Household Basics in TEOTWAWKI- Part 2, by Sarah Latimer

I’m continuing my journey to consider some of the basics (beyond meat, eggs, dairy, grains, fruits, and vegetables) that I will want in my pantry in the event of TEOTWAWKI. Sure, if it is a matter of life and death, we will take what we have and make the most of it. However, like many others who have contributed to the wealth of information on SurvivalBlog, I am pursuing the idea of thriving rather than just surviving, and I know that knowledge and tools are far more valuable in a long-term crisis situation than having a finite supply of end product stored.

In considering what basics we use on almost a daily basis, there are quite a few that we will need to either be able to eventually produce on our homestead, find acceptable substitute for, or establish a local/regional source where we can purchase or trade to obtain them. Last week, I took a look at baking soda, which has so many uses in the kitchen, around the house, and for health care purposes also. This week, I will look at a product that is sometimes used as a companion to baking soda, at least for cleaning. Today, I’m writing about vinegar.

Like baking soda, vinegar is used in cooking, cleaning, and also for health care and hygiene purposes. It is a true basic. Fortunately for me, I know this product and have a little bit of experience producing it. I look forward to the opportunity to become more knowledgeable about its production in the future, as I hone my homesteading skills. To date, my experience has been limited to apple cider vinegar and plum vinegar. (We’ll not mention the unintentional vinegars that I’ve produced with neglected juices.)

Interestingly, the word “vinegar” comes from the French words for “sour wine”, but there are many vinegars made from sources other than wine. Vinegar is made when fresh, naturally sweet cider (whether grape, apple, grain, or another juice) is fermented into an alcoholic beverage called hard cider. Then, it is fermented once again to produce vinegar. According to The Vinegar Book by Emily Thacker, apple cider vinegar contains more than thirty important nutrients, a dozen minerals, over half a dozen vitamins and essential amino acids, and several enzymes. It also provides a large dose of pectin for a healthy heart. In her book, Emily Thacker also shares an easy vinegar pie crust recipe and many other recipes and ideas, as well as some of the health benefits of using vinegar.

Cooking with Vinegar

In cooking, I use a variety of vinegars, which include:

  • white vinegar– made primarily from corn,
  • balsamic vinegar– made from grape pressings into syrup that is turned into vinegar under stringent conditions,
  • red wine vinegar– made from wine,
  • raw apple cider vinegar– made from apples,
  • Japanese rice vinegar- made from rice, and
  • homemade fruit vinegars– made from various fruits.

Many in our immediate and extended family enjoy Italian and vinaigrette salad dressings, and vinegar is a key component of these. We also use vinegar in pickling (which is a good means of preserving that garden produce), in barbecue, in making bone broths (which are so healthy and tasty), and in many recipes.

If you’ve followed my posts for awhile, you probably have a sense of our family’s fondness for homemade whole grain breads, as we have decided to adjust our diet to the fiber-rich diet we would need to follow in a TEOTWAWKI lifestyle now and enjoy the health (and taste) benefits of doing so. In fact, it is not uncommon to find young dandelion leaves and flowers as well as other “wild greens” in our spring salads along with our homemade breads and homegrown vegetables. As an accompaniment for our breads, we certainly enjoy our bread dips. One of our favorite dips contains balsamic vinegar. The basic recipe, which we adjust from time to time, based upon our spice and vegetable availability and preferences, is below:

Favorite Bread Dip Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup quality olive oil, divided
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp dried oregano, crushed
  • 1 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

  1. In small saute or non-stick skillet, heat one tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat; add freshly minced garlic and saute, stirring occasionally. When garlic begins to turn golden brown and slightly crispy, immediately remove from heat and pour into a small dipping dish.
  2. To the dipping dish, add the remaining olive oil and other ingredients; stir gently and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes. (Dried, crushed sweet basil and/or finely diced fresh sweet red bell pepper or red onion may also be added, per your preferences; however, the addition of fresh ingredients, such as red bell pepper or onion require that it be served and utilized fairly promptly.)
  3. Serve with fresh bread or bread sticks, or use as a spread on sandwiches or pizza.

Vinegar for Cleaning

Vinegar’s acidic properties (especially the acetic acid) pass into cell membranes to kill bacteria. One report in 2004 found that a mixture of equal parts of vinegar and lemon juice was even effective in reducing salmonella, though in this study it required a prolonged treatment of more than 30 minutes for maximum effect.

I keep a jug of vinegar under my sink for general cleaning. I haven’t found anything as good as vinegar for cleaning tea and coffee stains from pitchers, pots, mugs, and glasses, except possibly bleach, which I avoid pouring down our drains since we are on a septic system. Bleach kills vital septic organisms that keep our septic systems fluid and clearing properly. Protecting these organisms in a TEOTWAWKI situation will be more important than ever, as septic pumping services may not be available. Vinegar is septic friendly, and I don’t mind using it or breathing it. It’s cleaning benefits are further enhanced when the antibacterial properties and acid of vinegar are combined with the crystalline benefits of baking soda to produce a paste that scours mineral deposits.

A bit of vinegar poured onto cleaning sponges or cloths prevents odors and bacterial growth. I use vinegar water to wipe out my refrigerator and clean cutting boards.

It is also great in laundry to remove odors and to set colors dyed into fabrics. Anytime I buy a new bright or dark colored natural fiber clothing item or a piece of fabric, I first soak it in vinegar water and then launder it, for its first wash, in cold water to help set the dye and prevent future fading.

Vinegar for Health and Hygiene

Vinegar has been used for thousands of years as a medicine or antiseptic. As a weak acid, this home remedy delivers relief when you need it. In the year 400 B.C., Hippocrates– the father of medicine– used vinegar to treat his patients. So, this naturally occurring germ killer was one of the very first “modern” medicines.

Most of the remedies for health and hygiene point specifically to apple cider vinegar, and the raw, organic variety is the best. It is the “mother”, the unclear portion, that is beneficial. Clear, distilled vinegars have far less health/medicinal benefit. Even within apple cider vinegars and vinegar tablets, the amount of acetic acid in them ranges considerably, from the reports I read.

