvious you are protecting something– something these criminals think they want or need. Instead, plant thorn bushes, rows on rows of roses, holly, raspberries, or other type of thorn bushes. Even boards with nails through them, buried just under the service of the ground where the nails are protruding and cannot be easily seen, give a solid surface for the nails to stick in someone’s foot. Locks only keep honest people honest. Have wood or other items for barricades on doors and windows. Again, a washer and dryer would make a good barricade behind a door at night. Board up your ground level windows, but do not completely cover them; you will need the daylight. If they are completely boarded, this provides another invitation to criminals. A few pieces of wood across the inside of the window will keep people from climbing in, and you can still open the window for air. Have heavy duty plastic on hand to cover windows that may get broken. Obviously, you will need a staple gun to hang the plastic. You will not want to leave your house any more than needed. The more you go in and out of your house, the more likely you will fall victim to a crime or lead criminals back to your home.

Interior Mobility and Security

Keep the inside of your home clutter free. Memorize where everything (furniture, food, flashlights, and so forth) is located. Practice moving through your house in pitch black conditions. You know your house better than any intruder and can use this to your advantage. Have plans in place for any possible situation you can think of, and make sure everyone knows their part of the plan. At all times there should be someone in your group awake 24/7 for security. This should be part of your plan.

Leadership

If you are faced by a group (gang) of people that mean to harm you, the leader of this group should be your first target. Have one leader in your group. This is not a dictatorship but a leadership. Pick your leader wisely, and remember just because someone has the ability to be a leader, that does not make them a leader. Being the “man of the house” or head of a household does not necessarily make you a leader. Being the most experienced does not make you the leader either. The most Godly person in your group should be the leader, bottom line. Truthfully, no mature or honest person ever seeks to be the leader. Only prideful people seek leadership, titles, et cetera becaise it gives them a sense of importance. True leaders get to that position because the group/team want them there. Among my family and friends, I feel I have the most experience for a crisis situation in survival and security. Does this make the good choice for leadership in a crisis? No. I have friends who are more Godly than me, and I will gladly submit to their leadership when the time comes. No matter how much training, experience, and knowledge I have for a crisis, I am nothing without God, and this goes for everyone out there. Being a leader is not about ability but about responsibility. Who do you trust to protect you and look out for your best interests? The members of the group need to follow the leader without hesitation or question. There must be loyalty and discipline. Otherwise, your group will fall apart. However, as I said at the beginning of this letter, our first and foremost preparation should be with Jesus.

First aid, Hygiene, Health

Obviously, medical help in a crisis situation will be limited or costly. Because of the social infrastructure breakdown, there will be more diseases and germs. Things to have on hand include bandages, quickclot (for serious injuries), splint material, suture kits for stitches, first aid cream, bee sting kits, basic medicines (pain killers, Tylenol, allergy, and cold meds), diarrhea meds (which will happen and can dehydrate a person). Think of the accidents, emergency room, and doctor visits you have made in the past year in a normal life. This could triple in a crisis situation. Everyone’s needs will be different, based on your family’s needs.

Women’s feminine needs are something else to consider for you guys who have a woman (or women) in the house. A crisis is stressful enough, so do not forget their needs during your preparation. Cleanliness is far more important to a woman than to a man. Keep your woman happy and comfortable; a happy wife is a happy life! Even if it means stocking up on razors and shaving gel so your wife can shave her legs, if it makes her feel more comfortable and clean, then buy that stuff.

I have acid reflux. Yes, I will have meds for that on hand. If you or family members are on a prescription med, what will you do? Most of these are filled 30-90 days. Is there an alternative you could take or can you get extra now, just in case? Could you do without it? Do you have addictions to drugs (nonprescription, tobacco, et cetera)? Will this be stockpiled? Is buying this more important than buying food that will keep you alive? This might be a good time to consider quitting. Oh, my. Those who know me, know I use snuff. “Wow!” is all I can think of right now to say. However, do I want to be going through withdrawal when my family is depending on me to keep them safe? No!

Take first aid classes or buy a first aid book to have on hand if you have no first aid skills. We all know how to put a bandaid on and apply first aid cream to a boo boo, but how many of us can treat a sucking chest wound (hole in the chest), a broken bone (resetting the bone), or other traumatic injuries. Keep in mind that infection will be your biggest risk at this time.

