Letter Re: Swords and Bows for that Dreaded Multigenerational Scenario

Hello James,
In Sid Near Niagara’s posting he makes many helpful tips about archery. He also touches on the potential to have an arrow embed itself in your supporting arm, but states he has not seen this.
A very avid hunter friend of mine had a carbon fiber arrow that disintegrated into his arm. He spent 6 hrs in the operating room removing all the fiber shards and lost some mobility in his wrist. Fortunately this was not permanent and he has regained most all movement. He strongly regrets not having on an arm guard, and mentioned that he now is more conscious of the safety of his eyes as well.
When checking the integrity of a carbon fiber arrow, do the following:
1). Visually inspect the shaft of each arrow for cracks, splits, nicks, or fibers protruding.
2). Flex arrow between both hands, (envision the St. Louis Arch), and have the center of the arrow at least 3” above the ends of the arrows. If it does not snap, or make noise, it is a good sign of a “safe” arrow.
3). Lightly grasp one end of the arrow and tap against your leg, or a picnic table, etc… to listen for “loose” or odd sounds.
Lastly, as for knocks, keep an identical arrow at home for reference. If you need to re-glue your knocks, it is imperative that you do so at the appropriate location in reference to your fletchings or your shot could go wild.
Please use common sense and do not attempt such safety checks with broad heads or similar sharp points attached to the arrow. Ask your salesman if he has any additional tips for spotting a damaged arrow.
-The Wanderer

Letter Re: Housing Market: An Analysis and Prediction

Jim:

Dr. Kurt Richebächer’s “A Tightening Farce” featured in Wednesday’s September 13th, 2006 edition of The Daily Reckoning makes three salient observations about the way asset inflation in the housing market leads to economic dislocation.

Item: “Housing price busts have larger wealth effects on consumption than the
equity price busts [do]…”

Item: “All major banking crises in industrial countries during the postwar period coincided with housing price busts.”

Item: “The disinflation increased the real burden of debt, which exposed inflation-related overinvestment and associated financial frailty."

A stock market crash primarily affects discretionary spending; a housing market crash will leave many homeowners insolvent and create repercussions in the economy as a whole. Homeowner insolvency will cause banks to accrue large foreclosure positions and force them to restate assets and earnings to a new, lower level. This will leave less money for new loans [i.e., “disinflation“ or credit contraction]. This will cause interest rates to spike upward as businesses rush to borrow funds for the completion of projects that looked profitable when the housing boom was in full flower. This frenzy will push out other borrowers, particularly small business owners who may have secured start-up capital by acquiring a second mortgage on their home. Whoops! One more homeowner is now in bankruptcy court…

Is that the sound of “cross-cascading defaults” I hear in the distance? Regards, – Christian W.

Letter Re: The Importance of Identifying Blood Types

Mr. Rawles:

Good day to you and yours. I hope they are all in good health. In regards to your submissions in the 9-14 blog, “The Importance for Blood Typing.” A friend wrote is submission in another forum, that I have kept for a while now. This would be a better then nothing option that might actually save a life. But like everything else in life you have to make minimal preparations now for it to work later. If you ever had to use this technique, right then is not the time to have to gather the materials to perform the test and of course, if it is your wife or child that this bleeding, you would not want to be trying this for the first time. If you have an established retreat and personnel, then you should already have basic information about each person, blood type allergies and so on. But as in your excellent book Patriots, there could very well be a need to take on new people into the group (even after “Badtimes” has started) that might not know their blood type so I can see this as a viable (emergency) option. With this system if you had a working knowledge of several people’s blood type you could come up with a persons blood type through the process of elimination. I would recommend everyone have basic medical information about each of the family members on some type of laminated card so that they can have it a moments notice in an emergency.

