Preparedness Notes for Sunday — November 9, 2025

November 9, 1330: The Battle of Posada. Wallachian voievode Basarab I defeated the Hungarian army (led by Charles I of Hungary) in an ambush. The 1855 imagining of the Battle of Posada above was by József Molnár. It is titled Dezső sacrifices himself protecting Charles Robert.

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After several weeks of civil unrest, the East German government announced on November 9, 1989 that all GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin. Crowds of East Germans crossed and climbed onto the Wall, joined by West Germans from the other side in a celebratory atmosphere.

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Today is the anniversary of the death of Colonel Ulius Louis “Pete” Amoss.  This former OSS officer was best known as the originator of the resistance warfare concepts of Leaderless Resistance and “phantom cells.” Amoss was born in 1895 and died on November 9, 1961 from coronary thrombosis. He had a fascinating life.

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Today’s feature article is an update to a 2007 article by JWR.

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We still need several entries for Round 121 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $970,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 121 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

Update: On Spring Water, Well Water, and Water Treatment Basics

This article is an update and expansion to a brief but important piece that I wrote for SurvivalBlog back in 2007. –  JWR

Plentiful fresh drinking water for drinking, cooking, washing, and gardening is the most critical resource for all societies. The vast majority of the residents of First World countries are dependent on grid power to supply their water. When the grid goes down for more than a few days, water towers will soon be drained and huge numbers of people will be forced to draw water from open sources. Thankfully, there are streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds in walking distance of most homes. Rainwater from roof downspouts can also be used. But the logistics of hauling water will be a challenge, just by itself. Next, people will need to treat all that water, or face infection. Most families don’t own a water filter. Boiling water is an option, but only for those who have natural gas, propane, or wood cooking stoves, since electric ranges don’t work without grid power. Even folks with well water will face difficulties, unless they have a backup generator, or better yet a fully capable alternative energy system. (Coincidentally, we have also addressed emergency well buckets in SurvivalBlog.)

Spring Water

Gravity-fed spring water is the ideal water supply for a rural retreat. There is no need for power, relatively low installation expense, low maintenance, and little risk of frozen pipes. For gravity feed, you can anticipate developing about 1/2 pound of pressure at the output for each foot of elevation between the spring and the faucet. Also, run at least a 1″ diameter line if you have any substantial distance and/or your elevation difference is minimal. Larger diameter pipe reduces friction loss in the pipe. Unfortunately, very few properties are blessed with a spring that is situated to provide gravity flow to a house. When I advise my consulting clients, I urge them to make gravity-fed spring water a top priority when they are evaluating properties, when relocating.

Well Water

Grid-powered wells are problematic, since most wells use just a small pressure tank. Whenever there is a power failure, the water pressure drops to nil in just a short time. Photovoltaically-pumped well water is a good solution, albeit with a fairly high installation cost. With a large cistern that is positioned to supply gravity flow to your house (typically 35 to 60 feet of “head”) you can skip putting a battery bank in your system. When the sun shines, it pumps, and when the sun sets it stops. Simple. A float switch on the cistern will insure that you prevent needless wear and tear on your pump.

Ultraviolet (UV) treatment is an interesting innovation that was first embraced by fish farmers and by koi pond enthusiasts. The UV technology is quite promising for anyone that has a shallow well or spring that has an unacceptable bacteria count. (This typically happens during a flood, or seasonally with heavy rains that increase surface water that can get into a well or spring.) The UV method of treatment is growing in popularity in the US and Canada because there is no need for chemicals. Ultraviolet light rays–just like those from the sun that produce sunburn, only stronger–alter the DNA of bacteria, viruses, molds, and parasites, so that they cannot reproduce. They are not killed, but are merely rendered sterile. Thus, they safely pass through your digestive tract, but cannot reproduce–which is otherwise the cause of intestinal illness.Continue reading“Update: On Spring Water, Well Water, and Water Treatment Basics”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

Zohran “The Commie” Mamdani Has Just Been Named

Florida Real Estate Salesman Of The Year

News Links:

Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks!

Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.

 

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” – Matthew 25:1-13 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — November 8, 2025

On November 8, 1880, French actress Sarah Bernhardt made her US debut at New York’s Booth Theater.

