As a Christian I will rely upon my faith heavily. If you don't have faith in anything or anyone except yourself you're going to find yourself in a lot of trouble.
Whatever your faith, take some time and gather a few books or other materials that will help you regroup and revitalize. If it's all online, print them out now and put the materials into a binder.
Memorize what you can. Hopefully, they can't take our memories from us.
Know who your friends are. They may not share your faith, but if they're supportive of it, you're better off than without.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
LESSON 10: Hygiene
Face it. When the SHTF we are all going to suffer from some sort of hygiene failure. We won't take as many baths, won't wash our clothes as often, etc. Some things, however, cannot be neglected or your health will suffer.
1. Teeth - Make sure you have plenty of extra toothbrushes, lots of dental floss, extra flouride toothpaste. Listerine is another great add as it can also be used as a skin antiseptic. If I had to pick one area of your body to NOT neglect, this would be it.
2. Handwashing - If water is scarce you'll need hand sanitizers. Grab a couple of the large shopping club pump bottles to use to refill smaller ones. Handi-wipes are a great thing to have.
3. Toilet - Here you have a few options. If you have a supply of uninterrrupted water, a septic system, and a way to flush, you're in luck. If not, I'd suggest kitty litter and plastic bags. I won't go into detail, but it involves a large bucket, a toilet seat, and the courage to face what you made and deal with it. Get a really LARGE supply of babywipes to keep for the job...and please...everyone should have their own container of wipes. One baby wipe can do the job of a hundred sheets of toilet paper.
While this is really, really disgusting, I am telling you this for your own good. Human shit burns almost as well as cow shit once dried. I wouldn't cook over it, but I'd have no problem boiling a wash pot over a pile of dung. Because of its biological nature, it's going to stink. Get the hell over it.
4. Clothing - If you have access to enough power and water, use your electric washing machine - sparingly. If not, consider a roman plunger (used for washing clothes) or a hand-crank washing machine (EmergencyEssentials.com). This beats the heck out of hand washing and wringing, especially in cold weather.
Here's my list of must-haves:
Liquid Bleach
Hand Sanitizer
Listerine
Lysol Liquid
Lyson spray
Kittie Litter
Baby Wipes
Sanitary Pads (all absorbancies)
Toilet Paper (lots and lots)
Paper Towel (if you don't use chemicals, dry them and use for starting a fire)
Facial Tissue
Old Newspapers (for wrapping garbage)
Grooming products (shampoo, razors, scissors)
Toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss
Nail clippers (bacteria gather under fingernails)
Deodorant
Bath soap
Laundry detergent
Clothes pins, clothes line, drying rack
Washpot
Large Stockpot (use for sanitizing dishes)
I would encourage you to find a way to gather and store rainwater. While I wouldn't drink anything that's been sitting on the ground without treatment, I would use rainwater for washing clothes and bathing.
1. Teeth - Make sure you have plenty of extra toothbrushes, lots of dental floss, extra flouride toothpaste. Listerine is another great add as it can also be used as a skin antiseptic. If I had to pick one area of your body to NOT neglect, this would be it.
2. Handwashing - If water is scarce you'll need hand sanitizers. Grab a couple of the large shopping club pump bottles to use to refill smaller ones. Handi-wipes are a great thing to have.
3. Toilet - Here you have a few options. If you have a supply of uninterrrupted water, a septic system, and a way to flush, you're in luck. If not, I'd suggest kitty litter and plastic bags. I won't go into detail, but it involves a large bucket, a toilet seat, and the courage to face what you made and deal with it. Get a really LARGE supply of babywipes to keep for the job...and please...everyone should have their own container of wipes. One baby wipe can do the job of a hundred sheets of toilet paper.
While this is really, really disgusting, I am telling you this for your own good. Human shit burns almost as well as cow shit once dried. I wouldn't cook over it, but I'd have no problem boiling a wash pot over a pile of dung. Because of its biological nature, it's going to stink. Get the hell over it.
