I thought I would write this to help explain some of the Acronyms, Mottos and Phrases used on this and other preparedness/survival related sites.
Acronyms
ELE: Extinction Level Event.
This is an event so large that it affects most life on the planet, such as Noah and the flood.
TEOTWAWKI:
The End Of The World As We Know It. (Please don’t sing it).
This is a large-scale event that changes life, as we know it, smaller then an ELE but larger then a SHTF event. An example could be an EMP that takes the grid down.
SHTF: Stink/Stuff/S**t Hitting The Fan.
The scale of this can vary from a single-family event to a nation wide like a stock market crash.
EMP: Electromagnetic Pulse
I’ll be covering this in more detail soon. A quick explanation is that an EMP is a high-altitude nuclear explosion that “fries” electronics with printed circuitry.
BO: Bug Out
Leaving your local area, generally heading for a BOL.
Bug In or Batten Down.
Staying put at your primary residence. For most people this will be the best option unless you have a BOL.
BOL: Bug Out Location
A place away from your primary residence, this could be a relatives house or a family cabin. If you live in hurricane country, this could also be a hotel inland.
BOB: Bug Out Bag, also called a 72-hour kit.
Generally, this a bag packed with three days food, water clothes and supplies. While I think everyone should have one, I also think in most circumstances it is a better idea to batten down.
BOV: Bug Out Vehicle
This is the vehicle used to bug out. Some people say that for a vehicle to be a true BOV, it must be 4×4 and hardened against EMP. Vehicles that are older then the early 80’s often do not have a computer and are often thought of as EMP proof.
INCH Bag: I’m Never Coming Home bag.
If there is a TEOTWAWKI event this is a bag that would have every thing in it you would need if you were never returning home from your BOL.
GHB: Get Home Bag.
This is a bag stored in a vehicle or office that you would use in the event you had to walk home; contents are similar to a BOB.
MSM: Mainstream media
The people that report on what they think is important for us to hear.
MAG: Mutual Aid Group.
This is like-minded people that form a group to share resources and responsibilities. When I think of a MAG I often think of the first church that is talked about in the book of Acts.
LBE, MOLLE, ALICE:
Load Bearing Equipment; MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment; All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment.
These are all systems to aid in carrying gear that is often connected via harness or pack.
MRE: Meal Ready to Eat.
A self-contained field ration for the United States Military. There are many civilian versions available.
JBT: Jack Booted Thug
A derogatory term used to describe an oppressive group that rules with violence or with the threat of it.
MZB: Mutant Zombie Biker
This is often a term used to describe the “bad guys”.
SAK: Swiss Army Knife
EDC: Every Day Carry
This is gear that you carry every day.
Mottos
“Store what you eat and eat what you store”.
This is the golden rule for prepping. Store the foods that you eat on a regular basis; this will keep your pantry stocked and rotated.
“Two is one, one is none.”
Redundancy – I like to have multiple ways to do things, such as starting a fire and purifying water. This phrase can also be used for gear. If you only have one of something and it breaks, you have nothing, always have a spare.
“I would rather have it and not need it, then need it and not have it.”
I use this on things that I am on the fence about purchasing. If it could come in handy and won’t strain our finances, then this motto comes in to play. My wife likes to use it for buying purses.
“Plan your work, work your plan.”
Plan for different scenarios, this way when an event does happen, everyone knows what is expected of them. An example is a fire at your home. Know who is responsible for grabbing any pets and where everyone should meet; you could also plan different ways to escape your house depending on where the fire is.
Phrases:
Paracord/550 cord:
Parachute Cord has 7 separate strands, held together with a nylon outer layer. Each length can support 550 lbs. There are many knockoffs; if you buy some make sure it has the 7 separate strands
Rule of Three’s:
The rule of three’s is a survival rule that states the average human can go:
Three minutes without oxygen.
Three hours without shelter.
Three days without water.
Three weeks without food.
Prep, prepper, Prepping Preparedness.
The people who are preparing and the act of preparing. I have seen preppers referred to as, survivalists that don’t want to overthrow the government.
Shelf stable food:
A shelf stable food is one that will not spoil for at least six months without refrigeration, when packaged and stored correctly. Some examples are canned vegetables, canned meats, white rice, dried beans, pasta and sugar.
False Flag: Definition from Wikipedia
Before I give it, let me say that I am not saying whether or not I believe in false flags. I am just explaining a phrase you might run into.
False flag operations are covert operations designed to deceive the public in such a way that the operations appear as though they are being carried out by other entities. The name is derived from the military concept of flying false colors; that is, flying the flag of a country other than one’s own. False flag operations are not limited to war and counter-insurgency operations, and can be used in peace-time.
Balloon going up:
When the balloon goes up is a phrase used to imply impending trouble. This relates to the use of observation balloons in the First World War.
Being gray:
I wrote an article dedicated to the subject, found at the link above.
Cotton Kills:
This is reference to outdoor survival and how cotton is a poor choice when compared to wool when it is cold. Wool can be wet and still let you retain heat, the same isn’t true for cotton.
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