I have used apple cider vinegar on our family’s feet to manage odor and fungal infections and in arm pits and other sweaty areas for the same purpose. We have also used it as a gargle and to drink in warm water with honey for sore throats. It’s been used to cool sunburns and assist in reducing borderline cholesterol.

Even WebMD, an online presence that “provides valuable health information, tools for managing your health, and support to those who seek information” published an article about apple cider vinegar that quoted Carol Johnston, PhD, who directs Arizona State University’s nutrition program, as saying, “Apple cider vinegar’s anti-glycemic effect is very well documented.” The bulk of WebMD’s article generally applauds the benefits of apple cider vinegar for diabetics as one means to help them control blood sugar. Their overview of apple cider vinegar, states:

Apple cider vinegar is used alone or with honey for weak bones (osteoporosis), weight loss, leg cramps and pain, upset stomach, sore throats, sinus problems, high blood pressure, arthritis, to help rid the body of toxins, stimulate thinking, slow the aging process, regulate blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and fight infection.

Some people apply apple cider vinegar to the skin for acne, as a skin toner, to soothe sunburn, for shingles, insect bites, and to prevent dandruff. It is also used in the bath for vaginal infections.

How Vinegar is Made

Most vinegars are produced quickly with the use of vinegar mothers, or starters, to propel the process along, but these are not necessary. Fruit or fruit scraps, sugar or honey, and filtered (un-chlorinated) water will do the trick, along with clean, food-grade, non-metal containers and clothe covers that allow air but not insects inside. In fact, I read that sugar or honey is optional, but it is my experience to use them.

The most popular Heinz brand of vinegar uses corn or apples to produce vinegar. As I’ve stated, I use apples most frequently but have also used other fruit, though not recently. With apple cider vinegar being the most beneficial for health purposes as well as being useful for cleaning and cooking and with the natural resources (apples) readily available to me, it makes sense that in a TEOTWAWKI situation, this will be the vinegar I will most likely manufacture in bulk and use as my staple. If I have time and resources, I may make other vinegars, but they won’t be as important to me. All vinegars are generally made in a similar manner. Let’s go over a basic process for making raw, apple cider vinegar:

  1. Clean, wash, and dry a wide-mouth half gallon glass Mason jar (or other non-metal, food-grade container). I use half gallon jars because I find them easier to handle, but if you prefer gallon jars or quart jars, then adjust the remaining proportions accordingly. The processing time will remain the basically the same, regardless of the container used, as long as there is the ability for air to circulate inside the jar.
  2. Wash 3-4 large sweet and tart apples. It is best to use two sweet and one or two tart apples that are organic or at least have all pesticides thoroughly scrubbed off. (It is also possible to use just apple cores and peels, but it will take the peels and cores of many more apples to equate to three or four whole, large apples.)
  3. Dice the whole apples (skin and seeds) into pieces that are about 1/2 – 3/4 inch cubes; place them inside the clean Mason jar. (If using peels and cores, then be sure to chop them into pieces.)
  4. Fill the Mason jar a bit more than half way with apple pieces; wash and cut another apple, if needed.
  5. Fill the jar with lukewarm, filtered water (non-chlorinated) up to about three inches below the rim of the jar.
  6. Add 1/2 cup of raw honey or cane sugar; stir to mix well.
  7. Cover the top of the jar with two layers of ultra fine cheesecloth and hold in place with either a strong rubber band or a jar ring without the flat lid. This cheesecloth allows necessary air to pass into the jar (and gasses out) while keeping bugs out of your “brew”.
  8. Store on your counter or in a cabinet out of direct sunlight and stir once or twice daily for one or two weeks. You will smell the changes and see bubbles form as the sugar ferments into alcohol.
  9. After at least a week, when all of the apple pieces sink to the bottom of the jar or not more than two weeks, the hard apple cider is ready to be strained. Strain through clean, dry cheesecloth over a mesh colander into a clean, wide mouth half gallon Mason jar.
  10. Cover with a clean piece of cheesecloth and secure with either a rubber band or a wide mouth jar ring, once again allowing air to pass but not bugs or dust.
  11. Place jar in the pantry or a generally dark place for an additional three or four weeks to allow the alcohol to transform into beneficial acetic acid. There will be some sediment in the bottom and a milky culture will form on the top, which is the mother culture.
  12. After three weeks, taste your vinegar. If it seems to have the right level of taste and strength, strain it another time and store in another clean Mason jar. If not, leave for up to two more weeks, testing weekly. If it becomes too strong, just strain it and then dilute with filtered water.
  13. Store your raw apple cider vinegar out of direct sunlight. If another mother culture forms on the top, just strain it again and dilute it with water as needed. It does not go bad.

Congratulations! If you have followed these instructions, for the cost of three or four apples, some honey or sugar, some cheesecloth (that can be washed and reused again and again), and glass jars (that can also be used repeatedly), plus a very little bit of attention over several weeks, you have made about $12 worth of apple cider vinegar in approximately four or five weeks. It probably cost you less than $12 to make and most of the supplies are reusable. If you make more than one jar at a time, think how much you will save in the future. Now, when you don’t have the option of buying it at the store, just think how much more valuable it will be that you know how to make it and have the experience of doing so.

So, get started making that apple cider vinegar. Practice makes better. There isn’t much better than having the things you need when you need them and knowing how to make more so that you won’t run out when your loved ones are in need!

Next week, we’ll take a look at another homestead basic.

Letter Re: Sad, Silent Prepper

Dear Sad, Silent Prepper,

I feel for you, bud. I was on the same road for years, trying to convince the wife that there were several scenarios that we needed to be concerned about and maybe even a few for which we needed to be prepared. My personal journey took years, but in the end it obtained moderate success. And by moderate I mean not perfect or complete, but it was good enough for me. Total covert? No. More open minded and sympathetic? Probably. I have tried to be consistent, not too over reactive, and as subtle as possible. “Gee, Hon, did you hear about the <insert incident here> that happened today? It was horrible/scary! I wonder what we would do if that happened here/to us/to our family/to our country?” Or, “That winter storm/hurricane/tornado could put us in an uncomfortable situation if our power went out for a few days. Should we have a little more food on hand/in the pantry?”, et cetera.