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November 8th was the birthday of the late actor/director/producer Norman Lloyd.  He was born November 8, 1914. His most recent film role was in 2015.  He passed away on May 21, 2021 at the remarkable age of age of 106.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 121 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  2. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  3. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  4. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
  5. Harvest Guard is providing a 200-Piece Bulk Mix Pack of their Regular and Wide-Mouth Reusable Canning Jar Lids & Gaskets. This is a $161 + shipping value.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. Preparedness author Jennifer Rader is offering a $200 purchase credit for any of her eight published food storage and medical preparedness books, including the Good Eats at the TEOTWAWKI Café series, the Armageddon Pharmacy series, and the Medicine Surrounds Us series.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $970,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 121 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

Review: Church Security 1 at Paladin Tower Tactics, by WKYHomesteader

In July 2025, Kentucky Sustainable Living held their annual Homesteading & Preparedness Festival. (If you happen to live in the area, I highly recommend attending!) On the first day, while wandering “vendor row”, the wife and I met and spoke with Scott Willey of Paladin Tower Tactics. Among the stuff on his table, the flyer for his Church Security 1 class really caught my eye. It is an eight-hour long class that is intended to prepare the student “for the Gunfight, the Legal Fight, and the Spiritual Fight.” Prior to this, I had never had any professional firearms training other than the basic safety and CCW class I took when I purchased my first handgun. It was extremely basic training consisting mostly of “point this end at the target, pull the trigger, and don’t let go.”

Recent reports in the news about deliberate acts of violence targeting religious sites, particularly Christian Churches and Jewish Synagogues, was fresh in my mind. The Family Research Council reported 415 acts of violence against churched in 2024, which was actually down from 485 reported in 2023. I spoke to Scott about his course and his military and law enforcement background, but what really struck me is that he is also a pastor of a church in Middle Tennessee. He explained that his course is way more than just how to point and shoot, he believes that protecting your church is biblically commanded.Continue reading“Review: Church Security 1 at Paladin Tower Tactics, by WKYHomesteader”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds ‘n Sods Column or in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

With a recent storm, we lost most of the golden leaves on our Water Birches, Balsam Poplars, and Quaking Aspens.  Ditto for the few non-native Maples that we planted. But the Tamaracks (Western Larches) are still resplendent. We’ve had enough sunshine in recent days to really show off their color.

Other than one trip down to Lewiston, Idaho, to attend a gun show and a family gathering here at the ranch at Thanksgiving, November will be a quiet month for us. This will give me a chance to some projects and some organizing, out in our shop.

This week, I carved a hide scraper for Lily. I quickly made it out of a scrap piece of KD 1×4 fir, about 20 inches long. I narrowed and oblong-rounded seven inches at one end of the board for a handle, and then I used a jigsaw to make a palm-width grasping groove at about 2/3rds of its length, so that it could be used either one-handed or two-handed. This tool is not exactly symmetrical, but it is quite functional. It looks like it is from the “Crude, But Effective” school of tool-making.

Also this week, I boxed up a Swedish Mauser carbine to mail out in trade for several S&W .32 and .38 top break revolvers. I presently have Elk Creek Company on hiatus, while I’m restocking. Until mid-2026, I will only be buying or trading, but not selling. The only exception to the sales hiatus will be for any SurvivalBlog writing contest prize winners who wish to spend their purchase credits. Those orders are always welcome.

Now, Lily’s part of the report…

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.

And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.

And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

But Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.

And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.

And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.

And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.

And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.

And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.

And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.” – Genesis 35:1-20 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — November 7, 2025

On November 7, 1811, the Battle of Tippecanoe: General William Henry Harrison defeated the Native Americans of the Tecumesh Confederation.

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November 7, 1837: In Alton, Illinois, abolitionist printer Elijah P. Lovejoy was shot dead by a pro-slavery mob while attempting to protect his printing shop from being destroyed a third time.

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November 7th is the anniversary of the death of actor Steve McQueen (born March 24, 1930, died November 7, 1980). The many well-publicized exploits in his tempestuous life and his enduring persona are well known. However, the end of his life is actually the most noteworthy part of his legacy, even though it seldom gets much publicity outside of Christian circles: He came to faith in Jesus after he had been diagnosed with mesothelioma. He died with his forefinger pointing to his key verse in his Bible – Titus 1:2.

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Today’s feature article is a cogent essay by economist and commentator Brandon Smith, the editor of Alt-Market.us and The Wild Bunch Dispatch.

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We need more entries for Round 121 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $970,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 121 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

 

Are Democrats Trying To Start A Civil War?, by Brandon Smith

Whenever you delve into the modern history of internal national conflict you’re bound to come across post-crisis accounts from people who said “We never saw it coming…” or “The violence hit us from nowhere…” Generally speaking, these were the people who weren’t paying attention and they just happened to survive by sheer luck.

I think of this dynamic a lot these days. I see a large contingent of American society (perhaps 25% of the population) which has been radicalized or brainwashed beyond all reason or repair. These people (leftists) operate deep within a protective bubble of propaganda and zealotry; they function within a hive mind that does not deviate from the demands of their gatekeepers. They cannot be reasoned with, nor can they be satiated. They lust for power and the suffering of anyone who opposes them.

One can see an immediate difference between the sides. Conservatives are so independent we in-fight constantly. We might agree on basic values (even in this we sometimes argue), but in terms of policy and action we rarely shake hands.

