Web Gear Basics, by Jeff J.

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I had been thinking for some time about what topic I should write about that may help others here on SurvivalBlog. I myself am fairly new to prepping and have tried to soak up all the information this site provides and that Mr. Rawles has graciously provided.

Last year I purchased and read the book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It.” I enjoyed the book incredibly and learned so much more. For one, I realized that I am far from reaching my goals of being self sustaining and providing for the needs of my family if the Schumer hits the fan any time soon.

One part of the book I liked spoke about web gear and how it should be an integral part of your battle rifle and day to day equipment. I have thought about this topic and decided I would try to share some ideas and basics about web gear. I would never intentionally plan to take away from Mr. Rawles book but hope this adds to or supports his writings.

I must also state I am no expert in military equipment or believe my opinions expressed here are taken as such. I am a veteran of the USMC and currently a LEO. I have used several different types or styles of web gear during my two careers. I have personal pros and cons for each system I have used. Hopefully someone out there can benefit from this information.

To begin I want to state there are many styles, designs, colors, patterns, and even names for web gear. I personally have always generically called it a Load Bearing Vest (LBV). Web gear seems to be a fairly general term encompassing the many different types there are out there.

Some of the other names you may hear are: Web Gear, LBV, Chest rig, Tactical vest, MOLLE vest, MOLLE gear, and Enhanced load bearing vest. I am sure there are other names given to and to describe web gear. These are just some of the more prominent ones.

What is Web Gear? Generally it is a vest, suspension system, or similar system that is used primarily by military personnel to hold and organize weapons and gear on their body allowing them quicker access, if needed. According to “Militarydictionary.com.” it has the same meaning as “webbing” which says: “a set of equipment pouches attached to a belt or harness.”

Some reasons for using and having web gear are: to carry canteens and water bladders, magazines and ammunition, holsters, radios, survival kits, mess kits, food, first aid kits, e-tools and shovels, any many more.

Some of the earlier Web gear systems were the “M-1956 Load-Carrying Equipment (LCE)” and the “M-1967 Modernized Load-Carrying Equipment (MLCE).” These were later replaced by the “Alice” system or ALICE. (All-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment). These were used by the United States and other allied countries. Probably every modern military in the world has used or is currently using a form of web gear.

These earlier systems generally consisted of a set of suspenders that clipped or attached to a pistol belt. The belt would then hold or have attached various pouches and/or gear. The suspenders would help to reduce the weight and strain of the gear on the wearer, hence the term “load bearing.”

In our current military there are several load bearing set ups that are used. They all generally follow the MOLLE standard. These systems generally are a vest, carrier, or other system that is equipped with sewn on web straps across the exterior of the article. Modular pouches and other gear using interwoven straps can be attached to the webbing on them allowing the user to customize and accommodate their own set up and positions.

One benefit of the MOLLE system is exactly as stated above. The person can attach any of almost endless varieties of pouches and gear to their LBV. At this current time my preference is for the MOLLE system and my web gear is a MOLLE variant customized to my preferences.

Web gear can be found as military surplus from any number of resources. These are usually used in different states of wear. There are now many commercial companies who make copies and or original designs for web gear. Some of the online sources that sell these are: Sportsmansguide.com, Cheaperthandirt.com, Major Surplus and Survival, Ops gear, Mars gear, and many others.  I have no affiliation to these companies but have either purchased items for my web gear through them or searched for items on their sites. For those who do not want to buy on the internet, your local military surplus stores will probably provide similar results.

One big question to think about is what color or pattern do I want my web gear to be? You can find it in any of the standard military camouflages used from the past to present. Also solid colors that include black, olive drab, tan, foliage, and others. I even purchased an LBV that was made in the German Flectarn camouflage pattern.

The skies the limit on what you can find out there. I would suggest trying to find a color and pattern that matches or compliments the colors and patterns of your groups chosen BDU or other gear. The colors and patterns in no way affect the overall use and benefits of the web gear and contrasting colors and patterns are only that, contrasting. 

When I first planned out my web gear, I planned it to be a 72 hour kit for survival. I figured I would set it up so I could just grab my web gear and go and be self sustaining for 72 hours. Later, I decided I needed my web gear to be a part of a weapon system and include parts of my 72 hour kit. We each may have different reasons to build or buy a web gear system.

One thing I learned in Military was that web gear can be worn over your flak jacket and under a pack. We set up the web gear so it would not interfere greatly with the pack and when the pack was dropped we were ready to go into a fire fight. I have seen some web gear setups that I believe would hinder the wearer to use a pack, if needed.  I wouldn’t want to have to be fumbling around inside my pack for my web gear and magazines if I were being fired upon. When you prepare or buy your web gear, think how it would fit under your pack or BOB if you needed to carry both.

