Notes for Sunday – February 08, 2015

On February 8th, 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated. For 100 years, the BSA stood as a strong bulwark of conservative, libertarian, moral values. They successfully united boys from diverse backgrounds, different religions, and different ethnicities– uniting them based upon the principles required for a boy to become an upstanding man. The BSA was attacked from all sides for their righteous stance and even persevered and won their case (Boy Scouts v. Dale, 2000) in the Supreme Court. Sadly, they have in recent years caved from within. Their desire to fill the executive board with powerful industry executives, like Randall Stephenson (CEO of AT&T) and James Turley (CEO of Ernst & Young), have brought this once great institution to its knees, conceding the high ground on moral issues. Regardless, the first edition of the Boy Scouts handbook, 1911 is one of the prepper’s classic friends.

My Eagle Scout award still holds meaning to me, but its value is not because of what the BSA now represents; it holds value because of my hard work and what the institution once represented. – HJL

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Camping Survival is having a Mountain House Sale from February 8 to February 14th. It would be a good time to replinish your stock!

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Today, we present another entry for Round 57 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be 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,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less then 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),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 30 DPMS AR-15 .223/5.56 30 Round Gray Mil Spec w/ Magpul Follower Magazines (a value of $448) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a 340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. 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 FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Instituteis donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, 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,
  5. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate,
  9. Organized Prepper is providing a $500 gift certificate, and
  10. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. 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,
  3. *Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 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 57 ends on March 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.

What Can We Expect and Do Now To Prevent a Nuclear Power Plant Meltdown in an EMP Scenario, by B.Z.

I was prompted to write in response to the reader who commented on the recent article entitled “Six Common Misconceptions About EMP”, by G.P., which was published in December 2014.

The reader asked specifically: “Can we expect the 100+ nuclear power plants in the country to have meltdowns when the grid can no longer supply the power these plants need? In particular, what about the spent fuel pools?”

Let me first say that I personally have met the author of this article, and I can attest that he is one of the foremost experts on EMP in the world.

My own expertise comes from over 30 years in the commercial nuclear power industry, and it is with this background that I am responding to the reader’s comments regarding his question on the impact of EMP on nuclear power plants.

I wrote about the effects of EMP on nuclear power plants in an article that was published in SurvivalBlog in 2010. The industry was in general, quite frankly, clueless about EMP at that time. A lot has happened in the nuclear industry since the accident at Fukushima Dai-ichi in Japan in March 2011. This was a long-overdue wake-up call for the industry that “beyond design basis” accidents can and do happen and that normal events, such as tornadoes, flood, hurricanes, and earthquakes, may be more severe than what has been previously evaluated.

I can say with some certainty that, at this time, an EMP event (whether solar or man-made) specifically has not been evaluated, and nuclear power plants in the USA still do not have an EMP event as a planned initiating event. However, the events at Fukushima have prompted the industry to re-examine those events that could impact a given nuclear plant, depending on the region of the country that the power plant resides and the most likely limiting scenario for that specific plant, given the geography, geology, topography, and climate.

The industry has also created a program called FLEX, whereby there are now two warehouses of portable pumps, generators, and other equipment that can be transported by air or other means in short order (in 24 hours or less) to any nuclear power plant in the USA that experiences a beyond design basis event that challenges the already formidable onsite safety systems that are already in place. The nuclear industry has come together and has agreed on standard couplings and interfaces to enable these portable pumps, generators, and other equipment to be able to be used at any power plant in the USA. Essentially, they become “plug and play” devices that can supplement or even replace current onsite systems that may have failed or become inoperable due to some catastrophic event that impacted the nuclear power plant. You can read more about the FLEX program here: http://safetyfirst.nei.org/industry-actions/flex-the-industry-strategy-to-enhance-safety/

All of this is well and good. If a local or regional disaster happens, the nuclear industry now seems quite capable of responding in a timely and effective manner to reduce the impact of any localized event at a given nuclear power plant. However, they neglected to understand one key flaw in their premise; the usefulness of FLEX and other work that has been done anticipates that no more than a few power plants might be impacted by something like a large regional earthquake or other event. They did not understand (or maybe they did not want to admit), that it might be possible for ALL of the nuclear plants to be impacted at the same time. A national or continent-wide EMP event could cripple or disable all of the nuclear plants in the USA at the same time. There are not enough pumps, generators, and other equipment to assist ALL of the nuclear plants at the same time. Additionally, there is no provision for the possibility that the entire nation might be impacted by a loss of transportation or communication at the same time. Thus, all of that equipment, now sitting in the two warehouses in Phoenix and Chattanooga, may never get transported anywhere, if the trucks are not able to negotiate the roads and the planes or helicopters cannot fly due to the loss of the transportation infrastructure.

