Florida Preppers Network

Happy New Year!….some changes

2012-01-01T10:04:00.000-06:00

APN is making some changes to the blogger system. The blogs are being migrated from Blogger.com to Wordpress. More details coming shortly, but the new location for Florida will be http://florida.preppersnetwork.com .

Hope everyone has a happy and prosperous New Year!

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Review…Crovel Extreme vs Glock E-tool vs Cold Steel SF Shovel

2011-12-24T14:22:00.000-06:00

This is sort of an apples to oranges to pears review. They are all related via the base design, which is the old US military entrenching tool. Each has similarities in that they have a shovel/digging capability, then things diverge wildly in some cases.

Set up…I was looking for a tool that would be easily carried on my get home bag (GHB) and/or bugout bag (BOB). Now remember…as with anything in any review, what works for me (or not) may or may not work for you.

Crovel Extreme (Link)

Cost: ~$109 (without case)

Weight: +5.5lbs

Length:

This is a very interestingly designed item. Basically an e-tool with a crowbar/hammer on the handle end. This is a solid, heavy duty tool, solid construction with a few extra features. Handle is hollow inside for storage of small items, but this does not compromise the sturdiness of the tool. Handle is also wrapped with paracord (nice touch but mine came unraveled after splitting wood). Locking nut is very solid with no chance of slippage out of locked 'pick axe' or shovel head position. Shovel head has serrations on one side for sawing and semi sharpened edge on the other for splitting (not sharp enough to cut wood against grain) plus a bottle cap remover. All main metal parts have a heavy duty powder coating on them. Obviously the designers wanted people to have a shovel, axe, saw, pick axe, crowbar, hammer all in one. Let's see how it performed on each of these tasks…

Digging/Pickaxe: This is by far the Crovel's strong suit. Due to it's sturdiness, weight and heavy duty locking nut, the Crovel beats the other 2 hands down. The crowbar/hammer handle end allowed for extra grip and leverage. The only design change here would be a more pointed shovel head…crucial for getting through the tough shallow root system that exists in the swamp. One drawback was sometime the crowbar head would bite into my forearm if I was gripping the handle instead of the crowbar end while in pickaxe mode.

Crowbar/hammer: Though a neat idea this part gave me problems. Due to the position of the crowbar/hammer, I was very limited on the amount of swing I could use due to the shovel head either getting in the way or biting my forearm (see pics). Also due to the angle of the crowbar head, insertion between a door and door jam was very limited. Zero angle would help somewhat, though the shovel head might get in the way regardless.

Shovel head position limits ability to insert crowbar head between door/doorjam interface.

Regardless of pivot position shovel head makes contact

Saw/chopping: The saw blade side of the shovel head is rather inefficient since the teeth are triangular and not off set. A substantial amount of effort was required. As to being used as a weapon…this would be the side to apply....due to the weight of the tool..probably the most deadly of the 3. The Crovel plain side is beveled, but not enough for chopping. It can be used for splitting seasoned wood…it's heavy weight allows it to be top in this aspect.

Conclusion:

At over 5.5 pounds, it simply is too heavy to add to a GHB. BOB…perhaps if one excludes other tools. The challenge would be it would need to be attached near the torso since heavy weights should be mid/center and as close to body as possible when packing. Problems with the crowbar/hammer head utilization, make this aspect of the tool rather limited. The threaded shaft area the locking lug rides on quickly began to rust and will require a thin coat of grease to prevent future problems (minor issue). Though I like the concept of the Crovel it's use beyond a shovel (or last ditch weapon) is limited in my mind.

Glock E-tool (Link)

Cost: ~$34 (with case)

Weight: 2 lbs

Length:

The Glock e-tool is a simple design digging tool with a small added feature of a saw blade inside the handle. This is the most compact out of the 3.

Tool in it's most compact form. Adjacent pic shows the saw.

Digging/Pickaxe: The pointed nature of the blade help for digging and pickaxe. Handle telescopes out and is locked in place by rotating counterclockwise. Shovel head is fixed in position by a tightening nut that maybe could be a bit larger. The lightweight did transfer 'shock' from striking roots back to the handlers arm/wrist.

Saw/cutting: The saw blade attachment does the job well on small limbs and roots. Also would make an excellent bone saw for quartering large game. This tool has no chopping/splitting function.

Conclusions:

Lightweight/lack of mass require more energy for digging, etc.. Not intended as a weapon. This is the most lightweight of the tools, thus additional tools such as an axe and crowbar will also be needed to be carried. Case is a bit weak and may wear out quickly (I'll update if it does). Since this tool has a few parts that separate…there is the possibility that they could be lost. This will mot render the shovel aspect inoperable, but obviously the saw would be.

Cold Steel SF Shovel (Link)

Cost: ~$26 (without case...+$10)

Weight: 1.66 lbs

Length:

This is the simplest of all the designs, based on the WW2 style. Straight solid wood handle with steel head. The entire edge of the shovel head is VERY sharp. Why the cover is sold separately makes zero sense to me..it is a must have item.

Digging: No problem here…goes through roots and dirt rather well. Handle is easy to grip and sturdy (except when wet..wrap some duct tape for better grip).

Chopping/Splitting wood: The best out of the 3….roots with 1 swing. Very sharp blade, branches 3 inches thick were not a problem. Splitting it was second to the Crovel due to lack of mass only.

Conclusion: Can be used for digging, chopping, zombie head removal…no pickaxe option. Blade is sharp and MUST have a case. Between the Crovel and Glock tool in size. Though listed as lighter than the Glock, it felt a bit heavier/solid. Edge did show some light rust, thus a thin coat of grease will need to be applied. Cold Steel also shows how the shovel can be thrown and impale targets…I'm not a big fan of throwing tools, knives, axes, etc..the penetration done is usually less than incapacitating. If you miss, your intended target now has your tool/weapon.

So which to carry?

-I was excited about the Crovel, but disappointed with the results due to the design issues I mentioned and the weight. It's cost (5 times more than next reviewed), perhaps caused me to be a bit more critical, but I believe this is warranted of any high priced item.

-The Glock tool certainly being the lightest/most compact is the easiest to carry, but it's rather non-solid feel gives me pause. I plan on putting it through a similar abuse the SF tool went through…if it holds up it will get the nod...I will update.

-The Cold Steel, I worked the heck out of it to see at what point the wooden handle would break (hammer, prybar..and yes, I did the throw thing…it did break (10th throw....Cold Steel sells replacements), but I would probably not use it in such a way. At the moment it is my top pick (with case). Yes, you can throw it and it sticks into targets...neato!..not practical unless it is the last thing you have and you want to make your enemy bleed before you expire.

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Survival Seeds….a collapse experiment.

2011-12-06T16:54:00.001-06:00

So I thought I would start an experiment back in September.

Garden is a 4'x8' section plus a small planter (1.5'x3'). Rainfall was below normal and the dry season has begun, but watering did occur when needed until 5 wks ago when fresh water became scarce.

It was rather simple scenario:

I'm Joe 6-pack, and I purchased these survival seeds just in case. I don't have much gardening experience. I have put aside some supplies, food, water, etc.. Collapse occurs, but I decide to bug in (suburban area) since most roads are blocked and fuel quickly ran out. It's me, my wife and 2 children (8 and 10). About half the neighborhood stays. Most decide to be responsible for their own food. I quickly put seeds in the ground or in seedling pots that should grow this time of year in Florida. After the seeds are planted, day to day survival takes precedence, I pay little attention to the garden due to other demands such as security, fresh water (I'm surrounded by mostly salt/brackish), sanitation issues and a death in the family. Now it is December, canned food is running low and I'm out of vegetables. Going out and foraging has become increasingly difficult as a few roving groups that have been robbing/violently looting and a population surge into the area due to a nearby metro area where govt food supply lines collapsed. Disease has also broken out such as cholera, dysentery and rumors of malaria. I turn attention back to my garden….

So how did Joe 6-pack's garden do with very little attention paid to it? For all intents and purposes it was a failure. Very few seeds germinated, plus the garden suffered from animal, insect and disease incursions. Overall success rate was about 7% with enough total food for 2 days. Joe didn't know to stagger plantings, and now realizes that he should already have a crop of something else going. Not watching, his son used the planting guide as kindling to get a cooking fire going back in November.

I see this as a very standard scenario that most living in a southern coastal area will experience in an case of complete collapse and mentality of more individual/family than larger group cooperation (see previous post). This also plays into the discussion of year round garden production, harvest and storage, as well as seed viability and success with different levels of attention paid. These are all concerns preppers need to keep in mind when making a plan.

I found it rather interesting though was the seed germination failure rate. Carrots and leafy greens did well, but the rows were heavily damaged/scattered by animal incursion early on (lack of fencing).

Beets, radishes and onions did not grow well or at all, and were extremely small and 'weak' for how long they have been planted. (lack of fertilizer and suitable planting area).

Cucumbers germinated well, but were quickly destroyed by insects. All that is left are 2 small plants. (lack of fertilizer insecticide).

Fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide and good location are needed as well as dedication to the garden. This is an additional prep item(s)/plans many skip over. I am going to run the experiment again with a bit more of a prepared scenario, and heavier attention paid to the garden. Going into winter should be a bit more challenging, but at the same time…disasters don't occur when convenient. At the end of the second run if I see similar germination failures I will list the product name so people may avoid wasting their money.

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Cold War re-ignites?

2011-11-24T07:13:00.001-06:00

A series of events has rapidly unfolded in the Middle-East/Eurasia.

- Just out from CBS: "The U.S. Embassy in Damascus urged its citizens in Syria to depart "immediately," and Turkey's foreign ministry urged Turkish pilgrims to opt for flights to return home from Saudi Arabia to avoid traveling through Syria."

-Weekly naval update from Stratfor, which always has some very interesting if always controversial view on geopolitics, where we find that for the first time in many months, CVN 77 George H.W. Bush has left its traditional theater of operations just off the Straits of Hormuz, a critical choke point, where it traditionally accompanies the Stennis, and has parked... right next to Syria.
(via zerohedge)

-China and Russia have stated they will not let the west attack Syria. Russia was rather forceful beginning to place it's offensive weapons…including nuclear…on standby.

"..in a nationally televized appearance by Russian president Dmitry Medvedev: in response to what the Russian believes is an active incursion and a potential act of eventual aggression on behalf of NATO countries in Eastern Europe (and hence the US), he he said the following (7 minutes in): "First, I am instructing the Defense Ministry to immediately put the missile attack early warning radar station in Kaliningrad on combat alert. Second, protective cover of Russia's strategic nuclear weapons, will be reinforced as a priority measure under the programme to develop out air and space defenses. Third, the new strategic ballistic missiles commissioned by the Strategic Missile Forces and the Navy will be equipped with advanced missile defense penetration systems and new highly-effective warheads. Fourth, I have instructed the Armed Forces to draw up measures for disabling missile defense system data and guidance systems if need be... Fifth, if the above measures prove insufficient, the Russian Federation will deploy modern offensive weapon systems in the west and south of the country, ensuring our ability to take out any part of the US missile defense system, in Europe. One step in this process will be to deploy Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad Region"

My worry is with world economies in a slump, nothing gets people back to work faster than war. Governments may be all to willing to engage in an ever escalating game of 'who will blink first'. Unfortunately, this can lead to an all out conflict, and in this day and age can result in rather large destruction. Personally, I considered conventional much less nuclear attack rather low on my list of possible preparedness scenarios. If things continue down this road, that will have to change.

Preparedness things to consider if escalation to conflict occurs:
-One's proximity to military targets.
-One's proximity to industrial complexes.
-One's proximity to power/utility plants (major metro/industrial areas).
-Fuel shortages/price spikes…this would lead to price spikes in all other items not locally produced.
-Barter items of high vales.
-Ammunition shortages (severe).
-Possibility of limited nuclear exchange. (be sure to check daily, the jet stream flow. An attack elsewhere can still dump fallout on your area.)

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Home invasion…not just 1 intruder…are you ready?

2011-09-26T19:55:00.001-05:00

Most people, when they think of home invasion, think of just 1 intruder…what if there are more? The trend lately seems to be 3 or more intruders attacking at night. Reasoning seems to be, instead of searching, home owners can show the intruders were the valuables are more quickly.

Some cases unfortunately, involve more violent and nefarious agenda.

Many say 'no problem', I have a shotgun (or other firearm)…but it is not as easily done as it is said. You are surprised, multiple targets in multiple directions with loved ones in close proximity, in close quarters is not the same as paper targets at a range. Adrenaline is pumping, have to get to weapon (not many people wear their firearm while sitting on the couch watching Monday night football) then have to engage targets.

Some simple steps can be found HERE and HERE.

But preppers should seriously consider going further and getting professional training for home invasion and/or multiple targets.
JB Training (NE FL, SE GA)
CRI (Nevada)
Please note…I have not tried either course, but will probably take JB's course and will post a review. I encourage people to do their own research and find what works best for them.

International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) is also a great way to learn pistol shooting at a whole different level. IDPA uses realistic scenarios to engage multiple targets, moving, loading, shooting from cover, etc..

The situation isn't pretty out there folks. If the present economic down trend continues, we can expect this to occur more frequently. Don't be a target! Prepare and train now.

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September planting guide.

2011-09-02T16:26:00.000-05:00

TIme to start working on those fall gardens.

September

Prepare for your garden by incorporating organic matter into the soil. Try planting vegetables in an attractive design which will add interest to your landscape.
Plant seeds for radish, beet, carrot, leafy greens, green beans, and cucumber early in the month. Choose varieties that will mature in 7-8 weeks.
Plant strawberries late this month through October. Choose healthy and quality transplants.
Set out onions, broccoli, cabbage, collards, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower.
When planting fast maturing vegetables, make several plantings at 10-14 day intervals to have a steady harvest.
Check cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower for caterpillars.

Full year round guide by Bradford county extension.

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Tips from Urban Survival Guide.

2011-08-10T11:16:00.000-05:00

Urban Survival Guide by David Morris is one of many survival books out there, though it separates itself by being more of a 'bug in' book (survive in place) versus heading out into nowhere land and surviving off nature. Something I point out in a previous post that sometimes it won't matter where you go trouble will be there. The book isn't tremendously detailed, but it brings up many issues one faces in an urban suburban setting. What I really like is that the book wasn't just published and left out there. The author has continued the process of learning and preparing and puts out a newsletter as well as offers classes, equipment suggestions etc..

In light of the recent riots in London as well as continued economic destabilization in the EU and US, the advice and information seem rather timely.

If wide spread riots occur will you be able to get from work to home? Can you survive in place away from your supplies. Can you repel those that wish to take or simply burn the place down? These are tough and even scary questions, but unfortunately reality seems to have taken on a reality of it's own.

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Check list time...just in case.

2011-07-25T10:58:00.000-05:00

I used to post this at the beginning of every month, but felt it was too repetitive. In light of the seeming looming govt shut down, which may or may not happen, thought it would be good time to maybe do a check now, before a possible panic. If no deal is reached, even for a short time, there may be some areas of unrest and/or panic....or the people will rejoice. Either way...always good to check items you haven't looked at in a while and check food storage for pest infestation, leaks, etc.

urbanverbal

Time for the monthly rotation checklist. I've adapted this from alpharubicon's site (they have more info than I can ever read). Usually do this the first Friday of every month (you pick best time for you). Some of these actions may only pertain to those living in a moist (and in my case salty) environment. If you have a suggestion of what to add...let me know!

____Check water supply.
____ Check storage containers for leaks, mold, etc.
____Check function of hand pumps.
____Rotate water if needed (every 6 months if possible..use to flush toilet or water garden. (CAUTION! If water was treated with chems may not be good for plants)

____Food storage.
____Check expiration dates on regular foods.
____Check dates on long term survival foods.
____Check for leaks, pest infestation.

____Weapons check.
____Inspect for rust, mold.
____Check stock/grip for damage/cracks.
____Lubricate if needed.
____Rotate/inspect ammo and mags. (Range time!..woohoo!)
____Check slings and holsters for fraying and mold.
____Check cleaning kit supplies.

____Personal Go bag/vehicle bag (not large/main BOBs)
____Inspect contents, for mold, expiration..rotate as needed.

____ Medical
____Check first aid kits for expired meds.
____Inspect bandages and wraps for package frays/tears....loss of sterile integrity.
____Check supply of prescribed meds.

____Vehicles
____Check tires and fluids.
____Check hoses, filters and cables for fraying, clogs or pest infestation (they like to make nests and chew wires).
____Check tool kit (missing parts, rust, mold etc.)