When I joined the military we carried an older LBV in boot camp. It was a one piece vest that had padded suspenders sewn onto netting. MOLLE style pouches were then sewn onto the netting at various locations. They included magazine pouches, grenade pouches, canteen pouches, and butt pack. They were adjusted for girth and size by lacing on either lateral side. They were kept secured by one or two adjustable clips in the abdomen area. Those LBVs were also patterned with woodland camouflage. Lastly, they had a “drag strap” across the upper back between the shoulder blades. The down side to these vests was aside from girth and size, they could not be adjusted.

Along with the above LBV we were also issued a pistol belt with 2 canteens and canteen holders. The canteen holders and other gear that was attached to the belt using the old “alligator clips” of the ALICE and similar type web gear. Personally, I hated these. The clips were either too tight or rusted shut or too loose and came open. Numerous times I would crawl through a course and realize that I was missing gear that fell off while I was on the course. Many of the older web gear systems used these alligator clips to attach the pouches, bags, and holsters to the belts.

When I arrived at my unit I was issued a different LBV with my 782 gear. This LBV was also in woodland camouflage but was designed with the MOLLE system. Instead of having lacings on the sides for adjustment it used compression straps. They had the same pouches as the older LBVs but these could be removed and adjusted to different locations on the vest as the user desired or needed. This especially helped in setting up the rifle magazine pouches for left and right handed shooters. I really enjoyed this set up and used it for the majority of the time of my enlistment.

When I received my 782 gear, I was also issued a flak jacket. It was in woodland camouflage as well and also had MOLLE webbing sewn onto the front and back of the vest. Our platoon commanders allowed us to skip or leave our LBVs behind as long as we attached all of our MOLLE pouches onto the flak jacket. In the end this was my favorite set up and I only brought my LBV out for gear inspections.

When I decided to buy my own web gear I searched for some time on the web looking for what I felt would fit my uses. I built my web gear from MOLLE system components and purchased them from different vendors. The following is my current web gear set up:

  • ModGear Tactical Magazine Chest Rig

This suspension system has two padded suspenders that attach to a bladder pouch on the back. The outside of the vest is covered with MOLLE webbing front and back. There are six M16/AK-47 magazine pouches built into the front of the vest. It has compression straps on either side for size and girth adjustments. The front is secured with Velcro, snaps, and a plastic snap clip.

  • Butt Pack

This butt pack is different than the military rectangular style. This bag has a main compartment with three smaller pouches attached to the sides and front. The lid to the main pouch has compression snap straps to hold it tight and secure. This bag has multiple MOLLE straps on the back that attach to the bottom end of the bladder pouch. This puts the bag on the lower back below the area where my pack would rest.

  • Deployment Bag

This bag is only a part time item. I place it above the butt pack on the upper portion of the bladder pouch. When I don’t want to carry a pack or back pack but need extra room I attach this for space. It comes with its own shoulder strap so it can be used as a stand alone piece of gear or additional bag. The back of this bag also has multiple MOLLE straps for attaching to the chest rig.

  • EMT Pouch

Although I don’t use this as a first aid kit, its design is known as such. This pouch is 7x5x2.5” with a zipper around the three sides. This pouch houses my survival kit. The back again has multiple MOLLE straps and I attach it to the left forward side of the chest rig. I also take this pouch off and carry it when I am not using my web gear.

  • Gadget Bags

These bags are similar to the EMT pouch but smaller. They also have smaller pockets and enclosures inside. In a pair of these, I store my various items in these such as my lighter, compass, chap stick, and flashlight. I have one pouch on either side of the front of the closure of the rig.

  • Pistol Magazine Pouch

This pouch is a double pouch that holds two full capacity pistol magazines. It is adjustable for different magazine sizes. I have it attached to the front of the chest rig. I may change this and place a triple pouch there instead to carry three magazines.

The chest rig I chose already has the rifle magazine pouches built in so I did not need to buy any exterior attaching pouches. I also like to use a water bladder and this particular chest rig has the bladder pouch built in. This increased my locations for attaching other MOLLE pouches and gear. I may add several other pouches later but for now this setup suites me. All the above MOLLE pieces and the chest rig are in Olive Drab.  I chose this because it will not contrast with the several different BDUs I have. Therefore I don’t need different rigs for each BDU set I have.

This web gear set up is my main LBV. I have three other LBVs that I have set aside as extras or for different terrain. One of them is exactly the same as the above set up but in Coyote Tan. Living in Arizona this one has obvious advantages. The other two are commercial rigs and are in different patterns and colors. I plan on setting them aside with spare magazines for my additional weapons platforms. (That is another of JWR‘s suggestions).

Several other designs I would like to talk about are some what different from the standard web gear or LBV. These are actual vests that cover the torso like body armor or plate carriers do. They are commonly called “Tac vests” or “tactical vests.” There are many vests that are made by commercial companies that have prearranged pockets, holsters, etc. added to the exterior of the vest. They also come in numerous colors and patterns. They also come set up for MOLLE systems so you can add your own pouches as you desire.

Except for carrying body armor and plates, I don’t like this style as much as it encloses your torso more and increases body heat (sweating) while performing physical activities. The more traditional web gear to me feels more open and less restrictive. You should try both before you decide which one you want to buy or build.

