“Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” Isaiah 26:20,21 (KJV)
Today we present another entry for Round 50 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $9,700+ worth of prizes for this round include:
First Prize:
Second Prize:
Third Prize:
Round 50 ends on January 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.
HJL Adds: TK4, age 13, wrote this as a homeschool project.
In this article I am going to teach readers how to prepare a bug-out bag. This 13 year-old has had a bug-out bag for two years, and every year it grows better and better. I have put this article together with five main steps that are essential to any bug-out bag. I have listed the items that I have put into my bag and put them in order of necessity.
Survival Essentials
Here I am going to list the things that I deem are essential in my bag. However, I first want to talk about the bag. You, like many others may ask “Where do I start first?” Well, start with the bug-out bag. The bag really should be a quality backpack. You should pick which size bag you need according to what size you are, how much weight you can carry, and what you are going to include in it. I prefer the camouflage color over neon colors. Camouflage is good if you are bugging out because usually you don’t want to be found; if you are wearing neon you will be found. In my experience military packs work well and so do hiking backpacks. It’s really your choice because everybody is different and need different size backpacks. The price can range from twenty dollars to two hundred dollars. How much you spend really depends on what your budget is. Have fun picking out your bag; just make sure it is durable and fairly easy to carry. Essential items to go inside your bag include:
Heat
In this category I am going to explain what I include in my pack that will be useful to create heat.
Shelter
Bringing a sleeping bag in your bug-out bag will keep your body warm when the temperature drops and ensure you a good night’s sleep. You should buy your sleeping bag according to the climate that you live in. If you live in Florida then you won’t need a heavy sleeping bag, However, if you live in Wisconsin, then you would need to buy a heavy sleeping bag with a certain temperature protection barrier so as not to get frostbite. You can take your poncho and use 550 paracord to make a tent when you need shelter. A Sleeping bag is an excellent thing to put in your bug-out bag so make sure you include that valuable part of your preps.
Food and Water
Here is what I carry in my bug-out bag to ensure I have security with food and water:
Sanitation
In this category I am going to relay what I keep in my bug-out bag that is necessary for proper hygiene.
I hope this list of supplies has helped you prepare to make your bug-out bag without a problem. Remember, tailor your pack to your needs and do not pack more than you need. Hopefully, you will never have to bug-out, but if you do at least you will have the peace of mind that you are prepared. Being prepared is what matters in the case of life or death. Enjoy putting your bug-out bag together. I enjoyed it and I am very proud of the finished product,. I am sure you will be as well. Have fun!!!
I would like to thank my parents for the help they gave me in the making of this article. It is because of my parents that this article was made possible, because all of the knowledge that I possess, I learned from them. I am very grateful to have parents who care for me and want me to know how to be prepared.
Dear Sir:
Regarding “Building a Backyard Water Treatment Plant, by J.S.M.“, I wanted to comment on a couple of errors I saw in the last section on treating surface water with alum. I once worked for a manufacturer of aluminum sulfate and was involved in several trials at municipal water systems.
– S.M.
Dear Editor,
In Tactical Solutions for Preppers, by The Grunt I note “The Grunt” makes no analysis of his enemy. I think his tactical solutions are fine if facing a disorganized mob bent on looting. The proposed solutions are passive and do not address the patrolling that will be necessary if facing a more cunning enemy. If an active and sophisticated threat exists in your AO, an active defense/offense may be necessary. Also, I think early in TEOTWAWKI, the enemy will be our hyper-militarized law enforcement that has become a “hammer looking for a nail”. The authorities may view professional attempts at defense as some sort of existential threat. Laying low and not drawing attention to your preps will be important early. – M. S. – Kuwait
HJL,
Regarding Two Letters Re: Gock 27 .40 S&W Pistol, dropping a 9mm conversion barrel into a 40 caliber Glock pistol does NOT make it the same as a factory 9mm Glock. The extractors and ejectors are not the same (anyone can verify this by looking at the Glock parts list), and that makes it a FrankenGlock. This is fine, if you just want to save money shooting 9mm for practice out of your 40. However, if you’re going to stake your life on the gun, please be aware of the differences and make the decision that’s right for you. Glocks are wonderful (and I’m definitely a Glockaholic), but they are not infallible, and I would never want to trust one that is not configured according to factory spec or better. Best Wishes – Ulysses
Video: 0% is the Highest Interest Rate the U.S. Economy can Afford – D.D.
