Inflation Watch:

Today I’m launching a new blog column, titled Inflation Watch. It is intended to expose the myth that “there’s no inflation” at present here in the United States and in other First World countries. I’m not sure if this column will become a permanent fixture at SurvivalBlog, but given the recent massive government overspending and monetization, I suspect that I’ll have plenty of material for Inflation Watch.. If you have any present-day personal accounts, or if you spot any news items that show significant inflation, then please e-mail the links to me. These can include details on the shrinking sizes of food and other consumer -packaged goods. Thanks! Here are my initial offerings.

A recent stop at a rural fruit stand gave me some sticker shock. The sign proclaimed: “Cherries $1.00”, but once under the tent, I learned that the standard-size baskets were priced at $6, the quarter-baskets were $2, and it was their micro baskets that held perhaps 8 to 10 cherries that were $1. Needless to say, I drove on.

Last weekend my family visited a National Park. A sign announced that annual passes are now $80. But when I bought my current pass (last December), it cost $50.

On a recent consulting trip to a more populous state, I heard a gas station owner brag that his price for unleaded gas was “…only $3.13 a gallon.”

My son mentioned that half-gallon ice cream cartons have been almost universally replaced with 1.75-quart and now even 1.5-quart cartons. So does this mean that ice cream is now 25% less fattening?

Odds ‘n Sods:

Odds ‘n Sods:

M.T. and S.M. both sent this: Appleseed Teaching History with Guns.

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K.A.F. flagged this item: Egg Recall 2010

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M.S. mentioned a mail order source for aluminum powder and iron oxide (thermite components). Of course, check your state and local laws before ordering. Thermite could come in handy someday, for your emergency welding needs. (For a description of some potential uses, see my novel: “Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse“ )

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Near civil war between town and country was a pervasive feature of this break-down in social order. Large mobs of half-starved and vindictive townsmen descended on villages to seize food from farmers accused of hoarding. The diary of one young woman described the scene at her cousin’s farm: ‘In the cart I saw three slaughtered pigs. The cowshed was drenched in blood. One cow had been slaughtered where it stood and the meat torn from its bones. The monsters had slit the udder of the finest milch cow, so that she had to be put out of her misery immediately. In the granary, a rag soaked with petrol was still smouldering to show what these beasts had intended,’ she wrote.” – Adam Fergusson, When Money Dies: the Nightmare of The Weimar Hyper-Inflation

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 30 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, and B.) 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 30 ends on September 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.

Budgeting for Family Preparedness, by Allen C.

Having been a wilderness survival and firearms instructor for many years, I never considered the need for a survival retreat until I got married and moved from the country to a small city of about 30,000.  My minimalist lifestyle had allowed me a certain level of financial freedom.  Driving used cars and fixing up a home that had been previously condemned meant I had not made a car payment or house payment in years.  I spent summers running a high adventure camp for the Boy Scouts of America and worked for city the rest of the year as a firefighter and HAZMAT Technician.  I also managed a real estate investment trust that purchased distressed properties for resale on installment. 

For most of my life I lived in the same small town where I grew up.  My ancestors had been there for generations, carving a life out of Appalachia after immigrating from Wales.  Our economic inactivity and rural location gave us some buffer against the downward spiral of society.  I would find out later that we were much more independent than the majority of Americans.  I remember being shocked the first time I met someone who could not replace the wax seal on their own toilet.  I was very close to my grandfather who grew up during the Great Depression.  He had a backup for everything.  Like most modern homes, his had a gas furnace and heat pump.  He also installed a natural gas heater that required no electric fan and a coal furnace backup “just in case the gas line froze.”  This is the atmosphere in which I grew up.  I never wondered why we had a big garden and multiple freezers.  Where else would we put the hogs we raised and butchered? 

I guess I figured that if small town life became intolerable, I could melt into the wilderness reappearing only when I needed provision from my food storage.  Growing up around Amish and Mennonites I maintained a year’s supply of food to hedge income fluctuations.  I knew before I got married that most women prefer luxuries like central heat and toilets that flush without a bucket of water.  So when we married, I moved into her home in her small city and immediately felt uneasy.  I was no longer self-sufficient.  I had lost my independence.  I recognized our need for a safe house, a mortgage-free self-sufficient retreat that we could get to on foot if necessary.  My new wife is no prepper, but agreed that I could spend whatever I sold my house for on whatever I wanted if it made me feel more comfortable about my move to the city. 