Similar to the flak jacket setup above, if you are going to carry body armor or plates these vests may be more acceptable. Instead of having your carrier and LBV over it, you can incorporate both into one. Just remember that some states and locals have laws and restrictions on body armor. Make sure what you are doing is legal before you buy anything.

Remember that your web gear is yours. You have to be comfortable in it and using it. Set it up how you will use it and practice using it. In other words, practice how you play.
If you have spent time wearing it while you are shooting and reload from the magazine pouches your muscle memory will kick in later when you need it and your training will take over. I know this is true, I have seen it day in and day out throughout my career.

I hope this can assist you in choosing and building or purchasing your web gear. God bless and Semper Fi!

Letter Re: Making Swimming Pool Water Potable?

Dear Jim:
When I teach classes on water storage and preservation I am often asked this question. I usually respond with a few questions of my own:

1.) Name all of the reasons you need water?

2.) Tell me what percentage each of those requires?, and:

3.) How many of those could you do with pool water just the way it is?

The truth of the matter is that the only reason you would need to “purify” pool water is for drinking or cooking. Washing, (dishes, clothes or bodies) doesn’t  require any pool water purification. Same with flushing the toilet an often forgotten water usage) In longer term “grid down” situations drinking and cooking become a smaller percentage of the water that you would use. If the water is only off for three to four days, you can go without washing clothes or bodies, but there is a need for cooking and drinking. Conversely the longer the water outage lasted the need to use greater amounts of water for cleaning would be required. 

More directly to the inquirers question of how to “Make pool water potable” especially in Arizona the answer is relatively simple: a solar still. A solar still is a simple apparatus that can be made in a pinch with the simplest of items on hand or purpose made in advance of the need. the simplest example is placing a shallow pan with an inch or two of pool water, setting a small cup or jar in the middle, then covering it with a piece of plastic sheeting sealing off the edge of the pan with a rope, bungee cord, or tape and allowing evaporation to do it’s job. The “distilled” water can them collected from the jar. This process doesn’t yield a great deal of water but is very effective.

Option two is by doing a similar thing by placing water in clear two liter bottles and letting them sit in direct sunlight for 6 to 8 hours and letting the sun break down the chlorine (that’s what happens in your pool naturally)  The bottle need to be well sealed and clear.

The third option is making a purpose built solar still. The concept is the same as the plastic covered pan, but on a much larger scale. To produce the two to three gallons a day needed for drinking purposes, a solar still would need to be at least 4′ x 8′. There are plenty of plans available on the Internet, but my favorite plan comes right from the inquirers back yard from the University of Arizona. You can read all the information of effectiveness of materials, water outputs, as well as, construction variants.

As the name implies, to have a solar still you need to have sunshine. In the winter time or If you live in more Northern climes the output of your solar still will be diminished, maybe even to the point of being less than useful. Since I live in the Southwest this is a viable option for me and I am planning on making one of these stills for my families use in the future. – Kory Mikesell

Economics and Investing:

John R. suggested this piece by Rick Ackerman: Finally, It’s the Fed That Has Become Too Big to Fail

Reader AmEx (American Expatriate) sent this: Gold Holdings in ETPs Plunge Amid Signs of Recovery

Nevada Unemployment: The Worst Gets Worse

Items from The Economatrix:

Second Wave of Housing Bust Hammers More Cities  

Consumer Confidence Index Hits Eight-Month High  

US Economy Contracting, Pound Plunges  

World’s Economy Recovery Continues, Says Think Tank  

Odds ‘n Sods:

I heard from the developer of an interesting shelter system designed for natural disasters: LifeCube. It is a 144-square foot inflatable shelter that is transported in a 5-foot cube of pallets. The shelter is a very clever design and looks ideal for short-duration natural disasters.  However, its long term viability is dubious.  (Since it requires electricity (or compressed air), and once the integrity of the inflated envelope tubes is lost due to any large punctures, the structure will collapse. But I’ve been told that the fabric portion of the shelter is manufactured by the Patten Company which invented the inflatable Life Raft in 1946, so the quality is top notch.)

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These deadly animals will kill you in seconds

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This is criminal! Watch this C-SPAN clip: FOPA Hughes Amendment Vote on April 10, 1986. Here you can see how Chairman Charles Rangel (D.-NY) ram-rodded through a Federal machinegun freeze that clearly failed both a voice vote and a recorded vote. We are now saddled with an onerous law that is not only unconstitutional, but that also was NEVER PASSSED!

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Lost city of ‘cloud people’ found in Peru.

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Erik K. sent this article: Siberians Raided Rodent Caches for Food

Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 32 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round 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 $795, 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 250 round case of 12 Gauge Hornady TAP FPD 2-3/4″ OO buckshot ammo, courtesy of Sunflower Ammo (a $240 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 Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.) , and B.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value.

Round 32 ends on January 31st, 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.

Some Great Depression Lessons, by Kristi N.

