SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. While Florida is getting socked today, Irma has finished with many islands and, as expected, the looting has begun.
Golden Horde
SurvivalBlog Reader R.V. suggested that the mass of humanity coming out of Florida on I-75 and I-95 illustrated what JWR had talked about when he referenced the “Golden Horde” in his novels. The only difference is that these people are not starving and looting on their path. Some reports suggest that as much as 25% of Florida’s residents have been told to evacuate.
Hurricane Hygiene
Robb, of Robb’s Homemade Life YouTube channel, was reminiscing about Hurricane Andrew in Miami while waiting for Hurricane Irma and remembered that he lost power for days afterwards. While the lack of power was easier to deal with, the loss of water was difficult. He created a gadget (and subsequently a video) that will allow the user to be very frugal with water used for hygiene, yet can be made with only a milk jug and a Popsicle stick.
The Looting Has Begun
Hurricane Irma has passed St. Martin, devastating the country in the process. Now the aftermath. Witnesses are claiming that looters are running freely through the city with machetes and guns. Stranded tourists are being targeted. Up to 95% of the island was destroyed in 185mph winds and the Dutch military has been called in to help restore civility while the island tries to recover. [Warning: This article in on the dailymail.co.uk. Some inappropriate links and pictures may be in the sidebars.] Thanks for the link sent in by B.B.
Second Amendment
Once again, the futility of gun-control is exposed. Reader J.R. sent in the link to this video showing an AR-15 lower being manufactured from soda cans. The video shows accelerated footage from the foundry stage to the machining stage, to the assembly and firing of the completed weapon. Every part of the build uses machines that are home-built or commonly available. It is not a cost-effective way and the result is not the most beautiful product I’ve seen, but it was fully functional.
Bullet Resistant Clothing
We’ve known it could be done for a long time, but there apparently wasn’t the market for it. But now a company called Bullet Blocker is manufacturing bullet resistant clothing that actually looks like real clothing rather than tactical clothing. From the compression T-shirts to Sports coats and suits, every piece of clothing has a IIIA rating (.357 Magnum, 44 Magnum, 9mm, .45, hollow point ammunition and more). They even have a bullet resistant lab coat. The panels are removable and the clothing can be laundered as normal. If you need. protection, but don’t want to look like it, you might want to take a look at this. Thanks to K.B. for the link.
Planned Murder Parenthood
Twenty states have filed a brief that urges the U.S. Supreme Court to lift an injunction that bars the release of undercover videos exposing Planned Parenthood’s alleged practice of profiteering from the sale of aborted baby body parts. The injunction stems from the case where Daleiden and Merrit went undercover to film the barbaric practice and were subsequently indited by the Harris County, Texas District Attorney. It is worth noting that the charges were dropped when the attorney representing Planned Parenthood admitted that he pressured the DA to drop the indictment against them and instead indict Daleiden and Merritt. California still has charges pending regarding similar stings in that state which have resulted in the injunction. Thanks to D.B. for the link.
Banned Flags
Reader H.L. sent in this article about a Minnesota high school that banned flags on vehicles. Students responded in a spectacular fashion and by the end of the day, the school administrators had removed the ban from the student handbook. Sadly, they still frown on flying the Confederate flag.
News Tips:
Please send your news tips to HJL. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant, because they come from folks who watch news that is important to them. Due to their diligence and focus, we benefit from fresh “on target” news. We often “get the scoop” on news that is most likely ignored (or reported late) by mainstream American news outlets. Thanks!
I live in Florida. We are now in the direct path of Hurricane Irma. Devastation to Florida is very real and many lives will be impacted. I pray that because we are older and chose to shelter in place, that we will counted as survivors when this is all over( the alternate shelter is 8 blocks from our home)! The people of Texas and Florida will need help when this is over. I just heard , Senator Nelson from Florida, talking about FEMA being bankrupt in 3 days or so. Where is the logic of us going more in debt to fund FEMA when Rand Paul Introduced America First Plan to Fund Hurricane Relief by Cutting Wasteful Spending…
This America First amendment would cover the $15.25 billion (Money already in our treasury)by using existing funds that have been earmarked for foreign aid but haven’t been spent. This amendment would not have impacted security assistance or programs funded out of the State or Defense Departments.