This is the story of some of the major changes I have made thus far.  I have never made a lot of money, but half of those on the planet survive on less than $2 per day and I earned more than that so the only obstacle between me and savings was self-discipline.  I do not know what to tell someone who has consumed as much or more than they produced their entire life.  Those who insist on living like the rest of the world will die like the rest of the world.  I do not know what the future holds, but I do know that if we always do what we have always done, then we will always get what we have always gotten.  I share this narrative in hopes that my experience will sensitize the reader to opportunities in their own lives.  Luck is when opportunity meets preparation.  Maybe something here will help someone make their own luck.  Many of the smaller purchases have been omitted.  Few people want to hear how I bought windows for my retreat at the local thrift store although almost everything except the lumber itself is previously owned.  I have better things to do with my time than salvage lumber.  There are things I would have been done better with more money, but my goal was to shift existing resources whenever possible and stay within my budget.  Early last year, I built a house in Honduras as part of a mission team.  The Hondurans taught me to live an abundant life with very little money.  I learned to build and cook on a mud stove.  The daily lives of the very poor provided a lot of survival insight and ideas.  I have included a breakdown of my revenues and expenses.  These transactions all occurred in Appalachia and amounts will vary by region.

Selling My Home During Recession
Since no bank would dare finance my dilapidated house, I sold it and the adjacent lot on installment to a qualified buyer for my original cost of $9,000.  I bought it years ago on installment for what the seller was going to have to pay to tear it down.  In the past year I received revenue as follows:
Down payment $2,000
Monthly payments (one year)  2,000
Total received   4,000
Net Cash Flow $4,000

 

Guns
I fell into my first major purchase when I bought a gun collection from someone I knew who had been charged with a felony.  It would be illegal to own them after his trial and he needed cash.  I subsequently sold the ones I did not want ending up with 9 guns (including a handgun) for $1,350.  While the collection came with some ammunition, I waited for sales and spent another $500 on ammo. 
Beginning balance $4,000
Purchase gun collection -1,500
Sold junk guns +  150
Bought additional ammo –   500
Ending balance $2,150

 

Pantry
Like most people, my new wife bought things as she needed them.  We immediately bought three month’s worth of staples for the pantry for $650.  This included six gallons of bleach and three ceramic water filter kits for about $35 each if we need to drink water from the 10 acre lake behind us. 
Beginning balance $2,150
Pantry upgrade –   650
Ending balance $1,500

 

Vehicle
I faithfully searched web sites for a pre-electronic diesel 4WD which I eventually found in good working order for $1,500.  I immediately sold my high mileage Chrysler 300M to a Facebook friend for the same amount.
Beginning balance $1,500
1989 Ford F-250 diesel -1,500
Sold Chrysler 300M +1,500
Ending balance $1,500

 

Land
At one time I attempted to form a group to buy land together.  After getting banned from a few Yahoo groups for Spam, I gave up and decided to find like minded neighbors instead.  I rolled a small retirement account from a previous employer into a self-directed IRA that allows me to purchase real estate.  Every morning for four months I checked the multiple listing service (MLS) for new listings in my target area.  I immediately drove to new listings myself contacting the listing agent directly if I was still interested.   The acreage purchased in the name of my Roth IRA trustee for $5,000 is exempt from bankruptcy assets and cannot be easily attached by creditors (if I had any) because it is in a qualified retirement plan.  I had to hike up the gated road it lies on after a snow storm to see the property which was being liquidated as part of a divorce settlement.  My initiative made me the first of many offers for the asking price.
Beginning balance $1,500
Roth IRA funding +5,000
Purchase acreage -5,000
IRA fees –   200
Ending balance $1,300

 

