Two Pieces of Advice & What I'd Carry

2 questions I received via email:

1.) "With all your experiences so far, in terms of firearms, gear, and prepping, what is a little bit of knowledge or advice that you would give to someone?"

Here about two pieces of advice that I think are equally important....

First piece of advice: Try to stay as healthy as you can by eating right, building strength, and keeping fit.

Just a small amount of change and consistency in terms of diet, cardio, and strength training can go a long way in giving you a much better chance of survival in any sort of economic crisis, natural disaster, sickness outbreak, or societal collapse. If your immune system is strong, you'll be better able to resist infection & fight off illness, and an overall improvement in health & fitness can make you feel more alert and allow you to concentrate better, walk further, run faster, hike longer, carry more weight in your pack, and even maneuver your firearms better (and handle them for a longer duration of time). Sure, it's easier said than done to "lose weight and get fit", but it's extremely important for both you and your family (who needs you around as long as possible). The main thing is to come up with a plan (and a goal) and become determined & motivated enough to stick with it. I personally believe that staying healthy is the single, most important thing you can do to give yourself a fighting chance in this crazy world that's full of uncertainties. Some great changes you can make include: drink more water, eat less (more frequently) (as opposed to fewer, huge meals), use the stairs, park at the back of the lot so you walk further, eat more real food (nuts, fruits, whole grains, fish, etc.) and fewer packaged products containing sugar and white flour, stay away from artificial sweeteners (your body doesn't know what to do with things that are chemically altered), do pushups and sit-ups more often, quit drinking, quit smoking, exercise more, and eat more vegetables (especially greens). There has to be at least one vegetable you like, right? My personal favorites are broccoli, peas, beans, zucchini, carrots, red peppers, spinach, kale, lettuce and tomato, so that's what is growing in my garden right now. These photos are from a couple weeks ago. YUM. Good luck on your own goals & health plan. I still need to make some changes to mine as well.

Second piece of advice: In terms of preparing for disasters and times of crisis, START YESTERDAY. 

In other words, hopefully you've already started stocking up on the essential items you use on a regular basis and don't think you can live without for very long. If you haven't, then start today, and get a little more prepared every single day hereafter. It's extremely important to be prepared for unexpected disasters - even if it's more likely that your unexpected disaster might be loss of income, vehicle trouble, or power outage as opposed to a zombie attack or earthquake. You just never know when the world might go lights out, with no communication. It doesn't take much for the Internet to be shut down or for our cellphones to turn into useless bricks. It also doesn't take much for everyone to panic and drain the fuel tanks at the gas station or empty the shelves at the supermarket. As shown with the current availability of ammunition, it really doesn't take much for the demand to overwhelm the supply and leave us with whatever we already have in our safe or our stockpile... When panic buying like that starts to happen, most people don't even realize what's happening until it's too late. You need to stay ahead of the storm and be ready for whatever might happen tomorrow.

Our survival depends on things such as food, water, shelter, and warmth, so it's important to have those things (or the ability to make those things) in case of an emergency. Our health & comfort are also dependent upon various personal hygiene and household items such as dental floss, soap, toilet paper, medical supplies, and laundry detergent. If you can, it's best to learn some simple skills that will help you to keep living comfortably even if you run out of supplies (such as making your own laundry detergent & soap or purifying water); but if you don't have the time or energy for that, you should at least stock up on enough necessities to hold you over for awhile in case something happens.

Stocking up on food and supplies can get a bit expensive (and overwhelming when you first make a list of what you need), but it's not too bad if you start small, just picking up a few extra things here and there. Fill up an extra can of gas next time you fuel up your vehicle. Every time you go to the store, throw in an extra item or two - a blanket, box of band-aids, tube of toothpaste, extra package of TP, pack of lighters, batteries, a bag of votive candles, a bundle of firewood, an axe, a few cans of food, or anything like that. Just a little at a time will add up to a great sense of security and peace of mind for you and your family over time.
-------------------------------------------

2.) "Also, what would you carry on you if you found yourself constrained to just one (or two) things?"

I'll have to sort of cheat on this, because to me, one or two things means whatever I can carry with me while still having my hands free to do whatever I need to do.

I would carry........ A BACKPACK - a lightweight backpack (aka: go-bag or bug-out-bag) that's full of small, useful gear. My pack would contain essential things to help me stay nourished, hydrated, warm, dry, comfortable, and clean.

In my backpack would be such things as:

cellphone, knife, spare M&P magazine (for the M&P9C in my waistband), flint/steel firestarter, 2 lighters, trick-light birthday candles, water purification tablets, water bottle, headlamp, my AAA flashlight and a few spare AAA batteries, small poncho, tiny home-made fishing kit & sewing kit (each inside a little film canister), unwaxed dental floss, wallet (containing cash, ID, passport card, & carry permit), prepaid calling card (yes, for a payphone), tiny USB flash drive (with important scanned documents, photos, & information on it), hand-crank radio, pair of nail clippers, tweezers, small mirror, toothbrush, small pack towel, small roll of duct tape, write-in-the rain notepad & pen, large black trash bag & small space blanket, pair of socks, small bottle of Campsuds liquid soap, mosquito headnet, titanium spork, esbit pocket stove & esbit fuel tablets, a folded piece of aluminum foil, my titanium Snow Peak Trek 700 mug, my Leatherman Juice S2, my Leatherman Style-CS mini keychain, some paracord, a box of contact lenses & tiny bottle of saline, pair of glasses, and a small medical kit (with basic essentials, including moleskin in case I'm on foot). I might also include my travel hammock (it doesn't take up much space & it's very lightweight, but it's the largest item in this list). For food I would probably toss in a jar of peanut butter, a few granola bars, a bunch of green tea packets, some Werther's Originals, and some oatmeal packets. Lastly, if I could handle just a little more weight in the pack, I'd toss in my 22 revolver and small box of 22 ammo.

For more ideas of what to put into a go-bag, check out my previous post: http://www.faliaphotography.com/2010/12/bug-out-bags-survival-kits-general-info.html

What would you carry with you if you were just constrained to one or two things?

Bug-Out-Bags & Survival Kits - General Info & Links

As a female who is constantly trying to become more prepared, let me try and give you my personal take on survival kits & bug-out-bags. I will eventually do a post that  tells the exact contents of what I keep in my own bug-out-bag, EDC bag, vehicle kit, and mini-survival tin, but not quite yet. I want to start off with some basic survival kit acronyms, considerations, and links to get you started thinking about your own kit.