This describes a primitive medical technique: the life saving procedure of cross matching blood. Done under primitive conditions of a long term TEOTWAWKI situation.
1. Take a hypodermic needle from a pressure cooker (expedient autoclave “Not very pretty but it works.”)
2. Draw a blood sample and carefully squirted it into a test tube from a child’s chemistry set.
3. Place the tube into a sock with a piece of parachute cord was attached and whirl the test tube around and around (expedient centrifuging) continued to swing the test tube until you separated the cells from the fluid.
4. Draw off the fluid and wash the cells with saline working rapidly.
5. Have cells and fluid from the patients who need blood to test against.
6. Put sample of cells into a sample of the patient’s serum, and the patient’s cells in yours and look in the microscope.
7. The microscope can also come from a child’s collection but local high schools science equipment would be better.
8. It may be difficult to work with but you must be careful with the focus.
9. Worked the focus, when the instrument is properly focused, observe the blood cells.
10. Little stacks of adhering saucers are Rouleaux formations which indicate clumping, meaning the blood types are incompatible. No clumping indicates compatibility.
11. Now record the potential donors name and blood type (if known) and who they can or can donate to.
12. You must test and fill out these file cards for every person in your group.
13. Have this information determined well ahead of time.
14. Remember you will have no way to store whole blood, except in the donor.
Condensed from: Lucifer’s Hammer
REMEMBER: GOOD HYGIENE CAN PREVENT MANY PROBLEMS. WASH YOUR HANDS AND BOIL YOUR WATER!
Poor hygiene and disrupted water supplies would lead to an increase in diseases such as typhoid and cholera.
Without vaccines there would be a progressive return in infectious diseases such as polio, tetanus, whooping cough, diphtheria, mumps etc, especially among children. People suffering from chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes or epilepsy would be severely affected with many dying (especially insulin dependent diabetics). With no antibiotics there would be no treatment for bacterial infections, pneumonia and a cut would kill again, contagious diseases (including those sexually transmitted) would make a come back and high mortality rates would be associated with any surgery. There would be no anesthetic agents resulting in a return to tortuous surgical procedures with the patient awake or if they were lucky drunk or stoned. The same would apply to painkillers, a broken leg would be agony and dying of cancer would be distressing for the patient and their family. The pregnancy rate would rise and with it the maternal and neonatal death rates, woman would die during pregnancy and delivery again and premature babies would die. In the absence of proper dental care teeth would rot and painful extractions would have to be performed. What limited medical supplies were available would have to be recycled, resulting in increases risks of hepatitis and HIV infection. Regards to you and yours, – Chuck K.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Rourke suggested that I volunteer to go on the Oprah Winfrey TV talk show, shortly after the new TV series Jericho airs (September 20th), and discuss the show and the preparedness of American families. (I intend to point our relative lack of preparedness, and recommend that folks get squared away.) I’d greatly appreciate it if SurvivalBlog readers would take a couple of minutes to visit the Oprah show producers’ topic suggestion web page, and recommend this topic. Thanks!

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Jeremy mentioned this recent anti-survivalist post from one voice in the Peak Oil camp. I think that this gent is unrealistically optimistic. In my opinion it is downright naive to assume that if and when there is a long term grid-down TEOTWAWKI that entire nations will just quietly starve. I expect trouble. Lots of trouble. Be prepared.

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Michael Z. Williamson pointed us to this site that conducted unbiased testing of various pistols and 7.62 Russian and 5.56mm versus kevlar body armor and helmets. Mike says: “They will punch through kevlar and do spectacular damage. I was also very surprised to see the penetration of 7.62×25 pistol ammo.”

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U.S. trade deficit hits a new record.

Notes From JWR:

The SurvivalBlog benefit auction for a copy “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course ends tomorrow! The current high bid is $155. Please submit your bids via e-mail.

Today we present an article for Round 6 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The writer of the best non-fiction article will win a valuable four day “gray” transferable Front Sight course certificate. (Worth up to $1,600.) Second prize is a copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, generously donated by Jake Stafford of Arbogast Publishing. If you want a chance to win Round 6, start writing and e-mail us your article. Round 6 will end on September 30th. Remember that the articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival will have an advantage in the judging.