On the personal, internal side, the watershed moment for my wife was when she started volunteering to help battered and sex trafficked women. The stories that she was told about the lives and helplessness of these women were horrendous. If finally clicked that any individual, especially women, had to learn how to ultimately protect themselves from physical violence. After years of trying to get her interested in shooting, she finally had a stark, obvious motivation to learn about firearms. I started slowly with .22 rifles, then .22 pistols, and worked her through .380, and finally to 9MM pistol and carbines. It took a long time and a boat load of patience, but ultimately, she now values and enjoys shooting. She is not an enthusiast by any means, but she understands how and why.

The second awakening was when a friend (female) of my wife recommended the novel One Second After. I had asked her many times to read it, but all husbands know how that works. The book really opened her eyes to the external threats that exist and that maybe, just maybe, it would be prudent to at least discuss certain situations. Once we got to that mind set, the opportunity to talk about current events and look beyond the headlines slowly started the intellectual thaw. We also live near Atlanta, and it doesn’t take much imagination to grasp how Dante’s 9 circles of hell would play out here if something “big” happened. I had to take it slow and not browbeat (as is my nature) or obsess about preparing. If you’re like me, I know it’s tough to regulate the discussions. For me, the value of talking about a situation makes it more real and less frightening, especially if one can offer reasonable, affordable solutions without screaming from the top of the flagpole. It was a long, arduous, frustrating path, but in the end the lemonade is definitely worth the squeeze.

My approach would be to hang in there no matter what. Without scaring him, try converting your son that still lives at home. He could be a valuable resource. If anything were to eventually happen and you can resist the “I told you so!”, your wife/family will absolutely change their opinion of your “small hobby”. You will get misunderstanding, resentment, and hurt feelings. But remember, no matter how much push back you get (within reason, YMMV), you are essentially doing this for her and your family. If she can eventually perceive your actions as a gift of love, so much the better. You still have a son at home. Ask her what will become of him? Your family that no longer live with you, what will become of them? Where will they go, if they have to go? How about the in-laws? Will you offer a haven for them? Doesn’t this haven need supplies?

So, in conclusion:

  1. First and foremost, you do not talk about fight club. If your friends think you wear a tin foil hat, stop telling them what you are doing!!!
  2. Go slow and steady. Use your “unflappable-ness” to your advantage. Tortoise not hare. Don’t become obsessed.
  3. Rice and beans, great! Relatively inexpensive, store well, good protein combination.
  4. Ignore all external naysayers.
  5. There are plenty of us out here that know what you are going through and that will meet you on the other side of the die-off.
  6. Finally, never stop never stopping.

RBS in GA

Economics and Investing:

Germany Moves 100 Tonnes Of Its Gold From New York To Frankfurt

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$1,084,840,000,000: Taxes Set Record Through January; $7,133 Per Worker; Feds Still Run Deficit of $156,939,000,000 – B.B.

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The West Will Become The New ‘Third World’

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Le Pen Victory Would Lead To “Massive Sovereign Default”, Global Financial Chaos

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Trump Just Made The Biggest Sale Of Drilling Rights On Federal Land In 4 Years – D.S.

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SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.” – John 6:15 (KJV)

Notes for Saturday – February 11, 2017

February 11th is the birthday of the late Burt Blumert (born February 11, 1929 in New York City, died March 30, 2009). He once owned Camino Coin Company (as did Dr. Ron Paul). JWR was a Camino Coin Company customer, starting back in the late 1980s, and can remember Burt personally helping him dolly out his first purchase of 100-ounce Englehard bars. That was back when they cost just $580 each. Those were the days!

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Today, we present another entry for Round 69 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $15,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. An infrared sensor/imaging camouflage shelter from Snakebite Tactical in Eureka, Montana (A $350+ value),
  6. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  7. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $2,400 value),
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. A gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  4. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. A selection of canned meats containing a 10 pack of 28oz cans of Premium Beef and a 5 pack of 28oz cans of Premium Pork from Wertz’s Farm Market (a $300 value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Third Prize:

  1. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A custom made Sage Grouse model utility/field knife from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  4. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  5. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  6. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  7. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a $125 Montie gear Gift certificate.,
  9. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value), and
  10. Fifteen LifeStraws from SafeCastle (a $300 value).
  11. A $250 gift certificate to Tober’s Traditions, makers of all natural (organic if possible) personal care products, such as soap, tooth powder, deodorant, sunscreen, lotion, and more.

Round 69 ends on March 31st, 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.

Bugging Out West of the Mississippi- Part 2, by C.L.

In-Country Risks

Contaminated Water

The advantages of this trip west are due to large open areas with interspersed farms, ponds, and streams, relatively high visibility, and low population density. However, there are always the occasional natural and man-made risks to be wary of. Being largely farmland, most of the surface water is contaminated by pesticides and varying degrees of farm wastes, so have a variety of methods and containers to sterilize water in route. Removing most organic compounds and hydrophobic pesticides from water requires filtering through activated carbon or bio-char created from the gassification burning of wood above 1,652 Deg F (900 deg. C), not plain charcoal. Your local pet store carries ***activated carbon*** for use in aquarium filters. Distillation will remove most chemical contaminates as long as their boiling point is somewhat higher than water’s 212 Deg F (100 Deg C) while initial open, rapid boiling kills pathogens/bacteria and removes the lower temperature chemicals such as alcohols.

Weather

Of course the season of the year can present its own challenges, but I won’t detail winter conditions, since most are leaving them. However, if you fan out south in winter, remember these areas are not equipped for ice or snow hazards, and driving can be especially treacherous even on the interstates. From March to July the midwest is also known as tornado alley for a good reason.