When you do your own Internet searches on bug-out-bags & survival kits for the first time, you may start out a little confused & overwhelmed - and rightfully so. There are many lists of survival kit essentials and suggestions, along with many different terms for basically the same stuff:

BOB - Bug Out Bag, Bail Out Bag, Bug Out Box
GO Bag
GOOD Bag - "Get Out Of Dodge" Bag
72-hr Kit
Ditch Kit
PERK - Personal Emergency Relocation Kit
EDC - Every Day Carry
GHB - Get Home Bag
Mini Survival Kit, Survival Tin, Pocket Tin
Survival Kit
INCH Bag - "I'm Never Coming Home" Bag
BOV - Bug Out Vehicle
BOL - Bug Out Location
Vehicle Kit, Car Kit, Car BOB

So many different names, sizes, types, abbreviations, uses, and contents, and yet the concepts are all basically the same - To help aid in one's comfort and survival, should some sort of un-forseen emergency occur.

Being prepared, or having a survival mindset, can range from simply having some extra items on hand at home (blankets, batteries, ammo, soap, food) or having a small bag of emergency supplies in your trunk, to creating a full-blown "bug-out-bag" backpack-kit that you can grab and take with you at a moment's notice.

Everyone has differerent needs, different locations, different belongings, and different opinions, so everyone's survival kit is going to be different! There is no *PERFECT* bug-out-bag, although there are some essential survival categories that should be considered when making one, including: shelter, food/water, warmth (fire & clothing), light, first-aid, communication/signaling, personal protection, and navigation.

BOB, BOV, & BOL

Bug-Out "Bags, Vehicles, & Locations"

A "bug-out-bag" (BOB) is generally a bare-minimum, 3-day emergency bag. You put one together in order to make it from point A to point B (perhaps on-foot, in a worst case scenario) and survive for at least seventy-two hours. It is meant to go along with (complement) your seperate EDC items and your mini-survival-kit.

Why might you need to have a BOB in your home?
A number of reasons! - house fire, family emergency, natural disaster (flood, hurricane, earthquake), nuclear fallout, zombie invasion...

Why might you need to have an emergency kit in your vehicle?
What if - your vehicle runs out of gas out in the middle of nowhere where there is no cellphone reception, you're stranded in a blizzard and need to survive inside your vehicle for an indefinite amount of time, roads are blocked due to a natural disaster & you need to abandon your vehicle/head out on foot, your vehicle breaks down and you can't make it home, or you are just stuck in bottle-neck traffic for several hours due to an extreme accident.

Plan to have some sort of bug-out-bag/emergency kit with you NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE. This may mean having a 3-day BOB packed and ready-to-go inside your home, while ALSO having an emergency kit packed inside your vehicle. Having just one 72-hour ULTIMATE BOB that you take with you everywhere is probably not that feasible - it may be too big for EDC (every day carry), and if you do take it with you everywhere you go, you will probably want to leave it inside your vehicle at times, which may not be good in extreme heat OR extreme cold (depending on what's inside your bag). I left my complete BOB in my van all last summer and candles melted, batteries lost their charge, food quality was potentially diminished, etc. Same goes for the wintertime - Now that it is below freezing outside, I have taken everything out of my vehicle that may freeze or be negatively affected (water, stove fuel (butane/denatured alcohol), batteries, first-aid supplies). Instead, I keep those items in a smaller EDC bag that I grab every-time I head-out in my vehicle. Getting stranded somewhere up here in the winter is not only likely, but very possible. I have run out of gas and been stranded along-side the road in the middle of a blizzard before, so I have no doubt that it could happen again.

When making your own bug-out-bag & emergency kits, consider both your potential location when an emergency may strike and also where you physically plan to keep your kit. Perhaps play devil's advocate and try making up your own worst-case scenarios - They can help you to become better prepared and aid you in making a more realistic kit OR they can help to test how prepared you currently are.

Ask yourself a variety of questions:

* Where are you most of the time, and is your survival kit with you there?
If it isn't with you, why isn't it? Is it too bulky? Do you not want to leave certain items inside your cold or hot vehicle?

* Are you going to keep your BOB at home, in your vehicle, or both?
Perhaps you will decide to have several survival bags: a smaller EDC bag, a seperate vehicle kit, and an additional (bigger) BOB at home.

* Is your home BOB ready to grab & go? Or are there some items you plan to grab or throw in at the last minute? (handgun, cell-phone, more comfortable hiking boots, long underwear you want to actually put on before you head out, etc.) Have those items nearby or have them written down on a list that is next to your BOB.

* Where do you plan to bug-out to?
Will you be "bugging-in" (staying home OR trying to get home), because that is where your preps/supplies are? Or will you be heading to an alternate location (survival retreat, relative's house, etc.)? Even if you plan to use your home as your survival retreat (and don't plan to leave your home in an emergency situation), you should still consider keeping a packed BOB in your home that you can quickly grab to head to your BOV or an alternate BOL in case you must leave your home (nuclear fallout, natural disaster, etc).

* Is your family prepared to bug-out without you? Does your family have an agreed upon BOL and back-up BOL in case you are not with them when an emergency strikes? Does your family know how to use all their gear in case you become seperated?

* Most likely, you will be able to drive in a bug-out-scenario, but what if you aren't? Do you only have a plastic tote in your trunk, or do you have a backpack with you as well, so you can easily leave your vehicle and head out on-foot? Your vehicle may run out of gas, roads may be blocked, or, depending on the emergency, you may be staying off the roads for the sake of not being seen.

* What items would you really need to get you from point A to point B?

As for the general term "Survival Kit," I've often heard people use it to refer to their 72-hr "bug-out-bag," their smaller "vehicle kit" OR their tiny pocket-suvival-tin. Wikipedia considers a "Survival Kit" to be a more long-term kit, containing items & tools that can be used to provide for all of our basic needs: shelter against the elements, food/water, warmth, first-aid, signaling/communication device, etc. Personally, though, I cover all-those bases in my 72-hour bag, so I'm still not totally sure how (or if) it truly differs from a BOB

Also, instead of packing a 72-hour pack, some people instead pack an "INCH" Bag ("I'm Never Coming Home" bag) - In other words, some people decide to pack their BOB like they are never coming home, while others only pack their BOB with some simple essentials to get them back home, to their BOL, or to their BOV. Some people don't find it realistic to carry everything they need on their back, while others like to plan for those worst-case scenarios. It all comes down to a matter of preference.