Get in shape by starting to exercise and eat healthy. Multivitamins would be helpful to keep you healthy. Build your immune system. The saying “only the strong will survive” is very true. The healthier you are, the better chance you will have at survival.

Have bleach and/or anti-bacteria soap on hand. Hand wipes are good to have. Without hot water (remember, there’s no electricity), it will be hard to sanitize things. Sanitation will be a big issue. A small amount of bleach in a bucket of water will kill all the germs and make the water safe for cleaning dishes et cetera. Also, think where would you use the bathroom. The toilet will not work if you have no water. If you live in the country and are on septic, you could build an outhouse directly over the lid to the septic tank. Note: unwaxed dental floss, which is awesome stuff, is used many times in the military. This stuff is super strong and great for making snares/traps to catch food and stitching clothing and even a person, if needed. This stuff is good to have on hand.

It would also be wise to do any doctor appointments now before the DL. Get a physical, dental work, eye exam, and glasses/contacts, et cetera. This could help you prevent unplanned medical issues six months from now. This may not be a good time to get pregnant. If you are sexually active and still at childbearing age, be thinking of what measures you are willing to take to prevent a pregnancy.

Another health concern, though not urgent, is your diet. Our bodies are accustomed to eating a certain way and preparing our foods a certain way now. However, when you have a dramatic change to your diet, it will upset your digestive system. Even the portions we eat now are more than we need to sustain us for a day. Start a diet now by slowly reducing the amount you eat at a time and the types of foods you eat. Start eating foods that you may not have access to during a crisis but things you would have in a stockpile. When I went overseas with the military, the first thing we would do upon coming home was hit a buffet. I would be sick for days, because my body was not used to this kind of food. The same thing would happen when people would send me treats while I was overseas. I would eat them and be sick.

Letter Re: A Real Neat Prepper Trick

Hugh,

My wife and I have been looking at ranch style houses right now, mostly to see the floor plans and what works and doesn’t. We came across one where the previous owner got an old slide top bar cooler. He removed the cooling system and put a system of copper tubing inside of it and then connected it to the water inlet to his home. Whenever a water spigot, shower, dishwasher were used in the house the water first flowed through the pipes in the old cooler. He used it to store his vegetables that he grew in the greenhouse. Here, in Alaska, most water from the tap is around 47 degrees or cooler. You could do this to an upright or chest freezer. – oldalaskan

Economics and Investing:

Big Trouble Ahead For Copper Is Good For Silver

o o o

The Boomer Retirement Meme Is A Big Lie – Sent in by B.B.

o o o

Items from Professor Preponomics:

US News

Charting the Automation Potential of US Jobs (Visual Capitalist) Excerpt: “In last week’s Chart of the Week, we noted that 1.3 million industrial robots would be installed between 2015 and 2018, and this would more than double the stock of active robots around the world.”

Automation is Killing these Jobs (Fox News Business) Excerpt: “We all love technology. In most cases, it helps make life easier but it also comes at a price.”

The Age of Autonomous Robots is Upon Us (Fortune) Excerpt: “Why now? The reason is simple: timing. Advancements in the robotics industry that have been building for decades are converging.”

International News

Panama Papers: Mossack Fonseca Leak Reveals Elite’s Tax Havens (BBC News) Excerpt: “Eleven million documents held by the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca have been passed to German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, which then shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.” The Guardian is also following this developing story… The Panama Papers: How the World’s Rich and Famous Hide Their Money Offshore as is Reuters… World Leaders Deny Wrongdoing as “Panama Papers” Reveal Offshore Wealth

Vladimir Putin, His Close Friends, and the $2bn in Offshore Tax Havens (The Telegraph) Excerpt: “A St Petersburg concert cellist has been revealed as the lynchpin in an elaborate financial empire that manages billions of dollars apparently connected to Vladimir Putin….”

Self-Driving Cars to Hospital Robots: Automation Will Change Life and Work (The Guardian) Excerpt: “From automated manufacturing to software that does complex legal work, business is adapting to the robot economy.”

