Tag Archives: precious metals

Monday, September 16, 2013 · 12:10 AM

“I’ll be alright” vs. “Being prepared”

(Survival Manual/Prepper articles/ “I’ll be alright” vs. “Being prepared”)

A. A Sarcastic Survival Guide for the Unprepared
3 June 2013, prepblog.com, by Thoreau
Pasted from: http://www.prep-blog.com/2013/06/03/a-sarcastic-survival-guide-for-the-unprepared/

If you are well-prepared for a range of possible disasters, from storms and power outages to civil unrest, a disease pandemic, and nuclear fallout, you can face these difficulties with a calm confidence. But this prepping and survival post is for those who are unprepared. What can you, the Unprepared, do? How can persons, who know nothing of prepping and have made no preparations, handle the disasters that will certainly, sooner or later, fall upon us? If you are among the Unprepared, this is your (sarcastic) guide.

Food and Water
Those silly “doom and bloom” Preppers will be relying on stored food, stored gardening seeds, stored water, water purification equipment, and the associated knowledge and skills which they have acquired. But you, the Unprepared, have it much easier. Why spend money on food and supplies, when you can depend on FEMA to provide you with food and water? All you have to do is wait. Waiting is easier and less expensive than Prepping, isn’t it? Just wait until FEMA realizes that people need food and water to survive, then wait for them to find food and water. Next, wait for these supplies to arrive, and finally wait in long lines for your rations of food and water. What could be easier? It takes no thinking or preparation!

In addition to waiting, though, you might want to do a great deal of hoping. Hope that you don’t get too hungry or thirsty before government supplies arrive. Hope that you don’t get trampled by the crowds seeking those supplies. And hope that they don’t run out before you get your rations. But isn’t waiting and hoping way better than learning, buying, storing, growing, and then using your own supplies of food and water? The easy path is what you Unpreppers have chosen.

Nuclear Fallout
Preppers are so pessimistic, aren’t they? They even prepare for nuclear fallout from a nuclear power plant disaster, dirty bomb, or nuclear explosion. They have expensive active or inexpensive passive radiation detectors. They have KI or KO₃ tablets to protect against radioactive iodine in the fallout. They have a Radiation Emergencies Kit, including antacids as a treatment for exposure to nuclear fallout. What a negative attitude!

– Wait, what? You didn’t know that fallout from a nuclear power plant disaster has many of the same radioactive isotopes as nuclear bomb fallout? You never heard that you should store antacids (Gaviscon, Tums, sodium bicarbonate) for treatment of internal contamination with radioactive isotopes? Of course you haven’t heard that. You are a happy-go-lucky Unprepper! You, the Unprepared, don’t need a Radiation Emergencies Kit (see at: http://www.prep-blog.com/2013/01/25/putting-together-a-radiation-emergencies-kit/ ) — because you will be depending on luck. You will be hoping that you are not in an area affected by nuclear fallout.

Of course, the backup plan for the Unprepared, if you run out of luck, is to rely on the Strategic National Stockpile — a national repository of “large quantities” of medical countermeasures, vaccines, and other medical supplies stored in strategic locations around the nation. How long will it take to get those supplies to you? Only 12 to 24 to 48 to who-knows-how-many hours or days. So, fingers-crossed, maybe you’ll get the supplies you need before you are glowing-in-the-dark. Oh, but they won’t be issuing radiation detectors or antacids. And you probably won’t get your first dose of Potassium Iodide (KI) within the FDA recommended time period: “within 3-4 hours of exposure.” (FDA FAQ on KI) And all the stores will quickly sell out of antacids. So good luck.

Knowledge and Skills
Preppers gather knowledge and skills for use in possible disasters. But you, the Unprepper, — well, you don’t want to spend your time that way. You might be labeled a “survivalist,” or a “prepper,” or “prudent and reasonable”. And no one likes to be labeled.

But if a disaster strikes, what can you, the Unprepared, do? First, hope that disaster does not strike. I mean what are the odds that, on any particular day, an earthquake, or hurricane, or superstorm, or power outage, or something much worse will strike? The odds are very low! And what are the odds that some type of disaster will happen sooner or later? Only 100%, and that’s not such a high number, is it?

Second, when/if some inconvenient disaster strikes, you can simply rush to acquire a large amount of knowledge and many important skills on a moment’s notice! You’re a quick-study, aren’t you? You’ll be spending a lot of time trying to find copies of sold-out books on prepping and survival. But you can always search the internet for information — if you have power and the internet is still up and running. So why prepare?

Civil Unrest
If some severe disaster occurs, or if a set of disasters combines to an overwhelming effect, there may be civil unrest. Not many preppers will be among those causing the unrest, because they will be well-prepared with intangibles, like knowledge and skills, as well as tangible supplies. But you, the Unprepper, will not have to worry, not too much anyway, about civil unrest. For you will be part of that unrest.

If you don’t have food, water, medical supplies, and other “preps”, you can always rely on the government to provide. And when they fail to give you all that you need, protesting is your next best (by which I mean worst) option. On the other hand, if/when there is severe widespread civil unrest, these protests are likely to become violent. So maybe you should stay home, and let other people protest. Eventually the government will supply you with everything you need. Won’t they? I mean probably eventually before-you-die, right?

General Advice
I could go on at length in this vein, covering each area of concern in prepping. But let me give you Unpreppers some more general advice. If you find yourself unprepared for a disaster, especially one that is severe and long-term, just find yourself a nice Prepping family nearby and go begging at their doorstep. Most preppers have a mindset that allows for helping neighbors in need during any disaster. Just don’t expect too much from us Preppers. We have limited resources, and while we are generous, we are not stupid. We will not be giving away all our preps to the Unprepared, leaving our own families bereft of the necessities for survival. And don’t show up empty handed. We like to barter.
.

B. Collapse Reality: “If I Had to Be an Animal, I Was an Animal. It Was About Survival.”
25 Aug 2013, SHTFplan.com, by Selco
Pasted from: http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/collapse-reality-if-i-had-to-be-an-animal-i-was-an-animal-it-was-about-survival_08252013

SHTFplan Editor’s note: Our friend Selco at SHTF School will change everything you may think about your life in a post-collapse world. For many of us, the idea that the world around us may fall apart and lead to the worst that humanity has to offer is mostly theoretical. For Selco, it was a reality. He experienced a total grid-down collapse in war-torn Sarajevo during the 1990′s – and he lived to tell the tale. He has shared his knowledge with our community over the last few years, and in the article below he changes our perceptions once again. Just because we are making preparations – stocking food, or supplies or guns – means nothing if the mind is not prepared to comprehend the absolute horrors that may come.

Do you want to know what it will be like when law and order breaks down, when people turn on each other, and when there is no one to depend on except for those in your inner circle?

Then keep reading.

THIS IS REALITY.

(Pictured: People scavenging for supplies run for cover in Sarajevo’s notorious Sniper Alley – 1992)
(Courtesy: Felix Features)

Walking the Line Between Human and Animal
by Selco

As many long term readers or members of my survival course know, I like to talk about the important but what some may call the “not so spectacular” part of survival that is not as much fun as, for example, talking about latest guns and gadgets.

Today I want to talk about dignity and what it means in a survival scenario. Before I talk from own experience, read the extract below from the diary of Lieutenant Colonel Mervin Willett Gonin who describes what happened after his unit freed the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during the second world war.
At the moment of his writing hundreds of people were still dying and it was place of pure horror.
“It was shortly after the British Red Cross arrived, though it may have no connection, that a very large quantity of lipstick arrived. This was not at all what we men wanted, we were screaming for hundreds and thousands of other things and I don’t know who asked for lipstick. I wish so much that I could discover who did it, it was the action of genius, sheer unadulterated brilliance. I believe nothing did more for those internees than the lipstick. Women lay in bed with no sheets and no nightie but with scarlet red lips, you saw them wandering about with nothing but a blanket over their shoulders, but with scarlet red lips. I saw a woman dead on the post mortem table and clutched in her hand was a piece of lipstick. At last someone had done something to make them individuals again, they were someone, no longer merely the number tattooed on the arm. At last they could take an interest in their appearance. That lipstick started to give them back their humanity.”

The importance of still being human and not becoming a complete animal is often overlooked for people who prepare for long term survival. I had over one year to fight against becoming like rats around our house during the war.

Expect to become more like an animal
You can have all equipment ready for SHTF – ammo, weapons, gear… you can even be perfectly well trained in lot of different skills and fields and still when SHTF you can end up dead in the first days just because you “refuse to believe” what’s happening.

It is that state of mind when a man simply does not want (or is not able) to comprehend the new situation.

It can be one quick life threatening situation like folks attacking your home and you just waited few seconds too long to shoot some attacker, and then you are dead, end of the story. Or it can be whole process of failing to recognize the new world around you and the new rules (or absence of rules) and then again you just not doing correct things for the situation, and again you end up dead.