My BOB personally falls more in the middle of a 72-hr pack and an INCH bag, and I tend to keep it indoors, wherever I spend the most time. On top of my BOB, I also have a vehicle kit in my trunk, an EDC pack that comes & goes from my vehicle with me (items that should not be exposed to extreme cold or heat), and a mini survival tin in my purse.

More of my own random thoughts on Bug-Out-Bag considerations:

* You might make a BOB and let it sit for MONTHS (or years!) without going thru it - Don't let that happen! Go through it every once in awhile - Check all of your supplies and re-evaluate what you need periodically, because situations may have changed (medications, summer vs. winter items, etc.). Be sure to rotate your food rations and check expiration dates on food & medical supplies. Pay attention to how you are storing your BOB (hot/cold location), and make sure none of your items have melted or frozen. Spare batteries might now be dead, candles may have melted, medical supplies may have frozen. Do your backup clothes still fit comfortably? If you've gained or lost weight since you packed your BOB, you don't want your emergency clothes to be uncomfortable on a potential 3-day trek on-foot.

* Do you know how to use all your gear (cookstove, water-filter, tent, etc.)? If you are another female, and your husband or boyfriend helped you to get your BOB together, make sure that you are personally familiar with everything in your kit, just in case he is not around when you need to bug-out. If your spouse/partner knows how to start a fire, use your new gear, or set-up camp using paracord & a tarp, BUT you don't, that is NO GOOD.

* Have you field tested all of your gear? Don't just buy survival items for your BOB and stick them in your bag without opening them or giving them a trial run. Is your sleep system warm enough? Really go out camping (in each season) and test your entire setup. Maybe you didn't realize that you need a sleeping pad between your body and the cold ground, or maybe you forgot about the possibility of a thunderstorm & your gear or sleeping bag gets soaked! Perhaps a field-test will remind you to consider items such as a goretex sleeping bag bivy, poncho, pack cover, or packable rainjacket. On your trial-run camping trip, maybe you will realize that you forgot something major, but small, such as a flashlight, lighter, paracord, extra pair of socks, or a knife. Maybe you even forgot your sleeping bag, because it is filled with goose-down & you don't want to leave it compressed inside your BOB. I actually had the unique opportunity to stay in a Yurt in the middle of the woods, in the middle of winter last year, for about 5 days. All I took with me was my BOB, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had everything I needed. :) It feels so good when you get it right.

* Really consider HOW your BOB is packed/organized. You don't want something poking you in the back when you walk, and you want certain items to be easily accessible (water, first aid kit, cellphone, knife). In the wintertime, I personally choose to keep my comfortable hiking boots and long-underwear OUTSIDE my pack, so I can quickly throw them on before I grab my bag and go. In a blizzard it makes more sense to stay indoors, but IF for some unknown reason I must bug-out into a blizzard (to hypothetically get to a relative's house that is 3 days away), and I'm going to be on-foot, where am I going to be able to stop and put on my long-undies? There might be people around (urban setting), and it would also be freezing cold outside - the least useful place for my long underwear at that point would be the bottom of my pack.

* Also consider the colors of your visible BOB items (pack, sleeping gear, tarp, pack cover, poncho, clothes) & how well they blend in for your area (rural natural location or busy downtown urban city location). You may or may not want to be seen, depending on the situation. I personally believe that most likely, if I have to bug-out, I will not want to be seen, so my BOB is planned around blending in & not standing out. Nothing in my BOB screams "Over Here! I'm a visible target!" I go for olive greens, browns, camo, and earth tones. As much as I like camo, though, I don't choose to have ALL camo stuff, because in a bug-out-situation, I'd rather appear to be a harmless "civilian backpacker" rather than potential military. Also, depending on the bug-out scenario, you MAY want someone to be able to find you, so you should plan accordingly. Perhaps have a bright red/orange bandana in your BOB (along with your camo one), and maybe throw in a bright pack cover or a brightly lit roll of electrical-type tape.

* Are you strong enough to physically carry your prepared pack on a 3-day trek? Take your BOB on a test hike! Make it a fun family outing. If your BOB is uncomfortably heavy, you'd be better off lightening your load than hauling more than you can handle. You may decide to substitute some lighter items and take out unnecessary items. You may even decide you need a different sized pack altogether, because your torso length makes that particular bag incredibly uncomfortable. To save on weight and space, really consider packing items with multiple uses, such as a bandana or a camo poncho (used as a raincoat, pack cover, tent, or sleeping bag bivy).

* When you pick the actual pack to carry all your items in, make sure it is the correct size for your torso length and comfortable enough for you to carry for a long distance. Also make sure the color of your BOB pack is pretty natural/neutral. I tried out the military Medium Alice pack ("All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment") for awhile, because it is a very inexpensive, commonly available, popular BOB choice, but it just does NOT work for my body size. I tried adjusting it in every possible manner and tried various amounts of weight inside the pack (I even had help!), but it was a no-go on the Alice Pack for me. Also consider the cubic-volume size capacity for your pack. Something like 1500 cu. will probably be too small for your BOB, and something like 4000 cu. is probably too much! 2500 cu. is a very common BOB size, but, again, needs vary from person to person. For my 72-hr winter BOB, I currently use a women's North Face Crestone 60 backpacking pack, which has a 60 liter capacity (or approx. 3650 cu.). It is very spacious and very comfortable. I bought it back several years ago when it came in a dark "crocodile" green color. I also bought a very  lightweight, packable green "silicone rain cover" to go over it when it rains.

* What you put in your BOB really depends on where you live and what season it is. For example, In January, someone in Key West or Naples, Florida will consider some different BOB contents than someone living in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Likewise, someone living in downtown Chicago will pack/prepare differently than someone who lives far out in the wilderness... Bag content considerations that vary by season & location may include: dust mask, eye protection, heavy duty gortex winter boots, comfortable hiking shoes, a high-caliber handgun for wild-animal protection, mosquito netting, sunblock, or sunglasses.