By now, many of us have heard, and perhaps even put into practice, that old adage of practicality: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”  I think of it as the wisdom of the Great Depression.  When so many people had so very little, the best use was made out of every single resource – be it a sock, a newspaper, a swatch of fabric, or any number of little things I take for granted every day.  Perhaps I should restate that last sentence – that I used to take for granted every day.

Since the Global Credit Crisis of 2008, my family has been affected in a similar manner to many others.  Our single income has been reduced by more than 25%; we lost our home to foreclosure, despite the fact that we purchased far under what we qualified for when we took out the mortgage; our day-to-day purchases are ruled by the now-familiar question: “Is it a want or a need?” But we are not unhappy.

Sometime around 2005, I started hearing about “preparedness.”  It struck a chord in my mind and in my heart.  As I did more research, attended some local classes, and talked to people who were quietly preparing themselves for – well, for something , although even they didn’t always know quite what – I became more and more convinced that I was being guided down this path of knowledge, and that I needed to begin my own preparations for a long-term emergency.

What eased this transition for a spoiled-rotten, materialistic, comfort-oriented woman who had never thought about “the end of the world” or even what would happen if the money ran out one day?  The stories of my Great-Grandmother–stories I’d been hearing from my Mother and my Grandpa throughout my life.

My Great-Grandma lived in rural areas throughout the Midwest and West Coast most of her life.  She was a rugged, tough woman, not attractive in the dainty sense of beauty of her time, but she exuded a confident, strong, chin-up prettiness in the pictures I’ve seen of her as a young woman.  As a married woman, she managed the farm she lived on with my great-grandfather, preparing meals for her husband, children and all the farm hands from scratch every day; keeping the kids out of trouble and into their education (for the most part!); gathering eggs, produce, and equipment; killing the non-productive hens and rabbits for the stockpot; canning, preserving, and candying; and all other manner of daily tasks which her family and farm provided her with.

Great-Grandma pumped her water by hand and heated it on her wood-burning stove to wash dishes, clothes, and children.  She tended her seedlings with care in boxes on the windowsills until they were hardy enough to plant in the garden plot.  She took care of the soil and her livestock wearing long-skirted calico dresses and a working apron; my Mother recalls fondly that Great-Grandma only wore pants when she went fishing – “A lady doesn’t fish in a skirt!” she would say.  I never had the opportunity to meet this woman, whom I imagine had calloused hands to go with the soft smile she wears in my favorite photograph of her, standing beside her prized and unbelievably gorgeous hollyhocks that grew outside her door, but she above all others motivated me in my efforts to make sure my family is as self-sufficient as we can possibly be.

As I learned more about the prepared lifestyle, I began to store away food that would store well long term; first wheat, then rice, beans, and canned goods, among others.  I learned to grind wheat to bake bread, and put away white flour, learning to make biscuits from intuition, thinking of my Great-Grandma as I mixed the flour, salt, baking powder and milk with a lump of shortening in a bowl with my hand.  I got a barrel and some five gallon containers to hold extra water, and considered how fortunate Great-Grandma was to have a hand-pumped well.  I ground my wheat and baked bread, much to the delight of  my family, and realized that when my Grandpa was a child, he never ate store-bought bread. 

But there is one thing that makes me feel closer to the memory of my Great-Grandma than anything else; canning.  When my kitchen is chaotic with jars, ladles, funnels, cutting boards, lids, and a huge canner clattering on the stove, I feel like I practically have her standing there beside me.  You see, Great-Grandma canned her garden up every year so there would be ample food for the winter, since the store was miles and miles away and there weren’t yet shipments of grapes from Chile or strawberries from hothouses.  My Mother tells me that the canning time was busy and fun, with neighbor women getting together constantly, first in one house, then another, until all the women for a few miles around had their produce and some meat tucked away to feed their families for another year.  It was a community event, a time for women to get together and have time to discuss local gossip, their families, their farms, and their children.  And, of course, in the meantime, they were assuring their health and survival.  When I can for long-term storage, I feel I am carrying on that tradition that has been lost from our family for two generations.  I feel like I’m passing the memories and philosophies of my wise and strong and tireless Great-Grandmother on to my children…and providing for their health and survival just like she did for hers.

Looking back, I do believe that the Lord provided my memories of my Great-Grandma to me for inspiration on my journey to preparedness.  >From 2008 to 2010, as a string of pay cuts and rising inflation ate away more than a quarter of our income, we relied more and more on the food we had stored away to supplement our grocery budget; at one point, before we realized that we were going to have to lose our house, we lived entirely off our storage while we funneled most  of our assets into our mortgage payment.  By the time we lost the house, we had used up most of our storage – it had borne us through our emergency.  God has been good, and in recent months we have been able to start building it back up to the levels we’d had previously.  My husband is now a passionate advocate of our storage and all manner of emergency preparedness, and my children excitedly tend the lettuce we’re growing in our teeny-tiny garden plot.

