Pennsylvania Preppers Network

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2011-12-31T19:18:00.001-08:00

The Pennsylvania Preppers Network has moved. Please bookmark our new location at: http://pennsylvania.preppersnetwork.com/

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The Record Heat Waves

2011-07-22T14:17:00.001-07:00

With the record heat waves and drought across the nation, the American Preppers Network hopes that you have been prepared. Disasters of any type can and do happen anywhere, at anytime, and without warning. We are now witnessing and will continue to witness a prime example of how one disaster can cause a chain reaction leading to other disasters. Here are some potential disasters to be aware of as a result of the drought and heat waves.

1) Water shortages. Water is the number 1 most important necessity to survival. The average human can only survive 3 days without water, and even less in a heat wave. I hope you've stored some. If the water system shuts down or does not have enough, you could turn on the tap only to have a few drips. If you run into a situation where there is not enough municipal water supply to your home, start looking for other sources of stored water.

Your hot water tank may have 30 - 50 gallons of water stored.
The top supply tank to your toilette is typically clean water that you can use.
Your plumbing in your house could have a few gallons. Open a higher faucet in your house as in a shower, sink, or upstairs source to relieve pressure, then open a lower outside faucet to retrieve water from your plumbing system.

Don't short change yourself on water! Make sure you have plenty for personal consumption. If you stop sweating, that means you are dehydrated!

Got Water?

2) Heat. Heat poses many risks, including but not limited to:

Heat Stroke. Watch family members closely, especially the elderly, watch for slurred speech and disorientation. When in doubt, call for help. Time lost is brain lost. Never leave pets or children in a vehicle, and keep them out of the direct sun. Drink lots of water.
Fire. Fires are much more common in the heat. Things dry out and become more flammable. Keep dry brush and trash picked up. Do not store fuel in or around your house, and keep well ventilated in a cool area out of the sun. Keep grass cut short, especially if your city is rationing water and not allowing watering of lawns. Do not store any flammables in the direct sun or in your attic.
Vehicle breakdowns. Avoid driving unless it's absolutely necessary, or drive at nite. Check your fluid levels and make sure your oil and coolant are topped off. Bring extra oil and coolant with you in case you need it. DO NOT top off your fuel tank! Make sure your tires are property inflated and not over or under inflated. Bring extra water with you in case you do break down. Drive with the A/C off when going uphill. Watch your vehicles tempature when climbing grades. If your car starts to overheat when going uphill, pull over at a safe location to let it cool. Check to make sure your thermostat is working before you make your trip.

3) Blackouts. The nations grids are maxed out. With everyone using A/C, expect rolling blackouts. If you are in a blackout, you can wrap sleeping bags around your refrigerator or freezer to help insulate it. To conserve power, only use what you absolutely need. Keep lights turned off and keep your A/C set to the warmest temperature that you can safely stand. Do you have a generator? Be prepared to use it. Do you have plenty of non-perishable food stored? If there is an extended blackout, you may need it. Stores and gas stations will be shut down in a blackout. Do you have an emergency battery powered radio and flashlights?

4) Food Prices Expect food prices to increase. Especially meat. Many ranchers are butchering all of there livestock as there is not enough food and water to care for them, this means shortages in the future. Produce crops are drying up. Prices of corn, wheat and other grains will increase. Even produce grown in unaffected areas may increase in price as well due to demand. If the blackouts are too severe, stores, gas stations and truck stops may close down temporarily disrupting the supply chain and preventing food from making it to the stores.

Stay safe during this heat wave and dought. This is a serious and potentially devastating national disaster.

If you have tips, ideas, news, videos or pictures that you wish to share regarding this heat wave you can submit your article to americanprepper@yahoo.com. If your article is chosen we will post it on your states preppers network blog. Top articles will get posted on APN. The top article of the week will win a free flashlantern valued at $49.95 (made in the USA). Articles must be submitted before 7/29.

Feel free to copy and repost this article in it's entirety. Credit source as AmericanPreppersNetwork.com

Here are some free helpful pdf files to download

Fire and Heat Waves
- ARC - Are You Ready - Fire

- ARC - Are You Ready - Heat Wave

- ARC - Are You Ready - Wildfires

- Fact Sheet: Fires

- Fact Sheet: Fire Safe

- WildFires

Water
- ARC - Food and Water in Emergency

- Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water

- How To Make A Solar Still (Plastic Cover)

- Purification Of Water On A Small Scale

- Simple Solar Still For The Production Of Distilled Water

- Slow Sand Filters

- Water Purification

- Water Treatment

Fire Safety

- Fighting Fire

- Fire Safety

Get More Free Downloads here:
http://preppers.info/Free_Downloads.html

Pennsylvania Turkey Hunt May 28 2011

2011-06-10T01:23:00.000-07:00

Herschel, Brady, and myself hunting for spring gobblers in Bedford County, PA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_ZBS0uEDQk

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Pennsylvania Preppers Roll Call - All Preppers Please Check In

2011-03-07T06:26:00.000-08:00

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.

Pennsylvania Preppers, to respond to the roll call please follow this link:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=173&t=9280

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

WGAL TV Channel 8 Brian Roche Investigates Locksmith Scams in the Susquehanna Valley Area.

2011-02-26T21:49:00.000-08:00

WGAL TV Channel 8 Brian Roche Investigates Locksmith Scams in the Susquehanna Valley Area.

Aired February 24, 2011 at the 6:00PM News.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Locksmith Scam In Abbington Pennsylvania

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PA: Winter Storm: February 2011

2011-02-01T14:58:00.000-08:00

Posted by: Tobor

State roads open, speed limits reduced

CHAMBERSBURG, Tuesday, Feb. 1 -Interstate 81 and Route 11 speed limits have been reduced to 45 miles an hour until further notice.

The reduction does not apply to other roads in Franklin County, according to PennDOT District 8 spokesman Mike Crochunis.

For those traveling today, a similar speed limit reduction has been placed on other south central Pennsylvania highways. It covers I81 in Cumberland, Dauphin and Lebanon Counties, I83 in York, Cumberland and Dauphin Counties, I283 in Dauphin County and most other U.S. and state highways in PennDOT 's Section 8.

Although PennDOT are crews treating roadways around the clock, the department's primary goal is to keep roads passable, Crochunis said.

Roads will not be completely free of ice and snow, he warned.

PennDOT will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.

Although PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists can check road conditions on more than 2,900 miles of state roads by calling 511 or visiting http://www.511PA.com.

The website is free and available 24 hours a day. It provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, average traffic speeds on urban interstates and access to more than 500 traffic cameras.

The 511 site also provides easy-to-use, color-coded winter road conditions for all interstates and other routes covered in the 511 reporting network. Regional Twitter alerts are also available on the 511PA website.

To respond to this post, please go here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=177&t=8262

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Excerpts: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett's inauguration speech

2011-01-18T13:48:00.000-08:00

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The following are excerpts from The text of Tom Corbett's speech at his inauguration as Pennsylvania's 46th governor, as prepared before he delivered it:

From PennLive.com

Chief Justice Castille; Governor Rendell, Judge Rendell; members of the judiciary; leaders and members of the General Assembly; members of Congress; my fellow Pennsylvanians: today we celebrate a long, proud, and sustaining tradition of democracy.

Over three hundred years ago, a free society took root here in Penn's woods. The leaders of those times were uneasy with a government more prone to political favor than fairness to the people. They were deeply troubled by government exploitation and excess and through the course of human events, envisioned the potential for a new government — a new ideal — based in unalienable rights and power derived from the consent of the people.

That debate conducted by our forefathers, beginning with William Penn and carried through the 13 colonies to Philadelphia's Independence Hall, was not without moments of rancor or sacrifice. But those noble leaders stood true to the belief that civility stands at the core of fair and peaceful governance.

As we open this new chapter in Pennsylvania's history, let us also step forward firmly dedicated to a civil discourse. Let us not confuse acrimony with passion or partisanship with principle. Rather, let us take this opportunity to begin a new kind of debate — one that honors our shared history and unites us as citizens in common purpose. In doing so, I have great faith that we will unleash a new common prosperity to benefit all Pennsylvanians.

-snip-

It is fitting that I assume the office of governor pledging my oath on William Penn's bible. As governor, I will lead each day grounded in the truth of Penn's first charted liberties and mindful of the role we have in democracy's endurance. I will honor your trust by standing firm in my guiding principle to do the right things, for the right reasons, even in the most challenging of times. And I will dedicate each and every day over the next four years to fiscal discipline and a responsible, limited government.

-snip-

I have had the privilege to see and experience all that is special about Pennsylvania. Our land is rich in resources. Our industry is rooted in innovation. And our people — our people are extraordinary in their diversity and determination. As they work to make a living and raise their families — our people are exceptional in their dignity.

-snip-

Our people — our fellow Pennsylvanians — make this an exceptional state. Today I call upon everyone in state government to summon all of the will and talent within you to advance the promise of our Commonwealth and to perform exceptionally for all Pennsylvanians.

This will require creativity and courage, and be assured that where there is creativity and courage we will navigate the pending storms.

-snip-

We need good government. The people now demand it. And they deserve it. We will lead the way toward a government that understands that, . . . . .

-snip-

You will never hear me say "impossible." To say it, or worse, to believe it, would accomplish nothing. I see the possible. And in the possible I see a promising future for Pennsylvania.

-snip-

I believe in Pennsylvania and I believe in Pennsylvanians.

-snip-

All of this will take time. The challenges we face were not created overnight

-snip-

I am confident.

-snip-

Join me. With God's protective guidance we will lead with clear minds, full hearts, and eyes set toward new generations of Pennsylvania's true and sustaining greatness.

May God bless you. May God bless our Commonwealth and may God bless the United States of America.

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Natural gas industry freely pollutes Pennsylvania's drinking water

2011-01-08T15:40:00.000-08:00

Friday, January 07, 2011 by: Jonathan Benson, staff writer

(NaturalNews) Drilling for natural gas has become a hot new industry. But in Pennsylvania, the practice is literally destroying the environment. Unlike other states, Pennsylvania allows:

Follow this story by going to the link below then follow Natural gas....

http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewforum.php?f=177&sid=f1e2b81d4d6a1b8bc619

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We’re Going to Experience Apocalyptic Pain, and It’s Going to Be Out of Our Control

2010-12-28T20:54:00.000-08:00

The US Treasury Department tells us that our federal debt is currently sitting at $13.8 trillion. On its most basic level the federal deficit is the difference between current government spending (including interest payments) and total current revenue from all types of taxes.

In 2001, when President George Bush took office, our debt was around $6.5 trillion. Combined with President Obama’s spending packages and commitments, our public and gross debt over the last 10 years has more than doubled.

But that’s not the scary part. What’s scary is how much money we owe when we look at current and future liabilities over the course of the next three decades. Officially, this figure is estimated to be around $150 trillion. Unofficially, according to Boston University economist Laurence Kotlikoff, our future liabilities exceed some $200 trillion. Considering that the tax revenue of the United States is around $4 trillion per year, anyone who’s ever held a balance and made a credit card payment can understand the near impossibility of paying off such a debt.

Senator Tom Coburn is one of many who warns of dire consequences if we can’t get our finances under control:

I think you’ll see a 15 to 18 percent unemployment rate . I think you will see an 8 to 9 percent decline in GDP. I think you’ll see the middle class just destroyed if we don’t do this. And the people that it will harm the most will be the poorest of the poor, because we’ll print money to try to debase our currency and get out of it and what you will see is hyperinflation.

If we don’t take some pain now, we’re going to experience apocalyptic pain, and it’s going to be out of our control. The idea should be that we control it.

We share Senator Coburn’s sentiment. Unfortunately, we’re not as optimistic as he is that any of Congress’ placations will be sufficient enough to help us get out of this hole.

With $4 trillion in annual tax revenue, at today’s debt levels it would literally take 50 years just to pay off the debt that we’ve already committed to - that’s if we stopped all additional spending right now - today. The odds of that are zero - thus our debt liability will continue to grow, as will the interest payments required to service our debt.