2019 U.S. Army budget would eliminate 100,000 Troops – T.
An interesting development as many of the emerging markets are faltering simultaneous with one of China’s largest holidays: China’s Central Bank Announces Halt of Cash Transfers – SurvivalBlog reader
Fourth-Quarter Earnings Season Another Dud
Items from The Economatrix:
January 1, 2014 All Americans Will Bail Out The Banks
Bundesbank Calls For Capital Levy To Avert Government Bankruptcies
World Market Index (Seeing a lot of red ink…)
V.F. sent in this link to an article about an emerging story:TSA Harasses Police Chief – Entire Police Department Fired.
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More disturbing news about the Constitution Free zones within America’s borders. – A.W.
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We’ll see how states’ rights work out on this one: South Carolina House Unanimously Passes Legislation to Ban Drones Sent in by B.B.
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Another reason to consider homeschooling your children: Plan would track students from preschool to workforce – G. P.
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P.S. sent in this link: Venezuela is headed down fast, 10-year imprisonment for hoarding, of course, who gets to say what the definition of hoarding is there?
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J.M. sent in this article: Chuck Schumer to unveil Avonte’s Law, to put tracking devices on autistic kids
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One of our readers sent this in: Good hiding place!
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Michigan farmer faces $700,000 in fines for raising “wrong” breed of pigs – H.L.
“To speak of collapse, peak oil, demise, downturns, economic depression, or unraveling is anathema, because it rattles the rice paper-thin bulwarks we have constructed around darkness and death.” – Carolyn Baker, Collapsing Consciously: Transformative Truths for Turbulent Times
Our prayers are sent on behalf of those in the Southeast who have been hit by a severe winter storm. WHNT has a story with links to several videos: Alabama EMA: 5 People Died, 23 Injured in Tuesday’s Winter Weather Alabama has been hit the hardest, but other states are suffering as well. It is important to remember that in these states, the temperature generally stays pretty warm and when snow hits, it’s a recipe for black ice. One more reason to always be prepared. Stay safe!
HJL Adds: S.C., age 17, wrote this as a homeschool project.
So you hear an ice storm is coming and you’re not prepared, what do you do? This article will show you the ten essentials you need to survive. Back in 2009, Kentucky was hit by a massive ice storm that dumped 2 inches of ice on everything. Consequently we were without power for 8 long days. During the week many people had to leave their homes, because they had no heat, no water, and no food. At the time of the ice storm I was only 13 and really didn’t know a whole lot about prepping for natural disasters. It was amazing how much damage an ice storm could do to people’s homes, power poles, and roads. It was a huge mess! Now, four years later, I’ve taken prepping to a whole new level. I’ve put together bug-out bags, learned survival skills, built survival kits, and loads more. Now that I’m 17, I want to share my experience with others in hopes to educate them about the dangers of ice storms.
Most likely after a storm hits an area, roads will be impassible, water supplies will be gone, walking outside will be very dangerous, and power will be down. Depending on where you live, it may take weeks for power to be restored. What you do to prepare will either mean staying in your own home or suffering the bitter cold until you can leave and go somewhere else– a family member’s, friend’s, or even a shelter, if need be. In this section I’m going to tell you the ten essentials that you need to prepare for an ice storm. The items listed below are what helped me and my family survive the ice storm (except for the generator), and may not be everything you might need. FEMA recommends that you have 3 days worth of food and water in your home. Let’s face it, in real life how often do you know a natural disaster that’s gone in three days? There have been many instances when FEMA or the National Guard can’t even respond for three days. Never trust that the government will save you or even cares when a natural disaster strikes. Take it upon yourself to be ready and prepared. Make sure you tailor your preps to best suit you and your personal needs. If you have young children, elderly, babies, diabetics, or someone who requires some other special need, they will have their own specific requirements that will need to be cared for and addressed in your prepping. Here’s a list to get you started:
1. A Wood-Burning Stove. The most important preparation we had was a wood-burning stove. When the power goes out there is no way to run a heater, unless you have a generator. Unfortunately we did not have the luxury of having a generator. When we first moved to Kentucky all of the elders in the community told us we should consider purchasing a woodstove. After a year or so we purchased one, and it was the best prepping item we ever acquired. We were able to keep our house warm, boil water for tea or coffee, cook our meals, and so on. Yes, woodstoves can be dangerous if used in the wrong way, but used correctly it can really make a difference when it’s below freezing outside.
2. Firewood for the Wood-Burning Stove. Having the correct kind of firewood is key to keeping your house warm. You want a hard wood that is well seasoned or cured. It puts off plenty of BTU’s (British thermal units) and burns for a long time. I would recommend having at least a cord (a stack of wood 4X4X8 or 128 cubic feet) of firewood ready to go. The best burning firewoods are Ash (will burn when freshly cut), oak, and hickory. The woods to avoid are pine, juniper or cedar, and poplars. These will burn quick and hot and use up your wood supply much faster than hard woods. This type of firewood is best suited for kindling to start fires and to get them going.