* There are many little decisions to make when choosing BOB items, depending on the weight of the pack you want to carry (& are able to), what gear you already own (& how much money you want to spend), and personal preference. There are many different options and variations of the following:

water and/or purification methods (canteen or Nalgene of actual water, water filter with ceramic element, Steripen UV purifier, iodine tablets, clorox bleach, eyedropper, & sealable baggie, pot, fuel, & lightweight stove for boiling water, etc.)

sleep setups (tent, tent footprint/rainfly, sleeping bag, poncho, tarp, goretex bivy, hammock, Thermarest inflatable sleeping pad, military closed-cell sleeping mat, space blanket, etc.)

food options (fishing/hunting gear, MREs, Mainstay Emergency Food Ration Bars, Datrex food bars, snack items, a portable stove with fuel and food items that can be cooked, etc.)

staying dry (spare clothes, raincoat, pack cover, poncho, tarp, etc.)

fire-starting (waterproof matches, lighter, fresnal lens, flint & steel, Ultimate Survival Technologies "Sparkie" or "Wetfire tinder," cotton balls rubbed with vaseline & stored in a film canister, votive candle, birthday candles, heavy-duty foil for windscreen, etc.)

cutting wood for shelter or fire (hatchet, folding saw, wire-saw, machete, etc.)

* There are so many items to consider, and every person will be different on what they want! For instance, you could easily get by without a portable backpacking stove or a home-made alcohol stove if you only pack Mainstay Emergency Food Bars, BUT I've got a compact backpacking cookset, I prefer to boil water as my water purification method, snow could easily be melted for drinking water in the winter-time, and I would personally find a cup of green tea to be quite calming and warming in a cold, stressful, bug-out situation. So for me, a little penny alcohol stove (and homemade coat-hanger pot stand) is part of my BOB. Someone else may just choose to have basic fire-starting tools. To each his own! There is much to consider. :-)

* Very basic BOB content ideas to consider and get you started!! --

Backpack that blends in with nature
fixed blade knife
smaller folding-blade knife
spork
multi-tool
flashlight (crank, shake, led flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries)
crank radio
100' of 550 paracord
sleep setup (not bright colors)
food, MREs, snacks, or Mainstay/Datrex Food-Ration bars
water & way to purify more
complete medical kit (I will be doing an ENTIRE post about this)
vitamins
IOSAT - potassium iodide
backup clothes, socks, shoes
hat, gloves
fire-starting supplies
compass
rag or washcloth
packtowel
small bottle of campsuds
money ($100 per day, in small bills)
ID, passport
USB flashdrive that contains scans of important documents & family photos
bandana
whistle
rain-gear
cookset, stove, fuel, pot-scrubbie
binoculars
gun, ammo, gun-cleaning supplies (bore-snake & small bottle of cleaner/lube)
paper & pen (Rite-in-the-Rain all-weather pen & paper)
space blanket
folding saw or axe
barter items
mini sewing kit (dental floss, needles, safety pins)
folding shovel
toilet paper
ETC.

POCKET SURVIVAL TINS & MINI SURVIVAL KITS

"Survival Tins," "Mini Survival Kits," and "Pocket Survival Tins" are intended for the EDC (every day carry) of small, useful survival items that are the hardest to improvise in an emergency, but are crucial to your survival. They are often made with Altoids containers or film canisters, they can be carried in a purse, glovebox, or pocket, and they can contain a wide VARIETY of items. Although very small, they can contain any of the following useful items that help with:

fire-starting (warmth, light, & signaling) - waterproof matches, lighter, fresnal lens, heavy-duty foil for windscreen, birthday candle, etc.

obtaining food & purifying water - fish hooks, lead balls, & fishing line (or dental floss), snare wire, water-purification/Iodine tablets, Clorox-bleach in a sealed straw, small sealable container for holding water (such as a "breast milk bag" or a tiny ziplock), bullion, tea bag, piece of hard candy/glucose tablet, etc.

first aid - bandaid/butterfly-closure, alcohol prep pad, antiseptic packet, sewing needle, Ibuprofen in a sealed straw (melt ends shut with lighter), etc.

navigation - mini button-compass

shelter - mini wire saw (for cutting)

other - whistle, mirror, small flashlight, knife, tweezers, safety pin, duct-tape, information card (perhaps with fishing knot info), etc.

More info on mini survival tins:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_survival_kits

http://www.equipped.com/prsnlkit.htm

http://www.donrearic.com/survivalkit.html

VERY HELPFUL Bug-Out-Bag LINKS:

WIKI "Bug-Out-Bag" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bug-out_bag
WIKI "Survival Kit" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival_kit

BOB Item List: http://civiliandefenseforce.com/bugoutbagitemlist.html
NeilStrauss.com BOB contents: http://www.neilstrauss.com/fliesian/bugout.html
Rural Revolution BOB list: http://www.rural-revolution.com/2010/12/bug-out-bags.html
The Big List: http://www.survival-center.com/dl-list/dl1-toc.htm
Photos of Your BOB: http://thesurvivalpodcast.com/forum/index.php?topic=1508.0
The Bug-Out-Bag PDF: http://tomsebooks.com/BugoutBag.pdf
2012 Supplies BOB List: http://www.2012supplies.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=1788

TheBugOutGuy.com List: http://www.thebugoutguy.com/bugoutbagAM.htm
Economic Collapse Survival 72-hr kit: http://www.economiccollapsesurvival.com/bug-out-bag/
Survival News Online BOB info: http://www.survivalnewsonline.com/2010/03/16/survival-plan-2-bugout-bag/

TheSurvivalMom.com:
72-Hr Kit - http://thesurvivalmom.com/2010/03/28/dont-leave-home-without-it-the-vehicle-72-hour-kit/

SecurityWhip.com BOB info: http://www.securitywhip.com/2010/08/06/bug-out-bag/

DefensiveCarry "What's in your BOB?": http://www.defensivecarry.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?115192-What-s-in-your-Bug-Out-Bag

One guy's vehicle kit/get home bag- http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=12849
One guy's INCH bag: http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread452126/pg1

Backpacking/Hiking survival essentials: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Essentials

Survival Checklist: http://www.survivalgearsource.com/SurvivalInformation/SurvivalChecklist/tabid/115/Default.aspx

ZombieSquad BOB info: http://zombiehunters.org/zss/?p=15
ZombieSquad BOB additional info: http://zombiehunters.org/wiki/index.php/BOB
ZombieSquad "Preparing Your BOB" PDF: http://zombiehunters.org/flyer/ZS-bob-trifold.pdf

Recommended BOB list: http://www.survivalistssite.com/~canuck/downloads/bob_list.pdf