Water, Water Everywhere… by R.J.C. of Pennsylvania

While many people are concerned with food storage options and rightfully so, it would appear that there needs to be more information presented on how to find water in an emergency or after a Schumer Hits The Fan (SHTF) situation. The human body can survive for days or weeks depending on the fat stores and other factors without food intake, but can only survive 3-4 days without water, so finding a source of water is of utmost importance. You should plan on drinking at least two quarts of water a day, more if you are in a hot environment or are sweating profusely. Also, children, nursing mothers or people who are ill will probably need more water. The goal should be to urinate at least one pint of fluid per day to help the body eliminate wastes.
This article is not really directed to the individual that may be at their home or retreat location and have a well, spring or other source of water that just needs to be filtered or disinfected. It is directed to the individual that needs to find water from unconventional sources.
Some of the following items may be used to collect water and should probably be added to your Bug Out Bag (BOB) if they are not already in place. First of all, you should have a container into which the water may be placed. This could be a cup, canteen or improvised container constructed from a piece of plastic or waterproof cloth. Next, a piece of plastic, approximately 12’ X 6’; this could be a piece of clear lightweight plastic, or even a ground cloth, like one would use under a tent. It would be assumed that you would have a piece of string or rope, but a shoelace could be used in a pinch. A piece of absorbent cloth or a towel will be useful. The last item could be considered optional, but given the light weight should really be added. A six-foot piece of tubing, similar to what might find in a fish tank will facilitate collection in many cases and can also be used as a drinking tube.
Let’s discuss various environments that you may find yourself in and the assorted methods that may be employed to help you locate a water source.
If you are in a northern climate at wintertime, snow or ice may be present. It should be considered mandatory to melt it before you try to eat or drink it. Eating snow or ice can lead to a reduced body temperature and possibly additional dehydration. Snow or ice is no purer than the environment that it comes from. If you wouldn’t drink the water, if it were not frozen, without boiling or filtering it, then the same precautions should be followed after melting it.
If you are near a beach, a hole can be dug that is deep enough for water to seep into. If there are sand dunes present, try to dig behind the first set of dunes to get a purer water source. To purify salt or questionable water that has filled your pit, build a fire and get some rocks very hot. Carefully place the hot rocks into the water pit and collect the resulting steam with clean, absorbent material, then wring the material out into your cup or container.
In desert environments the hole may best be located near any green vegetation, under any moist sand, at the foot of cliffs, rock outcroppings or at the concave bank of a dry riverbed.
If there are cacti around, slice off the top of a barrel cactus and squeeze the pulp to get water. Obviously, a machete will make this much easier. Alternatively, the moisture may be sucked out of the pulp in the mouth, but the pulp should not be eaten.
If there are large temperature swings between night and day, condensation may form on metal surfaces. This condensation could be collected with an absorbent material.
In the event of rainfall, obviously as much as possible should be collected. Note that any additional rain may collect in rocky areas, fissures or the crook of a tree. It may be possible to insert a drinking tube directly in a fissure or if the opening is wide enough to lower a cup into it.
In Air Force survival training we were taught to make a hole in the ground, of about three feet in diameter and two feet deep. This should be dug in a place that would receive sunshine for a large part of the day. In the middle of the hole you would dig a deeper depression for the container to collect the water. If the hole was in a naturally moist area no additional water input may be needed, but if it seemed dry, we were told to urinate into the hole (not the cup), or find any other source of liquid or plant material. The sole exception would be radiator coolant. The sun would cause the moisture to evaporate in the sunshine and condense on the plastic that is used to cover the hole. The size of the plastic to cover one hole should be about 6’X 6’ and this size hole should accumulate approximately one quart of water per day. Since we need two quarts as a minimum the 12’ X 6’ piece of plastic mentioned earlier should be enough o cover two holes and thus provide for our needs. A small rock is placed over the container, which also helps to form a cone of approximately 45 degrees. The evaporating water would collect on the plastic and run down to the low point of the cone and drop into the cup. I have since seen this called a belowground still or a solar still. A tube inserted into the cup and brought out under the secured edge of the plastic would allow collection without disturbing the set up and allowing warm moist air to escape.
An aboveground still may also be made out of the plastic by forming a closed container, filled with air and loading it half full of water bearing plant materials. If possible place the bag on a hill or arrange it so that any condensed water would flow down to a collection point. A rock at this collection point would also be a good idea. Water may be drawn from the collection point with a drinking tube or straw that is secured into the bag before it is tied closed so that the bag would not have to be untied. The tube would need to be plugged during operation of the still.
A transpiration still could also be made be tying the plastic to form a bag around the leafy limb of a tree, with a drinking tube inserted. Tie the limb down so that the mouth of the bag is higher than the end of the tree limb. The same limb may be used for 3-5 days. Water will condense in the bag at the low point and may be collected as needed.
It has been reported that of the three types of “stills” previously mentioned, the above ground with the green leafy material will yield the highest amount of water.
Birds tend to flock over sources of water, particularly at dawn and sunset. Bees or ants going into a tree can sometimes indicate a source of water.
Heavy dew can supply water. Tie towels or absorbent material around your ankles and walk though dew-covered areas before sunrise. When the dew saturates the cloth, wring it out. Continue until all the dew is gone or you have a supply of water.
Green bamboo is a great source of water. Water from the bamboo should be clear and odorless. To get the water out, bend the stalk, tie it down and cut off the top. Water will drip out of it at night.
Plant roots may contain water. Dig them up, cut into small pieces and mash the pulp until water runs out. Some fleshy plants or vines may contain moisture. Be sure the plant is not poisonous and cut a notch at the bottom and drain the fluid out. Do not keep plant material longer than 24 hours as it may ferment.
Water disinfection, filtering and purification are topics to be covered in another article and have also been discussed at length on SurvivalBlog.com. Obviously, the best alternative is to have water previously stored or to have other emergency plans for obtaining water in place.