However, the industry has done more than just stage some portable equipment that may or may not ever be used. They have delved deeply in the design of the nuclear plants and have made some very good progress in developing other mitigating techniques that could be very helpful in the event of an EMP.

In addition to large emergency diesel generators, all nuclear plants in the USA have large banks of batteries as backup. Battery backups had been expected to last perhaps just a few hours, if the emergency diesel generators failed. Even with these batteries, there really is not sufficient power to operate large pumps, but vital instrumentation could be kept functional. However, careful examination and new procedures for load-shedding and operating just certain, basic, and key equipment have shown that it is possible for the plants to get by for more than 24 hours on batteries alone.

In addition, portable, onsite pumps and diesels can allow the spent fuel pools to be filled (and therefore cooled) without having the large, emergency diesels available, and plans are now in place to actually allow the spent fuel pools to boil and refill the pools as the water boils off. This means that given access to the available, onsite supply of diesel fuel and access to water, the spent fuel pools may be able to be refilled as needed and prevented from running dry for six months or possibly more. This is a huge development in combating the biggest concern about nuclear power plants and EMP– the possibility of boil off of the water in the spent fuel pools and the zirconium fuel rods catching fire.

The events at Fukushima were a blessing in disguise for anyone concerned about EMP in this country, because it made America’s nuclear plant designers and operators really think about the important vulnerabilities and weaknesses that could be compromised in the event of some very unlikely but very serious beyond design basis events, and it motivated them to come up with ways to mitigate these vulnerabilities. Thus, instead of maybe a week or so before something catastrophic happens at the nuclear plants after an EMP event, it may be several months before the situation deteriorates enough to be alarmed, provided that personnel stay in place at the power plants or relief shifts are available to act to maintain the reactors and prevent the spent fuel pools from boiling off. However, given that all of these power plant personnel have families who also need to be protected, I think that is still a concern.

A petition (PRM-50-96), which was sent to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) shortly after Fukushima and approved by the NRC but so far not yet acted on, may yet help us. The purpose of this petition was to require that all U.S. nuclear power plants have reliable emergency systems onsite that are capable to operate for a period of two years without human intervention and without off-site fuel resupply. This petition was unique in that it was actually accepted by the NRC, and the NRC agreed with the premise that solar storms could be a concern for nuclear power plants due to the loss of the power grid and the loss or interruption of other vital infrastructure. A summary of some of the key industry comments and NRC responses, as well as a summary of the petition can be examined online. http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=NRC-2011-0069-0109

I have extracted quotes from the Federal Register that may help to clarify the NRC’s stated position on this petition:

“… the NRC has concluded that the expected frequency of such storms is not remote compared to other hazards that the NRC requires NPPs licensees to consider.”

“The NRC believes that it is possible that a geomagnetic storm-induced outage could be long-lasting and could last long enough that the onsite supply of fuel for the emergency generators would be exhausted. “

“It is also possible that a widespread, prolonged grid outage could cause some disruption to society and to the Nation’s infrastructure such that normal commercial deliveries of diesel fuel could be disrupted. In such a situation, it would be prudent for licensees to have procedures in place to address long-term grid collapse scenarios.”

“Solar storms are not specifically identified as natural hazards in GDC 2 [General Design Criteria 2], but the information currently available to the NRC indicates that the frequency of these storms may be consistent with other natural hazards within the intended scope of the GDC.”

“Accordingly, it is appropriate for the NRC to consider regulatory actions that could be needed to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety during and after a severe geomagnetic storm.”

“Thus, the NRC concludes that the petitioner’s scenario is sufficiently credible to require consideration of emergency planning and response capabilities under such circumstances. Accordingly, the NRC intends to further evaluate the petitioner’s concerns in the NRC rulemaking process.”

They addressed the consequences of long-term loss of outside power only on spent fuel pools. However, in its ruling on PRM-50-96, the NRC decided on its own initiative to also evaluate the effect of long-term loss of outside power on safe shutdown and core cooling:

“Although outside the scope of this PRM, it should be noted that the NRC, as a part of its core mission to protect public health and safety, is updating its previous evaluation of the effects of geomagnetic storms on systems and components needed to ensure safe shutdown and core cooling at nuclear power reactors.”