____Home
____Check smoke, CO2 detectors, intrusion alarms.
____Lube window and door locks (important in coastal areas).
____Virus scan computers and system backup.
____ 360 exterior inspection.
____Check battery supply.

3-6 Month checks:

____NBC
____ Inspect masks and suits, gloves, boots for tears, mold, infestations.
____ Check expiration dates and seals on unused filters.
____ Inspect and test NBC detection devices (remember to store batteries outside units when unit in storage mode).

____BOB/ BIN (Bugout/Bug In bags/boxes) "The big stuff"
____ Inspect contents for mold infestation.
____Rotate out expired contents.
____Inspect temp. shelter or tear, mold, infestation.
____Inspect sanitation items (personal hygene, porta pooper, TP, fem. products, etc.)

____Misc.
____Inspect back up communication devices.
____Inspect tools for mold, rust, wood deterioration (apply linseed oil to handles).
____Inspect BO route... has it changed (construction etc.).
____Inspect BOL is everything still the same (plumbing, electrical, back-up power, water supply, etc.)?
____Rotate batteries in flashlights, check bulbs.
____Rotate/inspect fuel supply (gasoline, liquid gas, wood pile, etc.).

____ Test (partial or full) this should be done a minimum of once a year quarterly is best (you pick the scenario).
____Full Bug in test....cut the power...cut the water....no using the toilet (unles you have septic) for one weekend.
____Full Bug out test (family camping trip!!!)... 3 days min.

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Hurricane season is ramping up...

2011-07-20T07:15:00.004-05:00

Hurricane season is beginning to ramp up a bit. It has been fairly quiet for Florida the last few years, but don't let your guard down. I recommend, if possible to check the National Hurricane Center at least twice a day (once in the morning and once at night). Check your preps, go over your evac plan and routes (have more than one). Remember travel times during evacuations typically triple and quadruple. Don't forget important documents and plan for the pets....I know I'm preaching to the choir. Those bugging in, don't forget to check you exterior area for potential flying debris such as lawn furniture or dead trees and branches. Have plan for the furniture and other items. Get those dead trees and branches on the ground.

No threats to us at the moment...though there is a broad area of rotation over Hispaniola slowly moving east. This has the potential to become an issue once out over water.

Another good site for those a bit more into tropical weather is Central FL Hurricane site.

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The Strategic Advantages of Community Building...or why the lonewolf mentality doesn't work for survival.

2011-07-13T08:26:00.005-05:00

A great article on ZeroHedge written by the folks at Alt-Market. Brought up a great real life point as to why going on your own, or just you and your family, is probably a bad idea in times of widespread collapse. Using the example of Argentina in 2002 (collapse actually occurred in Dec of 2001) went relatively unnoticed in the US as we were reeling from the attacks of 9-11.

Argentina was in the midst of total collapse, driven by banker fraud and extreme currency devaluation in tandem with government mismanagement and corruption.

Sound familiar?
The results sound like something from a fictional apocalyptic novel (items in bold are my emphasis).

First, cities exploded with rioting and violence as Argentinian police and military attempted to crush all dissent. Soon after, displaced refugees from population centers along with roving bands of thieves flooded into the countryside, wiping out isolated farms, murdering families, and hunting down any small group of survivors weaker than themselves and flush with supplies. The authorities (and I use the term loosely) were too busy trying to suppress civil protests to bother protecting those who were caught unprepared.

This behavior is part and parcel of economic destabilization, regardless of the time or place in which it occurs. Only nine years ago, a very modern and technologically savvy nation of people, nearly cannibalized itself. Those who survived and thrived did so through family aid and substantial existing wealth, or, the tactical building of communities for the purpose of mutual defense and alternative trade. Farmers armed themselves and formed regional groups along with security measures. City dwellers formed neighborhood watches and barter networks when the mainstream economy disappeared. The bottom line; lone wolves and isolated country families were nothing more than tempting targets at the onset of the breakdown in Argentina.

Let me hit that last sentence again...
"The bottom line; lone wolves and isolated country families were nothing more than tempting targets at the onset of the breakdown in Argentina."

The purpose of APN is to gather like minded people together to gain knowledge and prepare for the worst. What seems to lack is a concerted effort to pursue the 'strength in numbers' mentality. Though there are many groups that get together for events, most of the effort is centered around BOBs, EDC, etc.. Though these are important, a more critical aspect would seem to be the formation of local communities of strength. More of the...ok I have bugged out now what? This seems to be the area of largest weakness.

I see many mention they have land far away or plan to travel to some remote area. As the example of Argentina shows, this almost turns out to be a death sentence. Realistically, anyone who has had to evacuate due to hurricane knows how the roads get. Travel time that normally took 4-6 hours easily turns into 24+hrs. Now add roving bands looking to take what you have and you are trapped on a road, in your car with your family. Not a good position to defend from.

I encourage everyone to read the article completely.

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Mountain House notice on shortage of on-line ordered foods.

2011-07-11T05:43:00.001-05:00

An interesting notice up on the Mountain House website, brought to my attention by the head of our local meet-up prep group. FEMA posted a Request For Information (RFI) for suppliers of long term foods. This apparently prompted people to start the rumor that MH was the de-facto supplier to FEMA thus the shortage.

The jist (bold is my highlight not the notices):

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) procures and stores pre-packaged commercial meals to support readiness capability for immediate distribution to disaster survivors routinely. The purpose of this Request for Information is to identify sources of supply for meals in support of disaster relief efforts based on a catastrophic disaster event within the New Madrid Fault System for a survivor population of 7M to be utilized for the sustainment of life during a 10-day period of operations.

The RFI was pulled 7 days after posting. Either they got the info they wanted or people panicked prompting FEMA to pull it. Personally, if that gets people to prepare...leave it up!

Costco seems to have a decent supply on hand either in store or on-line. I buy a couple of cases every quarter.
EDIT!: Costco as of today is basically out of MH foods, but has other brands.
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Vector borne diseases...prevention.

2011-06-28T14:36:00.010-05:00

Something many preppers fail to think about...vector borne diseases. The Southeast US seems to be a haven for the little nasty biting bugs, but all across the US, insect vector borne diseases occur.

What the heck are vector borne diseases?!
These are diseases that are transmitted to humans via insects (or some cases mammals and birds)...usually fleas (ex. plague), ticks (ex.Lyme disease) and mosquitos (ex. West Nile and Malaria). These diseases typically run rampant in third world countries due to lack of sanitation and countrywide insect control program. More and more though, they are showing up in the US. Florida had it's first case of Dengue fever in more than 75 yrs. Since this is such a broad range...I'm going to stick to insect borne disease.
CDC Division of Vector Borne Diseases.

So what happens if there is an economic collapse here in the US...even partial? Florida has a very aggressive anti-mosquito program usually handled by counties and municipalities. What happens if the spraying and monitoring programs stop? What have you done to prepare? That can of OFF probably isn't enough.

I have 2 suggestions for you to consider adding to your arsenal of preparedness items.
-A Permethrin clothing spray (ex.Sawyer SP657 Permethrin Premium Insect Clothing Repellent Spray). Runs around $14 for 24 oz bottle.

-Insecticide treated mosquito netting (ex.Pramex Long Lasting Insecticidal Net) for each person. Runs around $35 a net. Lasts for 3 yrs.

The clothing spray is very effective at preventing ticks, fleas and chiggers from getting on you.

The insecticide treated mosquito netting has proven to cut malaria cases by as much as 1/3 to half.
World Health Organization suggestion on mosquito netting...HERE

Though many think of malaria and the plague as non-US diseases, these and others will be quick to show up as spray programs, health provisions and sanitation rapidly decline.

Semper paratus
-PS

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Wildfires...

2011-06-27T13:59:00.008-05:00

As many of you know it has been brutally hot and dry in Florida. The result has been water tables in many areas at all time lows and wildfires.

- Information on all active wildfires can be found HERE.
-Important tips on evacuation plan....HERE.
-How to make your yard more fire defensible against wildfires.HERE..the garden hose won't cut it.

Homeowners and neighborhood guide in pdf. HERE.

Be careful out there folks and hopefully mother nature will see fit to dump some rain on us. Though most people aren't fans of tropical systems...it is a natural event that is necessary to recharge our aquifers.

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Time lapse map showing radiation approach to US

2011-03-17T07:37:00.002-05:00

This really needs no explanation. The real issue will be how long the release will continue as now steam is coming from both #2 and #3 reactors signaling continued heating and release of material.

Link to time lapse map.

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Should we worry about fallout from the nuclear mess in Japan?

2011-03-16T08:29:00.001-05:00

Just in case you have been under a rock and missed the whole Japan quake/tsunami/nuclear plant meltdown in progress.

The 2 isotopes we should worry about are Iodine 131 and Cesium 139. I-131 being the nastier of the 2 since as it decays, it releases gamma radiation. This type of radiation penetrates just about anything quite easily except for bunkers etc.. I-131 is very damaging to mammalian cells, cause mutations to out right destruction. This is the main culprit for radiation sickness. Cs-139 emits beta radiation which isn't quite as nasty but can still cause problems over the long term, localized damage and even surface skin burns.

So back to the question...Should we in the US and more specifically Florida worry about possible radiation from this?
Probably not.
BUT we should still be careful and check things out for ourselves. Yes, I'm weird and have 2 radiation survey meters. Typical background radiation for my area ranges from 0.0007 to 0.0020 uSv/hr. But what happens if things change? What happens if certain natural and man made events come together? Suppose things continue out of control and more radiation is released? The key for us will be the weather. Will the radiation be swept up into the atmosphere and transported across the pacific and get dumped on us (most likely from rain)? The potential danger is, such an event could cause small pools of concentrated radiation.

Unfortunately, the US as a whole is badly prepared for nuclear radiation problems. The study shows:

The authors asked public-health departments about their preparedness to monitor the human health effects of any released radiation from these kind of incidents. Across the different methods of monitoring, between 70% and 84% of states reported having completed minimal to no planning. Some 82% of states reported no or minimal plans to collect biological or clinical samples to assess the impact of radiation exposure.

Probably one of the best books in dealing with a nuclear disaster is Bruce Clayton's 'Life After Doomsday'. Though it deals mostly with the impact and subsequent survival of nuclear war, the explanations of radiation effects, and necessary preparations still apply.
Hopefully, this won't become an issue, but it is always good to be ready, just in case.

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Survival Rations...

2011-03-08T13:00:00.000-06:00

Survival rations (SR) should be part of every preppers stock. SR's are different from your standard stock of food in that they provide nutrition in only the most dire situations. Mainstay 3600 emergency food rations are that type of food. Each bar provides 400 calories for a total of 3600 calories per package. The rations are US Coast Guard approved and they recommend 3 bars per day per person on land and 2 bars per person at sea. Thus each package provides a minimum of 3 days of nutrition per person. A case comes with 10 packages or 30 days worth of nutrition for 1 person. A case goes for ~ $53. The rations have a 5 yr shelf life. Each 24 oz package is about 5inx5in by 1in thick.
Ok, sounds semi-spiffy, but how do they taste? Not too bad actually...something similar to a lemon bar. The big aspect is that the bars do not make you thirsty, something many rations cannot claim, but key in getting a USCG approved ration.

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Florida Preppers Roll Call - All Preppers Please Check In

2011-03-06T23:06:00.000-06:00

The American Preppers Network is conducting a network-wide roll call. Whether you are a member or not please check in and let us know what you are doing to prepare.

This is a good opportunity to network with other preppers near you.

Florida Preppers, to respond to the roll call please follow this link:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=277&t=9252

Reply to the Roll Call and let us know what you have been doing to prepare.

If you are not yet a member of the forum you can register here for free:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register

I-95 and U.S. 1 Closed due to fires

2011-03-01T12:47:00.001-06:00

From: CajunDaddys_girl

I-95 is now closed from SR 46 in Seminole County North to SR 44 in Volusia County.
The fire has moved from Brevard County North to Volusia county and is now at 10k acres active burn with a possible 10 0/0 contained.
15 Fire Agencies are currently battling the fire
1 home lost to fire
6 dettached shed have been lost
Homes evacuated.
Shelters open.
School bus service has been suspended from SR 46 north to SR 44 in areas near the fires...
Currentl local state of emergency has been delared for Brevard fire zone.

The great News: We finally have rain which has dropped more water than expected. The fire Dept.has said this will help gain some control of the fires...

Read more here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=106&t=9084

Some Free Fire Safety, Prevention, and Survival ebooks, and manuals

- ARC - Are You Ready - Fire

- ARC - Are You Ready - Wildfires

- Fact Sheet: Fires

- Fact Sheet: Fire Safe

- WildFires
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Healthy Home: What You Need to Know Before Hiring a "Pro."

2011-02-26T23:44:00.002-06:00

Recent news stories throughout Central Florida remind us to be vigilant when it comes to inviting people into our homes for repairs, maintenance and other contract work.

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No buy February...

2011-01-31T08:05:00.005-06:00

With the Personal Incomes and Outlays report coming out this morning showing an increase in spending, increase in costs (i.e. taxes) wages flat and savings dropping dramatically an idea that is spreading on the web seems rather timely. No Buy February.

This weekend I heard about Xan’s No Buy February Challenge. Since I’m a big fan of saving money and being thrifty I joined up. Mr Chiots and I did a no buy year 5-6 years ago and it was a wonderful thing, it really helped us get off that treadmill of buying stuff we didn’t need only to get rid of it a few years later and replace it with more stuff! It was a turning point for us financially, it really made us think about needs vs. wants and as a result we were able to pay off our house last year.

I'm going to give a try and see how much I can save. The real trick will be trying to push the idea onto my teens. Prepper wise, this is probably a good way to rotate through some items, as well as, getting a feel for how dependent we are on the easy supply of items in the different stores.

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Ground Zero

2011-01-20T09:34:00.002-06:00

A chance for you to push the button. You pick the size bomb you want and blow up what ever part of the world you would like. See what happens. Just follow this link.

http://carloslabs.com/node/20

Another reason to prep!

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Strange News....Update

2011-01-06T08:56:00.001-06:00

Update:
Google map with dieoffs

I'm sure some of you have heard the reports of dead blackbirds falling from the sky in Arkansas. Now reports of similar event in Louisiana.

Could the decline of the honey bee and now the bumble bee have been a warning? Massive die offs aren't unusual except when cross species occurs such as birds and fish. The planet has experienced mass cross species die offs, but usually they are theorized to occur with a massive global disaster.....is it not quite that obvious? This is the question that is beginning to nag in the back of my mind.

Reports on facebook from an ANTS member of dead black bird in Mississippi. This may be just an isolated incident, but it appears whatever 'it' is may be moving south and east.

Remember never touch dead birds. If you find several dead birds please report them to FWC. This can be done via their online form.

Now a report on declining bats.

<...

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Sanitation....yes the stinky issue.

2011-01-01T06:56:00.006-06:00

I thought I would start the new year off with something usually overlooked....sanitiation during times of disaster. Many stock up on loads of TP and then really don't think about the issue after that. So what to do when the water stops running and the TP runs out? This is a subject many don't like to breach, but it a daily issue that must be addressed.

Sanitation after a disaster is a huge issue. The potential for disease outbreak is massive...the present situation in Haiti is a great example.
Bugging In:
People on sewer systems, especially low lying coastal areas face a serious issue. Though toilets can be flushed by pouring water into the tanks, when flushed it goes no further than your area lift station holding tank. With the power off these lift stations stop working and the holding tanks fill up. Either the waste will begin to flood the streets or it will back up into your house. Neither is a good option. Those on septic systems can continue to flush...though this is a huge waste of water.

If it is a short term disaster solutions are easy...probably the simplest is the 5 gal toilet. Available for purchase from several suppliers or you can make your own. This is also a good option for those bugging out via BOV.

A longer term solution is a 55 gal drum that can be constructed into a composting toilet if you are feeling really adventurous. Additionally a small septic system can easily be constructed.

A great book for waste composting...-The Humanure Handbook: A Guide to Composting Human Manure, Third Edition - Joseph C. Jenkins .

Bugging out:
Ok so you have to bug out. If going BOV, most think heck I'll just pull over and go (which is exactly what the masses will do). This again sets up the potential for disease spread as well as water contamination. With the BOV you can carry a 5 gal bucket...but I suggest you have one with the bottom cut out...dig a hole and presto..mini loo. But is is good to be responsible..a great book that addresses going in the wild and applies to any mode of bugging out.

-How to Shit in the Woods, Second Edition: An Environmentally Sound Approach to a Lost Art - Kathleen Meyer

Holy Smokes I'm out of TP?!...now what?
Fortunately, someone has already done a study. Though a bit on the 'bold' side, they try several different substitutes...I'll let you read and decide for yourself.

