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Natural Ways to Kill Bugs and Weeds

April 2, 2012 by

Natural ways to kill bugs and weeds

Many of us are trying to grow gardens naturally, without herbicides and pesticides. This leaves us with the challenge of taking care of weeds and pests. Here are some natural things you can do to get rid of both. (I didn’t use the word organic, because the word can mean different things to different people.)
 
 
Stop Weeds Before They Start

By using a heavy layer of mulch, you can often prevent weeds from starting in the first place. When I was a kid, we used newspaper and black plastic. The newspaper works but often blows away. The black plastic works if you weigh it down with rocks. That is, until a hole is made, then weeds pop up through the hole. A reader shared a website called Back To Eden. This man uses wood chips for mulch and has great success. There is a video in which he describes how God revealed this method of gardening to him, which is how things are naturally and were in the Garden of Eden. The video is 90 minutes long, but worth watching.
 
 
Options for Killing Weeds

If you only have one or two weeds, pulling them from the root should take care of it, then just add it to the top of the mulch pile or toss it in the garbage.

You can pour boiling water on them as close to the root as you can. I have done this with some success on weeds that were growing on the outside of the raised beds. It’s hard to judge how much water you should pour, so I probably poured more than I needed to, but I wanted them dead.

The USDA Agricultural Research Service Scientists have proven that household vinegar mixed with water can kill weeds. Mix the two in a spray bottle and coat the leaves of a weed. Use caution as it will kill plants as well.

Coat weeds with soapy water; mix 5-6 tablespoons of dish soap with a quart of water. Spray the weeds thoroughly and yes, you guessed it be careful not to get any on your plants.

Insects can do an amazing amount of damage quickly, so it’s important to be paying attention to your plants. If you see an insect and you’re not sure what it is, identify it first to make sure you’re not killing a beneficial insect. Below are a few different methods for dealing with unwanted insects.
 
 
Hot Sauce

This is an idea I heard Jack Spirko from The Survival Podcast talk about. It’s been a while, but I think he said to get the hottest pepper you can from the grocery store, chop it up into small bits, add it to a spray bottle and add water. Let it sit overnight. In the morning, go out to your garden and look for the culprit. Spray a little firewater on him and his friends. Jack said this shouldn’t harm the plant in any way, but said to use it sparingly and avoid spraying the beneficial insects in your garden.
 
 
Create Habitat for Beneficial’s

Once you have identified a bug, instead of treating every bug as you see them, you can attract its natural predator. This could mean planting some flowers or plants that you might not normally grow. Here is a page that has information on using beneficial bugs as natural pest control.

You could also build habitat for insect eating birds. This, however, is a little more involved than just plating a few flowers.

Birds need a place nearby where they can perch and scan the garden for predators. Whether it’s a bird house or just a fashioned perch near the garden, either should be fine.

Birds are attracted to moving water. If you already have a birdbath, you could add a bubbler for $30-$40. If you don’t have a birdbath, you could look at a fountain instead. It doesn’t need to be huge or elaborate.

You could also add a bird feeder to sweeten the deal, and target the kind of bird you want in the garden, by using feed they love.

There are websites you can buy beneficial insects from, but if you don’t have the habitat for them, they won’t stay around for long.

I also listed several gardening resources that list some of the books I have on dealing with weeds and unwanted insects naturally.

Do you have any natural ways of dealing with pests or weeds?

 
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The Rule of Threes

March 30, 2012 by

I’ve discussed these rules before, but thought it would be a good idea to cover them again, for those who might have missed them. You can use these rules in a survival situation to help you decide what your biggest danger is.

The average human can last:

3 seconds without oxygen to the brain
3 minutes without oxygen
3 hours without shelter in poor weather
3 days without water
3 weeks without food

There are a couple of examples that I have seen added that I don’t much care for, they are:
3 seconds in a violent attack.
3 months without human contact.

I understand the sentiment, but the others are actually provable while these two are speculative.

Lasting the length of time of any of the rules won’t be easy. After a day without water, you’ll feel rotten. I haven’t done an extended fast, but I’m told after a certain amount of time the hunger pangs slow down, but until then, you’ll feel weak, cranky and have limited energy.

 
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Filed Under: General Preparedness, Mind Set, Preparedness Tips

Preparedness in an Apartment

March 28, 2012 by

Preparedness in an apartment is a challenge for a few reasons.  Space limitations are one of the obvious reasons, but there are also safety aspects to consider.  There can be challenges for growing your own produce as well.  It’s been years since I lived in an apartment, so please speak up in the comment section if you have anything to add.
 
 
 Location, Location, Location

Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for an apartment.  Housing costs are big and leases are often 6-12 months long.  That’s a long time to pay for a place you hate.

If possible find the crime rate in the surrounding area. One tool is Crime Reports.com.  It might not list every crime committed, but it can give you a rough idea of the crime rate of the area.  You can also call the non-emergency number for the local police department of the area you’re looking at.  Ask to speak to the Community Resource Officer.  If they don’t have one, explain what you’re looking for to the person who answered the phone.

If you don’t have a washer and dryer in the apartment, find out if there is one available in the building.  Even if there is, find the nearest Laundromat.  You never know when someone else will be doing laundry at the same time you want to. I think this is related to preparedness because laundry can be expensive.  You can make your own laundry soap to save some money, to put toward your preps but the machines can take money.  Try to find out who lives in the apartments around the one you’re looking at.  Knowing who your prospective neighbors are might give you peace, or warning as to whether you should move in or not.
 