Example would be that when SHTF you are trying desperately to have and use power generator and light all rooms in your houses just because it mean normal life for you. And that normal life is gone, and trying to bring it back in that situation usually means more troubles.

Holding on to all the comforts and behavior you are used to can be dangerous.

To make a long story short, what I am trying to say is that you may be trained and equipped like a SEAL team member and yet you can still be killed easily from some 70 years old dude, with even older rifle just because you were surprised when SHTF with amount of destruction and violence and you did not seen that old dude coming (or being so evil).

On the other side that old dude maybe lived through couple of SHTF events in his life, and he knows when it is time to act without hesitation and mercy.

There is still a fine line you have to walk between losing your human side and becoming pure animal.

One of the things that changed a lot when SHTF is fact that everything became really dirty.

It was something like slow process, first people tried to keep it as clean they could, but without all normal services, like garbage trucks, running water and all other community services that make normal living soon it simple became impossible.

Later all garbage was used somehow, but in beginning it started piling up everywhere, when you add to that ruins on the street, human waste and dead bodies it was very ugly picture.

After some time, we started to accept dirt outside and it then was priority to stay clean and keep clean only inside that small circle inside your home, and when I say „clean“ I do not mean „clean“ like today. Maybe as clean as we could be.

For example simply moving through the city in the middle of the night meant that you needed to crawl, jump, hide, walk or run trough all kind of things, and very often some real nasty and dirty things.

Many times I was hiding on places so dirty that stench was almost paralyzing, once in the middle of the night I jumped behind some wall because sudden shelling, and when I jumped there I realized that I landed on dead guy.

His face was smashed with broken wall, and partially buried, place there was so small that I had to actually lay on him for some 20 minutes. He died probably when wall from the house collapsed after some shelling, who knows.

Fire from the shelling was so strong that I actually loved that dead guy and that place in that moment. I almost hug him while I was trying to be as small as possible because pieces of steel and rock were flying around me just like some crazy rain, while my stomach was rising and floating from the detonations and smell.

All I was saying at that moment was „thank you, thank you, thank you“ like some magic words, and I even was not aware who do I thank to, that dead stinky guy, my brain for noticing that small space, or God for saving me.

Today years and years later I still carry that smell inside my nose. But I did not move from there before danger was gone. It is survival and luckily I was already used to dirt enough to just stay with that dead guy.

Some folks just stopped to care about cleanliness and hygiene completely. So for them washing and cleaning become something like not wanted luxury. They went complete animal.

They simply stopped to care about these things, so I also knew some guys with look and smell so awful that even dead guy smelled like perfume store.

It was easy to surrender to stuff like that, I mean in trying to keep yourself clean.

But it was stupid not only in terms of the hygiene and illnesses, also by surrendering yourself you admit that you do not care anymore, and when you admit that you are only few steps from becoming animal with what you do too. People give up on themselves.

For me being as clean as I could be had something like preserving one of the last connection with “normal” life, with life before sh!t hit the fan, when things like neighbors, breakfast, car etc, were just things we took for granted, like things that always gonna be there unchanged.

Of course I was aware that being clean is important in order to stay alive because all diseases problem, no doctors hospitals etc. but on some psychological level it kept me sane and it kept me normal man.

Even in survival situation you need to still care about few little things to keep your dignity, to keep spirit up, to not lose yourself. If you stop caring about everything it is like disease that eats you.

When I came back from trading or scavenging in the city, I would clean or wash myself thoroughly in my yard before entering my house, again of course because common sense, hygiene and diseases, but maybe even more important I tried to keep all chaos and violence, suffering outside of my home on some psychological level.

I try to stay out of the everything, or actually I tried to keep everything outside of my home, like some ritual. I would keep the clothes for outside in bag, my boots were in one corner, never entering my room in it etc.

One of my relative wears pink slippers (mittens) when he was home sometimes, he would say that he just felt that everything is fine when he wear it. It was spooky and strange to see him in pink slippers while outside world is going to hell, but we all have some strange ways I guess to keep ourselves sane. Maybe wearing those slippers after he was forced to shoot some folks kept him sane, reminded him on some normal times when grandma wear it in the evenings.

On the other side, like I said in beginning if you stick too much to old habits you are not doing best for survival too.

So if I had to be animal, I was animal. It was about survival. For example there was a period when I eat just to survive, like animal, without paying attention what I eat or how. If I found some food I ate it in quick way, if there was some food with worms in it, I would eat it in dark, without looking what I eat etc.

Point was (and still is) to be man, but to be ready to be animal if you are forced to be animal, and that’s it. It comes down to being flexible, adapting to situation and I hope this helps to crush the idea some Hollywood or fantasy survival scenarios show that survival is about being complete animal. No, it is fine line to walk.

You can (and you have to) have as much hand sanitizers, soap, disposable face masks etc. as you can but you can still end up dead if you are not ready to accept fact that one day you might be forced to „hug“ dead guy in order to survive, or eat roast rat or pigeon.

Once next collapse comes many people will wake up to reality and struggle to be human like they were or become animals and as skilled survivalist I hope you will walk fine line in between. The people who were walking that path were and I’m sure will be those who have biggest chances to survive.

You can follow Selco’s story at SHTF School and learn how he survived one year in hell, at website http://shtfschool.com/community/selco-one-year-in-hell/

THIS IS REALITY.

Please keep in mind that the residents of Sarajevo weren’t all luxuriating in middle class largess one day and involved in a civil war the next. When conditions deteriorate to a point where all can see there will be no fix, all it takes is an unforeseen event (a Black Swan) to destabilize the remaining social structure and the killing starts.
Of course the previous article was about “far away” Sarajevo and not at all the kind off thing that could, or would, happen in America, or is it?

Below, images from Detroit. (Google: Deserted Detroit suburbs, etc. and see for yourself.)

Is America sliding toward a Black Swan event that will destabilize the social structure. Are you prepared for hard times?
Mr. Larry

Leave a comment

Filed under Prepper articles, Survival Manual

Tagged as economy, energy, famine, food, government, martial law, medical, precious metals, storage, war, water

Thursday, September 5, 2013 · 12:10 AM

Cash is King, at least at first

(News & Editorial/Cash is King, at least at first)

A. Top 10 Preparedness Reasons to Carry Cash
17 August 2012, Prepography.com, by Andrew J. Jackson
Pasted from: http://prepography.com/top-10-reasons-to-carry-cash/

Our world is so digitized and automated that a lot of folks have stopped carrying cash. Think about it…when you’re checking out at the grocery or hardware store…how many people in front of you whip out a piece of plastic to pay for their purchases. Some days it seems like the era of the good old American greenback is over (we’ll leave the discussion of real money versus fiat currency for another day). You can now even make some payments at the checkout counter with your cell phone. As attractive as the idea of going cash free is to me…after all my wife knows where I keep my wallet…I refuse to stop carrying cash for the following reasons:

Purchasing Privacy: I’m just old fashioned enough that I want to keep my business to myself. I know it’s becoming an outdated notion in this overly digitized world full of instant electronic over-sharing, but that’s how I feel. Read my article The Top 10 Reasons to Be a Stealth Prepper for more information on why privacy is so important.
Service Interruptions: There have been a number of credit/debit system service interruptions over the last few years including at least one that lasted several weeks. When traveling I make it a point to carry enough cash to get home without any help from plastic. Make sure that you can get yourself home if a computer glitch or cyber attack shuts down your plastic
Cash is King! Cash Discounts… by offering cash you can often strike a better deal when making purchases. I use this technique all the time when dealing with tradesmen and contractors.
Cash Only Establishments: There are also places where cash is the only option like garage sales (good for purchasing inexpensive preps and may not take checks) and restaurants in smaller towns (I still see the ‘no out of town checks’ signs as I travel the back roads).
Rise of the Underground Economy: Increasing taxes and regulations are driving more and more commerce underground (a variation of what Arthur Laffer discussed with his Laffer Curve…to be discussed in a future article). I can foresee the possibility that in order to purchase certain good or services in the future you can only do so with cash as whole segments of the economy potentially go underground.
Bank Runs: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the National Credit Union Association (NCUA) have largely put a stop to individual bank runs, but as I learned the hard way if the regulators take over your bank (happens after hours on a Friday) then you might not have physical or digital access to your money for a couple of days. The whole government insurance of individual deposits is starting to look like the fox guarding the hen house as our elected official spend us into the poor house…if a bank run happens it’ll be big…and you’ll need more cash than you are carrying in your wallet. What will a bank run look like in the 21st Century… I think it will look like long lines at the ATM and even longer lines at the stores trying to stock up before the credit/debit system gets shut down.
Reduce Temptation: If you have issues exercising discipline in your use of credit than transitioning to cash only transactions may help you reduce the temptation to overspend…to make sure that you have money left over for your preps and prep education (prepucation).
Change is Good: Coins that is… some vending machines and the good old fashioned payphone (if you can still find one) might only take change. I remember many times when I was thankful the I had the coins to get a drink from the vending machine at a highway rest area because there was nothing else open that late…the same could hold true if there’s a cell phone service interruption following a computer glitch, cyber attack or natural disaster.
You’re not getting any interest on it now anyway. Depending on how much cash you decide to carry this may or may not be an issue…but it’s not like you’re earning any interest on that money anyway.
I might get robbed! Bear with me a minute on this one. If I’m robbed I would rather hand over a few hundred dollars in cash than my wallet. If I lose my wallet I must cancel all my debit and credit cards, I must contact the state to report a stolen driver’s license and concealed carry license and I must worry about my military identification getting into the hands someone who has demonstrated that he/she doesn’t honor the compact that we’ve made to become a civilized society. Additionally, with my wallet the thief has my address which would make it easier for him to victimize me again. If the thief doesn’t have a firearm the money will be flying up into the air so that he can focus on it as I run the other way. Last thing…before the comments start…yes I am armed but if I have the choice between losing a few hundred dollars or spending the next three years of my life in courtrooms defending myself for shooting someone who society would be better off without anyway…I’m glad to lose the money and make a police report.