4. Clothing - If you have access to enough power and water, use your electric washing machine - sparingly. If not, consider a roman plunger (used for washing clothes) or a hand-crank washing machine (EmergencyEssentials.com). This beats the heck out of hand washing and wringing, especially in cold weather.
Here's my list of must-haves:
Liquid Bleach
Hand Sanitizer
Listerine
Lysol Liquid
Lyson spray
Kittie Litter
Baby Wipes
Sanitary Pads (all absorbancies)
Toilet Paper (lots and lots)
Paper Towel (if you don't use chemicals, dry them and use for starting a fire)
Facial Tissue
Old Newspapers (for wrapping garbage)
Grooming products (shampoo, razors, scissors)
Toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss
Nail clippers (bacteria gather under fingernails)
Deodorant
Bath soap
Laundry detergent
Clothes pins, clothes line, drying rack
Washpot
Large Stockpot (use for sanitizing dishes)
I would encourage you to find a way to gather and store rainwater. While I wouldn't drink anything that's been sitting on the ground without treatment, I would use rainwater for washing clothes and bathing.
LESSON 11: Entertainment
If you've ever spent any time at all in a long term power outage you know how stir crazy you get. You can't turn on the TV, your computer isn't working.
Boredom can create stress, anger, and confusion. In my house, the TV and radio will be OFF. If you're lucky enough to be able to spare the power, a portable CD player will be nice to have, but I wouldn't want to waste the power.
If you know how to play a musical instrument that isn't too irritating to others you'll be a welcomed addition to any community campfire. If you can take requests you'll be a star.
I plan to keep a good variety of books on hand along with several type of hand crafts.
Playing cards, dice, marbles, board games of all kinds are great ways to pass the time at night or during bad weather. Checkers, chess, backgammon, are all easy games to play and the pieces are easy to improvise if lost. If you're a stickler for keeping education in fun, then get Boggle, Trivial Pursuit or any other number of educational games. Dominoes, Scrabble, Crosswords, Password are all good choices. Make sure that you either copy or print out several sets of game rules. This is crucial.
Knitting, crochet, sewing, etc., are all homecrafts that are not only useful, but are of barter value. The ability to sew by hand is a good skill, as are knitting, crochet, and quilting.
If you're lucky enough to save enough energy to play a movie on your TV or DVD player for two hours, why not invite a few neighbors to come watch with you? This will go a long way in building the bonds you need to take care of each other.
Boredom can create stress, anger, and confusion. In my house, the TV and radio will be OFF. If you're lucky enough to be able to spare the power, a portable CD player will be nice to have, but I wouldn't want to waste the power.
If you know how to play a musical instrument that isn't too irritating to others you'll be a welcomed addition to any community campfire. If you can take requests you'll be a star.
I plan to keep a good variety of books on hand along with several type of hand crafts.
Playing cards, dice, marbles, board games of all kinds are great ways to pass the time at night or during bad weather. Checkers, chess, backgammon, are all easy games to play and the pieces are easy to improvise if lost. If you're a stickler for keeping education in fun, then get Boggle, Trivial Pursuit or any other number of educational games. Dominoes, Scrabble, Crosswords, Password are all good choices. Make sure that you either copy or print out several sets of game rules. This is crucial.
Knitting, crochet, sewing, etc., are all homecrafts that are not only useful, but are of barter value. The ability to sew by hand is a good skill, as are knitting, crochet, and quilting.
If you're lucky enough to save enough energy to play a movie on your TV or DVD player for two hours, why not invite a few neighbors to come watch with you? This will go a long way in building the bonds you need to take care of each other.
LESSON 9: Lighting
Your options are lighting are various, but I would caution you to use lighting options that are safe, inexpensive, and readily available.
I am very impressed with all of the dynamo (hand-crank) lights on the market today. There are hand-held flashlights and laterns available in the camping section that are inexpensive, durable, and plentiful. These are really ideal if you have young children who need the security of having their own light source. I keep one at the top and bottom of each set of stairs in my home, one in each car, two in my bugout bag, one in my purse, and one in each bathroom drawer. I bought both of my kids the lights that also work as cellphone chargers and radios last Christmas.