 
Security

If you have the perfect location, with a low crime rate, security might be less of a concern, but don’t get complacent.  Here are some tips to keep you and your property safe.

Apartments on the ground floor are the easiest to access, for you and for someone trying to break in.  My ideal apartment would be one with two or three stories and live on the top floor.  Then you don’t have to listen to people walking above you, and you’re not so far up that you can’t get out a window in an emergency.

If you have expensive “toys”, make sure they are in a non-descript box when you move them into the new apartment.  For the same reason, be aware of who is outside your door when you go into your apartment.  Often people may try to get a peek at what you have inside and it’s none of their business.

Don’t blindly buzz anyone in.  Criminals have been known to buzz everyone, hoping someone just lets them in.

Make sure you lock the balcony door.  I had a drunken roommate forget his keys once and climb up to our balcony on the second floor to get in.  If he could do it in his altered state, someone with bad intentions could easily do it too.

Before you move in, make sure any damage is documented.  You could end up paying for it if you don’t.  If they say they know about it, get that in writing.  I’ve been burned this way.  Make sure the locks have been changed since the last person moved out.

I’ve heard of two home-invasions that took place in apartments within 30 miles from where I sit, within the last six months.  If you get a firearm for home defense, a shotgun with #4 shot will work just fine and will penetrate walls less than a handgun or rifle.  If you are averse to guns or can’t have one, find something you are able to use in self-defense and are comfortable with and make it available.
 
 
Space Limitations

Because of space limitations, you need to get creative about how you approach storage and do so with a clear plan.  For instance, when I started prepping I bought a few 50 pound bags of rice, repackaged them in Mylar bags and placed the Mylar bags in food grade buckets.  I have plenty of storage space in my basement so this was no issue.  However, if I lived in an apartment, I would now be taking up half a closet with 150 pounds of rice and have no room for anything else.

As with people in a house, you should store what you eat and eat what you store.  You just have less space to do it with.  Do a survey of your apartment, looking for areas that could be used for storage.  Under the bed is a good option.  You can raise a regular bed a few inches and get some extra room.  There are also plastic totes made for under the bed storage.

Any closet, no matter the size often has wasted space.  Many have one shelf but there is often room for another above it or on the door side, above the door.  There is often a lot of wasted space from the floor to the bottoms of clothes.  Even if you put shoes in there, you might still be able to squeeze in a small shelf unit.  The closet is probably the safest place to make changes and store food, as it’s out of sight.

It’s not realistic to store a 55-gallon barrel of water in an apartment, but it’s not impossible to store enough for a week or two.  Keep a case or two of water bottles or the large plastic containers that hold 2.5 gallons in a closet or under a bed.

Another option is to put your LTS (Long Term Storage) food that is in Mylar in a 30 gallon metal garbage can.  If you have the food in Mylar, it doesn’t matter if you use food grade buckets, as the food won’t touch anything but the Mylar.  I’ve done this and you can fit a HUGE amount of food in one can, versus the same space that four 5 gallon buckets take up.
 
 
Food Production

Growing food in an apartment is absolutely more difficult.  You have limited space and, depending on the direction of your windows, limited sun.  This just means that as with storing food, you need to be creative and intensely manage what you do have.  I wasn’t a prepper when I last lived in an apartment, but here are some methods I have read about that others have successfully used.

Container gardening can be done with great success.  You have to pick the right size container for what you’re going to grow.  Because you have limited space, you may want to plant things that produce heavily, such as tomatoes or something you can do multiple cuttings of, such as broccoli or lettuce.  If you plant something like radishes, you can probably do a couple of plantings a season, but the volume that is produced is less.

If you have a balcony, you could use the “Topsy Turvy Upside-Down Tomato or Strawberry Planter” to grow tomatoes and straw berries.  You can also make use of vertical space with the PVC Trellis I described in the linked article.   If you spray painted it the same color as the siding of your apartment building, it won’t be such an eye sore and will draw less attention.  An herb garden can be grown in a windowsill as long as it gets some sun.  It and other containers can be moved to a different window to chase the sun.

See if there are community garden plots available.  If so, you can often rent one for a few dollars for the season.

Another possibility might be to grow on the roof of your apartment.  You would have to haul all of the wood and dirt up there, but it might be an option if building management is agreeable.

If you are simply not able to grow any food, you can still visit local farmers markets and buy produce to preserve.  Always make sure you have room to store it before you start.

 
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Filed Under: General Preparedness

What is Caching?

March 23, 2012 by

Have you ever heard of caching?  I don’t mean geo caching, which is somewhat similar, but not quite the same thing.  Caching is most often burying supplies in a water proof container in a low traffic area in the event you might need them in a future emergency.
 
 
Why Would Someone Cache?

I can think of a couple different reasons; first let’s say that you own a few widgets and you think that someday someone might make widget ownership illegal.  You might decide that you think you won’t want to give up your right to own widgets and decide to bury them as a method of hiding them.  Another reason you might cache is to use it as a resupply source.  If you have a BOL (Bug Out Location) and think you may have to walk to it, you might find strategic points along the route where you might need to resupply and bury a cache there.
 
 
 Where Should Someone Cache

The goal is to have it not be found except by you.  If you decide to cache, you’ll want to do so in an area that doesn’t get a lot of traffic and is not easily seen.  For example, if you are going to put a cache near a popular hiking trail, you’ll want to bury the cache a good distance from the trail.  You’ll also want to take into consideration what is around the area you decide to cache.  If you’re in the middle of a large forest, then you’re probably safe.  But if you’re near a housing development, you might find your cache built over if the development expands.
 
