Choosing Survival Group Partners, by C.G.

What kind of person are you and how does that relate to surviving the end of the world as we know it?

I am far from completely prepared for TSHTF scenario but I am working hard on it.  I do a lot of reading and research on the subject and one of my toughest areas has been in finding other like minded individuals of which I would be able to trust in a post-TEOTWAWKI situation!  I never really realized how difficult this could be.  In my close circle of friends there is but one that is even close to being like minded on what is in store and the benefits of preparing or it!  As we began discussing plans for a bug out many things have come out that caused me great discomfort and lots of thought.

People are introduced into groups or you find people of like mind hoping the gather together the right mixture of people with different skills and experiences to give your group the highest probability for survival in a worst case scenario.  When introduced to several different options I keep coming back to the same annoying little voice in my head that tells me the people you plan to survive with had better be people with the same values and priorities as you have or you’ll pay an ultimate price!

If your children are the most important thing to you in the world I urge you to scrutinize your choice of survival comrades with the most scrutiny you can possibly muster!  When times are so bad that people are killing others for their food and resources people are in their gravest state of desperation.  It is at these times that the true nature and core of a person will escape the inner reaches of themselves and come out with great force.  So how can you be sure who the people are and determine their values and convictions are acceptable for your survival scenario?

“You don’t develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday.  You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.” – Barbara De Angelis

So what better way to really get to know the personal convictions of a person than by their life relationships!  If someone is a completely selfish person, who would sacrifice others for themselves instead of working as a team, there should be major warnings in their life circumstances that can make you aware of their mentality.  So what behavior patterns should you watch for and avoid?  To everyone the list will be different but I have some set ones that I watch for in people and try my best not to involve them in my children’s lives…let alone place them as a trusted partner in survival!  Here is my list:

Lack of Integrity:  failure to hold steadfast to adherence of moral and ethical issues

You probably already know many of these people.  They don’t often show immediately but through their actions you can see their lack of integrity.  They are typically unfaithful in their marriages or maintain relations with people who are married.  They often bend the rules to suit themselves.  In relationships it may be rationalizing that since they are unhappy or their girlfriend/boyfriend is unhappy they are somehow excused from the commitments of marriage.  In work they may cut corners and deceive to line their pockets rationalizing that someone is going to do it and it might as well be them.

Arrogance: overbearing pride typically evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors

You can typically spot this character soon after meeting them if not before.  They believe they are God’s gift to the universe and strongly believe they may not always be right but they are never wrong.  These people can be more harmful in dire circumstances as they may rationalize how trading another’s safety for their own makes perfect sense as they are superior and should be saved at all costs.  They often have troubled relationships as they push their opinions and ways on other people as their way of thinking and their way of doing things is the only right way in their mind.

Explosive personality: easily agitated toward the point of explosiveness

These individuals are a little harder to recognize as they wouldn’t want people to know their mannerisms.  In time of knowing someone you may be faced with stressful situations and it is how they handle these situations that may portray this character flaw.  Post TSHTF we will be inundated with high stressful situations and the last thing you want for yourselves or your children is someone present that becomes explosive instead of assertive and calm during these situations.

Lack of accountability:  takes no responsibility in their own choices or actions and is not willing to suffer the consequences of those choices and actions.

Everything just “happens” to this type of person.  When things don’t go right they are just unlucky.  When they get fired from their jobs it is because someone has it out for them…..not because they were late eight times in the last month!  They don’t spend time contemplating their decisions as they have no intention of being held accountable for them.  The repeat the same mistakes because they don’t feel their actions caused them.  This person can be easily spotted as the person usually is a woe is me and complaining individual that would rather complain about everything happening to them then take control and do something to improve their situations.

Lack of commitment:  inability to commit to a path, idea or person.

A long list of life partners, girlfriends, boyfriends, jobs, addresses and much more make this person easy to spot as well.  They are people who get into jobs for a quick buck with no intention of staying.  Or the man/woman that starts a relationship with someone who they have no intention of being with.  They simply hop from job to job, bed to bed and so on with no conviction or care of the havoc they leave behind.  You cannot trust this person with your life or that of your child as they may well change their mind and leave you stranded.

“The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.”

Now here is where it gets a little tricky!  Some people do have the capacity to change their behaviors and develop and stick to new ones.  However, someone that repeatedly makes the same mistakes is likely to continue to repeat them. 

Remember that the people you plan to survive with are people you will have to put the trust of your own safety and the safety of your children in.  As parents it is hard to trust anyone with our children but if we are very selective it is possible to find others that value children and have great personal convictions that they would be prime candidates you could trust with the life of your child should yours be lost in post-TSHTF chaos.  Always make sure the people you plan with have the highest integrity and responsibility for their actions.  It is these people who you can trust.  They do not willfully lie, cheat or steal and if ever they do they will immediately confess their errors and accept the responsibility and consequences for their actions.