Precious Metals
I have a state employee retirement plan which allows me to borrow up to 45% of the value.  I diversified by doing so and using the funds to buy precious metals at the end of January because historical charts showed it almost always rises from there.  It has. 
Beginning balance $1,300
Retirement loan None of Your Business
Precious metals None of Your Business
Ending balance $1,300

 

Long-term Food Storage
Not everything needs to be freeze-dried and nitrogen packed.  Those things were purchased online from Costco where every year I also order a bucket of survival seeds.  Grains came from a bulk food co-op (ask around) truck route and packed in Mylar-lined buckets with oxygen absorbers.  Other things were purchased from the local warehouse club.  ($1,250-$1,250=$0)
Beginning balance $1,300
Long-term food storage -1,300
Ending balance $    -0-

 

The Retreat
Since my acreage is held through an IRA, I am not to make improvements to it that are not funded by my IRA.  Anything on blocks, however, is considered personal property and not real estate.  I could build slowly as installment payments on the house I sold came in, but want to finish this month, so I am using some of my windfall extended unemployment compensation to build a fortified, insulated, building that sleeps six.  It has a wood/coal stove (that I bought years ago for $200) and a rain catchment system.  My solar power system and other valuables are in a rented metal storage unit close to the retreat.  When I actually use the retreat, it will be considered a distribution of my account, but that will be the least of my troubles. 
Beginning balance $     -0-
Remaining land contract +5,000
Retreat building costs   -4,000
Ending balance $ 1,000
    

Letter Re: Finding Utility in Plastic Sodapop Bottles

James,
I have just been at the sink filling water bottles. I know you say to leave the sodas alone, and for the most part I do, but occasionally I enjoy a glass of Coca-Cola. Okay, more than occasionally, but we will move on. We also attend family gatherings and church socials where refreshments are served. There are also all those school events coming up, for those still involved in public school where people will have to provide refreshments for different occasions. Instead of the cans of soda, buy the 2 liter plastic jugs. Re-use the jugs by washing them well and then refilling with water. Add a drop of two extra of bleach and voila, you have jugged storage water.

I have recently had a short term TEOTWAWKI situation where these filled bottles came in handy. Two weeks or so ago we had a wonderful rain storm. We needed it badly, and was so thankful for it. My sister was over and I was at the sink filling bottles. I had about six bottles filled and turned around to get some more. The storm had a lot of lightning in it and we had a small flash of the lightning. I just thought the power had dropped for a moment. I turned back to the sink and there was not a drop of water that would come out of the faucet. That quickly–no water! That small power drop was actually lightning hitting an 8″ water main somewhere up on the highway. We had no city water for several hours. We have a large generator and well, so I actually could have used that water source, but many people do not have that luxury–city water is it. I’m sure there were several folks in my community that had no other water that day. Fill them up and stick them in the bottom of a closet or under a bed that is high enough off the floor to accommodate them. Check occasionally for leaks, but I do not ever recall having one. Recently a whole county in my state had their water supply cut off for four days during the over 100 degree weather. Some of these stored up would have eased a bad situation at least for cooking, making coffee or tea or even having a washcloth bath.

Also these can be frozen and used in an ice chest while grocery shopping, or for ice for a large crowd, or for sore muscles, bruises, etc. Anytime you are somewhere where these bottles are being used, save them or volunteer to take the trash out and save the bottles in your vehicle if you do not want anyone to question why you want them. I am always looking for ways to reuse something to save money and although this is simple idea every little bit helps. Thanks for all you do, it is a tremendous help to my family.

JWR Replies: Clear HDPE plastic water bottles have a large number of uses. In addition to innumerable uses as storage containers, they can also be used for gardening hot caps, by cutting off their bottoms. This, BTW, also turns a bottle into a practical funnel. Anyone living in earthquake country should consider them their primary containers for short term water storage. If they tumble off a shelf in an an earthquake, they’ll likely survive. You can also make a wasp trap by cutting a bottle in half and inserting the inverted the top half into the bottom half. Wash and save every bottle!

Economics and Investing:

US Bankruptcies Reach Nearly Five Year High, up 11 percent from a year ago.

