Tips on surviving anything life throws at you, from simple job loss to TEOTWAWKI survival.
We scour the Net looking for the best survival & emergency preparedness articles for you.
In my opinion, these are the best of the best of survival and preparedness articles gleaned from the 'net.
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I was asked yesterday, "If a house is without heat, at what temperature does it become unsafe to stay?" Or to put it another way, "At what temperature should one evacuate a home?"
I've searched the Internet and found nothing useful so I'm hoping that some reader can provide an answer. One site said that temperatures below 70 F can be dangerous (to the elderly perhaps???) if no protection is taken (like a sweater?). That seems way too extreme. At my home in winter, I'm lucky if I can convince the wife to set the thermostat up to 63 F. It's often 60 by day and 55 at night. For me 63 F is tolerable with layered clothing but below that my fingers become chilled.
When we lost power with the Halloween Nor'Easter we put on coats and hats and did OK for awhile as the temperature fell over several days. At 40 F we were becoming concerned but then the power was restored.
A site on wind chill said that -20 F was "dangerous". It may be true that even brief exposure to -20 F is dangerous but what about prolonged exposure? Someplace else warned about 30 F and below. At that temperature you must to take active precautions to prevent your extremities from freezing with frostbite but it is survivable. When I attended an igloo making class the instructor warned against overheating the inside of the igloo. If the temperature got above 32 F the igloo would melt from the inside-out. So igloo dwellers must cope with the 30-32 F range.
Bottom Line
There might not be one simple answer. Temperature tolerance does depend on age and health and body fat. Still it would be nice to know how low is safe?
Those of you who plan to take the first steps toward preparing for emergencies may feel a bit overwhelmed at where to begin. After all, there is a lot of food to choose from at the grocery stores. Many websites, including this one encourage families to start buying small amounts of food related preparedness items each time they go shopping. This way, your budget is not dramatically affected. Food storage calculators are a great tool to incorporate in your preparedness planning, and can help you understand how much food your family will need for a given emergency. The food storage calculations can also be printed out and used as an inventory list to keep you on track in terms of what preparedness supplies you have and will need.
To make the most of your emergency food supply, keep these essential food pantry rules in mind before purchasing:
Caloric intake is an important factor in survival. In any disaster situation, you want to avoid malnutrition. Having foods stored to prevent this health issue will keep you at your optimum health. Stock up on foods that provide you with essential nutrients to maintain body functions, proteins and carbohydrates, fats for energy, as well as foods that are not high in salt (the more salty your food is, the more water you will drink). To calculate how many calories you will need in your diet, click here.
Consider buying multifunctional food items. Items that can serve more than one purpose will help your finances, as well as save precious space in the food storage pantry. Items such as oats, pasta, rice, wheat and beans are some great low-cost foods will serve a variety of uses.
Store high energy snacks to help boost energy levels. Eating snacks that are high in complex carbohydrates and protein will provide you with a guaranteed energy boost. High energy snacks such as nuts, peanut butter, crackers, granola bars and trail mix can be stored for up to 1 year and will help keep energy levels and spirits high in an emergency scenario.
Bring on the protein! Protein is an essential ingredient in our daily diets and cannot be omitted out of a survival diet. Canned meat is a good source of protein and can also help you maintain your energy level. Meats such as tuna, ham, chicken and spam are great additions to the food pantry and are multifunctional. (Remember, the oil in canned meat can be used as an emergency candle.) Beans are another great source of protein, and when beans are accompanied with rice, it makes a complete protein which provides all the amino acids needed to survive. One serving of beans and rice provides 19.9 g, or 40 percent of your daily vitamins.
Don’t forget the basics. Essential staples such as cooking oil, flour, cornmeal, salt, sugar, spices, baking soda, baking powder and vinegar should not be overlooked. If they are present in your kitchen, they should likewise be present in the emergency food supply.
Convenience helps in stressful situations. Many moms know that boxed dinners can be a lifesaver when you are in a time crunch. Having some pre-packaged dinners and meals-to-grab during emergency scenarios will help you begin acclimating yourself to cooking in a grid down scenario as well as can help provide some comfort at the same time. Personally speaking, my family has the “just add water” pancake mixes, corn breads and drink mixes that are a great convenience.
Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all it’s pleasure. Variety in your food pantry is important and can prevent the monotony that comes with eating the same foods day in and day out. Having a well rounded food storage will cut down on culinary boredom, as well as balance your diet. Further, stocking up on a variety of spices will also enhance your food pantry.
Find comfort in the little things. Have some comfort food items that provide enjoyment to the family. Items such as popcorn, sweet cereals, hard candy, juice boxes, pickles, applesauce, pudding, cookies could be a great way to provide a bit of normalcy to the emergency situation you may face.