The great majority of tornadoes are spawned from storm systems crossing the open plains from the south or west to the east/northeast and usually track the same direction, so missing one can be as simple as driving northwest or south/southeast until it passes by. However, areas where they touch down may be impassable due to debris. Even if you drive a 4×4 truck (which you should!), come equipped with a 2-ton jack, tow chains, and 4”x4” welded steel mesh (WWF slab reinforcement) panels (2’x6’) for escaping snow, ice, and mud. The same WWF panels with some 2×10 planks above also help drive over heavy oil slicks, broken glass, nails, et cetera.

Visibility

High visibility can work for and against you, so a pair of long distance binoculars are required to spot potential road blocks, barricades, and other nefarious traps. A section of closed-cell, foam pipe insulation (4” long?****) to friction-fit over your eyepieces will keep out sun glare and reduce wide angle reflections someone downrange might spot, and this also works well with rifle scopes. When traveling west try to drive early in the morning and day with the sun behind you and avoid driving into a blinding sunset. When suspicions are aroused, either stop and drive around them without using the most obvious or closest optional route (probably under surveillance) or pull off into an unobservable ditch and reconnoiter the situation first. High visibility is a function of flat terrain and in a grid down situation it would be nice to know where the nearest high ground is in your area. Hills offer a lot of advantages for defense and concealment, while being a good vantage point when staying below the ridge line. This kind of information is available for your entire route by checking the website heywhatsthat.com. This trip will not be a beeline drive after each day that passes a triggering event, so try to discern potential trouble areas ahead of time and from a good distance and vantage point.

Gangs

The Midwest, Western, and Southern states have been thoroughly infiltrated by the gangs operating in the U.S. and Mexico, averaging 3-6 members per 1,000 population, not to mention the terrorists they have been paid to smuggle across our border. Knowing their mode of operation and identifiers can help avoid direct conflicts or shorten any encounter to your advantage. The National Gang Intelligence Center published a good primer on these groups and their affiliations in the 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment. The following list shows the alliances among the various Mexican drug trafficking organizations (MDTOs) or cartels and their allies/rivals. These gangs specialize in drug/human/child trafficking, weapons/alien smuggling, prostitution, assaults/robbery and murder for hire, initiation, and competition, and most are supporting the reclamation of the Southwest states as a return to the Hispanic homeland of Aztlan. Source: 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment.

Appx. B

Cartel Allies Rivals

  • The Sinaloa or Pacific Cartel
    • Allies: Hermanos, New Mexico Syndicate, Los Carnales, Latin Kings, Mexican Mafia (CA), Surenos & MS-13 Mexican Mafia (AZ) Wet Back Power Sinaloa Cowboys West Texas Tangos Los Negros Border Brothers (CA & AZ)
    • Rivals: Los Zetas, Cardenas-Guillen Cartel (Gulf), Tijuana Cartel, Beltran-Leyva Cartel, Juarez Cartel
  • La Familia Michoacana Cartel
    • Allies: Sinaloa Cartel, Cardenas-Guillen Cartel (Gulf) Cardenas-Guillen, Surenos, MS-13, West Texas Tangos
    • Rivals: Los Zetas, Beltran-Leyva Cartel, Vincente-Carillo Fuentes Cartel (Juarez)
  • Los Zetas
    • Allies: Vincente-Carillo Fuentes Cartel (Juarez), Beltran-Leyva Cartel, Barrio Azteca, Hermanos, Mexikanemi, Texas Syndicate, MS-13
    • Rivals: La Familia Michoacana Cartel, Sinaloa Cartel, Cardenas-Guillen Cartel (Gulf), Arellano-Felix Cartel (Tijuana), Cartel de la Sierra (Sierra Cartel)
  • Cardenas-Guillen Cartel (Gulf)
    • Allies: La Familia Michoacana Cartel, Sinaloa Cartel, Hermanos, Partido Revolutionary Mexicano, Raza Unida, Texas Chicano Brotherhood
    • Rivals: Los Zetas, Sinaloa Cartel, La Familia Michoacana Cartel
  • Vincente-Carillo Fuentes Cartel (Juarez)
    • Allies: Barrio Azteca, Hermanos, Los Zetas New Mexico Syndicate, Los Carnales
    • Rivals: Sinaloa Cartel, La Familia Michoacana Cartel
  • Beltran-Leyva Cartel (taken over by Sierra Cartel)
    • Allies: La Familia Michoacana Cartel
    • Rivals: Los Zetas
  • Arellano-Felix Cartel (Tijuana)
    • Allies: Mexican Mafia (CA),Surenos, Mexican Mafia (AZ), Border Brothers (CA)
    • Rivals: Los Zetas, Sinaloa Cartel

The FBI is most concerned with MS-13, 18th Street gang, Florencia13, Barrio Azteca, Juggalos, Latin King Nation, Los Zetas, various Somali gangs in Minnesota, Washington, and Missouri, Hermanos de Pistoleros Latinos running Texas prisons, Mexican Mafia, Mongols bikers allied with Bandidos, Outlaws, and the Sons of Silence, and the Vagos Motorcycle Club. Gangs will be organized and well armed looking for victims, spoils, fuel, and food, so don’t be available or attract their attention. Their road blocks should be visible from a distance and avoided; if not, never hesitate to turn around and leave in different directions with an agreed rally point. Plan a scenario for dealing with their spotters trolling the roads for potential targets, and don’t let them follow too close or long allowing reinforcements to arrive.

A less considered risk but one that may appear overnight after a TEOTWAWKI event are the scattered military installations along the way. State maps are the best way to find them, but the largest by far (215,000 acres) is Fort Hood in north central Texas between US281 and IH35, just west of Temple, Texas. Their presence could be a stabilizing feature of visible day and night patrols or one of check-points and intimidation for out-of-state travelers. Consider one member of your group obtaining a drivers license for the state you are traveling to before-hand as an OPSEC backup. Confuse plate readers by adding reflective tape to reconfigure numbers and letters after crossing each state line. In a TEOTWAWKI event, consider spray paint in black, primer, and rust, or “Plastidip” fast drying, removable spray paint that can be peeled off in sheets after curing to change the appearance of your vehicle as you travel. Consider adding an old roof top carrier for strapping down supplies in HD demolition plastic/woven garbage bags that could be removed during the trip as supplies dwindle.

