UrbanSurvivalSkills.com received a comment from Secunda on the post "Urban Survival Planning - Getting your Relatives and Friends Ready", …..“Good post. We too have friends and acquaintances who have nothing prepared; no food set aside, no extra water, and have no disaster plan - and they live in earthquake country! Usually when we get together and the subject of an earthquake, hurricane, or, since last week the unrest in Egypt , becomes a topic my spouse and I are careful to couch our preparedness comments under the aegis of the virtue of self-reliance. They seemed to feel less threatened when we mention a basic or two every home should have. Sadly though, it has been my experience that for 90% of the population they do not know how thin the separation is between civilized living and barbarism.”
UrbanMan’s reply: Good idea linking self reliance for disasters like Earthquakes. This way is much more palatable than preaching economic collapse and Armageddon, ha ha. However from my experience most people, even my friends and family who live in earthquake and hurricane country, always think “hey, it never gets that bad”, or worse yet, “they (the infamous they) always get things back on track fast.”
Not bragging, but I have taken several people from total obliviousness to any possibility of surviving on their own, to a path of preparedness – and some of these guys were armed professionals who carry a gun every day. Sometimes I get the question, “How do you know about this?”, and my response is “How you do not?” I simply read, study and analyze like most people reading this site. And I grew up both as a child and as an adult learning that you had to take care of yourself as you are second priority at best with anyone else.
Still, it is in our interest to get friends and family as prepared as possible so they won’t be such a burden on us when they inevitably show up a day or two after the collapse. Maybe take some of these sheep to the gun range. I have taught several women how to shoot and they now love it and own their own guns. Take someone hiking and when they see your Camel-Bak HAWG bag or whatever, they’ll want one also. Show them a steel and magnesium fire starter – well they have to have one,…etc.
I’d say Jim, who writes the “Survival Chronicles of Jim” posts for this site – is my pinnacle case. Jim is a computer guy who didn’t even own a gun 15 months ago and now you can see how far he came from Day One to now through the 22 Chapters he has written on his journey to preparation.
In fact I talked to Jim this morning in the wake of this giant storm. He said he stayed home for two days with intermittent power shortages and felt extremely prepared. Of course, in a collapse with decayed or non-existent infrastructure such as electrical and water utilities, law enforcement and emergency responders, we’ll will have to take much, much more on our shoulders than simply waiting out a bad storm.
And you are absolutely right about a thin line between civilized living and barbarism. Once people are without water or food for a couple days I think you would see brutal behavior running rampant. Who could blame the people who have no food to feed their family? There would be large sub groups here. Some looking extra long at legal and ethical means to procure food,water and shlter for their family and others (may we should call them entitlists) who were too stupid, to lazy or too self absorbed in their pitiful lives to prepare when they had the means - these are the people I be inclined not to help.
You know, I guess you could come right out and make a proclamation to your family and friends,...."Just to let you all know, I am a survivalist. I have been planning, preparing, stocking material and all the little mundane things one needs to do to be prepared to survive a terrible collapse or even Armageddon. Do not show up to my house after the collapse starts unless you bring assets - food, water, gear, guns, skills and a willingness to work as a team."
Anyway Secunda, thanks for the reply- stay safe and stay prepared friend.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Urban Survival Planning - Winter Storm Lessons
There's a good chance some of you are in geographic location that is or recently experienced a pretty bad winter storm. Winds in excess of norms; temperature lows 20 to 30 degrees colder; maybe some sleet and/or snow. Maybe you experienced power outages. Maybe the power authority in your location conducted rolling electrical backouts due to the large surge in power needs. Maybe you attempted to get kerosene or electrical heaters but Wal-Mart, Target, etc., but they were all out.
All the above just happened to me. Power outages throughout the day; and with normal low temperatures for this time of year of 30 degrees and highs in the high 40's or low 50's,......the drop to a low of 5 and a high temp of 12 was quite a change. Been that way since yesterday and supposed to continue for a couple days.