It is definitely not an easy task to find the right people!  Good luck to all of you!

Letter Re: Advice on Privacy in Firearms Purchases

Hi Jim,  
If I buy a handgun on AuctionArms.com and have it shipped to a FFL will the authorities know it is registered under my name?  

Thank you,   – John G.

JWR Replies: The following applies only to SurvivalBlog readers in the United States: Well, considering that by law, final delivery of a gun bought out of state means that you must fill out a Form 4473 that will be kept on file permanently with your dealer. Also, an Instant Background Check will be required. So, yes, you will leave a paper trail. (Although it isn’t “registration”, per se.)

However, if your state law allows it, then I recommend that you buy your guns from private parties who lives in your state, and pick them up in person, paying cash, or sending a US Postal Service Money Order in advance.  That will minimize the paper trail.  You should find private sellers through AuctionArms.com, GunBroker.com, GunsAmerica.com, or at local gun shows in your own state.

And, needless to say, stock up on original factory made full capacity magazines immediately after you determine what model pistol you will be buying. There are already rumors of another ban. If one is enacted, you can expect the prices of 11+ round magazines to triple or quadruple!

Letter Re: Archery Equipment for Those Living in Gun-Deprived Locales

Jim,  
I just want to add a few comments on Archery as a means of self defense from someone who is no overwhelming expert on the subject, but has had a hand in Archery since childhood. So I put something together to assist those forced to use a bow in self defense. Bows can be swift, silent, accurate and deadly, and in the right circumstances, may be preferable to a firearm.  

Let me state at the very beginning that shooting wooden arrows out of most modern compound bows should not be done and usually will result in the splitting and shattering of the arrow, hopefully not directly into your arm and hand. It is possible to match a much higher draw weight than you think you are capable of, if the bow has a cam on it. The cam allows for a much greater let off in the muscle/force needed to keep the bow string fully drawn. As the bow is drawn, the draw weight increases to a peak and then “lets off”. The let-off is usually between 65% and 80% of the peak weight.  This results in the equivalent of eliminating 2/3rds to 3/4ths of the force needed to draw a bow at a certain point so that it becomes easier on the muscle/bones of the archer. More technically, the cam system maximizes the energy storage throughout the draw cycle and provides let-off at the end of the cycle and has less holding weight at full draw. A traditional type of bow has a linear draw force curve – meaning that as you draw the bow back, the draw force becomes increasingly heavier with each inch of draw. So it’s easier at the beginning and harder at the end. So you store very little energy in the first half of the draw stroke, and much more energy at the end of the draw stroke where the resistance is heavier. The compound bow may reach its peak weight within the first few inches of the draw stroke, and the weight remains flat and constant until the end of the cycle where the cams “let-off” and allow a reduced holding weight. This manipulation of the peak weight throughout the draw stroke by the elliptical shape of the cams, is why compound bows store more energy and shoot faster. The design of the cams directly controls the acceleration of the arrow. Bows can be had with a variety of cams, in a full spectrum from soft to hard (harder gives more speed).

Overall, a modern cam results in using a larger draw weight, a faster arrow, more accuracy, a flatter trajectory and with more penetration.   High draw weight bows require a heavier, stiffer arrow shaft.  So while they will generate more energy at the target, they may not generate much faster arrow speeds.  Lower draw weight bows can use lighter, more limber arrow shafts. International Bowhunting Organization (IBO) standards allow 5 grains of arrow weight per pound of draw weight. So a 70 lb bow can shoot an arrow as light as 350 grains.  A bow set for 60 lb, must have at least 300 grains and so forth.  Surprisingly, when set for IBO minimum standards, many bows are only marginally faster in the 70 lb version vs. the 60 lb version.  Since a 70 lb bow must shoot the heavier arrow, the savings in arrow weight offsets the loss of energy storage during the draw stroke.  A properly set-up 60 lb version of most bows will perform within 10 fps of the heavier 70 lb version.

The average bow of 15-20 years ago was barely able to reach 230 fps, and even at that speed many bow hunters got clean pass-thru’s on large game like Whitetail Deer. Today the average bow is shooting over 300 fps at 70 lb draw weight. This means that even bows in shorter draw lengths and lower draw weights will still provide plenty of velocity to penetrate the ribcage of a Whitetail Deer and other large game. A modern single cam bow with a 50 lb peak draw weight will still send arrows out at well over 220 fps. If you plan to hunt larger game like Elk or Moose, or if you plan to take shots from longer distances, you will need additional kinetic energy for complete penetration. A 40-50 lb draw weight should provide sufficient energy to harvest deer and a 50-60 lb bow weight will provide sufficient energy to harvest larger elk-size species. Unless you’re planning to hunt huge animals, a 70 lb+ pound bow really isn’t necessary. Penetration is most often expressed as kinetic energy (KE) and should be available with purchase of  the bow or by calculating it.  The measurable  “power” of your bow is its total kinetic energy output. This depends upon just two variables: the mass of the arrow and the speed of the arrow.  Kinetic energy of an arrow can be found by using the formula KE=(mv²)/450,240 where m is the mass of the arrow in grains and v is the velocity of the arrow in fps.  As a provided example, if your bow shoots a 400 grain arrow at a respectable 250 fps, your actual kinetic energy or “power” will roughly be equal to 55 1/2 ft-lbs. More than enough to take out a man.