Items from The Economatrix:

Some Stores Finding Deep Discounts Aren’t Enough

Factories Aid Bumpy Recovery, Housing Still Weak

Russian Grain Export Ban Starts

The Purpose Behind the Engineered Economic Collapse

The Dallas Fed Reminds that the Economy is Doing Much Worse than in the Administration’s Worst Nightmare

Another Threat to Economy: Boomers Cutting Back

Odds ‘n Sods:

Bob G. recommended this piece over at Warrior Talk: High Risk Operator – Rural Patrolling

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This news story from California sent in by Jacob P. illustrates the peril of rural camping in an exposed area: Three arrested in foothills camp robbery. Anyone that plans to bug out to a public park should re-think their strategy.

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Leland Teschler’s Editorial: How Much Power Does It Take to Run a Wind Turbine? (Thanks to Don W. for the link.)

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EMB flagged this: For Lean Budgets, a Plug-and-Play Solar Array.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Posterity! You will never know, how much it cost the present Generation, to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make a good Use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it." – John Adams

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 30 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, and B.) 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 30 ends on September 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.

Survival Skills and Gear, Part 1: Bug Out Kits and Bugging Out, by E.F.

Introduction

If the normal daily routine of our lives is suddenly and violently interrupted by events large and dangerous (such as major riots, natural disasters, or a a terrorist nuke) how prepared are we to “bug out?”

If it’s time to leave, and leave immediately, are we ready? What do we take? Important papers? Guns and ammo? Food and water? Clothes? Camping gear? Baby diapers and sani-wipes? Family photos? Medicine?

And where do we go? A friend’s farm? A wilderness cabin or campground?A small town? And what direction? Upwind? Downstream? How do we travel? By foot, or car, or bicycle?

If you live in a city, and the warning will give you just enough time to get out of town before the freeways and roads are clogged with desperate people, what goes in the car (or on your back or bicycle)?

First, if you have to think about it and gather the pieces when it happens, you’re already too late. It must be in the car, or in the hall closet, fully prepared, and ready to go at a moment’s notice.

This post will talk about the quick, leave-instantly kit. In this case, minutes count and you will literally run to the closet, grab a day pack already prepared, grab the prepared pouch of important papers from your desk, and run to the car. Now. Right now.

You must move ahead of the pack. Most people will hesitate and wait for more information. This is your exit window, so don’t miss it. Be mentally and physically prepared to jump and run instantly. I do mean run.

General Notes

You should never have less than a half-tank of fuel in your vehicle. Keep your tank topped. If you’re taking a bicycle, have the bike carrier on the car, and the bike ready in the garage. If your primary retreat location is far, have those extra gas cans full and ready to pop into the truck quickly. There will be no stopping for fuel in a bug out scene.

The car or truck should have all its necessary gear carried at all times. Spare tire, or two. Jack and mini-air compressor. Extra set of keys in a key-safe. This is a minimum. Future installments of this article will discuss the “bug out vehicle” in greater detail

Your “Bug Out” day pack should have only the most critical items, and should be easily carried. If the car fails, or traffic is clogged, you must plan on being on foot or bicycle and a large heavy pack will not do. Moving quickly may be paramount to survival, and walking, jogging or bicycling may be necessary to get beyond a critical danger zone.

Each town or city will require different preparations for bugging out, so this is a general outline. If you’re living in New York, your needs may differ greatly from someone in Kansas City, Los Angeles or Taos. Give your specific location, escape route and destination some thought in preparing a kit.

Even for those folks already living in a secure retreat, and already hunkered down, having a bug out kit is a good idea. There may be a time during the worst chaos when supposedly secure places might be overrun by starving, aggressive, pillaging hordes or be in the track of a violent storm or nuclear fallout cloud.

Having stocks of food and supplies hidden, even near your primary retreat location, and being able to leave that retreat while the madness burns itself out and the crazies temporarily occupy your safe house, may save your life. When things quiet, you can return. If you are prepared, you may be able to re-take your retreat, but not if you have no extra goodies stashed and accessible, and no bug out kit to get you to that stash.

Your secured supplies should be underground, fireproof, vermin-proof and well camouflaged. Multiple caches are advised. There are times to fight, times to hide and times to run. Be prepared for all contingencies.