Getting back to the house today I thought I was sitting pretty. Had extra wool blankets; military three piece sleeping bags; LED lantern kit powered by rechargeable batteries; plenty of food to get through even a long period of vehicle immobility due to bad weather; and, 80 gallons of stored water.
But like probably most of us believe, we prepare and are better off for it, but we will never really be satisfied with our preps. Always something we missed.
I used this opportunity to look at my preparations for the coming collapse and wargammed several additional stressors. What I wrote down for my preparation tasks list (you do have one don't you?) is the following:
No matter how good your foot wear is, sitting in one place such as in an LP/OP or on security for your Survival Site, just ain't good enough when the temps are 5 degrees F and the wind is honking at 12-15 mph. I am going to look into battery powered heating socks and have my friend make some canvas cover wool snuggie type half sleeping bags so the person in the static position can put his/her feet and legs into it but quickly get out of them.
Water froze in my Camelbak in my truck. I recently saw some surplus military artic no-freeze canteens which I have used before in a past life and in a place I want to forget.
Although I have watch caps galore, I think some fold-able behind the head ear muffs that can be worn underneath the knitted wool watch caps is in order. The wool and cotton variant watch caps just don't cut the wind.
Gloves. I have some pretty damn good gloves but a second and third pair, per person, of the Extreme Cold Weather (ECW) design is on my list as is several pair of military wool inserts, both the five finger and mitten w/ separate trigger finger type.
I have a pretty good stock of hard wood to burn in my fireplace. I am going to add to that significantly and place a 3/4 inch steel plate I have laying around in the fireplace so it can get hot and radiate heat. It was actually pretty comfortable going without power for 3 hours at night and sitting in front of the fire place reading a book bu LED lantern light.
Although I only had enough of the AA rechargeable batteries charged to run five LED Lanterns. Note to self: more rechargeable batteries and keep more charged. Although no power in the house, I could have charged them from my truck with the 12v adaptor, but sitting in front of the fireplace, with a book and two ounces of Woodford Reserve Whiskey was pretty comfortable. Not that I think the real collapse would permit much of this activity.
Not that I needed any, I called Wal-Mart and Lowe's to see if they had any electrical or kerosene heaters in stock. Both told me they were bought out. One of the sales people told me flashlights are going quick. Oh, a word about flashlights. Love the Surefire line of flashlights; I have several models from hand held to weapons mounted lights, however those CR123 batteries sure lose power quick. Knew this was not the best bet for long term survival a couple of years ago and started to procure LED flashlights, like the excellent Pelican brand (and others), that use AA or AAA batteries so I can re-charge them. So if you only have non-rechargeable battery powered flashlights, then maybe consider some AA or AAA powered flashlights.
Lastly a friend called me on cell and told me his lost power and couldn't use his electric stove. No problem for me, I have gas and when the electric is out, you can still light the burners with a match. Anyway, he has a gas grill and extra tanks, like I do and I'm sure most of you do as well, now he knows knows he needs a gas camp stove or the burner and hose element so he can cook in the house or the garage with it. Heater elements are also available for these portable gas tanks - I've used many of then inside of tents in shitty locations to stay warm.....okay, maybe not warm, but at least to keep from freezing.
Did this massive storm prompt anybody else to think of something new?
All the above just happened to me. Power outages throughout the day; and with normal low temperatures for this time of year of 30 degrees and highs in the high 40's or low 50's,......the drop to a low of 5 and a high temp of 12 was quite a change. Been that way since yesterday and supposed to continue for a couple days.
Getting back to the house today I thought I was sitting pretty. Had extra wool blankets; military three piece sleeping bags; LED lantern kit powered by rechargeable batteries; plenty of food to get through even a long period of vehicle immobility due to bad weather; and, 80 gallons of stored water.
But like probably most of us believe, we prepare and are better off for it, but we will never really be satisfied with our preps. Always something we missed.