Easton’s Kinetic Energy Recommendation Chart

<25 ft. lbs. Small Game (rabbit, groundhog, etc.)
25-41 ft. lbs. Medium Game (deer, antelope, etc.)
42-65 ft. lbs. Large Game (elk, black bear, wild boar, etc.)
>65 ft. lbs. Toughest Game (Cape Buffalo, Grizzly Bear, Musk Ox, etc.)

Bleed out is that fact that due to the cutting diameter of the blades on a broad head, more vital organs, arteries, tissue, etc. is often cut on the way through the flesh. This usually results in a faster bleed out of the target than is usual with a bullet. According to the information I have seen, when a bullet goes through the human body, the wound channel often closes back up. With a broad headed arrow the cutting action has left a much larger wound channel that cannot close back up as efficiently, and thus more blood escapes the body at a faster rate. Arrows do not have even remotely the shattering effect on bone that bullets do (making people on drugs physically unable to move a shattered limb) but can, in a certain way, can put a person down as efficiently as a bullet. This appears to be true in my own personal experience with deer but it is tempered with the fact that I have also figuratively knocked deer off their feet with a deer slug, which is not going to happen with an arrow.  

Psychologically, if you shoot an individual with an arrow, you have just got “medieval” on them and the shock of seeing an arrow sticking out of their body will likely put an end to the confrontation. Modern man in North America and Europe is just not psychologically prepared for being impaled like they used to be. Every time that arrow is moved, it creates some severe internal damage and pain and creates confusion and hesitancy in the mind of the target. Many who are shot with a bullet often don’t realize that they have been wounded until later. If a 2-½ foot long piece of aluminum or carbon fiber is sticking out of someone, they will realize it even if it is just a hindrance to their natural body movement.  

Bows are not a close-in weapon (they should have a range of at least 100 yards) due to the fact that your enemy can usually close with you faster than you can load, draw and aim. If they are shooting at you, you will need some solid cover. It is possible to get accurate shots from the kneeling position, but too often the knee interferes with the bow limbs and tracking a target. Chances are you are going to have to stand and present a full standing side silhouette to your opponent. Bows are great a shooting a target from ambush (even within your darkened house) and for keeping your location a relative mystery. After your initial shot(s), as they are closing in on you from 15 yards (or so), throw the bow down and draw your pistol, your going to need it.  

Thus it is possible for a bow to give power out of all proportion to the individual shooting it (just like a firearm) and you can be as sure of taking out the “target” as surely as people have done for the last several thousand years. – A.T.

Economics and Investing:

Debt Default Fears Will Spread To US and Japan, Warns Citigroup  

Deepening Crisis Traps America’s Have-Nots  

Prepare for a Greek Default    

Brett G. suggested this piece: JPMorgan’s Dimon: More Cities Will Go Bankrupt

John R. liked this one: The New Financial World Order Evolves Further

Also from John: Here’s That Big Citigroup Report On Why Absolutely No Sovereign Debt Is Safe

Items from The Economatrix:

How The Government Spins Unemployment (Paul Craig Roberts)

Fed Prints Another $600 Billion to Keep US Recovery on Track  

Oil Surges on Offshore Drilling Report  

Housing Market Slips Into Depression Territory 

Odds ‘n Sods:

G.G. sent this item of interest, from Popular Mechanics: Rise of the Preppers: Survivalists Get a Makeover Can disaster preparedness become a lifestyle without turning into survivalism?

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Magnetic Pole Shift May Close Airports

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Peter King’s silly gun ban idea. Beyond ludicrous… How can you create an exclusion zone that moves?

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Just as predicted: Here They Come For Your Money – Dozens of States Are Raising Taxes in 2011

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Sean B. sent us another testament to the protective value of “mass”: Credit Protection: Bouncer’s cards stop knife blows. JWR’s comment: Body armor provides decent protection from knives as well as bullets, from most angles. Not much help for neck slashes, but it might save you from jabs to the chest and abdomen.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Rome remained free for four hundred years and Sparta eight hundred, although their citizens were armed all that time; but many other states that have been disarmed have lost their liberties in less than forty years.” – Niccolò Machiavelli, The Art of War

The California – Wyoming Travel Dictionary

Ray X., a SurvivalBlog reader in Wyoming has compiled a lexicon, with translations for Californians who are visiting Wyoming, or vice versa. Note: This doesn’t apply to conservatives who are fleeing California. (Since they already speak the language of Wyoming.)