 

Letter Re: Swords and Bows for that Dreaded Multigenerational Scenario

Jim,
With regards to the mentioned topic, I am surprised no one has mentioned axes, or better yet, tomahawks. I recently purchased one from American Tomahawk Company. The model I purchased was designed by Ernest Emerson (CQC-T) and is a wonderful tool. I have used it to clear brush, pry boards, dig holes, and have thrown it without damage. Our forces in Iraq and the ‘stan are using it today with great success, and even some of our law enforcement officers carry them.
Thousands of Native American Indians couldn’t be wrong for using the tomahawk. Early Americans fighting during the Revolution found it to be an effective fighting tool, too. Remember “The Patriot” with Mel Gibson? Looney Mel used one to fight the British during a small skirmish. Several thousand of our troops in Vietnam also found use for the tomahawk, too.
Prices for the American Tomahawk models range from $175 to $350, but there are other models from Cold Steel and elsewhere for a lot less. Just thought I would pass this tidbit on to you and the readers of this blog. Maybe someone with a little more experience using one can share with the rest of us some tips and techniques. Peace to you and your family. – Shooter

Letter Re: The Importance of Identifying Blood Types

James:
Do you know your blood type and rh value? Without it, even 30 ml of the wrong blood and your dead. Even if you know (and especially if you don’t) you may want to get a bunch of Eldon cards (the liquid reagent is much cheaper but should be refrigerated). If you’re type AB+ (3 out of 100) you’ve won the lottery, you can get blood from everybody but you can only give to another person with the same blood. If you’re type O- (7 out of 100), then you can give to anybody, but you must receive from another O-. This way if you see some healthy looking refugees, and they want to join your group, you can add the value of their blood type to your assessment. The 7% that has type O- blood has added value for your group. – SF in Hawaii

JWR Replies: I also stressed the importance of blood typing in my novel “Patriots”. Even if you have a blood donor card, military identification card, or dog tags that indicate your blood type, it is a good practice to confirm it for yourself with an Eldon card. It is noteworthy that the blood typing error rate and the clerical transcription error rate are both alarmingly high in these records.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Now this looks at least quasi-practical: The Earthroamer XV Diesel Off-Road RV. (A tip of the hat to David H. for sending us the link.) Readers will note that I do not like the idea of “mobile retreating” as a post-TEOTWAWKI long term survival strategy., but is could practical a s a short term tactic. (See my August 10, 2005 post on “Vehicular Retreating”, for details.) With that said, I think that The Earthroamer might make a great Get Out of Dodge vehicle, as well as a great camping vehicle for more peaceful times.

