El Cheapo Prepping 101, by Christopher S.

In today’s economy you maybe having a hard time keeping up with the bills let alone preparing for the next Armageddon. Are you sitting in your cheap Wal-Mart chair staring at your computer screen wishing you had a Kifaru pack. Are you wishing you had the money to go to the range even once a year? Let me get out the chalk board and you get your pencil ready. I am about to school you on prepping that will take you to the next level without skimping on the good stuff.

First off I would like to explain I am not cheap, but rather clever in getting what I want. Let me start off with an example of what I mean. Would you rather shoot brass or steel cased ammunition? That’s obvious. Always do your homework and get the right item the first time. I would shoot brass any day over Wolf steel cased. Every time I go to the range I pick up at least three times the quantity of brass that I just shot. Why would you do that you say? There are lots of reasons, but here are just a few:

  1. You can have free brass rather than pay for it.
  2. You can swage cartridge cases you don’t use into projectiles for reloading.
  3. You can also trade brass to reloaders for stuff you may need. All of this can be done with just paying a range fee.

[JWR Adds: Show great caution when collecting range brass. Keep in mind that you know nothing about its origin. Inspect each case very carefully before re-using it, and put any that are suspect in your “scrap melt” bin. For the sake of safety, watch carefully for dented or split necks, stretched or bulged cases, or odd head stamps that might indicate poor quality brass. Also be sure to use a bright light to check for twin flash holes, that indicate Berdan primed brass. At a minimum you will bend a decapping pin if you accidentally try to de-prime Berdan brass with a standard American reloading press. But at worst, you might destroy your die. Talk about the ultimate in “false economy” !]

Learn the art of barter and trade when your money supply is thin. This is why you should do some planning before you go out and spend the few copper pieces you have. Do the research on items you want for your bug out bag first. You don’t want to buy a $100 item to find out on your first camping trip that it failed. I like to start out by checking out forums like survivalblog.com and see what people are recommending. Then I head over to Youtube.com and get a confirmation from reviewers before I make a big purchase. When in doubt by quality gear rather than saying to yourself I will upgrade later. You will thank yourself in the long run. Learn from me because I bought five packs before I found the right one. After that wish list is complete you are ready to start hunting gear.

This brings me to my next point, buy online, out of season, and only on clearance. Everybody likes to walk into their local Gander Mountain [sporting goods store] on a Saturday morning and just gawk at gear. That hard earned dollar will not go far in these overpriced brick and mortar stores. They charge those prices because they are trying to nickel and dime you to pay their bills. Instead head online and sit in your pajamas and scroll over the next few sources I provide. Online stores provide goods less expensively because they have a lower over head and also they have to compete with search engines. Always buy your gear out of season. I like to check out Sportsmansguide.com when summer is over for camping gear. They have good deals on surplus Gore-Tex rain gear, 5.11 pants and shirts for under 20 dollars, and other great deals like wool blankets. Always Google the store along with the word coupon or discount before you check out. I can not even begin to tell you how many times I have gotten free shipping along with $10 or $20 dollars off an order. Next everybody likes name brand gear. Why not roll out in TEOTWAWKI in style? I like to go on E-Bay and look for factory second gear. I once found an Ontario Rat-7 knife (MSRP $180) which was a second for $60. I then contacted the seller through a question and asked if he would lower his price even more. The seller then set the item as a buy it now for the haggled price of $55 with free shipping. Yes when it doubt contact retailers for haggled prices or shipping discounts. I also like to go on forums which relay deals onto their readers. Lots of times people will steer you onto deals you could only dream of. This brings me to my next point, which is to network with coupon clippers and bloggers.

I like to buy about ten Sunday papers and trade with people online (or ask neighbors for theirs). Sounds crazy right? Its not as bad you may think. People will sometimes trade five times as many coupons for a single coupon they are looking for. Once again this is the art of barter and trade! Set aside fifteen minutes a day into reading coupon forums and watch for those deals. Usually the thrifty shoppers know days or even weeks in advance to when a retailer is having a sale (which you can apply all coupons towards). I usually trade exclusively for food coupons and trade away the rest of the coupons I may have. If dates are getting close on coupons I sell bundles of them on eBay.com. Do not let anything go to waste. Remember you are trying to trade virtually worthless things to deck out that B.O.B. So be a smart shopper and get educated by reading those online forums. If you want to even go cheaper watch daily deals or get involved in your local Craigslist. I watch these sites like a hawk and only buy when I find a super steal. My favorite sites are woot.com, steepandcheap.com, and dailysteals.com. These sites can change items fast so you have to be quick. Also I watch Craigslist for my area.

I like to keep my eye out for people trying to get rid of stuff for free. I have seen lots of free 5 gallon buckets, timber, and even tents. When it comes to Craigslist you need to be quick and call fast. Lots of people are weary about meeting people they don’t know on a forum. I always like to do trades and purchases in public places (like a park and ride, or a fast food parking lot. Also you need to train yourself to live like a prepper. That means buckling down and lowering that monthly budget. My wife and I only go shopping at the local food market on double coupon day. Yes there is such a thing! Get to know your local retail managers because they will tell you what days they put out the fresh clearance. Maybe they will even set something aside if they know you are interested in such items. I have even gone out on a limb a few times and asked if I buy in bulk will they sell me the items just above their cost. It never hurts to ask because I have gotten toilet paper that way and I only paid 25 cents above their cost for the big packs. Guess what! I used coupons too. Try to cut down those everyday expenses so that you can splurge on that new Kifaru pack (last years model on clearance of course). My wife and I know our neighbors well and we share a wi-fi connection and split the cost. Trust thy neighbor it can be done. In these tough times with high gas prices we also car pool to work. Why not? Not to mention all the car repairs and oil changes this saves.