Have a great new year everyone!

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Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T06:55:00.002-06:00

Hope for a happy and prosperous new year. Just a reminder folks....Hurricane season is only 6 months away.

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$5 gas prices? Bold prediction could spell doom for some business, commuters

2010-12-31T12:08:00.002-06:00

$5 gas prices? Bold prediction could spell doom for some business, commuters

If gas prices hit $5 per gallon as an oil expert predicts, Doug Davidson’s business could under. Davidson, along with: To read full story follow this link: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/dec/30/5-gas-prices-bold-prediction-could-s

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Sing the health praises of parsley and sage

2010-12-25T12:17:00.000-06:00

(NaturalNews) Those of us who go back a few years likely remember the line about parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme in the huge Simon and Garfunkel hit song about two ill-fated lovers, "Are You Going to Scarborough Fair". Many have speculated that the reference to the four popular herbs was due to their use in Medieval Europe to help cleanse the air and ward off the infamous black plague. Others have thought that the reference to the four herbs was because the combination may have been used as a love potion. Whatever the reason for their inclusion in the popular song, the many health benefits of parsley and sage are worth loving and singing praises about in their own rights.

PARSLEY

Parsley is an amazing medicinal herb with a world of health benefits. The root contains calcium, B-complex vitamins, and iron, which nourish the glands that help regulate the uptake of calcium. It is a source of magnesium, calcium, potassium, vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin K.

Among the many benefits reported for parsley are:

*It is a diuretic which helps the body produce more urine to keep the urinary system operating smoothly and which helps prevent problems such as kidney stones and bladder infections.

*It is wonderful for removing toxins from the body, such as heavy metals.

*It is an effective breath freshener. It is believed that the practice of including parsley on a dinner plate began due to its breath freshening abilities and not merely for its decorative effect.

*The root and leaves are good for the liver and spleen.

*It helps relieve bloating during menstruation.

*It provides relief for edema, often helping when other remedies have failed

*Parsley root and seeds help relax stiff joints, often making stiff and unmanageable fingers work again.

*It helps remove gallstones when used properly by taking a pint of the tea daily.

*It is beneficial for the adrenal glands.

*It is a powerful therapeutic aid for the optic nerves, brain and sympathetic nervous system.

*Parsley juice is an excellent tonic for the blood vessels.

Note: It is best to avoid large amounts of parsley if you are pregnant, especially the use of the volatile essential oil.

SAGE

Like rosemary, its sister herb in the mint (Labiatae) family, sage contains a variety of volatile oils, flavonoids and phenolic acids, including rosmarinic acid. The oils found in sage are both antiseptic and antibiotic, helping it fight infections.

Besides the antioxidant and other properties shared with Rosemary, sage`s other health benefits include:

*It is effective for symptoms of menopause, night sweats and hot flashes because of its estrogenic action and because its tannins help dry up perspiration.

*Sage helps provide better brain function and has been used in the treatment of cerebrovascular disease for over a thousand years. It helps provide better recall and research has suggested that it may be an effective option to help treat Alzheimer`s.

*There`s also compelling evidence that sage may be of value to people with diabetes for whom the hormone insulin does not work as efficiently as it should. Lab studies indicate that sage may boost insulin`s action.

* The ability of sage to protect oils from oxidation has also led some companies to experiment with sage as a natural antioxidant additive for cooking oils that can extend shelf life and help avoid rancidity.

In an upcoming article, we will also sing the praises of the other two herbs mentioned in the popular song - rosemary and thyme.

Sources included:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarbo...
http://www.healthy-holistic-living....
http://www.greenmuze.com/blogs/natu...
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pars...

About the author

Tony Isaacs, is a natural health author, advocate and researcher who hosts The Best Years in Life website for baby boomers and others wishing to avoid prescription drugs and mainstream managed illness and live longer, healthier and happier lives naturally. Mr. Isaacs is the author of books and articles about natural health, longevity and beating cancer including "Cancer's Natural Enemy" and is working on a major book project due to be published later this year.
Mr. Isaacs is currently residing in scenic East Texas and frequently commutes to the even more scenic Texas hill country near San Antonio and Austin to give lectures in health seminars. He also hosts the CureZone "Ask Tony Isaacs - featuring Luella May" forum as well as the Yahoo Health Group "Oleander Soup" and he serves as a consultant to the "Utopia Silver Supplement Company".

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/030824_parsley_sage.html#ixzz199I8Iy00

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Possible Terror Threat to Food

2010-12-21T19:36:00.002-06:00

Not really a new idea, but perhaps new intel on a potential threat.

CBS) In this exclusive story, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports the latest terror attack to America involves the possible use of poisons - simultaneous attacks targeting hotels and restaurants at many locations over a single weekend.

A key Intelligence source has confirmed the threat as "credible." Department of Homeland Security officials, along with members of the Department of Agriculture and the FDA, have briefed a small group of corporate security officers from the hotel and restaurant industries about it.

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Cold weather coming.

2010-12-03T09:03:00.002-06:00

Though cold weather is here...even colder is predicted for next week. Make plans to cover or bring inside any sensitive vegetation, pets or insulate exposed pipes. This mostly applies to the northern section of the state with 30's extending as far south as Orlando. Low lying interior regions might experience frost to freezes. Check you local NWS for details...the front should pass through late Sunday to Mid Monday.

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Malaria Case Duval CO. Florida

2010-12-03T09:01:00.002-06:00

Though the cold weather will probably put the kibosh on this. It is something to keep in mind for when the weather warms back up. The source of the malaria (where the mosquito picked it up) is unknown at this point.

The Duval County Health Department (DCHD) has identified a case of
_Plasmodium falciparum_ malaria in a 31-year-old female resident of
Jacksonville with no history of international travel.

Although the risk of ongoing transmission is low as the weather
becomes cooler and drier, the health department would like health
care providers and residents to be aware of additional malaria cases
and requests that any suspect cases be immediately reported to DCHD's
Epidemiology Department at 904-253-1850. An investigation is underway
to determine whether this case of malaria was possibly locally
acquired. The DCHD is working with City of Jacksonville (COJ)
Mosquito Control, the Florida Department of Health (DOH), and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to better understand
where this infection originated.

Florida has reported 111 cases of malaria since the beginning of
2010, all imported from other countries. Duval County has reported 5
imported cases of malaria this year [2010]. The 6th case in Duval
County appears not to be connected to recent travel, making this
possibly the 1st case of locally acquired malaria in the last 10
years for the county.

--
Communicated by:
Ana M. Viamonte Ros, M.D., M.P.H.
State Surgeon General
DCHD Communications

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Florida Preppers Roll Call

2010-11-27T11:52:00.000-06:00

The Florida Preppers Network is conducting a Roll Call on our forum. If you are a prepper please check in.

* Here is a link to the Roll Call:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=277&t=6193

You have to be registered to check in. If you aren't registered please join here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register

* If you are a HAM Radio Operator check in here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=143&t=6219

* If you are an A.N.T.S. member please check in here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=618&t=6220

Dengue Fever locally contracted in Miami

2010-11-13T04:18:00.001-06:00

The first locally acquired case of dengue fever in Miami-Dade County in more than 50 years was confirmed Thursday by health officials. They warned people to take precautions against the mosquitoes that carry it.

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Game time...

2010-09-28T20:38:00.003-05:00

High probability of a storm strike. We are slated to, at the very least, be on the NW quadrant of a passing tropical system...usually not the best place to be. Granted we need the rain...but be aware for possible short term power outages and water system contamination.

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New Florida Members

2010-09-28T16:17:00.014-05:00

The Florida Preppers Network Welcomes our Newest Members:

M_E_Adams

Hello all,

My name is Michael from Port Charlotte. I am new to this forum and looking forward to participating.

Thanks,
Michael

welcome this member by following this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=277&t=6369

thrivelady

Hi all, just joined the site. I'm in Duval County & looking forward to learning alot here.

Trish
SAHM to 2

welcome this member by following this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=277&t=6381&p=59915#

debreke

I have been researching what is going on in this country for several months now and the more I learn the more I realize that I need to prepare for life as we know it to change drastically soon. How soon I have no idea but probably I think within the next couple of years. I bought an old motorhome that I am rebuilding so that we will have somewhere to live. Also we may use it to move to somewhere better suited for what is to come. Maybe Mo. or OK? Been hearing lots about these two states and what they are and have done to make sure that the Fed does not overun them. Knowing I am not living in a good place to be self reliant in reguards to food and such. We are also working on our food storage and trying to find a group here in case we don't get moved before whatever happens happens. I have a background in many things. Mostly fixing things. I can usually fix most anything I need to fix. I also have training in law enforcment and Emergency Medicine but several years ago. I think I know how to get prepared and what is needed just have to find it all and get to a good place.

welcome this member by following this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=563&t=5909&sid=d7dd

Hodawg

Howdy, folks. I'm new to the forum from NW FL, specifically in Bay County. I'm quite active on the Florida Concealed Carry forum, and an FBI certified firearms instructor. Looking forward to learning a bunch of good stuff here.

Ken

welcome this member by following this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=563&t=5307

askike

Hey all, new to the Preppers Network.
live in Palm Beach County, FLA, single father of 3 wonderful boys and I am just now starting to take these preparations issues seriously I am sorry to say. Always stored canned and long term food, that has come in quite handy lately, been out of work for about a half a year like lots of folks. Thank goodness for family. Anyway, got the idea to start getting things together for me and my family, and then because I am an inveterate entrepreneur, I decided to start a company to do the same for others. Going into long term storage, GMO free and MSG free dried food, solar, and a couple of other things. Capital is an issue when you're out of work so its going slow but I am getting there. Thanks for the network, getting all kinds of ideas.

welcome this member by following this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=277&t=5277

Dontask

Hello,

My wife found this network and I thought I would join aswell.

welcome this member by following this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=563&t=5183

stormbringer

New to the site, but long time prepper... Currently in Florida --- moving back to Washington State...

Peacekeeper

41yr old MWM Retired USAF Cop, NRA Police Instructor and Glock Armorer living in Tampa Bay. Hoping to meet those in my area that would like to form a Meet Up group or Alliance.

maerha

I've made a couple posts, so I figure I better introduce myself! My husband and I have always known one day stuff was going to hit the fan. My in-laws recently figured this out too, and got us re-interested in prepping. It's nice to see so many other ppl have figured this out too! Anyway...we're "thirty-ish" and we have 2 sons, 11 and 13 years old. We live in a pretty big city, but we are blessed enough to be in a house and not an apartment. We have a 10k gallon pool that I guess we could purify water from for a while if we had to.
Five or so years ago a truss was dropped on my husband head and he was forced to go from residential framing to civil take-offs after a couple years of not being able to work. Then economic hardships hit us a couple years ago, with 2 lay-offs in 2 years. He can shoot, fish, cook, hunt, and do a lot of manual stuff, but heavy stuff hurts his back and then he's laid up for a day or so. The boys and I have strong backs, though my sons work ethic needs to improve! LOL I love to garden and am working on getting our yard ready to grow food. So far I've just grown tomatoes and a jalepeno plant. The hanging tomato basket did really well, but the one tomato plant might need a mate or something, since it flowers but doesn't give us anything to eat. I guess I'm getting into a topic for another thread though! We're both really good with computers, but I have a feeling that will be a useless skill at some point.
Our family is active in Boy Scouts, and has a lot of camping gear, so we're ahead of some I suppose1 We still have a LOT to do though!

to post your welcome please follow this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=563&t=4960

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Quick Article from A.N.T.S. re: 'Superbug'

2010-09-15T08:01:00.002-05:00

This is getting alot of attention in the news lately, though frankly not surprising...nature adapts good or bad.

From A.N.T.S.

A.N.T.S - Americans Networking To Survive Antibiotic resistance is a type of drug resistance where a microorganism is able to survive exposure to an antibiotic. Genes can be transferred between bacteria in a horizontal fashion by conjugation, transduction, or transformation. Thus a gene for antibiotic resistance which had evolved via natural selection may be shared. Evolutionary stress such as exposure to antibiotics then selects for the antibiotic resistant trait. Many antibiotic resistance genes reside on plasmids, facilitating their transfer. If a bacterium carries several resistance genes, it is called multiresistant or, informally, a superbug or super bacteria.The primary cause of antibiotic resistance is antibiotic use both within medicine and veterinary medicine. The greater the duration of exposure the greater the risk of the development of resistance irrespective of the severity of the need for antibiotics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_bug_(bacteria)

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How to Join The Florida Preppers Network

2010-09-14T12:45:00.001-05:00

Come learn survival, preparedness and sustainable living with us!

The Preppers networks are all about volunteering our knowledge and skills with each other. We share ideas, tips and basically network with each other to survive any type of disaster whether natural, man made, or economic. Information that you learn and share with others will help everyone learn how to find "Freedom Through Teaching Others Self Reliance."

Joining the Florida Preppers Network is simple, and most of all, it's Free! To join, just follow these few steps.

1) Register to become a member of the American Preppers Network www.AmericanPreppersNetwork.net The registration page is here: http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register

2) Once you have your account, go to the index page of the forum and do your first post by introducing yourself in the new members area. http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/index.php

3) Once you know how to do posts, visit the Florida forum and introduce yourself. The Florida forum can be found by scrolling to the lower section of the index page where you will find a list of states, or you can go directly by following this URL: www.FloridaPreppersNetwork.net

4) After you've visited the Florida forum, follow this link to learn how to join the Florida Preppers Network group:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=564&t=2738

APN's success depends on your contributions. If you would like to donate to our organization by becoming a Gold Member you can join the APN Gold Members club by following this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/page.php?p=apn-gold-membership&sid=5b241e92a767cdfbe7a345c54dd55127
Gold Membership is only $5 per month. For a list of Gold Member benefits go here

Thank you for your support!

Product review...S.O.Tech Go Bag Ext. and Mission Go Bag

2010-09-12T16:24:00.007-05:00

S.O. Tech has 2 products I like, Go Bag Extended and Mission Go Bag. I was looking for something in the bailout bag arena. Something to basically get me home should a sudden disaster occur. Something I could easily stash in my truck that was much smaller than a standard bug out bag. I think these fit the bill. these certainly aren't cheap items...but you get what you pay for.

The Go Bag Extended is perfect for compact carbines (broken down) with side pouches for spare mags, loops for attachments and larger pockets for other necessities.
In mine: AR-15, 6 spare mags, 2- G21 mags, IFAK, water container, water filtration, energy bars, weapons cleaning kit, Wiley goggles, RMJ Loggerhead, shemagh, survival tin fishing kit.

The Mission Go Bag is similar to a messenger bag, but with plenty of pockets inside....the problem is I tend to over stuff it.
Glock 21, 2 spare mags, 2-AR-15 mags, water, silver coinage, binos, notepad,multitool, knife sharpener, knife, flashlight, blowout kit, radiac meter, stripped MRE, gloves.

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Atlantic activity to watch.

2010-09-09T10:01:00.000-05:00

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Quick note..Health Alert..Eastern Equine Encephalitis

2010-08-16T07:28:00.001-05:00

A 3rd case of eastern equine encephalitis [EEE] in a horse, this time near
Reddick, was reported in Marion County this week [week of 9 Aug 2010]. It
is the 2nd case in less than a month and caused the county health
department to issue a notice to advise residents of the risk.

Though rare in humans, EEE can be transmitted through mosquito bites.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the infection
affects a small number of humans every year, mostly in the Atlantic and
Gulf Coast states. Most of those affected have no symptoms, but in severe
cases headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting are common. Severe cases
can be fatal.

Article is HERE

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Economic warning of things to come?

2010-08-02T05:24:00.005-05:00

The City of East St. Louis has laid off 30% of it's police force and defaulted on bond payments, or in government speak, has deferred payment. Concerns now arise that crime will now run rampant.

"It’s open field day now," said Tracy, the pastor of Straightway Baptist Church here. "The criminals are going to run wild."
Gang activity. Drug dealing. Cold-blooded killing. Tracy worries that a decision to shrink the police force by almost 30 percent will bring more of everything.

Additionally a town in Greece has also defaulted....are these initial signals the economic maneuverings of governments is failing?

An article addressing both looks at the economic band aides and the result.

Though both areas far away from us Floridians, this might give us advance warning of more dire things to come close by. Cities, towns and counties may decide to reduce or even stop certain safety services, this has already happened in several areas around the country.

Stay vigilant!

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Report on EMP effects.

2010-07-31T07:31:00.003-05:00

Though an old report (2004-2008), something to always keep in the back of the mind when thinking about possible disaster events. Several reports from the EMP Commission. For us Floridians this would be similar to the effect of hurricanes though more widespread with the major impact being many modern vehicles would be rendered inoperable.