Home Destination Risks

Deterring Trouble

Upon arrival at your destination, do a visual assessment of how the house is approached and situated to identify a defensive perimeter that can be secured or alarmed on all sides. Take down all area street signs and numbers, relocate all garbage cans, and burn barrels to the front yard, and find any old appliances, scrap, junk cars, or salvage materials that can be used to litter the area surrounding the house. Your new location should be the worst option in the vicinity for potential thieves and scavengers; it should look like it’s not worth the trouble to climb around the debris. This approach serves at least three purposes:

  1. It shows disorganization, poverty, and lack of resources,
  2. It provides strategic locations for alarm trip wires, and
  3. It provides observation posts (OPs) for night watch.

Most scavengers are looking for soft targets with easy access. Your driveway should be blocked by a wrecked car at a distance from the house, so any approach is funneled to a very visible zone with limited options out.

The house needs at least two (2) emergency exits for concealed retreat along a planned pathway with one exit planned not to be a door; use a breakout panel, hinged window, et cetera.

Alarms and Defenses

Perimeter alarms should be redundant, including animals on-site and trip wire cans (drill bottom holes to drain) with pebbles or nails banging around inside when jostled, so even if you don’t hear them the animals will. Open areas can have wire strung between junk piles or rebar stakes at 12” above the ground to impede anyone’s progress particularly for areas of less visibility from the house and at night. The larger windows should be mostly boarded from the outside to appear broken with a haphazard appearance not using neatly cut plywood sheets. The boards prevent easy viewing in from outside and concealed viewing out from inside while still providing interior operation (except awning type). Similar to snipers, all your power projection is from inside concealment not exposed to observation, including daily living and supplies.

If the house does not have a metal roof or even if it does, old beaten, rusty/weathered metal siding can be lapped from the bottom eaves to the ridge like shingles and tied down with tie wire to create a fire break. Panel lengths should run perpendicular to the eaves and side lapped to shed water and molotovs. None of these improvements should be recognized as “purposeful” but merely expedient repairs by poor squatters using limited resources and make-do solutions. A roll of barbed and smooth fencing tie wire with HD twisting pliers are a great investment for most connecting, hanging, hold down, tensioning, and bundling needs as the original rancher’s “duct tape” solution.

Hardening the security of the house is provided mainly from the interior so not to be seen or anticipated. A good example of this concept is my design for an exterior, in-swinging door barrier that resists brute force and cutting tools.

For a 3’ wide exterior door, use a 4’ length of 3/4” EMT electrical conduit as a sleeve for a #5 or #6 steel rebar at least 3’-6” long. Attach chain link fence tensioning bands (loops) to each side of the door jambs using a “SPAX” self-drilling, hex head lag bolt x minimum 4” length directly into the door frame studs. Locate just above the door dead bolt or standard hardware to protect these from saws. Drive two, self-taping stainless steel x 3/4” screws opposite each other into both ends of the EMT with 3/8” exposed approximately 1” from the inside of each band to prevent slipping out of band or conduit during an attempt to break in. Merely lift through the loop’s wide dimension to slide the entire conduit out from inside. Engineered SPAX lag screws (available at Home Depot and Lowes) resist 3.5 times the withdrawal loads of a larger lag bolt and are reusable. Forced entry breaching rams won’t work unless they batter down the entire door panel first and portable metal saws can’t get a good grip on independently spinning metal tubes and rebar.

The breach time and frustrated effort will allow an organized response and potential flanking maneuver from outside by way of the back exits. All standard locks on out buildings and out-swinging doors should be replaced with “bump proof” locks such as combination, magnetic, or electric concealed mechanisms preferably in a steel “puck” surround edge band. If someone is going to break in, you want to hear them in the process.

Blackout window drapes should be used and interior welded bar grates attached to wall studs with SPAX bolts for window ventilation openings. Avoid exterior access to windows and other concealment by using the rebar stakes and trip wire across a 4’ zone in front and to sides of windows. Convex mirrors can be mounted high under the house corner eaves for viewing exterior walls from window jambs primarily for detecting movement. Remember the sage trucker advice– if you can’t see my mirrors I can’t see you. Concave mirrors are difficult to see into from a distance but clear when closeup, like from the internal edge of a nearby window. Another item used for hunting is a FLIR infra-red camera (~$250) attached to an iPhone6 that will show a warm image moving at night from 250’ and a rough silhouette from 100’. Fog and drizzle will only degrade the image, but it can’t see through double pane glass windows. At a minimum, plan to use a solar panel for charging multiple batteries and such devices using a USB port during the day.

In a grid down situation you need to plan methods to avoid using generators, motors, chains saws, lights, sounds, and smells that attract trolls looking for easy targets. Give them every reason and opportunity to move on before you have to act in self defense.

Blessings for All 🙂

CREDITS;

Fig. 1; by Brandon Martin-Anderson

Fig. 2; by NASA Earth Observatory NOAA NGDC

Fig. 3; by Oak Ridge National Laboratories for DHS

Fig. 4; by Wikipedia in Public Domain

Fig. 4; by U.S. Tornadoes by County, 1950-2011 Katie Wheatley @UStornados.com

Letter Re: Sad Silent Prepper

HJL,

I too am dealing with a family that does not grasp the dire situation we are in, in this country. My wife is of the opinion that it has never happened here and thus never will. My children (all grown and out of the house) think I am looney and will actually get up and leave the room if the conversation even starts to go in that direction. I am prepping as best I can and don’t care what they think. I pay all the bills at my house, so if I decide to spend money and on what I will spend it, it is totally my decision. My wife works outside the home, and she spends her money as she will. She pays none of the bills. I recently have closed on a small tract of land in Georgia and hope to establish a “hobby farm” there, one that is well supplied!!! Much ridicule and derision on my buying a farm!!?? To Sad Silent Prepper, I say, “Prep on!!” – Also within an hour of Hotlanta.