The end result of our pulling forward 25 - 50 years of debt is not going to be pretty. As we’ve outlined before, we are on the brink of a catastrophic collapse in the credit of the United States of America. This means that at some point our national credit card is going to be maxed out.

When that will be is difficult to predict. According to Senator Coburn, we’re looking at about 3 - 4 years - which sounds like a viable time line. Really, it all depends on China, because they are the largest buyer of US debt.

But the Chinese are not going to stand by while their US currency reserves become worthless. They are already taking action to counter the effects of a soon-to-be suicided US dollar.

We recently learned that the Chinese have signed agreements with the Russians to drop the dollar as a settlement vehicle, essentially replacing the world’s reserve currency with the Yuan when dealing with each other. We’ve heard many people suggest that this is just a drop in the bucket because of the widespread use of the US dollar - and we agree. However, China is working with other trade partners to do the same thing. And eventually all of those drops in the bucket will fill it up.

Once the Chinese pull the plug there will be only one entity left to support the US dollar - The Federal Reserve. They’ll digitally print trillions of dollars for as long as they can, but sooner rather than later the US dollar will collapse.

And when it does, the end result can only be described as an economic apocalypse.

If the dollar gets to the point it is equivalent to Monopoly money it will be impossible for holders of the bills, as well as our government, to settle transactions with the currency. This means that commerce on a global scale, for all of those expecting to fulfill transactions in US dollars, will come to a standstill.

How will individuals and governments buy food, gas, and other essential goods when the very currency being used to settle the transaction is no longer a viable trade instrument?

Really, it can get that bad. We have no confidence that Congress, the President, the Federal Reserve or US Treasury can fix this problem.

Over the course of the next decade we will see a new US monetary system introduced - just like we saw in 1971, 1944, 1913 and 1785.

This time it will be very disorderly. We can expect trillions in wealth to be wiped out and the many complications that come along with such an event - violence, protests, riots, breakdown in the rule of law and potentially even large-scale war.

If you haven’t done so already, take action to protect your wealth and preserve your well being now, before it hits the fan. Follow the investment strategies of the Chinese and you might have a chance of coming out with something when the chickens come home to roost.

Take possession of hard assets whenever you can, including precious metals, long-term food stores, tools & equipment, and anything else that will retain value when the US dollar loses it.

Author: Mac Slavo
Date: December 27th, 2010
Visit the Author's Website: http://www.SHTFplan.com/

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Sing the health praises of parsley and sage

2010-12-25T12:09:00.000-08:00

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".

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Diatomaceous earth has many benefits

2010-12-25T12:06:00.000-08:00

Few people give much thought to lowly diatoms, single-celled marine micro-organisms that are found in abundance in large bodies of water. However, when these tiny organisms die, their skeletal remains settle to the bottom, become fossilized over time and accumulate to produce one of nature's most beneficial and healthful substances: diatomaceous earth.

Diatomaceous earth is often harvested from areas where large bodies of water once stood and is marketed in two grades - industrial and food grade. Industrial grade diatomaceous earth is used for many purposes including water filtration systems in swimming pools. Food grade diatomaceous earth is perhaps best known for its use as a non-toxic insecticide. However, food grade diatomaceous earth offers a host of health benefits too.

The sharp points found on fossilized diatom exoskeletons create a safe and non-toxic strong abrasive that scrubs intestinal walls and cuts up any parasites present in the digestive tract. Additionally, as it passes the digestive tract, it attracts and absorbs pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi. It also absorbs and removes pesticides, heavy metals, and drug residues.

Diatomaceous earth also has many health benefits due to its mineral content, which consists of about 85% amorphous silica and approximately 20 trace minerals. The silica in diatomaceous earth is effective in preventing premature aging. Silica can also make age spots fade and also helps to repair and maintain lung tissue elasticity.

Regular intake of diatomaceous earth also has numerous other health benefits, some of which include:

*Lowering blood pressure and bad cholesterol.
*Relieving sore joints.
*Healthier skin and hair.
*Healthier teeth and gums.
*Harder nails.

Diatomaceous earth does not have an unpleasant taste. Simply mix 1 to 2 tablespoons daily in liquid or food. Since diatomaceous earth does not dissolve, it may be necessary to stir a few times while drinking to prevent settling. As some people experience high energy levels, it is best to take it in the morning hours.

Diatomaceous earth benefits pets and other animals similarly to the way it does humans, and it can have other benefits as well. For example, rubbing diatomaceous earth on their coats will ward off fleas and ticks and given internally, it is an excellent de-wormer.

When giving pets diatomaceous earth orally, just mix it in their food. Kittens should receive 1/4 of a teaspoon while large cats should be given 1 teaspoon.

The dosage for dogs is as follows:

*Very small dogs should receive 1/2 teaspoon.
*Dogs under 50 pounds - 1 teaspoon.
*Dogs 50 to 100 pounds - 1 tablespoon.
*Dogs more than 100 pounds - 1 to 2 tablespoons.

Diatomaceous earth can also be added to kitty litter and pet carriers to reduce odors.

Gardeners can find that diatomaceous earth is a dream come true. The sharp points scratch the exoskeleton of insects causing them to dry out and die and the powder also absorbs fats (lipids) from the hard exoskeletons of the insects, drying them even further. It makes an excellent pesticide, effectively controlling aphids, thrips, mites, snails, and slugs without harming worms or beneficial soil microorganisms.

IMPORTANT NOTES: Industrial grade diatomaceous earth, which has larger quantities of a highly crystallized form of silica, should never be inhaled due to possible health risks for the lungs. When using food grade diatomaceous earth externally, such as in the garden or on pets, it is probably a good idea to wear a dust mask and gloves. Breathing in too much food grade diatomaceous earth may irritate the mucus membranes in the nose and mouth and it may dry out your skin. Once the dust settles, it does not pose a threat. Diatomaceous earth can also dry out your skin.

Sources:

http://www.morethanalive.com/Diatom...
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/...
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/gar...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatom...

About the author

Luella May is a natural health advocate helping people to heal naturally. Luella is in the midst of editing her ebook, "The 8 Invisible Stains of Our Souls" which will be available in the next few months. She partners with Tony Isaacs, who authors of books and articles about natural health including "Cancer's Natural Enemy" and "Collected Remedies" Luella contributes to 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. Luella co-moderates the CureZone "Ask Tony Isaacs" forum as well as the Yahoo Health Group "Oleander Soup" and hosts her own yahoo group focusing on the natural wellbeing of pets "

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Pennsylvania Preppers Roll Call

2010-11-27T10:44:00.000-08:00

The Pennsylvania 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=173&t=6180

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

Welcome New Members

2010-10-17T06:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome our new members:

nickds

Good evening and happy Thanksgiving!
Stumbled upon this while doing some research.
Looks like a good fit for my interests.
I am also in the PA HTF on ARFCOM if anyone is there also.

Again, greetings all.

Nick

Welcome our new member by clicking on link below:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=173&t=6136&sid=435

digitalal

Hello Everyone!

We are from NW PA and have been prepping on our own for almost 2 years. We live in the sticks and have Amish neighbors. They are a great example for us. We have installed a hand pump on our well, raise chickens, have two large gardens and can all we are able to. We are glad that we finally found others like us.

Welcome our new member by clicking on link below:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=173&t=6047&sid=d82fc

Al & Kathy

misiuprep
Morning All, new prepper in PA looking forward to chatting with everyone. Hope the weekend treated everyone well.

Welcome our new member by clicking on link below:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=563&t=184&sid=f20622

Sheeple_No_more

Prepper from suburbs of Philly. Looking to share ideas and tips.

Welcome our new member by clicking on link below:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=563&t=5513

dfkendrick

Hey, I am new to the Prepper thing but am very interested. Found it via Yankeeprepper on youtube. Looking forward to Prepping for the SHTF event but not looking forward to the SHTF....

Welcome our new member by clicking on link below:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=563&t=5415

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How To Join The Pennsylvania Preppers Network

2010-09-15T15:23:00.000-07:00

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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania forum and introduce yourself. The Pennsylvania 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.PennsylvaniaPreppersNetwork.net

4) After you've visited the Pennsylvania forum, follow this link to learn how to join the Pennsylvania 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!

Growing Season in Pennsylvania

2010-06-08T02:34:00.000-07:00

Originally posted by ReadyMom in our forum

PENNSYLVANIA GROWING SEASON
http://www.pennridge.org/works/growing.html

DEFINITION OF GROWING SEASON

The growing season is also called the frost free season. It is the part of the year when crops and native plants can be grown. The length of the growing season is measured in two ways. One counts the days of the year when the average temperature is above the temperature at which crops will germinate and continue to grow (along with native plants). This measurement can vary with the type of crop.

Another way to measure the growing season is the number of frost-free days, i.e. the average number of days between the last frost of spring and the first killing frost of fall or winter. Most crops require a frost-free season of at least 90 days. Gardeners and farmers plant, grow, and harvest their crops during the growing season.

PENNSYLVANIA GROWING SEASON

Pennsylvania has a relatively long growth season. It is from the middle of April to anywhere around mid-September. It is best to look in gardening books or specialized websites for more specific information.

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Visit the Pennsylvania Forum at www.PennsylvaniaPreppersNetwork.net

Major Food Storage Contest

2010-04-09T07:22:00.001-07:00

Double Nickel Farm will be hosting 2 food storage giveaways in the next few weeks. Check in the next few days to see the rules and enter.

Prize 1 Breakfast Pack - 6 number ten cans of freeze dried strawberries, creamy wheat cereal, buttermilk pancakes, imitation bacon bits, and scrambled egg mix.

Prize 2 Dinner Pack- 6 number ten cans of Creamy potato soup, Imitation beef bits, potato gems, honey white bread and roll mix, freeze dried corn, and vegetable stew blend.

Check over the next few days...for the breakfast pack it is a $78.28 value and for the dinner pack it is $80.20 value!
Jennifer

Leftover Ham Stew Recipie

2009-12-27T12:39:00.000-08:00

If you're like me, you're probably pretty broke from Xmas shopping.

Also, if you're like me, you probably look at those stored cans of vegetables etc. and think "I should really eat some of that to turn over the stock and keep it fresh" and then proceed to make something more convenient or tasty.

So, endeavoring to keep the can stock fresh (see previous post on organizing cans), my budget small, and practicing actually cooking with yucky canned veggies (we usually use frozen in day to day cooking) I resolved to try to make a simple ham stew that would be possible to make with just a propane burner and water (ie: camping or power outage)

I took the leftover Xmas hambone, boiled it for an hour, chopped up and threw in what would be about 2-3 portions of ham, then drained and tossed in a can of corn, a large can of potatoes, and a can of light kidney beans plus some spices and simmered for an hour.

So, for about $3-4 we stretched a couple portions of ham out to a whole big pot, probably 8 meals or so.

Hope everyone had a good holiday!

Stay Prepared!
-DaveP

Getting Your Finances In Order

2009-11-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

Re-post courtesy of Matthiasj from Kentucky Preppers Network

Running a strict budget could be THE most important part of living a frugal/preparedness-minded lifestyle. The goal is to save money, prep like hell, and cut out all the waste. I follow a mainly cash only budget plan modeled after the advice Dave Ramsey gives. The idea is that you use cash all you can, which allows you to physically see your money leave. It's a lot harder to spend cash than to swipe a card.

The first step to getting your budget set up is to figure out your monthly income. No matter how large or how small your income is a budget WILL benefit you. Next you need to map out all your expenses. This includes everything from your cell phone bill, to your water bill, to grabbing a cheeseburger at McDonald's. *Warning: Once your expenses are mapped out you might be surprised to see all the waste.