Another great saver we do is unplug electronic items that are not in use. When I first started doing this we were saving about $15 a month. You are also less likely to turn on five lamps if you have to plug them all in. [JWR Adds: Power strips with switches are your energy-saving allies. And every power cube is your enemy!] Don’t forget those special energy saving light bulbs. I found them on clearance for a buck each at a local Walgreens one time. Search those clearance shelves high and low. Look for deals on rent and other bills. You would not believe me if I told you that you can haggle with your debtors. I once told my land lord that I would move if he did not shave off a hundred dollars off the rent. He called his boss and thirty minutes later I had a new lease (was the end of my year contract of course). I then thought hey this is easy so I went to my cellular plan. I got my wife and I on a family contract and busted that bill down by another thirty dollars. After that I tried haggling with my cable service and I got them to give me the introductory rate for two years. Of course I will renegotiate when that is up. You have to speak up when it comes down to penny pinching, otherwise they will walk all over you. ? In conclusion get your wish list ready and check it off as the deals reveal themselves. Do not get impatient just keep checking your sources regularly. Always do your homework and get the right item the first time. Make sure you buy quality gear rather than buying cheap. Get those deals buy bidding, couponing, and watching the deals. When in doubt haggle with people and they will usually give in. Also do not settle for high rent. Talk it over with your landlord. Last but not least network with your neighbors they are your best asset. Good luck and thanks for stopping by for TEOTWAWKI 101.

Sources for gear reviews on YouTube.com:

Sources for Inexpensive Gear:

Letter Re: A Source for Free Firewood

Hello Jim,

Firstly, I would like to thank you for your books and all the information you make available on your blog. The last three years have been very hard on my family and I, but have given us a needed shove to be prepared for what life can throw at us. The information we have gained from you and your site has been invaluable. I thought I would let you know of a free source for firewood. I work for a large pallet company. Every day we bring in many truck loads of broken pallets to be repaired. Pallets that can’t be repaired or torn apart and used to make new pallets are hauled to the dump where they are shredded into mulch (6+ semi-trailer loads per day.) The company gives away pallets of 2x4s for free to whomever calls and asks for them. Giving them away saves the expense of hauling them to the dump. A person took 12 pallets of 2X4s the other day, so to say the least, there is an abundance of wood available. The stacks of 2x4s are approximately 4′ x 4′ x 4′ and are not stacks of bone dry, weathered wood. Most boards are pine but there can be oak and other species in the stacks. They would have to be cut in half to fit into most stoves or fireplaces but they are free for the taking. All you have to do is pick them up. Call your local pallet company to see if they have a similar deal. This is an easy way to build up a large supply of firewood! Big Wall

JWR Replies: I live in a region that has plentiful firewood. I love burning Western Larch and Red Fir. But I’m a fan of using pallet wood, mainly as a source of kindling. Just show caution and never burn treated wood, or wood that has been visibly contaminated with chemicals. In my experience, it is not worth the effort to pull nails and staples from pallets. Those twist-shank nails must have been designed by someone with a sadistic streak. (They are an absolute pain to pull.) So I instead just cut up pallets with a Skilsaw. In fact, I have a dedicated older saw with a well-used blade that I use for just this purpose. I don’t put my new blades at risk, because just one accidental touch of nail will instantly dull a blade!)

Letter Re: No Law Enforcement in TEOTWAWKI

Mr Rawles,
I’d like to take a few minutes to comment about Ron W.’s article, No Law Enforcement in TEOTWAWKI.

He brings up a good point at how truly unprepared most elected officials and government agencies for any kind of real catastrophe.

Three summers ago in the jurisdiction where I am an officer we were hit by the severe winds that came from a Gulf of Mexico hurricane. These winds took out the power to more than 80% of the city and township where I patrol. This included the maintenance and service buildings for the city as well as the gas pumps where we get fuel for our emergency vehicles.

Losing the ability to pump fuel from our own storage tanks has never been much of concern before since our city had a purchase order contract with a local gas station and we had no generator available. However, this power outage affected the gas station as well and by day 2 of the outage, more than half of our fleet was out of service due to no fuel. By day 3, some of our officers drove their assigned cruisers to another city and purchased fuel with their own money just keep a few cars in service.

The sad part was neither the city nor police department administration had a credit card for us to use should the outage carried on any longer. Fortunately, the gas station where we had an account was finally back in service about 72 hours after the initial outage and we were able to get fuel. But, the gas pumps owned by the city were not back in service until almost 96 hours after the initial outage.

