Letter Re: Energy Bars as a Storage Food

James;

This might interest your readers. I am considering buying compact, high-calorie emergency food bars for long term storage of food. I know they are not “real” [nutritionally complete] food but they easily moved and taken along, they have a great storage life and taste pretty good. The problem is that no pizzas and no cereal might make for a dull year, but having some of these on hand might be good. I was wondering if the ‘food bars’ are a good storage product. I would not stop storing real food, but would rely on the ‘bars’ for [short term] major calories. The ones I am looking at are in the Emergency Essentials catalog and I am sure you are aware of them. I would continue to add to my stores but the ‘bars’ would be a fairly expedient way to store a fast year’s supply, so your thoughts are? Just guessing at about 100 bars to start in case you wonder where I might go with this. Thanks for your consideration. – “SSB”

JWR Replies: The commercially made “energy bars”, “emergency ration” bars, and “sports bars” can provide a useful adjunct to a storage food program. In terms of their calories per cubic inch of storage space, they are just about at the opposite end of the scale from ramen noodles, which we recently discussed. Because they are so compact, these bars can easily be packed in ZipLoc bags (or better yet, vacuum packed with a Tilia FoodSaver sealer) and stored in a chest freezer. This will greatly extend their shelf life, especially in hot climates. Just don’t forget to pin a prominent note on your “Get Out of Dodge” (G.O.O.D.) kit rucksack, reminding yourself to retrieve them from the freezer before you head out the door.

Nutritionally, food storage bars just by themselves are in adequate, just as you mentioned. But they do make a useful supplement to your food storage program, both to provide variety and and flavor in a bland diet, and to serve as a very compact short term food supply for your G.O.O.D. kit.

As with any other item in a food storage program, relying too heavily on one sort of food can lead to digestive problems. When storing foods, moderation is the key. Include plenty of foods that you can use in greater or lesser quantities, to keep your bowels moving properly. I’m not joking Constipation that progresses to fecal impaction can be lethal, particularly in situations where strong physical exertion is required. Books on wilderness medicine and medicine for mountaineering often stress this fact.

Nearly all of the energy bars on the market are fairly expensive. On my budget, I consider them prohibitively expensive. One good alternative is making traditional jerky and pemmican at home. The cost per ounce can be very low, especially if you hunt or if you raise livestock. OBTW, I recently received samples of Hickory Blend Jerky Seasoning and Jerky Cure from the folks at Hi-Mountain Jerky, in Riverton, Wyoming. I probably won’t have the chance to try them until the upcoming deer and elk season, but these look promising for a budget conscious do-it-yourselfer like me. (I’ll post a review after I make my next batches of jerky and pemmican.) But, keep in mind that just like with energy bars, if you store dried meat you will also need to store a good source of dietary fiber.

Letter Re: Preparing for Pole Shift?

Mr. Rawles,
I have been trying to find out more about the consequences of a polar shift, particularly the effects it will have on the Great Lakes Region. I know that no one really knows what will happen, but everything I’ve seen points to something really really bad. If possible could you post what knowledge you may have on the subject on SurvivalBlog?
Thank you, – Scott from Michigan

JWR Replies: Rapid pole shift is a little more than an unsupported theory, touted mainly by the Art Bell crowd. In my opinion it should be one of the least of your worries. Even if rapid magnetic pole reversal does happen (and there is far more evidence that very gradual pole movement is what actually occurs), it might be a “once in 100,000 years” event. Instead of concentrating on that, you should get ready for a major economic depression, which is demonstrably a “once-every-few-generations” event. And, BTW, a depression seems to be unfolding now, right before our eyes. Also consider what you’ll need to do to be ready for a pandemic influenza. Such pandemics are more likely “once-every-few-generations” events.

Two Letters Re: Questions About FRS Radio Capabilities

Sir:
I’ll establish my bona fides by stating that I am a General class Amateur Radio licensee with extensive experience in the VHF and UHF radio bands. While I applaud your promotion of the MURS radio for general use, it is not the best choice for the gentleman residing in the concrete condos in Florida. Penetration of concrete and steel structures is significantly better (by approximately 30%) at UHF frequencies (as used by FRS/GMRS radios) than at the VHF frequencies as used by MURS. Though free air range favors VHF, UHF penetrates obstacles better, assuming the effective radiated power (ERP) is the same. There is a significant amount of literature on this topic in the amateur radio community, should anyone care to research it for themselves.