For the political left, any disagreement with the majority leads to immediate ostracism. The hive mind does not tolerate individual rebellion. Only the gatekeepers can change the mindset or the mission of the mob.Continue reading“Are Democrats Trying To Start A Civil War?, by Brandon Smith”

Economics & Investing Media of the Week

A Special Editor’s Note:  This weekly item replaces the Economics & Investing For Preppers news column.  Because so many news outlets have put their content behind paywalls, it became increasingly difficult to assemble that column.

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we will feature photos, charts, graphs, video links, or occasional news items of interest to preppers. Today’s selection is data from the U.S. Treasury Department, showing that the U.S. National Debt now exceeds $38 Trillion Dollars. See: Debt Dashboard.  The image below is click-expandable:

Other Links of Interest

Economics & Investing Media Tips:

Please send your economics and investing media links to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Thanks!

Preparedness Notes for Thursday — November 6, 2025

On November 6th 1528, shipwrecked Spanish conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca became the first known European to set foot in Texas.

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On this day in 1977, the Toccoa Falls Dam in Georgia gave way and 39 people died in the resulting flood.

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November 6, is the anniversary of the day that B-24 Liberator co-pilot Al Millspaugh was shot down over Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, in 1944. He ended up in a Luft Stalag, until 1945. I got to know Al at some John Birch Society chapter meetings back in the late 1970s. Hearing his stories was fascinating. He told me that during one part of the war, his squadron flew black-painted B-24s that were used to parachute-drop weapons and Jedburgh-type OSS teams behind enemy lines to organize resistance. I also recall that he mentioned that one of his fellow internees at Stalag Luft I was a USAAF radio operator who soon after arriving at the camp admitted that he had lied about his age to enlist and that he was still just 15 years old. Learning of this, the Germans repatriated him through the International Red Cross. Al retired as a Lt. Colonel in the California Air National Guard. He passed away on November 24, 2014 in Kelseyville, California. My 2014 novel Liberators was in part dedicated to Al Millspaugh.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 121 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  2. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  3. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  4. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
  5. Harvest Guard is providing a 200-Piece Bulk Mix Pack of their Regular and Wide-Mouth Reusable Canning Jar Lids & Gaskets. This is a $161 + shipping value.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. Preparedness author Jennifer Rader is offering a $200 purchase credit for any of her eight published food storage and medical preparedness books, including the Good Eats at the TEOTWAWKI Café series, the Armageddon Pharmacy series, and the Medicine Surrounds Us series.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $970,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 121 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

Evaluation of the Huxwrx Flow 556k Suppressor, by C.S.

With January 1st, 2026 and free-of-charge Federal transfer tax stamps for suppressors, SBRs, and SBSes approaching, I believe that many SurvivalBlog readers will soon be looking to purchase NFA items, be it their first or tenth such item. So, I’m writing this short article on my experiences with the Huxwrx 556k suppressor. I hope to help fellow readers make an informed purchase when or before January 1st comes around.

As a disclaimer, I have no affiliation with Huxwrx. This suppressor was purchased with my own money over a year ago, and I have since put around 2,000 rounds of 5.56 and .223 through it on the range while mounted on a single rifle.

Selecting the 556k

When I purchased this suppressor, it was not a rash decision. I spent several weeks researching a handful of different models from various manufacturers, as I intended this to be my “Forever” suppressor for my go-to AR-15 rifle. I read articles, watched videos, and compared specifications, including materials, sound suppression, weight, and length. No matter what competitor suppressors I looked at, I kept coming back to the 556k and eventually decided that it was the one for me. Continue reading“Evaluation of the Huxwrx Flow 556k Suppressor, by C.S.”

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, the threat to satellites posed by a major solar storm.

A Solar Superstorm Could Wipe Out ‘All Our Satellites’

SurvivalBlog reader Steve A. sent us this, from LiveScience: The next Carrington-level solar superstorm could wipe out ‘all our satellites,’ new simulations reveal.

Banks and Retailers are Running Out of Pennies

From the statist MSN outlet: Banks and retailers are running out of pennies. JWR’s Comments: I predict that most retailers will stop giving change in pennies by 2027, starting first in urban areas. With the relentless onslaught of inflation, nickels will be next.  So we should stockpile nickels, as a hedge. I suggest that you do so before Congress mandates that the U.S. Mint debases the nickel’s composition. (Thankfully, their composition hasn’t changed since 1946.) Also, stack all-copper pre-1981 pennies, but only if you can find sorted ones at face value. (Without a sorting machine, it is not worth the time to hand-sort pennies.)

Avoiding the TPM Chip Mandate for Windows 11

Charlie G. sent this: Why Windows 11 requires a TPM – and how you can get around it. JWR’s Comment:  It is now best to avoid the Windows OS altogether! Alternatives?  See this article at TechRadar: Best alternative to Windows of 2025.

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”