In California In Wyoming
Diverse or Lifestyle Choice Sinful and Perverted
Arsenal of Weapons Gun Collection
Delicate Wetlands Swampland
Undocumented Worker Illegal Alien
Cruelty-Free Materials Synthetic Fiber
Assault and Battery Attitude Adjustment
Heavily Armed Well-protected
Narrow-minded Righteous
Taxes or Your Fair Share Coerced Theft
Commonsense Gun Control Gun Confiscation Plot
Illegal Hazardous Explosives Fireworks or Stump Removal
Nonviable Tissue Mass Unborn Baby
Equal Access to Opportunity Socialism
Multicultural Community High Crime Area
Fairness or Social Progress Marxism
Upper Class or “The Rich” Self-Employed
Progressive, Change Big Government Scheme
Homeless or Disadvantaged Bums or Welfare Leeches
Sniper Rifle Scoped Deer Rifle
Investment For the Future Higher Taxes
Healthcare Reform Socialized Medicine
Extremist, Judgmental, or Hater Conservative
Truants Homeschoolers
Victim or Oppressed Criminal or Lazy Good-For-Nothing
High Capacity Magazine Standard Capacity Magazine
Religious Zealot Church-going
Reintroduced Wolves Sheep and Elk Killers
Fair Trade Coffee Overpriced Yuppie Coffee
Exploiters or “The Rich” Employed or Land Owner
The Gun Lobby NRA Members
Assault Weapon Semi-Auto (Grandpa’s M1 Carbine)
Fiscal Stimulus New Taxes and Higher Taxes
Same Sex Marriage Legalized Perversion
Mandated Eco-Friendly Lighting Chinese Mercury-Laden Light Bulbs

Letter Re: Intestinal Parasites and Water Filtration

Hi James,
I thought I would pass this one along: Intestinal Parasites May Be Causing Your Energy Slump. This article talks about intestinal parasites, many of which are found in our drinking water, and their effects on chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This is one good reason for people to start using their Berkey filters on a regular basis and also start cleansing their bodies of these parasites.

I have my filter in the closet, but after reading this I think I will put it on the counter and start using it to filter my tap water. I never thought there was a link between fatigue and internal parasites. After TEOTWAWKI it would be even harder to maintain personal hygiene with no running water and public sources of water will quickly become contaminated with these and even more deadly parasites. Considering most prepared individuals would be doing a lot of physical labor at their retreats as well as performing guard duty the last thing one need is more fatigue. Regards, – Eric

Letter Re: Mobile Fuel Storage System

James,
Let me introduce your readers to propane and the many possibilities it offers your planning and TEOTWAWKI preps, that you will likely never have thought of before. Over the last number of years I have carefully thought out and planned a “system” if you will of key pieces of equipment which all operate on a single, inexpensive and highly efficient and large mobile fuel storage system. Naturally, I have the standard wood stove and gasoline operated family vehicle(s), but what is most interesting is some of the items I have been working on and extensively testing/ using on the side.    

1986 Chevrolet 3/4-Ton Pickup on Dual Fuel    

I have recently finished building my ideal Bug out vehicle (BOV) and a number of other very interesting and related items of interest which all fit in with a “one fuel system” for my preps.    I own a customized flat tan-painted 1986 Chevrolet/GMC pre-CPU or fuel injected 3/4-ton 4×4 pickup truck with a long bed on 33 inch high performance tires. It has the very tough NP 205 transfer case. This truck has a manual transmission without the hydraulic clutch (easier to repair), 4 inch suspension lift, custom built heavy duty roll bars and light bar, custom built heavy duty Front bush guard, bumper/ grill guard made from oil field drill stem. My spare tire mounts directly in the center of this heavy duty grill guard. All of this is great and the many features and modifications are too many to mention. But what is interesting about this truck are the most recent modifications which have the greatest impact on this trucks ability to be a high performance BOV. I have recently had this truck;s fuel system modified to a “dual fuel” system. The truck now runs on propane and gasoline.

Directly in the front of the truck bed, I have a 230 liter propane tank mounted between the roll bar mounts. It sits just out of sight below the top of my truck box. With the pull of a manual cable  just above my left knee while driving, I can switch between gasoline and propane in a moment’s notice, moving from my 150 liter reserve of gasoline between my two twin gas tanks, to my 230 liters of propane and back again.

I specified manual “IMPCO” brand propane controls installed as opposed to easier to use electronic controls which are slightly more convenient to use but that are less reliable and have the potential to “fry” during an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) event. The system is old school and has been used and tested in many thousands of vehicles for about 30 years. My mechanic tells me that the fuel efficiency difference between gas and propane in a Chevrolet/GM 350 engine with a manual transmission is hardly noticeable and not a concern. The difference in power is also barely noticeable from my findings as well. However, the savings in cost for me are substantial which I will explain near the end of my posting. 