 
While it is possible to cache under water, I don’t recommend it.  First it’s not easy, you have to weigh the container down and possibly tie it to an anchor of some sort.  Second you have to be absolutely sure the container won’t leak.  You can use materials that are waterproof and apply caulking to keep water out, but can you guarantee it will last for years?  Third, if the water table lowers, your cache could be seen and looted. Fourth, retrieving it quickly could be difficult, especially if you live in an area where the water freezes.
 
 

What should Someone Put in a Cache?

This would depend on why the individual would be caching.  Some ideas that I have are foods that do not go bad, such as honey, rice, pasta that has been stored in Mylar with O2 absorbers and a means to purify water.  One might also want to cache something to make fire, a small first aid kit, a firearm and some ammo, a knife, some currency such as dollars and maybe gold or silver.

Keep in mind that the goal here is for this cache to never be found.  That does not mean it never will be. Do NOT put anything in the cache that you cannot afford to lose.
 
 
How Should Someone Cache?

I have seen various tubes designed for caching.  They can be quite expensive.  PVC with end caps is much less expensive and works just as well if you use sealant on both ends.

Thoroughly document where you have placed the cache.  If you look for it even a year later, the area will have most likely grown over. 

Have a means to unearth your cache stored nearby as you cannot be certain that you will be able to bring a shovel with you on your return trip.  Hiding it in plain site could prove very tricky, so maybe bury it a foot or six inches below the surface.

Take a “plug” of topsoil containing grass and set it aside, dig the hole and put the cache in place.  Now put dirt over the cache and then replace the “plug”.  Have a plan for what you will do with all of the dirt you just displaced, leaving it there is a pretty good calling card.  If you take the extra dirt with you, with the “plug” back in its original place, this might nicely conceal the cache.

I cannot stress enough to be very careful where you choose to cache.  I have read stories of people going back to retrieve their cache and finding an empty container.  I have also seen stories in forums where someone found a cache while hiking.

 
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Filed Under: General Preparedness, Kits

What To Look For When Buying Land

March 19, 2012 by

What To Look For When Buying Land

I have mentioned various times that I want to own land; I have since I started prepping. The last few years, the “want” has gotten stronger for both Trudee (my wife) and I. This has led us to look for land various times and we have decided to look again, but more seriously this time. I thought I would share with you my reasons for wanting to move and what I am looking for, in case you find yourself in the same boat down the line.

If we find something now, we might purchase it and treat it as a BOL until we can move there full time and homestead.
 
 
Why I’m Looking

I live in a suburb of Minneapolis with a population of 62,000, give or take. The houses in my neighborhood are close enough together that if our neighbors are on their deck and our windows are open, we get to listen to their conversation, which leads to windows closing.

There are trees in my yard that are perfect for shading things but prohibitive to growing food. While I could cut them down, I don’t like where I live enough to want to stay for the rest of my life and can’t justify cutting down multiple tree’s for a few years of growing.   Our city also has some ordinances against livestock and against other things that I would like to be able to do on property that I own.
 
 
What I’m Looking For

Right now we’re just defining what we want in land. Since this will be the place we’ll stay for the rest of our lives, we’re not willing to compromise. I’m sure I forgot some of what we’re looking for and probably haven’t thought of everything, but here is what I have so far.

I would like to have at least five acres; ideally there would be two acres of pasture land and three that are wooded. I want to use permaculture principles and turn two acres into a food forest. The pasture would need to have exposure to the southern sky most of the day. The soil in the pasture won’t need to be perfect but I don’t want all rocks either. There is a good chance we’ll have a sample tested.

I want some type of a body of water on the land. Living in Minnesota, it shouldn’t be too hard to find if I’m willing to pay for it. I would like to be able to have some livestock if we choose to in the future. I would also like to be able to build a berm and shoot if I want to.

Trudee and I have talked about different housing options in the event we find land with no structure on it. Ideally we would have a well and septic system. If there is no structure, we’ll have to put the well and septic system in, so there would be an added cost.

I want a small to mid-sized town. I really want to live in a place where we can get to know people and have community. I’m hoping to be able to work from home in the future, so we need high speed internet access for that, so that limits us some.
 
 
Resources For Finding Land

Whether you’re looking for a retreat, BOL or just a place to make a homestead, here are some places to help you find it.

United Country
The MLS Online
Land Watch
Survival Realty
SunSpring Properties
Lake Place Minnesota and Wisconsin only

 
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What is CERT

February 27, 2012 by

What is CERT

My wife and I participated in CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training as a way to be official aides in our community in an emergency. Our city doesn’t have CERT but the county our church is in, sponsors one, so we signed up and trained there.

Here is brief synopsis taken from the CERT homepage:

“The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.”

The CERT concept was started by the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1985 as a way for civilians to aid local first responders. You can read more about CERT history on the About Page

What Do You Learn In CERT?

Introduction

Unit 1: Disaster Preparedness
Unit 2: Fire Safety
Unit 3: Disaster Medical Operations—Part 1
Unit 4: Disaster Medical Operations—Part 2
Unit 5: Light Search and Rescue Operations
Unit 6: CERT Organization
Unit 7: Disaster Psychology
Unit 8: Terrorism and CERT
Unit 9: Course Review and Disaster Simulation

I’ll cover the things that I remember; this is NOT all inclusive of the material taught.