Odds ‘n Sods:

A relative mentioned this handy home/ranch/retreat security device: The Mini-Sentry Alarm. Be sure to watch the accompanying video, for some safety and installation tips. – JWR

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Here is one of the “Safety First” reminder videos: The Definitive 11Foot8 Bridge Crash

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Orlando cop who mistook doughnut glaze for drugs is disciplined – T.P.

JWR’s Comment: And I always assumed that policemen were experts on everything related to doughnuts!

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N.Y. Law Enforcement Officers Using Plastic Covers to Obscure Their License Plates – N.T.

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This is how 10 million illegals have been voting for decades! Grand Prairie Woman Sentenced To 8 Years In Prison For Voter Fraud – P.M.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.” – Exodus 17:6 (KJV)

Notes for Friday – February 10, 2017

February 10th is the birthday of Zvi Zvika Greengold(born 1952), a Centurion tank commander who was one of Israel’s most notable heroes of the Yom Kippur War. He was awarded the Medal of Valor.

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A reminder: Gun owners should visit the whitehouse.gov petitions page and sign this petition: Petition Title: Repeal the NFA ”We the People wish to see the National Firearms Act of 1934 repealed in order to remove regulations on our 2nd amendment rights, increase national economic strength, and provide protection against threats to our national security.” More than 68,000 people have already signed the petition. Please help get it past the 100,000 mark so that it gets the attention it deserves! – JWR

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SurvivalBlog has a new sponsor for Round 69 of the Writing Contest. The Wertz’s Farm Market, (who was mention on Odds ‘n Sods about a week ago) is now providing a selection of canned meats containing a 10 pack of 28oz cans of Premium Beef and a 5 pack of 28oz cans of Premium Pork for the contest. We have also had very good feedback about them from our readers.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 69 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $15,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. An infrared sensor/imaging camouflage shelter from Snakebite Tactical in Eureka, Montana (A $350+ value),
  6. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  7. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $2,400 value),
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. A gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  4. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. A selection of canned meats containing a 10 pack of 28oz cans of Premium Beef and a 5 pack of 28oz cans of Premium Pork from Wertz’s Farm Market (a $300 value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Third Prize:

  1. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A custom made Sage Grouse model utility/field knife from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  4. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  5. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  6. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  7. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a $125 Montie gear Gift certificate.,
  9. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value), and
  10. Fifteen LifeStraws from SafeCastle (a $300 value).
  11. A $250 gift certificate to Tober’s Traditions, makers of all natural (organic if possible) personal care products, such as soap, tooth powder, deodorant, sunscreen, lotion, and more.

Round 69 ends on March 31st, 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.

Bugging Out West of the Mississippi- Part 1, by C.L.

Upon relocation to Texas by truck from the East through the Midwest I realized there will be numerous logistics and potential threats that may come into play during TEOTWAWKI that few might consider beforehand and won’t be able to check on-the-fly without cell service and WiFi. I hope my Midwest and East coast friends can use this information as a tool if they want to make a move West of the Mississippi and appreciate why. As I will show you, there is a huge night and day difference between each side of the Mississippi River. My range of concerns and personal solutions begin with operations security (OPSEC) and traveling risks to end with specific, affordable home defense measures no matter where your eventual destination may be.

Comparing a U.S. population density map of the 2010 census as one dot per person with a NASA night image map reveals the contrasting networks and densities of our current “techno society”– those in severe anxiety.

If a primary survival strategy is to avoid other humans for the first few months after any potential Black Swan events, then bugging out west beyond the Mississippi river is a viable solution. Potential Black Swan Events prior to TEOTWAWKI may include:

  • Financial/Communications/Societal Collapse/Martial Law
  • Solar CME (coronal mass ejection)/EMP (electromagnetic pulse)/Martial law
  • Geophysical (earthquake, tsunami, super eruption) or Spacephysical Events (asteroid strike, meteor rain, comet cloud)/Martial Law
  • CALExit/Aztlan/Martial Law
  • USA Terrorist attacks/WWIII/Martial Law (Invasion scenarios predict adversaries splitting the country by trying to control the Missisiippi River; I choose to be west of Fig. 3 in that conflict.)

I think you’re getting the bigger picture!

Understanding Our Highway System

Our U.S. Interstate Highway system labels N-S highways with odd numbers, which increase from West to East, and E-W highways with even numbers, which increase from South to North (to avoid confusion with the U.S. Highways, which increase from east to west and north to south), though there are exceptions. The ubiquitous mile markers located one mile apart typically indicate the distance to the next state border or end of road and identifies exits through urban circular loops using clockwise numbers from the south IH intersection. Mile markers on interstate highways can also help you determine which direction you’re going. On most interstates, mile marker numbers begin at the southern state line on north-south routes and increase as you travel north. On east-west routes, the numbers begin on the western state border and increase as you travel east.

Traveling OPSEC

Operational security and situational awareness while traveling is a fluid concern but can be based on scenarios planned ahead and scripted with contingencies for unexpected encounters. A group traveling in separate vehicles should utilize basic two-way radios for communication, always assuming others are listening. Communications using prearranged simple coded messages and keywords protects OPSEC. Never reveal location information; rather, use a scrambled system of reference to mile marker numbers, which to decipher require adding a set quantity (changed each week) and the current days date for the correct number. For example, the transmission refers to MM 68, but you have to add 19 and today’s date to get the correct MM of 96 (further distance than transmitted).

My take on travel OPSEC is focused more toward Risk Analysis with the Impact and Scale vs. Likelihood of a particular event occurring. Using basic traveling knowledge and scripted scenarios helps determine basic alternative routes and responses appropriate to the conditions encountered and maintains the five principals of OPSEC:

Step 1. Track critical information about you, your plans, and resources that could be used by an adversary.

Step 2. Identify who your adversaries might be based on time, location, and circumstances.

Step 3. Determine the various ways your critical information could be compromised, indirectly or overtly.