As a side note, my truck starts and runs much better on propane than it ever did on gasoline even in the coldest months. The last thing I’ve done is to ensure an adequate level of EMP protection is that I decided to purchase a GMC 3/4 ton pre-1987 vehicle. You see, 1987 was the first year Chevrolet and GM introduced electronic fuel injection. Although more fuel efficient than a standard carbureted engine, they are vulnerable to EMP as they are CPU/ Microprocessor controlled.

Even though it was a pre-1987 model it came standard with a high energy ignition (HEI) system which is prone to vulnerabilities and issues during an EMP event. I’ve recently had my mechanic swap the HEI ignition system out for the older style points, rotor and coil ignition system which can be easily fixed or replaced with spare parts stowed away in a Faraday box under the seat of the truck. The total cost for all of these brand new ignition parts and complete system was less than $150. A spare set of replacement condenser, points and coil will run me less than $90. In the event of an EMP, I have the ability to quickly replace these parts within minutes while on the road and I’m back up and running. My fuel capacity would take me well over 1,500 kilometers with a single fill up.  

Propane Heaters      
I did a fair bit of research into propane heaters for use in a home, cabin, tent, etc. The two models of heaters which I settled on were infrared radiant propane heaters made by “Mr. Heater” brand. The first one I bought was a “Big Buddy” portable heater which I can run off 1 pound propane “camping” bottles or a 20 lb barbeque tank or larger if I really wanted to. Currently I use a 20 lb propane tank with this heater in my home office which happens to be an atrium which tends to get a little cold in the winter otherwise with this heater. This unit is an 18,000 BTU per hour unit and can easily heat my un-insulated atrium/office from -20 degrees to + 20 degrees Celsius in under an hour.   The second heater I purchased was a 30,000 BTU per hour wall mounted/free standing with included legs heater. Currently I have this heater mounted to wall on the main floor of my three-storey 8 bedroom home and it heats my entire home even on the coldest night thus far. I am presently running this heater from a 20 lb. barbeque tank and find that I have to refill or swap out tanks about every 48 hours.

My heating costs are approx $150 per month at this point give or take a few dollars. In the event I need to bug out, I can simply grab the heater off the wall and go. Both of these Propane heaters have all the stamps and badges of approval from both the Canadian Government and the US safety agencies. They both use a catalytic conversion process which vaporizes or burns all the dangerous carbon monoxide (CO) from the burning process. I run three separate CO detectors in my home and none of them have ever registered a single reading thus far except one day early on when I had a very small propane leak from a poorly threaded propane hose line to which my alarm promptly let me know that it was “Sniffing” propane. The main advantage to these units is that they don;t require an exterior vent. Unlike your furnace which sends a plume of wasted hot exhaust into the atmosphere, these units send that clean, moist and very hot air into your home as opposed to wasting it. When the heater claims 30,000 BTU per hour as its output rating, its likely much higher when compared to the output rating of your furnace or wood stove simply due to the fact that its a vent free system and not wasting significant amounts of hot air by pumping it out the chimney stack as a byproduct.

Generators    
In deciding on the generators to own and use, I did a lot of research. I wanted to have a mid-sized generator (5,000 to 7,000 watts) that could run nearly all of my home systems at the same time if need be.( Well pump, sump pumps, furnace, a few lights, fridges, deep freezes, washer and dryer et cetera.) This unit also had to be easy to start, use and move around in the event my wife or children had to use it for whatever reason. In preparation for this I had a generator backup electrical panel installed next to and in conjunction with my current grid power panel. Basically, the power goes out, you flip a big switch on your power panel disconnecting you from Utility power, and fire up the generator. Using this type of panel eliminates the risk of a “back feed.”

The generator I settled on was a dual fuel (Gasoline and Propane) 5,000 watt unit from Northern Tool for around the $700 price. It came standard with wheels and handles to move it around, an electric start battery system with a backup pull cord system and all the propane lines and fittings a guy needs to hook up to a standard 20 lb barbeque tank. I’ve tested it out numerous times with 100 lb propane bottles and 20 lb tanks. Everything seems to run very well thus far and my 10 year old son has no problem wheeling it around, hooking it up and operating it with ease after a little safety instruction.  

The second genset I have on hand is a Honda 2,000 watt inverted super quiet model. I purchased a propane conversion kit online for about $150 and within an hour had it converted easily to run off propane. Works like a charm off my 20 lb tanks.   The last thing I’m hoping to do and I have not had any success in finding any reliable information is to convert an ATV to burn propane as there doesn’t seem to be much information out there. If there is anyone that knows a reliable method or where to obtain information it would be much appreciated if they e-mail JWR a reply.  