First and foremost — get in shape! You can’t be a survivor if you’re overweight or in poor physical condition. Be a lean and mean machine. Trying to tough it out of a danger zone if you’re overweight or weak isn’t going to work.

Essentials

This quickie pack should weigh no more than twenty-five to thirty pounds (for an adult), and should contain the bare essentials:

—Water, minimum for a day (two quarts, more if in hot climate).

—Energy bars, enough for a day (2,000-3,000 calories).

—Small wind-up or battery radio to listen to emergency channels (should include weather bands). There should be an FRS [or more capable] walkie-talkie radio, one for each pack.

—A small first-aid kit with aspirin and Ibuprofen.

—A bug net for your hat and a good supply of bug repellent. Get the kind with DEET. Yes, it’s toxic, but it works.

—A pair of knives. One pocket knife (Swiss Army type with tools — get one with scissors) and one hunting type.

—You should have a few minimum tools beyond a Swiss Army knife. A small pair of channel-lock pliers, a screwdriver with changeable tips, and a small Crescent wrench can do a lot, especially for bicycle repair. A Leatherman utility tool is great and can be worn on your belt so you’re never without it.

—A handgun in a secure holster and several magazines or speed loaders. If you are not familiar with weapons, it’s time to learn — before you need them! Take a personal defense or hunting course through your local gun club, and practice.

One pack per family might carry a lightweight (2.5-4 pound) break-down .22 rifle (such as Henry [AR-7] Survival rifle) or a small 9mm carbine (Hi-Point or Kel-Tec). Have several magazines for it. The Kel-Tec SUB-2000 carbine is inexpensive, and often can accept the same magazines as your primary handgun, be that a Glock, Ruger or other.

—A small flashlight with one set of extra rechargeable batteries (LED units are best). Add a tiny solar charger.

—A good compass on a cord.

—Notepad with pencil. One for each pack in the family.

—Important papers, passports, licenses and birth certificates should be prepared and ready to stuff in the pack quickly without hunting for them. Multiple copies are good, with a set in each adult pack.

—Medicine. For this category you should have much more than just one day’s supply — medicine may not be available again.

—A quality lightweight rain poncho is critical (get dark green or brown, not bright yellow!). This alone can save your life if the weather becomes inclement while you‘re on the road, especially if you’re on foot or bicycle, or have to bivouac while traveling, even by car.

—A warm jacket (Gore-Tex over polar fleece is good). Warm gloves, knit wool hat, one pair extra socks, thermal long john bottoms (polypropylene) and a sweater.

—An extra pair of lightweight, thin, surplus, military-style wool dress pants can save your life. Do not buy bright colors or camouflage designs. Subdued dark greens and browns are easy to hide in, and do not attract undue attention. [Because of it poor insulating capacity when wet,] avoid cotton clothes and socks. Stick with wool and wool/synthetic blends.

—Hat. A good wool cap should be in your pack, but a baseball cap or other hat should be worn to keep sun out of eyes and shed rain. A crushable brimmed outdoor hat is best, with chin cord.

—Sunglasses. Each pack should have sunglasses or clip-ons for your regular glasses.

—Spare glasses if you need them to see. In a stout case.

—A small kit (drawstring bag) containing a space blanket, 100 feet of parachute cord, matches in a waterproof container, fire starter (tinder), a few butane lighters and a small supply of toilet paper.

—A small soap bar (in a plastic soap box), washcloth and toothbrush can make you feel much more comfortable and nice after a hard day or two on the road.

—A few cloth bandanas can do wonders.

—A water filter (backpacking type) is a good option. The SteriPEN UV water treatment system is good. It uses rechargeable batteries, and a small (tiny) solar charger can keep you in pure water for weeks. Water is much more critical than food in a bug out situation .

—Prepared maps (preferably waterproof topo maps) of routes, meeting places and alternate stops. Each family/group member should have copies.

—Small FRS radios (with extra batteries).

Another item which might be considered is a biological and/or gas mask and a few dust/hospital masks. If you’re leaving a primary target zone for biologics or nuclear, this might be a consideration.