So, in this case, some (non-elected) government officials got it right, but so far no real action has been taken. Therefore, I urge you to write to your senators and congressmen and ask them to contact the NRC to act on Petition PRM-50-96. It could save your life and the lives of your family by protecting the spent fuel pools at the nuclear power plants in the event of a nationwide EMP.

Letter Re: A Tactical Plan for Surviving Major Disaster in the North American Suburbs, by A.M.

While much of the information suggested is useful, I take strong exception to a few ideals that reared their ugly head. The idea of forcing a less prepared neighbor to take menial tasks and give up what they do have contradicts my sense of morals. If they want to join, offer them conditions under which they join, and upon fulfillment of this commitment they are equal partners. To basically treat them like servants is unacceptable. You cannot save everyone; you will have to make hard decisions. If you take someone into your group that does not contribute, that’s on you. If they have nothing to offer, why take them in? Offer them some charity, if you are able, and send them on their way.

The reference to “those who have the guns make the rules” and the author’s preference to this way of thinking makes me wonder about their own motivations. Add to this the idea of mandatory “pooling” of food and you have a situation very similar to what many fear will happen in FEMA or other government camps.

The worst yet is the references about raiding houses and specifically “engage in active warfare with other communities” in order to acquire more food. This is foolish, immoral, and you run the risk of raiding a neighboring community that isn’t going to tolerate it and they shoot your looting band of thieves. Stock your own pantry to provide for you and yours; do not covet thy neighbor’s anything, and remember that your “rule by the gun” only lasts until a better shooter comes along.

These are just my thoughts; take them for what you will. – D.H.

Hugh Responds: I think you have misunderstood some aspects of this article. The point of assigning “menial” tasks is to allow the person to have some “buy in” to the group. If they came in less prepared than others, they will be living off of the largess of the others. They should feel that they can pull their own weight and working off the lack of supplies is certainly viable and biblical. As the body of Christ, we contribute with different gifts that are all valued. As Americans, we should also know the history by which some of our ancestors made it to our shores– endentured servanthood. Promising to work in menial tasks for a period of time is not immoral, especially if it is a means for improving the liklihood you and your family have a future tomorrow and the next day. I don’t think the author was even suggesting something nearly as severe as endentured servanthood but merely that the more menial tasks would be initially handled by those who contributed fewer or less valued goods. It seems simple that you all must make contribution in various forms of labor and materials.

The author did not suggest that you should consider raiding other people or houses for food. In fact, Survivalblog takes a strong moral stance on that issue. The point being made was that there will be more competition for fewer resources and you may need to be prepared to defend whatever resource you have or are aquiring. While one should not seek out active warefare with another community, you certainly need to consider being able to deal with it, should it occur. If you have resources, someone will certainly want them and you may be required to defend them. I believe the author was saying that as you must venture further out away from your base to collect wild resources (game/fruit/greens/roots), you take greater risks (like ice fishing) and must be prepared to defend yourself and your resources as the resources become more scarce, in demand, and critical for survival. When you have other trees to pick, you may choose to turn around when you see others at your usual tree. If you spot a lone tree with fruit and your children haven’t eaten for weeks and are dying of starvation, you might risk a fight with others in these desperate circumstances.

While it may be initially offensive to “pool resources”, the effect of someone in your group eating well while someone else in the group is starving will certainly be bad. This is why you need to be careful about who you include in your group. Your group should consist of people with similar values, morals, and faith as you. As always, your morals and ethics should demand that the strong defend the weak. Again, the author was not writing about a mandatory neighborhood takeover but a plan that he had developed with other prepper neighbors. He had a plan, which is something most communities don’t have.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Planting season is nearly upon us. SurvivalBlog reader R.L. sent in this link to an article detailing over 230 Heriloom Seed Suppliers. You may want to print this article out for reference.

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As the argument for mandatory vaccines heats up, SurvivalBlog reader D.C. sends in this article from ZeroHedge on How Vaccine Hysteria Could Spark A Totalitarian Nightmare

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Why Experts Are Saying Your Personal Health Data Could Be at Risk – D.S.

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As if you needed another reason, here’s one more for leaving Connecticut: CT Senator Says Anyone Wanting A High-Capacity Magazine Is ‘Arming Against The Government’ – J.C.