The EMP Commission was established pursuant to title XIV of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (as enacted into law by Public Law 106-398; 114 Stat. 1654A-345). Duties of the EMP Commission include assessing:

1. the nature and magnitude of potential high-altitude EMP threats to the United States from all potentially hostile states or non-state actors that have or could acquire nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles enabling them to perform a high-altitude EMP attack against the United States within the next 15 years;
2. the vulnerability of United States military and especially civilian systems to an EMP attack, giving special attention to vulnerability of the civilian infrastructure as a matter of emergency preparedness;
3. the capability of the United States to repair and recover from damage inflicted on United States military and civilian systems by an EMP attack; and
4. the feasibility and cost of hardening select military and civilian systems against EMP attack.

The Commission is charged with identifying any steps it believes should be taken by the United States to better protect its military and civilian systems from EMP attack.

Series of reports can be found HERE.
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Financial Advisors recommending getting out of the markets. UPDATE

2010-06-08T07:53:00.004-05:00

UPDATE:
BMO Capital Markets is now telling it's investors to get completely out of equities (stocks) and go to cash.
Several Investing advisers and one investing house is basically screaming the markets are about to go under....depression style.

The global credit environment is worsening. Cost of capital is going up and availability is going down. There are large gaps between where the credit market prices risk and where the equity market is priced. Equity is lagging the deterioration in credit conditions. Moves in currency, equity and commodity markets are mirroring the moves in the credit market. Global growth, in a credit-constrained environment, will slow. Profits will be squeezed by the higher cost of capital...We advocate a zero weight toward equity, and that investors convert their equity positions to cash."

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/bmo-has-simple-message-its-clients-go-cash-now

Anthony Fry of Evercore Partners and Bob Janjuah of RBS are in get out of dodge.

Fry.."“I don’t want to scare anyone but I am considering investing in barbed wire and guns, things are not looking good and rates are heading higher,” he said."
"The comments mirror those of bearish Bob Janjuah from RBS, who told CNBC on Friday that we are facing big stock market losses and told investors to get into gold before G20 governments attempt to throw another $15 trillion in quantitative easing in a bid to jump start the economy.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/37549417

Though probably not the most cohesive suggestion on how to prepare...it shows that economic collapse is looking like a real possibility to investment advisers and they are worried.

In other news in Spain..strikes and protests begin.

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Hurricane Season is Here!

2010-06-01T07:46:00.005-05:00

Ok folks Hurricane season is here and the remnants of TS Agatha (from the Pacific) has decided to come our way. Begin your preps now it could be a long season according to the National Hurricane Center

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Gold and Silver buying Panic in Europe.

2010-05-13T06:41:00.004-05:00

A $1 Trillion bailout of Europe is in place and has begun, but for some reason Europeans aren't too confident in it. They are panic buying Gold and Silver for security believing that measures will fail. Basically they are anticipating a collapse of the EU economy.

Earlier we noted that the Austrian mint was on its way to depleting its gold reserves following "panicked buying" from Europeans, who now openly fear the demise of their currency. Now, courtesy of Slim Beleggen, we understand that the situation in the silver market is just as bad and has also spilled over to Germany: the contagion is no longer one of sovereign debt, but of precious metal physical inventory. The primarily silver focused (but holding gold as well) Kronwitter precious metal online retailer is not only not accepting any orders, but has entirely taken down its website.

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We just went mainstream...

2010-05-07T10:37:00.003-05:00

After yesterday's plunge even big economic websites are going survivalist..

Today, millions of Americans say that they believe that the United States is on the verge of a major economic collapse and will soon be entering another Great Depression. But only a small percentage of those same people are prepared for that to happen. The sad truth is that the vast majority of Americans would last little more than a month on what they have stored up in their homes.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/20-things-you-will-need-to-survive-when-the-economy-collapses-and-the-next-great-depression-begins-2010-5#ixzz0nG5hBfGE

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Financial dive...

2010-05-06T21:47:00.003-05:00

Well in case you were in a bubble today or bunker....the stock market briefly dove some 900 points before recovering and closing a mere 300 points down. The cause is actually under investigation.

Was it the bankers sending a message to congress not to break up the banks?
Was it a trader pressing the wrong button?
Fear over the Greek financial situation and possibly all of Europe?
Possible cyber attack?
....or have people started to realize debt based currency and life style might be a bad idea?

Regardless, it shows just when everything seems to be heading in the right direction something can trigger a reversal. Hurricane season starts next month...lets start getting ready now.

Water supply week is next week (yes I made that up)...let's get started. I'll post some articles about getting that aspect covered.

Scouts Out!
-T

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Pending Oil disaster...

2010-05-04T11:08:00.005-05:00

Being in Florida, everyone is aware of the approaching oil slick to our coastline. The location of where and time line of when is purely up to mother nature at this point. A professor at the University of Florida is worried about the east coast of Florida more than the west.

Media reports said Y. Peter Sheng, coastal and oceanographic engineer at UF, believes the six-day ocean current models released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reveal that the slick "could get caught in what's called the 'Loop Current' 35 miles south of the slick, which flows through the Florida Straits and becomes the Gulf Stream."
According to Sheng, Florida's west coast from Big Bend to Cedar Key could be spared while eastern coastal beaches are threatened.

Obvious impact to fisheries is already being felt in some gulf coast areas as fishing has been shut down and local seafood has ceased coming in. At a minimum the result to Floridians could be the same...possibly for an extended period. The economic cost could be staggering. The Gulf economy is ~ $2.2 Trillion. 83% of all US shrimp come from the gulf...56% of all oysters. Tourism is of course a huge aspect...

The impact to Florida and Floridians is as of yet unknown. Job losses? Increase costs (seafood is a given), increase in other prices are possible if shipping lanes are diverted or cut off. Frankly. folks..this is one crisis I hadn't planned for....and I need to ponder the possibilities more.

On a side note the financial markets are reacting badly to the debt crisis in Europe...I surprised no one has realized how bad it is here...

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Beware of March...economy.

2010-02-28T06:58:00.003-06:00

A really fantastic article is up on one of my favorite blogger sites. Jesse's Cafe Americain always has great economic articles. Sometime a bit technical, but well worth the read.

Pictures of a Market Crash: Beware the Ides of March, And What Follows After
There are a fair number of private and public forecasters with whom I speak that anticipate a significant market decline in March. As you know I tend to agree, but with the important caveat that we are in a very different monetary landscape than the last time the Fed engaged in quantitative easing, the early 1930's. The biggest difference is the lack of 'external standards.'

He paints a not so pretty picture for the very near future.

The overseas (European situation) is about to get really ugly.

LEAP/E2020 is of the view that the effect of States’ spending trillions to « counteract the crisis » will have fizzled out. These vast sums had the effect of slowing down the development of the systemic global crisis for several months but, as anticipated in previous GEAB reports, this strategy will only have ultimately served to clearly drag States into the crisis caused by the financial institutions.

Therefore our team anticipates, in this 42nd issue of the GEAB, a sudden intensification of the crisis in the second half of 2010, caused by a double effect of a catching up of events which were temporarily « frozen » in the second half of 2009 and the impossibility of maintaining the palliative remedies of past years.

Weekly news sum up.

2010-02-26T21:31:00.003-06:00

I was thinking perhaps a sum up of events for the week that caught my eye. Unfortunately there are many and none of them positive.

-So far tonight 2 banks and 2 Credit Unions were shut down.

-US GDP was revised up, but the move was all due to inventory reshuffling..sales actually declined.

A closer look at the economy’s 5.9% growth rate in Q4 reveals that two temporary factors, inventories and stimulus, accounted for at least 80% — perhaps over 100% — of that growth.

-Unemployment continued to rise, though the not seasonally adjusted weekly declined...long term is still nasty.
-New and prior owned home sales declined again.

Urban meltdown as Detroit Mayor wants to move residents to consolidate the population and shut down sections of the city.

From Business Insider: The Radar: 10 Brewing Stories You Must Start Paying Attention To

1.Failed Turkey Coup Re-Ignites Doubts Over European Union Membership
2.Falklands Flare Up Has UK And Argentina Back In Conflict
3.Austrian Banks (in trouble)
4.A New War In Kurdistan?
5.John McCain's primary campaign for the soul of the Republican party.
6.China Continues To Tighten As World's Dominant Economic Power Dictates Play
7.Shipping Set To Return To High Amounts Due To Belief In Sustained Global Rebound
8.Health Care Takes Center Stage Again As Obama Continues To Draw Down On Waning Political Capital
9.British Pound Under Threat As New Doubts Emerge Over Country's Ability To Counter Debt
10.Greece Continues To Teeter On The Brink As Bailout Fails To Materialize
Bonus: The Bloom Box (This....if true...will end US dependence on foreign energy...and probably topple a few energy companies).

Winter walk....signs of food #1

2010-02-17T14:28:00.015-06:00

I was out on a little walk today, and thought OK let's do a little prepper thinking. What if....I needed to find food, start a fire etc. It's winter time and things are looking a bit bleak where I am hiking, what food is available quickly? I immediately went to my favorite place, the fallen tree.
With my trusty, always on me leatherman, I popped open the bark to find.

Food! Termites...though a bit intensive to collect, they are nutritious with high levels of protein and fat (badly needed in cold weather).

I decided to think a bit bigger. Looking on the ground I was surrounded with pine cones...ooo pine nuts!

Unfortunately these pine nuts had been on the ground a bit too long and had turned to mush. So I moved on and spotted a good sign.

The game trail was well used with some fresh sign from the night before by a raccoon.

The great thing about racoons, especially in Florida, is they are excellent scavangers. Find where a racoon has gone to eat and you can find some good eats (crabs, mussels, etc.). Raccoons themselves are also very good eating though they run a risk of carrying diseases (true of most wild animals).

Then I found the big sign..

Wild boar tracks which lead to a large wallow area. This gave me the indication of a good size group of wild pigs in the area. Setting up a dead fall or careful hunting position could produce a large amount of food in short order. So next time you are out on a walk...look around and see what food is available. Don't worry salad fans, I'll get to plants next.....

Seed starting time is coming.

2010-01-13T12:27:00.003-06:00

Hey Floridians!

It's getting close to that time again to start those seeds (if the south Floridians haven't started already).The Mothership (American Preppers) is running a free seed giveaway. The seeds are non-hybrids/non-GMO and the company running the giveaway, Hometown Seeds has a great selection.

7.0 Earthquake strikes Haiti

2010-01-12T20:07:00.001-06:00

Though an initial tsunami watch was issued....it has since been cancelled.

Since I am at the coast this issue has crossed my mind a few times.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2010rja6.php#details
Magnitude
7.0
Date-Time
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 21:53:09 UTC
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 04:53:09 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
18.451°N, 72.445°W
Depth
10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region
HAITI REGION
Distances
15 km (10 miles) SW of PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti
140 km (90 miles) E of Les Cayes, Haiti
145 km (90 miles) WNW of Barahona, Dominican Republic
1140 km (710 miles) SE of Miami, Florida
Location Uncertainty
horizontal +/- 8.3 km (5.2 miles); depth fixed by location program
Parameters
NST=103, Nph=103, Dmin=365.7 km, Rmss=1.14 sec, Gp= 94°,
M-type=teleseismic moment magnitude (Mw), Version=7
Source
USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID
us2010rja6

To: U.S. and Canadian Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico coastal regions
From: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
Subject: Tsunami Information Statement #1 issued 01/12/2010 at 6:03PM AST

A strong earthquake has occurred, but a tsunami IS NOT expected along the coasts of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico states, and Eastern Canadian provinces. NO tsunami warning, watch or advisory is in effect for these areas.

Based on the earthquake location, magnitude, and historic tsunami records, a damaging tsunami IS NOT expected along the Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S. Atlantic, Eastern Canadian and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Earthquakes of this size can generate destructive tsunamis along the coast near the epicenter. Authorities in the epicentral region should be aware of this possibility and take appropriate action.

At 5:53 PM Atlantic Standard Time on January 12, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 7.3 occurred in the Haiti region . (Refer to the United States Geological Survey for official earthquake parameters.)

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii will issue messages for areas in the Caribbean outside Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

This will be the only statement issued for this event by the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center unless conditions warrant. See the WCATWC web site for basic tsunami information, safety rules, and a tsunami travel time map and table. (NOTE: Travel time maps and tables indicate forecasted times only, not that a wave was generated.)

Unemployment numbers December...Update

2010-01-08T16:55:00.005-06:00

Update at the bottom

www.medfinity.com

Many, incuding myself were hoping for an improvement to the employment numbers...unfortunately bad news. The economy seems on life support.

Size of Labor force -661,000 vs -272,000 (revised down) last month.

No Longer in Labor Force +843,000 vs +326,000 (revised up) last month....this is really huge....
In the last 3 months 1.162 MILLION workers are gone...no longer counted.

U6 (those on UE long and short term plus those with part time jobs that want full time) is now 17.3% +0.1%

Over 1.1 million people are no longer counted in the BLS stat in the last 3 months alone because they have given up looking...thus they are no longer in the stats.

Dec 2008:
6.6 million people were unemployed 14 weeks or less(but still on benefits)
4.3 million people were unemployed 15 weeks or more (but still on benefits)
Total: 10.9 Million

Dec 2009:
6.2 million people were unemployed 14 weeks or less (but still on benefits)
8.5 million people were unemployed 15 weeks or more (but still on benefits)
Total: 14.7 Million (or a 74% increase over Dec 2008)
(from BLS Table A-9)

Actual unemployment is probably ~13% for the U-3 numbers and ~20.5% for the U-6 numbers....we are reaching depression era numbers.

This all suggests to me things are not only worse but will continue to stay bad. Not to be a doom and gloomer, but eventually something has to give. Either the government will have to print even more money (which causes inflation) or states will begin to default.

I worry to prevent default, many will begin to cut some crucial services such as fire and police. This leads one to reassess security and fire prevention protocol/plans. If ifr services are cut back do you need more fire extinguishers? A larger first aid kit? Should a AED be a part of your kit if you have someone in your house that could be a candidate for heart attack?

All things that should be considered.

Update
In my mentioning of defaults by states....a new article came out today about California and it may not pay some bills that come due in March. This is called a default in the real world, much like what happened in Dubai when they said they wanted to delay payments on bills.

Hard Freeze Warning

2010-01-06T12:42:00.002-06:00

I know this isn't breaking news for anyone in North Florida, but 2 nights in a row make things really tough on plants and animals. I was trying to cheat and get a 3rd cycle of tomatoes from my plants...managed to get a few before the plant had had enough.

Be careful Friday into Saturday with the rain coming followed by a possibility of freezing temps. Could be areas of ice on roads especially bridges and shaded roads.

Stay warm out there!

HIGH PRESSURE WILL SETTLE OVER THE AREA TONIGHT...BRINGING LIGHT
WINDS AND NEARLY IDEAL RADIATIONAL COOLING. AS A RESULT...ANOTHER
HARD FREEZE WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TONIGHT. SUB-FREEZING
TEMPERATURES WILL PERSIST FOR UP TO 12 HOURS. MINIMUM TEMPERATURES
WILL RANGE LOWER TO MID 20S.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HARD FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE
IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL KILL CROPS AND
OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION. YOUNG CHILDREN...THE ELDERLY... THE
HOMELESS AND OUTDOOR PETS ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO THE COLD.
TAKE MEASURES TO PROTECT THEM. BE PARTICULARLY CAREFUL WITH
PORTABLE HEATERS...THERE IS DANGER OF FIRE OR POISONOUS FUMES.
APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE EXPOSED WATER PIPES
HAVE ADEQUATE PROTECTION FROM THE COLD TEMPERATURES.

Catch-up.

2010-01-02T10:01:00.006-06:00

Hey Florida Preppers!

I am back from my long (badly needed) vacation in the Caribbean. I have alot of catching up to do, as you can see by the new masthead as well as the rapid changes at the American Preppers website.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and will have a safe and prosperous New Year. Any suggestions or submissions you wish to make to the board or areas that need to be covered, let me know.

Tom H

CDC Notice about Phishing scam.

2009-12-03T19:45:00.001-06:00

If you receive these e-mails do not respond.

Date: Thu 3 Dec 2009
Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) [edited]

The CDC has received reports of fraudulent emails (phishing)
referencing a "CDC sponsored State Vaccination Program for H1N1". The
messages request that users create a personal H1N1 (swine flu)
Vaccination Profile on the CDC.gov web site. An example of the
phishing email is reproduced below:

"You have received this e-mail because of the launching of State
Vaccination H1N1 Program.