IMF Officials Struggling to EU Nations Over Greece Debt Relief (Market Watch) Excerpt: “Look, you Mrs. Merkel you face a question, you have to think about what is more costly: to go ahead without the IMF…or to pick the debt relief that we think that Greece needs in order to keep us on board,” Mr. Thomsen tells his colleagues, according to the WikiLeaks transcript.” …and the denial of the report follows with this from Reuters: IMF Denies Threat to Pull Out of Greek Bailout

Personal Economics and Household Finance

65 Tips to Save Money through Self-Reliance(Mother Earth News) Excerpt: “Frankly, our consumer culture pressures many of us to live above our means. The good news is that making a personal and household commitment to a more frugal lifestyle can be a fulfilling, healthy choice — and the following tips to save money can start you on that journey.” Note: This is an older article but filled with great ideas!

o o o

SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.

Odds ‘n Sods:

The nanny state strikes again: Education Texas School Bans Parents From Walking Children Onto and From School Property — and Principal Is ‘Threatening to Arrest’ Those Who Try – D.S.

o o o

While we are on the subject of Marxist Indoctrination/Re-education Facilities public schools: 10 Ridiculous Instances Of Zero Tolerance In Schools – Sent in by DSV.

o o o

If you travel by air, you may want to think twice about using these airports. Did you know that 297 U.S. airports do NOT screen employees before work on a daily basis…not even Muslim employees. Of course, I’m finding it difficult to come up with even a single case where the TSA has actually stopped a terrorist action. – B.B.

o o o

Rent To Criminals — Or Else. The wording of the documents leaves much as vague and while it makes some exceptions, it is difficult to know for sure what they are. Do you really have to rent to the convicted child molester? – B.B.

o o o

The assault on the first amendment: Federal Judge Goes after Shauna Cox’s Rights of Free Speech: Warns Her not to Speak Publicly about Oregon Standoff – RBS

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” – 2 Kings 5:11-14 (KJV)

Notes for Friday – April 08, 2016

April 8th is the birthday of the late Ian Smith, Prime Minister of Rhodesia (born, 1919, died November 20, 2007).

o o o

Reader DSV sent in this fantastic news: BREAKING: Mississippi To Join “Constitutional Carry” Wave

o o o

Today, we present another entry for Round 64 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating an AquaBrick water filtration kit with a retail value of $250, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  3. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  4. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  5. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  8. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 LifeStraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 64 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Crises Preparation- Part 1, by B1

Editors Note: B1 has generously submitted a letter that he sent to his family and loved ones with suggestions for the coming crises.

It is impossible to fully plan for the unknown. There is so much information to cover and so many variables and possibilities, that there is no way I can cover them all. For this same reason, this letter may also jump around a bit. Upon many requests and questions I have received over the past several years, and more so in the past couple months, I am writing this letter for your reference. I hope this will help you organize and plan what you need to do for yourself and your family to be prepared in a crisis.

Personally, I believe something bad is coming to America and that it will devastate the way we are accustomed to living. My belief is based on Biblical knowledge and study, as well as worldly knowledge, study, and research. I believe it will be a total economic crash, and I believe it can happen as early as the middle of September 2015. I know there are many who do not believe this way, and that is fine. Even if it does not happen and life goes on as usual, does it hurt to be ready for an emergency crisis? Disasters come in many forms– natural (tornadoes, floods, hurricanes), terrorism, and economics.

There is no way I can go into step-by-step detail as to what you should do to be prepared. Everyone has individual needs, budgets, et cetera. This letter will hopefully be enough information for you to develop your own plan. I will base everything off the worst case scenario I can think of, so you can be better prepared for a smaller crisis.

The Priority

First, and of utmost importance, to survive any crisis you need God. If you are not a Christian and do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, all your preparation will be like the man who built his house on the sand; it will not last, and you will have a very hard time surviving the crisis, not to mention hell and damnation, which would be a lot worse than any crisis you face on earth. If, as a Christian, you are not prepared, your struggles will hinder your ability to minister and help others. I have Christian friends who choose to believe God will provide for their needs and have chosen not to prepare. My response to them is: “There is no doubt in my mind that God will provide for our needs. However, we should remember that God did not build the ark for Noah. Instead, He provided the tools and trees and means for Noah to build the ark.”

I was reminded of a joke my brother-in-law, Mark, told me a few days ago. A man was on his house roof in a flooded area; the flood waters were rising. A rescue boat came by, and someone on the boat asked him to jump in because they were there to evacuate him. The man stated, “God will take care of me, and I am staying put waiting on Him.” A few hours later, a second boat came by to rescue him. However, the man’s answer was the same. The flood waters continued to rise. When the waters were touching the man’s feet as he sat on the peak of the roof, a helicopter came by and offered to save the man. Again, he declined their help and claimed God would save him. When the flood waters rose so high the man began to drown, he cried out to God and asked, “Where were you when I needed you?” God replied “I sent two boats and a helicopter to save you. Why didn’t you accept my help?”