After every monthly expense is mapped out they need to be categorized. There are two expense categories; committed expenses and non-committed expenses. Committed expenses are your monthly bills that you couldn't "live without." This doesn't include monthly trips to the salon or a case of beer every Saturday. Although it would include you’re electricity bill, water bill, grocery bill, and insurance. Non-committed expenses would be eating out, vehicle maintenance, purchasing clothes or other non-essential items. *I say clothes are non-essential because most of us have a closet FULL and don't need anymore.

At this point your jaw should drop when you realize all the money you waste in any given month. From eating out to "junk" purchases. Even the little things add up from a coke at work to a snack on your break. Look at all the waste and pledge to remove it. Stop eating out, stop buying more junk that you already have, and cut down on your bills. Television is a huge waste and who watches that junk? There are endless amounts of commercial free TV on the web. Keep your internet, ditch the TV.

Your committed expenses need to be broken down to a weekly or bi-weekly figure (however you get paid). So each paycheck before anything is spent or saved the money for that week's committed expenses gets taken out. Then remove your savings. The amount you save from each paycheck is up to you, but even if it is only $1 a day, GET IN THE HABIT OF SAVING. I would suggest saving most of the money outside of your committed expenses (assuming those are the bare minimum). Before starting your savings account an Emergency Fund must be established.

Your emergency fund is your "rainy day" fund. It's there when things come up unexpected. This allows you to take care of it without dipping into money for bills or savings. You would use your emergency fund if your car broke down and needed repairs, home repairs, or medical care. The amount in your emergency fund is up to you. I suggest keeping it in cash and at least $2000 especially for families. This would cover most vehicle issues and other things. Take the money you are planning to save each week and put that towards your Emergency Fund. Once it’s where you want it, then put that same amount to the savings account to build it up. *I would suggest working towards a goal of having 3 months wages in your savings account.

So the concept is simple, as soon as you get paid take out your committed expenses (bills & food) and the majority of the rest save. It's okay to have a little fun money or Over Budget money. Over Budget money is used if you want to go out and eat, buy a video game or something outside of the normal budget. Make sure the over budget money is a small amount so that you don’t overdo it. This is your main source of spending money so spend it wisely and keep it at a minimum.

The committed expenses need to be separated into the payment type. I pay most of my bills online with my card, which is fine. Only use your checking account and debit card for this purpose. Keep just enough in the account (adding from each paycheck) to pay the bills when they're due. All bills that you can't pay with a card take the cash out as soon as you’re paid.

The bills to pay with cash need to be kept in an envelope. Each envelope labeled with the type of bill. When the cash is withdrawn after payday, put it in the envelope and don't touch it. This way, if you're monthly electric bill is $100, and you get paid weekly; put $25 cash each week into the envelope and at the end of the month pay it. This doesn't affect your bank account, savings account, or over budget money. And that's the beauty of it. You don't have to worry about paying bills because the money is there.

Click here to see a sample budget chart

*This is assuming you have little to no debt. If you have any debt, you're best plan of action is to cut everywhere you can and get out of it quick. Buckle down and spend every extra penny on paying down the debt. Pay down your biggest payment first. Then use that money to pay on the next biggest payment; and so on.

How to Make a Laser Mag-Lite

2009-11-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Re-post courtesy of Matthiasj from Kentucky Preppers Network

Here is a really cool video on how to make a laser flashlight. It shows you how to turn an ordinary mini Mag-Lite into a powerful laser beam. This laser is so powerful that it can light a match, pop a balloon or light a fuse. It might not be the "perfect" survival tool because it's questionable as to how long the batteries would last but for a quick fire starter this should be able to light any tinder you have. Watch the video for the parts list and instructions. If I can get a cheap DVD burner I'm going to give this a try!

**Caution: This is a very powerful laser and WILL burn your skin. Keep the laser away from your skin and any animals skin. NEVER point into ANYONE'S eyes, this will cause permanent damage.

How to Prolong the Life of your Automobile Part 1

2009-11-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

Re-post courtesy of Matthiasj from Kentucky Preppers Network

To me prepping has become a hobby. I look at life and the world totally different since I started prepping. Prepping is a mindset or even a way of life; it's not just putting some canned goods and batteries into storage (not that doing this would be a bad thing). Taking care of your vehicle falls right into place with the prepper mindset. You must prepare for potential vehicular problems, and not only keep a good Car Emergency Kit, you must practice preventative maintenance on your vehicle to prolong the life of it.

It's important to follow your vehicle's specific maintenance schedule. The following information is generic and would apply to any vehicle. Performing your own maintenance can be rewarding and a lot cheaper than paying for it. If you do see a problem, consult with a mechanic about getting the problem fixed before it becomes a big issue. Never let something go. Always keep your vehicle in top running condition.

Here is a list of items you should check each month. Set aside a couple hours once a month to go over each item to make sure the basics are working properly.
1. Check the Engine & Ground for Fluid Leaks
2. Test Heater & Air Conditioning
3. Check Wiper Blades (Make sure the blades are in good shape, and function properly)
4. Check Headlights (High Beam & Low Beam)
5. Check Fog or Driving Lights
6. Check Turn Signals (Front & Back)
7. Check Hazard Lights (Front & Back)
8. Test Door Locks on All Doors
9. Inspect Windshield for Chips or Cracks
10. Test each Window (If Power Windows Check Each Switch)
11. Test Door Locks (If Power Locks Check Each Switch)
12. Check Radio & Make Sure Each Speaker Plays
13. Test Horn
14. Verify that you have your proper information in the glove box and the information is up to date (Proof of Insurance & Registration)

Every 3,000 miles or 90 days you want to perform these tasks:
1. Change Engine Oil & Filter
2. Check All Engine Fluids (Coolant, Power Steering Fluid, Brake Fluid, Windshield Washer Fluid, Transmission Fluid)
3. Check Tire Pressure & Tire Tread
4. Check All Belts for Cracks or Fraying
5. Check All Hoses for Leaks or Bulges
6. Lubricate Grease Fittings (Where Applicable)

Even if you have no idea about how to work on a car these tasks are simple and can be performed in your driveway. By doing this you WILL prolong the life of your vehicle and help to ensure that these problems don't pop up when you're on the road. If any one of these things that you check are not functioning properly it is time to fix it yourself, or take it to someone you trust to fix it. I will continue this series with more information about how to prolong the life of your automobile in the future.

*Disclaimer: Always consult your service manual for exact maintenance procedures. If you are uncomfortable with performing the maintenance yourself, contact a trusted mechanic to do the work.

Simple Survival Tips - Winter Hazards for Pets - Antifreeze

2009-11-23T16:38:00.000-08:00

Re-post courtesy of Riverwalker from Stealth Survival

Antifreeze, also known as ethylene glycol, can be a potential problem for your pets in the winter. Cats and dogs are attracted to the sweet smell and taste of antifreeze. They will usually not hesitate to sample some if it is left out in a container or spilled on the garage floor, carport or driveway of your home.

Antifreeze is extremely toxic to dogs and cats. Antifreeze is rapidly absorbed into their system and it has a high mortality rate if not treated very quickly. The initial signs of antifreeze poisoning usually appear within one hour after being ingested.

There are also other sources of this deadly chemical. Heat exchange fluids (sometimes used in solar collectors for heating water), some brake and transmissions fluids and diethylene glycol which is used in color film processing are just a few.

Usually within 12 hours of ingestion, acute cases of antifreeze poisoning pets often exhibit symptoms resembling alcohol intoxication. The signs include stumbling, vomiting and depression. The kidneys are the most severely affected part of their bodies. Even if the animal seems to show signs of initial improvement after treatment, they may succumb shortly afterwards as a result of kidney failure. When the kidneys shut down, your dog or cat will be unable to produce urine.

This type of kidney failure usually happens within 12 to 24 hours after being ingested by cats and within 36 to 72 hours after being ingested by dogs. Successful treatment is entirely dependent upon a quick response by you when ingestion of antifreeze by your pet is suspected.

If you suspect that your animal has come into contact with antifreeze and may have ingested it, contact your veterinarian immediately.

A safe alternative to ethylene glycol antifreeze is available. It is called propylene glycol, and while it does cost more than “regular” antifreeze, it may be worth the extra piece of mind it will give you knowing that your pets will be safe.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

The Benefits of Buying "Junk Silver."...

2009-10-27T18:09:00.000-07:00

Original Post found HERE.

Yes, silver. No, not junk. Junk silver is what numismatists call circulated coin with an 80% or better silver content. There are many ways to buy such coin but I will give a few pointers.

"Why silver?" you may ask. Well, for one, it is much easier to break down silver coin into cash. For example, even in a relatively minor SHTF situation, silver would be worth more than gold because it would be easy to use it to trade for needed items. The thing about any precious metal is that WHILE the S is hitting the F it would be very difficult to convince people to take it in exchange for things that they could use more than money. Some people will try to tell you otherwise--but think about it and examine history and then tell me what you think. Sure, you may get some suckers' goods in exchange for a sackful of silver coin on the first day of a major disaster, but chances are that as the days without government intervention or relief go on, you will notice that people will be more and more reluctant to take your "precious" metals. Chances are they will tell you to take your "precious" metals and do something very inappropriate with them.

This phenomenon is only heightened by the value of the coin itself. If the coin is gold, for example, it is much harder to break it down or know the value of it enough to want to trade with it. Platinum suffers from this problem even more than gold. If the coin is worth more than what people have to offer you, why wouldn't they want to trade for it? Simple: Their goods are more useful to them than your coin, during SHTF. Conversely, if the coin is worth more than what people have to offer you, why don't you want to trade it? Simple: Because if you make it through the disaster alive, you will have lost a whole bunch of tied-up assets (tied into the gold you bought before SHTF) and you will have taken a BIG financial hit.

The answer? SILVER. Specifically, silver that you can get on the cheap--often termed "junk silver" by coin collectors and mints, it is usually 80- 90% silver per coin and when you have enough of it (not hard to do) it is worth a whole lot, enough to trade with for sure, but not worth so much that it's impossible to get anybody to trade for it.

The common channels of buying "junk" silver are through both mints and auction sites such as Ebay. My favorite ways of buying both "junk" silver and "rounds" of 99.99% pure silver bullion is through Ebay. Just be sure as always you should, to check feedback ratings on the seller to avoid being scammed. It has been known to happen on auction sites. Tin, steel, or aluminum "silver" dollars are not unheard of.

Some good coins to look for:
Pre-1920 Canadian silver coins are sterling (98%) silver.
Pre-1967 Canadian silver half-dollars and quarter-dollars are all 80% silver per coin.
Pre-1964 American silver coins are 90% silver.
Chinese "Dragon" silver dollars are 90% silver at least.
English silver crowns minted before 1920 were made of sterling (92%) silver.
Mexican "8-reales" coins are generally fairly high in silver content (usually 90%).

All of these can be found online via auction sites and government mints.
There are also U.S. Barber dimes (90% silver), Mercury Dimes (90% silver) and silver quarters from the pre-1960s.

I hope you get into silver too. Remember, if you can't trade it off, it's not worth much in the end.

PMZ

Home Organization

2009-09-28T15:15:00.000-07:00

I've read that setting yourself up to "shop at home" is one of the best ways to keep your food stock fresh (ie: my bin of Y2K food was never touched)...and you tend to lose sight of cans in the back of a shelf.

It's hard to regularly eat what is, shall we say, not always the most desirable food...I know I never go, "Hey, let's eat some canned potatoes tonight! And let's wash that down with some powdered milk! YUM! One winds up eating all of the canned peaches and have a full case of beets. But it must be done sometimes, or your food will be bad when you need it the most.

I had read about vertical stacking of cans, but that required carpentry skills...not my forte :)

I did have a half sheet of 3/4" piece of plywood that fit nicely into the angles of my shelving unit (costco I think)...I could lean it back against the wall. I then took two sections of of metal bedframe and made a 'V', and used pre-existing holes in them to just screw them to the plywood. Realizing that there was some wasted space, and that I needed to store a bunch of square boxes, I took two pieces of of 1X2's and some angle brackets and made a shelf under the 'V'.