You need to create your personal H1N1 (swine flu) vaccination profile
on the cdc.gov web-site. The Vaccination is not obligatory but every
person that has reached the age of 18 has to have his personal
Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov site. This profile has to be
created both for the vaccinated people and the non-vaccinated ones.
This profile is used for the registering system of vaccinated and
non-vaccinated people. Create your personal H1N1 Vaccination Profile
using the link [deleted]."

Users who click on the embedded link in the above email are at risk of
having malicious code installed on their system. CDC reminds users to
take the following steps to reduce the risk of being a victim of a
phishing attack:

- Do not open or respond to unsolicited email messages.
- Do not click links embedded in emails from unknown senders.*[see below]
- Use caution when entering personal information online.
- Update anti-virus, spyware, firewall, and anti-spam software regularly.

Dengue Fever Outbreak in Key West

2009-12-02T11:38:00.002-06:00

Recent outbreak in Key West is the first in 50 yrs.

Exerpt:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida mosquito researchers are watching with a wary eye as dengue virus returns to the state after more than 50 years.
By late last week, 20 cases of locally transmitted dengue had been confirmed in Key West. Monroe County officials have issued a health alert and launched an education campaign urging residents to eliminate water sources in and around their homes where mosquitoes can breed.
“We haven’t seen dengue in Florida in a long time, but this does give us evidence that we can have it again,” said Roxanne Connelly, an associate professor of medical entomology with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Dengue fever, also known as break-bone fever or bonecrusher disease, is a rarely fatal but widespread disease transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected mosquito. There are an estimated 100 million cases of dengue worldwide each year.

Monthly rotation and checklist.

2009-12-02T09:06:00.003-06:00

Don't forget it is rotation and check list week.

Tips this month:
Every six months it's a good idea to inspect and taste your water supply or even change it out. Even reaching into the barrel (or what ever you use and feel the sides for signs of algae/slime. Inspect any lids rubber gaskets etc..

Don't forget to inspect the gear and items in your personal carry bag. I discovered damage to my water purifier filter screen and the container carrying my silver had been crushed...both were in the bottom. I will have to rearrange their placement.

Energy Saving Ideas

2009-11-29T07:00:00.000-06:00

Saving on your electric bill

If you're a frugal prepper then you want to save money everywhere you can. You're electric bill is probably the easiest place to find waste that you can start to cut out. I'll tell you a little bit about what we've done to kill the watts in our Bug-In-Location. (I call it that, because we've always lived in areas that we would want to be if things ever get real bad...if the SHTF, we're bugging in, not out)

Our first choice was location. If you have a choice on where to live and want to focus on reduced energy costs, then choose a place in the northern states, preferably where firewood is accessible. I'll get into firewood more in a bit, because the focus right now is how my wife got our electric bill down to $51 in the month of July and about $60 in the month of August.

By living up north the need for air conditioning is minimal...Even if it's what we'd consider hot, it's not like you're going to die if you don't have air conditioning. Yes we do have one small window mounted unit, but it's rarely ever used and only as an amenity.

Here are some more tips:
*Insulation: If you are looking for a home, then get one with thick walls and adequate insulation. Our home is built with 2x6 exterior walls. Now I'm not a building expert but I do know the better the R value the better insulated your home is. This is even good to pay attention to in hot climates as you want to keep the heat out and the cool in. Make sure you have proper vapor barriers, and have sealed all drafts and that the attic and floor are also well insulated. Solid Core wood doors and double pane insulated windows are also a must. Wood transfers less heat than metal.

*Color: For siding, go with light colors rather than dark. Light colors reflect heat better and will actually reduce heat build up by several degrees. Do this with the roof also as that is where the direct exposure to the sun is. Now if you live in an area that is normally cool in the summer and very cold in the winter you may just want to do the opposite to absorb as much heat as possible.

*Shade Trees: we have tall trees and mountains where we live so our home receives a substantial amount of shade keeping it cool even in the summer months

*Windows: In the summer, when it's cool outside at night open your windows to cool the inside, then close them during the day. Keep the curtains closed to keep the sunlight out. In the winter, keep the windows closed and curtains open to draw in the sunlight for natural warmth

*Appliances and electronics: Keep them unplugged when not using them. Yes, most appliances and electronics still continue to consume energy even when they are turned off

*Hot Water Heater: We use this as a convenience...Really, do you need hot water to survive? If we did away with this amenity I'm sure we would have had a $25 electric bill rather than a $51 bill. But if you must use it, then turn the temperature down so that it's bearable to run your hand in the hot water even with the cold water turned off.

*Dryer: This is probably the next biggest loser of electricity next to hot water heaters....Come on now, use a clothes line! This one isn't rocket science.

*Turn out the lights: We see no need to have the lights on during the day, and go to bed when it's dark. Do you have kids and find this to be a tough rule to enforce? Then swap out your switches with switches that have motion detectors, light sensors, and timers. They can be set to only come on when it's dark and when someone moves in the room, this also makes for a great safety feature. When no one is moving in the room they will shut off automatically. We're staying with the incandescents because while they may use more watts they are dirt cheap to buy compared to the CFL's and are non-toxic. We plan to stock up on them before 2010 when they will no longer be sold in stores...If you rarely use them to begin with, then why not? I'd almost bet that I have incandescents that are used so rarely that they'll last longer than a CFL bulb that gets used constantly.

*Buy Energy Star Appliances: All of our appliances are new...Our newest addition is a Kenmore Energy Star freezer and is said to only use about $35 worth of electricity per year. Got more time on your hands, then can your food...Who says you have to have a freezer to store food anyway? If the grid goes down your freezer will only work as a box to store dry goods in anyway. This is another amenity.

And lastly, my favorite, Wood Stoves:

It's easier and cheaper to keep a home warm than it is to keep it cool if you have access to firewood. We live in Northern Idaho on acreage so wood is basically free. Despite what environmentalists say, it's good to burn firewood if you have an efficient wood stove. A dead tree is breeding grounds for beetles that kill more trees and adds to the danger of forest fires if not removed. Do the forest and your neighbors a favor and remove the dead trees, check local laws first. If it's gonna burn, might as well be inside your fireplace keeping your house warm and reducing the strain on the grid rather becoming a danger to the forest. If the dead tree rots, termites and other insects that devour it will release methane into the atmosphere adding to the infamous "Global Warming"...LOL...If Environmentalists had any sense they would be proponents of efficient wood stoves for heating homes....A wood stove can also be used to cook your food, heat water, and dry your clothes (No, don't put your clothes on the stove, hang them a safe distance well away from the stove so they don't catch on fire.) Always consult with a professional and follow proper instructions on the usage of wood stoves. Our Wood stove is installed in the basement which is common practice where we live. Heat rises, therefore the whole house is heated more uniformly, again, check local laws and codes and seek professional advice before installing a wood stove.

I have several more tips about saving on power, just cant seem to think of any more off the top of my head at the moment. The most important thing to remember is every little bit helps. If it wasn't for "wanting" the amenities like the hot water, computer, and freezer, we could go off grid tomorrow, and use a generator when we really need power.

Posted by American Prepper

Consider Cast Iron Cooking

2009-11-28T05:00:00.001-06:00

Guest Post from TN Preppers Network

I really love to cook with my cast iron cookware. My favorite skillet is one that belonged to my grandmother - it is so seasoned that it cooks like you wouldn't believe and nothing sticks to it! Here is some information that I've learned along the way about caring for cast iron.

Cast iron is very cost effective. It is so durable that it will last a lifetime or longer with proper care. It is an excellent heat conductor - can go from stove top to oven - it is very versatile. It isn't used by as many people today mainly because it is heavy and a lot of people don't know how to properly season it.

Seasoning cast iron is done so the pan will become non-stick and to seal the pores so there will be no odor retention. Here's how you do it:

Lightly oil the pan with vegetable oil. If it has a lid, oil it as well.
Place the pan (and lid) in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour.
Make sure the pan is placed in upside down - this is essential or the oil will bake in the pan and leave a sticky residue.
It might take 2-3 times of doing this before it is seasoned well for the first use.

If you store your cast iron with paper towels between the pans, the towels will absorb any moisture and prevent rusting.
If the pan has been seasoned improperly and is already sticky, you can remove this residue with LOTS of elbow grease using steel wool with no detergent and hot water. After it is clean, re-season it.
If there is rust, you must scrub it and then re-season it. For severe rust, you can put the pan in your oven on the self-cleaning setting, then wash the pan and re-season it.
I rarely wash my cast iron skillets with detergent, just a rinse and wipe dry seems to keep them clean and rust free.
If you cook anything with a tomato or very acid sauce in your cast iron, you might need to re-season it.

If you've never cooked with cast iron, I really encourage you to give it a try! We haven't used non-stick cookware in our house for years - I rely solely on my cast iron and my stainless steel cookware that has copper bottoms.

7 Super First Aid Kits

2009-11-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

Here's another great article from Popular Mechanics that I thought I'd share with you all:

The 7 Best First Aid Kits For Any Situation

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T04:40:00.000-06:00

Hardship Is?

2009-11-25T07:00:00.000-06:00

Guest post from Ohio Preppers Network.

Hardship drill

Fire drills. Hurricane/tornado evacuation drills. Home intruder drills. Bug-out drills. All essential activities to engage in as part of your and your families preps. However, these address preparing for more or less single isolated events-- although you should also prepare for the aftermath. But what about preparing for hardships like job loss? Sure, you have a cache of food stores, hopefully of cash on hand, etc. What more can you do?

I'd like to suggest the "Hardship Drill." A Hardship Drill is a longer-term prepping activity designed to help you and your family learn how to deal with deprivation. Here's what I have in mind, but each family could tailor this to their own situation and habits.

I'm suggesting that each family member give up something for a week. That something should now be a regular item in the family's budget, and preferably one that ain't cheap. It could be a service like home internet, cable TV (hey Dad, can you live for a week without NFL ticket?), or cell phone service (or maybe just the texting feature). Whatever it is, it should be something you are now spending money on that might find itself on the chopping block if you are forced to cut expenses. Alternatively, the entire family could give up the same thing and go through withdrawl together!

I know some of you are living a real Hardship Drill that's lasting longer than a week. What do you think? Is it worth preparing for the psychological effects of "downsizing" a household?

Disaster Tools and Gadgets

2009-11-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

Here's great list over at Popular Mechanics that you should check out:

8 Tools and Gadgets to Prepare Your Home For Any Disaster

Personal Security Dog?

2009-11-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

Guest Post

Before you get a dog

Before you get a dog, planning and research are in order. After all, this dog will become a member of your family and survival group. As in all things, the 5 P’s prevail: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

First, list what you want from the dog. Is the dog expected to protect people, protect property, give alarm, reduce vermin (rats and such), hunt, raise morale, more? Put those characteristics in order of priority. Most breeds of dog are specialized. They will do some things superbly, and others not at all. Hunting dogs are further specialized into hunting by sight (grayhounds, etc) and by scent (most hounds, among others). Only one breed of dog has been successful at both guarding and hunting as far as I know, that would be the Rhodesian Ridgeback. Hunting dogs generally will protect the person and family, but will not protect property – my neighbor’s Golden Retriever ignored the people that ransacked his house while he was working. Guard dogs are normally hopeless at hunting – my herding dog simply doesn’t understand fetch, let alone hunting.

Next, list your care constraints. How much room do you have? How much can you apply to purchase, training and continuing care? How much time will you give to the dog? Larger dogs need more room, some breeds need room to run. Walking and grooming the dog are continuing needs that take up different amounts of time depending on the dog and breed. Long-hair breeds need lots of combing, but handle cold weather well. Short-hair breeds don’t need as much grooming and are better in warm weather (but they still shed lots of fur, it just comes off easier). If there are allergies to consider, a poodle may be the only choice. Because of their hair, poodles can be kept by people that are allergic to dogs.

Once you have your two lists, research to find the best fit. http://www.justdogbreeds.com/ is a good place to start. Settle on the breed(s) that will work for you.

Posted by tweell
Visit: Arizona Preppers Network

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Easy Mini Greenhouse

2009-11-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

Guest Post:

Ultra Micro Greenhouse

Author The Scavenger
JohnsonFamilyFarm.blogspot.com

This was just an experiment and it worked great for me. I took a plastic juice jug which I have plenty of and made a Ultra Mirco Greenhouse. I just cut the jug in two, placed some compost inside and planted my seeds. Add a little water and put the top half back on, be sure to replace the lid this also it helps to keep the heat and the water inside. I only watered them when I first planted them and that's it. Seeds sprouted in just a few days. Set them in the window sill so they can get some sun and watch them grow. After your sprouts get a few inches high move them into a larger container.

This is a great idea to get a jump start on your Victory Garden. Raising food is a must for any long term survival situation or self sufficent life.

I used what I had on hand at the time which must be practiced in these situations.

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Fire Starters Review

2009-11-21T07:00:00.000-06:00

Guest Post:

Gear Review: Fire Starters

Author: Mathiasj
Kentucky-Preppers-Network.blogspot.com

Making a fire is the most important thing in a survival situation. It can provide you with warmth, food, and a huge moral booster. Fire is also useful when camping and for fellowship of friends and family. There are many different ways to start a fire and knowing different ways to start a fire is important whether you're in a survival situation or not. A fire needs 3 elements to burn (fire triangle) heat, fuel, and oxygen. Sufficient heat is needed to start any fire, and the proper fuel to oxygen ratio is needed to keep a fire going.

First off is the trusty lighter or matches. Every prepper should have a few packs of quality Bic lighters put back, and a few thousand matches. This is the easiest way to start a fire. When starting any fire you will need something to burn to get the wood going. Newspaper is good to use to start a fire, and those free want ad papers at gas stations are great to have on hand. You want to stay away from using fuels to light a fire, especially if you plan on cooking over the fire. You run the risk of getting those chemicals on your food.

The next best thing to a lighter or matches is a firesteel. A firesteel should be part of every preppers survival kit. Whether it's your get home bag, everyday carry, bug out bag, or camping supplies; a firesteel is invaluable. If you're lighter runs out, or your matches get wet, your fire steel is your last line of defense so to speak. A firesteel works by moving a metal blade across a magnesium alloy to create sparks that can get up to 5,500°F. Those hot sparks can be thrown on a number of different types of tinder to start a flame that will light your fire. Firesteels can even be used in the rain or snow and will last for around 12,000 strikes.

Here are some ideas for tinder:
-Vaseline Soaked Cotton Balls
-Hand Sanitizer Soaked Cotton Balls
-Dryer Lint
-Pine Needles
-Dried Grass
-Unraveled twine

There are a lot of ways to start fires in the wilderness if you don't have a lighter or firesteel. I will do a part 2 to this post detailing some ways to start a fire without them. This post is to show that you need to have these things on hand so you don't have to rub sticks together to try to keep yourself warm at night. A firesteel can fit in your pocket and is a crucial part of your everyday carry.

Store Food? Of Course!

2009-11-20T07:00:00.000-06:00

Guest Post

The Basics of Being Prepared with Food & Why We Should Do It

In this country, we have become used to a certain way of living. We don’t have to hunt for food any more, our time is taken up with making or spending money and we have time for leisure activities and hobbies. Time for household chores has been cut dramatically, and cooking can be as quick as you want it. You can “drive thru”, go to a restaurant, cook on the bbq, create a home made masterpiece or “nuke” a hot pocket. Your local grocer has everything you could ever want to feed your family.

There are several problems with this.

The first is especially obvious in these current times, and that is the economy. Food prices are rising, nothing goes down…well, unless you believe in Wal Mart’s “roll back” pricing signs! Our very paycheck is at risk these days with such high unemployment. The prices go up even more when gas prices increase, which brings us to reason #2.

Our lovely, fully stocked grocer is only 3-7 days away from being almost empty! Your grocer (drug store, gas station, home depot) depends on a delivery to remain stocked. Raise the price of transport, raise the price of groceries. Stop the transport (due to a flu pandemic, an electrical outage, a natural disaster etc) and stop the groceries.

Nasty stuff is out there…we’ve heard of the poisonings and illnesses created by eating contaminated food. The government has the controls in place to prevent much of that, but they’d rather create more restrictive bills that will have us relying on big agribusiness. (another rant and a debate for another time lol). However, from time to time, things will slip by FDA and inspectors. Much of the problem is because we are spoiled and continue to demand food from other countries, out of season. We can add to that, our needs are so great that farms use chemicals to ensure the demand is met. This all can be solved by following what is called “The Hundred Mile Diet”. Eat food that is locally grown! Not only are you supporting local economy, you are eating food that is better adapted to your body. It’s also more likely to be less contaminated with harsh chemicals. Better yet, grow your own! A by-product of our eating habits is that we don’t always make meals that were once considered wholesome, hearty and healthy. We view them as too plain or fattening. This need not be true! All we need to do is make appropriate substitutions. But by fixing your own food from scratch, you definitely help with a variety of issues. Not to mention that your family will be very happy.