How much cash to carry is a personal decision based on your financial resources, your spending habits, your responsibilities and your travel habits…just remember to do so and keep that emergency cash in a separate part of your wallet if you’re tempted to spend it on everyday items.

[At first you’ll want and need cash, then there will occur rapid inflation, during which you won’t want dollars and neither will anyone else. Mr. Larry]

B. When The Dollar Is No Longer A Reserve Currency
19 Aug 2013, ModernSurvivalBlog.com, by Ken Jorgustin
Pasted from: http://modernsurvivalblog.com/the-economy/when-the-dollar-is-no-longer-a-reserve-currency/#more-10929

I believe the U.S. is in the midst of a major currency collapse, and a huge change in our normal way of life.
The following is a list of startling notes that I wrote, as well as statements credited to Stansberry Research while I watched a video related to their newsletter back in 2011.

The scary thing is… nothing has changed since I wrote this, and it has actually gotten much worse!
Please take the time to read this and comprehend what will happen when the dollar is no longer the world’s reserve currency…

One MSB reader recently commented…
“There are a number of financial counselors predicting the demise of the dollar as the world’s basis of currency exchange. It seems that a number of people are aware that China, Japan, Russia, France are making definite moves in that direction. Brazil and Argentina as well a Cuba are all in the same camp. When will Washington and Wall Street wake up?”

He is absolutely correct. It is well known to those who follow what is happening, that the dollar is on the way out of world reserve status. To answer his question… Washington and Wall Street will not wake up. They will ride this horse until it drops dead…

The government has been borrowing so much money, that soon, we will not be able to afford even the interest on the loans.
Income tax receipts are roughly $900 billion a year.
Corporate taxes are roughly $200 billion annually.
Our current annual deficits are nearly $1.3 trillion, meaning we’re spending $900 billion + $200 billion + $1.3 trillion = $2.4 trillion.

Even if you doubled tax revenue, we would still be running a deficit!
Even if all U.S. citizens were taxed 100% of their income, it would still not be enough to balance the Federal budget! Tax increases will not even make the smallest dent on the true size of our debt.

There is not a single credible plan, by any political party, to merely end our annual deficits, never mind actually paying back our debts.
Here’s the kicker… the costs of maintaining our debts are about to skyrocket.

For years, the Federal Reserve has been keeping interest rates very low, to almost zero, and as a result, the interest rate at which the U.S. government borrows money from the Federal Reserve is an incredibly low level. This won’t last forever.
How much interest? Right now we’re paying about 15% of federal tax receipts (about $200 billion a year). If the government had to spend a ‘real’ market-based rate of interest, say 6%, it would cost $840 billion a year on interest (76% of tax receipts), just for what we owe right now, today.
We are trapped. The main-stream-media does not want you to know how precarious our government’s finances really are.

A debt default would be inevitable if not for one anomaly, the thing that has saved the U.S. so far, that is, the country’s ability to simply print more money. The U.S. is the only debtor in the world who can legally print U.S. dollars, and the dollar is the world’s reserve currency.

So, that sounds pretty good, just print more money, what is there to worry about?
The U.S. is the only country in the world that doesn’t have to pay for its imports or its debts in a foreign currency.
Example: A German wants to buy oil from Saudi Arabia – the German cannot pay for the oil in German marks (or Euro’s) because the oil is priced in dollars. You have to buy dollars first, then buy your oil.

The U.S. has been able to consume as much as we want without worrying about acquiring the money to pay for it, because U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere around the world.
As our creditors continue to figure out what’s happening (printing more and more dollars), we’re going to have very BIG problems. The creditors will either begin to refuse payment in dollars, or they will greatly discount the value of these new dollars. It’s already happening.

Most Americans have no clue what the repercussions are of losing the status of world currency.
Yes it can happen here. In fact, the exchange value of the U.S. dollar has fallen about 13% since June 2010. Its rate of decline is accelerating.
As the U.S. dollar continues to lose its position as the world’s currency, gas, oil, and other commodities will continue to skyrocket. Almost everything we consume will immediately get more expensive. It’s happening right now. Everything is getting more expensive.

The government says that there is no inflation. How is that even possible? They actually believe that the American public is going to believe them?
It’s only going to get worse, because we can NOT stop printing because we can’t actually afford our existing debts. No one wants you to know this. No one. That’s why, despite the obvious inflation going on all around the world, the Fed continues to say there’s no inflation at all. The government is radically devaluing the dollar and totally lying to everyone about what is really happening.

The Chinese are getting out of the dollar as fast as they can via strategic commodities.
With less demand for the dollar around the globe, interest rates will skyrocket.
Instead of getting a mortgage at today’s low rates of 5%, it may soon cost you 8% or 10% or 15%.
Stock prices will likely plummet by at least 40% in a matter of weeks as a result of this event in the currency markets.
When the U.S. dollar loses its spot as the world’s reserve currency, the brutal downturn will be about 10-times worse than the mortgage crisis of 2008.

When everyone is trying to get rid of their dollars, the government is printing more and more to pay debts, the crisis will reach epic proportions.
In the past 100 years this type of debt crisis has reared its ugly head in Germany, Russia, Austria, Poland, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the Ukraine, Japan, and China.

Here’s the thing that most people don’t realize… The U.S. government can only continue printing dollars as long as the dollar remains the world’s reserve currency.
Reported by Robert Fisk (veteran Middle East reporter), last fall, China, Japan, Russia, and France got together for a secret meeting… without the U.S. being present or even knowing about the meeting. It was reported that Gulf Arabs are plotting to end dollar dealings for oil, moving instead to a basket of currencies including the Japanese Yen, Chinese Yuan, the euro, gold, and a new unified currency planned for nations in the Gulf including Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Qatar.

In February (2011), the IMF has proposed replacing the U.S. dollar with something called ‘Special Drawing Rights’, or SDRs. SDRs will be able to be converted into any currency, based on a weighted basket of international currencies.

The IMF also proposed creating SDR-denominated bonds, which could reduce central banks’ dependence on U.S. Treasuries. They also suggested that certain assets, such as oil and gold, which are traded in U.S. dollars, could be priced using SDRs. (This is a HUGE step to replace the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency)

Russian and China have made an agreement to settle all debts between them in each other’s currencies without first transferring to dollars.
The U.S. dollar has remained the world’s reserve currency for more than 50 years. It seems as though its days are numbered. Don’t remain in denial.

Be Prepared:

Start to consider what will happen around you when this currency crisis unfolds.
Plan to have six months of food, medical supplies, and access to water.
Have a place you can go to if you need to get out due to rioting or unrest.
Do not count on the government to save you if all he$$ breaks loose. The government will be too concerned about saving itself.
Examine where your current assets or investments are.
Consider investing or purchasing hard assets, or food , private land.
Learn how to garden some of your own food.
Examine your security and add where it needs adding.
The more self sufficient that you can become, the better you will get through the crisis.