When you get new stuff, just spread it along the back, maybe pull a few cans out and 'randomize' them a bit...this picture shows just over 50 cans.

So, now the hard part will be forcing ourselves to eat whatever is the 'first' can at the bottom of the 'can dispenser' ;)

Garden 2009 - does anyone have solutions to blight problems?

2009-08-08T13:52:00.000-07:00

I've got a few heirloom tomatoes (the cherry tom in front is huge, but yellow, it seems less able to fight off this fungus that's going around) in addition to the usual big boy and early girls (got a half dozen of each for $2 each tray b/c they had been left out and were getting beat up)...I've got a regular cucumber and a pickling cucumber (any good pickling recipes?) and oregano, basil and cilantro.

Got a bunch of peppers (chili, jalapeno, hot banana, and habanero (no blossoms yet though)...Japanese eggplant (I couldn't find regular ones that weren't like $6) they had corn available this year so we're trying that...lots of red and white beans in the last photo.

Does anyone have a solution to that white fungus that grows on the leaves of zucchini and squash? The local HD was out of the fungicide I used before because everyone has fungus problems...

Any tips appreciated for dealing with these fungus issues!

Thanks!
DaveP

What happened to my radishes?

2009-08-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

OK, first let me apologize for not posting anything for the last month or more. July is a very busy month for us and we were also on vacation. I hope to get back to posting at least once a week.

Here is the problem. I planted a garden which is doing fairly well. But the radishes are a complete failure. The grew tall and sturdy, but the root ( the food part) is just a long white root. Could anyone tell me what I've done wrong?

P.S. They have been in the ground since early May. And according to the package they were supposed to look like this picture.

Risk Analysis and Preparation Levels

2009-07-01T14:56:00.000-07:00

[Edit #1 2-4-2009 - Added Level 0, Color Coding, explanatory statement]
[Edit #2 2-28-2009 - Tweaks for clarity]
[Edit #3 9-28-2009 - Added Medical Emergencies to Level 1]
[Edit #4 4-11-2011 - Added Level 5XXX, updated Disaster List]

I'd like to start off by creating a common framework for us all to have a reference point in our discussions. I plan for this to be a framework for other articles addressing preparedness for each level.

First of all, we all need to perform our own risk analysis. Everyone's situation is different, so what is important and needed will be different.

Risk analysis is taking the likelihood of bad events happening and multiplying it by how "bad" it would be to happen and adding it up. From Wikipedia: The total risk is the sum of the products of the consequences multiplied by their probabilities.

Generally, you insure against the big 'bads', and the very likely 'bads'. Your house isn't very likely to burn down, but if it does, you lose big, so you insure against it. You are somewhat likely to get into an accident, and the consequences can be expensive, so you buy collision insurance. You are very likely to get a flat tire someday, so you insure against it buy getting AAA coverage.

So, take some time to analyze your risk factors and special vulnerabilities, as well as any amplifications of the consequences (for instance, you may have plenty of batteries for a power outage, but if you have medication that needs to be refrigerated you're in trouble).

Location - what does your geographic location have? What does it lack? Are there local water supplies? Energy or food supplies? What particular vulnerabilities does your region have that you might have to leave in a hurry? Coasts get hurricanes, the West forest fires and earthquakes, the river valleys of the Midwest can flood for miles.

Personal situation - Single strong male? Lucky you, fill up a backpack and go. Family of four, or handicapped, or elderly family members? Not so easy. Need medications? Baby formula? Those are bad things to be without. Also, is your clueless brother, cousin, roommate, or neighbor going to tag along? Might want to take that into consideration.

Disaster likelihood - again, we need a common gauge for meaningful discussion - some are talking food and water for a probable big storm, others are worried that the black helicopters are coming or want to build concrete bunkers for an very unlikely nuclear war.

So I'm proposing the following "Disaster Scale" which lists the disaster, describes some of the major conditions, and provides a generic outline of ways to deal with each. I've tried to organize them in order of decreasing likelihood (ie: Level 0 is likely Level 5 is highly unlikely) so, higher levels include the preps for the lower (more likely) levels. IMO it's probably best to prepare a little for every level to cover the basics at first, then prepare in more depth as time and money allow, starting from Level 0 up through Level 5.

Disaster Scale - Levels 1 through 5X (X being Extreme or Extended)

Level 0 - Human Disaster - Civil / Social / Services breakdown, even with no observable natural disaster. Riots + looting (ie: 1990's L.A. Riots, 2008 Greece), short war, political starvation (ie: African aid hijacking) . Services are overwhelmed for a short term.

Level 0X - Extended Human disaster - Extended riots (ie: 1960's Greece), Civil War, genocide (ie: 1990's Rawanda, China's Great Leap Forward, Today's Darfur). Massive population displacement, likely away from food sources and medical care and other services.

Level 1 Natural - Fire Flood Tornado Drought Disease: Temporary (2-4 weeks) disruption of normal services and/or trade

Need 2-4 weeks of food (rice, beans, sugar, flour), heat source (propane camping stove + fuel), water (stored or Berkey filter), Entertainment (Cards, games, RV charger-battery-DVD/Laptop)
Medical - Plenty of OTC medications to relieve minor ailments (cold, stomach, etc for adults and kids) because your doctor will certainly be too busy, N98 masks to protect family members

Level 1X Persistent natural disasters 4 weeks +

Electricity gone, all else normal - batteries might only last a few days...need a solar charger, deep cycle battery, and an inverter. Cold climates might need a bank of batteries and a larger inverter to run an electric blanket.
Water gone, all else normal - can use gas or electricity to boil water, Big Berkey filter a plus
Natural Gas gone, all else normal - can usually use electricity for same purposes as gas.
Drought - water barrels
Medical - backup prescription medications, extensive first aid supplies such as a military field kit, antiviral masks, gloves

Level 2 Economic - Stock crash, recession

Save on costs, food: dehydration, canning, gardening; Energy: insulation, efficient bulbs
Invest in Yourself: training and schooling since jobs are scarce anyway
Precious metals: sometimes a good investment, sometimes not, if accumulated over time much less chance of getting burned.

Level 2X - Depression - little to no economic activity - All Black Market, energy very expensive

Get out of Debt because old debts are in inflated dollars, but earning power is reduced - sell everything not nailed down.
Save Money - as above, perhaps with Solar panels + deep cell battery and inverter to save on electric bills

Level 3 Political - constitutional crisis, election unrest

Home and personal defense (ie: sit in your house/business with a shotgun)

Level 3X - Police State

Exit areas of urban unrest - prepare to defend in rural isolation
Secure communications

Level 4 Currency - massive deflation, hyperinflation, debt default - limited to nation or region

Food stocks - prepare for 200-300% increase in food costs, prepare as level 2 above but for 1-2 years
Trade: Utilize gold, silver, and tangibles (food, ammo, booze). Get small amounts too (not all big gold coins, get silver dimes and quarters, perhaps links of a 24K chain to break apart)
Wealth - can own other currencies that have not collapsed, and precious metals or other commodities

Level 4X - Global currency or debt default

Wealth - no suitable alternate currencies exist, convert wealth to precious metals and tangibles/trade-ables.

Level 5 Devastation - Tornado Swarm, Volcano, Asteroid strike, Single Nuclear Exchange, Dustbowl - Some regions become temporarily and/or locally uninhabitable, others may be OK

Transportation - make sure it's rugged, reliable, and ensure that all of your gear will actually fit in the car with passengers
Only real goods matter, food fuel, water

Level 5X - Extended Devastation - either a local area for a long time or a large distance.

Level 5XXX Total Devastation - Total TEOTWAWKI - Total Nuclear War, Multiple asteroid strikes, Ice Age, Supervolcano, SuperTsunami, War of Worlds/Independence day attack of superior aliens (hey, you can't *prove* it WON'T happen),

Total bunker mentality - do the best you can, hunker down or run like crazy (depending on situation), prepare to kiss your a** goodbye?
Communication - radio - link up with others

So we have a characterization of the disaster, but that is only one half of the equation.

Let's add this together with the next proposed scale.

Social Reaction Scale - Color coded scale that reflects social reaction to the Event.

This is built upon this article found on the blog TEOTWAWKIAIFF.

This matters for preppers because, for instance, you could have a major disaster with good social support, or just a plain old riot for no other reason than a sports team won or lost, and this will affect our preparations.

White - we've cleared local space of asteroids, have full employment, health, drug, and mental treatment, don't bother locking your doors.

Blue - Peacetime, low crime, good social services infrastructure.

Green - "Peacetime" - meaning covert wars spawning some terrorism, some crime, barely coping social infrastructure, mostly reasonable 911 and hospital waits.

Yellow - High crime, overwhelmed social infrastructure. Long waits for 911, hospital treatment.

Orange - Very high crime, broken social infrastructure - 911 is a joke. Carry at all times.

Red - Lawlessness with rampant crime- corrupt social infrastructure, cops might help or fire warning shots at you. If someone stops or speaks to you assume a robbery or kidnap attempt (ie: Argentina, South Africa)

Black - shoot first ask later - the black helicopters, insane hillbillies, bloodthirsty viking invaders, virus-crazed zombies, aliens, demons, gremlins, evil animated puppets, whatever.

Disaster Scale Examples

Just some recent examples off the top of my head...I'm still working on my Disaster Historian degree so any info/input welcome.

2009 KY ice storm - Level 1X - Blue - even though it sucked for the participants, order was maintained.
Katrina - Level 1X - Red - because it was an
extended natural disaster, where social services and civil order broke
down completely.
2005 Tsunami - Level 5X - Yellow - Total devastation, with mild looting (possibly because most of the population was simply gone).
Iraq War - Level 0X - Black (from Iraqi's P.O.V.)
9-11 - Level 0X - Blue - Huge local man-made disturbance, some overwhelming of local services.
LA riots - Level 0X - Orange - Huge local man-made disturbance, overwhelming fire services, some random violence
1990's Mississippi flooding - Level 1X - Blue huge local devastation, with local help available and remote
emergency services on the way.
1990's CA wildfires/mudslides - Level 1 - Blue - huge local devastation, with local help available and remote
emergency services on the way.
Mt. St. Helens -Level 5X-Blue - huge local devastation, with local help available and remote
emergency services on the way.
1970's New York financial crisis - Level 0X - Yellow - Extended man-made financial crisis led to long-term crime problem
East Coast Hurricanes - Level 1 Blue- Level 1X (direct hit) Green - Can be anything from inconvenient to total destruction like Hurricane Andrew.
Argentina 2001 Currency Default - L4X-RED - extended local currency devaluation with violence and crime and breakdown of social services - as described by the Ferfal blog.
Russia's 1990's Currency Devaluations - L4-YELLOW - sustained if degraded govt and social services, yellow due to some increased crime and gang kidnappings.
2011 Japanese Earthquake/Tsunami/Meltdown - L5X - Blue (L5XXX for radiation evacuation zone) - Total local devastation, permanent in evacuation zone. Japanese culture luckily lends itself to teamwork - they even refuse to keep found money, having taught since school to turn found property over to the police

I hope people will help me flesh this out - input is very welcome, and that with this framework in mind, we can have more useful discussions targeting specific types of disaster preparation, and the cost/benefit ratio of each.

Since it is very likely that we will have a big weather event (look at the Kentucky ice storm - 1 million without power...how many batteries are left on the store shelves?) we should all be prepared for L1 and L1X events. Economies tend to be cyclical, so one should expect L2 events as well.

Total government, economic, or currency meltdowns are highly unlikely, but very very bad when they happen. So with limited $$$ resources one might not quit the job, sell the house and head for the hills just yet, but might make more modest preparations such as accumulating precious metals as finances allow, and keep an eye on things.

Basically, what I'm saying is buying gas masks and a bullet proof vest when you don't have enough batteries, food or blankets to last out a big storm doesn't make much sense.

I look forward to networking with all you Preppers!