Step 4. Assess and prioritize the items of information that are the most likely to be used by your adversary and the related countermeasures to use.

Step 5. Apply and integrate your countermeasures and other security for the most vulnerable items, in a priority order.

The military might keep logs for these steps and revisions, but you will make your lists, scripts, maps, et cetera to memorize and then burn them before you leave, since you are protecting your family’s “lives” first. Only keep basic travel document copies available, and the originals safely hidden. Do not keep maps, brochures, or notes of where you are going; just use an available USA atlas for orienteering with non-descript marks as reminders. Consistently tell inquiring minds a destination far beyond and north or south of where you would like to stop, thus explaining the supplies.

Scenario No.1 (Primary)

You and your family are traveling with friends to see relations in another state far away and provide care for a sick relative. Your vehicles are common, basic transportation but with LT-E rated tires, loaded with camping gear to avoid paying for lodging on your limited cash and resources. You carry extra gas to limit your stops and use personal urinals (plastic bottles for men) while traveling. Everyone wears loose fitting,“Good Will” type clothing and old sweaters, jackets, shoes, et cetera without urban tags, graphics, affiliations, or other identifiers; you have a camping upgrade from the “Great Depression” look. Accumulated trash in the car or truck from traveling long distance is apparent, and kids are whining with only comic books to read. Do not wear jewelry, expensive rings, accessories, designer anything, hunting/military/camo gear, or personal electronics you can’t afford in this scenario. OPSEC will require children to be seen but not heard in most scenarios. Remind them of their important contribution to a safe trip, and test them along the way. Read Pslam 8:2, for what it says about “from out of the mouths of babes”.

This scenario is your family training script! Do not attract undue attention, and be sure to look the part you are adopting in every aspect, from clothes to attitude (eyes down respect) and quiet demeanor even when provoked. You don’t behave as a victim but quiet confidence and determination to get where you’re going.

Create similar scenarios from the priority list, and everyone memorize them, including the children when appropriate. Make a verbal travel game out of the exercise for all to share in. Scenarios requiring evasive actions or self defense should be scripted on a need-to-know basis (NSFC– not safe for children). Do not write them down to carry in the car; burn them before leaving. Good OPSEC will include a comprehensive list of things to burn before you leave, because you may not be coming back. Don’t leave anything behind or in the trash that identifies you or your plans. Create a travel cover story for the neighbors just before you leave to explain your recent garage sales, using Craigslist, finding pets new homes, et cetera. Traveling to care for a sick family member can work, if you sell it with conviction and concern. Don’t leave a vacant looking house but ask the neighbors to watch over things and maybe pay them to mow the lawn for a season until you return (sic).

Traveling Risks

To head West you follow the sun, so why the big whooop? The Mississippi River is a major physical barrier to cross, and floating down it will be treacherous during TEOTWAWKI, particularly where it flows through major urban areas. Dredged to a depth of 9-12 feet by the U.S. Corp of Engineers, the northern stretch above St. Louis varies from 1-2 miles wide to 30 feet (N. Minn.) before floods. When considering potential Geophysical Black Swan events, a repeat of the New Madrid earthquake has to be considered along with its related areas and scope of impacts. The Mississippi bridges are generally oriented W-E, and the New Madrid seismic acceleration will occur in the same general direction. These bridges are not designed to handle large differential horizontal movements and may collapse, or the numerous utilities they carry will snap; both scenarios are dangerous to be around, much less attempting to cross during. The following map shows how the Midwest geology will accentuate and expand these movements as in the 1895 New Madrid, 6.8 quake compared to the areas affected by the 1994 Los Angeles, 6.7 earthquake. The earlier New Madrid earthquakes (four quakes plus after-shocks) from Dec. 16, 1811 to Feb. 7, 1812, registered from 7.5 to 8.0 and created a severe damage zone into southern Iowa and southwest Illinois along the river valley.

If this disaster strikes, crossing the Mississippi will require crossing north of the Ohio river (Cairo, IL.) and probably using an Iowa bridge. Of course, crossing any bridge is subject to political whims, so avoid the big city problems, Interstates, U.S. highways, and railroad bridges. Here is a list of the bridges you might consider:

Iowa Miles north of Ohio River

  • Black Hawk Bridge IA 9/WIS 82 Lansing, Iowa (663) 43°21?55?N 91°12?54?W
  • Marquette-Joliet Bridge US 18/WIS 60 Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin (634) 43°02?38?N 91°10?33?W
  • Eagle Point Bridge (Historical) Former US 61 / US 151 Dubuque, Iowa (583) 42°32?14?N 90°38?34?W
  • Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge US 61 / US 151 Dubuque, Iowa (581) 42°30?56?N 90°38?08?W
  • Dubuque Rail Bridge Canadian National Railway, Dubuque, Iowa (580) 42°29?55?N 90°39?01?W
  • Julien Dubuque Bridge US 20 Dubuque, Iowa (579) 42°29?30?N 90°39?22?W
  • Savanna-Sabula Bridge US 52/IA 64/IL 64 Sabula, Iowa (537) 42°06?16?N 90°09?38?W
  • Sabula Rail Bridge Railroad Canadian Pacific, Sabula, Iowa (535) 42°03?51?N 90°09?58?W
  • Mark Morris Memorial Bridge IA 136/IL 136 Clinton, IA.. and Fulton, IL. (520) 41°51?53?N 90°10?23?W
  • Gateway Bridge (Illinois-Iowa) US 30 Clinton, Iowa and Fulton, Illinois (518) 41°50?16?N 90°11?02?W
  • Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Bridge Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad Clinton, Iowa and Fulton, Illinois (518) 41°50?11?N 90°11?05?W
  • Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge I-80 LeClaire, Iowa and Rapids City, Illinois (495) 41°34?49?N 90°21?54?W
  • I-74 Bridge I-74 / US 6 Bettendorf, Iowa and Moline, Illinois (485) 41°31?12?N 90°30?48?W
  • Government Bridge Automotive and Rail Davenport, Ia. and Rock Island, IL. (483) 41°31?09?N 90°34?01?W
  • Rock Island Centennial Bridge US 67 Davenport, Ia. and Rock Island, IL. (482) 41°30?54?N 90°34?54?W
  • Crescent Rail Bridge Railroad, BNSF Railway, Davenport, Iowa and Rock Island, Illinois (481) 41°30?42?N 90°35?41?W
  • I-280 Bridge I-280 Davenport, Iowa and Rock Island, Illinois (478) 41°28?45?N 90°37?56?W
  • Norbert F. Beckey Bridge IA 92/IL 92 Muscatine, Iowa (456) 41°25?21?N 91°02?01?W
  • Keithsburg Rail Bridge Railroad (abandoned) Keithsburg, Illinois (428) 41°06?18?N 90°57?10?W
  • Great River Bridge US 34 Burlington, Iowa and Gulf Port, Illinois (404) 40°48?43?N 91°05?44?W
  • Burlington Rail Bridge BNSF Railway, Burlington, Iowa (403) 40°47?55?N 91°05?31?W
  • Fort Madison Toll Bridge IA 2/IL Fort Madison, Iowa (384) 40°37?37?N 91°17?45?W
  • Keokuk Rail Bridge Keokuk, Iowa (364) 40°23?28?N 91°22?24?W
  • Keokuk-Hamilton Bridge US 136 Keokuk, Iowa (363) 40°23?25?N 91°22?24?W