C. Top 10 Reasons to be a Stealth Prepper
15 July 2012, Prepography.com, by Andrew J. Jackson
Pasted from: http://prepography.com/top-10-reasons-to-be-a-stealth-prepper/

[You want to be “just another person in the crowd”. Live it, look it, be it; with readiness. Mr. Larry]

Being a ‘Stealth Prepper’ means keeping your preparations to yourself and practicing what we call OPSEC (Operational Security) in the military. The journey towards self-reliance and preparedness for life’s unexpected situations is exciting…you will want to celebrate your successes and discuss how to rectify your failures with like-minded people…don’t do it until you put a lot of thought into who you’re talking with, who they’ll tell and so on. Here are the Top 10 Reasons to be a Stealth Prepper:

The words “I won’t tell anyone” are almost always a lie, even if said with proper intentions at the time. Keep your preparations to yourself.
You can’t afford to buy enough for ‘everybody.’
You don’t have enough space to store for ‘everybody.’
You will be ridiculed in good times by those well meaning people in your life that think nothing bad can ever happen to them… or that the authorities will always protect them from danger…in other words the sheeple.
You and your family could be in danger from thieves even in good times if it’s known that you keep cash, precious metals or other items of value including firearms… just in case.
You might attract the tinfoil hat wearing crowd. If you want to broach the subject of preparedness with someone you want it to be on your terms with the people you chose.
You could be inundated by requests for ‘assistance’ in hard times that will have you weighing the well being of your family against that of strangers, acquaintances and friends.
You may find yourself having to take in more extended family than you planned… which could dramatically reduce the amount of time that your preparations will last.
You and your family could be targeted in very hard times by desperate strangers, acquaintances, friends and even extended family members.
You and your family could be targeted in very hard times by well meaning public servants enforcing ‘anti-hording’ ordinances for the ‘greater good.’

The best time to decide to become a Stealth Prepper is before you get started…the next best time now!

Leave a comment

Filed under News & Editorial

Tagged as depression, economy, future, government, investing, precious metals

Monday, September 2, 2013 · 12:10 AM

Society’s Five Stages of Economic Collapse

(Survival manual/Social issues/Society’s Five Stages of Economic Collapse)

Society’s Five Stages of Economic Collapse
28 February 2012, Target of Opportunity <http://www.targetofopportunity.com/editorial.htm>, by David Meyer
Pasted from <http://www.shtfplan.com/emergency-preparedness/societys-five-stages-of-economic-collapse_02282012>

“Society as we know it will break down and collapse in a five stage process outlined here.
While it can be accelerated by certain events like war, a natural disaster, pandemic, terrorist attack, or even an impending asteroid impact, history has shown that economic collapse will essentially happen in this five stage process.
To survive the collapse, it is important to read and interpret the signs and understand what assets are important to the current situation so you can be prepared for the worst thereby allowing you to survive intact and with as little damage as possible.
.

STAGE 1. The Decay Begins
Everything is good and the economy is thriving. A high standard of living has been achieved. This is the way things should be. Goods are cheap and readily available. Everything seems to be in abundance. Stores are filled with retail items ready to be purchased. Life in general is good. The nation’s working infrastructure is solidly intact and working well. However, the idea that everyone is entitled to have what others have earned now permeates society. Redistribution of Wealth Policies are implemented and quietly woven into the fabric of society. Unchecked and under the guise of fairness and equality, these policies slowly decrease productivity and increase dependency on government entitlement and welfare programs.

Primary Assets:
• Career
• Home Value
• Savings
• Investments – Stocks and bonds
• Health Insurance
• Lifestyle Image
• Good Credit Rating for Debt Accumulation
.

STAGE 2. The Slippery Slope
The economy goes into a slow but steadily increasing decline. Unemployment is on the rise. Ever increasing numbers of people receive government assistance in one form or another. People are paid not to work. Government spending has increased dramatically. The price of gold, silver, and other precious metals rise to prices unheard of just a few years earlier. Inflation reaches the double digit levels.

Primary Assets:
• Cash
• Precious Metals, Gold and Silver coins
• Job Stability
• Elimination of debt
• Health Insurance
• Home Equity
• Automobile with good MPG
• Acquiring secluded land more than 40 miles from densely populated areas
.

STAGE 3. It is Going to Get Worse
The total collapse of the economy begins after a significant and prolonged decline. The government implements price controls. Shortages on essential goods become widespread. Foreclosed houses sit vacant and deteriorating by the tens of thousands. Middle class neighborhoods begin to look like slums. The government begins to print currency to pay its bills and support the tens of millions on public assistance. Inflation increases even more and unemployment exceeds 25%. Banks and businesses fail at ever increasing rates. Nobody seems to have any money. Many are now homeless. Labor unions instigate strikes, civil unrest, and large scale riots. Government services are interrupted and unreliable. Local and national infrastructure is in decay. Violent gangs begin to appear and assert themselves. The government begins confiscation of firearms from law abiding citizens. Violence is everywhere. Cities and urban areas become very dangerous places to live.

At this stage, the country seems pretty much beyond the point of no return. However, things can still be reversed even at this stage if the right person at the top really believes in the basic fundamental concepts of Freedom, Independence, Liberty, and Individual Rights and is not afraid to do what is necessary to reverse the current trend. He will be vilified and hated because of his attitude toward personal responsibility, cutting entitlements, and ending welfare programs. Of course, if the right person were in power and did what needed to be done, none of this would have happened in the first place.

Primary Assets:
• Gold and Silver coins
• Cash
• Job
• Automobile
• Home
• Short term food supplies
• Short term fuel stores
• Firearms and ammo
• Plans to relocate to a secluded rural hideaway
• Small livestock – chicken, rabbit, fish…
• A close network of like minded people
• Survival knowledge and skills
.

.

STAGE 4. The Grab for Power
The collapse can transition to this stage at any time after Stage 3. Most of the middle class have lost everything. What used to be well manicured middle class neighborhoods are filled with the carcasses of empty houses damaged and destroyed by vandals. The nation’s infrastructure has been seriously neglected and is in need of a major overhaul. The power grid becomes unreliable. Rolling blackouts are a daily occurrence. You can no longer buy or sell gold or own foreign currency. Inflation is out of control. Now the economy collapses. There is a rush for everything and the shelves go empty in a matter of hours. Society falls into chaos. The control of urban areas shifts when violent gangs takeover control of the streets and urban neighborhoods. The government issues restrictive measures in an attempt to control the economy. Everything is in short supply and heavily rationed. Food and gasoline is very expensive and there are very long lines to get them when they are available. Affordable quality health care is non-existent and your job is a distant memory. You will do without what you are unable to provide for yourself. You will discover what it is to live in a third world country.

Primary Assets:
• Relocation to the rural hideaway
• Firearms and ammo
• Long term food supplies (1 year minimum)
• Adequate fuel stores
• Security plan to protect the group and assets
• Trained dog for security
• A working knowledge of survival gardening
• Survival knowledge and skills

Once all of the above has come to pass, the realization of the current circumstances at this moment must be all too obvious. It is too late to prepare at this point. What you did not acquire earlier, you are not going to possess now. Anything of value necessary for your survival has already been claimed. The situation gets worse… much worse.
Stage 5 is next… and it is not pretty.
.

STAGE 5. Freedom, Liberty, and Independence is Lost
The government implements martial law. Fighting between civilians and government forces break out nationwide. Maintaining more than a 30 day supply of food is considered hoarding food and is illegal. Severe poverty and starvation become a common sight. The government offers marginally acceptable food, water and shelter in exchange for your Freedom, Liberty, and Independence. Democracy ends and a Socialist form of government takes over under the guise of fixing society’s problems with the false promise that peace and prosperity will return better than it was just a few years ago. A Totalitarian regime assumes power and the individual freedoms and liberties once enjoyed by the people are completely eliminated.

Primary Assets:
1. Rural Hideaway
2. Security plan to protect the group and assets
3. Living below the radar in a community of like minded people
4. Firearms and the ability to use them
5. Guard dog for security
6. Survival knowledge and skills
7. A working and producing garden capable of feeding 150% of the group
8. A stable supply of clean water
9. Vegetable seeds for long term food production and barter
10. The will to live and survive in a harsh political climate

As you can see, priorities change as the world changes. Your most prized assets of today – your good credit, luxury automobile, and career are no longer important after the economy collapses.

Things to thnk about:
• Failure to prepare today will increase the magnitude of your suffering tomorrow.
• It is better to prepare 10 years too early than 10 minutes too late.
• Many who lack vision will say that it will never happen and for those who decide to live unprepared, you should consider the following statement, “The lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.”

Leave a comment

Filed under Survival Manual, __2. Social Issues

Tagged as depression, economy, energy, food, investing, precious metals, storage

Monday, April 8, 2013 · 12:10 AM

Underlying questions about prepping

(Survival Manual/ Prepping/ Underlying questions about prepping)

A. 14 Questions People Ask About How To Prepare For The Collapse Of The Economy
7 Aug 2012, The Economic Collapse
Pasted from: http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/14-questions-people-ask-about-how-to-prepare-for-the-collapse-of-the-economy

How in the world is someone supposed to actually prepare for an economic collapse? What should you do with your money? How can you make sure that your family is going to be okay? How can you prepare if your resources are extremely limited? These are the kinds of questions people ask me all the time.

Once people understand that the economy has been collapsing and will continue to collapse, then the next step for most of them is that they want to get prepared for the storm that is coming. So where should someone get started? Well, the truth is that no two people are facing the exact same set of circumstances, so preparation is going to look different for each individual.