-DaveP

Food In Plain Sight...

2009-06-26T19:04:00.000-07:00

This kind of stuff will become increasingly important in the months and years to come.
Cache Gardening...otherwise known as "guerrilla gardening" or "crop naturalization" is an important tool in the preppers' arsenal. Be sure to seedbomb or plant seeds and crops at various points along your bugout route or near your home or bugout location. It won't give a huge return but it's not meant to. It's just a backup method for caching small amounts of fruits, veggies, grains, etc.

PT I:

PT II:

Semper Vigilans...
PMZ

Famine Ahead

2009-06-24T06:17:00.000-07:00

From the Survivalist Blog

Crop scientists fear the Ug99 fungus could wipe out more than 80 percent of worldwide wheat crops as it spreads from its home base in eastern Africa. It has jumped the Red Sea and traveled as far as Iran. Experts say it is poised to enter the breadbasket of northern India and Pakistan, and the wind inevitably will carry it to Russia, China and even North America — if it doesn't hitch a ride with people first. Read more here

Weapons taken from Vets?

2009-06-06T05:19:00.000-07:00

The following came to me as an email. I have no idea if it is true but lets get this information to vets if it is.

Monday, June 01, 2009
U.S. Military Vets being disarmed!
(TRN) -- The U.S. Veterans Administration has been instructed by the Department of Homeland Security to ask military vets 3 questions when they come in for any kind of medical check-up or problem. Answering "Yes" to any single question will result in the vet being disarmed by the government.

The following e-mail was sent to the Turner Radio Network by a Vietnam Veteran who enjoys our radio shows. His identity is being concealed to prevent reprisals.

“I had a doctors appointment at the local VA clinic yesterday and found something very interesting I would like to pass along.. While going through triage before seeing the doctor, I was asked at the end of the exam, three questions.
(1. Did I feel stressed?)
(2. Did I feel threatened?)
(3. Did I feel like doing harm to someone?)

The nurse then informed me, if I had answered yes to any of the questions, I would have lost my concealed carry permit as it would have gone into my medical records and the VA would have reported it to Homeland Security.

I am a Viet Nam vet and 13 year cc permit holder.

Looks like they are going after us vets."
Be forewarned and be aware.

The Obama administration has gone on record as considering veterans and gun owners as potential terrorists.

If you are a veteran, you've been warned.

If you know veterans, please pass this on to them.

Appellate court upholds Chicago gun ban

2009-06-04T20:07:00.000-07:00

Here is an excellent article discussing the recent appellate court case. Pay particular attention to the last paragraph which reads,

This seems to be specious legal reasoning to me. The Constitution specifically states that any matters not covered by it were to be left to the states. That obviously does not include the Second Amendment. If the Constitution is indeed the law of the land, it would seem to me that it would supersede state and municipal laws. Based on the judge's way of thinking, Los Angeles or Detroit could legalize slavery or coin their own money without running afoul of the feds.

John Adams and the Sons of Liberty

2009-06-04T19:53:00.000-07:00

We need to read and reread the original sources of our history. I’m reading the life of John Adams. In my opinion, he was the most profound intellectual stimulus in the American Revolution.

The following is an excerpt from the book John Adams, by Page smith, from vol.1 pages 110 and 111.

The entire quote is in red below. Please excuse any typos.

Take note of the informal creed they affirmed with their toasts, and the song they sang. Both of these cemented into their hearts and minds the need to be willing to fight for their freedoms. This all happened close to a decade before the actual war of the revolution took place. Read article here.

Eat the Weeds

2009-06-04T13:09:00.001-07:00

A week or two ago I came across this web page called "Eat the Weeds". The author has multiple videos on Youtube showing what plants are good to eat and how to prepare them. As time allows I would like to copy and save many of these on CD (I'll never remember all this stuff).

Urban gardening

2009-06-04T12:54:00.001-07:00

My friend Steve sent me these pics of his urban garden made using plastic 55 gallon drums.

He simply cut these food grade barrels in half, put gravel in the bottom, covered with weed barrier cloth, and then his soil.

I'm anxious to see his plants growing throughout the summer.
See more.

Started my garden last weekend

2009-06-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid we had a massive garden. I used to think it was the biggest garden in the world, and I hated it. When I grew up I never got into gardening, but it was mostly at time and location thing. Now at the ripe old age of 40 I'm starting my first real garden. I still can't say that it is because I need or want another hobby, and it is definitely not because I love my veggies! However, I do love nearly everything outdoors and this is becoming enjoyable. Read article here.

Suburban survivalist article hits Drudgereport

2009-05-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D98DCLJG0&show_article=1

Map Sites...

2009-05-13T19:28:00.001-07:00

I posted this tonight on my bushcraft/prepper's blog. Figured it'd be a good resource for those who may want to begin plotting their bugout route...
PMZ

____________________________________________________________________

Some websites I've found over the years which have come in handy for locating topo maps...
Topoquest

MyTopo

Topoquest is a project started by a guy who knows his way around the internet and who was pisd that TopoZone was bought out by Trails.com, who removed most of the free functionality that Topozone had originally offered.

Mytopo is a site which offers laminated or waterproofed, high-quality and fullsized topo maps for very reasonable prices and quick shipping. Excellent customer service!

Semper Vigilans,
PMZ

PGH FOOD STORAGE FIELD TRIP June 13, Sat 7:00 AM

2009-05-13T17:06:00.000-07:00

FYI - the local 9-12 group is planning a trip to the nearby LDS Food Storage Facility located here:

6900 South Point Parkway
Brecksville , OH 44141
440-526-4001

McKay says: "This storage facility offers a variety of dehydrated food that you can yourself (think large industrial size cans with a shelf life of 30+ yrs) We'll can as a team and need to place our order (what food we want to can) by Thur. so that they have the correct food pulled from the shelves."

(RSVP deadline: June 11, 2009 7:00 PM)

Full details here (you might need to join the meetup group to see the page):

http://www.meetup.com/Glenn-Beck-s-We-Surround-Them-Viewing-Party/calendar/10333276/

Anybody interested in going?
-DaveP

Swine Influenza...

2009-04-24T18:07:00.000-07:00

Taken from my blog tonight:

It's enough to make one wonder whether it's been engineered, though germs do have a nasty habit of propagating and adapting. This is what we get for the overuse of antibiotics, both in animals and humans. If you come into contact with anyone who shortly afterward becomes deathly ill with a severe respiratory infection, call your local health agency and go to the frakkin hospital for treatment. They will test you for it and if you have it they will put you in quarantine in a plastic bubble till you either get better or die. Best thing to do is to avoid public places if there is talk of bad mojo afoot. If you keep pigs be sure that none of your neighbors' associate with your herd.

Keep up with this as this kind of thing spreads rapidly.
Possible cases have been discovered in British Columbia and there have been cases in Kalifornia and San Antonio Texas so far in addition to Mexico, where 60 persons out of 900 reported cases have died.

Some links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_influenza
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?cid=21403〈=eng

RSOE Alertmail Subscription Page:
http://levlista.rsoe.hu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/hisz-alertmail-eng

Semper Vigilans.
PMZ

The coming food crisis

2009-04-22T05:13:00.000-07:00

Someone just sent me a link to this. Interesting food for thought.
If the video doesn't play properly, click on it and view it on YouTube.

From the YouTube page you can click the "more info" button on the right and view many web pages that are the source for this video.

Local Preppers Meeting

2009-04-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

I have a group of like-minded people who are working together locally to prep. It is mostly people from my church, but a few others are also part of it. We have met a few times and shared ideas through my blog page called Survival Together. We are beginning to get a little more organized and will be meeting again this Friday night. Below is a copy of the email I've sent to the group. It is an intro to the meeting and somewhat of an agenda for our time. Note the homework assignment at the end.

Survival Together Meeting
This Friday night. 7:00 at ____________ house.
He’ll make the coffee, we’ll bring the snacks.

Anyone may come to this meeting, but frankly I’m only inviting those of you who are taking this stuff seriously. If you want to invite others, do so, but only bring those who are serious. Please let me know if you are coming and how many you are bringing.

I feel that there is a great amount of work to be done and who knows if we have a long time or a short time to do it. We need to work together as much as possible. All of our lives are busy and hectic, so getting together isn’t easy. We need to make the best possible use of our time. I am including a homework assignment below. This is an exercise we should all be doing, and it could be very beneficial to share with each other the things we are working on. I’ve divided our prepping needs into eight categories to assist in getting a grip on what we need to do.

At Friday’s meeting I would like to start by going over this list (homework), each person sharing as much as he is willing, and then having some open discussion to expand our knowledge.

Other things I would like to discuss at this meeting are:
1) Communications, short term and long term. In a crisis phones may be out. We need to communicate in order to help one another.

2) A specific plan for working together throughout a crisis. I would like to think through the possibility of trying to assist others (people in our church and older people). And the possible necessity or several families staying together.

3) The need to be getting other people on board with prepping. It is best to work in smaller groups for a multitude of reasons, but if bad things happen we all have family, friends, neighbors, etc., who will be in great need. The moral and right thing to do is to help them as much as possible, but you can’t give them everything you have. It would be so much better if they will prepare a little themselves ahead of time.

I hope you all can make it. Don’t forget to do your homework!

HOMEWORK:

What have you done so far to prepare in the following categories:

Water

Food

Shelter / heat

Defense

Transportation

Communication

Medical needs

Other (toiletries, baby needs, kids entertainment, etc)

What do you feel you still need to do in the following areas:

Water

Food

Shelter

Defense

Transportation

Communication

Medical needs

Other (toiletries, baby needs, kids entertainment, etc)

Be prepared to discuss the following things as well:
What unique or interesting things have you come across that may be of interest to the rest of us? (feel free to bring things along for demonstration)

What resources do you have to share? (articles, web pages, places to buy things, etc.)

They're Watching

2009-04-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

This is headlines on the Drudge Report and will probably be in the news over the next few days.

A new report is out explaining that Homeland Security will be investigating right-wing extremest groups over the next few months. Read this article and you'll see that they are watching a VERY broad spectrum of people.

Stalin used gun control before starving millions

2009-04-14T13:58:00.000-07:00

Tracy at Alabama Preppers has this great article on British gun control.
After reading that post I was motivated to post this...

Some people are not interested in political stuff on a prepping network. I think it is important to see the necessity of prepping based on the world around us. What is that quote?... "Those who don't know history will be doomed to repeat it". (someting like that)

Water Storage Options and Hello from PA!

2009-04-13T17:04:00.000-07:00

Hey there!
I'm PMZ from PA. I'm attending college in NY State currently but will be back in the greater Lehigh Valley area come May. I'm glad to have the opportunity to learn from you all and occasionally contribute something or other. I've not been prepping for as long as some of you, but once in a while I may chip in.

Here's a short article I wrote regarding water supplies, treatement and stockpiling.
I posted this on www.bushcraftusa.com and http://berserkersbushcraft.blogspot.com/ a while ago and thought it worthy of it's own post on here...

___________________________________________________________________
Hey all,
Here is some food for thought...
The human body can survive for three days without water, even less in arid or hot environments, still less when performing hard work.

One needs at least a gallon of water per person per day per household. This is drinking and cooking water. Washing water should be factored in separately.

Since I am at college I have only myself and my roommates to provide for, however I have taken the liberty to stockpile water in plastic soda bottles and milk jugs. I have only enough for a few days; after that I'd have to resort to transporting it from the creek out back of the apartments. I pre-treat my water with 1/8 teaspoon of plain bleach per gallon, or even 1/8 teaspoon/half-gallon. Keep in mind that with this method of water storage, you must dispose of the containers every six months or so (the milk jugs in particular tend to degrade quickly).

Other methods include:

Storage in jerry-can-type water-cans, such as were used from WWII through current conflicts. These can be found in varying condition from various sellers. The best are lined with ceramic or some such as this prevents the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria while insulating your wasser for those hot days in the field.