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Improvised Weaponry. – H.L.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:1-4 (KJV)

Notes for Saturday – February 07, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 57 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be 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,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less then 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),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 30 DPMS AR-15 .223/5.56 30 Round Gray Mil Spec w/ Magpul Follower Magazines (a value of $448) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a 340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. 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 FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Instituteis donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, 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,
  5. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate,
  9. Organized Prepper is providing a $500 gift certificate, and
  10. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. 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,
  3. *Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 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 57 ends on March 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.

A Tactical Plan for Surviving Major Disaster in the North American Suburbs, by A.M. – Part 2

Water

Water is essential. In Minnesota, water is not an issue. After all, this is the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”. Every Minnesotan is within walking distance of a lake, pond, stream, or river– everyone.

In the spring and summer, we get adequate rainfall. In the winter, we are blanketed in snow and ice. As if that isn’t enough, most of our forests are deciduous, which means we can use plastic bags to collect respiration (water) from those leafy plants while the leaves are green. Before you all change your bug out plans to include “running to Minnesota”, remember that we have six months of solid, cold, hard winter.

This is a survival plan for northern climates, so chances are anyone in the north has a similar climate with rainfall you can collect and streams, lakes, rivers, or ponds you can filter and sterilize, snow and ice you can melt, and plants you can respire. If not, then you will want to look into building a solar still and storing large quantities of fresh water.

For your group, you will need a large amount of clean water for drinking, cleaning, and cooking.

You will need to scavenge materials to collect rainwater (barrels, buckets, bowls, coolers, tubs) and a means of making it potable.

Cloth and sand make good filters. Bleach is an excellent purifier, and if you have access to fire or the sun you can boil the water.

In preparation, I recommend you have at least some of the supplies you will need, locate a reliable water source in your district, and write down the instructions for purifying water, including how long to boil, how to build a still, how much bleach per gallon of water, and so forth.

Once you have your system in place for collecting, cleaning, and storing water, ration out the amount of water each person is allowed per day based on your supplies. If each person is allowed one gallon per day for cleaning and drinking, make sure that the rules are followed and the allotment is consistent. If the amount you have collected and rationed is not adequate, then work together to improve your water supply.

In the short term, remember that water heaters and toilet tanks are full of fresh water.

Food

Food is going to be challenging for suburbanites, if grocery stores are empty and the environment is hostile. Most people assume that they’ll “just go hunting” when food supplies run low. What if that’s everyone else’s plan too?

There are a very limited number of wild animals living in suburbia. You and your friends may have a rogue family of deer that visits your garden each year, but it’s more than likely the same deer that visit the entire county. Once they are hunted by a few families, that’s it. They are not going to swarm in from the countryside to fulfill your need to eat.

That being said, hunting will be necessary. You should start watching the animals in your zone to learn more about their habits. Do they travel a certain path each day? Do they sleep in the valleys or hide among the shrubs? How many do you see? What type of animals exist in your area?

Do you have the tools to trap or snare animals? Can you trap any animals alive and breed them, such as rabbits or turkeys, maybe? Does anyone happen to have a set of guinea pigs or hamsters? Is anyone willing to trade for a flock of chickens?

You will probably need to widen the foods you are willing to eat. Find out which insects are safe to eat and learn how to cook them. Learn how to cook mice and small birds. Figure out how to clean and prepare fish and game animals. Learn how to use the whole animal.

In the same vein, survey your area and find the best sources of calorie-dense wild herbs and vegetables. There aren’t many! Most wild foodstuff is very low in calories and fat– two essentials you will need, if you are going to survive.

Find and remember where the high calorie foods are. Remember where all the fruit and nut trees are located. Find the stands of edible roots and berries. Then figure out everything else that is edible. Having a variety of things to eat will help with vitamin deficiencies, provide bulk (to fill your belly), as well as offer additional flavors, and interest to rid the boredom of eating the same few foods.

Now that we’ve gotten the hunting and gathering out of the way, there is the issues of stored food and gardening.

Everyone has some food in their house. Some will have prepared for emergencies and have an adequate supply to feed their families for months. Some will have less than a day’s worth of food in their pantry.