But there are certain core principles that we can all benefit from. For example, when a financial storm is coming that is not the time to be blowing thousands of dollars on vacations and new toys. You would be surprised at how many people there are that claim that they have no extra money in their budgets and yet somehow have plenty of money to run down to Wal-Mart and buy a big stack of DVDs. When times are difficult, each hard-earned dollar becomes much more precious, and we all need to start getting into the habit of making the most out of our limited resources. The seemingly endless prosperity that we have all been enjoying for decades is coming to an end, and most of us have absolutely no experience on how to deal with truly hard times. If you are under the age of 60, it might be a really good idea to read a book or two on what conditions were like during the Great Depression of the 1930s. There is a lot that we can learn from our own history.

Another key characteristic that we will all need in the years ahead is flexibility. Anyone that has spent any time in the military knows that very few plans ever work out perfectly. As the global economy breaks down and the world becomes increasingly unstable, conditions are going to change rapidly. What might work really well in one situation might be the exact wrong thing to do 6 months later. If you are not willing or able to adapt to dramatic change then you are going to have a lot of difficulty in the years ahead.

Many people refer to me as a “doom and gloomer” because I run a website called “The Economic Collapse” and I am constantly pointing out that the entire world is heading for a complete and total financial nightmare.

But I don’t think that it does any good to stick your head in the sand. I believe that there is hope in understanding what is happening and I believe that there is hope in getting prepared.
It is those that are completely oblivious to what is really going on that will be totally blindsided by the coming crisis. When they finally realize what has come upon them many of them will totally lose it.

From my little spot on the wall I am trying my best to warn people so that they can have a chance to be prepared for what is coming.
I am not spreading doom and gloom.
I am spreading hope.
And I want to make another point. Generally, things are going to be getting progressively worse as the years roll along. As I have written about before, I believe that the economic collapse is not a single event. Rather, I see it as a series of waves that will be punctuated by moments of great crisis.
So advice about preparation is going to be different depending on whether you are talking about the short-term or the mid-term or the long-term. Hopefully you will keep that in mind as you read my answers to the questions below.

The following are common questions that people ask about how to prepare for the collapse of the economy….

#1 How Do I Get Started?
When the financial crisis of 2008 hit, what was the biggest danger for most Americans?
The biggest danger was that they would lose their jobs and not be able to pay their bills.
During the last recession, millions and millions of Americans did end up losing their jobs.
And because many of them were living paycheck to paycheck many of them also ended up losing their homes.

You do not want that to happen to you.
So what I am about to say next is not considered to be very “sexy” in prepper circles, but it is absolutely crucial advice.
You need to have an emergency fund saved up that can cover your expenses for at least six months.
That way if you lose your job or your business goes under you will be able to keep going for a while as you figure out what your next move will be.

These days it takes the average unemployed American nearly 40 weeks to find a new job, and it will likely be even worse in the next major economic downturn.
So make sure that you have plenty of cash saved up just in case. If you are currently living paycheck to paycheck you are extremely vulnerable.

#2 What Should I Do With My Money?
I get this question a lot.
People always want to know where they should put their money.
Well, my first piece of advice is always to build an emergency fund. See #1 above. Most people do not have one.
After that is done, I am a big believer in not putting all of my eggs into one basket.
Sometimes people will tell me that they are going to take all of their money out of the banks because they don’t feel safe having their money in them.

Well, if you stick all of your money in your mattress, what happens if there is a fire or what happens if someone robs you?
That is why I believe in spreading your risk around. Having money a bunch of different places is a good thing.

But one place I would not put it is in the stock market. If you were fortunate enough to catch the recent rally you should get out while the getting is good.

If you have blind faith in the stock market you are going to be deeply disappointed eventually. I do not have a single penny in the stock market, and a couple of years from now that is going to look like a very wise move.

#3 Should I Invest In Precious Metals?
A lot of people that write about the economic crisis in this country really advocate investing in precious metals because they tend to hold value over time (unlike fiat currencies).

I like precious metals myself, but if you are going to invest you need to get educated so that you know what you are doing. If you go in blindly you are likely to get burned at some point.

In addition, you need to be prepared for wild fluctuations in price over the coming years. There will be times when gold and silver absolutely soar and there will be times when they drop like a rock. So if you are going to play the game you need to be able to handle the ride.

#4 Should I Get Out Of Debt?
Many that write about the coming economic collapse say that you shouldn’t even bother to pay off your debts because the financial system is going to collapse anyway.
I don’t see it that way.
I don’t believe that our banks are going to totally collapse and suddenly go out of existence.
Not in the short-term anyway.

So I believe that it is actually a good idea to get out of debt. When financial troubles hit you don’t want a horde of bill collectors coming after you.
There is a lot of freedom that comes with getting out of debt, and in this environment it is wise to become as independent of the system as possible.

#5 What If I Don’t Have Any Money To Prepare?
In this kind of economic environment it is no surprise that I get this question a lot.
Many families are just barely scraping by each month and they do not have much money to put into anything. And I can definitely sympathize with that.

However, I would say that there are very, very few families out there that do not have anything that can be cut out of the budget.
The truth is that American families are experts at blowing money on really stupid stuff.
In general, I recommend that all families do what they can to reduce their expenses.
The smaller of a financial footprint you have, the better off you will be and the more resources you will have to help you get prepared.

Also, now is the time to be looking for ways that you can increase your income.
For many Americans, starting a side business is a way to bring in some extra cash. Yes, this will cut into your television watching time, but now is not the time to be lazy.
The time you spend working hard now while the sun is still shining will pay off later.
Don’t be afraid to work harder than you ever have before.

#6 Should I Rent Or Buy?
This is a question that I also get a lot, and it really depends on your situation.
If you rent, that gives you a lot more flexibility. You can move for a new job or a new opportunity without having to sell a house. And you get to avoid a lot of the expenses and hassles that come with being a homeowner.

If you buy, you get to “lock in” your housing expenses for many years. In a highly inflationary environment this would potentially be very beneficial. And interest rates are very low right now.
In addition, it is going to be really hard to rent a really good “prepper” property. If you are looking for a property that is away from the big cities where you can grow your own food and become more independent of the system, then in most cases you are going to have to buy such a property.
But if you do buy, it is going to be much harder to move if something does happen and you need to go somewhere else.

#7 What About My Health Condition?
Over the next few years, our health care system should continue operating at least somewhat normally. But the truth is that our health care system is in horrible shape and it is not a good thing to be totally dependent on pills and doctors.
Even if economic conditions were perfect it would be a good idea to learn what you can do on your own to improve your health. But this is especially true as we move into a time of great economic instability.

#8 Should I Be Storing Food?
Yes.
However, even though the United States is experiencing a historic drought right now, I do not believe that there will be major food shortages in America this year or next year.
Down the road, however, is a different story.

And your food dollars are never going to go farther than they do right now. As I wrote about the other day, this drought is likely to cause food prices to go up substantially, and so the food you store now might end up being twice as valuable a few years from now.

In addition, you never know when a major disaster or emergency is going to strike so it is always good to become more independent of the system.

I encourage everyone to learn how to grow a garden. Yes, your space may be limited, but there is actually one family that produces 6000 pounds of produce every year on just 1/10th of an acre right in the middle of Pasadena, California.
If they can do such extraordinary things with their little plot of land, why can’t you try to do what you can with what you have?

#9 Should I Be Storing Water?
It is always good to have some water on hand in case disaster or emergency strikes.
And you should be rotating whatever water you currently have on hand because you don’t want water sitting around indefinitely.

But what is much more important is to make sure that you and your family have access to a source of water that you can depend on if disaster strikes and the grid goes down.

In a previous article I discussed a report put out by the American Trucker Associations entitled “When Trucks Stop, America Stops” that detailed just how incredibly vulnerable our water supply really is….

According to the American Water Works Association, Americans drink more than one billion glasses of tap water per day. For safety and security reasons, most water supply plants maintain a larger inventory of supplies than the typical business. However, the amount of chemical storage varies significantly and is site specific. According to the Chlorine Institute, most water treatment facilities receive chlorine in cylinders (150 pounds and one ton cylinders) that are delivered by motor carriers. On average, trucks deliver purification chemicals to water supply plants every seven to 14 days. Without these chemicals, water cannot be purified and made safe for drinking. Without truck deliveries of purification chemicals, water supply plants will run out of drinkable water in 14 to 28 days. Once the water supply is drained, water will be deemed safe for drinking only when boiled. Lack of clean drinking water will lead to increased gastrointestinal and other illnesses, further taxing an already weakened healthcare system.

So yes, water is definitely something you should be accounting for in your preparations.

#10 Other Than Food And Water What Other Supplies Will I Need?
Anything that you use on a regular basis or that you would use in an emergency situation is something that you should consider storing up.
For example, if you could not buy any more toilet paper from the stores, what would you do?
Basic things like that are often overlooked by many preppers. In a previous article, I listed dozens of things you may want to consider storing. Preparation is going to look different for every family, but hopefully that list will give you some ideas.