In the case in question, the gentleman would be better served by a GMRS radio, operating in the UHF band and radiating up to 5 watts, than with a MURS VHF unit limited to 2 watts of output. He would have the significant advantage of both the better obstacle penetration of the UHF band, and the dramatic increase in allowable output power. In a concrete and steel structure, the combination would easily outperform any MURS radio by a significant margin.

Since these are to be used as emergency communication devices in hurricane country, it is worth noting that most Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) are equipped with FRS radios for inter-unit communications. Since most GMRS radios include FRS channels as well, it would give the residents of the building an extra (and direct) way to contact help should the need arise.

In this case the GMRS/FRS combination is a far better choice for the conditions described. Regards, – Grant C.

 

Jim,
I recently bought TriSquare’s eXRS radios. I highly recommend them. I chose the TSX300 model.

They use frequency hopping technology with 1 billion frequencies (up to 10 numbers long: you choose the frequency). The best part is that it is license-free (no $80 FCC GMRS license needed).

It may not be the best choice for everyone, but it is more secure than FRS. Regards, – David M.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Norman in England found a web page with some useful information on assembling outdoor survival kits.

   o o o

Reader Bill T. asked me: “I’m a denture wearer. Do you know a formula for home-made denture adhesive?” I have no idea, but given SurvivalBlog’s large worldwide audience, perhaps there is a reader that can chime in with a formula.

   o o o

Cheryl N. spotted this interesting piece: ‘Liar loans’ threaten to prolong mortgage crisis. She also found this one: The Endgame Nears for Fannie and Freddie

   o o o

Rich at CGW has created a page just for SurvivalBlog readers, where he has hand-picked some nice products and created a 10% off coupon.

   o o o

The movie, “I.O.U.S.A.” that I described earlier this month is showing in selected theaters, starting tonight. The grand opening on August 21st will feature a follow-up live video conference with Warren Buffett, Pete Peterson, and David Walker. A movie trailer is available on their web site.

Letter Re: Ramen Noodles as a Food Storage Supplement

Mr. Rawles,
First off, thanks for your fine web site! I was proud to become a 10 Cent Challenge subscriber.

For those looking to increase their food storage supply in a cost-effective manner, I would recommend stopping by Wal-Mart and picking up their 12-pack containers of Ramen noodles (in various flavors). They’re currently $1.73 per package, which comes out to just 14.5 cents per single pack.

Nutritionally, a single pack of Ramen noodles contains:
380 calories
14 grams of fat
52 grams of carbohydrates
2 grams of fiber
10 grams of protein
and 16% of your daily requirement of iron

We ate a lot of Ramen noodles in the field while I was on active duty, you could boil up a single pack in a canteen cup and add a can of mushroom soup to it for a hot meal that was a break from C Rations. It would actually feed two guys most of the time.

Ten cases would cost you $17.30 to add 120 servings of a filling and easy to prepare base to stretch out your food storage dollars. This is worth the money, in my opinion! Yours, – Will from Florida

JWR Replies: The nutritive value of ramen is marginal, so it should not be considered a primary storage food. But I can see the wisdom of having some on hand as a food storage supplement, especially in lean times when hunger pangs will be a distinct possibility. There are lots of interesting ramen recipe web sites on the Internet, like this one with 430 recipes. Coincidentally, instant ramen is nearing its 50th anniversary.

In my experience, ramen, like other bulk pasta, is particularly vulnerable to vermin. I strongly recommend storing it in 6 gallon food grade buckets with gasketed lids. If you are short on buckets, One alternative–albeit providing a shorter shelf life–is finding metal cabinets (such as military wall lockers) with tight-fitting doors. These will at least keep your pasta safe from mice and rats. (But not necessarily safe from insects.)

Letter Re: Will the War in Georgia Trigger a Russian Ammo Import Ban?

Hello James,
I have been an avid reader of your novel and SurvivalBlog for about six months now, and I have to echo the sentiment of many other readers–that it has given me a desperately needed focus and sense of purpose. The increased threat of TEOTWAWKI was clear in my mind, and prior to finding your blog, I just had anxiety and was confused over what actions I should be taking t protect my family. I was like a deer in the headlights. Now it is a whole different story. I have stopped wasting money on non-essential items (sodas at restaurants, for example – my kids even request water now.). I have started to gather tangibles. Bullets, Beans and soon Band-Aids.

My comment for this email is based on a rumor I heard at a gun show this weekend. The gentleman who was selling me ammo (from a very large ammo wholesaler) stated that Wolf brand ammo and all other Russian ammo like Brown Bear, may be threatened by a Bush embargo as a political protest to the Russia’s Georgian War.