When you are living together as a team, all of the food resources will need to be pooled. Everything that is stored, gathered, hunted, or grown will be used for the benefit of the group. Remember that from day zero going forward, everyone will be pulling their weight through routine chores and by using their unique skill sets. This is not about a redistribution of wealth, and if you want to keep all of your stockpile to yourself you are welcome to, but you can not be part of the team. What you give up in stored food, you will receive back in body heat, extra hands to gather food and water in the future, security, and a myriad of other skills. With everyone working, we are stronger together than apart.

Someone (or multiple someones) will need to take stock of all the foods that are procured and decide how best to allocate that food. If you are able to surmise that you have two months worth of food amongst the group and it’s just turned December, then you need to do the math and deal with the situation in front of you. In this case you have four months before anything can even begin to grow outdoors and your hunting and/or gathering from abandoned homes will be spotty at best.  So with two months of food and 4 months to survive before food stores can be replenished, you will need to mete out 1/2 of a person’s daily needs for the next four months.

What that means is that a grown man who needs 2000 calories a day will only have 1000. A woman that needs 1500, will get 750. It’s not great, but it’s fair. As more food becomes available, say a deer is caught or a full pantry is raided in a nearby community, then that item will be divvied up in addition to the usual ration.

Depending on how much food was in storage, everyone may be existing at starvation levels, eating well, or actually starving. If you find yourself in the starving camp, then you will have to take greater risks– travel farther outside your neighborhood, break the ice to get more fish, trade with other groups, or engage in active warfare with other communities. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

You can not count on someone knowing how to garden or having a collection of heirloom seeds, so make sure that person is you (or a member of your family).

You will want to build cold frames and greenhouses to extend the growing season as much as possible. Save the seeds each season, so you can build a bigger garden the next year, and you can also sprout seeds for protein and much-needed vitamins during the lean winter months.

You will want to garden on every piece of sunny land on the interior of your development. Gardening on the outskirts or near the entrances will draw hungry people looking for food and make security next to impossible.

Many people should work on improving the soil– tilling up lawns, adding organic matter to the ground, and transplanting as many wild and propagated plants as possible.

Solar dehydrators and smoke houses should be built to preserve the harvest. Root cellars should be dug to hold roots and fruit. In our climate, screened porches can be used as freezers and refrigerators for most of the winter, in order to preserve meats or food requiring refrigeration.

Those skilled in canning can preserve tomatoes, jams, and fruits. All other items should be cured in salt or dried. Remember, we are assuming an environment without electricity and limited fuel sources. Maple trees should be tapped for syrup. Mushrooms, fruits, and nuts should be gathered throughout the growing season.

Those skilled in cooking for large crowds, using all parts of an animal or vegetable, and able to cook with solar energy or fire should be the cooks. Since food will most likely be scarce, it’s also important that your cook be someone with integrity, so they will not take extra while everyone is feeling the pangs of hunger.

Health and Hygiene

The odds are good that someone with medical training will end up in your group. A nurse, doctor, EMT, firefighter, or police officer will all know how to deliver babies, dress wounds, administer CPR,  and stay calm in an emergency. They will be extremely helpful with emergencies and major illness, but the most important aspects of good health are adequate nutrition and hygiene.

When people live in close proximity and clean water is scarce, bad things happen. Diseases happen. One of the most important aspects of keeping a group healthy is managing waste.

Designate an area of the neighborhood where waste can be disposed of. Keep it away from your water and food sources. Watch the way the water drains and be sure the waste will not eventually seep or drain into your water and food zones.  Depending on your geography, you may have to bury it or you may be able to just dump it. Ideally, you will work out a system to compost it and eventually use it to increase the soil fertility in your tillable areas. However, in the beginning, just get rid of it  (and also any diseased animals or dead humans) as far away from your food/water as it is practical and safe.

Antisepticsshould be saved for wounds and sterilizing commonly touched surfaces. Everyone should be encouraged to wash their hands often and their bodies daily. Dishes, clothes and bedding should also be washed as regularly as possible. Procure enough water to be sure everyone will be able to keep themselves and their environment clean.

It will also be useful to know which plants and herbs can heal us, and how to use them. In unsanitary situations, people can get easily get infections, parasites, aches and pains, and insect infestations on their bodies and living quarters.

Learn the natural ways of deworming humans and animals, how to treat infections, and what to do if lice should run rampant in your dwelling. Locate (or grow) plants that can be used for menstruation and/or toilet paper. (Mullein is common and easy to grow in northern climates.)