So, what does this have to do with Being Prepared? Well, the first thing that you need if something goes wrong, is food. FEMA, Homeland Security, Ready.gov, every state in the country, and even the White House suggest that every family be prepared for an emergency/interruption of services with food and water for 72 hours. However, that wouldn’t have done the people stranded in Katrina much good! The NEW suggestion is that you have at least 2 weeks worth of food, if not 30 days. That is the beginning of your basic food “preps” (preparations/emergency supplies).

So, how do you go about getting 2 weeks to 30 days worth of food? Do you have to resort to buying MRE’s (meals ready to eat like Army rations)? Are you going to turn into one of those wierdo’s that lives in a bunker with a thousand cans of Spam? Of course not, and it’s easy to do!

I follow the principle of “storing what I eat and eating what I store”. It’s kind of like having my own grocery store. It’s what used to be known as a full pantry in the old days.

Every time I go grocery shopping, when something I use is on sale, I get as many of that item as I can afford. For instance, we eat spaghetti often. When pasta is on sale, I pick up 10 boxes instead of two. When spaghetti sauce is on sale, I pick up 10 cans/jars. The shelf life of pasta (properly stored) is about 10 years. The shelf life of your canned/jarred sauce is about 5 years. I know that I have enough food for 10 meals without my family noticing that I haven’t been to the store! Of course, I do the same with tuna and mayo, flour and sugar and many other things. Make a menu for three meals a day for a week. All the stuff you would normally make, include comfort foods like brownie stuff) and then multiply the ingredients by 4 and then as the items go on sale, you can purchase enough. Soon, you will have enough to feed the family for a month with no hassles.

Consider why this might come in handy:
Economic/unemployment
Flu/quarantine (yes, the government CAN quarantine you for 2 weeks! NO trips to the store)
Natural disaster (hurricane, earthquake, fire)
Civil unrest (probably due to unemployment and high taxes lol)
Martial Law
Terror Attack

Your first responsibility to yourself and your family is to feed them, then defend them…can’t defend, can’t start a new life, can’t wait till the problem is solved if you starve to death!) You can’t be a Patriot and fight the government when they have food and you don’t.

Author: HerbalPagan
Visit: GreenSurviving.blogspot.com
Massachusettspreppersnetwork.blogspot.com

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Prepping Kids for Prepping

2009-11-19T07:00:00.000-06:00

Guest Post:

INSTANT SURVIVAL TIP: Survival-Savvy Kids Literature

Author: The Survival Mom
TheSurvivalMom.com

Are your kids wondering why, all of a sudden, they’re seeing buckets of wheat around the house, and Mom is reading up on how to can meat? Our kids are already hearing about job losses, families losing their homes, and it’s no wonder that many of them are pretty anxious about current events.

A great way to talk with them about your own plans for being prepared for hard times is to read together, books like Little House on the Prairie, Farmer Boy, Hatchet and My Side of the Mountain.

The Sign of the Beaver is one of my family’s favorites about a boy left on his own in Indian country. Your kids will be impressed with his ingenuity.

These books, along with many others, illustrate people working to be self-sufficient and prepared for the future. Summertime is a great time to spend reading together. Why not choose a book that illustrates your own values and goals and learn together?

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Budget Preps

2009-11-18T07:00:00.000-06:00

Guest Post

4 Super-Cheap Prepping Resources

Author: The Survival Mom
TheSurvivalMom.com

Our family is simultaneously trying to become debt-free, save as much money as we can, have at least six months of food on hand, and take care of some badly needed DIY home projects. Believe me, I need every cheap resource I can possibly find to help me toward my prepping goals! The four cheapest resources I have found are all available to you, too!

1. Garage and Estate Sales

Been there, done that? Aren’t thrilled about buying other people’s junk? When you’re prepping, your shopping will have a focus, and I think you’ll find these sales a useful resource. Keep a list of items still needed for your 72 Hour Kit or general preparedness. This list will help you visit more garage and estate sales in less time because usually, with a quick glance, you can tell if a sale has what you need.

Even better, use online garage sale locators. Google “local garage sales” or something similar. You’ll be surprised at what pops up! Often, these sites will list items at the sale, and this can help you choose which sales to visit. You can also find estate sales in your area here. I prefer estate sales since everything in the house will be sold, down to half used bottles of Windex. Here are a few things I’ve been looking for:

* tools — I don’t want to count on, “Made in China” if we’re ever truly in a bind. Tools made decades ago will be high quality with lots of years still left in them.
* backpacks, gym bags — I need two more backpacks for our personal 72 Hour Kits and miscellaneous gym-size bags are great for holding all kinds of gear to take camping.
* camping equipment — we have a tent but nothing else. My husband is hardly Grizzly Adams! I would especially like an outdoor cook stove.

Remember, once you know what you want, the search goes much more quickly!

Oh! BONUS TIP! Retirement communities often run their garage sales Thursday through Saturday.. You can get a jump on all the other bargain hunters by heading to these neighborhoods early on Thursday mornings!

2. Freecycle.org

Freecycle is exactly what it sounds like. Recyling things you own by giving them away for free. Once you’ve signed up with a Freecycle email group in your area, you’ll begin receiving regular notices from other members with offers of free “stuff”.

I’ve seen some great items offered on Freecycle that would help out any prepper. Watch for glass canning jars, camping equipment, water barrels, dog crates, and so much more. Usually what is offered is mentioned in the email’s subject line so you can scan through them quickly. Remember to offer things hanging around your house or garage that you no longer want or need!

3. Dollar Stores

Don’t forget to visit your local dollar store! Apparently, dollar stores are becoming quite trendy. Who would have guessed?

I took a stroll through one near my home last weekend, and here are some of the best bargains I found.

* binders starting at just $2
* a package of 8 small memo books for $2. These are great for keeping in your car, your 72 Hour Kits and your purse.
* vinyl shower curtain, $2 Multiple uses for this including a ground cover and a quickie tent.
* can opener, $1.25
* chess game, $4. Would be useful in providing entertainment during a crisis.
* triple antibiotic cream, $2.30, along with a good variety of other pharmaceuticals
* large bottles of spices for $1
* a can of Quick Flat Fix, $3
* a 6-pack of Top Ramen, $1.10

Not everything is a great bargain, but you won’t know that unless you’re paying attention to prices at regular retail stores. Would you believe, I didn’t think my town even had dollar stores until I checked out these websites. What a find!

* Dollar Tree
* Family Dollar
* Big Lots!

4. Friends, Relatives, Neighbors, Casual Acquaintances…

You get the idea! Every one of us has stuff around the house, in the attic, out in the garage, in a storage unit, etc., etc. that we’ll never use again, and so do your friends, relatives, neighbors, and so on. When you get to the end of your prepping list, and you still have items you need, why not ask around?

Consider a casual barter agreement to get what you want, such as a few hours babysitting in exchange for a tent or a set of sleeping bags. Here’s a great article on the age-old practice of bartering.

We don’t know when an emergency will happen, and it just makes sense to get your preparations in order as quickly as you can. If you’re like me, your don’t have an infinite amount of money to prepare for everything, perfectly, all at once. I decided to jump in and do what I can, when I can, and I’ve been pretty impressed with how quickly my prepping has come together with these four money-savers!

Check out these four cheap resources and see if your dollar doesn’t go a whole lot farther! Soon, you’ll be ready for just about anything!

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Personal Info: Grab and Go

2009-11-17T07:00:00.000-06:00

Guest Post:

A Prepping Essential: The Grab-n-Go Binder

Author: The Survival Mom
TheSurvivalMom.com

In a panic situation, which happens around my house quite often, actually, people lose their wits. The extra adrenaline produced by the human body at such a moment causes confusion and the sense of events happening in slow motion.

It can even cause some of the same symptoms as a heart attack.

Can you imagine the level of adrenaline in your body if you suddenly got news of a dangerous chemical spill in your area or of a wildfire that had taken an abrupt turn toward your neighborhood?

Officials tell you to evacuate now.

Where on earth do you start??

Being prepared beforehand will calm your nerves and give you focus. A Grab-and-Go Binder is a vital part of your Family Preparedness Plan, and is one of the first things you should put together. This binder will contain all of the most pertinent information in one place for any type emergency.

You can be at least one jump ahead of all that adrenaline because you’ll have your important documents all together in one place. It may take some time to gather all the records you need, but start now with what you have. In my opinion, “prepping” is no time to be a perfectionist. Do what you can, when you can, and you’ll be far more prepared than the average person.

For this project you’ll need a 1-2″ three-ring binder, a set of tabbed dividers, and a copy machine. A box of plastic page protectors will keep your documents clean and unwrinkled. Your binder will be unique to your family, but here are some suggestions to get you started.

Financial Documents:
1. copies of the fronts and backs of debit/credit cards
2. copies of house and car titles
3. copy of your will
4. names, addresses and phone numbers of all our banks
5. other important documents related to employment and/or a family business
6. copies of your insurance policies (life, health, auto, homeowners, etc.)

Personal Documents:
1. names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of relatives and close friends
2. include copies of:
* marriage license
* birth certificates
* drivers licenses
* CCW permits
* pet vaccine records
3. a list of firearm serial numbers
4. legal documents pertaining to child custody matters
5. recent photos of each family member and each pet
6. color photos of your house and each room in the house
7. photos of anything of particular value
8. passports — put them in a plastic page protector and seal the top with tape

Medical Documents:
1. copy of health insurance cards
2. a list of blood types for each family member
3. names, addresses and phone numbers of all doctors
4. medical histories of each family member
5. immunization records

With your finished Grab-and-Go Binder, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that your family can focus on a quick bug-out, without trying to retrieve important family records.

What’s in your Binder? I’d love to hear of anything unique to your family that you included!

Instant Survival Tip: Grab-n-Go Updates

Author: The Survival Mom
TheSurvivalMom.com

Two of my readers offered excellent tips for the Grab-and-Go Binder. Squantos suggests having more than one copy of the Binder. Keep one copy in a home safe or fireproof lock box. To keep it waterproof, double-bag it in two Zip-Loc style bags or use a SEAL bag for safekeeping.

A second copy of your binder should be kept in a safe deposit box in a location at least 50 miles from your home. I think this is a great idea if you find yourself unable to return home to get your hard copy. Additionally, consider electronic storage of your information on something like a USB Fob (can keep it on a keychain or hang around your neck, example here), a mini disk or other storage device. Thanks, Squantos!

Reader Apple Pan Dowdy reminded me of the need for good maps! I can’t tell you how many times we have been halfway to Disneyland only to realize we don’t have any road maps and we have to guess our way there. Maps are vital to a safe evacuation, and I have much to tell you on the topic, but for now have a good road map of your state and the surrounding states. That would be a very good start.

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When the Power Goes Out

2009-11-16T04:27:00.000-06:00

Guest Post

Off Guard and Off Grid

Off grid means many things to many people but for this post we will be addressing off grid as not have any electric power from an outside source, electric power company, ect.. Most of us depend on this outside source to provide all of our electric needs and wants. Many dream of living off grid, I'm one of them, but it's not for everyone I know. But what happens when the electric company is unable to provide you with your electric power for what ever reason? I have, and I'm sure many of you have too, been left in the dark due to a power outage, downed power lines are common during winter storms, even summer storms for that matter. Fire, auto accidents and flooding are just a few of the many other things that can and do interrupt electric service. What I'm saying is that you could be caught off grid unintentionally. But you don't have to be caught off guard during this time. Power outages can last only a few minutes or in some cases a few weeks. You can go here to read one families adventure during a power outage and some of the things they wish they had prepared for. Here are a few things you can do to make this time a little more pleasant or at least comfortable.

First, don't panic. It's not the end of the world, you are not going to die. Keeping your head during this time is the most important thing you can do for your safety.

Know where your flashlights are and have fresh batteries in them. You do have a flashlight??

Gather all family members in the same room to make sure all are accounted for and assure them that everything is and will be ok. Give each family member a flashlight to use as necessary. Candles are always important during an emergency, find them and light them to provide light for all to move freely and safely around the house.

I always shut off my main power breaker and you need to make sure any gas appliances are shut off too. Some use an electric thermostat or pilot light and may not perform as they should without electricity. This is for the safety of the whole family.

Check to see if your neighbors or family close by have electricity. You may be on a different power grid than they are and they could have power when you don't. If conditions are favorable you could go to their house and wait out the power outage. If road conditions, the weather or you vehicle is not up to par, STAY PUT !!

Next, if it's a cold weather situation you need to stay warm. Put on your socks and shoes or boots. Layer clothing to stay warm. Put on a jacket or coat, gloves and hat. It's much easier to stay warm than it is to get warm again.

Do you have an alternate heat source? A wood stove or kerosene heater, small propane stove. Any of these will help keep you warm through this outage. Make sure to provide ventilation for any gas burning heater.Once you have a little heat and some light this situation will be feel much better for all.

Do you have some water stored?? I hope so because many times water service will be lost during these times too. You will need water to drink to help keep you hydrated during this outage.

Now, where's that battery operated radio. Listening to the radio will give you some idea of how long this outage may last and inform you of any road conditions as well as provide some form of entertainment.

Speaking of entertainment, how about those board games. This will keep everyone in a little better spirit until things get restored. If this outage doesn't last too long it can be really fun for the whole family. Sort of a camp out of sorts.It's a good idea to keep a note pad and pen or pencil handy too.

This is a good time to make notes of things that you should have had ready for an emergency. You will think of many things that would have made this time much more comfortable for you and your family.

So, let's review the basics that we need to be safe and comfortable.

Light source-- flashlight, candles, battery operated lantern, ect..

Heat- Wood stove, kerosene heater, warm clothes, ect..

Radio-- Weather Radio, AM/FM radio will do fine to keep you informed of the situation.

Batteries, Batteries, Batteries. You can never have too many extra batteries.

Entertainment--board games us no power source at all and are a lot of fun for everyone.

Sit back and relax until the electricity comes back on. With these few simple ideas you can be safe and secure during this time. Get a few preparations in order and don't get caught off Guard and Off Grid.

I know these are not all the things that may be useful during these times. I also know that many readers will have other ideas as to what to do. Let me know your ideas and anything I may have left out of this small list. We would love to hear from you. Be sure to leave us a comment.

Author: The Scavenger
Visit: johnsonfamilyfarm.blogspot.com

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Hurricane Ida..Update

2009-11-07T17:22:00.002-06:00

Ida has popped back out over the water and is strengthening. By tracks/models..it looks like the biggest threat is to the panhandle/AL/MS region, with a possible hard turn over north Florida once landfall is made.

Hurricane Ida

2009-11-05T08:41:00.005-06:00

Just when you thought it was safe to ignore the NHC a new hurricane shows up. too early to tell if it will be a threat to Florida (west coast).

Go HERE for the latest.

New type of flu outbreak?...Ukraine

2009-11-03T12:05:00.003-06:00

Granted the Ukraine is a bit far from Florida, but with the rapid spread of H1N1 throughout the world this caught my attention.

In last 24 hours, an unknown virus (presumed pneumonic plague) infected another 37 thousand and killed 12 more people. The authorities deny that this is pneumonic plague, and insist that people die from influenza, pneumonia and ARI.

Meanwhile, an emergency message from the President of Ukraine to the international community to immediately help in the fight against the virus, only reinforces the suspicion that pneumonia and influenza is not the cause.

"The current threat to national security of Ukraine, which we can not offset on our own, requires me to turn to our closest friends and strategic partners for emergency aid", - Yushchenko said in an appeal to the leaders of Belarus, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia Slovakia, USA, and EU Commission President and Secretary General of NATO.

According to the operative data of the Ministry of Health on 1 November, recorded through out the country more than 191 thousand patients with unknown disease of lungs. Of these, 83 thousand are children. Total number deaths recorded - 60, 123 people are dying.

Articles:
http://socioecohistory.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/ukraine-mystery-flu-outbreak/
http://kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2009/11/01/11153.shtml
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_11_03/en/index.html

I have no idea if this is the H1N1 virus, a mutation of H1N1 or something completely different. I will look forward to the WHO's report from their field epidemiology teams. I have been suspicious of the H1N1 from the get go in that is seemed too perfect and too easily spread (yes my tinfoil hat is nearby). It would be a perfect practice run for something far more deadly.