I mentioned that I would get into the cost factor of the propane I use. I live in the country and there are many farmers who use mobile propane tanks mounted on trailers for irrigation and construction. I contacted my local propane dealer for more information. After a little discussion, here is what I found out:   My dealer leased me a brand new 1,000 gallon (3,600 + liter) propane tank mounted on a brand new 16 foot dual axle trailer for $260 per year. The trailer has a standard 2-5/16 ” ball hitch and trailer brakes. When asked by my dealer what I was going to use the propane for, I told him I would be using it for a number of uses but mostly filling propane bottles and tanks. Because I didn’t mention it would be used to fill up my vehicle the rate was significantly less. He charged me only 40 cents per liter to fill the entire tank up ($1,400). Currently this is 60 percent less expensive than filling up my vehicle with gasoline at the pump and I get about the same mileage.

The benefits of using propane in these ways are substantial just to name a few:

  • Low profile purchasing. Unlike home gasoline tanks, propane tanks create no suspicion
  • Virtually unlimited shelf life
  • Large volume fuel storage on hand (1,000 gallons / 3,600 liters per tank) in most jurisdiction with no restrictions.

Propane offers mobility and bug out possibilities in a grid down situation where transportation legalities won’t matter. A number of key pieces of equipment are available which operate using propane.   The possibilities with propane are endless and in my opinion its a far superior option for fuel and flexibility than gasoline or diesel fuels. The cost savings alone would make a person do a double take and reconsider all options.  – M.B. writing from the Frozen North

Two Letters Re: More Flooding in Australia

Hi Jim,  
Just to let you know, a TEOTWAWKI situation came to our town (Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia) two days ago.  Toowoomba is known as the Garden City, and sits at the top of the Great Dividing Range, at 3,000 feet above sea level.  After weeks of constant rainfall that soaked catchments of a drought stricken region, we received six inches of rain in an hour.

This deluge caused a flash flood (that has been since called an “Inland Tsunami”) that raged through the middle of Toowoomba.  The speed of the flood took everyone by surprise and cars and people were swept away.  Four people were drowned in the town.  I helped two friends who narrowly escaped drowning when their car was washed away and overturned.  A rope was thrown to them before they were washed away and another floating car hit them. We are now cut off in a city of 100,000 people, as Queensland faces the worst floods in its history.  Our capital city, Brisbane, is now facing its worst floods in over a 100 years.  The president of my local rifle club has heard his uncle and niece were drowned when the floods headed down the hill and washed away two other small villages.  Currently death toll is 10 with 90 still missing from the two villages.  It is truly horrific.  

Here are a couple of links to videos and photos.   

I crossed these waters further up the street in my 4WD Ute.  The water was not flowing as fast where I crossed.

This next one is at a high point of town near the Grainco Wheat Silos.  

Another video from down near Grand Central Myers. It all happened so fast – 30 minutes later this intersection was clear as you can see in the next video.

Here is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) news reports and videos.    

Thankfully I have been a follower of SurvivalBlog and had made basic preparations.  Our house was not affected by the flood.  I immediately went to the shops to top up on supplies. Shops are now running low on food.  The French Toast [milk and bread] Brigade had cleaned out the shelves the next day. Bottled water went on the first day.  We are now in day three, following the flood event.  My wife scoffed at me when I came home on the first afternoon. I can tell you the scoffing stopped the next day when she realised I was right.  

We have people staying in our house who can’t go home because roads and bridges are destroyed.  Thankfully we have supplies on hand to provide.   Our church has swung into action helping various people.   I am keeping a diary on the events and will forward a full story of events for you to publish soon.  

Please keep us in your prayers.   Kind Regards and God Bless, – W.J.

 

Hi Jim,  
I ran across this article today on the continuing devastating flooding in Australia including video footage and details of people swamping grocery stores with bare shelves. Thought you might want to share it on the blog.   Best wishes, – Steve C.

Economics and Investing:

Frequent content contributor B.B. spotted this: Offshore Gold Rush: AngloGold, De Beers hunt gold under Atlantic

Eric Rosenbaum asks: Should the US Raise Its Debt Ceiling… or Default? The piece includes this: “Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner this week found himself in the unenviable position of representing the US government in the role of a delinquent credit card customer asking for a higher credit limit. In place of that line on a credit card account statement that reads ‘available credit’ insert ‘national debt ceiling.'” (Thanks to reader C.D.V. for the link.)

G.G. sent this: Bank intervention as euro debt crisis deepens

Geoff L. suggested this piece by Mish Shedlock: Budgetary Delusions: Federal Deficit Charts from CBO Budget Projections

Items from The Economatrix:

Telecoms Lead Stocks Lower ; Europe Falls  

Ford Plans To Hire 7,000 Workers By 2012  

California Braces for 59% Blue Shield Hike  

14 Stats on How US Economy Has Collapsed Since 2007  

Stock Plunge Causes Riots in Bangladesh, US Next? 

Odds ‘n Sods:

<<p>Frequent content contributor C.D.V. sent us the link to an interesting (and beautiful) “heat map” which may aid is selecting retreat locales. It shows locations that are furthest in travel time from major cities.