And as the nation teeters on the brink, with politics and the economy wheeling toward what seems to be a point of no return, I try not to fear; I hear the wisdom of my Grandpa’s mother whispering to me –

“Use it up,” when I start to throw away the tablespoon or two of sour cream lurking in a container taking up space in my fridge – I add it to my biscuit dough.

“Wear it out,” when I start to toss a pair of out-of-style, but perfectly sound jeans into the donation bin – and I keep them and wear them until they’re frayed and worn (and usually keep them even then, since that’s the most comfortable denim!).

“Make it do,” when I notice holes torn in our only sofa’s upholstery and instinctively wish we could buy a new one – I go get thread and a needle and stitch the hole up nice and tight.

“Do without,” she counsels me when our bills skyrocket, or the car needs a repair, or the medical bill for a sick child’s doctor visit arrives in the mail — and I drive on by the store to my well-stocked home, where I know I can keep my children and husband comfortable, safe, and well-fed without having to spend any more money.

The cash I save and the skills I gain serve to increase our preparedness and supplies — and I realize that much of what I have learned about being prepared – and being content – has been supplemented and supported by the wisdom of a woman I never really knew…but still love and respect. (Dedicated to Great-Grandma Hall)

Preparedness Provisioning (Good, Better, Best), by Bill L.

In an event where supplies of food and water or your access shelter have become compromised due to natural disaster, civil unrest or an unplanned scarcity of commodities, it would be comforting to know that in spite of the unplanned event you have planned for it. 

This is not a detailed itemized list of what to get. There are numerous books, internet sites and clubs that offer all kinds of advice on preparedness. By doing your own research you will see that there are ample lists and dialogs to glean from. What this is is a method to keep you focused and ultimately successful in your plan to prepare for what may come.

When beginning to form a plan to put away necessary provisions for an emergency event it can be overwhelming as to what and how much would be needed to provide for simple survival. The first thing to do is break it down into manageable parts and start working on a basic inventory. Once you have covered the basics then and only then do you proceed to a more complex inventory. The logic of working up a basic cache of supplies is that once it is in place you are secure in your ability to survive, albeit simply, for a determined amount of time. Without a plan you will be tempted to start gathering an unorganized pile of “stuff” that has value, but does not ensure that you are prepared. Haphazard gathering is incomplete gathering and if you leave out an important item you leave yourself open to disaster.

Here is my way of staying organized as you put together a cache. Before you buy a can of food, a box of Band-Aids or a set of camo’s start first with this simple plan that relies on meeting three levels of preparedness;
“Good, Better, Best.”

To illustrate the levels and give guidance as to when you move from one level to the next, let’s use the basic necessities of survival for our goal. As stated in the first sentence they are: food, water and shelter. 

Again, your own research will be needed to determine exactly what to get and how to use it.  

Good

This is your basic level of stuff. If you have a good level of provisions you will be ready to survive in a basic manner for a short time period. At the good level you also have acquired some simple skills on how to maximize your basic provisions. Here is how it looks…

FOOD:

  • A one week supply of usable non-perishable nutritious food stuffs kept at your home
  • A grid down means of cooking, i.e. propane stove, gas stove, etc
  • A grab and go kit of food in case your home becomes untenable

WATER:

  • An amount of clean stored water equivalent to 2 gallons/day per person to last one week ( 28 gals per couple)
  • Knowledge of secondary water sources (hint: 40 gal water heater)
  • Means of water purification (pump, chemical, UV light)

SHELTER:

  • Your home…with grid down heat and light (kerosene heater/lamps)
  • A RV (fully self contained and stocked with propane)
  • Quality tent and sleeping bag ( as part of your grab and go kit)

At the good level you will be able to live in your home during a short term disruption of services or be able to leave if necessary with a grab and go kit that contains a basic amount of survival items to support you for a short time.

Better

You have the good level covered now it’s time to step up to doing better. At the better level you build upon the amount and variety of provisions in your cache and work to improve your skills. At the better level you will enhance your survival odds and make the situation more comfortable through thoughtful and more thorough preparation. Here’s how better looks…

FOOD:

  • In depth study and procurement of long-term storage staples, i.e. wheat, corn, rice and beans.
  • Food in adequate amounts correctly stored with the bulk of it in a secure location. In addition; sundry food stuffs like powdered milk, spices, sugars, fats, vitamins, etc.
  • Cooking and cleaning supplies and a reliable long term grid down means to heat food (wood stove)

WATER:

  • Reliable and safe access to water source, i.e. lake, stream, spring, etc.
  • Large capacity filtration system, i.e. “Big Berkey” or reverse osmosis
  • Water storage with ability to heat large amounts for bathing (wood stove and tubs)

SHELTER:

  • Your home has been retrofitted to off the grid capabilities with solar and deep cycle batteries
  • Wood heat with enough fuel for six months
  • A bug-out plan to your long term cache at a fall back location

 

Best

This is what the well prepared person has been working towards. At the best level of preparedness you have been steadily building your cache and skills to a level that allows you to live in relative comfort and security. Things may have gone very wrong in the population centers, but you have placed yourself, family and friends in a remote retreat location with the means to live through a cooperative effort for the duration of a societal collapse. There will be hardship at times and hard work constantly, but with the tools and provisions you have cached and the varied skills of the group you will make it through. You will not only survive, you will thrive.