#11 What Happens If The Power Grid Goes Down?
This is a very important consideration – especially if you live in a colder climate.
Some people have a backup generator for such circumstances.
Others have set up wind and/or solar systems for their homes.

Alternative energy solutions are great if you can afford them, and they will enable you to become much more independent of the system.
But not everyone can afford to put in solar panels or a big wind turbine.
So do what you can with what you have.

#12 Should I Leave The Big Cities?
A lot of people ask me this, but there is no easy answer.
In this day and age, a good job is like gold. It can be really, really tough to give up a good job and move to the middle of nowhere.
But without a doubt, society is starting to come apart at the seams and I do expect rioting and major civil unrest in our major cities at some point in the future.
In the end, you need to do what is right for you and your own family. Nobody else can make this decision for you.

#13 Should I Get Some Self-Defense Training?
America seems to be overrun by psychopaths and sociopaths these days, and in such an environment being able to defend yourself becomes more important.
When criminals come to your home, they are not going to sit down and have a debate with you. They are not going to care what your political outlook is or if you sympathize with their plight.
The criminals are simply going to do what they came there to do unless someone stops them.
So yes, some self-defense training may come in very handy in the years ahead.

#14 What Should I Do If My Family And Friends Won’t Listen To Me?
This is another very common question that I get.
What should people do if nobody will listen to them?
Well, you just have to do the best that you can. If they won’t listen now, just keep planting seeds. Keep sending them articles that are packed with statistics and information that show why an economic collapse is going to happen.

In the years ahead we are all going to need our families and our friends because communities will endure what is coming much better than “lone wolf” individuals will be able to.
No matter how hard you prepare, at some point you are going to need the help of someone else.
So don’t be afraid to reach out to others.
If nobody among your family or friends will listen to you at the moment, you may have to prepare on your own right now.

In fact, you may have to do extra preparation because at some point it is probably inevitable that your family and friends will come to you for help.
That is the perspective that my wife and I take. We are not only preparing for ourselves. We are also preparing for the family members that may have to depend on us someday.
Nobody said that preparing was going to be easy.

But beyond any physical preparations, I also believe that it is absolutely crucial to prepare mentally and spiritually.
The times that are coming are going to be incredibly challenging. They are going to require a great deal of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual strength.

If you are a “lone wolf” that believes that you don’t need anyone or anything, then I feel sorry for you and I honestly don’t know how you are going to make it.
None of us have all the answers.
I know that I certainly do not.
I have just written nearly 3000 words, but after I post this article I know that some of the great visitors to my site will post ideas that I never even considered for this article.

We can all learn from each other. Most of the people that I have met that think “they know it all” are some of the most clueless people that I have ever come across.
I never want to stop learning, and hopefully that is the case for you as well.
If we work together, perhaps we can all make it through the horrible, horrible times that are coming.

B. What NOT to Prep – 3 Common Misconceptions
10 Apr 2012, American preppers Network, by Stephanie Dayle
Pasted from: http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2012/04/what-not-to-prep-3-common-misconceptions.html

That’s right, I said “what NOT to prep.” If you have made the decision to start preparing, you are experiencing information overload. When I first started to prepare, I was told and read so much advice on what to prep I came to the conclusion that I should just prep everything! Well yes, and no.

There is a lot of advice out there circulating around that I think is incorrect. Incomplete information distracts people who are new to the concept of prepping from focusing on what will save their lives. I will list out some of the common things I hear first and add more things in future articles. If you have a question on anything I have listed here, disagree with, or think I have forgotten something, feel free to leave a comment. I will get back to you as soon as I can. Always base your preps on common sense, think things through, ask yourself; how will this work in a stressful situation where you will not have the luxury of time?

Common Misconceptions:

__1) You Need A Year’s Supply of Toilet Paper: No you don’t. Although it is nice to have, millions of people live perfectly clean (some may even argue cleaner) and sanitary lives without it by simply using water and soap to clean themselves. Stocking TP is bulky, not everyone has the room for a year’s supply. I keep only three months supply of TP on hand for that reason, food and water is more important – then if we use it up, we will switch to plan B. Your “plan B” needs to be time effective. It is NOT time effective to pulp the fiber and make toilet paper, chances are you will have far too many other things to do in a prolonged ‘grid down’ situation to even consider doing that. Have a “plan B” that you can quickly implement is what you need to be prepared.

Our “plan B” is taking squares of fabric that are cut from worn-out clothing approximately 4.5 inches by 4.5 inches and leaving a stack near the latrine. You clean up with the fabric, then deposit the used fabric in a #10 can filled with a strong bleach/water solution (not so strong as to eat the fabric but strong enough to kill anything on the fabric) that is sitting near your clean fabric and cover it with a lid. Next time you do laundry, you empty the whole can of bleach, water and fabric directly in with the hot soapy water, with your whites, then wash, rinse, hang dry and you’re done.

Now, if you have a year supply of food, water and first aid goods and you still have extra space and you just have to have more TP – then fine, stock some more. Just be aware you can go without it and life will go on.

__2) You Should Prep Soap Making Supplies: Not necessarily. Making soap takes a lot of time and resources, even cold pressed soap requires fuel for a stove to melt and render fat, and that oil and fat may need to be used for food. In a prolonged emergency you will want to have a ready supply of soap on hand to use that you don’t have to make.

Same goes with laundry soap and dish soap. Stock up on the store bought stuff – it has no known shelf life, and is still fairly cheap. It’s very easy to purchase a year supply or more of soap. If you want to make your own laundry soap to save money right now, that’s fine – but don’t worry about stocking up on the ingredients just so you can make laundry soap during an emergency because initially you won’t have time to.

On the same thought, if you want to learn how to make soap as a hobby it’s a worthwhile skill to learn and you can stock up on homemade soap just like you would store bought soap as long as the soap is not ‘super fattened’ (also known as a ‘lye discount’: this means you’ve used more fat than the lye can convert to soap, this is done in almost all modern homemade soap recipes so the extra oil/fat will leave your skin feeling more moisturized. So if your handcrafted soap contains extra oil know that it will go rancid with time). Being able to make soap from the materials you have available to you will be an invaluable skill when the emergency is over and people are thinking straight again. We will always need soap. In this case keep some lye on hand, it has many other uses and having some will be much easier than making your own lye, BUT only do this if you already have everything else stocked for a year and you have actually taken the time to learn how to make soap.

__3) You Should Buy Gold and Silver for Emergency Preparedness:
No you shouldn’t.
Now, before the flaming begins, let me explain.
In short-term emergency situations like Hurricane Katrina where we had a temporarily failed micro economy ; did people run around buying and selling with gold and silver? No they didn’t. BUT, if you had a tank of gas, you could get almost anything you wanted, bottled water become very valuable and clean dry clothing were a big deal. In a prolonged emergency situation where the grid is down and people are going without food, it’s true the dollar may collapse, but people aren’t going to want a gold coin, they are going to want FOOD.

Food, fuel, and possibly ammunition or medicine via barter will become the new system of currency not Gold or Silver. Precious metals are investments, and should be treated as such. They are a way to diversify your money and guard against inflation.

If you already have a year of food and supplies stored for your whole family AND you are debt free AND you have a plan B bug out location ready, THEN and only then, consider investing in Gold and Silver. But it’s not something you need worry about right away. Focus on the basics: water, food, and first aid, in that order. Then do some real research about investing in Gold or Silver and see if it’s the right choice for your family. Keep in mind the US Government once confiscated it during the depression and don’t listen to those who tell you “…it will never happen again” because it can always “happen again.” Part of prepping is being prepared for even things that seem unlikely.

Leave a comment

Filed under Prepper articles, Survival Manual

Tagged as crisis, depression, disaster, economy, emergency, future, government, precious metals, storage

Friday, March 8, 2013 · 12:10 AM

Home invasion, Part 2 of 2

(Survival Manual/ Prepper articles/ Home invasion, Part 2 of 2)

A. Home Invasion Protection Kit: Choose from amongst the following. Feel free to alternate these products with whatever caliber & magazine size you prefer. In the end, when you are armed and they come in the door– it’s your attitude — about being robbed, raped or taken advantage of by a vicious criminal that makes the difference. Mr. Larry

B. 3 Ways A Burglar Breaks In, 80 Percent Of The Time
August 19, 2012, Modern Survival Blog, Submitted by: Ken
http://modernsurvivalblog.com/security/3-ways-a-burglar-breaks-in-80-percent-of-the-time/

The number one place where burglars break into homes is straight through the front door. The second most likely point of entry for the burglar is through a first floor window. Third, is through the back door.

These top three break-in points cover about 80 percent of all home burglary break-ins.

Although statistically much less likely, a burglar will also gain entry to your home through the garage, the basement, or a second floor window.

Logically, you will want to focus on the more likely scenarios and fortify against those first.