Not only was this unacceptable but about two years prior to this event I was part of a work group that warned the city and the police department’s administration that we were woefully unprepared for such an emergency. We also made recommendations to the powers-that-be that we at least meet the minimum preparedness criteria set by the Department of Homeland Security. Unfortunately, we still are not prepared and little has been done to do so.

However, I must take issue with Ron W’s assertion that a majority of law enforcement personnel will abandon ship should a major, TEOTWAWKI-type event occur.

I know that there will be some that head out but I think that you will see a significant number stay put, especially in the smaller communities. Obviously, we never know an exact percentage unless such an event occurs, but I believe it will be higher than what some people think.

One reason I say this is that many of us are deeply embedded in our respective communities. We have invested years of service and we have a large number of family members and close friends living within walking distance that we could never abandon. In spite of what some people think and/or believe, we do this job because it is a chance to serve others in place that we love and call home.

Another reason is that many of us don’t have a pre-arranged retreat area already established by family members or friends. A majority of our family and friends are right where we live and work.

A third reason is, that without a pre-arranged retreat location that can handle a majority, if not all, of our family and close friends, we have to stay put and try to work through it together because we really want to avoid becoming refugees except for the most dire of circumstances.

I have experienced some of the same apathy and negativity from coworkers and admin that Ron has. But, I am seeing a growing number of officers starting to think outside of today’s norm and at least considering what could happen. Also, several of these same officers are now taking steps to equip and prepare their families.

I pray that this preparedness trend continues among officers and their families. Hopefully we can start getting elected officials and our departments admin on board as well.

On a side note, I’d like to recommend a fantastic book to your readers. It’s called The Modern Day Gunslinger by Don Mann. It’s available from amazon.com for less than $17 with standard shipping and handling.

In spite of what one may think when they initially read the title, this is by far the best, most comprehensive book on using a handgun that I have ever seen. It’s easy to read and is written for the end-user rather than for trainers only. To me, this book seems to be a culmination of all of the quality handgun training that I have ever received.

One significant part that I think survivalblog readers will get a lot out of is the areas where concealed-carry options and techniques are discussed in depth.

Obviously, nothing can replace competent, hands-on training from a quality training organization. However, there is no way to possibly remember everything that you learn in training. I feel that this book is the reference that I need to keep my skills sharp in between formal training sessions.

Be safe and God Bless, Doug

Economics and Investing:

p>KAF sent this: Illinois Pays More Than Mexico as Cash-Strapped States Sell Bonds Overseas

For the How Gullible Do They Think We Are? Department: As bailout program expires, Treasury drops price tag to $50 billion and highlights successes. (Thanks to Chad S. for the link.)

Florida Congressman Alan Grayson Documents Foreclosure Fraud

K. in Montana recommended this: Lear Capital: Origin of Gold vs. Silver Ratio.

Chris Martenson recently posted Prediction: Things Will Unravel Faster Than You Think

The Incredible Two-Day Jump in US Treasure Debt (The Mogambo Guru)

Items from The Economatrix:

Weak Economy Has Nations Waging Currency War

Consumers Cut Credit Card Borrowing For 24th Month

Shoppers May Have the Upper Hand this Christmas

Goldman Sachs: Dollar Set For Sharp Decline

Currency Volatility Threatens Growth

Odds ‘n Sods:

B.P. suggested a piece over at Box ‘o Truth: Common Rounds Versus Level IIIA Body Armor

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I just noticed that the three-part National Geographic documentary “Guns, Germs and Steel” (based on Jared Diamond’s same-titled book) is now available via streaming video to subscribers of Netflix.

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SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson sent us another case of “Never bring a knife to a gun fight”. (Warning: This shows graphic violence.) This incident took place in Turkey, and it is narrated by a Turkish American.

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Robots Guarding US Nuclear Stockpile (video). Gee, they seem to be catching up to the UA 571-C robotic technology that we use for perimeter security at the Rawles Ranch.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“To be a Christian, in an environment like this, makes it even that much more difficult. Because the thinner I get, the hungrier I am, the more unsafe I feel, the weaker I become spiritually. And it’s very difficult to be the Good Samaritan and love they neighbor when you’re starving.” – Jim Armistead, in The Colony, Season 2. (A television show on The Discovery Channel. See the online clip titled “Survivor Reflections”.)

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 31 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will include:

First Prize: A.) 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 between $500 and $600, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 500 round case of Fiocchi 9mm Parabellum (Luger ) with 124gr. Hornady XTP/HP projectiles, courtesy of Sunflower Ammo (a $249 value), and E.) An M17 medical kit from JRH Enterprises (a $179.95 value).

Second Prize: A.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $400, B.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and C.) two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Third Prize: A.) A copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, from Arbogast Publishing, and B.) a Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.)

Round 31 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Winter Indoor Gardening – Part 2, by Kate in Colorado

As I’ve been tending the plants that I brought into the house for the start of the winter indoor growing season, I began thinking about some of the other nifty tricks I have learned through experimenting and sometimes failing while learning this skill.  As I said before, this is a skill set that demands practice.  This is especially true if you don’t have a greenhouse or sun room as lighting and temperature swings really effect indoor plants more quickly than gardening in the out of doors.