Solor lighting is also a great idea. You don't have to stake them outside to get the full effect, either. Set them in a sunny window all day and you'll have wonderful ambient lighting throughout the night. Though not bright, it's enough to keep you from walking into a completely dark room. Again, for little one's they make a wonderful nightlight.
I suggest that you have at least 3 battery recharging systems. I see the A size battery charging systems everywhere and recently have seen the C and D size recharging systems on the internet. Find a way to use your portable recharging systems to keep at least 4 batteries fully charged at all times.
CANDLES AND LANTERNS: I will assume that you all know about candle safety. That being said, I only use candles in wide, low glass jars. That's not to say that I don't have several dozen taper candles in the house. When they go on sale I buy a lot of them. Look for candles to go on sale after Christmas and buy lots of them. I bought two dozen red tapers knowing that I would never use them for fine dining, but they were 25 cents each, cheaper than buying the wax and wick anywhere else.
Head to your craft store and buy a spool or two of good candle wick. It's worth it to buy the best as they burn slow and steady. I also have a few packages of Gulf wax at home. I buy this around canning season because some folks still can using wax. Candlemaking is simple, inexpensive, and when done properly, very safe. Simply keep all of your wax drippings in a bag and melt them down for re-use. Don't buy any candles with the new dissolving wax...it just burns up, leaves soot on your ceilings, and you can't re-use any of the wax.
I have purchased a couple of oil lamps, extra wick, and several bottles of lamp oil. You can find good oil maps at Lehmans.com, but also look around for other supplies while you're there. Again, Christmastime is the best time to find these in plentiful quantities at low prices. One thing: Don't buy scented oils. Trust me on this.
Use one of the old-fashioned methods for maximizing your candle or lamp light and put a mirror or another highly reflective background behind it. Unless you have children, you really shouldn't bother with lighting rooms that are not in use.
Emergency Essentials sells a neat little jar lantern for about $4 each. They say they burn 100 hours, but it's closer to 80. It burns a tiny flame, just enough light to keep you from tripping, not enough for reading or handwork.
Your cell phone is another source of light. WTSHTF you won't be calling anyone with it, so you might as well keep it charged as an emergency low-intensity flashlight.
I am very impressed with all of the dynamo (hand-crank) lights on the market today. There are hand-held flashlights and laterns available in the camping section that are inexpensive, durable, and plentiful. These are really ideal if you have young children who need the security of having their own light source. I keep one at the top and bottom of each set of stairs in my home, one in each car, two in my bugout bag, one in my purse, and one in each bathroom drawer. I bought both of my kids the lights that also work as cellphone chargers and radios last Christmas.
Solor lighting is also a great idea. You don't have to stake them outside to get the full effect, either. Set them in a sunny window all day and you'll have wonderful ambient lighting throughout the night. Though not bright, it's enough to keep you from walking into a completely dark room. Again, for little one's they make a wonderful nightlight.
I suggest that you have at least 3 battery recharging systems. I see the A size battery charging systems everywhere and recently have seen the C and D size recharging systems on the internet. Find a way to use your portable recharging systems to keep at least 4 batteries fully charged at all times.
CANDLES AND LANTERNS: I will assume that you all know about candle safety. That being said, I only use candles in wide, low glass jars. That's not to say that I don't have several dozen taper candles in the house. When they go on sale I buy a lot of them. Look for candles to go on sale after Christmas and buy lots of them. I bought two dozen red tapers knowing that I would never use them for fine dining, but they were 25 cents each, cheaper than buying the wax and wick anywhere else.
Head to your craft store and buy a spool or two of good candle wick. It's worth it to buy the best as they burn slow and steady. I also have a few packages of Gulf wax at home. I buy this around canning season because some folks still can using wax. Candlemaking is simple, inexpensive, and when done properly, very safe. Simply keep all of your wax drippings in a bag and melt them down for re-use. Don't buy any candles with the new dissolving wax...it just burns up, leaves soot on your ceilings, and you can't re-use any of the wax.