I used this opportunity to look at my preparations for the coming collapse and wargammed several additional stressors. What I wrote down for my preparation tasks list (you do have one don't you?) is the following:
No matter how good your foot wear is, sitting in one place such as in an LP/OP or on security for your Survival Site, just ain't good enough when the temps are 5 degrees F and the wind is honking at 12-15 mph. I am going to look into battery powered heating socks and have my friend make some canvas cover wool snuggie type half sleeping bags so the person in the static position can put his/her feet and legs into it but quickly get out of them.
Water froze in my Camelbak in my truck. I recently saw some surplus military artic no-freeze canteens which I have used before in a past life and in a place I want to forget.
Although I have watch caps galore, I think some fold-able behind the head ear muffs that can be worn underneath the knitted wool watch caps is in order. The wool and cotton variant watch caps just don't cut the wind.
Gloves. I have some pretty damn good gloves but a second and third pair, per person, of the Extreme Cold Weather (ECW) design is on my list as is several pair of military wool inserts, both the five finger and mitten w/ separate trigger finger type.
I have a pretty good stock of hard wood to burn in my fireplace. I am going to add to that significantly and place a 3/4 inch steel plate I have laying around in the fireplace so it can get hot and radiate heat. It was actually pretty comfortable going without power for 3 hours at night and sitting in front of the fire place reading a book bu LED lantern light.
Although I only had enough of the AA rechargeable batteries charged to run five LED Lanterns. Note to self: more rechargeable batteries and keep more charged. Although no power in the house, I could have charged them from my truck with the 12v adaptor, but sitting in front of the fireplace, with a book and two ounces of Woodford Reserve Whiskey was pretty comfortable. Not that I think the real collapse would permit much of this activity.
Not that I needed any, I called Wal-Mart and Lowe's to see if they had any electrical or kerosene heaters in stock. Both told me they were bought out. One of the sales people told me flashlights are going quick. Oh, a word about flashlights. Love the Surefire line of flashlights; I have several models from hand held to weapons mounted lights, however those CR123 batteries sure lose power quick. Knew this was not the best bet for long term survival a couple of years ago and started to procure LED flashlights, like the excellent Pelican brand (and others), that use AA or AAA batteries so I can re-charge them. So if you only have non-rechargeable battery powered flashlights, then maybe consider some AA or AAA powered flashlights.
Lastly a friend called me on cell and told me his lost power and couldn't use his electric stove. No problem for me, I have gas and when the electric is out, you can still light the burners with a match. Anyway, he has a gas grill and extra tanks, like I do and I'm sure most of you do as well, now he knows knows he needs a gas camp stove or the burner and hose element so he can cook in the house or the garage with it. Heater elements are also available for these portable gas tanks - I've used many of then inside of tents in shitty locations to stay warm.....okay, maybe not warm, but at least to keep from freezing.
Did this massive storm prompt anybody else to think of something new?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Urban Survival Planning - Collapse Threats Expotentially Greater
UrbanSurvivalSkills.com thinks that the conflagrations going on in Africa, the Middle East and Southwest Asia have risen the potential threat level here in the United States exponentially.
Apparently Glenn Beck has something to say about this also, go here to see it, glennbeck.com
I just finished reading a book entitled “What We Once Proudly Hailed” written by John Doe, on a scenario where North Korea sailed a diesel submarine, outfitted with short range nuclear missiles, into the Gulf of Mexico and fired missiles into major cities. Following that, another missile strike from an unidentified source, which the book leads you to believe was radical Islamists, hit the U.S. further creating chaos and anarchy and sending the collapse into free fall. The book ends with internal and external based Muslim groups influencing or controlling corrupt politicians and large sections on the East Coast. Good book and a recommended read. But more important, here’s why that isn’t necessarily a fantasy scenario.
In NORTH AFRICA, see graphic above, Tunisia ( # 1 ) is under revolt based on an heavy handed government and lack of food. Algeria ( # 2 ) is also near revolt. Both could easily install a radical Islamic government a la Iran . Both would threaten their neighbors, pro-western Morocco and neutral Chad , and influence Libya to go back to the anti-Western, pro-terrorist mode. Algeria and Tunisia could exert influence into the Mediterranean Sea much like the Al-Qaeda backed Somalian pirates do now. Forty percent of the oil imported from the Middle East transit the Mediterranean Sea . Anyone for $5 a gallon gas?