I hesitated to mention this as it is best to have an orderly flow in the market place and not panic, but as with the Iraq war I & II, I watched ammo prices almost double. Another war, especially involving an ammo producing country like Russia, will only make prices increase more, IMHO.

As I type this I have already seen .223 go over $240 per 1,000 and 7.62×39 is quickly approaching $200 per 1,000. Wal-Mart just raised prices last weekend on 12 gauge and .22 caliber. What was priced at $11.50 is now $13.50. Best Regards, – Robert D.

Letter Re: Questions About FRS Radio Capabilities

Dear SurvivalBlog:
At my condo complex in Florida, we’ve been wondering if we could use consumer two-way radios–such as Motorola Talkabout two-way radios–to communicate successfully between (from inside) condo units. We would do this during scenarios such as a severe hurricane.

The question is whether those radios (which, of course, come in several models with different specs) use the right frequency band and and have adequate power to penetrate the multiple concrete walls that would be line-of-sight between the communicating radios. We assume–in planning for worst possible case–that both line telephone and cell phone service would be down, and are looking for ways to directly communicate with each other during the height of a storm when we couldn’t safely walk from unit to unit.

Does anyone with relevant expertise have any ideas on this? Thanks for your assistance. Best Regards, – Gregg T.

JWR Replies: The key question is: How much reinforced concrete? As I recently noted in the blog, reliable communication in a cluttered urban environment is “iffy” for the typical FRS and GMRS hand-held transceivers on the consumer market. My preference is for the MURS band hand-helds. Not only will you get better range, but you will also be operating in a less commonly used frequency band. This will give you marginally better communications security. (But with the oft-repeated proviso: no radio transmission should be considered 100% “secure.”) I recommend the MURS Radios company (one of our advertisers) as a reputable source of transceivers. They also do custom frequency programming, and sell both accessories and MURS-compatible perimeter intrusion detection systems.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Mr. Lima mentioned a site with some useful videos on basic homesteading skills like gardening, fruit trees, growing grains, beekeeping, and so forth. They’ve promise to add more videos coming about alternate energy, raising rabbits and chickens, food storage and more.

   o o o

Philip N. flagged this: Depression survivors: ‘We lived the hard way’

   o o o

Jack B. sent this: Lights are on, but banks increasingly closed: James Saft. And meanwhile, several readers mentioned this ominous prediction: Credit crunch may take out large US bank warns former IMF chief.

   o o o

Susan Z. sent this from the ever-cheery journalist Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: Dollar surge will not stop America feeling the effects of a global crunch

   o o o

Our friend John (“Commander Zero“) up in Montana mentioned in his Notes from The Bunker blog an article about leaking FEMA fuel tanks. John’s comment: “The fact that the tanks themselves are leaking isn’t noteworthy to me. What is noteworthy is why those tanks are there in the first place. Years ago the girlfriend [now his wife] and I looked at buying one of these communications bunkers and it had originally been equipped with a 3,000 gallon fuel tank. The tank had been removed when the place was decommissioned but you could see the hole where it used to be. So, if a person were to get hold of this list of tanks that need attention you would also have, de facto, a list of hardened facilities and sites since no one was gonna dedicate a resource like fuel and storage to a facility that would crumble at the first bit overpressure.”

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster and what has happened once in 6,000 years, may not happen again. Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world.'” – Daniel Webster

Note from JWR:

Today we are pleased to welcome our newest advertiser: SecurityPro.com. They have a very broad line of products including binoculars, hydration packs, flashlights, Trijicon scopes, knives, holsters, boots, helmets, body armor, BDUs, anti-vehicular barriers, and much more. They even sell armored vehicles!

Letter Re: Using 20mm Ammo Cans as Contingency Caches

Hi Jim,
After reading “Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse” a second time (and this time tabbing the pages) and making note of the ROTC cadet’s story, I acquired some 20mm-sized ammo cans. I thought I’d put together at least one contingency box [for an underground cache], in the event of losing everything else, due to being overrun by bad guys, etc.

First off, instead of pavement/roadway emulsion, I took two of these cans to a Line-X [spray-on bed liner] shop, to have them painted with their material. They were happy to help, since they were shooting a metal surface with the stuff, and not plastic or fabric.