Unit 1 covered some basic emergency preparedness, including having enough food and water for your entire family (including pets) for a minimum of three days. They also assert that every family member should have a kit with their essential supplies. It was explained that there are 300 civilians for every 1 first responder. We were trained that if there was an emergency and the CERT team was activated, we are to take care of our families first, then report to where we were asked to go. The county Emergency Manager explained that the reason we make a kit and have food and water stored is because they and FEMA would set up a FEMA shelter, but that we did not want to be there.

Unit 2 covered basic firefighting. We went to a fire station and were shown how to use a fire extinguisher and a fire hose. The different types of fire were explained and we were shown how to extinguish them. We were also taught how to develop an emergency plan, and how to turn off water, gas and electricity.

Unit 3 and Unit 4 taught us how to triage and how to treat the most frequent types of injuries that are found in emergency situations; some of which are airway obstructions, bleeding and shock; how to apply splints, treat wounds and burns.

Unit 5 covered how to size up a situation to see if entering a building is safe, look for fallen wires, smell for gas leaks, look for smoke etc. We learned the difference between light, moderate and heavy damage and how to mark an exterior door with symbols indicating that the area has been entered, assessed, exited and whether there are victims inside along with any other pertinent information. We were shown how to build a “crib”, which uses a lever and incrementing blocks to take the weight off of a victim, as well as safe ways to pull a victim out and carry or drag them properly.

Unit 6 explained the organization of response teams; who a CERT member may report to and their jobs in the different teams.

Unit 7 Covered dealing with emotions that survivors may have and keeping responding teams emotional wellbeing intact.

Unit 8 explained the different types of terrorist weapons; nuclear, chemical, conventional explosive and biological. There were explanations on what to do if there is an event and what the CERT role will be.

Chapter 9 reviewed all information. The exercise might be different for each group but we went to a law enforcement training center that has a couple of mock buildings set up. We used everything we learned while going through the process of sizing up the scene and entering the building to look for hazards and victims. We also set up a triage and trauma area that the victims from the building were brought to for treatment.

As I have stated, different CERT groups may handle things differently. Your experience may be different. The county we were trained in obtained a grant from FEMA and supplied us all with a CERT bag full of supplies. They also have monthly training on various items. When there is an emergency, a call is sent to all CERT members, detailing what they need to do. CERT was activated when the 35W bridge collapsed. CERT was also activated to walk the caution tape when a Police Officer was murdered, keeping the general public behind the tape. The county also uses the CERT team for non-emergency events, such as standing watch at flood zones or at various posts during fundraising events.

I highly recommend CERT for multiple reasons. You will learn how to be a resource to your community in an emergency. It will teach you how to respond in many types of emergencies, such as weather, fire, trauma or terrorism.

Because I believe CERT is such a good idea, I have added a way for you to find CERT and other Citizen Corp groups in your area, to the right of the article. Just add your Zip Code and you’ll be shown a list of groups near you.

 
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Overlooked Preparedness Items.

October 25, 2011 by

Here are some items that are often overlooked as preparedness items. Some of them you use often, some maybe not at all, but all of them would be missed if you needed them in a pinch.
 
Toilet paper

This is something that is frequently used and yet many homes have just enough to get through the week. It doesn’t have to be expensive or the kind you use every day, so stack it high and wide. Even the cheap stuff is better than making due with a phone book. Since TP isn’t subject to drastic temperatures it can be stacked in the attic or in the rafters.
 
Feminine hygiene products

Another item that often doesn’t have a large supply. If any of you gentleman have had to run to get more, then you understand how important having a good supply is, to make sure that this never, ever happens…ever.
 
Shoe laces

A broken lace can make a shoe worthless; having some cheap laces on hand can save a bug out, a hike or moonlit walk gone awry.
 
Stomach aids

One very common way that the human body reacts to stress is varying types of upset stomachs. An upset stomach can make a difficult situation unbearable, so having some Pepto, Rolaids, Imodium and Colace can help things get back to normal.
 
Duct Tape

From sealing a broken window to impromptu cordage, it’s impossible to list all of the things duct tape can be used for.
 
Oral Numbing Agent

There is no pain like a tooth ache. I recently had a friend that had a nasty tooth ache on a Friday and couldn’t be seen until Monday. Imagine having no option but to go longer. Well, you could always use an ice skate (Castaway reference).
 
Eye glass repair kit

Anyone who wears glasses should have one of these. The extra small screws and small screw drivers are a must.
 
Work Gloves

I mean heavy duty gloves; the kind that can stand up to downed timber or broken glass. I paved the dogs kennel this year and couldn’t do everything I needed to with my good work gloves on; I ended up destroying two pairs of cheaper gloves. While I couldn’t wear my good work gloves for this task, it made me appreciate them all the more.
 
Bandanna

There are many uses for bandanas; protecting your mouth and nose from dust, head-wear, wound dressing, getting them wet and wrapping them around your neck to keep cool. (Oh, you can blow your nose with them too.)
 
Shoe Glue

In normal times buying a new pair of shoes when the sole comes loose is an easy decision. When times aren’t normal, being able to fix a worn shoe might be the only option.
 
Cough Drops, throat spray

A sore throat is bad, but an untreated cough can irritate your throat and lead to bronchitis.
 
Have More?

If you have a good item to share, post it in the notes and share it with everyone. If you would rather be anonymous, e-mail it to me and I’ll post it.
 