I pay very close attention to solar gain through the windows.  As the sun angles change throughout the season, the temperature just in front of window glass changes dramatically. You will probably be amazed at the thermal fluctuations even throughout the day.  I keep a small stand up thermometers on the window sills and just peek at them during the day.  If the temperatures rise above 105 degrees Fahrenheit. I will either lower the thermal shades just enough to block the harshest rays of the sun or move the plants away from the windows another four or five inches.  I want light, not heat.  On really cold days the opposite might be true.  If it is really overcast or snowing, the solar gain might be negligible, so I might have to adjust the room temperature a little.  Remember, I said we live with hot water heating, so I can adjust one zone and not have to heat the rest of the house.  You might have to figure a way to moderate the light and temperatures through experimentation. It is important to know that really cold or really hot temperatures will affect blossom set and fruiting bodies growth.   

When the daylight gets shorter, the use of the grow lights becomes very beneficial.  I use simple florescent “grow” lights from the big box stores.  I like the ones that are about two feet long.  They are light enough and stay cool to the touch so I can just place them on the floor and aim them up at the plants.  Like I said before, I use the upside down planters to great advantage, as the plants photosynthesis’ process tells the plants to grow toward the lights. In the darkest part of the winter I might need to give the plants four or five hours of supplemental lighting for the best results.  I also give the pots a quarter turn every fee days to keep the plants growing straight and expose the entire plant to the sunshine.

Watering the plants also takes some practice.  Because the humidity is very low here, I check the water levels every couple of days with a meter. I will mist the plants every couple of days to increase the humidity levels.  The plants seem to love the showers but don’t over do it or you will interfere with blossom set or invite sun scald as light penetrates the water droplets. Over watering your plants is easy to do in the winter as the soil on the top of the planter might feel dry, but an inch or two down the roots could be drowning.  Don’t guess!  More indoor plants die from over watering.  We literally kill them with kindness!

Because we use well water, we have to use a water softener that uses salt.  Periodically, I take several inches of soil from around the plants and replace it with fresh compost from my compost pile.  The extra nutrition gives the plants a boost and reduces salt accumulation in the pots. If you don’t compost available I suggest using the bagged soil from your garden center. It is also very helpful to gently “till” the soil in the planters.  I use a small shovel and just turn the dirt over to the depth of a couple of inches.  I only do this when the soil looks and feels compacted. This aeration is good for the roots as it makes it easier for the roots to penetrate the soil.

Some flowering plants need help in the reproductive cycle.  With no bees inside for the winter, you will need to pollinate some of the plants by hand.  This is very easy to do with a small very soft paint brush.  Just touch one blossom and then another on the pistil, the center of the flower.  I make a habit of pollinating over a couple of days to make sure I touch each blossom.  Tomatoes and potatoes need the help, where peas, beans, greens, and herbs do not.

This week I started some sugar snap peas in hanging pots.  Since the weather is just starting to turn, I keep the pots outside on the deck.  As soon as the nighttime temps dip into the low forties, I’ll bring them in and hang the pots on chains.  As the peas grow up they will become top heavy.  That’s when I will help them drape over the pot edges.  In a few weeks the lovely pea plants will dangle down and the pea blossoms will be a sight for winter weary sore eyes!

Have fun experimenting.  I recommend you start with rapidly growing veggies like radishes, green onions, and mixed salad greens.  When you are rewarded with fresh produce, you’ll be encouraged to add cherry tomatoes and sugar snap peas to your “garden”.  When you add this new skill to your life you will gain great satisfaction in knowing you are becoming more self reliant. There is something to be said for surrounding yourself in a lovely indoor garden and watch the snow fly from the warmth of your home!  Happy gardening!

Letter Re: Cartridge Lead Hygiene

Jim,
Any serious firearms enthusiast should know the basic makeup of most ammunition normally includes a lead containing primer and projectile and while this does not present an immediately serious hazard per se, anyone planning on handling ammunition and firearms should be mindful of the risk of prolonged exposure to lead components and both pre- and post-TEOTWAWKI, take precautions to protect themselves.

As an Army reservist for eight years (doing the occasional field exercise with blank ammunition and the annual range qualification), we would eat our IMP rations after loading hundreds of magazines without a second thought towards washing our hands. Likewise, after leaving the military and getting into competitive shooting and reloading, I would come home during my lunch hours, load 50 rounds of 9mm while I waited for my lunch to heat up, and de-prime brass while eating.

About a year ago, I started working part time at as a range safety officer (RSO) at a local indoor shooting range where mandatory blood lead level (BLL) tests were required annually. Much to my dismay, I discovered, my BLL was much higher than the community average to the point that I would almost have to quit my RSO job if I didn`t get it under control. It was then that I discovered that my lead hygiene was deplorable and I had to change my habits with regard to the primary source of lead in my life – i.e. guns and ammo. For your readers, here are some tips I have adopted which, after repeated testing, have helped lower my BLL to a safe level, despite shooting regularly and working at an indoor range:

1. Stock up and use lead removing soap. I use Esca D-lead soap and keep a bottle by every sink in my house, my vehicle, my BOB, in the shower, and by my laundry washing machine. Normal soap does not remove most of the lead that is on your skin and clothing, so special lead removing soap is a must.Wash your hands with D-lead for at least 30 seconds anytime you handle firearms or ammunition, especially if you are eating shortly after. I always have a shower when I come home from the range using D-lead body wash and I also separate my range clothes from my regular clothes and wash them with extra D-lead laundry detergent.