Your front door. A surprising number of homes do not have a ‘deadbolt’ lock in addition to the door-knob lock itself. Don’t make it easy for the burglar. Get a deadbolt installed. Locks can be picked, so look for ‘bump proof’ locks.

Consider an add-on like the Lock Jaw Door Security Device , which will prevent a lock picker from opening the deadbolt. Consider replacing the existing lock or deadbolt screws that go into your door frame with longer screws. Another extremely effective but simple solution for the front door is a Security Bar that you simply tuck under the door knob (which can only be inserted when you are home – good for at night).

Particularly in the summer months, people leave some of their windows open. When you are at home, this is generally not an issue as the typical burglar will pass you by if you are at home. However it is a very common mistake to leave your windows open if you are running out for an errand. Most people don’t think about it… but ‘if’ there is a burglar casing your neighborhood, they will learn your patterns when you come and go. If you must, only leave windows open on the second floor. Shut and lock your first floor windows when you leave, or go to bed at night.

Often times the back door of a home is not as secure as the front door. Do not overlook the back door. Secure it the same way as you would the front. And again, if you are running out on an errand, be sure to lock that back door when you leave.

These are common sense approaches to deterring a common burglar from your home, but the fact that 80 percent of burglaries gain entry this way, it seems to me that many people are overlooking the obvious. Burglars are thieves of opportunity. Don’t give them any.

[Below: A few Internet images of violent criminals who were involved with home invasion. Some were convicted and others were killed during the commission of their crimes. Mr Larry.]

.C. William Shatner, “Gun control works”. (You’ll like this): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFaLokC9hqk

Video: Women take (out of touch) VP Joe Bidens shotgun advice…
http://weaselzippers.us/2013/02/25/video-women-take-joe-bidens-shotgun-advice-hilarity-ensues/

If you have to choose between a shot gun or AR15 for your wife, get the AR, the video shows why.

.[Prepare yourself and your family in a preplanned, practical way, making sure that the outcome of a home invasion ends with the “bad guys” being carried out on a stretcher, not you or your loved ones. Mr. Larry]

Leave a comment

Filed under Prepper articles, Survival Manual

Tagged as crisis, depression, ecology, economy, emergency, government, precious metals, storage

Wednesday, March 6, 2013 · 12:10 AM

Home invasion, Part 1 of 2

Survival Manual/ Prepper articles/ Home invasion, Part 1 of 2)

A. HOME INVASION FACTS
Apex SelfDefense Products
http://www.apexselfdefense.com/Home_Invasion_s/370.htm
There are many differences between a typical burglar and a home invasion robber. Most burglars fear a confrontation and therefore work while the homeowner is away. A burglar will look for an easy entry point, an unoccupied house and will usually work alone. A burglar will often be deterred by alarms, strong locks, sturdy doors and will most likely flee rather than face a confrontation with a homeowner. A burglar basically wants to steal your belongings but doesn’t want a confrontation and will go to great lengths to avoid one.

However, a home invader is much more bold and brazen. They will target a home that is occupied, with the intent of taking control of the occupants and the dwelling. Home invaders almost always work in groups and are most likely armed with a firearm. They may choose a target based on the type of vehicle they drive, jewelry, lavish house, or other obvious signs of wealth. A typical home invader will use a ruse to enter the home rather than break in. They will pose as a delivery person, repair person, stranded motorist, salesman, etc.

The most common entry point is the front door. After enticing the homeowner to open the door, the accomplices will come out of hiding and rush into the residence, subduing and intimidating the occupants. Sometimes they will kick in the door, but more often than not, they will use a ruse to gain entry.

The initial confrontation is usually the most violent of part of the home invasion and is the point at which the occupant’s safety is most at risk. Once the invaders have taken control they will search the home for valuables. Home invasions aren’t carried out for DVD players and big screen TV’s. They are looking for items far more valuable such as jewelry, cash, antiques, or high dollar collectables. Often, they will force the occupants to provide PIN numbers and ATM cards.

B. 21 Things Your Burglar Won’t Tell You
June 8, 2011, Modern Survival blog, Submitted by: Ken
Pasted from: <http://modernsurvivalblog.com/security/21-things-your-burglar-wont-tell-you/>

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste… and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it..

5. If it snows while you’re out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom – and your jewelry. It’s not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door – understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don’t take me up on it.)

10. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Here’s a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms.

12. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it’s not bolted down, I’ll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you’re reluctant to leave your TV on while you’re out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television.

14. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

15. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

16. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll just go back to what he was doing. It’s human nature.

17. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

18. I love looking in your windows. I’m looking for signs that you’re home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I’d like. I’ll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

19. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It’s easier than you think to look up your address.

20. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation.

21. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Here’s an idea…
Put your car keys beside your bed at night.
If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. (This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator.)

Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It’s a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation.
Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage.
If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won’t stick around.
After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won’t want that.
And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

C. 10 Things To Do When A Stranger Knocks On Your Door
August 13, 2012, Modern Survival Blog, Submitted by Ken
Pasted from: http://modernsurvivalblog.com/security/10-things-to-do-when-a-stranger-knocks-on-your-door/

Here are a few ideas how to handle a situation where someone (a stranger) is knocking on your door. It happens to all of us, sometimes somewhat regularly. That is, we here an unexpected knock on our front door. The question is, what do we do?

Open the door
NOT the best idea (maybe the worst?)… Some people blindly open the door to see who it is or what it is that they want. I mention this only if you know the person on the other side.

Ignore the knock on the door
While ignoring the knock, you may want to go about your normal business and NOT pretend that you are not home, but instead continue to do what you were doing, or even make some noise or turn on a light so that the person knows that someone IS home (possibly avoiding a burglary).

Look out a window first to see who it is
Avoid looking out a door window, but instead go and look through another window away from the door if possible. If you don’t recognize them, you could shout through the door and ask what they want, or you could choose to ignore them altogether.

Arm yourself
…just in case. If you don’t own a firearm, consider pepper spray, keep a baseball bat or golf club by the door, pick up a fireplace poker, etc.. It’s your life – don’t waste it.

Set the door chain
…and crack open the door to speak to the person through the gap. Be sure that your door chain is set well with LONG screws into the door frame to help resist a ‘push in’.

Ask what they want
…and ‘interview’ the person through the closed door. You may consider installing a heavy duty security door (the kind with steel bars) outside of your existing front door so that you can see anyone who comes to the door and talk to them ‘securely’.

If you are a woman at home alone,
…mention that your husband (or father, if you are young) is fixing the bathroom faucet and cannot be bothered right now (or something similarly indicating that a man is at home).

Have an intercom speaker system
…at the outside of the front door for 2-way communication

Have a security camera
…to see who is at the door (and to deter a potential burglar). Having a sign indicating video surveillance, is a good deterrent.

Have a dog
…and allow the barking to ‘tell’ the solicitor that a dog lives there too.

In today’s world, it is always better to be on the safe side and NOT blindly open the door for anyone. The few thoughts listed above are just a sampling of many options for you when someone knocks on your door. The point is, think about your options and be prepared with a plan of action.

Remember that people can be dressed to impress but they may have ulterior motives. People may be wearing official looking uniforms while actually ‘casing the joint’. You are NOT obligated to let anyone into your home (except for police with a search warrant). Use your head and be cautious and suspicious. It may save your life or property.

.
D. 5 Home Invasion Scenarios Your Family Should Train For
22 Jan 2013, Prepper-Resources.com, by PJ
Pasted from: http://www.prepper-resources.com/5-scenarios-your-family-should-train-fo/

Many of us realize that the key to a good bug out is all of the preparation which is done prior to the actual event taking place. Pre-positioning all of the bug out gear, talking through various scenarios, conducting rehearsals with family members which results in being able to efficiently evacuate a home in mere minutes with all required equipment. Natural disasters aside the chances of having to conduct an actual SHTF bugout are slim. Admittedly most of us would prefer to bug in given the choice and still we train just in case the need ever arises. We train because we do not want to be caught off guard, 20 minutes to leave the home and all of the SHTF gear is in unorganized piles throughout the basement and garage.

It’s safe to assume you have your bug out strategy nailed down, but what about other life threatening scenarios which are far more likely to occur in your home? Do you practice with your family what each person should do in the event of a home intruder? Do you have a plan for multiple intruders? Or is the shotgun under the bed and the knowledge that “dad knows what to do” your family’s only plan?

Because home invasions are typically filed as a robbery, burglary, battery, assault, rape, or murder, keeping the public informed of the frequency of home invasions within their communities is difficult. However, thanks to data gathered by the FBI and Statistics USA, we’re able to get a better idea of the prevalence of this sinister crime:

– Home burglaries occur approximately every 15 seconds in the U.S.
– Most home intruders force their way into homes through the front door.
– From 1994 to 2000, an average of 3,600,000 home invasions occurred each year.
– In the U.S. alone, 1 out of every 5 homes will be victimized by a violent home invasion or burglary.
Source: Global Security Experts

I would submit to you that any well laid plan to defend your home against evil doers should involve discussing a few scenarios which I have listed below and rehearsing your plan of action to deal with those scenarios. Rehearse them during daylight hours first, just talking through some of your considerations and “what ifs.” Once you feel like you have a decent plan try to implement it during the evening or even during the middle of the night unexpectedly. Dialing 911 should always be part of your plan and additionally please remember to never train with loaded weapons. I can only assume that my plan(s) will differ from yours because we all have different family sizes, ages of children, home layouts, dogs/alarms and proximity to law enforcement).

