Prepping: In the End, You've Done Nothing so Far.. Right?
HERE'S HOW TO CHANGE THAT Easily, Simply, CHEAPLY in a Week or So! Let's UPLEVEL!!
The Reality is that roughly 280 Million Americans Are Totally Unprepared for any SHTF Scenario according to “rough times” experts.
For many, it’s because Govts, Schools And Parents Never Taught us to value even a boy-scout level of how to be self-sufficient, fend for ourselves, how to “Prep”.
For others, it’s Time and (perceived) Cost.
In my experience, many of those who are now aware would like to be better prepared and more resilient, but they are deterred by costs they see on “prepper” websites and ads. In the end, they’ve done NOTHING.
Bottom line, You can take care of the basics in a week. Besides arming yourself responsibly for both game and defense here’s how you can be prepared the rest of your life without over-thinking it, and saving around 95% off most of the budgets I’ve seen:
You should always have three to six months of both food and water on hand. For the sake of argument, let’s say nothing happens in the next ten years. What is the worst case scenario? You have two years’ worth of food to eat over the next two years and you store up two more years of fresh food. Now, what if something does happen? Case closed!
WATER
Better than simply having stored water, is to have a way to purify water in case you run out or gangs steal your stored water. In emergencies, disasters or catastrophes, the Red Cross, Homeland Security and FEMA all recommend electric or non-electric water distillers, not filters This is because the distillation process kills viruses, cysts, all bacteria, parasites and will remove toxins and most all chemicals. If you lose water pressure, water filters and RO units are worthless; and simply boiling water only kills bacteria. Distillation removes all contaminates. With a non-electric water distiller you can purify water from any polluted water source, river, lake, pond, pool, drainage ditch, even a sewer or the ocean. Since water is the most important survival item, if all you had was a non-electric water distiller you could easily trade water for anything you need! There are several non-electric water distillers on the internet, and there is one that is totally automatic and produces 18 gallons per day using any heat source. I figured that out to be six cups per day for 48 people. Google survival stills and compare.
FOOD (here’s where I save you 2-5 thousand dollars! Maybe that's worth a $5 subscription to this “labor of love” eh? Don’t sweat it:)
When it comes to food storage, remember: you’re not thriving, you’re surviving… A great long-lasting survival food is rice and beans. Together they have all the nutrients the body needs — protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc. Plus, one cup of rice cooks into three cups, the same with beans. They both store forever in a seven gallon plastic bucket with a water-tight, airtight screw-on Gamma Lid. Two 7 gallon buckets of both rice and beans supply one adult with a year’s supply of nutritious food (about 50 lbs.). Survival websites want you to spend thousands on freeze dried gourmet food in Mylar packages. For $20 at Costco you can buy 50 lbs. of rice and 50 lbs. of beans that will last one adult a year.
Survival websites want you to spend thousands on freeze dried gourmet food in Mylar packages. For $20 at Costco you can buy 50 lbs. of rice and 50 lbs. of beans that will last one adult a year.
SHELTER/WARMTH
You should have warm blankets or sleeping bags in case you’re forced to leave your home and sleep outdoors. A tent would be good and a tarp to pitch it on. You need a first-aid kit, extra batteries, flashlight and/or lantern, fire starting tools, lighter, matches, Ferro rod & striker, a way to cook food, mess kits, solar oven, propane single burner stove with a dozen 1lb tanks (you can cook on campfires when you run out of propane). Have a backpack with items like a knife, can opener, hatchet, rope twine or Para cord, crank radio/light/cell charger. Get a complete list for a Bug Out bag on the internet.
COMMUNICATION
A set of 3 or 4 25-mile Family Radios using the recently expanded 2Watt+ (and plenty of batteries or a solar battery charger) would be a lifesaver if cell towers are down for days or weeks. Most have encryption or enough channels that you won’t get interference. Or go with a handheld “HAM” radio like this one
Baofeng UV-5R
This HAM radio takes the number one spot, no questions asked. The Baoefeng UV-5R is an incredible model. It’s a handheld HAM for only twenty-five dollars and it’s well worth the price.
HAM handheld survival radios for dedicated preppers can cost up to two hundred (or more) dollars, but this is a fantastic model for only a fraction of that price. And it’s extremely high-quality for such an affordable product.
This “cheap” handheld HAM radio can reach repeaters up to twenty miles away and the signal delivered to expensive radios over sixty miles away comes out clean and clear, with no problems or static in the way. It’s about $19 on Amazon. https://optiongray.com/best-handheld-ham-radio-for-survival-and-prepping/#:~:text=Best%20Handheld%20HAM%20Radio%20for%20Survival%20and%20Prepping,..
If you have a bigger budget, Mike Adams (The Health Ranger) owner of Brighteon offers and educates about the new satellite texting and communications devices that should hold up well in most scenarios where other grids are down. I highly recommend listening to his show where he frequently describes the capabilites of the various options. Also, if you're a hunter or adventurer, sailor, or travel in countries with poor coverage, you’ll want to have one of these devices for sure.
Please research getting totally prepared for the next inevitable emergency or disaster. Watch National Geographic’s “After Armageddon” on YouTube (below) and ask yourself, what would you do in that same situation or would you have prevented it?
For me, the best way to get prepared is to give it some thought, cover at least the basic essentials above, and then go on with your life. Don’t let perfectionism keep you from taking action. In life, the perfect is enemy of the good. Get ‘er done!
Learn more: https://allnewspipeline.com/280_Million_Americans_Are_Totally_Unprepared_For_The_Coming_SHTF.php
Worth copying. I’ve been telling others all they need is rice and pulses plus condiments for taste. You can get powdered brewers yeast and dried onions that last in air tight bags.
I recall stories of how the Vietnamese were able to survive for so long in the jungle - rice and pulses. While US forces had heavy boxes of rations.
I would add things to being instant energy in a bug out bag. The only things required for the brain to fire on all cylinders are water and sugar. We used lucazade glucose tablets and water for our final exams. Caffeine tablets? Keep alert during night time watches?
We’ve planned to get our water from the reservoir that took over 50% of our hamlet. Easy access through relative’s fields. It contains fish too. Even considered the sort of horse you’d need for SHTF carrying. Choose a mean one that doesn’t like strangers. I have a pony like that. She terrorizes vets and strangers alike. But likes the grandchildren so all ok.
Now what about the other high alert protection? Dogs. We’ve considered rabbit traps for food. Note: insect protein has been getting added to commercial pet food over last 3 years. My dog has skin issue developed over last few years. On raw food diet so throw him a couple rabbits! Let him skin it as they’re a B*tch to skin.
Other thing essential to learn - foraging. Pinto beans are the most nutritious (last I looked for stocking up). But fresh dandelions and nettles up vitamins. Also learn natural herbal health and how to find them in the wild. No access to doctors. Hmm sounds like NHs now.
No water = no body washing. Increases in anaerobic bacteria in folds of skin and groin/underarms. Onion poultices? Horse poultices? Honey? Hibiscrub kills MRSA. 10:10. 10 parts Hibiscrub to 90 parts water. Leave for 10 minutes.
Don't forget stocking up on med supplies, alcohol and some bartering items. When SHTF think no internet and no access if you bank electronically. Stashing some cash and getting some silver coins for barter will help tide you over.