2. Get proper PPE. When sweeping up brass or moving forward of the firing line at the end of the day, I always make sure I wear a P100 dust mask. Likewise, when reloading, I wear rubber, disposable mechanics gloves whenever handling all components. I know a lot of IPSC shooters who shoot at my range wearing the same masks, but honestly, knowing the layout of the ventilation of my range (discussed below), I’m not too worried about it when I shoot personally.

3. Observe the ventilation of any range you shoot at. Indoor ranges are as a rule of thumb always worse than shooting outdoors for lead contamination – however at my range, there are massive air ventilation ducts blowing fresh air into the firing line, towards the backstop. Most often if I’m at the firing line I don’t wear a mask, however, if moving forward I always do.

4. Mind your ammo. The best ammo to shoot to reduce lead contamination is usually CMJ (complete metal jacket), TMJ (total metal jacket), or BEB (brass enclosed bottom), or CP (copper plated). FMJ (Full metal jacket) is ok, however be mindful of the fact that a lot of FMJ bullets have an exposed lead bottom bullet which generates some lead particulate when fired. I really do not recommend shooting lead ammunition unless outdoors or while wearing at least a N95 dust mask. I find it inconsiderate when people shoot high volume lead bullets (especially .22s) inside an indoor range, however, if that’s all your range allows so be it. Just be aware that cast lead bullets are the worst both to reload and for overall air quality when shooting in high volumes. They say most of the lead contamination you are exposed to comes from the primer, so one possible consideration would be to find non-toxic, lead free primers. Given the current ammunition shortage across North America, I’d say to you “good luck with that.”

5. Chelation. Anecdotally, I did some research online and found that there are natural chelating agents, such as vitamin C which help remove heavy metals (like lead) from the blood stream. For about a year, I tried taking 1000 mg of vitamin C, spaced out during the day while drinking at least 2 liters of water. I don`t know if it is medically verified that my practice actually worked, but my latest blood test came back normal, and vitamin C is an essential vitamin to keep on hand anyway.

Lastly, don’t get too bummed out over lead contamination. Yes, lead is a toxic substance, but no, you won’t die right away from having some exposure to it. Especially pre-TEOTWAWKI, the value of properly training with your weapons enormously outweighs the downside of some lead exposure. Post-TEOTWAWKI, probably one of the last things on your mind would be proper your lead hygiene – however, settling into a routine of handling guns and ammo, reloading, etc. it wouldn’t hurt to exercise at least a little due diligence and wash your hands and face with D-lead before you eat. I hope that helps, thank you and God bless. – J.L.

Three Letters Re: No Law Enforcement in TEOTWAWKI

Sir, I would like to thank Ron M. for his posting on the potential future scarcity of Law Enforcement officers in future large-scale TEOTWAWKI events. It was one of the few writings that reflects what I’ve witnessed here in my area as well. My brother, and many of my friends are LEOs, and after having discussed some of these things with them I was made quite aware of the accuracy of Ron’s assessment. Most urban departments are issued periodic ‘alerts’ and ‘warnings’ of potential future threats from Homeland Security and other agencies. They are requested to draft up plans to manage various different potential threat contingencies, and are often given lists of ‘recommended’ equipment their departments should purchase. The sad truth is that most of the time these potential threats, contingencies, and any recommended planning is largely ignored across the US. Municipalities, Counties, and local government budgets have always operated Law Enforcement on shoe-string budgets while much of the administrative workers and politicians enjoy being overpaid for ‘performing’ a bare minimum level of service / work.

Prior to these tough economic times, and prior to 9/11/2001, many departments were still having a difficult time merely purchasing a bare minimum of ammunition for their officers to utilize in practice, training, and barely met qualification requirements. Typically this is the case for more rural departments, while some urban or suburban departments are provided with a few more resources and funding. The sad truth is that these officers usually do not receive any additional training for contingency threats; they do not receive any of the ‘recommended’ equipment which many of their departments cannot possibly afford, and they do not get paid nearly enough to endanger the lives of their families in such a large-scale event in order to care for those who likewise chose to ignore warnings from various governmental agencies.

Most of the friends I’ve talked with told me with no uncertainty that in the event of such a large-scale TEOTWAWKI event they would immediately see to the safety and protection of their families first. Urban / Suburban officers have informed me that to stick around might be suicide, and most would bug out as soon as possible. Rural officers, and some SWAT people have informed me that they would stay put, but they haven’t done much to plan or prepare for any threat contingencies. Many are quite heavily armed, but do not have a significant supply of ammunition on hand, and most have not made any effort to store any food or other emergency supplies. Two of them have gone so far as to tell me that they would harshly control the populace, put them on ‘lock down’ (or whatever their delusional version of that might be), and that the people would be so thankful for them having ‘restored order’ that him and his family will be graciously and handsomely rewarded and showered with food and goods to provide for their basic living needs. Seriously, some of them are downright delusional in their assessments of potential future TEOTWAWKI events.