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W.T. suggested this piece over at Grant Cunninghan’s site: Firearms Lubrication 101. (Thanks to W.T. for the link.)

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Reader Jenn. C. mentioned an article that she penned for The Sarah Connor Charm School blog site: Survival Food Strategies for Real Food Minded Modern Warriors.

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One Poor Harvest Away From Chaos. (Thanks to Cheryl N. for the link.) 

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Another headline from Oz: Panicked residents strip shelves bare

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The United States and its leaders are stuck in their own Catch-22. They need the economy to improve in order to generate jobs, but the economy can only improve if people have jobs. They need the economy to recover in order to improve our deficit situation, but if the economy really recovers, long-term interest rates will increase, further depressing the housing market and increasing the interest expense burden for the US, therefore increasing the deficit. A recovering economy would result in more production and consumption, which would result in more oil consumption, driving the price above $100 per barrel, therefore depressing the economy. Americans must save for their retirements as 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day, but if the savings rate goes back to 10%, the economy will collapse due to lack of consumption. Consumer expenditures account for 71% of GDP and need to revert back to 65% for the US to have a balanced sustainable economy, but a reduction in consumer spending will push the US back into recession, reducing tax revenues and increasing deficits. You can see why Catch-22 is the theme for 2011” – Jim Quinn

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 32 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 $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.

Situational Awareness, by P.S.

“Stop Look and Listen” – That is the phrase that used to be plastered on every railroad crossing sign from Maine to California. What is true for safety crossing the tracks is true for all of us in our daily lives.   The ancient Chinese curse is: “May you live in interesting times”. Well, I think we can all agree, these times are interesting, if not a bit scary.    Let’s give some thought about being aware – knowing where you are, what is going on, what your options are – regardless of the situation. At this moment, I am in my home, pounding away at the PC, I’m reasonably secure here, but out in the world it’s another story.   The threat level – for me – is relatively low.   Here’s a thought picture for you; you’re standing on a bull’s-eye on a giant target. There are concentric rings radiating out of that target and each ring has a name.  

1.)   “Bull’s-Eye” = You, your own personal space. No family, friends, co-workers, just you.

2.)   “Second Ring” = that’s where your family and friends, perhaps your co-workers, etc. are.

3.)    “Third Ring” = your town, or your local area

4.)   “Fourth ring” = your State (or Province, depending on where you live).

5.)   “Fifth Ring” = your Nation

6.)   “Sixth ring” = the World  

Each ring on the “target” has its own level of importance at any given time, and no matter how selfless, the Bull’s Eye is probably the most important to you, because, well it’s you and without you there’d be no reason to care about the other five rings – right?   The other rings will assume more or less importance as situations change. If you’re at home and an accident happens to a family member, your family might just be the most important thing in your life right then. If, however you’re sitting at home, and the “talking head” on whatever news program you’re listening to states that the Governor has just issued an Emergency proclamation regarding the distribution of heating fuel to the area, maybe Rings 1 – 3 are lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree. (and no, Nina Totenberg of NPR, I don’t apologize for saying “Christmas”).  

National problems arise as do World problems, we must be aware of what is going on everywhere, at all times.   Being aware doesn’t mean being afraid, nor does it mean being anxious. Being aware means that you are informed about the things that are going on in your particular “ring”, and that you have at least some understanding about what you can do to either effect an outcome in that ring, or to cope with whatever changes may occur.  

What “awareness tools” do we have at our disposal, then?   Your own eyes and ears are some of the most important tools you have at your disposal Talk to your family, sit down and have a meal with them, find out what your “Better Half” did and heard today, or what the kids were subjected to at school; “Gee Dad, we had a speaker from the Socialist People’s Party talk to us about how great the world would be if we just dumped Capitalism”. Sock the info. away, maybe it’s nothing (did they also have someone with a Conservative viewpoint discuss how great a free market can be?); if not, maybe you might want to have a talk with the school Principal, and a little chat with Junior or Princess and give them some Fatherly advice about the real world.    

If you’re like me, you probably meet and talk with between three and twelve (or more) people every day. Talk to them, if you’re in the checkout at the local Super Mart (or whatever), strike up a conversation with someone in line, “hey, what do you think about the Mayor’s idea to have all firearms registered with the Town Police?”, or at the barber shop; “Gee, Bob, you’re on the Town DEP Committee why all the digging out near the old dump?”. You don’t have to go around snooping, but just keep your ears open, and who knows what you’ll pick up. Stock the information away, it may help in an emergency.   Keep an eye peeled when you’re around and about, “boy, look at all the traffic at the Air Base”, or “where’s my escape route from this theater if trouble breaks out”, or “if something serious happened, how would I get to the rendezvous point that my family has agreed to”  

Keep alert, and think “past, present and future” – “That wasn’t there last week”, or “a lot of traffic due to construction today, do I have an alternate route?”, or how about “better test my stored water supply when I get home”.   The various news media, Okay, I have to admit, most of the stuff on the major and local network newscasts – ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and even Fox must be taken with a tablespoon of salt, but there are grains of truth everywhere, even in the most tainted of news reports. What area are they talking about — any video? Why would the National Guard be training at the local Correctional Institution? Gold shot up to what price per ounce? Lock it away, share with your friends and other like minded individuals, the information may come in handy.   Radio/television, not news media. There are quite a few radio and certain television programs that you may finds worthwhile. I don’t want to sway anyone, but I listen to, (and watch) folks named Glenn, Sean, Rush, Bill, Ann and Mike. There’s a bunch more, especially local radio and television folks. Listen and learn from them, take them as they are, and use your own discretion when processing their information. You have a mind —–use it.  