When the stored soap and antiseptics run out, you will need to have a plan to create more. Some plants can be used for soap, and with the ashes from cooking and tallow from hunting, you should be able to make high quality soap. Maybe someone will have this skill or have a book outlining how-to, but more than likely, this is a skill you should write down and have ready in case of emergency. You don’t need to know how to make soap, but if you own a book or have written down the instructions, then someone else in your group can learn this skill and provide an incredible value.

The same thing is true for distilling alcohol, making vinegar, fermenting foods, smoking meat, gathering edible mushrooms and wild foods, dressing an animal, cooking over fire, saving seeds, using solar energy, and the list is really long. Right now we have access to the Internet, and every answer is available in seconds. Think about the big things you might need to do, and keep a written journal of skills, or create a library of useful books.

In the end, it’s important to remember that a community of hard-working individuals is more powerful than an individual and that you have a strategic goal. Your goal is to survive through winter and rebuild. After the first winter, you can spend the next summer putting away food, building solar heat panels, gathering potable water, building greenhouses, reaching out beyond our community, and educating our children. The ultimate intent is to rebuild and eventually leave this world in a better state for the next generation.

If enough people are surviving together across the country, we can eventually band together and restart the grid, rebuild the food system, and build America back to the country it was meant to be. Be prepared for anything.

Letter Re: Early Literacy for Children

Dear Mr. Latimer,

I would like to reply to SRG’s letter of response to my article, Early Literacy for Children.

I wholeheartedly agree with SRG. Neither of my parents went to college, and my stepdad did not finish high school. He proudly served our country in the military, then supported his family (parents, brothers, sister, wife, and three stepdaughters) by working in the coal mines in Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky. The most intelligent person I know never took a college class, and the dumbest person I know was one of my college professors. One of my three children went to college. The other two did not. They are all intelligent and very knowledgeable in their prospective jobs. One is a teacher, one an electrical lineman, and one a heavy equipment operator/welder in a coal mine. I am equally proud of them. We should each find our calling and pursue it. We should help our children and grandchildren find their place in this world and help them to reach it. It is my belief that our greatest responsibility to our children is to raise them to honor the Lord. May God bless you. Sincerely, – CL

Economics and Investing:

The evolution of low wage America: The most common jobs by state in 1978 to 2014. The destruction of the manufacturing industry.

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Events Now In Motion In Greece That Will Create Worldwide Chaos. – A.D.

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Chinese Rating Agency Warns Coming Crisis Is Worse Than 2008, Blames US “Printing Press”. – G.G.

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The Federal Reserve’s Outrage Over New Audit Legislation: “If Enacted, It Will Damage The Economy”

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Items from Mr. Econocobas:

Where Is Germany’s Gold? – Interesting read.

RadioShack Declares Bankruptcy after 94 Years in Business

Is China Preparing for Currency War? – Preparing? They’ve been on the front lines for years, buying dollars to suppress the yuan.

Eurogroup Gives Greece 10 Day Ultimatum: Apply For Bailout Or Grexit

Odds ‘n Sods:

While photographs do not make a completely realistic comparison to real life because you don’t get queues such as movement (or lack of movement in response to wind), this article sent in by SurvivalBlog reader P.S. has some excellent examples of natural camouflage: Can You Spot the Snipers Hidden in These Photos?

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S.M. sends in this link from Zerohedge.com showing the weakness of just-in-time delivery. We may get a dry run on economic collapse: “Catastrophic Shutdown Of America’s Supply Chain Looms” As West Coast Port Worker Talks Break Down.

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While those in the West enjoyed great weather this week, the east coast got to practice some survival skills: Videos, photos show massive pileup on I-81 north that shut down highway. – P.M.

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NYPD Has a Plan to Magically Turn Anyone It Wants Into a Felon. – T.P.

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President Obama is at it again this week with his revisionist history: Obama: We’re No Better than Islamic State. Perhaps someone should remind him that the whole purpose behind the Crusades was to deal with the atrocities Islam was perpetrating upon innocent people as the Muslims invaded the Middle East and Europe.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:” Exodus 18:21(KJV)

Notes for Friday – February 06, 2015

The updated version of the SurvivalBlog Archive (2005-2014) is now available. Owners have reported that both versions (DVD and digital download) are working perfectly. This new edition has been expanded to include 49 public domain firearms manuals and U.S. military manuals in PDF format. Order yours today!