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Vic at Safecastle recently posted a great piece in his own “Refuge” blog. It is titled “Credibility Crucial for Preppers.”

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Reader S.F. mentioned this article from Time magazine: Making Ice Without Electricity.

 

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Very few in history, the ranks of which include George Washington and Ronald Reagan, have held a disdain and suspicion of government, and not changed that viewpoint once they themselves were a part of it.” – Rourke

Note from JWR:

The first post today is from novelist Michael Z. Williamson. You probably recognize him as a frequent contributor to SurvivalBlog. We greatly value his input to the threads of discussion on the blog. BTW, I recommend both his science fiction novels and his recent trilogy of military sniper novels.

Survival Retreats, by Michael Z. Williamson

The subject of retreats is a recurring one. I thought I’d mention a friend’s that I have access to. It is within six hours of my location by both freeways and major secondary highways under normal conditions. I keep sufficient fuel on hand to reach it if need be. Our evac plan calls for taking both our vehicles (car and a large van) plus trailer, with any guests also convoying. This gives plenty of protection, and the ability to transfer vehicles if necessary due to road conditions or deadlined [non-running] vehicles.
The location is off a well-maintained major road between two modest towns. Entrance is just a gate, like millions of others in the rural midwest, making it accessible and discreet. Beyond the gate, a gravel road goes about a half mile to the location itself, which is typical farmland of more than 100 acres, that also has a large stand of pine populated by deer, and an artificial lake (small stream, dam, concrete basin). Being an artificial lake, the risk of being declared a “Wetland” or similar bureaucratic problem is reduced. Normally, much of the land is leased to a local farmer to offset costs.
The point here is that this location is modestly priced (most middle class families could buy something similar on a second mortgage, or pool with a relative or friend, depending on local real estate costs). It generates enough income that it’s not much of a strain to afford to maintain it, and it serves as a vacation home and sabbatical retreat, also. It is not visible from the road except in the dead of winter, when one can just see the top of the decrepit barn.
As you can guess from the location and land, it’s well-stocked with bass, deer, rabbits, squirrel, groundhog, ducks, geese, doves and other edibles. It has corn and beans on a regular basis and wild onions, et cetera, all over. There is obviously timber, from scrub to pine and oak.
Facilities include an old barn in poor repair but rebuildable, which is always an emergency firewood source (or source of construction materials), a shed with a variety of hand and smaller towed agricultural tools and a couple of acres of truck garden. The main feature is two corn cribs converted to living space. They are very discreet.
Inside, each one has a wood stove, two sleeping lofts, a kitchen and a composting toilet, with ample storage for food or gear. There is power from the grid to both, and to a sodium [vapor] light outside when desired. Water must be drawn from the lake and filtered, but there is the possibility of proper plumbing (my friend has deliberately avoided plumbing to prevent “friends” thinking of it as a guest house for extensive laziness). One of the cribs has a deck out onto the lake, so fishing, bird hunting and water are easily accessible. The wood stoves are sufficient to keep the buildings well above freezing even in the worst blizzards.
As a security measure, the doors and windows (Two each, covering all four sides of each building) are protected by lockable sliding steel shutters. Both buildings are faced in aluminum siding that looks like typical wood clapboard from a distance. It would be possible to reinforce further with steel sheeting and layers of ballistic material inside. Most of the construction was done by my friend’s father on weekends, with contractors for the heavy work.
The combination has low visibility, good resources, comfort and a soothing charm. Nor is it diluted if other people were to make similar arrangements. There are just so many acres and corn cribs across the midwest that it’s unlikely that anyone would notice it without a concerted reconnaissance. – Michael Z. Williamson