I have purchased a couple of oil lamps, extra wick, and several bottles of lamp oil. You can find good oil maps at Lehmans.com, but also look around for other supplies while you're there. Again, Christmastime is the best time to find these in plentiful quantities at low prices. One thing: Don't buy scented oils. Trust me on this.
Use one of the old-fashioned methods for maximizing your candle or lamp light and put a mirror or another highly reflective background behind it. Unless you have children, you really shouldn't bother with lighting rooms that are not in use.
Emergency Essentials sells a neat little jar lantern for about $4 each. They say they burn 100 hours, but it's closer to 80. It burns a tiny flame, just enough light to keep you from tripping, not enough for reading or handwork.
Your cell phone is another source of light. WTSHTF you won't be calling anyone with it, so you might as well keep it charged as an emergency low-intensity flashlight.
Friday, August 12, 2011
LESSON 8: MOBILITY
In all likelihood your car has a computer inside of it, and believe it or not, a few simple rounds of electro-magnetic pulse will shut down your car - and all of your other electronics -in a heartbeat. Unless you're really comfortable with the idea of being crammed into a cattle car a la "Doctor Zhivago", I'd recommend you begin planning for alternative modes of transport.
Now, historically, the oldest and most reliable mode of transport is already attached to your body. That being said, take care of your feet. Have some really good walking "boots" ready to use. Don't even think for one moment that those fancy, lightweight running shoes that are so popular in Central Park are going to do you any favors.
The wheel is your next mode of transport. Unless you want to hike with all of your provisions on your back, you need to come up with a way to pull or push your gear. In the worst case you can use sled technology to drag your belongings, but this gets tiring very fast.
One of the best ideas I've seen on any blog recently is to use a very lightweight boat and trailer. What? You live in the middle of the prairie? Plan on staying there forever, do you? You may want to cross a river sometime. You may encounter a lake. Why discard the idea of multi-tasking now?
If you live in a climate of extremes you'll need to plan for this. If you live in the north this is a good time to get a couple of sets of snow shoes. Yea, I know they look goofy. But better to appear a fool than to step out unprepared and remove all doubt.
You need to figure out what much weight you can carry, besides your own. You'd be surprised how hard it is to haul 20 pounds in a backpack for five miles. This is another reason for getting your wheel, sled, or water transporation system perfected now. It can be as simple as a little red wagon. Look around your house and figure out what you could use...If you have a bed frame you have the makings of a simple carrying system. If the time comes that you're having to think about running, you really don't have to worry about what you'll come back to find in your home.
With all of this being said you should keep in mind that staying on roadways and highways will get you into trouble. But going the backwoods route will get you "dead" unless you learn how to survive the elements (and all of the wildlife in it). Start learning how to hike now. Figure out what works for you and what your endurance level is. Ladies (and gentlemen)...you must learn how to pack light. A few days of hiking with what you now consider essential items should prove to be the best lesson.
Now, historically, the oldest and most reliable mode of transport is already attached to your body. That being said, take care of your feet. Have some really good walking "boots" ready to use. Don't even think for one moment that those fancy, lightweight running shoes that are so popular in Central Park are going to do you any favors.
The wheel is your next mode of transport. Unless you want to hike with all of your provisions on your back, you need to come up with a way to pull or push your gear. In the worst case you can use sled technology to drag your belongings, but this gets tiring very fast.
One of the best ideas I've seen on any blog recently is to use a very lightweight boat and trailer. What? You live in the middle of the prairie? Plan on staying there forever, do you? You may want to cross a river sometime. You may encounter a lake. Why discard the idea of multi-tasking now?
If you live in a climate of extremes you'll need to plan for this. If you live in the north this is a good time to get a couple of sets of snow shoes. Yea, I know they look goofy. But better to appear a fool than to step out unprepared and remove all doubt.