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Today, we present another entry for Round 57 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be 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,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less then 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),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 30 DPMS AR-15 .223/5.56 30 Round Gray Mil Spec w/ Magpul Follower Magazines (a value of $448) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a 340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. 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 FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Instituteis donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, 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,
  5. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate,
  9. Organized Prepper is providing a $500 gift certificate, and
  10. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. 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,
  3. *Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 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 57 ends on March 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.

A Tactical Plan for Surviving Major Disaster in the North American Suburbs, by A.M. – Part 1

How would you survive a long-term disaster situation? I am talking about the worst case scenario– gangs of marauders, hungry people fleeing the cities, and/or soldiers storming through neighborhoods with no electricity, no grocery stores, no water, and no heat.

The lead recommendation in this scenario is to bug out to a rural area. Ideally, you would own a self-sustaining property away from the population masses and get there before the chaos begins. Many people will attempt this approach. People from the urban areas will spread out toward the suburbs and ultimately to the rural areas. Those who are fleeing violence in the cities and those that have cabins or strategic property will all be on the same highways at the same time.

You can imagine the traffic jam. Fighting might break out. Cars might be abandoned and permanent roadblocks created.  You don’t want to be in that mix.

However, like us, you may not be able to afford property outside of your regular residence. We have developed a strategic plan to fortify our neighborhood, make it through the first hard winter, and then rebuild civilization as we know it. We live in the suburbs of Minneapolis on a tiny piece of land where winter lasts a full six months and temperatures can reach 60 F below zero. Yet, we intend to stay put and to survive whatever comes our way.

HERE IS OUR PLAN:

Living in Minnesota means we will have to deal with winter. No matter when crisis hits, the initial focus will be on surviving the first winter and rebuilding the following spring.

For this exercise, we are assuming we are in a grid-down situation and hostile forces exist ready to steal, kill, or otherwise harm the citizens in our area. We plan for the worst and hope for the best. If the circumstances are less dire, unnecessary steps will be eliminated.

These are the main necessities addressed in our tactical plan:

  • Heat
  • Security
  • Law and Order
  • Water
  • Food
  • Health and Hygiene

Heat– Staying Warm Through Subzero Weather Without Fossil Fuels

American suburbs are not usually bastions of available firewood, coal, or propane. Most homes are heated with a central heating system that is fueled by a distant utility company. So, how would we stay warm without access to that heat source?

Some homes may have wood fireplaces, but they are still unlikely to have a large enough supply of firewood.

If you happen to have electricity and can use a space heater, go for it. Assuming electricity and gas are inoperable, you need an alternative plan.

You can build small candle heaters or attempt to harness a vented fire inside your home. They might provide some warmth, but these methods are also dangerous. I recommend you take a cue from the Mall of America. Most people are surprised to learn that the Mall of America does not have a single furnace or boiler to provide heat– not even one. Instead, they rely on solar energy from the windowed ceiling and body heat.

That’s the beauty behind warm-blooded animals. We generate heat, and in a survival situation there is strength in numbers (and heat in numbers!) (As a side interest, google the Mall of America’s heat situation; they actually run an air conditioner during the winter, because the visitors often generate too much heat!)

In our neighborhood, there are 40 houses, with the main roads roughly dividing the area into quadrants. We have designated the four central homes as the living quarters for everyone. Those in the north quadrant would go to house 1; those in the south would go to house 2, and so on. It just so happens that 3 of the 4 center families are hunters and preppers. We are all well prepared to weather a crisis on our own and are taking our neighbors along with us and ensuring our survival as a whole.

Consider the homes’ amenities, residents, and square footage, when dividing up your groups.

There will be limited privacy; there will be limited space, but there will be warmth.

If you find yourself without any neighbors, put on your winter gear and set up a tent inside a small room within your home. Close the doors and bring all your blankets and sleeping bags inside that tent. All family members and pets will live in this room. The body heat and multiple layers of air entrapment should help keep your family alive (though maybe not comfortable) through even the toughest winters.

Security– Protecting the Neighborhood

Suburban neighborhoods are often segregated from main roads by parks, community areas, and cul-de-sacs, but they still have at least one entrance that is accessible by a vehicle. You will want to block these entrances. We happen to have two neighborhood entrances. We plan to barricade those entrances with vehicles, strategically placed so that the owners can move them and still use them, if necessary.

Who gets to park their car at the entrance where it might be smashed by incoming tanks or exuberant drivers that think they might be able to bust through? In our group, those that bring the least resources will volunteer their vehicles.