Storage in HDPE "blue cans," these are the most cost-effective method to stockpile transportable amounts of water, usually between 3 and 5 gallons.

Storage in Food-Grade 55 gallon drums. Food grade barrels can be found for cheap, or even free from suppliers of honey, molasses, and various other types of food industries. You will want to pressure-wash these to remove traces of whatever was in them before you picked them up. Also keep in mind that while this is a viable option, it is hard to refill them or clean them without a pressurized water source, thus, this should not be your only means of storing water. The steel 55 gallon honey drums which my uncle sells from our corncrib back home are great for use as rainbarrels, which is a very effective way to put to use whatever precipitation drains off of your roof. Even a very small roof will collect a sizeable amount of water. It is a good idea to set up a gravity-fed irrigation system for your planters or garden boxes using rainbarrels.

Storage in large, buriable tanks. This is a good way to stockpile water, however you will want to have not only an inlet but a way to bleed it and also a way to treat it (such as bleach or pool crystals).

There are three distinct categories of water according to my friend Eric:

Quote:

1. Drinkable water on hand: This is primarily bottled water. We have roughly a dozen cases on hand at any given time. I hope to double that amount very soon. We add a few cases each time we go to Costco or Sam's.

2. Accessible water on the property: For us, this includes the water in the water heater, a well, any water remaining in the pipes of our orchard sprinkler system, and our pond. I wouldn't want to drink the water from the pond unless necessary, but we could certainly use it for flushing toilets when needed. And in a worst case scenario I have everything I need to make the pond water safe enough to drink.

3. Water in the area, within walking/carrying distance: We have several small streams/rivers within just a couple of miles of our ranch. Water is heavy and I wouldn't want to transport too much of it very far, but it's good to know where it's at.

So following this logic, there is a strong case (perhaps stronger a case than for stockpiling food) for the stockpiling of drinkable water and the upkeep of water-collection systes BEFORE SHTF.

Therefore I recommend a Five-Pronged approach to stockpiling water:

We (as Survivalists) should have:

1. Ultra-portable 1-gallon or Half-gallon-sized jugs or a case of bottled spring water to grab in a "leave-now-or-forever-hold-your-peace" scenario (bugout issue),
2. Vehicle-portable jerry cans or blue jugs (preferably five per BOV in addition to case of spring water),
3. Rainbarrels for sustainable gardening without the benefit of an electric well-pump,
4. A hand-pump for our wells. This is something I've yet to convince my Dad is the most important prep-item you can get. Problem is it's a relatively expensive procedure. However in an emergency it'd be worth its weight in gold. Just be sure to place it in a location unavailable to the general public or its liable to walk off.
5. A dedicated water-tank for SHTF scenarios. Remember that if it's not properly maintained, mold or other nasties are sure to grow in it.

My pal Eric states that the human body needs 80 oz. of water per day in comfortable weather WITHOUT hard work. He says that if one is eating MREs or other emergency rations, the amount of water necessary for digestion rises dramatically, so plan for 80 oz. of water/day/person.

For two people that would be 8.75 gallons of DRINKING water per week, or 35 gallons per month. He says an average-sized dog drinks approximately 1-1.5 gallons per week. A small dog or cat would probably drink less than a half-gallon per week.

So to keep two people and several dogs hydrated for a month, one would need 65 gallons. That is ONLY DRINKING WATER and DOES NOT include water for cooking, washing dishes, clothes, flushing toilets, etc.

What does this mean? This means we should each have on hand at least 100 gallons of fresh, non-contaminated drinking water. This is just for two people and some pets! Add a gallon of drinking water per day per person per household, and you may well end up deciding that you need a 300-gallon water tank IN ADDITION to your stocks of easily-transportable drinking water.

As always, remember that without the benefit of either an artesian well or a hand pump, one is at the mercy of the droughts and at the mercy of the rescuers. Thus it is absolutely imperative that we all have a good supply of drinking water on hand AND have the means to get more from our immediate water table. Those of us who live in the cities or suburbia will have a harder time meeting these needs. In a long-term SHTF scenario, these folks will have to relocate in order to be able to draw clean drinking water from streams, springs, lakes etc.

Some useful water-prep related links:

www.hewsystem.com ---> expensive, holds less, but is much more durable and fits tubs better.
www.waterbob.com---> less expensive option, holds more but is less durable.
www.aquatabs.ca ---inexpensive way to treat small amounts of water, (bleach based).
www.berkeyfilters.com ---> expensive.
http://shop.monolithic.com/products/...ic-drip-filter ---> less expensive option, best used in addition to bleach, iodine, boiling or other methods.
PMZ

_________________

SEMPER VIGILANS.

Till Next Time,
PMZ
___________________________________________________________________

If anybody has any suggestions as per other ways to store/treat/swap water and boost water collection during droughts, let me know.

Thanks!:)
PMZ

Woman raped twice infront of witnesses

2009-04-10T21:04:00.000-07:00

While at the Women of Caliber web page I noticed this blog entry. It seems that this young woman was raped over a period of ten minutes while two Mass Transit Authority workers sat watching in the security of their booths. These vermin did nothing to help. When the police arrived TEN MINUTES LATER the assailant was gone and the deed was done. It is a good thing NYC violates the second amendment so that people can be safe.

We live in such a narcissistic society full of spineless, self-absorbed, weenies that a woman can't expect two men to come to her aid over a period of ten minutes while she is being raped! Thankfully we have the police - ten minutes too late. I have no problem with police, just with the faulty concept that their job is to protect every citizen 24 x 7.

Sorry for my rant. I have daughters and these stories get to me.

Gun Confiscation after Tornado

2009-04-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

This story was new to me. I've heard about a number of similar situations surrounding the Katrina event, but this one is a wake up call. The author at "Women of Caliber" did an outstanding job researching and reporting the illegal confiscation of guns in Greensburg, KS after the tornado in 2007. Please go read this this story. They tell it a lot better than I can summarize it here.

Pigs for survival

2009-04-10T19:43:00.000-07:00

I hear a lot of people talk about raising chickens, ducks, rabbits, and goats which are all great animals for the small farm or back yard. Many of these animals can be raised on one acre or less; even in a suburban setting when local regulations permit it. Some communities have regulations which allow chickens, but not hoofed animals. Still, it is surprising that more people are not raising pigs.

Pigs have some tremendous benefits in survival situations. What might these benefits be? Well feeding them for one. Pigs need food to grow, but the reality is that they can eat almost anything. If enough pasture land is available, pigs can live off of the grasses. I have killed wild pigs in the woods which appeared to be making a good living on acorns and wild plants

Barring a crisis situation, pigs can be cheap to feed and they will certainly grow fatter with a little grain and day old bread from the local bakery. What else might they eat? Anything. I knew a farmer who would pick up road killed deer and feed to his pigs. They ate everything but the hide and the bones. One time he asked me to give him a hand feeding his pigs. When I arrived he had me help him move 55 gallon drums. The drums were full of cow innards from a local butcher shop. You guessed it, the pigs ate it all.

You might not want to feed your pigs cow innards and road killed dear on a regular basis, but in a crisis situation it is nice knowing you have an animal that can stay alive on almost anything.
Think about it. Any and all waste from the kitchen could go to the pigs. In addition, any left overs (innards) from other animals could go to the pigs. In addition you could find grass and plants to feed pigs all summer.

Other advantages to raising pigs include the fact that one sow will have between 6 and 14 piglets. That is more pork than you need, and it will probably be exactly what your neighbor needs and may be willing to trade something really nice to get.

If you can get your sow to birth in late winter or early spring, by late fall or perhaps Christmas you could butcher. You could butcher earlier or later if needed, but you would need to strike a balance between letting the pig grow bigger over time, and running out of feed in the winter. Winter is also a good time to butcher if you plan to cure the meat. When curing, the meat will need to sit in a salt solution for weeks and if the temperature is too high, the meat could spoil.

If you are thinking of survival food and farming, pigs are worth a serious look. They eat anything, grow fast, have lots of babies, are good for trading, and are mighty tasty.

Book: Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse

2009-04-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

If you haven't read James Wesley Rawles book, Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the coming Collapse, let me suggest that you get two copies immediately. Read and keep one for yourself, and give the other one to a friend.

Apparently the book has been out in various editions and forms for a long time. I purchased my copy about two months ago and read the whole thing in three days. A new edition has just been released and it is cheaper than mine was.

The book is a survival manual disguised as a novel. As a writer I have to say Rawles isn't bad. The book is choppy in some places and has been criticized for having long discourses about "mundane" things like the unique function of a particular firearm. You may not appreciate all of that stuff, but it may be easier to take your medicine when you remind yourself that it is education in the form of a story.

Many will not agree with all that Rawles says or the positions he has the characters take, but I think most people will have to admit that it is a very worthwhile read.

As a God fearing Christian (and Pastor) I appreciated the clean language in the book. It was also void of any inappropriate sexual discussion. A rare and worthy plus in my book.

Is anyone following near Northeastern PA

2009-04-08T20:55:00.000-07:00

I'm wondering what readers might be out there who are somewhere near my part of the country. Meet-ups are taking place in several states, but it is too far for me to travel. I'm not ready to plan a big event yet, but I'm wondering who might be in the eastern PA, New Jersey, or southeastern NY area. Even if we never meet in person, it would be good to know others are nearby. If you are within an hour or three please leave a comment or drop me an email at phughes07@gmail.com

HAM radio for survival

2009-04-07T05:26:00.000-07:00

HAM radio is on my list of things to investigate for survival. My family is spread out over several hundred miles in different directions and contacting them in a grid-down situation will be impossible. It would be horrible not being able to contact loved ones to see how they are doing or to let them know how we are doing.

I just came across a great post at the Alabama Preppers page by Tracy. Read it here.

Curing Meat (part 2)

2009-04-05T12:21:00.000-07:00

This is the second post about curing part of a pig which my family received as a Christmas present. In the first part I described butchering and bagging the pig. I am including a few more pictures of that process here.

Please take note of the first picture. I hope you're not too squeamish, but if you're going to be a survivalist, you'll need to do a lot more than just look at pictures of this stuff. First, do you know where the bacon is located on the half of pig laying there? I can't really describe how to get it out, you kind of need to see it done, but it is underneath the rib cage as you are looking at that picture. For reference, the left side of the picture is the hind quarter, then in the middle is the rib cage and bacon and the front(to the right) is the front shoulder.

Second, note the pig head in the background. The head has been skinned because there is a good amount of meat on it -- it's a meathead. Most of the meat there is put into sausage, but my relatives eat the tongue, and some people eat more than that. In a survival situation, you will want to save as much edible meat and fat as possible. The fat has a lot of uses.

The second picture shows some of the meat packaged for the freezer. As I stated in the first post. Freezer bags are a big time saver, and they seem to have no problem keeping the food for up to a year. The larger ones have no problem holding a medium sized chicken. A side benefit of the freezer bags, and one which I have never utilized, is that you could reuse them. We always throw away all packaging that has touched raw meat. That seems to be the normal and wise thing to do when everything is cheap and available. In a crisis situation I'd probably save mine and reuse it. Now that I think about it, this is kinda cool, I've already got a freezer full of meat packaging supplies.

On to the curing process.

I'm still learning about all this but will share what I've learned. (In other words, don't' quote me as an expert, do your own research).

There are multiple ways of curing meat. The salt cure is one that has probably been around for thousands of years. You can find many recipes on the Internet and in books.

My recipe was as follows: three gallons water, three cups of pickling salt, one cup brown sugar, and 1 oz. curing salt. This is enough for about 25 lbs. of meat.

I got my information from Sugar Mountain Farms blog. The author of that page notes that the curing salt contains 6.25% sodium nitrate which has been connected to cancer. It is a helpful preservative, but not necessary if you will be eating it relatively soon, or freezing properly.

The curing salt is cheap(.99 cents / oz.) and can be purchased here.