South Florida Health Warning

2009-10-08T05:30:00.001-05:00

Via ProMed Mail

HEPATITIS B AND C, HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS, NOSOCOMIAL - USA:
(FLORIDA) ALERT

Patients may have been exposed to HIV and hepatitis at Florida hospital
----------------------------------------------------------------------
More than 1800 patients treated by one nurse at a South Florida
hospital may have been exposed to HIV [human immunodeficiency virus]
and hepatitis [B and C virus infection].

Broward General Medical Center said Monday [5 Oct 2009] that a nurse
reused saline bags and tubing during cardiac stress tests involving
the injection of fluids. The hospital has sent letters to all 1851
people who may've been affected between January 2004 and early
September [2009?]. Hospital officials say the risk of exposure is low,
but all affected patients should be tested for HIV and hepatitis B and
C [virus infection].

The nurse, who has not been identified, resigned and was reported to
the Board of Nursing. The hospital discovered the problem after a
patient noticed the nurse misusing the equipment and anonymously
called in.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Brent Barrett

[The risk of transmission of infection in this incident would seem to
be low since apparently the 1st patients were exposed as long ago as
2004 and no cases of infection have been identified up to the present.
The extent of exposure, involving reuse of saline bags and tubing by a
single nurse, is also likely to have been low compared with other
incidents where there has been direct transmission of blood or re-use
of contaminated needles and syringes. However continued vigilance is
clearly necessary.

A map showing the location of Broward County, Florida, can be accessed at
.
The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of the southeastern US state
of Florida is available at
. - Mod.CP]

[see also:
HIV, nosocomial - Mexico: Mexico City, alert 20090811.2857
Hepatitis B & C, HIV, colonoscopy - USA: (TN,FL,GA) alert 20090328.1205
2008
----
Hepatitis B & C, HIV, nosocomial (05): USA (NV) 20081210.3882
Hepatitis B & C, HIV, nosocomial (04): USA (NV) 20080928.3073
Hepatitis B & C, HIV, nosocomial (03): USA (NV) 20080302.0854
Hepatitis B & C, HIV, nosocomial (02): USA (NV) 20080228.0809
Hepatitis B & C, HIV, nosocomial - USA: (NV), alert, RFI 20080228.0802
2007
----
HIV, nosocomial, child - Kyrgyzstan (Oshskaya) 20070805.2545
HIV, nosocomial transmission - Kazakhstan (03) 20070627.2070
HIV, nosocomial transmission - Kazakhstan (02) 20070318.0948
HIV, nosocomial transmission - Kazakhstan 20070215.0569
2006 ---
HIV, nosocomial transmission - Kazakhstan (02) 20061007.2884
HIV, nosocomial transmission - Kazakhstan 20060920.2689]
...................................cp/mj/dk
*##########################################################*

In case you were asleep...TS Henri

2009-10-07T09:53:00.004-05:00

In case you missed it (I know I did) TS Henri has shown up. Not expected to make it to FL at the moment...

From NHC:
000
WTNT35 KNHC 071435
TCPAT5
BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM HENRI ADVISORY NUMBER 4
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL102009
1100 AM AST WED OCT 07 2009

...HENRI WEAKENING...

AT 1100 AM AST...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM HENRI WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.9 NORTH...LONGITUDE 57.4 WEST OR ABOUT 375
MILES...605 KM...EAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.

HENRI IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 15 MPH...24 KM/HR...
AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT DAY OR SO...
FOLLOWED BY A TURN TOWARD THE WEST AT A SLOWER FORWARD SPEED.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 45 MPH...75
KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. CONTINUED WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING
THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...AND HENRI IS EXPECTED TO DISSIPATE ON
THURSDAY.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM
FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1007 MB...29.74 INCHES.

...SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST INFORMATION...
LOCATION...18.9N 57.4W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...45 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WEST-NORTHWEST OR 290 DEGREES AT 15 MPH
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1007 MB

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
500 PM AST.

$$
FORECASTER BLAKE

Economic disaster?

2009-10-05T07:25:00.007-05:00

I apologize in advance I'm cross posting this on my 3 blogs...it's just too important. Please note this is just my opinion, and I'm not an investment professional.

For months the government, investment guru's etc. have been claiming the economy is recovering.....I call Bullsh!t! The economy is going into convulsions.... unemployment is at 17-20%, insiders (CEO, directors etc.) are selling off their assets, and banks are continuing to fail. Even the ISM (Institute for Supply Management) tried to paint a rosey picture with a positive statement:

(Tempe, Arizona) — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in September for the second consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the fifth consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.

But the important numbers PMI, Production, New Orders and Employment all showed multi-monthly CONTRACTION. If these areas are contracting...where is the recovery?
Foreclosures and Credit Card defaults continue to record levels.

A great explanation of the Employment numbers and how the government lies about the numbers without actually lying is explained HERE.

Ok so I have painted a bleak picture, but I'm not the only one.
What to do?
If you aren't moving from the market to cash, silver, maybe a bit of gold (those little 10th ounce peices are easy to lose), and barter items you are going to be hating life come 2010 (or sooner). Since we are into fall and heading for winter, many are already making like a squirrel and stocking up. I recommend if possible, to double down on this mentality.

Earthquakes Amer Somoa + Indonesia Update

2009-09-29T19:29:00.007-05:00

UPDATE Increased activity in US:
http://emsnews.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/owen-lake-california-earthquake-cluster/#more-5239

I'm posting this before it is finished due to the sudden tectonic spike in activity.
Resources:
USGS Earthquake Center
Tsunami Warning center
USGS Volcanic Center

Update: While writing this another huge earthquake has occurred north of Australia.

No fewer than 47 earthquake have occured in the area near American Samoa Islands in the Pacific in less than 48 hours. One was 8.0 on the Richter scale, generating a tsunami and numerous warnings. This certainly poses no threat to Florida...or does it? Is this the prelude to something larger or merely 'normal' adjustment of tectonic plates?

About 75,000 yrs ago Lake Toba in Northern Sumatra erupted at a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 8 (mega colossal), plunging the majority of the planet into a volcanic winter and eradicating some 60% of the human population. Today's earthquakes sit on the edge of one of 4 large igneous provinces, the Ontong Java Plateau. This area connects a string of volcanos, both above and below surface of the ocean.
Is the earth signaling an uptick in tectonic and possibly volcanic activity?

More importantly to Floridians...if a massive volcanic eruption occurs, what impact will it have on food supplies?

99L....latest

2009-09-25T10:23:00.003-05:00

A low pressure system is designated 99L in the mid Atlantic. At the moment poses no threat to land.

I will have limited access to the computer this weekend so please keep an eye on this system in case it alters course.
Updates will be posted at the National Hurricane Center.

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
800 AM EDT FRI SEP 25 2009

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

1. SHOWER ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH A TROPICAL WAVE LOCATED ABOUT
325 MILES WEST OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS HAS BECOME BETTER ORGANIZED
THIS MORNING. SOME ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM IS
POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS BEFORE UPPER-LEVEL WINDS BECOME
LESS CONDUCIVE. THERE IS A MEDIUM CHANCE...30 TO 50 PERCENT...OF
THIS SYSTEM BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE
NEXT 48 HOURS.

I'm being lazy....

2009-09-15T10:26:00.002-05:00

....I'm being lazy today folks and cross posting.

Over at Suburban Preppers...Just a Quickie

Those who forget......

2009-09-11T20:36:00.001-05:00

I know this isn't the typical post for this blog, but perhaps, today, we can make an exception....

We must never forget......

This story illustrates how quickly we forget on this day....that so many, warriors and their families, continue to sacrifice so we may go about our daily lives.

Story comes from BlackFive

Sergeant First Class William "Brian" Woods was a Team Medical Sergeant of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne). On August 14th, Brian was shot and killed by small arms fire in Ghazni, Afghanistan. At 32 years old, Brian had done multiple tours of duty in the War on Terror. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and served four years before joining the Army and becoming a Special Forces Soldier.

He leaves behind a wife, Elizabeth, and two daughters in Chesapeake, MD.

It seems that Brian's funeral procession in St Louis county caused one motorist an "inconvenience". The motorist complained to the County Sheriff.

The original email below was sent to Sheriff Glenn Boyer on Thursday, August 27. Below is the citizen's email followed by Sheriff Boyer's response.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I tried to call you earlier this morning, but was unable to obtain your extension from the voice mail system as I was not sure of your first name or correct spelling of your last.

I was inadvertently in this procession as I was leaving work on 270 from Creve Coeur and proceeding on Hwy. 30 West. I have some issues and complaints. I called the Sheriff's office last night, but the officer in charge would not speak with me. His name was Corp. Curtis. I am in no way complaining about your officers. I, however, was not treated very fairly when I called last evening because I wanted a ticket/complaint/or at least a slap on wrist for the people involved. Let me explain:
1) This procession should never have been held during rush hour traffic! Hwy. 270 is dangerous and people drive way too fast and there is too much traffic. This soldier's certainly would not have want his family hurt on the interstate taking him to Cedar Hill. People were dead-stopping on the interstate even though the procession was in the far right lane, the other three lanes just stopped. There were many near accidents and possibly were after I drove through. I was in the 2nd to left lane, no way obstructing the funeral procession.
2) I exited off on Gravois (30 W), far right lane. Your police officers went in the left lane to stop any additional on-coming traffic so the procession could exit off 270 into the LEFT lane of 30. Again, I was in the right lane. The St. Louis County officer stopped and turned around at Weber Hill to return on 270 after the procession passed.
3) The road was not closed. (Only for president as far as I know.) Again, the road was not closed. Your officers only had the left lane blocked/closed for the funeral. All other traffic by MO law can proceed as long as they do not interfere (weave in and out )with funeral procession.
Let me say, that I did not know what was happening. I knew the did not have Kennedy coming to STL, at least not yesterday. I was at work all day. No news. Nothing reported on the traffic on the radio driving home.
Anyway, two of these dirty, nasty, renegade, who knows what motorcycle men that were escorting the procession proceeded to stop in front of me in the right lane on Gravois. I had to stop in the middle of an intersection. They proceeded to scream and yell at me about respecting this soldier, etc. One of them climbed off his motorcycle and came over to me and stuck his head in my car continuing to scream at me. I asked him what this was for and he told me I needed to stop as the officers had the road blocked and show some dang respect. #1, the road was not blocked, the funeral was in the other lane. #2, I am proud of our country and sorry for the family, but they had no idea where I was going or anything else. I could have a child at day-care, I could have been sick and racing to the bathroom, I could have a sick parent waiting for me, etc., etc.
#3, They are not law enforcement and had no right to stop in the lane on Gravois and they had no right to scream at me and intimidate and threaten me. If I would have had my pepper spray, I would have used it on this nasty man! He is just a big hoo ha that is not even related to this soldier. The other man did not get off his scooter, but was along side of my passenger window screaming.
I left an abusive husband 1 1/2 years ago and I did not need this intimidation. I was livid and shaking!!
My son is a deputy sheriff in another MO county. I respect police officers. It was not their fault as they were busy with traffic, but I called to make them aware of what was going on during this thing. The St. Louis County officer saw it but of course he was out of jurisdiction.
However, I called last night and your office asked me if I knew about this soldier. Again, I am sorry about him, but I am a taxpayer. I got a speeding ticket a few months ago and paid the fine. I do not deserve to be treated like this. I wanted to let the officer know how these men were acting. Also, they were driving into the turnarounds on Hwy. 30 and then back onto the road. the funeral was much further ahead. One of them nearly got hit by me and other people almost hit him and another as well. I wanted to lodge a complaint about them why they were still there, but no one in your office would take any information or do anything.
This was not a military funeral, even though it was a soldier. There were not military vehicles. It was a funeral and the road was not closed, the lane was closed, I was in the other lane and again, these nasty men had no right to do this and I would have liked them to get a ticket!
I am sorry for the soldier and his family but you cannot let these motorcycle renegades do this. They could have caused several accidents and I really wanted them arrested. If they had any respect for the soldier they would have dressed better and not looked and acted so scuzzy.

Thank you.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Here is Sheriff Boyer's response:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
From:
Glenn Boyer/JEFFCO
Date: 08/31/2009 02:05 PM

Subject: Re: Fw: Re: Funeral Procession - Yesterday p.m.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear XXXXX:

Yes, you do deserve a response and I am willing to give you one.

I would like to say that I am sorry for the inconvenience we caused you during the funeral procession of Sergeant 1st Class William B. Woods, but I cannot do so. I would ask instead that you take a moment of your time to take into consideration the scope of the event. Your very right to complain was the reason Sgt. Woods fought for his country and ultimately gave his life; thus making the ultimate sacrifice for you and your family.

Let me introduce you to him. After high school, Sergeant Woods entered the Marine Corps. After his contract was up, he joined the Army, where he became a Green Beret. He comes from a long line of military members in his family. His Uncle is a Vietnam Veteran and two of his grandfathers were World War II Veterans. His job in the Army was one of the most dangerous jobs - he was a sniper looking for the bad guys to stop before they killed or injured one of our soldiers. He has numerous decorations to include the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

He grew up in Catawissa and was best known by his middle name, Brian. He enjoyed the outdoors, playing sports, and skydiving. He had a wife, Elizabeth, and two daughters, whom he loved dearly. He was a soft-spoken, level-headed young man who was proud to serve his country no matter what the risk. Now, I did not know him, but I wish I did. I am quoting from newspaper articles written about him.

At the young age of 31, he was shot during an engagement with Taliban forces in Ghanzi , Afghanistan . He died of his wounds in Germany on August 16, with his family by his side. He did not choose the time of his death, nor did he choose the time his remains would be brought back to his home in Catawissa. He just did his duty. He was quite a young man.

While you were being inconvenienced in your car on your way home, there were soldiers just like Sergeant Woods carrying 100+ pounds of equipment in 120 degree heat, up some mountain or in the middle of some desert. They will shower out of a helmet liner if they get the chance. They will eat a cold meal of MRE's; something most people would consider garbage. They cannot text their family or friends, or go to McDonalds, or watch TV. They can only continue the mission and look out after the guy to the left and right of them. They don't complain because they know they volunteered. The only thing they ask is that we do not forget the sacrifices they have made.

One of the dirty "big hoo ha" bikers, as you call them, was Brian's uncle, a Vietnam Veteran, like myself. We were not treated with a homecoming. We were spit on and called baby killers by a misguided public. Brian's uncle was giving him the respect that he, himself, never received when he came back and I, for one, am proud of him for doing so.

You say that your brother is a deputy in another Missouri county. I am sure he would be proud to escort the casket of a fallen solder, the same as he would that of a fallen officer. I am also sure he would not agree with your complaint about being inconvenienced.

My mother recently passed away. She was a World War II Veteran, serving the U.S. Army. She would say, maybe you should pick up Sergeant Woods' ruck sack and carry on where he left off. Then you could see first hand what it really is to be inconvenienced.

Per your request, I will forward your complaint to the Prosecuting Attorney's Office for his review. It is my personal opinion that your complaint is self-serving and without merit.

Sheriff Oliver "Glenn" Boyer
>>>>>>>>>>>>>

And before any of you go to check Snopes to see if this is real or not (and Snopes is occasionally wrong), here is the article about the incident in the St Louis Post Dispatch(courtesy of Blackfive reader Val)
Here is a video interview of Sheriff Boyer:

Last, you can send a donation to Brian's little girls:
Monetary donations for Lily & Elle Woods can be made at ANY Bank of America location - simply ask to donate to:
Daughters of Brian Woods Trust Fund
Godspeed,Brian Woods.

Update: More here at Soldiers' Angels Germany.

A warning?...you decide. UPDATE

2009-09-10T10:43:00.004-05:00

Update: The terrorist leader in charge of this attack has been on the move.

I stumbled across a rather terrifying article. In the article a man by the name of Daniel Hill warns about another attack on the US using nuclear weapons.

“I don’t know the second, hour or day. I just know they have the means, will, motivation and desire to do it,” he said, noting that it’s believed that years ago the suitcase nukes, acquired from former USSR operatives, were smuggled into America across the Mexican border.
Hill said he has warned the FBI, the CIA and others in government.

Now normally I wouldn't give much heed to such a prediction except that Mr. Hill warned the CIA about 9/11 BEFORE it happened. He also warned about the 1993 attack on the WTC BEFORE it happened.

Is he going to be right again?

The full article is HERE.

Water collection...suburbia style.