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Filed Under: General Preparedness

Severe Weather

August 13, 2011 by

Some of you may be guilty of this. I know I was. We live in an area of the country that permits us to have a basement; this is our default spot when the sirens go off. I have been so busy this year that I was chomping at the bit to get out of the basement and back to whatever the sirens interrupted. My wife pointed out that we shouldn’t be telling people to take shelter, if we aren’t. Humbled, I have changed my point of view about severe weather. As preppers we prepare for “what may come”, yet when it’s “just a thunder storm”, many of us either ignore it or go out and watch.

Severe weather is the “stuff hitting the fan” scenario for countless families every year. This year has been worse than most. There have been hundreds of casualties and thousands affected by tornadoes, floods and straight-line winds. We still have hurricane season and several months left in the year. Understanding severe weather and knowing when and how we can mitigate its affects are an important preparation. Instead of reinventing the wheel, I’ll list some great resources found and also give some of my own thoughts.
 
 
Watches and Warnings

From NOAA Severe weather website:
“When conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop, a severe thunderstorm or tornado WATCH is issued. Weather Service personnel use information from weather radar, spotters, and other sources to issue severe thunderstorm and tornado WARNINGS for areas where severe weather is imminent.”

As I mentioned above, I have found myself chomping at the bit to get out of the basement. I have decided instead to set a better example for the kids (avoid angering my beautiful wife) and stay in the basement until all tornado warnings have passed. Under certain circumstances we’ll be in there for thunderstorms as well.

Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Lightning…Nature’s Most Violent Storms (This is a big file. Please be patient while it loads.)
This is a very informative document created by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It covers facts about thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, hail, straight-line winds, flash floods and creating a severe weather plan.

Just some of the information found inside:

Why Worry About Thunderstorms?
Lightning…
■ Causes an average of 55-60 fatalities and 400 injuries each year
■ Occurs with all thunderstorms
■ Costs more than $1 billion in insured losses each year

Tornadoes…
■ Cause an average of 60-65 fatalities and 1,500 injuries each year
■ Can produce wind speeds in excess of 200 mph
■ Can be 1 mile wide and stay on the ground over 50 miles

Straight-line Winds…
■ Can exceed 125 mph
■ Can cause destruction equal to a tornado
■ Are extremely dangerous to aviation

Flash Floods and Floods…
■ Are the #1 cause of deaths associated with thunderstorms, more than 90 fatalities each year

Hail…
■ Can be larger than a softball (5 inches in diameter)
■ Causes more than $1 billion in crop and property damage each year.
 
 
Ice Storms

Ice storms are caused when freezing rain or sleet falls and coats whatever it lands on in ice. These ice storms can last for hours or in some cases days. The longer it lasts, the more damage it causes. An ice storm can make the roads un-driveable. The real danger, it seems to me, is from the added weight to trees and over-head power lines.

Where I live in Minnesota, we had a fairly mild ice storm and my wife’s cousin was without power for two days. We have underground power lines in my neighborhood so losing power wasn’t a huge concern but I had to knock ice off of the branches on one of our trees to keep them from breaking under the added weight. I have seen multiple reports where ice storms have caused large-scale power outages lasting weeks in some cases. Though I think the ones lasting weeks were in rural areas.

If you live in an area where snow is possible, you live in an area that can have ice storms. Having a stocked pantry is always a good idea but in this circumstance it could be a lifesaver for you or a neighbor. Having a means of alternative heat and power are ideal as well. Make sure your alternate heat source is meant for indoors or asphyxiation by carbon monoxide is possible. If a generator is your means of alternative power then only use it out doors.

I recommend having a winter kit in your car. I plan on covering this in more detail before this winter. For now jumper cables, some extra food, a container to melt snow in and an extra blanket are a good start. If you have to drive in this type of weather, make sure someone knows your route and the time frame you think you’ll be there.
 
 
Hurricanes

I don’t live in an area that deals with hurricanes, so my knowledge of them is limited to what I have read and watched in documentaries . The National Hurricane Center is a great resource for any current hurricanes or other tropical weather dangers. I’m sure we all remember hurricane Katrina and the huge amount of damage it caused but much smaller hurricanes are still capable of causing a large amount of damage.

Hurricanes are one of the few things, when dealing with severe weather, that we are given a fair amount of notice about. The information we receive in advance includes where, when and how bad the damage will be. For this reason I would absolutely have a bug out plan, just in case. In “Bugging Out or Battening Down? Bugging Out or Battening Down?” I cover some information on building a bug out plan, even if you don’t have a BOL (Bug Out Location).

The same preparations for ice storms, such as a stocked pantry and alternative heat and power apply to hurricanes as well.

When it comes to severe weather, what can we do?
We can stay informed, we can be prepared and we can take shelter if needed.
 
 
Stay informed

There are a few different ways we can stay informed, one is to alert us of the weather (if we’re not outside in it), the second is more detailed information when we are aware of it. A couple of great ways to get alerted to severe weather are weather alert radios and having a text sent to your phone.

We have a couple different types of weather alert radios, each serving different purposes. I would recommend either. The first is a Reecom R-1630 and works great as a stationary base.

You can program it for single or multiple counties and it has different sounds for watch vs. warning. It has a screen that will tell you the type of alert and the time it expires.

The second weather alert radio we have is a Midland HH50.

It has fewer features but is great for times when you’re out and about. It can be set to alert you if either a watch or warning is declared but also has a radio feature so that once the alert has sounded you can find out what is going on.

Another way to get informed about oncoming severe weather is to have a text message sent to your cell phone. I don’t use this service but I wanted to find an example in case this would be of interest to you. The Weather Channel provides this service but it tends to be buggy because it is new. I am sure there are others.
 