FOOD:

  • Livestock, poultry, bees and other regenerating food sources
  • Non-hybrid seeds and garden space with an established orchard to grow sizable crops with the means of food storage, i.e. canning, drying, cellaring, freezing
  • Tools and skills to hunt game and catch fish locally to augment diet

WATER:

  • Easily accessible potable water source at the retreat with back up gravity fed storage tank
  • Water heating capability; solar in summer, wood stove with coils in winter
  • Irrigation system installed to both garden and orchard along with fire suppression plan for structures

SHELTER:

  • Retreat layout to provide living space for all members with adequate sanitation facilities
  • Work spaces with necessary tools and equipment, i.e. shop, outdoor kitchen, wood shed, livestock paddock, coops etc.
  • Complete off the grid capabilities with redundant systems combining as many of the following as possible: solar, wind, hydro-electric and generator.

So, here is a start. By following this outline of the “Good, Better, Best” plan you can stay on task in your efforts to lay in supplies and learning valuable skills.

Whether you need to ride out a storm for a week before the power comes back on, or you been forced to bug out to your completely stocked group retreat; your careful, deliberate preparation has made the difference between success and failure.

Preparedness provisioning is not only wise, it can be fun.

Letter Re: Railroad Routes for G.O.O.D. Ways Out of Town

Jim,
With regards to you advice on avoiding railroad lines except as a last resort, I will offer my observations growing up in South Dakota.  A good portion of the lines have been abandoned and but still have [de-railed] right-of-ways for horses or bikes.  We used to use these road beds to ride our horses or bikes to go play with friends one, two or three miles away. The main advantage was that they were abandoned and posed no threat to us kids, so it kept us off the roads.  The second was that the law prevented them from being blocked in anyway.  Just because these lines were abandoned didn’t mean they couldn’t be rehabilitated quickly,  The train companies still owns the routes and they would be inspected periodically to see what would required to get them operational again (an abandoned line can be reopened between 6 to 18 months depending on weight and the required use).

Even an operational grain train route was no impediment.  The conductors knew we used them and took the proper precautions to protect us. South Dakota being largely flat, we could see a train for miles, and we knew the horns.  We were taught to get off the path and wait for the train to pass (around Christmas we would line the track at certain points and the conductors would throw candy to us kids.  

Bottom line: train tracks in urban areas are iffy under the best of circumstances. But lines in the rural Midwest, South and West can be viable routes if proper precautions are taken. – "Light"

Two Letters Re: Big Rig Survival

Mr. Rawles,   
I enjoyed reading R.E.V.’s letter on preparedness for truckers. My husband and I are truckers as well, and we have done a lot of thinking about what we would do in a SHTF or TEOTWAWKI situation. Being 500 to 1000 miles away from home means a whole different set of requirements for a “Get Home Bag”. R.E.V. did a great job, but I feel there are a few more points that should be touched on.

The first is how quickly diesel can become scarce. Having seen how rapidly truck stops in a given area can be drained of fuel if a delivery is delayed, or if demand becomes higher than normal (such as during a snow storm, especially when a large number of trucks have been shut down by a storm – once the roads open again all the truck stops in the area very quickly run out of fuel due to increased demand), we are very aware that we might not be able to drive our rig home in the event of a large disruption of the fuel supply. We have to be ready for the possibility that we will have to abandon our rig and our load and try to make it home on foot.  This brings up the question of when it is appropriate to abandon the rig. There is a major ethical question involved for us because we are company drivers, and the truck doesn’t belong to us. We are responsible for an expensive piece of equipment and a valuable load, and if there is any chance things will return to normal after a period of time we will have to account to our company for that equipment, and may find ourselves on the hook for the cost of tractor, trailer, and load if we abandon it when we could have stayed with it and “waited out the storm” or perhaps gotten it to one of our company’s secured yards. So the first question we have to ask ourselves is “Is this a short term event, or a long term TEOTWAWKI event?” We also have to ask ourselves if we can safely deliver our load before we head for home, or if things are dire enough for us to abandon that responsibility – not a choice we would make lightly, people somewhere my be depending on the food we are carrying. We have to look at the situation: How quickly are things deteriorating? If we deliver will we have the fuel to get home? Will delivering the load cause us to risk our lives or loose our chance of making it back home? Should we take the load home with us? The food in our trailer might mean the slim difference between life and death for our family and neighbors.