You need to figure out what much weight you can carry, besides your own. You'd be surprised how hard it is to haul 20 pounds in a backpack for five miles. This is another reason for getting your wheel, sled, or water transporation system perfected now. It can be as simple as a little red wagon. Look around your house and figure out what you could use...If you have a bed frame you have the makings of a simple carrying system. If the time comes that you're having to think about running, you really don't have to worry about what you'll come back to find in your home.
With all of this being said you should keep in mind that staying on roadways and highways will get you into trouble. But going the backwoods route will get you "dead" unless you learn how to survive the elements (and all of the wildlife in it). Start learning how to hike now. Figure out what works for you and what your endurance level is. Ladies (and gentlemen)...you must learn how to pack light. A few days of hiking with what you now consider essential items should prove to be the best lesson.
LESSON 7: COMMUNICATION
Pick up the phone, make a call...easy.
Click connect, send an email...easy.
Push a button, hear the radio...no problem.
Until...
If you think you are frustrated NOW with the media, just wait until we have a real crisis (real or contrived) and the government decides that it MUST control all media. You've already heard and seen the effects of social network monitoring, and many of us have been scared shitless at the prospect of "big brother" tracking our private conversations.
The truth is, if you think they're going to do this, you're wrong. They already are.
So, have you come up with a plan to communicate with your loved ones? Your friends? Your prepper support group?
Do you have a two-way radio or a set of long-range walkie talkies anywhere in your house? Have you come up with a language that you can use to avoid being tagged? It can be as simple as one word. Think of the Battle of Normandy, "John has a long mustache..." Really, this is as simple as having an evacuation plan.
Do you know anyone locally who is a ham radio operator? Most ham operators do so not so much as a hobby, but as a last ditch effort to allow citizens to control the airwaves.
If the worst does happen you'll need to think of your every action, every word, every communication as being monitored. Consider yourself a political prisoner on house arrest. Don't even think of sending a letter unless you've got it encoded. I know this sounds like cloak and daggar stuff, but who are you going to trust? Do you really want a commisar to read your letters directing your family members to your stash of goodies?
Perhaps you could start by using your wingding font as a sort of code. Each symbol could represent a word or phrase. You don't need to have a sympbol for each letter of the alphabet...that would be too mind-boggling. For instance, perhaps a five pointed star could represent "plenty of guns, low on ammo", with a response being a right handed check mark for "have ammo, will trade". Or, use the "bible code" method of having the real message in a pattern.
Click connect, send an email...easy.
Push a button, hear the radio...no problem.
Until...
If you think you are frustrated NOW with the media, just wait until we have a real crisis (real or contrived) and the government decides that it MUST control all media. You've already heard and seen the effects of social network monitoring, and many of us have been scared shitless at the prospect of "big brother" tracking our private conversations.
The truth is, if you think they're going to do this, you're wrong. They already are.
So, have you come up with a plan to communicate with your loved ones? Your friends? Your prepper support group?
Do you have a two-way radio or a set of long-range walkie talkies anywhere in your house? Have you come up with a language that you can use to avoid being tagged? It can be as simple as one word. Think of the Battle of Normandy, "John has a long mustache..." Really, this is as simple as having an evacuation plan.
Do you know anyone locally who is a ham radio operator? Most ham operators do so not so much as a hobby, but as a last ditch effort to allow citizens to control the airwaves.
If the worst does happen you'll need to think of your every action, every word, every communication as being monitored. Consider yourself a political prisoner on house arrest. Don't even think of sending a letter unless you've got it encoded. I know this sounds like cloak and daggar stuff, but who are you going to trust? Do you really want a commisar to read your letters directing your family members to your stash of goodies?
Perhaps you could start by using your wingding font as a sort of code. Each symbol could represent a word or phrase. You don't need to have a sympbol for each letter of the alphabet...that would be too mind-boggling. For instance, perhaps a five pointed star could represent "plenty of guns, low on ammo", with a response being a right handed check mark for "have ammo, will trade". Or, use the "bible code" method of having the real message in a pattern.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)