Forget foo-foo stuff like whistles, “help-needed” signs, reflecting triangles, white flags, etc. You want to remain as anonymous and unobtrusive as possible and not attract attention. If things are this bad there will be no rescue — you’re on your own. Even wearing camouflage will mark you as a target by those who will see you having equipment and supplies. Stick with subdued earth tone colors and materials. No Spandex or shiny day-glo scarves!

The Pack

Your day pack should have a waist belt and good padded shoulder straps. It should be strong, made of heavy ballistic nylon, with good zippers, in a dark Earth color. It does not need to have a frame designed for heavier loads, and a frameless day pack can be jammed into a smaller space more easily and makes a better pillow. Forget the ones with leather bottoms. The average school book pack is not strong enough, nor big enough. Go to an outdoor store and buy a good large day pack with stout zippers and hardware.

Each family member should have one prepared, even the kids. For very small children or infants, plan on one adult doubling up on supplies, and the other carrying the infant. Make certain the carrier (child backpack or sling) is in the closet with your bug out kit, and ready.

Footwear

Good hiking boots are critical, but don’t stop to change them if you’re going to drive. Grab them and get in the car — change them while moving [, as a nother family member drives]. Time is critical.

If you are already unable to use the car (because streets are blocked or flooded, fires, or riots), then by all means, change quickly into good walking shoes or hiking boots. This could mean the difference between getting out and being lame and cornered.

A second lightweight pair of shoes (tennis or running type) or sandals, should be in the pack. Moccasins (with soles) are good and very light weight. These will prove their worth if your main boots get wet and you need to dry them (carefully!) at a stopover location.

Communication and family coordination

Plan meeting places in case you get separated. Map out known safe houses and preferred routes — a friend’s remote home or business, a rural fire station or police department, or a public campground. Make schedules for meet-up and keep them if you become separated. Prepare these before you need them!

In major disaster scenarios, especially after the initial wave of difficulties, all police and military check points will likely search your packs, take your firearms and food and send you down the road essentially helpless. This will be done for “general security,” reasons, and smiling faces will speak nice words. They may arrest you, jail you, and take everything you have for the “public good,” and to feed and arm their own people.

These folks may, or may not, be what’s left of official police and military. I you have been on the road, and the disaster has been unfolding for some time, they may, in fact, be an emerging warlord’s private army or security force, or that of the rich land holder at the top of the hill, and they may have no scruples at all. You could easily be killed and dumped for your food and water. Plan for the worst and be very wary.

There is considerable validity in keeping totally away from all such “official” places if things are really bad. In this case, plan routes and meeting locations far away from officialdom. Campgrounds, friends’ homes and known landmarks such as a favorite river spot or wilderness campsite are much better. Back roads, forest trails, and even off-trail routes may be a better option if there has been time to set up roadblocks and “catch ‘em–search ‘em” sites.

Small hand-held transceivers (with extra rechargeable batteries), may prove life-saving and family-uniting. Have each member pack one and settle on channels to use, and times to use them. Remember that keeping them on continuously will run the batteries out quickly so use them on a schedule only. A small solar charger can recharge them many times.

If the phone system is still working when you leave, have phone numbers of friends and meeting stations in each pack. Each pack should have a notebook with this information entered in permanent ink, and a set of family route maps.

Travel routes — planning your movements

You should have a route planned, both for car and on foot or bicycle, to get you out of the immediate danger area, and into a rural or secure area, or fully to your primary retreat location. A temporary destination may be a friend’s home, a small town police station or semi-wilderness spot to recoup and regroup. A temporary redoubt should have water and shelter, if possible, and should be able to supply you (or at least provide safe rest) for further travel.

Temporary stops, especially unoccupied locations, may be stocked ahead with food and water in a small buried cache. Several of these caches could be prepared and planted ahead of need. They should be spaced closely enough to leapfrog by foot in less than two days walking. If they are not used, fine. If they are needed, such simple planned preparation can be critical.