Missouri

  • Quincy Rail Bridge BNSF Railway, Quincy, Illinois (328) 39°56?30?N 91°25?51?W
  • Bayview Bridge US 24 Quincy, Illinois (327) 39°56?00?N 91°25?17?W
  • Quincy Memorial Bridge US 24 Quincy, Illinois (327) 39°55?53?N 91°25?14?W
  • Mark Twain Memorial Bridge I-72 / US 36 Hannibal, Missouri (309) 39°43?13?N 91°21?30?W
  • Champ Clark Bridge US 54 Louisiana, Missouri (283) 39°27?24?N 91°02?52?W
  • Louisiana Rail Bridge Railroad, Kansas City Southern Railway, Louisiana, Mo. (282) 39°26?43?N 91°02?01?W
  • Clark Bridge US 67 Alton, Illinois (202) 38°52?56?N 90°10?44?W
  • New Chain of Rocks Bridge I-270 St. Louis, Missouri (190) 38°45?53?N 90°10?25?W
  • Chain of Rocks Bridge US 66 Bicycle trail St. Louis, Missouri (190) 38°45?38?N 90°10?35?W
  • Merchants Bridge Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, MO.Missouri (183) 38°40?29?N 90°11?10?W
  • McKinley Bridge Automobile and former Illinois Traction System railway US 66 St. Louis, Missouri (182) 38°39?54?N 90°10?58?W
  • Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge I-70 St. Louis, Missouri (181) 38°38?40?N 90°10?42?W
  • Martin Luther King Bridge (St. Louis) Route 799 St. Louis, Missouri (180) 38°37?52?N 90°10?46?W
  • Eads Bridge Road and Railway, St. Louis, Missouri (180) 38°37?45?N 90°10?47?W
  • Poplar Street Bridge I-55 / I-64 / US 40 St. Louis, Missouri (179) 38°37?05?N 90°10?59?W
  • MacArthur Bridge (St. Louis) Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, MO. (178) 38°36?53?N 90°11?01?W
  • Jefferson Barracks Bridge I-255 / US 50 St. Louis County, Missouri (168) 38°29?14?N 90°16?38?W
  • Chester Bridge MO 51/Illinois Route 150 Perryville, MO. – Chester, IL. (109) 37°54?11?N 89°50?11?W
  • Grand Tower Pipeline Bridge Natural gas Grand Tower, Illinois (80) 37°38?31?N 89°31?03?W
  • Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge MO 34/74 Illinois Route 146 Cape Girardeau, Mo. (51) 37°17?43?N 89°30?57?W
  • Thebes Bridge Railroad Southern Illinois and Missouri, Thebes, Illinois (43) 37°13?00?N 89°28?01?W
  • Cairo I-57 Bridge I-57 Charleston, Missouri-Cairo, Illinois (7) 37°01?23?N 89°12?42?W
  • Cairo Mississippi River Bridge US 60 / US 62 Cairo, Illinois (1) 36°58?43?N 89°08?52?W

If that weren’t enough, any large scale Midwest geophysical event may trigger some hidden dangers that span portions of south/central Illinois, southeast/central Iowa, Ohio River valley, and north/northwest Missouri in the form of old and current underground coal (and mineral) mines, many abandoned. Most are shallow mines less than 30-80 feet below the surface and use the “room and pillar” excavation technique where large rooms of coal are removed leaving pillars behind in a grid pattern to support the surface above. These rooms are typically 7’-9’ tall, due to the layered coal seam depths. A major earthquake or aftershock in these areas has the potential to collapse many of these mines, resulting in corresponding sinkholes and surface pits of similar depth.

Letter Re: Baking Soda

Sarah,

I too am laying by a lot of baking soda. I too have spent enormous amounts of time pondering the absence of it. I found the answer in Carla Emory’s Encyclopedia of Country Living. It’s on page 220 in my book, under Acid-Base Leavenings. “In the real old days, they used to leaven with wood ash. Ashes are alkaline. If you add a teaspoon of ash to a mixture that contains an acid, such as real sour cream, buttermilk from slightly soured milk, or yogurt, then the two make bubbles. You have to work fast because the bubbles don’t last very long.”

My mother-in-law also confirmed this as the method used many years ago. – A.L.

Economics and Investing:

State, county, and city governments cannot print money, and the current elected officials cannot kick the can down the road on this one: ‘Politics of intimidation,’ or family feud? Anger grows as Dallas Police and Fire Pension System looks for fix – P.S

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World’s largest hedge fund manager predicts bleak future for markets

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Healthcare Is Not Immune to the Laws of Economics

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Bank of America Tests Peopleless Banks

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SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.