 
Be Prepared

When we started prepping we had accrued various supplies, but it hadn’t dawned on us until the tornado sirens were sounding and we were in the basement that we didn’t have what we needed down there. This brings up a great point, document anything you discover you’re missing in the moment. This will help ensure you’re not missing it again at a later date.

I mentioned in the sections for ice storms that having alternate power and heat are a good idea. This can mean a generator and propane heater (with necessary precautions followed) but it can also mean extra batteries and extra blankets. One very good prep is a power failure flashlight . It stays plugged into an outlet and if you lose electricity it will turn on. You can then pull it out of the outlet and make your way to your “lights out kit”.

Having a “lights out” kit is a good idea but if you have one, learn from my mistake and put it in your severe weather shelter. I recommend having alternate light sources and extra batteries in them. We have candles in ours but I need to make a special note on candles here: A friend of mine said recently that she had seen that candles were not recommended, as people who don’t use them regularly end up starting fires or getting burned accidentally. It might be a good idea to only include candles if you use them regularly. We keep a fire extinguisher in the basement, if you choose to, make sure you know how to use it.

I have seen some recommendations to be prepared to eat cold food; I recommend a backup way to cook and covered a few of these in Food Boredom to Survival Cooking. When in the Navy I lived on cold food for a time. A hot meal can really raise the spirits. However, as with candles, this should be a means of cooking you’re familiar with. A non-electric can opener is also a good idea.

Other items you might want to include are the shake flashlight or a wind up radio/flashlight/cell charger. I have one of these, but it’s not a good one so I won’t name the brand here. A radio (weather or otherwise) is a good idea so that you can stay informed. We have also started to bring our cell phones and iPods for the kids. There are other things you might want to keep in your lights out kit, but you get the idea. It needs to be specific to your family’s needs.
 
 
Take Shelter

At Home

When weather is at it’s worst and we have to take shelter, for many of us that means we head for the basement or a storm shelter. I’ll give some ideas to those of you that don’t have access to either of those. One of the biggest dangers in severe weather is flying debris. A room with no windows is the safest place to be. Ideally this would be the bathroom, you can get in the tub and drag a mattress or couch cushions to cover you. A closet is also an option..

If you don’t have a room without windows or a sufficient closet, a hallway will work. If you don’t have a hallway that will work but have a couch, you can turn it over and get in the space underneath. You can also turn it upside down against a wall and get in the space in between.

Fox news did a story called Kevlar Bunker Provides Safe House for Tornado Survivor. They told about a women who had a 4ft x 4ft Kevlar box. For those with no other solution and who can afford it this is a great idea.

Driving

If you’re driving and get caught in severe weather, stay informed by listening to the radio. If you’re caught in a thunderstorm, pulling over and waiting it out might be the best idea. For the men reading this, put your machismo aside, your family needs you more than you need to prove that you can handle driving in it.

I have pulled over and waited out storms on the side of the road. I have always worried about visibility; someone else not being able to see me and pulling over to wait it out, hitting me. If you do this, remember to put your hazard lights on. If possible I suggest waiting it out in a parking lot. When possible go into a nearby building instead..and DO NOT pull over under an overpass.
 
 
Tornado

A tornado is a completely different beast. I have seen some recommendations about parking under an overpass. Having just become a trained spotter, I was informed that this is DANGEROUS, not just insufficient. An overpass works as a wind tunnel. You are NOT safe there. The absolute best thing to do is take shelter inside a solid structure. If that is simply not an option, find the lowest place you can get to and assume “the position”. If that happens to be a ditch, lie as flat as you can with your hands covering the back of your head.

 
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Bugging Out or Battening Down?

April 17, 2011 by

Bugging Out or Battening Down

I am going to use the acronyms here, if you don’t know what they are please see the Acronyms, Mottos and Phrases page.

Some of the favorite topics in preparedness are BOB’s and BO. In this article I want to cover the decision to BO vs. battening down (staying put). I have seen some people on forums say that they will just head out to the woods if they have to BO, or hide out in a Costco, Wal-Mart or a similar store. I’ll cover those options and why I think they are a bad idea.
 
Batten Down

Some people use the term “Bug In”, I prefer the term “Batten Down”, it’s the term we used in the Navy to secure the ship and get ready for rough waters. We would batten down the hatches (doors) and stow or batten down any loose gear that could go flying as we got ready for severe weather and rough seas.

While I think everyone should have a BOB and a BO plan, I think that unless you own a BOL, battening down is a better option 95% of the time. Unless I have a retreat at a BOL and I must ride out a rough time. My home is the place I would want to do that from. It is where my family is comfortable and depending on the reason why we are battened down, this sense of normalcy will be huge. Also unless you have a BOL or a cache somewhere, this is where your preps will most likely be and BO with all of your preps is likely never going to be an option for most people.

There are things you can do to make your home more secure (or batten it down), both now and if the stuff hits the fan.

Here are a few tips for now, I may write an article about this at another time.

This might be a stretch for some of you but think like a dirt-bag; look at your house like a criminal would. Look for the easiest ways in, look for any spots someone could hide near a door or window and remain unseen from people passing by. If you see any obvious weaknesses find way to secure or mitigate their weakness.

Most doors are secured to the door frame but not to the stud. You can replace the existing screws with 3” screws, making the door much more resistant to being kicked in.

Dogs are very effective deterrents. Big dog aren’t necessary all the time. The little yappers are just as good because the goal is noise not attacking.