Once we do start heading home every mile we can push this rig is one more mile we don’t have to walk. We can improve our fuel mileage and maneuverability by dropping our trailer and bobtailing, but if we’re in snow and ice, or very cold temperatures we may want to keep the trailer for the extra weight and traction. We haul a refrigerated (“reefer”) trailer, and if the temperature is cold enough to kill batteries, and we think we might have to stop, we might want to hang onto the trailer – the reefer unit uses less fuel that idling the engine. We can hook jumper cables between the reefer battery and the truck batteries to keep them charged, and run our inverter and an electric blanket to keep us warm. If we do decide to drop the trailer to conserve fuel, we keep a siphon hose on hand so we can siphon out the [dyed] diesel from the reefer tank [or some purchased home heating oil] and add it to our truck tanks. Some states dye reefer fuel red because, just like “off-road” or agricultural diesel, it isn’t taxed at the same rate as on-road or commercial diesel, and the DOT has been known to check tanks for red dye, so we can only do this if we a sure things have broken down to the point that the DOT is the least of our worries.   

The last few gallons in our saddle tanks are unusable, the intake is above about the 10% mark to allow debris to settle to the bottom of the tanks where it won’t foul the filters. Most trucks have this same feature, and there will be plenty of other drivers in the same boat you are in. You may be able to make a deal with another stranded driver by trading a ride in exchange for the last few gallons of diesel in his tanks. Siphon out the diesel and run it through a cloth to filter it before adding it to your tank. Use your best judgement when offing a ride, though. There are a lot of untrustworthy people out here.   As a last resort, gasoline can be run in a diesel engine, just make sure you add a an appropriate amount of 10 weight motor oil to your tanks to thicken it and to duplicate the lubrication you should be getting from diesel. Your engine will run hotter than it should, but it will get you a few miles further down the road. Every 15 miles you get closer to home will knock off a full day of walking.      For a driver, the cab of your truck is your home away from home. Our cab tends to fill up with all sorts of things we will not be able to carry with us when we finally do have to abandon the rig and walk. We keep well stocked bug-out bags under the bunk, and there have been plenty of articles on how to stock a BOB so I won’t go into that. But we do keep an extra plastic storage tub, a couple of heavy duty garbage bags, and duct tape handy so that we can pack up and cache anything we can’t take with us, but might want to come back for later. That empty rig just sitting there in the truck stop lot, or on the side of the road will be a target for looters, thieves, and opportunists – you can’t expect anything you leave behind to still be there later unless you hide it well. Bury it inside the wood line and take note of landmarks, but bear in mind that you may never see it again in any case – don’t take anything irreplaceable out on the truck with you unless you are sure you can carry it home again.   Some of the items in your cab might help other stranded motorists to survive. For example: If you have a separate sleeping bag in your BOB, then perhaps you can roll up your bunk sheets and blankets as a bedroll to give away to that unprepared fellow shivering in his out-of-gas car in the truck stop parking lot, or to trade for something you might need.

Finally, when trying to decide what route to take to get home, keep in mind that people may be abandoning larger cities in droves and the interstates may be parking lots for many miles around any large population center. US highways may be better than interstates, and you may have to go miles out of your way to get around a major city. Go ahead and plan routes and try shortcuts now while things are good so you have an idea which roads you can take to get home when things go bad.  – Truckergirl

 

James,
Today’s post about big rig survival was interesting, but contained this statement about self defense:

“Non-firearm protection for a trucker can be a tire thumper, ball peen hammer, side handle baton (PR-24), straight baton or numerous incarnations thereof.”

In many jurisdictions, it is illegal for anyone other than a badge-carrying police officer to own any sort of baton.  In California, for instance, it is a crime to own a baton [or was last I checked], even if you keep it in your house, and even if you have a CCW permit.  Yes, this is the stupidest sort of law. Yes, you may own and carry a tire thumper or ball peen hammer or baseball bat in California, so long as you do so without criminal intent. Other jurisdictions have no such prohibition.

Also: while many jurisdictions recognize the carry permits issued by other jurisdictions, one must obey the carry rules of the place where you find yourself and carry rules are different everywhere. For instance, Oklahoma is a carry-friendly state, but prohibits carry of pistols larger than .45 caliber. On the other hand, Oklahoma allows transport in your truck cab–only with a permit–of a rifle with a loaded magazine and an empty chamber.  Carry of pistols larger than .45 is allowed in many jurisdictions, but a rifle with a loaded magazine and empty chamber will get you arrested in some places.  

My point is that the author overstated the meaning of reciprocity–one jurisdiction recognizing another’s permit. You must know the law of the place you find yourself or risk the consequences.- J.E.J.

JWR Replies: In additional federal laws, America has a patchwork of city, county, and state laws. The good news is that this means that you can “vote with your feet” and move to a jurisdiction that has the liberty that you desire. But the bad news is that travelers must research these laws before they travel, or travel unarmed. Please don’t contact me with legal questions. I’m not an attorney. Do your own homework, and if need be, consult a knowledgeable attorney in your state.

Letter Re: Zen and the Art of Basic Rifle Marksmanship

Jim,

Thanks again for the great job on your blog.In reading the recent excellent article forwarded by Doc in South Carolina titled “Zen and the Art of Basic Rifle Marksmanship,” a few additional thoughts came to mind.