Sudan ( # 3 ) is in a civil war. The government of Sudan is radical Islamist in nature and can influence the surrounding countries including fermenting Islam based terrorism and revolution. Nigeria ( # 4 ) has a Islamic terrorist movement which threaten not only the government but control over the Nigeria oil supplies. Anyone for $6 a gallon gas? And last but not least, Somalia ( # 5 ), home to Al Sahaab terrorists and pirates interdicting commercial and petroleum transport ships and trying to extend radical Islam into sub-Shaharan Africa,…next on their list is Kenya.
In the MIDDLE EAST and SOUTHWEST ASIA , conditions are much more dire. See Map graphic above. I am including Egypt ( # 1 ) which in case you don’t have a television or radio, is under a popular revolt influenced greatly by the Muslim Brotherhood. Imagine Egypt with the vast military (built by the U.S. ) and their location controlling the Suez Canal AND their location next to Israel being controlled by Muslim nut jobs. Again 40% of oil transit the Mediterranean Sea, but first comes through the Suez Canal .
Jordan ( # 2 ) is under a threat of revolt as well. King Abdullah just shit canned his cabinet trying to make things right before the population throws him out. Iraq ( # 3 ) – well you should know about Iraq . I envision this country to collapse into civil war and eventually be controlled by radicals within 3 years of the U.S. leaving as we are scheduled to. Turkey ( # 4 ) is set to go from a secular, pro-west country to a Islamic controlled country. If you remember Turkey was the originator of the arms shipments destined for Hamas in Gaza for terrorist strikes at Israel .
Yemen ( # 5 ) is under attack from internal and external Al Qaeda groups and can easily fall, ending up controlled the southern access to the Suez Canal – so if either Egypt or Yemen are controlled by Islamist you can kiss ANY chance of cheap gas goodbye. Can anyone say “Oil Embargo”?
Iran ( # 6 ) along with North Korea both possess or are in short approach to possess not only Nuclear weapons but deliver methods as well. Both are sponsors of terrorism and can be easily seen equipping terr cells with nuclear devices. Coupled with our porous and ineffective border security,…well, can anyone say “Lights Out”, or “One Second After”?
Tajikistan ( # 7 ) has an Islamist terrorist movement, routinely killing government troops. Afghanistan ( # 8 ) can easily fall back to Taliban – Al Qaeda control after our withdrawal. Both would threaten nuclear Pakistan . Speaking of Pakistan ( # 9 ), they have significant nuclear stocks and ingrained presence of Islamic terrorist cells and could easily fall into a radical Islamic state. Another threat to this country.
India ( # 10 ) is also nuclear armed and enemies with Pakistan . Lebanon ’s (# 11) government just disintegrated. Islamist terr group, Hezbollah, controlled by Iran and Syria could easily take over.
Again, if just a few of the potential changes occur, we could see everything from an Oil Embargo and skyrocketing gas prices, or, a regional war that makes the 1967 and 1973 Arab-Israeli Wars look small, or, we actually could be seeing the set up for Armageddon this year, next year or soon after. In any event, things are not looking good for the U.S. After Israel, radical Islam’s biggest enemy is the U.S. Imagine all of the Arab world gone radical Islamist and focusing their resources and attention on us. Prepare my friends.
Apparently Glenn Beck has something to say about this also, go here to see it, glennbeck.com
I just finished reading a book entitled “What We Once Proudly Hailed” written by John Doe, on a scenario where North Korea sailed a diesel submarine, outfitted with short range nuclear missiles, into the Gulf of Mexico and fired missiles into major cities. Following that, another missile strike from an unidentified source, which the book leads you to believe was radical Islamists, hit the U.S. further creating chaos and anarchy and sending the collapse into free fall. The book ends with internal and external based Muslim groups influencing or controlling corrupt politicians and large sections on the East Coast. Good book and a recommended read. But more important, here’s why that isn’t necessarily a fantasy scenario.