For many of you, this letter may be God’s way of providing you with help and provision. If you are not a Christian, this would be a good time for you to evaluate your life and make a decision for Christ. I urge you to repent of your sins and let Christ into your heart and life now. Let Him become your Lord. Either way, I urge you to share this letter and message with your family and friends before it is too late.

You are probably wondering what kind of crisis we are facing and how bad can it get? The worst case scenario is a total economic crash in which the American currency no longer exists. Close your eyes and imagine what this means. Envision, in your mind, the total collapse of everything we know. Banks close without warning; ATM’s and credit cards will no longer work, and all the money in your account is gone. America’s infrastructure is gone. Imagine there is no fire and rescue, no police/law enforcement, no electricity, no water (even on a well, because there is no electricity to pump the water), no gas for heat, and no ability to go to the store to buy what we need. Think about how bad it was for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Now, imagine that same crisis on a national scale. There would be total chaos and lawlessness. Every home in America will be effected. America’s electric grid is based on 1980’s technology. Like most companies, it has been poorly maintained. Since the 80’s, America’s population has dramatically increased, and we require more electricity. If the grid fails, it would take a long time to repair it. If the economy crashes, there will be no money to pay our civil workers (police and fire departents) and no money to keep the utilities (natural gas, electricity, even gasoline) running. We will be faced with hyperinflation, and the only money available is what we have on our person. Without power and without any social structure, crime would increase to 100% over night. If this happens in September, we would be facing the winter season without heat. A crisis like this could last months, even years. Are you prepared?

Why would a national crisis be so bad right now? Americans have become spoiled and dependent on our government to provide us with what we need. For reasons I previously stated, this could be worse than the Great Depression. I say this, because back then people were still somewhat self-reliant. They could grow gardens, live off the land, and live simple lives. The Amish are the best modern example I can think of as to how we need to become in order to survive.

So, now that we know the worst case scenario, let’s work on some kind of plan for our families and friends. You need to have as much cash on hand as you can afford, in small bills for easy trading. Money will work for a short time during an economic crash, because a great number of Americans believe our government will fix everything and provide us with what we need. Keep in mind, the government does not care about you as an individual. At this very moment they are stockpiling emergency food supplies, body bags, ammunition, guns, et cetera. Why would the government start stockpiling these items in such large quantities? Because they know something bad is coming. All the information about the government mentioned in this letter can be found on the Internet. Eventually your money will be worthless, and that is why stockpiling some items is necessary.

If something happens this fall, you will need to plan for a winter survival. I suggest at least si months’ worth of supplies for you and your immediate (or even extended) household. You should sit down with your family to discuss the possible crisis and decide what everyone’s responsibility will be. There will be no room for moochers or freeloaders, and they will come. As a reference point, I will use September 13th as the deadline for your preparations to be completed. I am not saying anything will happen on this date. However, in order to make an effective plan you need a deadline to work from.

From this point in the letter, all preparation plans are based on the DL (deadline). This may require a great deal of sacrifice on your budget and life. Best case scenario: If nothing happens, whatever you have bought or prepared for now will be less that you have to spend at the store later. You will be prepared for any other possible crisis, and you will have a peace of mind that you and your family are safe.

Vehicles

Your vehicles need to be up to date on service, including oil, tune up, brakes, tires, et cetera. From this point forward, you should not let your gas tank get below half full. You may also want to have gasoline on hand in containers that would be easily portable in case you needed to leave. Non-ethanol gas has a longer shelf life than the regular gas you purchase, and it is good for containers. Put some form of fuel stabilizer in it to keep it fresh longer. (Yes, gas can go bad.) Keep the necessary tools on hand to fix things on your car and maybe even a repair manual for if something does go bad on your vehicle. When you park your vehicle, make it inoperable so it can’t be stolen. A simple kill switch hidden in the dash connected to the starter will do this. If someone other than you or a family member tries to take the vehicle, it won’t start and they won’t know to look for a kill switch. Keep your vehicle parked close to the house for security and a quick getaway if needed.