Have backs up for your backs ups. Compressed food bars are lightweight, taste good and are nutritious. Having food bars as a back up to your existing food supply can provide you with peace of mind knowing you have an alternative to turn to if you run out of food. Further, these are great additions to your 72-hour bag or bug out vehicle. A review of the different types of bars can be read here or you can practice your survival skills and make your own with this recipe. MRE’s are another alternative food choice to turn to if you happen to run out of food in your pantry. Although many have turned their nose up at MRE’s (due to their high amounts of preservatives), they will provide you with sufficient calories and nutrition when it counts. Note: These should not be the only items in your food supply. Over time, you could become nutrient and vitamin deficient.
Rotate and resupply when needed. Any items bought for the food storage closet should be used, rotated and resupplied. This is the best way to have the freshest foods available in the event that a disaster occurs. When organizing food reserves place the item that has the earliest expiration date in the front so that it is used first. FIFO is a well known acronym used in the restaurant business that stands for, “First In, First Out,” and can be incorporated in your food storage endeavors. Do an inventory check every 6 months to make sure that canned goods, preserves and other storage items are within their expiration dates.
Keeping the above considerations in mind when purchasing your food supply will provide your family with a well rounded food pantry stocked with an array of foods that will assist in promoting a healthy diet. Not listed in the suggestions is water. You must have water to survive. To learn more about potable water, click here. It would be prudent to have a 2-week supply of water on hand, as well as a water filtration device to rely on for extended disasters.
Prepping is a passion for some. For others it is the most efficient way to keep their family as safe as possible. For further resources and a list of essential items for your emergency supply, click here.
In my former life (2 years ago…haha), I was a “couponer.” I’ve mentioned it before. I loved getting my groceries for very little. I will admit to being a bit obsessed. I could buy all our groceries (including diapers and toiletries) for less than $50 a week. Pretty good, right? I even wrote an entire database to track grocery prices. I knew exactly when everything in the grocery store was on sale for it’s very lowest possible price.
Well, while I haven’t abandoned couponing all together, I have backed off a bit. However, I still use coupons for the items we eat a lot of and I still shop in cycles. Shop in cycles you ask? Yes, in cycles. Groceries go on sale in predictable cycles. Many common grocery items are on sale for their lowest price about the same time of year every year.
This is a great concept as it applies to building “your own home store” of quality food and supplies in your own home. While having whole foods like THRIVE food or other freeze dried products in your home is essential to having a successful “home store,” there are other items you should have. For example, with 4 young kids, we go through a lot of crackers around here! Truth be told, I’m not up for making all those crackers from scratch. So, I keep a large stock of crackers. The same is true of most condiments, spices, etc. I’m sure you can think of lots of items that fall into this category. And what about toiletries? I sure wouldn’t want to be with out toilet paper or shampoo for very long!
But who wants to pay full price when stocking up on these items? Not me! So, instead of just stocking up on items randomly, get a bit organized and stock up on what is on sale each month of the year. But don’t lower your budget! Spend the same amount of money each month, just come home with more stuff! Doing this is what will allow you to stock up on items important to your family without increasing your grocery budget.
So what is on sale each month? Here is a list to get you started:
January
Post Christmas: Decorations, Toys, Wrapping Paper etc. on clearance. Also look for regular food items packaged in Holiday packaging that will be on sale (refrigerated cookies, breads, crackers etc)
Earth Day: Organic Foods, Energy Saver items, Eco-friendly items, Reusable Totes / Grocery Bags, Natural Cleaners
Post Easter: Decorations, Toys, Wrapping Paper etc. on clearance. Also look for regular food items packaged in Holiday packaging that will be on sale (refrigerated cookies, breads, crackers etc)
Other: Olive Oil, Popsicles (change of inventory this month), Kelloggs Cereal, ConAgra Products
May
Memorial Day (Most will be on sale again in late June / Early July): Soda, Charcoal, Grilling Meats, Salad Dressing (often free with a coupon), Potato Chips, S’mores items, Dips, Grilling Meats, Hot Dogs, Hamburger Meat, Buns, Marinades, Juice Drinks (like Capri Sun)
Paper Products: Plates, Utensils, Insect Repellant, Sunscreen
National Pet Week: Dog & cat food and treats
Cinco De Mayo: Salsa, tortillas, Taco seasonings
Other: General Mills Cereal
June
Stay away from full priced summer items early this month that were on sale last month (and next month) such as allergy meds, paper plates, sunscreen, insect repellant, BBQ items etc.
Father’s Day / July 4th (end of June): BBQ items again: BBQ Sauce, Condiments, Grilling meat, Charcoal, Potato chips, Hamburger / Hot dog buns
National Headache Month: Aspirin, Sinus meds, Other Painkillers
July
National Ice Cream Month: Ice cream, Popsicles, Drumsticks etc.