2009-09-09T14:19:00.001-05:00

This really applies to any large surface area that is exposed to the elements. I purchased these 60 gal rain barrels off e-bay to collect rain water because it drives me batty to run my sprinkler system. Since I have begun suburban guerilla gardening (due to homeowners association not allowing gardening (there is madness for you)) I wanted to be able to water my garden without paying for the water.

So $120 dollars and 20 minutes worth of work later I increased my water holding capacity by 120 gallons. Now I know you amazing geniuses out there can probably make your own barrels for much less....but I'm not that skilled...yet. I plan on getting 2 more this fall. They come with a screen to keep the bugs out and multiple spigot outlets....simply an awesome little addition to become just a bit less dependent.
NOTE: Though it is rainwater, the collected water still needs to go through a filtration system such as a Berkley if to be used as a back-up drinking supply.

Resource for rain water collection sites.

CDC Flu update weekly flu update.

2009-09-04T12:45:00.003-05:00

Go HERE to get the latest stats.

Monthly rotation and checklist.

2009-09-04T12:23:00.002-05:00

urbanverbal

Time for the monthly rotation checklist. I've adapted this from alpharubicon's site (they have more info than I can ever read). Usually do this the first Friday of every month (you pick best time for you). Some of these actions may only pertain to those living in a moist (and in my case salty) environment. If you have a suggestion of what to add...let me know!

____Check water supply.
____ Check storage containers for leaks, mold, etc.
____Check function of hand pumps.
____Rotate water if needed (every 6 months if possible..use to flush toilet or water garden. (CAUTION! If water was treated with chems may not be good for plants)

____Food storage.
____Check expiration dates on regular foods.
____Check dates on long term survival foods.
____Check for leaks, pest infestation.

____Weapons check.
____Inspect for rust, mold.
____Check stock/grip for damage/cracks.
____Lubricate if needed.
____Rotate/inspect ammo and mags. (Range time!..woohoo!)
____Check slings and holsters for fraying and mold.
____Check cleaning kit supplies.

____Personal Go bag/vehicle bag (not large/main BOBs)
____Inspect contents, for mold, expiration..rotate as needed.

____ Medical
____Check first aid kits for expired meds.
____Inspect bandages and wraps for package frays/tears....loss of sterile integrity.
____Check supply of prescribed meds.

____Vehicles
____Check tires and fluids.
____Check hoses, filters and cables for fraying, clogs or pest infestation (they like to make nests and chew wires).
____Check tool kit (missing parts, rust, mold etc.)

____Home
____Check smoke, CO2 detectors, intrusion alarms.
____Lube window and door locks (important in coastal areas).
____Virus scan computers and system backup.
____ 360 exterior inspection.
____Check battery supply.

3-6 Month checks:

____NBC
____ Inspect masks and suits, gloves, boots for tears, mold, infestations.
____ Check expiration dates and seals on unused filters.
____ Inspect and test NBC detection devices (remember to store batteries outside units when unit in storage mode).

____BOB/ BIN (Bugout/Bug In bags/boxes) "The big stuff"
____ Inspect contents for mold infestation.
____Rotate out expired contents.
____Inspect temp. shelter or tear, mold, infestation.
____Inspect sanitation items (personal hygene, porta pooper, TP, fem. products, etc.)

____Misc.
____Inspect back up communication devices.
____Inspect tools for mold, rust, wood deterioration (apply linseed oil to handles).
____Inspect BO route... has it changed (construction etc.).
____Inspect BOL is everything still the same (plumbing, electrical, back-up power, water supply, etc.)?
____Rotate batteries in flashlights, check bulbs.
____Rotate/inspect fuel supply (gasoline, liquid gas, wood pile, etc.).

____ Test (partial or full) this should be done a minimum of once a year quarterly is best (you pick the scenario).
____Full Bug in test....cut the power...cut the water....no using the toilet (unles you have septic) for one weekend.
____Full Bug out test (family camping trip!!!)... 3 days min.

TS Erika..track ...lessons learned.

2009-09-01T19:10:00.006-05:00

As TS Erika quickly died out I noticed something. The track wasn't even close to what was projected by the models (except 1). In forecasting this one model would have been an outlier and probably ignored. This is why one must always remain vigilant...especially when it comes to nature. Nature doesn't always do what we humans want or think it will. The storm could have started to slide up the coast, taken a hard left and slammed into it. Would you have been ready to go with less than 4 hours notice?

Click on the above image will give you a larger view. Wind speed projections in upper right.

TROPICAL STORM ERIKA INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 1A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL062009
800 PM AST TUE SEP 01 2009

...ERIKA BARELY MOVING...

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ST. MAARTEN...ANTIGUA AND
BARBUDA ST.KITTS...NEVIS...ANGUILLA...ST. MARTIN AND ST.
BARTHELEMY. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM
CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36
HOURS.

INTERESTS ELSEWHERE IN THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS...U.S. AND
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS...AND PUERTO RICO SHOULD MONITOR THE
PROGRESS OF ERIKA.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA IN THE UNITED
STATES...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE
MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FORECAST OFFICE. FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA
OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE.

AT 800 PM EDT...0000 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ERIKA WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 17.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 57.3 WEST OR ABOUT 390
MILES...625 KM...EAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.

ERIKA HAS BEEN MEANDERING FOR THE PAST 3 HOURS...BUT IS EXPECTED TO
BEGIN MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 9 MPH...15 KM/HR...
TONIGHT. THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT
COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THIS TRACK...THE CENTER OF ERIKA IS EXPECTED TO
REMAIN TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH...85 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. SOME SLOW STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT COUPLE
OF DAYS.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES...165 KM
FROM THE CENTER.

THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY AN AIR FORCE RESERVE
RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS 1004 MB...29.66 INCHES.

...SUMMARY OF 800 PM EDT INFORMATION...

LOCATION...17.2N 57.3W
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NEARLY STATIONARY
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1004 MB

H1N1 Swine Flu....Update

2009-08-18T06:11:00.004-05:00

Update: Swine flu makes jump to avians. The ability to jump beyween 3 species significantly increases this strain's mutation possibilities.

Just a quick blurb on the swine flu. I only bring this up since 2 people supposedly died recently from this flu type. SO far this flu type isn't that bad...on average 36,000 people die from complications due to the flu. The unique aspect about this flu type is it seems to effect the healthier part of the population.

As a side note...there is some concern over the trial run of the swine flu vaccine. I will try to track down more information.

Florida health site for H1N1.

Certainly it isn't time to break out the NBC (PPE) gear yet, but you may wish to have some N95 masks in your personal 'Go bag'.

Stay alert, stay aware!

Tropical Wave (almost)...new mod.

2009-08-09T06:16:00.003-05:00

Good Morning all!

An area of disturbed weather has kicked off the African coast in our direction. Though it has little chance of developing (19-25% chance) it should be watched. Next NHC update will be at 2pm. If it shows increased development I'll post an update.

I'm a new Moderator for the Florida group. Please let me know in comments or direct message any articles or information you are looking for and I will see what I can come up with.

Stay cool out there!

-Papa Swamp

CQ CQ CQ FLPN CQ CQ W4DMH CALLING CQ QRZ

2009-06-20T20:36:00.000-05:00

OK now I have done it in true DX fashion for all you HAM'S out there.
I know others that read this will be real confused now but I would really like to hear from you HAM'S out there so I figured I would write in a language you would understand. We need to get HAM'S involved here so we can try to get a net going to help with off the grid communication among the prepper networks. I know there are many Ham's already involved in the prepper network and many more that read so please come forward and help us with getting this going. Now that all the people that read this (that are not HAM'S) are confused let me add one more slang that only the HAM'S will understand.

73 de W4DMH

PS Please email me so we can get to work on this. wvsantaclaus@aol.com
_________________
God Bless all from the Wild and Wonderful West Virginia
Santa

*****UPDATE******

From W4DMH Dave aka Santa

To everyone that has showed an interest in the HAM radio net

Just to let everyone know Bob KI4HEE from South Carolina and myself Dave W4DMH held a test run Thursday night on 40 meters at 9:00 PM Eastern Time or 0100 UTC time.

I am sorry that I did not get this info out but this all came about by email at the spur of the moment. It was a success even though I do not have the proper antenna in the air for 40 meter. I will cure that this weekend however. Bob will be posting the results on the South Carolina Page on Saturday June 20 2009. I invite you all to read that to see how the impromptu net turned out. For a spur of the moment thing, I think it was great. This little test run proved to me that if we try we can make this work.

I will let you know when this all gets worked out for sure but for now I believe we will try this on Thursday Nights from 9 pm to 10 pm Eastern time or 0100 to 0200 UTC on the frequency of 7.245 or there about for any that wish to come join in or just to listen.

Thank you all for your interest in the American Preppers Network Ham Radio Net. Hope to hear you soon.

73 All
W4DMH
Dave aka Santa

A NOTE FOR ALL BLOGGER'S
Fell free to copy and post this on your blogs

Heirloom Vegetables, Sustainment Gardening and You

2009-04-05T09:28:00.007-05:00

I've posted a link at my "Ewe Remembered" blogspot site about my Heirloom Vegetable garden. This year, I've gone all organic, and all heirloom. Upon inspection yesterday, I found that caterpillars had invaded my heirloom tomatoes, so a little 'net research later, and this morning, I sprayed my plants with a concoction of water, dishwashing liquid, and cayenne pepper. I've a link on the left hand side of my weblog to a site dedicated to providing Heirloom seeds and seed stock; both of which are important considerations to any serious prepper and self-sustainment preparations, because unlike Hybrid seeds and their resulting seed stock, heirlooms are MEANT to produce valid germinable seeds every year. Hybrid, and/or genetically 'enhanced' seedstock and plants do not germinate/propogate very well, at least, not as well as Heirloom seeds/seedlings because of their genetic alternation. If you're serious about prepping, NOW is the time to consider growing your own "Sustainment Garden". Take a look at my sustainment blog for pictures of how well my own sustainment garden is growning. In addition, I've rebuffed the mainstream, and have started an
Asparagus Patch as well, which contrary to internet opinion, is doing very well...

EWE

National FLood Awareness Week

2009-03-15T06:42:00.002-05:00

Living here in Florida, we see flooding perhaps a bit more than most folks. Though I'm not a huge fan of FEMA (I think they fall short in their preparation recommendations), they and NOAA have teamed up for National Flood Awareness Week (15-21 March). The information on their site does have good information for the uneducated or those just moving into a flood prone area as well as during and post flood info. Give it a look and double check your plan...we all sometimes miss a small detail that could have a big impact.

FloodSmart

Be smart and stay safe!

-Papa Swamp

Keep Prepping and good luck to all

2009-03-11T16:11:00.002-05:00

I have decided to step down from the Florida Prepper Blog. I will continue reading and commenting as long as possible to whomever Tom chooses to take over and I wish them much success.

I wish I could make everyone who is reading this realize how important it is to get your food and emergency supplies for your family ready. Even our local churches are quietly telling it's members to prepare for the very least 30 days.

There is such a large calamity that is coming and most people of like minds think it is going to happen soon. If you are lacking in the Bible reading department, I pray you start. Everything that is happening is all part of God's plan and we are going to be tested as never before. If you keep your faith, God has promised He will protect his people. I am believing with all my heart that God's people will have that Perfect Peace that He has promised us in the face of all trials. We just have to pray for the wisdom to know what to do.

I am keeping my personal blog Challenged Survival up and running and I hope you will stop by and visit sometimes.

Love and Peace to all of our Patriotic Preppers,

Brenda
Mamma Bear

You are a slave to the government

2009-03-05T20:41:00.000-06:00

Words of Wisdom...

2009-02-24T09:47:00.000-06:00

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy
out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything
that the government does not first take from somebody else.
When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work
because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other
half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is
going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end
of any nation.

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

~~~ The late Dr. Adrian Rogers , 1931 to 2005 ~~~

Global food Catastrophe

2009-02-24T07:30:00.002-06:00

The world is heading for a drop in agricultural production of 20 to 40 percent, depending on the severity and length of the current global droughts. Food producing nations are imposing food export restrictions. Food prices will soar, and, in poor countries with food deficits, millions will starve. Read Report here..... (Long but worth the read)

Get busy and get as much food stored as possible for your family's survival. Agriculture is not looking good this year.

Mamma Bear

The Survivors Club widget

2009-02-22T18:53:00.002-06:00

This is interesting, I took the quiz. I am a connector. In the comment section....let us know what you are.

Patriot March

2009-02-22T08:40:00.004-06:00

PS... Due to the weather I didn't get to attend but here is a small clip from the local media. It was my understanding that over 150 more cities did this at the same time. We need a lot more!

If you are keeping up with the Bay Patriots meetings and web site, today is the day for our Patriot March.! For those of you who live in or near Bay County, we welcome you to join us. We will begin at noon today at the downtown Civic Center on the Marina and end at McKenzie Park which is only a few blocks.

Our weather is looking a little nasty so I don't know if I will be able to attend with my son (he's in a wheelchair) but Papa Bear will be there and I will be there in spirit! Hopefully the weather will clear and we will all get to attend.

Mamma Bear

Heirloom Seeds

2009-02-21T09:57:00.003-06:00

I got my tomato seeds started a week or two ago. I ordered my heirloom seeds from Baker Creek. There was a quote on the seed package that I thought I would share.

"The federal government has sponsored research that has produced a tomato that is perfect in every respect, except that you can't eat it. We should make every effort to make sure this disease, often referred to as 'progress', doesn't spread.

-Andy Rooney

To insure your family's health and survival. Please order, plant and grow heirloom seed!

Mamma Bear

Our Flag

2009-02-20T07:29:00.002-06:00

_Our Flag

Our Flag is a glorious ensign,
Our Nation in epitome;
Its red...our blood,
Its stars...our world,
Its blue...our loyalty!

It is the Mayflower Compact;
It is Washington at Valley Forge'
Declaration of Independence
From the rule of tyrannical scourge;
It is Lawrence aboard the Chesapeake;
Calling, "Men, don't give up the ship!"
And Macarthur's grave, "I shall return!"
Stout heart, proud mien, and firm lip.
It is Eisenhower winning a beachhead;
And doughboys longing for home;
It is Flander's Fields with white crosses spread;
And Old Glory over Capitol dome!

To the strains of the Star-Spangled Banner
Loyal hearts of all fifty states
Swell with pride as they sing of the splendor
And valor this epic relates.
But it is more than an emblazoned emblem,
Or poem of our Land's history;
It is a prayer for continued freedom,
And prophetic of what we can be!

Our Flag is our great Constitution;
It is Lincoln's Gettysburg speech;
A brilliant banner of freedom
To sing, pray, worship, and preach
Of God's Son, our Blessed Redeemer,
Who died for us on the Cross
That we might know Him as Savior
From sin and of all of its dross.

Now, with this liberty threatened,
We must keep faith with our flag;
Give our best to God and our country
And never let our interest lag.
We must pledge to it new allegiance,
The Republic too, and then stand
One Nation under God, indivisible,
With justice for all in the land.

Our Flag is far more than a bunting,
This poem, and prayer, prophecy...
Is a Nation led of Almighty God,
America, Land of the Free!

By Jessie Whiteside Finks

Have a great weekend everyone!

Garden Tillers

2009-02-17T13:15:00.002-06:00

Our tiller is on it's last leg. I got it out today, filled it with gas, a couple of pulls and it started. uh oh.... it would not go into gear. Papa Bear said the gears were frozen. He tried putting a pipe wrench on the little shaft thingy and turn it....uh oh again....it broke. He now has a pair of channel locks on it to get into into forward motion. Anyway....while the big guy was busy breaking (I mean repairing) the tiller I decided to check Sears and Lowe's to see what they had and see if we could squeeze another one into the budget.

Now this time of year in northwest Florida, Sears and Lowes usually have tillers out of the ying yang, all lined up outside the stores and inside on display. Not today. I checked the web site of stores with-in 100 miles and all are showing sold out of the rear tine which is what I want (I don't think anyone could give me a front tine). I called Sears to see if maybe the web site wasn't updated and to see if they had one in stock. After 3 calls someone finally answered who wouldn't have known a tiller if it ran him down. A few more minutes on hold he came back and told me they didn't have a rear tine but they had an electric tiller with an edger. I have no idea what he was talking about. I went back to Sears web site and after putting one in the cart was informed that it could not be delivered to the store for pick up but for an additional $65.00 it could be delivered to my home in 2 to 7 days. What's up with that? I am ready to plant my potatoes today! Anyone else seeing items like this selling out so fast at the start of the season. Makes one wonder what else is going to be sold out that I really need.

I did not order one as I do not know if I would even get it in 2 to 7 days. I am going to use the one that is chugging along with a pair of channel locks to change the gears until it dies completely. :0)