Considerations for routing should include potential civil unrest as well as natural disasters. Unprepared folks will be frightened, and therefore dangerous, if only for their foolishness and panic. Moving through cities or towns should be considered carefully in light of the type of trouble happening. Being in a small town might be very safe, if a common threat affects all. Traveling through in an overcrowded city neighborhood might be very dangerous if there is random chaos and no commonality of purpose. As noted above, if there has been time to set up roadblocks, avoiding them will be wise.

The route should consider wind patterns. If biologics, chemicals or radiation fallout are happening, you will want to travel cross-wind. While easy routes might lie downwind or upwind, this will increase your exposure to the nasties.

Learning how your local and regional wind patterns work should help you plan a route across, and away from, the normal wind flow. Particular circumstances and immediate weather might alter this, but one should become familiar with local and regional weather patterns. Go to sites providing these patterns, and look at some of the nuclear downwind studies which have been done. Try this site, and work from there.

Freeways, by car or on foot may prove treacherous and dangerous, and other routes should be considered. Paralleling the freeway on foot or bicycle, but a half mile away, is be a useful option, if the terrain isn’t too severe. Streetcar and rail right-of-ways may be better for leaving the city. Cleared power line corridors through wilderness and forested areas, and city or town back streets or alleys may offer easier or safer movement.

Generally, staying away from the herds will be safer in most cases. Having maps of rail lines, power lines, roads and topography already in the bug out packs, may save needless and dangerous wandering and allow you to avoid crowds. Waterproof detailed topographical maps may be purchased from outdoor stores and forest service offices for areas beyond the city perimeter.

Bicycles

If cars are immediately unusable, a thick-tired mountain bike can get you many miles easily if terrain permits. You can add a small, already prepared bike trailer. This is a wheeled carrier pulled by attaching it to your waist or the bicycle seat or frame. Be certain to have a small hand air pump and tire patch kits for each bike.

If you have a small child, your bicycle carrier should be able to carry him or her.

Chinese-style pushed or pedaled freight bicycles (two and three-wheeled) can haul a huge amount (hundreds of pounds), but require smooth ground and more preparation time.

Practice your escape

Once you have your basic packs built and ready, and your routes planned, practice following those routes. Get in your car, and see how it goes to your first, second and third mid-escape stops. Look for potential hazards which could arise (blocked bridges, narrow traffic zones, congested walkways, official roadblocks, gang barricades) and plan alternate routes if possible.

Set up your intermediate stops by informing your friends or relatives that you have their homes on your escape route. If you don’t do this, and expect them to be waiting for you, you may find that they have bugged out themselves, and you have no stopping place! This can be critical if you expect to re-water, re-fuel, re-supply and/or hunker down there.

You might consider stocking extra fuel, food and water at their homes in a secure hiding place (have them leave a key in a known location) in case they may not be there. Outside buried caches can avoid the danger of fire and looting.

Next level

This brief outline for a minimum “Bug Out” pack, and how to bug out, should get you thinking. You can add or subtract things as your specific personal requirements dictate, and as your location and travel situation suggests.

Future installments will consider long-term hideaways, secure “go to” places, pulling a camper or trailer with the car, using a small motor home for an all-in-one Bug-Out vehicle and house, and woods survival.

Once you’ve accepted the reality of our looming collapse and the need for real preparation, you may wish to increase your personal skills and take wilderness courses by Tom Brown’s group, Bill McConnell’s people or someone locally well-trained in outdoor survival.

Courses in first aid, ski mountaineering, weapons maintenance and more are useful, but don’t wait to prepare your basic bug out kits.

A sample of survival supply sites:
The eFoodsDirect company sells dehydrated survival food. No GMO, no MSG. Vegetarian. 12-15 year shelf life. 2,200-2,300 calories per day per person. Water purifiers and other supplies.

The Survival Acres web site discusses the collapse of civilization, and a continuous discussion of how to cope, what it means, and why it’s happening. Essays and comments. Links to other blogs and essayists. Storage food and other supplies.

Captain Dave’s. A huge site that has been mentioned before on SurvivalBlog with lots of stuff, survival clothes, food, ideas, techniques (i.e. trapping animals), and more. Preparing for nuclear, biological or chemical attacks, and information of epidemics and diseases.

REI. All manner of outdoor clothing, cycling and camping gear. Good quality. SteriPEN water purifiers.