In NORTH AFRICA, see graphic above, Tunisia ( # 1 ) is under revolt based on an heavy handed government and lack of food. Algeria ( # 2 ) is also near revolt. Both could easily install a radical Islamic government a la Iran . Both would threaten their neighbors, pro-western Morocco and neutral Chad , and influence Libya to go back to the anti-Western, pro-terrorist mode. Algeria and Tunisia could exert influence into the Mediterranean Sea much like the Al-Qaeda backed Somalian pirates do now. Forty percent of the oil imported from the Middle East transit the Mediterranean Sea . Anyone for $5 a gallon gas?
Sudan ( # 3 ) is in a civil war. The government of Sudan is radical Islamist in nature and can influence the surrounding countries including fermenting Islam based terrorism and revolution. Nigeria ( # 4 ) has a Islamic terrorist movement which threaten not only the government but control over the Nigeria oil supplies. Anyone for $6 a gallon gas? And last but not least, Somalia ( # 5 ), home to Al Sahaab terrorists and pirates interdicting commercial and petroleum transport ships and trying to extend radical Islam into sub-Shaharan Africa,…next on their list is Kenya.
In the MIDDLE EAST and SOUTHWEST ASIA , conditions are much more dire. See Map graphic above. I am including Egypt ( # 1 ) which in case you don’t have a television or radio, is under a popular revolt influenced greatly by the Muslim Brotherhood. Imagine Egypt with the vast military (built by the U.S. ) and their location controlling the Suez Canal AND their location next to Israel being controlled by Muslim nut jobs. Again 40% of oil transit the Mediterranean Sea, but first comes through the Suez Canal .
Jordan ( # 2 ) is under a threat of revolt as well. King Abdullah just shit canned his cabinet trying to make things right before the population throws him out. Iraq ( # 3 ) – well you should know about Iraq . I envision this country to collapse into civil war and eventually be controlled by radicals within 3 years of the U.S. leaving as we are scheduled to. Turkey ( # 4 ) is set to go from a secular, pro-west country to a Islamic controlled country. If you remember Turkey was the originator of the arms shipments destined for Hamas in Gaza for terrorist strikes at Israel .
Yemen ( # 5 ) is under attack from internal and external Al Qaeda groups and can easily fall, ending up controlled the southern access to the Suez Canal – so if either Egypt or Yemen are controlled by Islamist you can kiss ANY chance of cheap gas goodbye. Can anyone say “Oil Embargo”?
Iran ( # 6 ) along with North Korea both possess or are in short approach to possess not only Nuclear weapons but deliver methods as well. Both are sponsors of terrorism and can be easily seen equipping terr cells with nuclear devices. Coupled with our porous and ineffective border security,…well, can anyone say “Lights Out”, or “One Second After”?
Tajikistan ( # 7 ) has an Islamist terrorist movement, routinely killing government troops. Afghanistan ( # 8 ) can easily fall back to Taliban – Al Qaeda control after our withdrawal. Both would threaten nuclear Pakistan . Speaking of Pakistan ( # 9 ), they have significant nuclear stocks and ingrained presence of Islamic terrorist cells and could easily fall into a radical Islamic state. Another threat to this country.
India ( # 10 ) is also nuclear armed and enemies with Pakistan . Lebanon ’s (# 11) government just disintegrated. Islamist terr group, Hezbollah, controlled by Iran and Syria could easily take over.