In order to cure an entire hind quarter I had to cut it into two pieces. Once cut, each piece easily fit into a five gallon bucket. The above recipe was enough for one bucket and each half of the hind quarter weighed between 25 and 30 lbs. I was able to cure the bacon in one of the buckets with the ham as well.

Before placing the hams into the bucket of cure it is important to inject the meat with some of the curing solution that has already been mixed up in the bucket. This is done to insure that the curing solution gets all the way in to the bone at the center.

A meat pump is used to inject the meat. (Wow! I don't own one of these, but borrowed one from my brother-in-law. I just saw the price. This one is going for nearly $50. You might find a cheaper one.)

Just suck up the juice by pulling out the plunger, insert the sharp point into the meat, and depress the plunger. I did this in at least five or six places on each cut. The idea is to be sure that the meat near the bone is fully saturated. When the solution is injected you can see the meat swell to receive the solution.

Once the meat is injected it may be placed into the buckets and the resealable lids put in place. As stated previously, I put the bacon on top of one of the hams. The bacon did not need to be injected.

Now for the waiting. Meat may be cured from 2 weeks to 6 six weeks or longer. It depends upon your purpose and in my case weather conditions. I believe the theory is that the longer it cures, the longer it will last. If your freezer is out of service, you may need to preserve meat in such a way that it will last for long periods in warm weather.

If you are just looking for good taste I can assure you that two weeks is sufficient for the hams. I had planned to cure mine for longer but the weather was getting too warm. I have a wood stove in my basement and was having a hard time keeping the meet between 32 and 45 degrees, so after two weeks I pulled it out. You'll want to get a good meat thermometer as well.

I should mention that I pulled the bacon out after only 4 days and it was fantastic.

Smoking.

I made my own smoker. To accomplish this I simply stacked up cement blocks five layers high and about four square. This is bigger than needed but I already had a large BBQ pit made so this was a simple modification. I then cut a piece of particle board to fit over the top. Mesh wire was attached to the particle board in order to hold the meat. The meat would hang on the underside of this board, over the smoke pit.

To create the smoke you could simply light a hardwood fire, but I chose to use charcoal. When the charcoal fire was glowing red, I spread it out, and covered it with soaking wet hickory wood chips. These were purchased at Home Depot for $5. As soon as that smoke started billowing up, I flipped the board containing the meat over the top of the smoker. I then covered and surrounded the whole thing with a tarp and let it sit for about six hours. At the end of six hours I brought it inside and it was ready to cut and package.

I borrowed a meat slicer for the bacon. The hams were cut into about 8 pieces for family size consumption and then packaged in the zip lock freezer bags. I must say, that was some of the best hickory smoked bacon I've ever had.

Curing Meat

2009-04-03T05:15:00.000-07:00

This winter I tried my had at salt curing some meat. I have a dehydrator and have used it with beef and venison but curing with salt was something new. We were given half a hog as a Christmas present from my wife's aunt who is a farmer. Problem was, it was given on the hoof. In mid January my brother-in-law and uncle-in-law (that's a word right?) and myself met up at the farm to do this pig. By the time I arrived they had shot it and had it hanging upside down from the forks of a skid-steer loader. He was half skinned. We finished skinning and then carefully cut him in half before dark. The two pieces were laid out on clean plywood in the cool garage overnight.

The next morning we went to work butchering. No one ever taught me how to butcher, I just kinda taught myself by cutting up deer over the years. However, my wife's uncle was a butcher for forty years and I really learned some things that day.

We used to wrap all our meat in butcher paper. That works well, but takes a long time. Recently we've begun using large, freezer style, zip lock bags. Man is that faster and it works good too.

My portion turned out to be about five shoulder cuts (small to medium size), eleven pork chops, one whole slab of bacon, and one whole rear quarter.

I cut the rear quarter in half so that it fit into two five gallon buckets. I rolled up the bacon slap and placed it into one of the buckets, and then put lids on the buckets for transport. These were new, food grade buckets and they had sealable lids.

After arriving home the roasts and chops along with about five pounds of ground meat went to the freezer. The hind quarter and bacon we prepared for a cure. That will have to be described in the next post.

Family Friendly Prepping

2009-04-02T01:30:00.000-07:00

I don't want to be Mr. Doom (although I wouldn't *object*, necessarily...if I *had* to pick a Bad Guy name that would be a sweet one), but I want to be family friendly too.

So, I'm thinking FIFO storage.

I recently read an article about FIFO storage [lookup reference - americanpreppernetwork i think], but long story short, basically you need to store what you eat and eat what you store. For an example of failing to do this, I still have Y2K food in a bin...it's useless.

They had the great idea of a FIFO bin (First In First Out like a grocery store), basically a can chute for whatever space you are in (ie: vertical can chute for cramped urban settings) will work.

I did a little test run with my few cans, and found that you need a good bit (3 ft of a shelf) of room to randomize 50+ cans...that's a little over 3-4 cases of cans. Try it out for yourself...it takes some time and a lot of space to randomize your stash. But if you don't eat this stuff at some point you'll be stuck with old food like me. :(

My approach has been to try and randomize the type of soup you have or something, you might be surprised...you find something you like, you get sick of something quickly, you never know...so buy more of what you like and less of what you don't.

Family Friendly: I'm thinking of building a game of picking the next can out, so that we can manage our food bill. Perhaps by allowing the little guy to pick out his next meal means he'll actually eat it?

Ceding American Sovereignty

2009-04-01T12:26:00.004-07:00

I copied this directly from the Heritage Foundation Blog. You won't like it.

The Latest Obama Threat to U.S. Sovereignty

Posted April 1st, 2009 at 11.43am in American Leadership, First Principles, Rule of Law.
Ceding control of financial regulations to the European Union is just the beginning of the Obama Administration war on the sovereignty of the United States of America. Just last week, President Barack Obama nominated former Clinton administration official Harold Koh to become the State Department’s legal adviser. Koh describes himself as a “transnationalist” and in a 2006 Penn State International Law Review article he described what this meant:

Generally speaking, the transnationalists tend to emphasize the
interdependence between the United States and the rest of the world, while the
nationalists tend instead to focus more on preserving American autonomy. The
transnationalists believe in and promote the blending of international and
domestic law; while nationalists continue to maintain a rigid separation of
domestic from foreign law. The transnationalists view domestic courts as having
a critical role to play in domesticating international law into U.S. law, while
nationalists argue instead that only the political branches can internalize
international law.

The transnationalists believe that U.S. courts can and should use their
interpretive powers to promote the development of a global legal system, while
the nationalists tend to claim that U.S. courts should limit their attention to
the development of a national system.

Electromagnetic Pulse terrorists attacks

2009-03-31T09:31:00.000-07:00

This is a topic I've read a little about but still feel very lacking in understanding. EMPs (Electro Magnetic Pulse) seem to be intense power surges from explosions which could devastate our electronic systems. Everything from computers, to car engines, to radios, and possibly even household wiring could be affected. This all sounds so sci-fi, but a fair amount of evidence exists.

Someone sent me this link which has numerous articles listed on the same page, all discussing this issue. It is really quite a comprehensive catalog of info.

Pocono Tax Day Tea Party being planned

2009-03-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

I don't know if there is any interest on this blog for this kind of thing, but I am working with the organizers of a Tax Day Tea party here in Northeastern PA. It will be tax day, April 15th at noon in East Stroudsburg, PA. Anyone interested?

Are you an Illegal Hoarder? Depends on what state you're in...

2009-03-30T17:55:00.000-07:00

Are Preppers Illegal Hoarders facing possible confiscation of their Preps?

On federal level, there aren't many laws on the books regarding this, but there are Executive Orders.

This article looks to be several years old (last date referenced is 2002) but Executive Orders don't expire...I can't vouch for accuracy, but it points out the various EO's that allow for FEMA to confiscate/control roadways, communication, health and education facilities, food resources, fertilizer, and production facilities and even split up your family for work gangs.

The article points out however, that many states *do* have many and varied laws on the books regarding hoarding, and uses Hawaii as an example. In Hawaii, apparently anything more than a week's worth of provisions could be considered "hoarding" and subject to confiscation and redistribution. Yikes. On a small island, double Yikes.

As messed up as this is, other countries may well be worse off. The author apparently lives on a small island I've never heard of (Ballarat) that was facing water shortages, and authorities there have drafted (but not signed YET) laws that allow for metering *private rainwater tank usage* and for allowing *public* taps to be put on your *private* well. Again, YIKES.

I searched for the term "hoarding" in the PA database here:
http://www.pacode.com/secure/search.asp
and didn't get any hits...it might be in there somewhere though, can anyone more lawyer-like enlighten us?

Note on drying foods: soup mixes

2009-03-29T00:19:00.000-07:00

Hey all - just wanted to post a note on my recent experience with drying soup mixes (ie: leftover onions, potatoes, carrots, leaf spinach to be mixed with beef bullion upon rehydration ~10 min in boiling water)...I have been using the food saver canisters for the soup mixes, and even though all seemed dry, the onions were soft after a day or so. I can only imagine that the potatoes (boiled them first this time, taste was MUCH better, kind of transparent when dry) were still venting moisture. The spuds seemed dry... but I guess they weren't.

Soup was quite palatable, I think 1/4 cup mix to 3 cups water worked pretty good <-- might revise this it's off the top of my head. I seasoned the potatoes before drying them by tossing them in a big bowl with the seasoning. The leaf spinach really works well IMO it's got the consistency of the seaweed in miso soup but no funky taste. Great way to get vitamins in a survival form, only need fresh water and heat.

Dried meat doesn't last as long as dried veggies, so I'd recommend storing them separately...dried soup mixes should last 6 months to a year in a freezer, where dried meats should last like 6 months.

You should definitely experiment before relying on any Prepper/camping technology. For instance, it's slow to cook with dehydrated food, especially on a small propane stove (haven't tried w/dehydrated food yet), and most Prepper food is not what we eat normally, so it's good to try and at least get used to it a little.

Many factors will affect how you Prep. Humidity, water availability, cooking fuel type, pests, etc will affect your decisions, and a few dry runs will make any shortcomings perfectly clear! But in a good way, before you and yours are really in need. :)

I've had several pleasant (ie: dried apples w/cinammon and soup mixes) and unpleasant (don't even bother to dry out lemon or lime slices - YUCK) surprises...and hope to hear yours in the comments!

So be sure to practice your methods and do quality checks of your stuff! If you can't make decent food from what you've stored, your family will hate you (joke), or if you go more than like, 2-3 weeks (as a baseline, when the drying manual said unrefrigerated dried cooked meats or fat would spoil) with improperly stored foods you could be in for a big biological surprise!

Why I am prepping for crisis.

2009-03-25T20:47:00.000-07:00

I’m not obsessed with prepping, I just spend every extra dollar and nearly all my extra time doing things to make sure my family is prepared for whatever crisis may come in the near future causing life to end as we know it. That's all.

I wasn't always this way. As a matter of fact, it was only about a year and a half ago that I laughed at the idea of storing a year worth of food. While I’ve always believed that things could change for the worst and change fast, I now don’t just think that it could happen, but I believe that it will happen. For me it is not a matter of if, but of when and how bad.

I’d like to share a series of reasons why I believe our life as Americans and the entire lifestyle of the modern world is going to change. This is an ongoing study as the world is constantly changing and I’m continuously learning. What follows are just a few ideas that have been moving me lately.

There are multiple things happening in the world today which could bring about massive and possibly destructive change. Any one of these things could be serious, but the reality is that multiple devastating events could happen together. Some of these things are intrinsically connected while others may not be connected, but seem to be happening simultaneously.

1) National or worldwide financial collapse could bring about conditions which destroy or drastically change life as we know it.
Anyone who doesn’t live in a zoo can tell that we have financial problems. The real dilemma is in agreeing upon a solution. The solution is extremely difficult to devise because the problem itself is so complex.