If you have a deck door you should have a board that rests in the full length of the track. I don’t know if this is true or if it can still be done, but I have read that it is possible to knock a deck door off it’s track to open it. This is done by just opening it an inch and lifting it and pushing in, this is the reason I say the board needs to be the full length of the track, so it cannot open that inch.

This will keep the door from being opened until the board is removed. It might keep thieves out in normal times, but having a plan to secure that big pane of glass is a good idea, in case things get ugly but not bad enough to BO. The most some of us will be able to do is keep the shades drawn and barricade it with furniture.

Outside lights that are triggered by motion sensors are another good idea.

 

Bugging Out

 
Bug Out Plans

There could always be something that forces you to BO, such as wildfire, floods, attack of killer tomatoes (hehehe), civil unrest, etc. When should the decision to BO be made? There are so many variables that there isn’t just one right answer. You may need to have different thresholds and when the circumstances are reached you bail. For instance, if there is a hurricane heading your direction but it is two days away and may lose strength, you might decide to stay until it is twelve hours away. Another threshold may be a true pandemic (not H1N1) with high morbidity and mortality, for this you may decide to either impose a self-quarantine or BO early.

There are two basic types of evacuation orders, immediate and time to react. Authorities will only tell people to evacuate as a last resort. If there is an order given, it should be followed.

For the types of BO when you have time to react, you may desire to take more then just your BOB. Now is the time to make a list of what will go with and where it is, not when stress is high and you’re on the way out the door. These types of events would be hurricane, flooding , wildfire some distance away, but headed in your direction.

I also think there should be a plan in place for an immediate BO. This is the catch all, no time to grab the kitchen sink, you simply get the BOB’s and go. For these things you just have to leave when it is safer to be on the road than it is at your home. These types of events would be something like tornado, near by fire, terrorist attack and other things that don’t give much of a warning.
 
BOB’s or 3 day kits

a BOB is the same as a 3-day kit, they should be used to get you to the BOL and support you for 72 hours. Unless you have a stocked BOL, your BOB is not going to have enough supplies to sustain you and your family for any length of time. Read here for basic BOB (Bug Out Bag) or 3 day kit list.
 
Should I stay or should I go?

If you have a BOL then you might decide to BO sooner. If you go too soon and it turns out that you didn’t need to, you might be out a few days of vacation. There is a catch 22, if you wait too long, there could be a lot of traffic doing the same thing.
 
No BOL? You still have options

Since you don’t own a BOL you’re not tied to one piece of land. Pick a destination in each direction; north, south, east and west. This gives you two to three directions to avoid trouble. I would pick a smallish town, big enough to have a hotel and use the hotel as the BOL. Why a hotel and not a camp or park? If your family is separated, you can call the hotel and see if they are there, you can tell the attendant that your family is on the way and leave a message for them. Once there you can either rent a room, or move on to another temporary BOL.

If things get bad enough to force you to bug out, the most important thing is that you’re no longer at home. Keep in mind that you’ll not be the only one with the idea. That’s why I think a small town is a good choice. It’s important to have a plan ahead of time, as you won’t want to be paralyzed with trying to figure out where to go.
 
Special Needs

If you have someone with special needs in your life, you are already aware of the extra care they need on a day-to-day basis. When planning a BO or batten down procedure, there may be other things to consider. FEMA has a document called People with Disabilities and Other Access and Functional Needs.
 
Documentation Package

Here is an idea that I got from Jack Spirko of The Survival Podcast. Make a travel folder and stick one in each vehicle. Inside this folder you should have three destinations with three routes to each destination. Label them destination 1, 2, 3 and route A, B, C. Now if you and your family are separated, you can call them and tell them to head to destination 2, route 3 and there is no confusion about not knowing where to go.

I also think that you should include information like local towing companies and your insurance agent’s phone number. This is information that you will want quickly and may not have someone to call to give it to you.
 
Other Important Papers

It is a good idea to have important papers in one easy-to-grab place. These could include: birth certificates, social security cards, passports, insurance papers and family photos.
 
Pets

As responsible pet owners we need to make plans for our pets. We recently got all of our dogs micro-chipped. This is a good idea now and in an emergency. It could prove essential should one wander away. For their safety having a travel kennel could prove essential. If you’re bugging out, time is of the essence; you do not want to spend it chasing a scared pet. Keeping pets’ shot records with the family’s important papers is also a good idea.
 

Bad Ideas

 
Into The Woods

I have seen plenty of people who think that if worse came to worse they would just head for the great outdoors. In this scenario you don’t have a stocked BOL so you probably have your BOB’s and maybe some extra food. How long will it all last? How skilled in the outdoors are you? How much food can you forage, fish or hunt for your family.

I love those survival shows on the Discovery channel, the ones where either a single person or a group of people are “stranded” and they need to survive until they are found or make it back to civilization. I’m guessing there is some element of Hollywood in them but I have only seen a few episodes on all of the shows combined where people got any food, let alone enough food to feed them for any length of time. Sometimes they would go a week with only eating one or two small meals.

Now consider the time of the year. In late spring, summer and early fall, sleeping in a tent here in Minnesota would be fine, but late fall through early spring, I don’t even like being here at all, never mind sleeping in a tent or trailer.

The number one reason this is a bad idea is; if you thought of it so did a huge number of other people. If you know of the perfect spot others probably do as well and when food runs out in suburbia, people will start looking in the places they go hunting and fishing. There are certain people in the right situation that this may be a good option for but for the vast majority this is a bad idea.
 