Considering current economic problems, Department budgets cut even further, and LEOs often being required to purchase their own ammunition and protective equipment with little or no reimbursement (only a tax deduction), most officers are woefully unprepared for long-term serious emergencies. Some Departments have passed on grant money or other funding to help officers purchase some of the ‘recommended’ equipment (gas masks, riot gear, other tools for civil unrest and NBC threats, etc.) – the officers on an individual level are not being educated in specifically what equipment they should purchase, how to use it, store it, and carry it on hand in the event that it’s needed. Many departments will make uneducated purchases of equipment that often isn’t effective, doesn’t fit their officers, and doesn’t bother to train them with the use of that equipment. This solely for the purpose of then showing the DPS or other agencies how good of a job they’re doing in response to these ever-changing threats and contingency plans. Often the equipment is then stored improperly, doesn’t fit (gas masks, NBC Suits, etc.) and they are either ruined, unfit for use, or are returned to their suppliers shortly thereafter. As such, I’ve been shopping at local Law Enforcement Supply stores to purchase many of my Emergency supply goods. Often I find $250 NBC gas masks on sale for $50 because a Department or Officer ordered the wrong size. Simply purchase new, freshly sealed replacement filters, follow the cleaning and storage instructions, test the equipment, and then put it away in a convenient and properly prepared storage location. Make sure it’s organized, labeled, and quickly accessible. It’s a good place to find some decent clearance deals.

One must always have the tools, training, and preparations necessary to hand any potential threat in life, and you cannot depend upon emergency services to provide for your immediate rescue from harm. Only God, yourself, and your family can be relied upon to get you through potentially life-threatening emergencies. EMS / Police / Fire are secondary. God Bless! – Mathew L.

James:
Ron M.’s recent advice to not count on law enforcement is sound, and many of us have personal experiences that back that up.

However, his statement that “Only states like Louisiana that have passed emergency disaster laws protecting guns from police seizure will maintain any sort of civility or order in a disaster” overlooks the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006. The law isn’t perfect, but after Katrina is was passed to prohibit the confiscation of personal firearms in a disaster. It does not apply to everyone, but it very clearly applies to “officer or employee of the United States (including any member of the uniformed services), or person operating pursuant to or under color of Federal law, or receiving Federal funds, or under control of any Federal official, or providing services to such an officer, employee, or other person, while acting in support of relief from a major disaster or emergency”. It’s hard to imagine any law enforcement agency today that does not receive federal funds for one thing or another, so this law should actually help.

You can read the full text online. It might even be worth printing out and keeping a copy in your G.O.O.D. gear. – Todd in Virginia

 

Mr. JWR,
I would like to congratulate you on what I believe is one of the most righteous and informative survival blogs on the net. You are my main go-to information source before I make a decision on a prep, you and your bloggers have amassed a wealth of information. I have enjoyed your books as well and I am eagerly awaiting the sequels.

In response to Ron’s article, I have been a cop for 30+ years now. I started in a rural Sheriffs Office, got bored and after a year went on to become a big city cop (BCC). After I retired I swore another oath as a Deputy Sheriff in larger more rural county. I believe Ron is correct in his synopsis , there will not be much LE if there is a TEOTWAWKI situation via a NBC attack, meteor strike, volcano et cetera.

Over the years I too have inquired my brother/sister leo’s mindset on this topic. Amongst the BCC the largest percentage will go and take care/be with their families in their time of need. A few, mostly the young ones with no families yet said they would stay on as long as they felt they could make a difference. The senior cops know the futility of the law enforcement situation with the Golden Horde and would bug out/in with their families, BTW these are the ones that are most prepared and think like us.

Most BCC cops are not gun enthusiasts, they’ll have a handgun or two, maybe a shotgun and minimal ammo supplies, no kit or MBR. Now keep in mind there are exceptions. Now that I have been in a rural peace officer setting I can tell you that there is a mindset difference between most rural cops and most BCC, naturally there are exceptions. Rural deputies have to be somewhat more self sufficient, some nights my backup is 45 minutes away at 120 m.p.h., versus 2-3 minutes when I was a BCC. Most of us carry at least a AR-15, I carry a SOCOM 16 as well with plenty of ammo for each. My trunk kit has everything I need to survive/manage most of the situations I would encounter.

I believe in a TEOTWAWKI situation the deputies in the more rural areas would continue to function longer because:
1.) more tend to have the “Country boy can survive mentality”
2) their families are more extended and they can pull their resources together better than some city families.
3) most country folk are armed, many armed better than you can imagine, “an armed society is a polite society”
4) will not have the hordes of people to deal with like in the cities.
5) A strong Sheriff, a sworn Constitutional officer, can be a great influence if he has the leadership ability. He can unite his deputies to best assist the populace that needs the most help.

You know I am more concerned about the law enforcement role in a non TEOTWAWKI event, such as government austerity enforcement role or say a monetary collapse. Always remember: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer ” – Psalm 18:2

Best Wishes, – LawDawg

Economics and Investing:

Watch the US Dollar Index. As I’ve mentioned before, 72 is he threshold to watch for. Below that, there could be huge currency trading turmoil, and formal devaluations.