Let me qualify that last statement. At the very core I don’t think the problem is that complex because it essentially boils down to two differing philosophies of life. On the one side are those who think the government is the solution to everything, and that it should tax the pants off anyone who has something, and then give it to everyone else. This of course has drastic side effects for our entire system – economic, social, and political.

The other side consists of those independent conservative types who want lower taxes, fewer laws, and the government to stay out of their lives. If a person or company is about to go bankrupt, good! Let another company or individual succeed in the void. I myself qualify for a number of free government programs, everything from WIC (Women, Infants, and Children – a free food program), to CHIP (stands for Children’s Heath in Pennsylvania or something like that ), to free windows put in my house. When they call my house trying to get me to sign up for all these programs, I tell them NO WAY! I’m a healthy man and I can take care of my own family and you should too.

While these two views are clearly at the core of our differences as Americans, another serious problem exists, and that is the complexity of our financial system. Most people, and I include congressmen and political leaders, probably don’t fully understand what makes our economy tic. I don’t fully understand it either, trust me! But I’ve tried to figure out some things over the years and have just recently come across something that is extremely helpful, at least for me.
Chris Martenson as a web site dedicated to explaining how our economy works and why we are headed for serious trouble. He has a free three hour video series called the “Crash Course”. See it here.

In the Crash Course he explains why the world cannot continue for more than twenty years as it is now. He discusses things like peek oil, inflation, money creation, exponential growth of population, and other related topics. While I didn’t agree with every word, everything he said made me stop and think. Everyone you know NEEDS to watch this video. It will inform you about how money is created from thin air, the problem of hyper inflation, and other very important topics. You should watch it now! Go here to see it!

OK now that you are back I’ll continue.

Basically, a financial collapse could cause destructive change to all of our lives. There will probably be hyper inflation, unemployment that makes the great depression look like a weekend at Disney, movement to a world currency creating a serious loss of American buying power, and then U.N. control over many national matters.

When the unemployment and hyper inflation hit, we could easily have social unrest in the form of rioting, looting, attacks upon innocent people, and attacks upon government people and buildings. This all could lead to severe government crackdowns which look very much like martial law. This web article has some interesting information about FEMA and the martial type powers granted to them during a national crisis.

At the very least, if a financial crisis occurs, we and many of our loved ones may lose our homes and possessions. In the worst case scenario many will lose their lives to violence, and our entire system of freedom could be loss in the subsequent restructuring of the national government. If you watch the Martenson videos you will understand that our financial system cannot continue as it is and massive change is coming!

2) An attack from without or from within could cripple our nation and cause destructive change.

There has not been an attack on American soil in almost eight years; at least not that has been reported. This fortunate situation could only exist for one of two reasons. First, because of the mercy of God, He has protected us. I do believe this to be partially the case. Second, because for reasons not known to me, terrorists have decided not to attack us yet.

A few things seem clear to me. There are many people in this world who hate America and many of these people are willing to die in order to damage America. Also, it is very simple to get into this nation through our open borders. Yet we have not had one suicide bomber attack a mall, school, or football game. Our government may be good at surveillance and counter-terrorism, but they are not that good.

It is entirely possible that there are dozens or hundreds or even thousands of terror cells working independently toward a single attack which would create damage and destruction in hundreds of locations all at once. Working in small independent cells has multiple advantages and they know it.

While attacking large buildings or taking out large numbers of people does have a grave effect upon the mood and emotion of the nation, it really does little to damage the nation for the long term. However, there are very simple ways that terrorists could do long term, serious damage which would effectually shut down the nation indefinitely.

What might these methods be? Well an obvious thing would be to poison water and food supplies, but this could be difficult to do. They could use nuclear bombs, but again this could be very difficult without the support of a nuclear power. (I’ll discuss this as a separate point later). They could fly airplanes into buildings, but they know that doing so will not permanently shut down the nation. There must be other simple things.

I think that the most effective way to shut down the nation would be by destroying bridges on major freeways, train trestles, and bringing down key power lines. If enough bridges were destroyed, the bulk of the food and goods going into major cities could be stopped. This would also seriously hinder the ability of co-generation plants running on coal to receive their fuel, thus crippling the power grid. Throw in a few explosions of gas lines and the nation is effectively shut down.

The result of all this could easily be chaos and rioting. People would be hungry, thirsty (water won’t flow in cities without power), and scared - a recipe for disaster. Don’t worry, FEMA will be on the way.

The impact of all this upon an already unstable and crippled economy would be overwhelming. It could cause a complete shutdown. Don’t worry; the U.N. will be on its way.

This post is getting too long. There are at least two more very likely scenarios which could or will change our lives. I’ll post them soon and then I plan to work on a post describing what I am doing to prepare.

Thanks for reading,
Pat

Hording laws already on the books

2009-03-25T13:13:00.000-07:00

It is entirely mind blowing to think that there are laws in the USA controlling how much food and supply a person may have. I didn't believe it at first, and my brief research does not include any primary resource data, but it appears to be true. It all revolves around Executive orders, FEMA, and state governors powers. Add in individual state statutes and we find significant evidence. Preppers may be breaking the law. I don't know anything about the authors of this page, but this link is very informative. He gives a specific example from the state of Hawaii were it is illegal to save more than one week worth of food per person. Give me a break, a good deep freezer has at least few months of food. If it is true.... mercy!

Purchasing a generator

2009-03-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

I am getting ready to purchase a generator. This is going to be a hefty investment and I really wish more time could be taken to investigate brands and details. I have spoken with a number of friends and studied the internet for a few weeks and am now approaching decision time.

After observing national and world conditions everyday, I feel that waiting on this purchase any longer would be foolish. We have accumulated enough dry food and supplies to make it at least three to six months, but we would not have regular water without a generator to run the well pump. In a crisis we would use the generator to fill drums with about 200 gallons or water and then turn off the generator untill needed again.

I am planning to continue investigating a supplemental solar system. If solar could supplement a generator, gas supplies could last two or three times longer.

I am interested in any advice anyone has about the following:
1) I am considering a gas powered 6kw peak / 5 kw continues generator from Generator Joe. Here are the specs. It has a Honda GX 340 /1 motor which seems to get pretty good reviews.
What does anyone know about Generator Joe? What about this engine setup?

There are more heavy duty generators and certainly more powerful but this one has a few advantages.

a. The gallons / hour rating is .5 at 50%. For a unit this size that is not
too bad. I want to save gas.

b. The weight of the unit is 179 lbs. I'm not superman, but I think I
can move that. My plans are to stay put as long as possible in a crisis, but if
I have to bug out in order to stay with family in more favorable areas, it would
be good to take this thing with me.

c. This thing comes set up with a 20 Amp 250 V outlet. This will be
necessary for my well pump.

2) Can anyone give advice on storing gas. Right now I've got three steel 55 gal drums in my detached garage (they are not full yet). I am filling them at about 20 gallons per week and stabilizing them with Sta-bil. My plan is to rotate the gas into my cars every six months. What about venting the individual drums?

Thanks for reading. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Pat

Is anyone watching the PA network?

2009-03-24T04:51:00.000-07:00

I've been watching a number of the state Peppers Networks and many of them are quite active. Why is Pennsylvania so quiet? Leave a comment if you'd like to see some activity on the PA Network.
Thanks,
Pat

Another PA Prepper

2009-03-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

I'd like to welcome Patrick as the newest Team member to the Pennsylvania Prepppers Network..Welcome Patrick!

New Here

2009-03-21T19:29:00.000-07:00

My name is Pat and I've just joined the network here in Pennsylvania. I am concerned about many of the things I've seen discussed on all the Preppers Network pages. I am currently writing a blog called Survival Together. My friends and I also meet occasionally to discuss ways to help each other prepare for and survive through whatever may be ahead.

I am in the midst of studying up on generators and solar power. To have six months for studying and discussing these things would be optimal, but I feel there is an urgency now which will not allow such a delay.

My plan so far is to buy or build a medium size generator and also use a small solar system.
Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Pat

New Prepper In Pennsylvania

2009-03-06T09:40:00.000-08:00

Thanks Dave P for Networking and bringing on a new member to Pennsylvania Preppers Network. I would Like to welcome BKP of Pittsburgh Prepper His site will be linked on the right hand side just under the state prepper networks.

Radiation Fallout Preparation

2009-02-01T14:32:00.000-08:00

I love this title:
The Good News About Nuclear Destruction

I was able to get an old (but in good shape) civil defense kit for a little over $65 a few years back on Ebay...I got it from the ki4u.com folks, who have a lot of good information on their websites.

First, I'd recommend you read the myth-busting "You WILL Survive Doomsday"

Then, check out "What to Do if a Radiation Attack is Imminent".
Well, depending on what Iran, Israel, India, and Pakistan are up to, maybe you should check this out first :)

Then, check out this Radiation Shelter FAQ

Basically, in a nutshell, you can't do much about being in a blast zone, but you can easily take steps to avoid the fallout (which could result in 10X more fatalities than the blast itself). So, depending on the size of device yield, wind conditions, and distance, a healthy adult should really only have to hide under the lead blanket for 7 hours, in the basement for ~3 days, and can spend a limited amount of time outside after only a week or two.

The dust is the key, as this carries the radiation - put mass and distance between you and where dust collects around the base of your home, and keep from ingesting any (wash off food)...I personally plan to use some cheap plastic sheeting to make a 2-partition "changing room", where you would change into/out of clean clothes in the first one, and into/out of "dirty" ones in the second, outer partition by the outside door.

Also, keep your radiation dosimeter on your belt, and not your shirt pocket (more accurately measures the rads your guts are getting)...and even after it is safe for adults to go outside, carry children on your shoulders (to keep them above the radioactive dust on the ground).

The ki4u.com guys will sell a "Package" of pre-tested counters for $354.

What we have here: (not the package mentioned above...I got mine from them but they were much cheaper because they weren't tested with their Cesium-137 rad source)

2 Geiger counters + instructions (one with a remote sensor - very important unless you feel like taking some rads just to see how hot is still is outside). It is important to get the sensors calibrated against a rad source of known strength, which is on my to do list...looks like ki4u.com are offering a $48 deal on ebay.

(6) Dosimeters (charger is in box between the Geiger counters). They work by statically charging the tube, which draws a needle from "Lots of radiation" down to "No radiation". When you wear it in a radioactive environment, the charged particles pass through, and take out some of the static charge, thus moving the needle back to the "You are gonna glow" end of the scale.

(2) 2-week supplies of potassium iodide tablets. Much more important for the kids than adults (many more years to be irradiated from within). The KI works because radioactive iodine can be absorbed into the body, and concentrates in the thyroid...so the solution is to take a full dose of "clean" KI so any "dirty" iodine will not be absorbed by the body.

My personal plan is for the adults to take them for the first few days, then use the rest for the kids for an extended period.

(4) N90 dust masks. Again, it's all about the dust, and not breathing, eating, or drinking it.

Not pictured - Batteries...and you have those, right? RIGHT?

I also keep gloves, and a "bunny suit" for dust/dirt leftover from attending 2 C-section births (also good to keep in car in case you need to work on it in good clothes)...I don't know where to buy the paper suits but if I find out I'll post.

I know this is like a commercial for the ki4u.com folks, but they did provide a lot of information to the community, and you could do worse trying to find a reliable detector.

-DaveP

PS: Oh, and don't worry about suitcase nukes...if they ever truly existed (some doubt that), they are all duds by now:
1: due to specialized explosives that need to be serviced and replaced annually
2: the radioactive decay makes the beryllium sphere that reflects the radiation inwards to achieve critical mass too brittle.

Maybe if there's interest I'll write up a real post for that.

PPS: DISCLAIMER: I Am NOT an Atomic Scientist, and quite possibly don't know what I'm talking about. I could be stupid, crazy or both. Actually, don't listen to me. Please do your own research.

Coming Soon....

2009-01-17T16:17:00.001-08:00

Dave will be Operating the Pennsylvania Preppers Network. Welcome Dave! If you'd like to be a Team Member and contribute, please leave him a comment. Thank you,

Tom