Hiding Out at a Store

While I don’t believe anyone reading this would ever see this as an option there are those that think Costco, Sam’s Club, Target, Wal-Mart or stores like these would be a great place to hide out in if things ever got really bad. The main reason this is a bad idea is because it’s illegal. if it is a true survival situation, I think you can “commandeer” needed items for survival. Like I said, “I think” this is something that you’ll need to check in your area. As we saw during Katrina, there are those among us who think 60” TV’s are a survival item.

Let’s pretend that it wasn’t illegal or immoral. Its still a bad idea because; if you thought of it so did anyone who ever shopped there. The supplies will not last long. The shelves will be empty quickly. Since we’re pretending, let’s pretend that it isn’t illegal and you had a store with minimal competition. There are still too many entries to secure to make this viable without a small group.

 
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Developing A Preparedness Plan

December 2, 2010 by

Developing a preparedness plan

Now I want to cover where you should start, or what you should do next, for those who are not new to preparedness.

If you’re new, first things first, do not panic, you have time. If you concentrate on everything you are not prepared for, you may begin to feel overwhelmed. Take a deep breath and remember that God is in control. That might sound cliché but I mean it. He was in control before you decided to prepare, He is in control now, and will continue to be in control if you are prepared or not. Pray, ask Him for peace and to guide you.

I wish there was a ten-step plan that I could tell you to follow to becoming prepared. But the truth is your plan needs to be yours. I do not know your situation, your location, your budget, but what I can do is give you some guide lines and things to consider. Here are some philosophies that can help you come up with a preparedness plan.
 
 
Disaster Probability

Jack Spirko over at The Survival Podcast does a great job explaining disaster probability and impact in Episode 474.

Jack drops an S-bomb now and then, so if you’re easily offended be forewarned. For those that don’t have the time to listen I’ll try to do a quick recap. The events that have the highest probability of happening have the smallest area of damage. Events that affect the greatest number of people have the smallest chance of happening. As an example, you losing your job has a much higher chance of happening then an EMP that takes out the electric grid. Your job loss has an affect on your family, while the EMP would affect much of the nation.
 
 
Threat Assessment

If disaster probability says that the things most likely to happen will be acute in nature, threat assessment pinpoints what those are.

Let’s say I live in an area that has overhead power lines and is prone to ice storms every year or two that causes power outages of varying lengths. Disaster probability would say that an ice storm is a higher risk then a pandemic. Threat assessment says if there is an ice storm, the possible threats are:

-Loss of power; if there is no power then I have no means to keep food cold.
If my primary heat source uses electricity, I could be without heat.

-Loss of transportation, if the ice storm is bad enough, there may be no way for me to get to the grocery store.
 
 
Basic Human Needs

There are five basic requirements that every human needs; shelter, water, food, fire (energy) and security. At different times one need might be more critical then another, for now, apply them to the threats listed from the ice storm.

With a generator I can mitigate the loss of power and get the fridge and freezer running. If my primary source of heat needs electricity then I can mitigate that as well. However, the more load I put on the generator, the higher wattage it is going to need to put out, the more expensive the generator becomes, plus the more I run it, the more fuel needed to keep it running.

The fuller a fridge or freezer is, the less energy it takes to keep everything frozen. There are things I could do such as keep 2-liter containers filled with ice, in the bottom of the freezer to take up empty space. This will mean less energy to run the motor to keep things frozen and the ice will keep things frozen longer.

I could also only have the fridge and freezer connected to the generator and only run it an hour or so in the morning and evening, this should keep things frozen. I could get an indoor propane heater and a couple 20 Lbs propane tanks for my heat source.

The last threat I need to take care of is the possibility of not being able to get to the grocery store. For this I can make sure I have at least one week worth of food and water stored ahead of time. If you’re new to prepping, one week is an acceptable place to start, if you have been prepping for any length of time you should have considerably more.
 
 
Making a Plan

Now that I have covered the basics of finding your most likely threats, I’ll give some tips.

Get a notebook and dedicate it to prepping. Write down every need, want and idea. This doesn’t mean you need to get them now, but at least it is on your mind. I recently looked at the list I made when I started; I have most but not all of the items on it.

Start small, don’t try to fill every hole at once; that is a good way to burn out and spend a lot of money in a very short amount of time. However, action is better then inaction, pick a threat and work toward mitigating it.

Your plan needs to be flexible and so do you. The biggest threat to you may change suddenly; another key ability for preppers/survivalists is adaptability. Don’t get so focused on one thing that you lose sight of your overall preparedness.
 
 
Indecision

Some people freeze when faced with a blank slate, they have a hard time finding individual steps, let alone putting them in order. Others can figure out the steps, but have a hard time with the order. For those people I will give a very basic plan, once you get started I’m sure you’ll find your stride.

Start with three days of food and water for every member of your family. Don’t forget pets. Plan on two gallons of water per day per person, this will take care of drinking, food preparation and hygiene. Once you have three days, move to a week and then two weeks, set thirty days as a goal for now.

Get a secondary means to cook food and fuel for it; camp stove, outdoor grill, propane or charcoal. Also put up a thirty-day supply of toilet paper and other paper products you may need.

By becoming prepared for the things that are most likely to happen, you also become more prepared for the less possible, high impact things like a pandemic, another great depression and a zombie invasion.

If you want to bounce ideas off of someone or have a question, please feel free to e-mail me, I’ll do what I can to help.

http://www.ready.gov/ has some good basic info.

FEMA’s Are You Ready? has a lot of info.

 
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Filed Under: General Preparedness, Getting Started
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