Reader Richard H. sent us this ominous article: Financial stability set back by debt woes: IMF. Here is a quote: “However, the fund said banks had made less progress in dealing with near-term funding pressures — nearly $4 trillion of bank debt needs to be refinanced in the next 24 months. ‘Overall, bank balance sheets need to be further bolstered to ensure financial stability against funding shocks and to prevent adverse feedback loops with the real economy,’ the IMF said.”

Middle Class Slams Brakes on Spending

Stimulus Check Winners: Prisoners, Dead People

Tangibles, tangibles, tangibles: The Most Profitable Industries for the Next Three Years

Items from The Economatrix:

Housing Slump Hammers Local Government Tax Revenues

Norcini, Sinclair: Financial Hurricane To Collapse The System

US Loan Delinquencies Rise For First Time in a Year, ABA Says

Yellow Hoard (The Mogambo Guru)

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“I invest in anything that Bernanke can’t destroy, including gold, canned beans, bottled water and flashlight batteries.” – David Stockman October, 2010. (Stockman was Budget Director in the Reagan Administration)

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 31 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round will include:

First Prize: A.) 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 between $500 and $600, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees, in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $392 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A 500 round case of Fiocchi 9mm Parabellum (Luger ) with 124gr. Hornady XTP/HP projectiles, courtesy of Sunflower Ammo (a $249 value), and E.) An M17 medical kit from JRH Enterprises (a $179.95 value).

Second Prize: A.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $400, B.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and C.) two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Third Prize: A.) A copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, from Arbogast Publishing, and B.) a Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.)

Round 31 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Our Preps are Portable, by Dan W.

Prepping has a distinct vein that runs through each choice my family has made to better prepare ourselves for the possibility of the social upheaval that seems to be inching nearer each and every day. Our preps are portable. They have to be, due to the uncertainty of where my family will be in the near future. Over the last six years my family has moved six times, as my jobs changed and the family grew. Due to this movement, the rising price of houses in our area, and being at the very beginning of my earning curve made buying a house an impossibility. We have rented or lived in a parsonage without the long term assurance of owning property that most preppers and non-preppers crave. By default and without really thinking ahead, my wife and I have developed a lifestyle that is heavy on skills and light on infrastructure. If we need to move again (God willing the next move will be the last) the life skills we are developing are the lightest things we own and don’t require cardboard boxes, moving trucks or obliging friends and family. Though I long for an off-grid home and farm I am inspired by this page on SurvivalBlog.

As JWR says, “Survival isn’t about stuff, it’s about skills.”

Below are some of the skills that my wife and I have been developing over that last few years that will be with us for the rest of our lives. The journey has been bumpy but I know that each time I finish a new project the feeling of confidence and competence is worth every ounce of sweat and failure along the way.

Gardening

I love it. Nothing says self sufficiency like producing your own food. However, after five years of gardens I’ve learned that just because you can grow it doesn’t mean you’ll want to eat it. Everyone says “grow open pollinating heirlooms” and rightfully so. They are sustainable in the sense that you can save the seeds and they will grow true. That doesn’t always mean that they will taste the same as what you are use to from the store. Sometimes this is a boon to the taste buds, ala heirloom tomatoes, while on the other hand we have yet to come up with an open pollinating variety of sweet corn that we found even to be palatable. One other lesson I’ve taken to heart, spread your rows wide enough to get the tiller through. Your back, knees, wrists, ankles and moral will thank you.

Always be trying new things. This year we tried Ground Cherries (which were a hit) and Sweet Potatoes (jury is still out). This fall we are planting winter wheat. Focus the bulk of your efforts though on what you like to eat, stores well and grows well in your area.

Meat Chickens

We just completed an eight week adventure of raising 24 Cornish Cross meat chickens in a bottomless movable cage called a chicken tractor. They came in the mail chirping away, weighing a couple of ounces and now grace our freezer dressed out around four pounds apiece. Raising our own meat birds was an exercise in getting real about our food. Gardening is great but a parsnip doesn’t look you in the eye before you kill it. Introducing our kids to the idea that an animal lives with the purpose of dying and being used for our sustenance was eye opening not just for our little girls but for their dad as well. It was a small glimpse into how far we have isolated ourselves from the fact that death truly is a part of life. Practically speaking I can tell you that I learned a lot on butchering day.

  • If you’re working in the sun use sun block. (Obviously.) The first chicken to get cooked was me.
  • Killing 24 living, breathing sentient beings takes a toll emotionally. We didn’t actually eat any of our chicken for two weeks.
  • Make sure the table on which you are gutting and breaking down your birds is tall enough so that you don’t have to stoop.
  • Just do it. Gutting and killing is gross but necessary. I focused on technique to take my mind off of what I was doing. By the way, there are excellent how-to videos on Youtube.

Maple Syrup

One of the handiest tools I’ve ever purchased is a Turkey Fryer I bought at Target for half price. I’ve used it to scald chickens, parboil large amounts of corn for freezing and this spring made maple syrup for the first time with it. Though it’s not super efficient for making large amounts of syrup I did produce almost a gallon of the sweet stuff and learned that there are things that can’t be learned from a book. Finishing maple syrup to the proper consistence is something I have to put more time into but fortunately the “golden delicious” is pretty forgiving and can be boiled down further should it be too thin or thinned out with water should it be too thick. It also is the sort of food stuff that can be produced with nothing more than a wood fire and a pot and can be saved in canning jars without even a water bath as long as the jars have been cleaned and sterilized. Should the syrup mold it’s relatively easy to skim the mold off and re-boil the syrup for edibility. I am convinced mankind will never reach a total and complete TEOTWAWKI scenario as long as we still have maple syrup to hold us together.