3. Plenty of drinkable water stored up. For us, we were hooked up to the city water system and had plenty of running water for the duration of the storm. However, there were plenty of people who didn’t have city water and lost their water supply when the power went down. There wells were dependent upon electricity to pump. So store up at least 5-7 days worth of water. More is better. It’s not like you can’t drink the water you didn’t use after the storm is over. An ice storm is just one reason to stockpile water. You need to be preparing for anything that could taint your drinkable water. Sometimes, even a water treatment plants will accidently put too much of a chemical into the water. It’s always good to have some sort of water filtration device or a way to sanitize water when it’s of questionable quality. The last thing you want is to get sick from contaminated water and not be able to do anything. You can only live around three days without water so keep that in mind when stocking up on water. Two very basic ways to sanitize water are boiling it or using a very small amount of chlorine in it.
4. Propane gas to heat your water. Our water from the city was hooked up to a propane water heater. Even with the power out we were able to wash our hands in hot water and take hot showers, which was much nicer than taking cold showers. Without propane-heated water we would have to boil water and use that to take showers, which takes a long while. I understand this may not be an option for some people. If you have city water or water coming from a well, consider hooking it up to a propane heater. Another reason for needing hot water is to care for livestock; our family had buckets of hot water that we could carry out to the animals to thaw their water troughs.
5. Cast iron cookware. Having cast iron cookware enables you to cook your meals on the woodstove. Unfortunately, having no electricity meant we had no microwave. During the eight days we were without electricity, we used the woodstove to cook every meal, from eggs to chicken. The reason cast iron cookware is important is because it can withstand more heat than traditional cookware. Another great plus to having cast iron cookware is that after the storm you can use it on camping trips to cook meals over hot fires.
6. Food Storage. This matter is very important. Without food you’re not going to get very far. During the summer before the ice storm we planted a large garden and canned just about everything out of it. That winter we were pretty well stocked up. For those who don’t have the ability to plant a garden, canned or dried foods from the supermarket will work just as well. You need to have around 5-7 days worth of canned and dried food. When buying food, buy items you’re going to enjoy eating, not just staple foods such as pork and beans. Our family made sure the food items we purchased were easy to heat up on a wood stove in a skillet or pot of water.
7. LED Lamps and Oil Lamps. Nowadays they make low draw LED lamps that can last for days and put off considerable light. These are great way to safely produce light without the risk of fire. LED lights can range anywhere from $5 up to a $100. If you prefer something for lighting that is not battery dependant, then an oil lamp is what you want. I know that using oil lamps sounds a bit old fashioned, but they’ve been used for hundreds of years. You can find very basic oil lamps at Wal-Mart for around $10. Oil lamps are very simple to operate and hardly ever need any work done to them, except an occasional cleaning or a new wick. There are, however, a few risks involved with oil lamps. If you have small children, keep the lamp out of their reach. Also, put the lamp in a safe location away from flammable items to prevent the risk of fire. Before refueling the lamp, make sure that it has cooled down enough that you won’t get burned.
8. Small personal flashlights and batteries. Flashlights are far smaller and more mobile then oil lamps when trying to work outside or moving around in your house. You can easily carry a flashlight anywhere with you on your person. When buying a flashlight, don’t look for the most expensive ones; just look for ones that feel well made and that use batteries that don’t weigh a ton, which is the case with size D Batteries. You can usually find low draw LED versions that take small batteries like AA and AAA. When it comes to flashlights, there are so many out there ranging in price from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. You’re not looking for the brightest one possible but just something you can use to do work, read, or help you see to get to the bathroom.
9. Board games and books. When the power is out and there’s no TV, no way to charge your electronics, and no video games what will you do? Board games are a great way to help you pass the time, hang out with your family, and relax a little during this stressful time. You can also read books to pass the time or learn valuable skills, which might help you prepare even better for the next ice storm. When I say books I don’t mean electronic versions; I’m talking real hard copies. It’s always good to have a book, like the Bible, to give a little relaxation when trying to weather the storm.
10. A small generator. I would recommend a small generator because, as I stated earlier, we did not have one. During the eight days without power, our fridge and freezer lost a lot of its coldness. We had to put our meat and perishables in a cooler outside in the cold. Although this worked for us, if the power would have been out any longer we would of lost a lot of food. A small generator would have been a lot easier. Losing a whole fridge and freezer worth of food means losing a lot of money and wasting food you could have been eating. For people with wells, a small generator will be great to power the well and give you a constant source of water for drinking, showering, and cooking. One major drawback to generators is buying enough fuel to last several days; in previous years it has become somewhat expensive.