INCH bags: http://www.warriortalk.com/showthread.php?58399-I.N.C.H.-Kits-(I-m.Never.Coming.Home.)...whats-in-yours-or-what-would-be-in-yours

GO Bag ideas: http://www.tennesseepreppersnetwork.com/2009/09/guest-post-good-bag-how-to-ideas.html

72-hr kit ideas: http://www.tennesseepreppersnetwork.com/2009/01/baby-steps-72-hour-kit.html

Family Survival Blog BOB essentials: http://familysurvivalblog.com/bug-out-bags/
Prepper e-book: http://www.prepperbook.com/
SurvivalCache.com (7 Types of Gear to have in your BOB): http://survivalcache.com/bug-out-bag/

The Art of the BOB: http://www.survival-spot.com/survival-blog/the-art-of-the-bug-out-bag/
Survival Gear & BOBs: http://offgridsurvival.com/survival-gear-bugoutbags/

knol Bugging Out! : http://knol.google.com/k/bug-out-bag-bob#

GearPatrol.com Ultimate Survival Kit: http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/05/04/bug-out-bag-aka-ultimate-survival-kit/2/

Bug-Out-Bag Quest Blog: http://bugoutbagquest.blogspot.com/:
One Man's Bug-Out Bag: http://bugoutbagquest.blogspot.com/2010/12/one-mans-bug-out-bag.html

Crusader BOB Contents: http://gundoctor.wordpress.com/personal-preparedness/bug-out-gag-contents/

Several BOB lists: http://civiliandefenseforce.com/training.html

Build Your Own BOB PDF: http://web.comporium.net/~klj2324/BOB-SurvivalKit.pdf

Ezine BOB Checklist: http://ezinearticles.com/?Bug-Out-Bag-Checklist---Make-Sure-You-Have-All-the-Bug-Out-Bag-Essentials!&id=4023102

Survival Magazine Ultimate BOB List: http://survivormagazine.blogspot.com/2008/01/ultimate-bob-bug-out-bag.html

34 BOB Essentials: http://frugaldad.com/2010/02/10/bug-out-bag-essentials/
Fundamentals of a BOB: http://hideawayoutdoors.com/archives/195

thesurvivalistblog.net:
BOB gun selection: http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/survival-guns/selecting-guns-for-bug-out-bag/
BOB item list: http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/uncategorized/bug-out-bag/
Home Survival Kit: http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/uncategorized/basic-survival-gear/
101 Barter Items: http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/uncategorized/list-101barter-items/
Thoughts on BOBs & supplies: http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/this-n-that/guest-post-thoughts-on-bug-out-bags-and/

BugOutSurvival.com:
Bug-Out Locations: http://www.bugoutsurvival.com/2009/12/bol-bug-out-location.html

BOB Checklist: http://www.bugoutsurvival.com/2008/08/sample-bug-out-bag-checklist.html

Solid-State External Hard-Drives are the Best!

When it comes to backing up all my files, I've got two Cavalry Pelican Solid State external hard-drives  (a 128 GB and a 64 GB), and they both work excellent. I bought them a while back after honestly having terrible luck with regular portable external hard-drives. I had two of them crash on me for no reason, and one was a Western Digital, which is supposedly an excellent brand. At the time, I had to pay someone to try and salvage whatever files they could off of them, and I lost many of my files in the process. That is why I eventually "converted" to "Solid-State" portable external hard-drives. They don't have any moving parts, making them much more reliable than regular portable hard-drives. That little tidbit was serious music to my ears and what ultimately won me over. According to wikipedia, solid state drives are "less fragile, silent, have faster start-up, have lower power consumption, have high mechanical reliability, and they have the ability to endure extreme shock, high altitude, vibration, and extremes of temperature." This is especially important to think about if you travel alot, because things inside your vehicle can go from being really hot to really cold, and they can also be exposed to all sorts of different elevations and vibrations. For these reasons (among others), storing your electronics inside a vehicle just puts them at a higher risk of mechanical failure.

Solid-state drives are still fairly new, so the price hasn't come down that much yet, but I personally think they are still worth it. The sound of a spinning external hard-drive just freaks me out. Through my past experiences, spinning = crashing. I'm never going back to an external hard-drive with moving parts. I've got too many files that I care about, which reminds me - Next I want to look into making some Faraday Cages for my electronic devices. Virus protection, EMP protection.... there is so much to be prepared for.

My Purse/Pocket Survival Tin

Exactly why do I keep a little tin of useful survival items with me at all times?

The same reason why I keep a mini flashlight hanging around my neck, a gerber knife on my pocket, and a paracord anklet (CLICK HERE for instructions to make your own) around my sock. Just in case I need them. I like to be prepared. Not a day has gone by that I haven't used my flashlight and knife since attaching them to myself. They have proven to be incredibly useful tools on a daily basis, especially while I'm housekeeping (believe it or not).

Can such a tiny survival kit of so few items really come in handy at all? How could I survive with the stuff in a little tin?

I've already needed my little survival tin several times while I was out and about, whether it be for a bandaid, a lighter, an Ibuprofen, or some neosporin. I'm positive that I will continue to use it many more times throughout the future. You can fit a surprising amount of useful stuff into such a small container, such as fishing gear (provides food), water purification tablets or bleach (provides clean water), wilderness tools (for navigation, fire-starting, etc), and medical supplies.

You should know by now that I'm a big "research" person. I like to be extremely thorough and learn as much as I can about whatever topic interests me at that moment; therefore, when I first started getting into survival information and preparedness, I did a lot of online research, reading about bugout bags, bugout vehicles, and survival tins. When it comes to these mini "pocket" survival tins, I learned that MOST people make their kit inside an Altoid's tin (or sardine tin). Many sites actually sell a pre-made survival kit in an Altoid's tin, although I would think that most people would rather just make their own kit (cheaper and more personalized).

While I was helping to clear out an Estate last fall, I found an old metal Camel cigarette box that I figured was perfect for my personal survival-kit. It isn't very thick (so it won't hold much), but it will hold enough, and it will slide easily down right into a back pocket or purse.