More 4th of July BBQ Sales (Beginning of the month): Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, Condiments, Charcoal, Salad Dressing, Potato Chips, Dips
Back to School Sales (sometimes at the end of the month; sometimes not until Aug): Lunch meat, Lunchables, Bread, Cold Cereal, Waffles, Lunchboxes, Crayons, Pencils, Folders, Binders, Granola bars, fruit snacks, pudding cups
August
Back to School (may continue into Septembe through Labor Dy): Lunch meat, Lunchables, Bread, Cold Cereal (especially Kelloggs), Waffles, Lunchboxes, Crayons, Pencils, Folders, Binders, markers, Glue, paper Granola bars, fruit snacks, pudding cups
Clorox Classroom Cleanup: Sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizers
Other: Honey, Oral care (typically more at drug stores than grocery stores), condensed soups
October
Halloween: Candy, Fresh Pumpkin
Holiday Baking Sales (end of month especially,but wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas week for the best deals): Canned pumpkin, Evaporated Milk, Baking Chips
Post Halloween: Candy Clearances, Costumes etc. Also look for regular food items packaged in Holiday packaging that will be on sale (refrigerated cookies, breads, crackers etc)
from Modern Survival Blog - surviving hard timesby Ken (MSB)
What are some of the survival preparedness books that you have on your bookshelf? Regardless of the specific sub-category, we would be curious to know some of your favorites, even related novels or reference books that would be useful during times when or after TSHTF.
Add your comment on your suggested survivalist or preparedness related book or books.
Here are a few books, in random order, to get you started.
Encyclopedia of Country Living, 10th Edition
This book is phenomenal! Besides offering general information on gardening and variations on the usual ways to prepare and preserve produce, Carla Emery includes thousands of other exotic and old fashioned recipes. That alone would be remarkable, but she doesn’t stop there. She covers information on every aspect of farming and homesteading from buying a farm to delivering your own baby.
One Second After
The EMP event he describes might presently be improbable, but is certainly possible. Nicholas Taleb would undoubtedly recognize it as a “Black Swan” event: something that lies outside the range of normal experience, but that has a catastrophic impact.
Lights Out
The basic premise of the book is of a US plunged into chaos following an Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) attack. If you aren’t tracking at this point, an EMP attack is the destruction of the electronic infrastructure of the country using nuclear weapons detonated in space. These weapons create an EMP that fry anything connected to the power grid and anything with complex electronics. Cars Dead. Computers Dead. Most of the things we take for granted are just switched off. This causes a cascading failure that effects everyone in the country. Needless to say this is the end of the world as they knew it. Are you ready to fend for yourself … and your family?
Root Cellaring: Natural Cold Storage of Fruits & Vegetables
This book is a vast resource of information about root cellars, how to build them, and how to use them. The Bubels contend that even city apartments dwellers can arrange some sort of cold food storage area with a little imagination and a few suggestions from those who have done it before.
Nuclear War Survival Skills: Updated and Expanded 1987 Edition
With the destabilization of the balance of terror, we are back looking at the possibilities of nuclear wars, at least on a small scale. Kearny’s book is dead practical on surviving in your house or in a quickly built shelter in the boonies.
SAS Survival Handbook, Revised Edition: For Any Climate, in Any Situation
This book was written by a professional soldier who was in the SAS, or the Special Air Service. For those not in the know, that’s an elite unit of the British Army trained to carry out operations in ALL parts of the world. The book covers all you’d ever want to know about the essentials of surviving in climates such as: the polar region, mountains, seashores, islands, tropical regions, or even at sea.
Basic Butchering of Livestock & Game
Put bluntly; killing and butchering animals is not a pleasant business. Anyone who has hunted or helped slaughter on a farm can attest to this. You just have to jump in and do it. The author handles what some may consider a sensitive subject with honesty and straight-forward thinking. He also provides numerous tips and how-tos when it comes to handling and butchering several different kinds of animals.
All New Square Foot Gardening
For those of you who have not perused the book or are familiar with the new method, I’ll sum it up for you: you build these four by four boxes–no tilling required–cover the bottom with weed blocker material, and then fill it with a particular mix that Mel says works like a dream. It is an easy-to-understand, and well-organized book for both novice and experienced gardeners.
The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible (10th Anniversary Edition)
Ed Smith, an experienced vegetable gardener from Vermont, has put together this amazingly comprehensive and commonsensical manual. Ed’s system is based on W-O-R-D: Wide rows, Organic methods, Raised beds, Deep soil.
U.S. Air Force Survival Handbook
A Marine told me the Air Force survival manual was the best bar none. A comprehensive manual of proven wilderness survival tactics for every situation. Written for use in formal United States Air Force survival training courses.
Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family
The Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness bridges a very important gap between survivalism and preparedness. In the text, the author outlines effective, but more importantly, achievable, steps that your family can take to prepare for a wide variety of dangerous events. The book is a family-friendly guide, discussing the importance of creating a balanced food storage plan that the entire family can live with, objectively reviewing which water purification methods leave water tasting the best – important for finicky drinkers, and discussing how best to care for children and elderly family and friends.
These books are just a tiny, tiny sliver of what is out there. Go ahead and add some of your own to this list – leave a comment.
Those of you who plan to take the first steps toward preparing for emergencies may feel a bit overwhelmed at where to begin. After all, there is a lot of food to choose from at the grocery stores. Many websites, including this one encourage families to start buying small amounts of food related preparedness items each time they go shopping. This way, your budget is not dramatically affected.