I recall my father teaching us boys how to shoot at ages 11-12. We used a break-open pellet gun, similar to the Gamo that I now own (now with a scope on it), to shoot at a small target mounted on a pellet trap, which was in turn mounted on a large and thick piece of plywood.  Our instruction was carried out in the dining room of our apartment located on the base at Ramstein AFB, Germany.  Some might just be cringing at the thought of practicing in one’s dining room, but as Doc implied, if you cannot do it safely, you maybe hadn’t oughta be doin’ it, at all.

So it was in our dining room there on an Air Force base that our father, a fighter pilot and an avid rifle hunter, shotgunner, and hand loader, taught us the basic formal shooting positions, which, as described in the article, included prone, kneeling, and standing.  There he taught, as the author suggests, the art of breathing, trigger squeeze, and concentration on the front sight, as well as the creation of stability “triangles” by the use of ones bones (as opposed to muscles) to create structural braces for each shooting position.

However, not described in the article is one of the most useful and stable of all positions, second only to prone, and that is sitting.  That position is begun from standing by plopping down on one’s buttocks at an acute angle to the target, and then placing the elbows forward of the spread knees.  Incidentally, the “formal” sitting position such as we were taught in the USMC, that is, sitting with legs crossed and ankles tucked in under the thighs, is almost useless in a field situation, as it requires a nearly flat surface, a wonderfully lithe and agile body, and time to properly attain.  However, the sitting position as has been used routinely by soldiers and Marines in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam (my war), and by numerous hunters,  is one taken with legs spread and used to create the stability “triangles” mentioned above.  It is useful on flat ground as well as inclines, and can be obtained very quickly.  Of course in a tactical situation, its use could be limited by the necessity to be behind adequate cover, but that is true of all positions.  As the author states, a prone position is favored for its near rock-solid stability, and can usually be obtained behind low cover.  Nevertheless, the sitting position is inherently stable, and much more so by far than either kneeling or standing, and should be considered.  I feel sure that the author is writing in the context, perhaps, of a “running gun fight,” in which plopping down on one’s buttocks is likely too slow to allow subsequent rapid movement, which event favors the kneeling position. However, in that case the squatting, or “Rice Paddy Prone” position might also be used.  But for those times, particularly while hunting, where a relatively quick and very stable position is desired for a really precise shot, the sitting position is an alternative worthy of consideration.

Further, for the best discussion I have ever read or heard, including the excellent instruction that we received in the USMC, see Col. Jeff Cooper’s book The Art Of The Rifle. It is arguably his finest work, this among his many fine writings.  It is not a book about equipment nor hardware. It is about how to use a rifle, and in this respect is much in line with Doc’s article.  It is recommended for shooters of all ages and experience, for there is always  more to learn.  While it is not a substitute for formal “live” training, it is about the next best thing. – Two Dogs in West Virginia Lt.Col. USMCR (ret.)

Economics and Investing:

Higher taxes in Australia: Queensland flood levy ‘crazy’ amid price rises

Dead ahead: State and city pension FAILURES!

QE2, QE3,… The Most Predictable Financial Calamity in History. (Thanks to Siggy for the link.)

John R. suggested this: Paper Money Madness: Inflation-Fueled Economic Growth Does Not Indicate That An Economy Is Getting Stronger

John also set this: Peter Schiff: China to Unleash US ‘Inflation Nightmare’

Items from The Economatrix:

Oil To Exceed $150 A Barrel, “Probably Go Over $200”  

The Day After The Dollar Crashes–A Survival Guide For The Rise Of The New World Order  

Dow Average Nears 12,000 as Tech Stocks Climb  

Headed For Another Financial Meltdown?  

Odds ‘n Sods:

F.G. sent a rousing tale of a Gurkha’s daring chivalrous deeds: “A retired Indian Gorkha soldier recently revisited those glory days when he thwarted 40 robbers, killing three of them and injuring eight others, with his khukuri during a train journey. He is in line to receive three gallantry awards from the Indian government.”

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The latest concern is sulfolane contamination of water wells: Tainted Wells in North Pole Spur Alaska Officials to Issue Garden Alert. Note that such contamination is suspected in other states.

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Cheryl N. spotted this: “Buy A Gun” Google Queries Hit All Time High, And Other Off-The-Grid Economic Indicators

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Also at the National Geographic web site: New Aurora Pictures: First Big Show of 2011.

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The folks at Ready Made Resources wrote to tell me that they’ve just received a special purchase of 10 Litton AN/PVS-14 night vision monocular/weapon sights. These are autogated, Gen 3+, and come complete with case and head mount. These have original factory data sheets. They are priced at just $2,895, while supplies last. We have one of those monoculars here at the ranch, and it is amazing.

Note from JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 32 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round 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 $795, 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 250 round case of 12 Gauge Hornady TAP FPD 2-3/4″ OO buckshot ammo, courtesy of Sunflower Ammo (a $240 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 Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.) , and B.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value.

Round 32 ends on January 31st, 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.