There are just so many different things you can choose to put inside a little survival kit... folded duct-tape, magnifying lens, signal mirror, water purification tablets, whistle, small tinder/fire-starters, button compass, alcohol prep pad, the list goes on and on. If interested in making your own mini survival tin, these are several fun links to check out that contain lists of what some other people have put into their kits:

http://www.equipped.com/prsnlkit.htm
http://www.donrearic.com/survivalkit.html
http://www.survival.com/best.htm
http://www.bepreparedtosurvive.com/Pocket%20Tin%20Survival%20Kit.htm
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=survival+tin&search_type=&aq=f

This is what I ultimately decided to put in mine:
(several things are secured within a plastic straw that has been sealed shut by melting it and then pressing it closed at both ends)

folded heavy-duty tinfoil
4 bandaid butterfly-closures
2 regular bandaids
3 birthday candles
safety pin
several fishing hooks
3 sinkers (secured in a plastic straw)
mini BIC lighter
dental floss (for fishing, flossing, or sewing)
mini knife
mini flashlight
2 razor blades (secured in duct tape)
neosporin (secured in a plastic straw)
2 sewing needles (secured in a plastic straw)
Clorox bleach (secured in a plastic straw)
4 Ibuprofen tablets (secured in a plastic straw)
fresnal lens, protected in pouch (for fire starting)
P-38 can opener
3 Gerber breast-milk storage bags (for holding water to purify it) (they seal shut and hold about 1 cup)

By having this little kit and knowing how to use everything in it, I just feel more prepared, no matter where I am.

** Regarding purifying water with bleach:

Only use "regular" full-strength Clorox bleach containing 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite (read the label). To purify one gallon of water, use 8 drops (OR 1/8 tsp) for CLEAR water, and 16 drops (OR 1/4 tsp) for CLOUDY water. My little Gerber storage bags each hold 1 cup of water, and there are 16 cups in one gallon; therefore, I only need to use 1 drop of Clorox bleach per 1 cup of water.

**Regarding fishing:

If you've got your little kit and you need to go fishing in order to eat, be sure you know how to tie your fishing knots...

http://www.tnoutdoorsmen.com/knots.htm
http://www.myoan.net/fishingart/knots.html

Portable Butane Stove & Cookware

Kate recently asked me how I heat water in my van, so this quick little post is to answer that.

Spoken like a true fellow-tea-fanatic, she said "If I can have my black tea in the morning I can live anywhere."

Glad to know I'm not the only one...

In my van, I use a lightweight GSI 1-quart teapot and a Max Burton butane stove for heating water for tea or oatmeal, cooking soup, and similar simple stuff.

The Stove: There are all sorts of portable butane stoves out there, and this is the one I just happened to pick. I just LOVE this one, although I'm sure they all work about the same. It is surprisingly lightweight and portable, and it came with a nice hard plastic case measuring 13" wide, 11.5" tall, and 4.25" thick. For fuel, the stove requires the use of generic disposable butane canisters (7.8 oz each), which can be ordered online or bought at local hardware and camping stores. You just make sure the ignition knob is turned to "Off," pop in your butane canister (notched-out section up), push down a lever to lock it in place, and then turn the dial (piezo-electric ignition). It lights just like a normal stove and it is extremely easy to use. Lets see... it comes apart easy (simple to clean), is very sturdy (made of metal & porcelain-enamel coated steel), and a butane canister really lasts for quite a while. Even if you aren't a traveler or vehicle dweller, I recommend having one of these in your home in case of emergencies.

I have read online in several places that portable butane stoves are safe to use in a vehicle, BUT I don't totally believe that and want to emphasize caution. I don't use the stove in a totally enclosed space without having windows open and some air flow, because "when oxygen is limited, burning butane can form carbon monoxide." (I stole that line from Wikipedia). Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas which is extremely poisonous.

The Tea-Kettle: I chose this teapot because I originally really wanted a lightweight one for backpacking, and I saw it on Two-Knives-Katie's site. She said she loved hers, and I can now agree - It is a totally cool little kettle. It's extremely lightweight (1/3 pound), since it is made of Halulite, and holds just the right amount of water (32 oz). The lid doesn't stay on the tightest (doesn't really matter I guess), and I do wish the handles weren't coated since I think they could eventually melt... but otherwise I think this is an excellent little teapot. If I didn't already have this one, though, I might try the Brunton aluminum kettle. It has excellent ratings which say that the lid fits tight, and it looks to me like the handles aren't coated with a meltable material. My kettle works GREAT though, and water boils extremely fast inside it! That is all that really matters.

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

Totally apart from that set-up, I do have a backup stove that is mainly for backpacking. Using some online instructions, I've got a home-made little Heineken-can Penny Stove that burns denatured alcohol (easy to get anywhere). I'm not kidding when I say TINY and perfect for backpacking. I could use this in my van, too, if I were out of butane and unable to find any. For now I just keep my little penny-stove inside my bugout bag.
Since I'm on a list-kick lately, my mini BOB (bugout bag)/backpacking cookset consists of:

Snow Peak 700 titanium pot with metal lid (holds everything!!)

JetBoil plastic lid (happens to fit tightly on the Snow Peak 700 & has a slit for draining liquid or drinking out of)
dish scrub pad
Snow Peak 450 single-walled mug (can also put this right over a flame)

bandana (used as a potholder)
penny stove (in the mesh bag that came with the Snow Peak 450)

a penny for my penny stove (or for your thoughts)
homemade coat-hanger pot stand

homemade wind-screen

mesh bag that goes over the Snow Peak 700 (so I guess this technically holds everything)

See my penny stove in use in this video:

HUGE LIST of ITEMS TO HAVE (for vehicle & emergencies)

Everybody's idea varies a little in terms of what they "need," so these lists are just based on my personal opinions. PLEASE comment with your own suggestions OR things that you keep in your vehicle!! Also let me know if you want to see photos of anything.

I'm sure I will eventually remember to add more things that I had forgotten and also more specifics about certain products, so this list is an ongoing "work in progress," so to speak. I know it's very long, but I do use everything listed; If I don't use it, I lose it. I'm also an organizational nut if you haven't figured that out already, so there's an actual place for all this stuff in my van.

Vehicle Items (What's in my VW Pop-Top Camper Van):

Glove Box:

vehicle insurance & registration
envelope containing important AAA membership info
pen
pencil
99¢ poncho
black Sharpie permanent marker
small spiral notepad (blank)
small log-book for gas info (prices, mileage, fill-ups) & maintenance info (parts, repairs, dates)
pepper spray
swiss army knife
2 cell phone chargers (12-volt charger & regular wall charger)
iPod earbuds & cell-phone anti-radiation headseat
12-volt power inverter (I think it is 175 watts, I will have to double check)
12-volt automotive battery tester
spare fuse set
sunglasses
free napkins from fast-food restaurants
spare ignition key
spare gas-tank key
a couple spare bulbs
VW owner's manual & camper supplement guide
Bic lighter & a book of matches
tire pressure gauge

Hanging in a canvas tote, behind my driver's seat:

Rand McNally U.S. Road Atlas
local maps & pamphlets (these change frequently)
book: "2010 RVer's Friend"
book: "Traveler's Guide to the Firearm Laws of the 50 States, 2010"
printout of the VW Vanagon Rescue Squad list
big lined notepad
folder containing miscellaneous papers, magazine cutouts, coupons, mail, etc.