Again, if just a few of the potential changes occur, we could see everything from an Oil Embargo and skyrocketing gas prices, or, a regional war that makes the 1967 and 1973 Arab-Israeli Wars look small, or, we actually could be seeing the set up for Armageddon this year, next year or soon after. In any event, things are not looking good for the U.S. After Israel, radical Islam’s biggest enemy is the U.S. Imagine all of the Arab world gone radical Islamist and focusing their resources and attention on us. Prepare my friends.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Urban Survival Planning - Don't Forget the "No Comms" Plan
Hand Held FRS/GMRS radios. Used for small group to small group communications such as from someone on security at a listening post/observation post to other in the Survival Group. Used for inter-team communications such as conducting a patrol around the Survival site.
Solar Crank AM/FM/SSB radio with Wx alert channel. Not only can you pickup any AM or FM radios stations and weather alerts would be excellent in the advent of an internet disruption, but you can listen to Ham radio operators and pickup intelligence helping you piece together an assessment of the situation sometimes from faraway locations.
CB radios. A capability to think about, since they are so common. Listening to CB transmission, which are predominantly in vehicles, can provide an excellent source of intelligence concerning events in and around your Survival location as well as on major lines of communications (highways, interstates and other roadways).
HF Ham Radio System and Upper grade UHF/VHF transceivers. Which are often outside the grasp of your basic Survivalist, both in scope of use and cost.
Anyway, we’ll be writing more articles on communications and radio systems. What I wanted to address this post was that no matter how robust your communications capabilities are,…no matter how many radios in various frequencies and modulations you possess, the thinking Survival Planner needs to have a plan for no communications. This is typical called the “No Communications” plan.
An example would be a lack of communications for whatever reason (dead batteries, radios out of range, broken equipment, etc.). What would be your planned actions and protocols for a patrol returning to your Survival site? Maybe you have a procedure, where at the time the patrol is expected to return, someone at the Survival base hoists a flag, or opens curtains or whatever visual signal you determine annotating that the site is safe to return to. The patrol would in turn have an arm and hand signal or another visual signal such as the lead man wearing a red cap or walking into the site with his weapon held in front vertical, muzzle down. Lack of either signal would mean the site or the patrol is under duress. And duress simply means someone is making you do something,….consider it a gun to your head. Some people simply call this a “safe” signal and lack of a safe signal would be mean duress.
Maybe the Patrol has a procedure where in the absence of the safe signal, the action would be to withdrawal and linkup with anyone who may have vacated the Survival Site at a pre-determined Emergency Rally Point or Emergency Rendezvous Point (ERP) that you have planned in case the Survival Site gets over ran.
Another example of a “No communications” plan may be between you and other members of your Survival Group who are now living apart. Maybe your plan is to communicate as things gets worse and at some point communicate to coordinate a move to your interim Survival Site or Safe Site. Maybe you plan for several communications means: landline telephone (primary), cell phones (alternate), and radios (contingency on a pre-planned contact time each day or night). You still need a “no-comms” plan which may be in the event of no communications for a period of 48 hours, Survival Group members will initiate a move to the planned Survival Site, stopping a certain distance away to covertly approach and look for the “safe” signal, then approach the house with the return or replying “safe” procedure.
Another example, would be Jim’s (from Survival Chronicles of Jim) example. His son is attending college about 60 miles away. Jim’s simple “No Comms” plan is in the event of a decayed situation or a full out collapse, AND, after two missed communications contacts which are scheduled for 8:00 pm each night, is that on what would be the night of the third missed scheduled contact, Jim will meet his son at a turn in off the access road near the Interstate. Jim will pull in with his vehicle and flash the lights three times. Jim’s son will in turn flash the lights four times then make his approach. Jim will wait 30 minutes, if his son does not show, then Jim will leave a small bag of water and food ten feet behind a road sign. They will repeat this 24 hours later if possible. Then his son is on his own to get to Jim’s Survival location. Failing all this, Jim’s son knows that the Bug Out location is the family cabin about 200 miles North, and he knows the safe signal that will be displayed if it is safe to approach the cabin.
Jim and his son also have a challenge and password.
So your “No Communications” plan is used in the event of all communications systems being down. The “No Communications” plan are procedures based on missed communications from a schedule and compromise a series of actions and visual signals in order for Survivors to eventually link up in safe manner.
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