I hope this article has taught you that being prepared means being ready for more than an ice storm. Whether it’s a hurricane, a blizzard, the grid going down, or a flood, you’ll be ready for whatever comes your way. The point I’m trying to stress is being prepared so you can help yourself and others. When you have preps ready to go, it will give you peace of mind knowing you neither have to worry whether the supermarkets have food on their shelves nor risk leaving the safety of your home.
Hello Gentlemen,
I am as capitalistic as they come and have spent the entirety of my life as the son of a self-employed concrete contractor, then owning and running several of my own businesses. Some of us though are questioning the huge profits rolling out of some of the Wall St. firms due to the QE policy of the Fed. It seems like the scales are getting out of balance because of this policy, and the distribution of wealth is appeasing Wall Street while the POTUS’s policies and regulations discourage middle income entrepreneurs. The top few percent get government bailouts and windfalls; the bottom 20% or so get increasing benefits; and the backbone of the country, the middle class business owners and employees, are left to pull the wagon on their own. We should be used to it by now, but I believe we are getting a little sore-shouldered! Thanks for a wonderful site. God bless. – T.K.
Hi Jim,
Here’s an Interesting video from Cambodia, which triggered a series of thoughts on bugging out. You have used railroad tracks and trains in your books to speed along movement away from roads and people. This video shows how anyone who has tracks near them and need an escape route when the roads are blocked could be so very simple. The parts to put this together should be cheap and, depending on location, readily available just to have in the garage as a back up back up plan. I am sure enough readers can also tweek it in such a way as using people power or any other idea to make it work for their situation. My situation is that train tracks about a mile from my city home, pass about 30 miles from my cabin which is 200 miles away from the city home. So it would get me much closer and much faster, if there were road problems getting out.
Have a great day – Ender
JWR Replies: This topic has been raised several times in SurvivalBlog, invariably leading to discussion of the safety and legality of operating a rail bike on any other than completely inactive rail lines. There have also been threads of discussion about the possible use of speeders (which are now largely obsolete, but have a following of hobbyists) and rail-adapted pickup trucks. See the blog archives for details.
Jim,
Hoping you could answer a quick question. I put two jars full of silica gel packets in a glass jar and set them in a oven at 200 degrees over night to dry them out. I noticed that a couple of the bags broke open and the silica gels were brown. Does that make them non effective. I thought they were white to start with.
Thank you and may God’s blessings be upon you and your family.
P.S.- I liked your comment on one of your interviews where you stated your prayer is for God to put you in the right place at the right time with the right people. Very nicely said. – G.
HJL Replies: I had to ask one of our long time readers, and he had this answer for you:
Cobalt chloride (incorrectly called Silica) will usually turn blue when reactivated. It is pinkish/purple or just light blue when “wet” and is a heavy metal salt that is toxic. Brown “silica” (which isn’t silica at all) is usually “chippy” and turns dusty with age. I guess it depends on what color they started life out as.
Actual silica gel is a porous granular form of a synthetically manufactured product made from sodium silicate, which is indeed a very high capacity adsorbent. Capillary condensation is the process involved in adsorbing moisture. It is non-toxic and is food safe. Most gel is labeled toxic and is in the cobalt chloride form. Real silica gel turns a very dark green when exhausted, but there may be some iron salts in a high capacity version which may turn from a deep orange to a pale yellow when saturated. The orange MIGHT be construed as brown. It can adsorb up to 40 percent of its own weight in water.
The container they are in is usually tyvek, which has a melting point of 250 degrees F. It is indeed important to check the oven’s temperature with a thermometer. I recommend heating to 235 degrees for at least 3 hours and certainly no more than 250 degrees. Caution is in order because the fluctuation of oven temperature is pretty wide in most ovens. Other materials such as plastic and metals are also used for a silica container.
Long story short, it’s probably old stuff and the toxic version of “silica”. – F.B.
B.B. sent in this video preparing for an Economic crash.
On that same note, T. sent in this article on holding physical gold rather than paper gold.
7 setbacks for the middle class – H. L.
Walmart is cutting more jobs from Sam’s club. – T.
G.G. sent this link on on The Big Reset, part 2.
Lloyds Banking Group says it has fixed problems that affected Halifax, Lloyds, Bank of Scotland and TSB customers using ATMs and debit cards. – S.R.
Items from The Economatrix:
TNX Chart: Specter Of Rising Rates
HSBC Bank On Verge Of Collapse: Second Major Banking Crash Imminent
Furious Backlash Forces HSBC To Scrap Large Cash Withdrawal Limit
First HSBC Halts Large Withdrawals, Now Lloyds ATMs Stop Working