Inside passenger-side's hanging backseat organizer:

antibacterial wet-wipes!! (always handy)
flower vase (just because it makes me happy to have fresh flowers around)
Zippo refillable butane lighter (and small bottle of butane)
pens & pencils
mini spiral notepad
compact 28-LED flashlight (bought mine from a local auto-parts store)
Petzl Zipka Plus 4-LED Headlamp (perfect for night-time reading)
fleece pouch containing my UCO Candle Lantern, along with a few spare candles

incense (Nag Champa & SuperHit) and incense burner

Inside my nylon gear hammock (easy access):

apples
journal, sketchbook, and whatever book I happen to be reading
daily planner
pajamas
roll of papertowl
box of kleenex
roll of toilet paper in a ziplock bag
warm hat and pair of gloves
LED bendable lamp (free-stands or hangs)

In regards to eating/kitchen stuff:

bottle of Dawn liquid dish soap (I only buy this if I'm parked somewhere long-term with good water access)
dish scrubbie brush
kitchen towel (for drying my dishes)
collapsible 10-Liter sink
titanium spork (my favorite eating utensil)
extra silverware (2 spoons, 2 forks, 2 knives)
2 plastic plates, 2 bowls, and 2 mugs (enough for me and a guest/traveling companion)
1 really good, large kitchen knife and 2 paring knives
knife sharpener
cutting board
can opener
Max Burton Portable Butane Stove
a couple pots/pans
butane fuel canisters for my portable stove
Nalgene BPA-free water bottle (for my daily drinking water)
GSI Outdoor Halulite 1 qt. tea kettle
a couple gallon jugs of water (I re-fill these at the water machines in grocery stores)
ziplock storage bags (quart & gallon sized both come in handy)
2 plastic tupperware containers (1 small, 1 medium)
aluminum foil
non-perishable food (like oatmeal, cereal, pb, granola bars, soup...) AND green tea (essential)

In regards to sleeping/bedtime area:

blankets
sleeping bag (my Moonstone bag is rated comfortable down to 20 degrees)
Cocoon 100% silk mummy bag liner (adds 10 degrees to my bag's comfort rating)
several pillows and body pillow (for ultra comfort and the ability to prop myself up)
slippers (my feet get cold easy, sometimes the floor is wet, and I just love my slippers)
bungee-cord gear hammock (above my bed, on the ceiling, for putting my headlamp & reading material into at night)
bulletin board velcroed to the wall next to my bed, complete with pushpins & calendar


In regards to clothing:

mesh laundry bag

1 pair of flip-flops
1 pair of comfortable everyday shoes (hiking shoes, running shoes, whatever)
1 pair of waterproof overboots or rainboots
rain jacket
regular coat/jacket
hoodie (I've only got one, but I'd keep two in my van if I had two)
2 sweaters
little canister (like a xmas cookie tin) that holds my jewelry (I don't have much)
7 Eagle-Creek "Pack-It Double Cubes" in my van's closet - 3 for my bottoms (pants, skirts, shorts, dresses), 2 for my tops (tank tops, t-shirts, long-sleeves), and 2 for my bras, socks, underwear, belts (I'm always trying to downsize even more)


In regards to personal hygiene/bathroom stuff:

Lady J & Little John (bathroom female funnel w/ portable urinal)
2 towels (1 bath & 1 beach), 1 handtowel, and 2 washcloths
1 small bottle of Campsuds or Dr. Bronners liquid castile soap
first aid kit (containing bandaids, Vick's vapor inhaler, Burt's Bees Res-Q ointment, Neosporin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen-Sodium, a few gauze pads, roll of surgical tape, and various items....)
bugspray
sunscreen (50 SPF)

Listerine
daily Multi-Vitamins, supplements (Spirulina & Garlic-Oil), & some Emergen-C packets

small bottle of No-Rinse Shampoo (for emergency hair "washing")
spray bottle containing water (for quick washups and hair-wetting)
Eagle Creek Pack It Cruiser (hanging organizer for my most important toiletry items) - (VERY easy to hang on a tree if using a solar shower, and very convenient for grabbing to head into a gym, friend's house, or community swimming pool)
Inside my "Pack-It Cruiser" - tiny mirror, deodorant, comb, sharp little hair-cutting-only scissors, bottle of perfume/scented body spritzer, shampoo, conditioner, bar of pure Castile soap inside a soap container, facial scrub, hairbrush, hairpick, toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, witch hazel (I poured it into a little spray jar to easily spritz my face with), facial lotion, small hand-lotion, fingernail clippers, toenail clippers, tweezers, couple boxes of contacts, eyeglasses w/ case, contact solution, contact case, OB tampons, travel-sized box of Q-tips, razor, tiny battery-operated Conair personal trimmer, Carmex lip balm, and a couple hairties

Misc. items of importance (stored under bench seat, in cupboards, in drawers, and elsewhere):

fire extinguisher (installed right on the wall behind the passenger seat)
tension curtain-rod (up near ceiling, behind front seats) (perfect for draping things over to dry OR for added privacy)
welcome mat & floor rug (from Kmart clearance)

foldable full-length lounger (used mainly at the beach) (kept behind my driver's seat)

VW repair/maintenance manuals (Bentley, Haynes, etc.)
digital camera
laptop computer, case, Ubiquiti wi-fi card, and solid-state external hard-drive
hand-crank & solar powered radio
can of WD-40
roll of duct-tape
pair of heavy-duty scissors
work gloves (for dirty van maintenance work)
a few rags
spare windshield wiper blades
spare oil filters AND oil-filter wrench

spare air filter
jack
4-way tire iron (lug wrench)
jug of Prestone coolant (phosphate-free) w/ funnel
toolbox w/ tape measure, electrical tape, various screwdrivers, allen wrenches, socket kit, hammer, pliers, superglue, etc.
velcro (for holding things down/attaching things inside my van)
a few quarts of 20W-50 oil
12-volt Typhoon-Max air compressor