What Happens After: Observations on Hurricane Katrina

Jim;
Just a few notes about my experiences with Hurricane Katrina a year later. On the evening that Katrina passed our retreat, my partner and I began to make our way back to our homes (less than 30 miles) and businesses to secure them – (both firearms related). We chose to take different routes, him on foot, and me in my truck with my dogs & supplies. The routes required pushing and/or cutting trees, poles, fences and all manner of lines and debris from the road ways. The few roads that could be made passable with chain saws and simple tools tended to concentrate people and vehicles. While resting between swinging a chain saw (several folks were taking turns) one of my dogs (the cur) became highly agitated. Knowing her reputation for correctly gauging people I got a good grip on my [Model] 1911. As my truck window was already down (heat and humidity were horrible) I watched a character approach – he was intently looking into each vehicle he passed. Once he reached my truck he approached the driver’s side and wanted to buy gas that I was carrying (having it in the open was a mistake). I explained that it was not for sale – I would need it when I got home. Then he became very belligerent and indicated that he was going to take it to get to New Orleans. It became clear that the situation was critical, some with well practiced motion I introduced him to the 1911, at which point he wisely elected to be somewhere else. I realized that safety was off and I had taken up slack on on the trigger – I had committed to use deadly force in a split second, right or wrong. The event did diffuse the situation immediately and efficiently. It took 12 + hours to traverse less than 30 miles in the truck. My partner made the trip by hiking and catching a ride in less than 4 hours.
Over the period of the next few days the world took on a totally different aspect. We were under martial law – no firearms, ammunition,or alcohol and a sunset to sunrise curfew. As both our businesses were firearms related there was the need for a degree of security around the clock. The local law enforcement was stretched so thin as to be of no response value. As we are just north of the Mississippi/Louisiana border, the community grew from 12,000 to around 51,000 in a few days. Having prepared (largely in part to your novel “Patriots”) we were able to meet those whom chose not to observe the curfew, and probe the “edges”, in a decisive manner. Generators helped light one of the businesses, but they are very noisy, so we had to depend on the dogs. In the other we chose to be completely dark, and depend on the dogs for early warning.
We learned that a schedule for sleep, chores, eating, and duty helped offset the elevated “wired” condition. In the planning I chose a home with a “artesian” free flowing well (~ 3-5 psi) , however without power for wells many folks uncapped free flowing wells in the area stopping the flow due to the relieved pressure points. Some municipal water was available on a limited basis. Water quality was a concern. With temperatures in the mid to high nineties and humidity there as well water for animals and electrolytes for people were hugely importantly (those containing sugar were not as effective, and seemed to be harmful).
We came through fine, and the lessons learned have been incorporated. Electricity took 17 days to [be restored to] my home and phone service [restoration] 10 weeks. No local government help was in evidence for five days. Almost all of the supplies and relief in the first few days came through the local churches (they were and still are the most effective distribution system). During events like these dealing with otherwise good people has severely changed our approach to people and denial. Some where near 80% of the people in the area are still not making any preparations against significant events. The mental toll it has taken on the community is still visible today.
Lessons Learned:
1. Carry what you need but keep as much out of sight as possible
2. Expect to have to dissuade those whom feel entitled to your supplies
3. The aspect of deadly force is an effective deterrent – be prepared to use it or abandon your provisions
4. Know and pay attention to your early warning systems – animal or electronic
5. Big dogs, and alert dogs are a great help
6. Practice, shoot, practice, plan, practice
The bottom line is, that in any event, there are unforeseen consequences. The time that you set down with your group and define what, when, and where will be of paramount value. Understand that some of the group may not make it (some of ours was trapped far away) the rest can and will have the resources available, and take up the slack, until such a time that all can join up. I do laugh easier, shoot more and plan more effectively now. Remember: technology may help but your brain will save your life! – DGS