The World Wide Web (WWW). All right, some stuff on the web is really strange, I personally don’t think that any “green (or gray or chartreuse) men” are coming to get us (Hollywood does, though). But there’s a lot of web sites, blogs, etc. just jam packed with information. Here’s a tip – Don’t believe everything you read on the web – if something strikes home, do some research, get some facts (no, “Wikipedia” is not 100% factual – but it is fun to read), it may be baseless, or it may be worthwhile. There are also a lot of web sites that have just the stuff that you need, or just the type of stuff that you can put together on your own. As an aside, I have a certain amount of food stored up “just in case” and it is a combination of web bought canned and freeze dried stuff, home canned – and great tasting – food, and store bought items. Use your own discretion when surfing, there’s a lot of junk, a lot of good and a whole bunch of ideas.   Books and magazines, Yes, I still read hardcover stuff, and you should too. I could have added “Newspapers” to that last item, but it’s harder and harder to find the gold nuggets hidden in the “dog droppings” in my local papers. – although if you have a local “Penny saver” you can find some news and a few bargains to boot. There are books on current events, history books that just may highlight remedies to today’s issues, magazine articles on the nuances of what’s happening now, and let’s not forget all of the training materials available out there. Most won’t cost a thin dime either, if you have a library close by. And if you want to part with some cash and purchase some readable stuff, there are book stores, online stores, or my favorites – flea markets and gun shows (for those who fear being tracked by “The Man”, it’s an all cash transaction, and nobody knows nuthin’).    

Like minded individuals yes, there’s more of us around than you might believe. If you feel comfortable, band together for mutual support. Share information, talk, discuss, grow – become a “community” either actual or intellectual. There is safety in numbers.   So how do we use all of this information to keep ourselves “aware”?   The more we know, the more we will be able to come to terms with whatever comes our way. Knowing about our “Rings” will enable us to act and react to any and most outside forces. I say “most” because sometimes you just don’t see what’s over the next hill, but there’s always a chance.  

Keep your eyes and ears open your mind open and active, be prepared, plan, rehearse, and discuss issues with family and friends.   When something happens, use what you know – information, training, items at hand, knowledge, to take the best course of action for yourself and all other relevant “rings” that may be affected.  

Here are a couple of examples:   A huge winter storm knocks out power and all means of transportation in your community. What do you do?   Well, if you’ve done your homework, you just might need to pull out that old kerosene heater from the tool shed and fire it up and get the Coleman stove going. Do you have a generator? Great! no? get out the lanterns or candles, then go down to the pantry and pull out some powdered milk so the kids have something nice to mix with that can of hot chocolate mix in the cupboard, maybe open up some tinned chicken, boil some noodles, and make a nice filling supper. No electricity means no “idiot box” but if you have a radio (hand cranked or battery powered) you’ll be informed and have some music to boot. Sit down and read to the kids, or even better, play a board game. Oh yes, you might want to check on your next door neighbor, — maybe.  If you’ve planned right, you’re warm, safe and dry until such time as the “powers that be” get the power flowing and clear the streets.  

How about this one:   A television news commentator reads a statement from the office of the President of the United States, in which he or she states that due to the worsening economic and political situation, she will be demanding that Congress grant her temporary “Emergency Powers” , making her a virtual dictator (did I mention the President says it’s only temporary).   You’ve been reading the U.S. Constitution, and you realize that this could be the start of something really bad for the American People. You’ve also kept up on several news blogs and radio programs that have been warning about a potential power grab by the Executive Branch.   Time to make a decision, do you:  
1.)   Send a strongly worded telegram to your local Congressman and Senator?
2.)   Head to Washington, D.C. where a protest is scheduled for the next day?
3.)   Gather your loved ones (along with several articles you have on your “bug out” list), and head for your rendezvous point?
4.)   Open that bottle of bourbon you’ve been saving for just such an occasion?
5.)   The list goes on.
6.)   And on.
7.)   And on.  

Be aware of what’s going on, don’t “just” worry about your own circumstances (food, shelter, gold coins?). Look at the big picture as well as your corner of the world, read, learn, absorb all you can.   When the time comes, be over prepared, over trained and over informed and you will stand a good chance of weathering whatever comes your way.