12-volt fan
rear hatch bug-screen
skylight bug-screen
window shades (pop-open front shades AND accordian-style homemade side shades)
plastic Folger's coffee can, containing a roll of TP (my mini toilet)
bag of plastic bags (I save them from shopping - they can be very useful)
spare AA & AAA duracell batteries (and eneloop rechargeable AA & AAA batteries)
battery tester
Silva solar AA/AAA battery charger AND regular household Sony battery charger
several wire coat hangers (these always come in handy!)
jumper cables
heavy-duty outdoor extention cord
folding shovel
2 little tri-pod folding stools
1 bottle of "Awesome" brand spray-cleaner (from the Dollar Store)
mini broom/dustpan (from the Dollar Store, for keeping my floor swept up)
a few envelopes and stamps
metal detector & sand-scooper
handheld GPS (for geocaching)
2 gallon gas can, filled with gas (I hate running out!)
Fiamma bike rack, mountain-bike, detachable bike light, and bike lock
mini sewing kit
MSR Mini-Works EX water filter
indoor/outdoor thermometer (from Radio Shack)
4-gallon solar shower
inflatable 4' kid's pool (from Walmart, for showering inside my van)
collapsible 2-gallon bucket
a few holsters, some ammo, and range gear (shooting gloves, glasses, earplugs, boresnake, rag, Hornady One Shot gun cleaner/lube)
backpack

Hanging on the pop-top bar inside my van:

hanging clothespin clips (SO handy! gifted to me, so I have no idea where they're from)
small piece of coat-hanger, bent into an "S" hook (holds clump of bananas)
decorative homemade disco-ball (gifted to me)
windchimes (I find them to be soothing, but they annoy any of my passengers)
Solar LED lights (from Walgreens Christmas-clearance)

On top of my van, in the waterproof Pelican storage tote:

my tent & tent footprint (REI Half Dome 2 HC)
tarp
Therm-a-rest Z-lite sleeping pad (for camping)
fishing pole & tackle box

parachute-nylon travel hammock

Possibly on myself:

clothes
belt
earrings
Apple iPhone
purse - driver's license, CPL, survival-tin, and money (if I've got any!)
tiny gerber pocket knife (from Walmart)
K-Bar TDI knife
Ruger LCR
Maratac AAA flashlight (worn as a necklace)
550-Paracord anklet (homemade and gifted to me)

Still need to get for my van:

2nd battery (deep cycle marine battery)
solar panels

*As a side note, I don't want to come across as a big spender, but you can probably see that I have spent quite a bit of money (over time) on some higher-priced products. It just makes sense to me to buy the higher-quality products that will last longer than the cheap stuff from China. Better to just buy things once, instead of paying to replace them later because they either break or don't work as described.

*When first starting out, buying cheap useful things is totally fine, but here's something to keep in mind: If you move out of a rented apartment and into your vehicle, while continuing to work a full-time job, THEN you can take your previously $600 per month "rent payment" and now put it towards gear/maintenance/"housing supplies" for your vehicle. If you just keep working and putting "rent" towards your own home-on-wheels (instead of into the pockets of landlords), then you will soon have your vehicle all outfitted with everything you could possibly want and need to live comfortably.

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

Possible survival things to keep in a back-up location (garage, storage unit, shed, house, friend's house, parent's basement, etc...), in case of emergency (societal collapse, national emergency, ice-storm, earthquake, zombie attack, food shortage, hurricane, short-term emergency, long-term emergency, whatever):

*Basically, just consider the simple things that we need for survival and comfort (food, water, shelter, warmth, health, companionship), and then try to keep some useful items regarding them on hand... (Obviously this is an overwhelming and expensive list to acquire, but it is very important to at least pick out what is MOST important to you and to store it someplace safe... an emergency could strike at any time, and if you aren't prepared, then what?)


canned vegetables, canned meat, wheat, oats, grains, pastas, whole corn, olive oil, peanut butter, dried milk, rice, sugar, dried beans, energy bars, ramen noodles, jerky, etc. (packaged for long-term storage & dated)
MREs or freeze-dried food (if you'd rather go that route)
vegetable/herb seeds and perhaps some gardening supplies (pitchfork, rake, shovel, trowel)
jugs of drinking water
buckets
several gas cans containing gasoline (treated with fuel-stabilizer)
clorox bleach (to purify additional drinking water)
pressure canner, canning equipment, canning jars/lids, and the "Ball Blue Book of Preserving"
distilled white vinegar, salt, baking soda, yeast
multi-vitamins and vitamin C
bars of soap
blankets, towels
a portable butane stove with some butane canisters
candles
lighters, matches, flint & steel firestarter
2-person pullsaw or chainsaw w/ some 2-cycle gas
fishing gear (pole, assorted fishing line, hooks, sinkers, good fillet knife, etc)
tools
ammunition
CB radio
hand-crank powered radio/phone charger

solar panels/solar chargers

batteries

paper

pencils
toilet paper, tampons, first aid supplies, medicine, toothpaste, saline solution, aluminum foil, storage bags, some spare pairs of eyeglasses....

you need it? you name it. add it to the list!

I don't currently have all of this stuff since I don't have a place to store it or the money required to purchase it, but, I do have some things. I've got a well-packed "Bug-Out-Bag," a little stash of canned goods, and a few other odds-n-ends.

Really, this survival-list is to get you thinking ahead and to help you maybe start planning a little for the unknown. If a major emergency ever suddenly occurred, supplies and high-demand goods would be essential to have for the short-term.... In the event of any long-term emergency, however, our own survival ultimately would depend on our skills and knowledge - to kill our own deer, catch our own fish, start our own fires, grow our own food, make our own soap, bake our own bread, find fresh drinking water, etc. A storage room filled with supplies will only last for so long, especially if they're being shared and divided up amongst many individuals.

I'm 28 years old, and I honestly believe that I will reach a day in my lifetime when some things that I have come to depend on, from society, will no longer be available (for some reason or another, either temporarily or long-term). And when that day comes, I want to be able to say 'oh well, I can just provide those things for myself.' I think the best ways to prepare for the unknown are to:

1. Start now
2. Stock up on some of the most important supplies to have (food, gasoline, water, etc.)
3. Buy some books, print some info off the Internet, and learn about how to become more self-sufficient