Senator Nelson, Senator Marco Rubio, and all Senators that don’t support this should be ashamed for not supporting this. Nobody asked us , the taxpayers, about giving away our sweat equity away to foreign countries that hate us, when our money should stay at home for natural disasters in the United States rather than raising the debt ceiling. Write your senators let them know what you think. Let’s think AMERICA FIRST!!!!!
All do respect ma’am, but instead of taking billions of dollars from US citizens at proverbial gunpoint via oppressive taxation to give to you as opposed to foreign nations, perhaps we should rather encourage our government to get out of BOTH the foreign aid AND disaster relief market, and give everyone back their own money so that they might rely on themselves for disaster relief. Looking tobthe government for help is not the answer ma’am. Self- Sufficiency is.
Oh my. I was very impressed by the video of the lower receiver made from aluminum cans.
These evacuations were great examples of the Golden Horde. My wife and I discussed them as we watched. The major difference between them and the horde was most, not all but most, were ready to travel. They had filled up the tanks and taken supplies. I certainly do not blame them for leaving, as they should, and look forward to the lessons learned and stories to be told from it.
A note for those that may need to bug out someday. A friend put up a picture/video of a back road he was traveling in Florida. Where he said the interstates where clogged this road had only moderate traffic going north (He was headed south and had almost no traffic).
The speed of travel is dictated by the car in front of you,most traffic problems and slow downs are caused by incompetent drivers that aren’t competent to ride in a bus and the others that refuse to pass them. Witnessed during eclipse traffic,multimile back ups due to 1 car traveling 15-20mph under posted speed(multiple times).
A 35mph average speed on back roads gets you farther along than 5mph on an Interstate.
These alternate routes and hard maps have been discussed many many times over the years on SB and other places.
After dealing with the level 5 tornadoes I also tell folks to add 10-15% to the needed fuel because of delays and heavy loads
Re hygiene when water is at a premium. The bride and I have been outdoors for a variety of activities for the over four decades we have been married. The evolution of camp hygiene has been extensive but now we rely on clorox/lysol wipes for dishes and Comfort Bath wipes for personal care. Bathroom cleanup means wipes. We try to use paper plates and bowls as much as possible…the fire pit becomes our cleanup.
I want folks to look at something. Figure grid down already, from economic collapse. THEN the hurricane hits. They won’t just be looting the Footlocker down the road, everything, including your very life, will be on the menu of the Golden Horde. Any one calls themselves a prepper, or cares about their family should be out of Florida and other hurricane vulnerable areas, permanently. 100 miles from the coast, minimum. It’s a worse situation than being in the middle of LA, Chicago, or NYC in a grid down, economic collapse scenario.
We were in Nashville the week before Irma hit, and by the time we checked out of our extended stay hotel on Friday morning, they were turning away families from Florida. I also noticed that the hotel DID NOT take cash, and neither did a business nearby. I think this may have been related to avoiding robberies, rather than a particular love of electronic transactions. But word to the wise in a bug-out: not every business takes cash, so have a card you can use just in case!
I didn’t think hotels took cash after 9/11.
Your right in having diversity
Re: the comments on using back roads when you need to bug out. A feature on Google Maps I just found out about is called “Avoid Highways”. On Google maps put in your location and your destination. Google will then plot the fastest route using interstates. But, then click or touch the “Options” tab. There is a heading “Avoid” with checkboxes for “Highways”, “Tolls” and “Ferries”. Check “Highways” and the route will be re-plotted with no interstates.
Thank you so much for posting my prepper gadgets I sometimes make for my YouTube channel, I truly appreciate it. I enjoy your site and read it every morning and have learned a lot from many of your links, articles, and suggestions. I also applaud you for having the courage to occasionally link to articles on the dangers of massive immigration that is happening to the west.
Robb Moffett
Robb’s Homemade Life