Pressing Cider

Wild apples abound in our neck of the woods and my kids love cider. Pick it, squash it and drink it sums up our experience. For the best taste, in my humble opinion, mix a sweet purchased apple with plenty of wild apples. Make sure you only use apples off the tree to eliminate the risk of bacteria they can pick up on the ground. Only grind and press apples that do not have bad spots on them. Most people who have wild apple trees on their property are more than happy to let you harvest them, but ask first. Relationships are more important than free fruit.

Using a Chainsaw

Instead of purchasing cut and split wood last winter my wife and I opted to buy a load of logs and with the help of a couple of family members who are exceptionally competent with chainsaws we sawed nearly the entire load up in a single day. Never having used a chainsaw before I must say that I was somewhat intimidated by the snarling beast but seven hours of cutting left me feeling like I had a basic understanding of how to safely use this enormously efficient tool. I can only imagine a world where white collar people like myself are thrust into situations where they feel forced to use a tool like a chainsaw without proper instruction and supervision while they get their feet under themselves. Recently I was introduced to the reality that with a lack of antibiotics in a SHTF scenario would greatly increase the risk of dying of infection. This had never occurred to me. How many people (even preppers) will needlessly suffer and die from horrible self inflicted wounds and subsequent infections due to using powerful tools that they are not prepared to use? Not my preferred way to go…

There are a bunch of other things we’ve been working on worth mentioning but due to space I will just summarize: Preserving food via drying and canning, raising chickens for eggs, using a rifle to scare woodchucks away from my garden (someday I’ll hit one, I’m working on this) and identifying, preparing, and consuming wild edibles on the property we are renting has kept us busy over the last 12 months. We also plan on trying beekeeping and perhaps micro fish farming (a tiny farm, not tiny fish) though the infrastructure requirements may be too expensive for us right now.

We rarely get everything we want in life. If I could have a retreat, a 1968 Ford Bronco, 40 acres and an arsenal of cool firearms then I’d be happy as a clam but that’s not where my wife and I are in our life. Instead we have substituted a willing heart to try new things and to fail if we must, an eye for projects that expand our repertoire of skills and a network of friends and family members who we regularly mine for information about what’s worked for them. We trust that will be enough to tackle the challenges life has for us until the day we can add the infrastructure we aspire to.

Product Review: KelTec PMR30, by Michael Z. Williamson

KelTec is renowned for interesting designs in modern plastic and metal. The KelTec PMR30 continues this. I’d been eager to get hold of one for months, and was quite happy when I did. I only had it for a couple of hours, so my testing was limited.

The PMR30 is a .22 Magnum semi-auto pistol with a 30 round magazine. It has a hybrid blowback/locked breech system that enables it to shoot several different loadings and weights of ammo, depending on chamber pressure. It has an ambidextrous safety, an easy to reach heel magazine release, a forward rail for lights or other accessories, and can accept a top rail or other mounts. Barrel is 4140 steel, frame 7075 aluminum, and all the supporting material is Zytel. It looks very thin and light in construction with its fluted barrel, but is quite sturdy and mechanically sound. Function was very consistent.

It has enough suppressing fire to last several minutes, and sufficient power for small game, or combat stops with multiple hits. With 30 rounds, there’s enough ammo for either.

Empty, the pistol weighs about 13 ounces and feels like a toy. I thought it felt like 5 ounces, honestly. There was nothing to it. I found the grip comfortable, the controls easy to reach, and it pointed very well. Loaded up, it was grip heavy enough for good balance, but still very light. The trigger had a little slack, but was very consistent. I wasn’t able to measure the pull, but it was easily manageable (KelTec claims 4-to-6 pounds, and it felt right in the middle). The fiber optic sights were bright and very friendly, aligned easily with the grip angle. I didn’t do any rest shooting, but off hand was all within silhouette at 15 yards, unfamiliar with the weapon and without doing any real aiming. I just pointed and shot.

I had one stovepipe with rounds tumbled in the magazine during extreme rapid fire. I may have slack-wristed it and recoil jumbled them faster than the follower spring could move. It cleared easily, there were no other problems, and Oleg Volk and others had no issues at all.

I enjoyed the really high capacity magazine a lot. It just doesn’t seem to run out of ammo, and magazines change very fast once it does. It came with two mags, and two more spares would give 120 rounds of suppressing fire, which is plenty for evading trouble and reaching a heavier gun, or could serve as a defensive arm with multiple hits, or is potent enough for small game if stranded in a remote location. It easily fits in a console, under a seat, in a holster, or anywhere else you’d need a backup weapon. Given the very reasonable price, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have one in each bailout bag for commonality of parts and ammo.

The only other downside would be that .22 Magnum is less available than some other rounds, but, it’s light enough to stockpile a few 500 round cartons ahead of time. – SurvivalBlog Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson, author of the new science fiction novel Do Unto Others.