All of the homes will be emptied of their valuables, including food, water, blankets, winter gear, tools, and more. Most vehicles should be stopped by the barricade, and individuals will hopefully be discouraged from venturing further after finding the first houses completely barren. If anyone has died, it might also be a good idea to leave their bodies in these first few houses as a deterrent, until winter passes and we can then use these lawns for burial.

Whenever anyone is outside of the homes, they will be accompanied by an armed guard(s), whose entire role is protection. Hunters, fishers, and gatherers will work in teams. There will be round the clock security detail, and those skilled with firearms will act as snipers and will engage in combat as needed.

Because of the precarious state of the world, those that have no combat skills will be trained, and everyone will carry a weapon of some kind (ranging from knives and pepper spray to an assortment of firearms, each depending upon their ability).

Law & Order– Those Who Have the Guns, Make the Laws

Choose your leaders wisely. Make sure you are in a position to lead, are able to exert influence on those that might be in control, or that you select leaders with good ideas and strong morality.

Having a plan in your head, before anything happens, will give your community a much better chance of surviving and should immediately show your value in the group. Present your plan and invite your neighbors to join you. If anyone does not want to join the group, let them be. This is America, and people are allowed to set their own path. Also, anyone that wants to leave the neighborhood should be allowed to leave as soon as possible.

However, once the collective has been formed, there must be solidarity. Defectors become a security risk if they, having knowledge of your food storage and security plans, run into a gang of thugs and decide to hatch an offensive against your group. You can decide how you deal with defectors. However, I suggest that penalties for such crimes be severe.

This will not be life as we know it. The rules have changed, and bad behavior can not be tolerated. There are no police or courts to do the work for us. We must uphold order. Most rational people can understand and exercise prudent discipline. Minor offenses deserve reprimands and second chances. Serious crimes deserve severe punishment. Those that refuse to work will lose their rations for that day; those that are derelict in their responsibilities are demoted to a lesser role; and those that commit rape or murder should be killed.

It is important that every person in the group has a suitable role. There will be plenty of work to do, and no one is exempt.

A few of the essential jobs are:

  • hunting,
  • fishing,
  • gathering water,
  • emptying latrine buckets,
  • gathering wild foods,
  • setting traps,
  • washing laundry,
  • cooking,
  • keeping track of resources,
  • growing food,
  • treating water,
  • building (greenhouses, rocket stoves, solar heating units, tables, smokehouses, chicken coops, rabbit hutches, and more),
  • tending to the sick and infants,
  • mending clothing,
  • cleaning the homes,
  • washing pots and dishes,
  • making soap,
  • gathering fertilizers,
  • making compost,
  • keeping watch,
  • sniping enemies,
  • preserving food,
  • protecting the team during outdoor activities and in combat,
  • gathering firewood,
  • procuring resources from nearby homes, and
  • communicating with people outside the area.

Each person will more than likely have more than one role, but roles should be chosen according to skill set and temperament, if possible. Again, remember that those that have the guns make the rules. If your neighbors were unprepared for this crisis, then they do not have the right to refuse the role they are given. They are part of a survival team, and every role is essential. That being said, you may find it necessary to rotate out the unskilled (and dirtiest) jobs after some time.

Letter Re: Canned Food Alternatives

Hugh,

I started “doing this” in 1979 when I took a class taught by Ron Hood through UCLA extension. Below is the best advice on food storage I’ve seen or heard, and none are paid endorsements; they’re just my opinion:

A video by Wendy De Witt entitled “Sensible Food Storage”. The first 22+ minutes are on food storage; the other 35 minutes are on equipment. I believe it is the easiest, most commonsense, and cost-effective method.

Also, here is the link to her free doc.

Additionally, this woman has a series of ten or more videos on dehydrating that are excellent.

Below are some more links to what I feel are the best canning channels on YouTube, along with a few examples of their canning:

Here are the links to the two rocket stoves I would recommend:

  • The SilverFire – more stable because of the broad base and heavier weight
  • The BioLIte BaseCamp – nice because of the grill-to-boil lever, USB charger with LED light so you can watch what you’re cooking in the dark, and bucket handle:

For prepping purposes, the best vacuum sealer is probably the 12 volt-capable FoodSaver GameSaver.

Be prepared for when the fecal matter impacts upon the air circulation device!

– B.M.