Here’s my list so far, for one can. Some of this is stuff that I have excess quantities:

-One AUS-8 Stainless Recon Tanto knife (I have a bunch of other knives, along with some in Carbon V steel, that I’m currently keeping for barter)
-One Swiss Army knife
-Toothbrush, dental floss, and toothpaste.
-One one-quart canteen with purification tablets
-One two-serving Mountain House meal (I was considering an MRE, but there’s too much candy and excess packaging. Also, an MRE may not store for as long .)
-Lighter and matches
-One earth-tone set of T-shirt, underwear, and socks
-50 rds. .22 rimfire ammo
-50 rds. 9mm Parabellum ammo

And if I can fit them: One 10 rd. box of 12 gauge shotgun shells, and / or a pair of combat boots. Regards, – Jerry E.

Letter Re: A Tasmanian’s Perspective on Preparedness

Hi,
I have been reading SurvivalBlog now for several months and really enjoyed the articles. I live in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia . For those who don’t know the place and I imagine there are many who are unfamiliar with this part of the world, it’s an island at the bottom of Australia.

I work on disease protection for the government. This involves responding to bird flu pandemics, terrorist attacks etc. Being an island at the bottom of the world with not many threats, it’s an easy job. But I do believe that there is lots of trouble coming in the future from climate change, increasing world populations in areas that cannot support any more people, Peak Oil, et cetera. So in my view, thinking people should prepare for trouble ahead and develop personal plans for survival.

The reason I have written in today is that from some of the posts that people have submitted to SurvivalBlog, many are planning just for total breakdown in society, everyone for themselves, point the guns out the door and survive at all costs. From my limited reading and understanding of such situations, total breakdown would only occur in extreme events like total nuclear war. For example, even in Germany during war time with the Russians advancing one direction, and the allies the other, it had a functioning society where you could buy goods and services and the government still functioned. Thus perhaps people should have several plans. One for total breakdown (like nuclear war), one for minor disruptions like financial meltdowns/depressions and another for global pandemics/biological warfare.

Hopefully we will only experience minor disruptions and we should have already planned ahead by growing as much of our own food as possible, reduced our mortgages, moved closer to work, kept food stocks, stored heating fuel etc. Being prepared for something to happen tomorrow will lessen people’s reliance on the modern supermarket and the expected doubling of prices, shortages etc. In the event of a pandemic, then avoiding public places and other people is a very good idea, so food stocks will help and being able to work from home is a major advantage.

My point is that people need to plan for a number of scenarios, not just “let’s retreat and point the guns”. I personally will be trying to help my community survive any disruption, for the sake of my children, loved ones and country. Previous generations have faced bad times before and moved through them without losing their sense of community. My grandfather used to tell me about life during the Depression, where he used to hunt rabbits and other game to stretch the family budget and how they used to reuse things to save money. You could buy things, but you just didn’t have any money. But even during those hard times he said there was always a strong community spirit and they always helped out others who were less able to cope. We should all plan for being able to help others by being self reliant.

Lastly if people want to relocate to an area that is not targeted for nuclear war, has a modern economy, speaks English, and has less than half a million people in an area the size of Ireland, then move here to Tasmania. We even like Americans. – M. L.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Bob S. pointed us to an interesting thread in progress over at the When SHTF Forum, about Bug-Out Vehicles (BOVs). I generally advise painting BOVs in a single flat earth tone color. A camouflage paint scheme can actually attract attention, which could be a bad thing. OBTW, most semi-gloss paints can be turned into flat paint by mixing in a flattener additive before spraying it on.

   o o o

The Russians continue to claim publicly that they are “withdrawing” from Georgia. If so, then why is their armor still heading south? Perhaps they’re planning to withdraw by way of Tibilisi.

   o o o

North Texas school district will let teachers carry guns. Why isn’t this already the norm, across the nation? It makes sense to me. OBTW, Naish Piazza of Front Siight is offering free firearms training to the teachers and administrators from that school district. The Four Day Defensive Handgun Course mentioned is the same one that The Memsahib and I took, and the same course that is included with Front Sight’s current “Guns and Gear ” offer. Take advantage of it!

   o o o

Bob at Ready Made Resources mentioned that they have added Jaffrey’s Fruit Presses to their product line. With harvest season in full swing here in the northern hemisphere, this is an important tool to own.

   o o o

Fay prompts tropical storm warning for South Florida. I trust that that SurvivalBlog readers in the southeastern US are far better prepared than most of their neighbors. You’ll be in our prayers.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"I remember during the metals’ bull market of the 1970s when we were worried about gas rising to $1.50 a gallon, some enterprising gas stations put up signs selling gas for a dime a gallon. Of course, they wanted pre-1964, 90-percent silver dimes which had value in excess of a gallon of gas. If you were smart, you didn’t fall for it. You were better off keeping the coins to yourself." – Howard J. Ruff