Product Review: ATI Talon Shotgun Fore End Rail Package

The ATI Talon Shotgun Fore End Rail Package is a replacement fore end for Mossberg, Remington and Winchester pump shotguns. The kit contains the fore end, adapters for all three brands and most models, nine 2” Picatinny Rail sections and plenty of machine screws for mounting.

Installation was very simple. The instructions are clear, the adapter sections are marked M,R,W for brand and F,R for front and rear. All that’s involved is unscrewing the fore end nut, sliding on the ATI and appropriate adapters, and tightening the nut. It took a few seconds with a file to improve barrel clearance (and the instructions state this might be necessary).

The Picatinny Rail sections install with two machine screws each. You can install one on either side, bottom, or at the 45 degree lines. Combinations are possible, but there obviously isn’t room for accessories if you mount both the 45 and 90 side by side.

I liked the handling, and it made for easy mounting of lights on both sides and bottom, reachable by hand while manipulating the slide, and for a quick detach swivel mount. I found the mounting strips offered a great grip, positive and comfortable. It also looks very slick and modern.

On the down side, it twists a bit more than a factory foreend, since it has a bit less contour around the barrel. I didn’t find this to be particularly significant, but it is noticeable. I also wish that ATI, and all other manufacturers for that matter, would round off edges on “tactical” products. The crisp machining looks great, but sharp corners ding hands. This is fixed in a few minutes with a fine file and a black marker, but I’d like the factories to anticipate this need.

If you have a tactical shotgun, this American made, lifetime warranted product is a great choice for mounting accessories. MSRP is $165, or $100 without the rail package, allowing you to attach other sections. – SurvivalBlog Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson

Economics and Investing:

G.G. sent this: Another Illinois Bank Fails.

KAF flagged a Fox Business new report: Fed’s Hoenig: Record-Low Rates a ‘Dangerous Gamble’

Andrew H. spotted this: 800 interested in 5 jobs

Items from The Economatrix:

Economic Growth Prospects Dim in US After Retail, Trade Reports

US Cities Face Up to Massive Cuts

Stocks Rise On Earnings, Economic Reports

Oil Breaks Losing Streak, Prices Climb

Wheat is New US Gold

“Hindenberg Omen” and Imminent Market Crisis

Savings Accounts Will Become Obsolete if Inflation Rises Next Week

Greek Economy Deeper in Recession than Forecast

Odds ‘n Sods:

Greg and Kat spotted an article about An idea carried too far Cult of less: Living out of a hard drive. Greg’s comment:” The move to not buying clutter is a good one, of course. However, what happens to the people highlighted in this article in an EMP or another power-down event? Once their batteries run out, and the utility companies can’t provide water and other services, and the food deliveries stop they won’t be “virtually homeless” they will be starving and without barter assets or other resources. Online banking won’t help then. Hopefully they’ll analyze their situations and start putting their free income into resources for the “list of lists” and reading resources like Survivalblog. Then they’ll be a part of the solution, instead of more people adding to the problem.”

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Mix your own chem lights! (Of course the usual chemistry lab safety and toxic materials provisos apply.)

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Essex [Vermont] project builds backyard passive freezer. (Thanks to Nancy in Vermont for the link.)

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Freeze Dry Guy (one of our loyal advertisers) has announced a special on their Mountain House Freeze Dried 144 Day Meat Variety Pack that includes three #10 cans of Freeze Dried Cooked Ground Beef = 81 ½ cup servings, and three #10 cans of Freeze Dried Cooked Diced Chicken = 63 ½ cup servings. These Freeze Dried Meats are delicious and absolutely the finest available anywhere at any price. (In all, this package provides 144 servings. That equates to over 4½ months of real animal protein.) These Freeze Dried Meats are packed in 6 Heavy Duty Double Enameled #10 cans per case with at least 98% of the oxygen removed. This standard was established by the U.S. Military many years ago, and they have a proven shelf life in excess of 30 years. There are even deeper discounts and free Sparkies if you order multiple cases. See the Freeze Dry Guy web site or call 866-404-3663. This sale ends at the end of August, so get your order in soon!