……………….5 Scenarios To Train For
1- Bad guy(s) outside the house, trying to gain entry
It’s the middle of the night and your dog starts barking. You wake up and look out the window, you think you see a shadow and a bit of movement outside…or did you see two figures? What’s the plan? Someone calls 911 but they are at least 10 minutes away on a good day. You hear glass break downstairs while you reach for your shotgun. What to do with your family? Your dog won’t stop barking now and your wife is freaking out. You want to go downstairs but aren’t sure how many men there could be in the home. What are you going to do?

2- Intruder in the house, unknown location
You wake up to the sound of breaking glass, instinctively you reach for the shotgun beside your bed. You hear your dog barking loudly and then a large yelp, your dog has gone silent. Nobody else is awake yet but in the fog of your mind you quickly realize someone is in the house, either going through items in another room or mere seconds from entering your bedroom. The kids are down the hall, you need to call 911, you are fumbling with the safety on the shotgun and stubbed your toe trying to quickly move across the bedroom. Your wife calls your name out, it’s only been 15 seconds since waking up but feels like an eternity. You shouldn’t have drank those 4 glasses of wine before bed, you hear another sound in another room. Now what?

3- Multiple Intruders in the house, unknown location
Everything that happened in scenario #2 except you hear multiple voices. You’ve only got one shotgun which happens to be a side by side coach gun (2 shots), will it be enough? Your wife could use your pistol to back you up but you have never practiced that before. Does she even know what sectors of fire means? You have seconds to react, no time to explain. You wish you had practiced this like PJ told you to. This is when you realize your pistol is locked up in the safe in your office along with the rest of your shotgun ammunition.

4- Unexpected attack, forced entry
Ding dong, that’s your doorbell. Your wife opens the door because two men in uniforms are standing there holding clipboards. As soon as she opens the door they bum rush her and force their way into your home, pulling pistols out simultaneously. In a mere second this has gone from mundane to armed robbery and you are in the garage working on your lawnmower. Are you even armed? Where is everyone else in the house, do they know what to do?

5- Dad isn’t home, intruder alert
This is one of my biggest fears. Let’s say you have to travel for business and any one of the above scenarios happens while your wife and children are home. Do they know what to do? Has your wife actually trained with weapons enough to know how to employ them in the dark? Or does she just pop a few rounds off at the range and hand you an empty gun which you reload for her…

The bottom line
I’m not suggesting that everyone in your house should sleep in a 360 degree perimeter keeping one person up at all times to pull guard duty. What I am suggesting is that you take a little time to discuss/rehearse practical and rational reactions to likely life threatening scenarios which statistics tell us are quite likely to occur. You might be thinking something like this could never happen to you, after all your home is in the suburbs and you live next door to a cop. I bet Melinda Hermin never thought she would be putting her recently acquired gun skillsto use earlier this month to defend her children from an intruder. I also believe Dr. William Petit never thought it could happen to his family either (tragically it did).

In dramatic testimony, a prominent Connecticut doctor described how he was beaten in his sleep and woke up face-to-face with two men who sexually assaulted, tortured and killed his wife and two daughters in a brutal home invasion.

Dr. William Petit, who took the stand Tuesday at the trial of one of the men accused of murdering his family, was the sole survivor of the 2007 attack. He told the court for the first time how Steven Hayes, along with co-defendant Joshua Komisarjevsky, allegedly broke into his Cheshire home, raped his wife and one of his daughters and set the house on fire.

[When times gets bad, there will be a lot more predatory human behavior and a decline in the level of police protection. Reduce your chances of becoming a victim. Be armed. Be prepared. You’ll be glad for your foresight. Mr. Larry]

Leave a comment

Filed under Prepper articles, Survival Manual

Tagged as crisis, ecology, economy, emergency, future, government, investing, martial law, medical, precious metals

Monday, December 17, 2012 · 12:10 AM

An EMP attack, Pearl Harbor II?

(Survival Manual/ Prepper articles/ An EMP attack, Pearl Harbor II?)

A. The Roosevelt Presidency: The War Years
Excerpt from: http://www.janrainwater.com/htdocs/FDR-WarYears.htm
“The American military had supposedly not expected Hawaii to be attacked. Yet a final exam question at the Japanese Naval Academy for the last ten years had been: “How would you carry out a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor?” Howe, Ashes, p. 161. Rear Admiral Richard Turner would later testify that the possibility of a Japanese attack from the North Pacific had been discussed for at least 25 years….”

History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme.
……….Mark Twain

[The articles that follow present a case for the potential of an enemy nation or terrorist group EMP attack against the USA. If we just shrug off, disregard and turn away from an attack scenario that is being studied, built and promoted by our enemies, then we are like those living before World War II who failed to recognize the signals that would lead to our defeat at Pearl Harbor. With the passage of the centuries, the potential for greater numbers of war casualties have greatly increased. If the a large region, or essentially the entire USA, was crippled by an EMP attack– dehydration, hunger, outdoor tempertures, disease and private weapons will reduce our population numbers by percentages typically associated with air superiority and the horde of advancing armies. Below are the harbingers. Mr. Larry]

[Short range missile launch platform for EMP devices. This is not hypothetical, these shipping container based launch systems are currently being constructed and sold on the world market. Mr. Larry]

.
B. Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) caused by a nuclear explosion high over the United States – Imminent danger to the U.S. # 1
2006, The Prophetic Years.com, By Don Koenig 2006
Pasted from: http://www.thepropheticyears.com/comments/Imminent%20danger%201%20-%20Electromagnetic%20Pulse%20explosion%20(EMP)%20over%20the%20United%20States.htm

Possible Causes – for an EMP. A direct attack from a nation and/or terrorist group using one or more nuclear weapons exploded at very high altitude over the United States – a blast from a meteor exploding at high altitude in the atmosphere – check out this report on the solar EMP possibility.

U.S. vulnerability– The U.S. is more vulnerable than any other nation on earth to an EMP because she has become totally dependent on electricity and electronics for just about everything used in everyday living. This vulnerability has come about in the last few decades. All of the major enemies of the U.S. are aware of this vulnerability and that this is the easiest way to cripple the United States. Russia has this capability and tested it during the cold war. Some officials from Russia suggested they could use this capability against the United States in 1999 during the Balkans conflict. China now has this capability, and U.S. intelligence sources say that North Korea and Iran are actively developing the technology and capability.

Terrorist groups could get the capability from any one of these countries or from a few other countries either directly or by theft. The weapon could be delivered by a Scud missile hidden under a tarp from a medium-sized ship in the shipping lanes off the coast of the United States. Scud missiles are available in the weapons market for about $100,000. If the United States were attacked with this weapon the country may find it very difficult if not impossible to retaliate. Finding out who was responsible might not be easy especially if it was done by state sponsored terrorists or if terrorists carried it out on their own. If the U.S. responded in kind over a country like North Korea, it would not significantly change their way of life and if the U.S. nuked their cities without serious proof I can foresee a collective world reaction against the United States that would only make substantial recovery in the U.S. more difficult if not impossible. Even conventional warfare may not be possible because our military would have to be recalled to the United States to restore domestic order.

EMP Effects – total blackout – Y2K + X to the nth power– A large EMP would actualize the perceived Y2K threat of the year 2000 except the effects of an EMP would be many magnitudes worse than anyone’s worst nightmare about Y2K. A large EMP would cause the immediate collapse of the North American power grid and the destruction of much unshielded electronic equipment in the area of the pulse. The extent of the pulse depends on many factors; it could hit the whole nation, a good part of the nation, or be more local. Those who would attempt such an attack would seek to maximize the extent of the damage so more than likely, the pulse would hit much if not most of the United States. The EMP pulse itself has three components with each subsequent component causing further damage. An EMP is generated when Gamma Rays from a high altitude nuclear explosion interact with the atmosphere to produce a radio frequency wave pulse that would hit everything in line of sight of the explosion. A small crude nuclear weapon exploded high above the United States could create a devastating pulse.

If an EMP hit a large part of the United States it would not cause just a temporary power outage. It could take months or even years to get power back to most of the United States. Electronic equipment and power generating equipment in power plants themselves would be damaged and there will be no way of easily replacing this equipment. Even if the equipment were not damaged the grid could not easily be brought back up. It takes a source of power to bring up modern power plants to put them back on line. Just bringing up the whole U.S. grid from scratch would take weeks or months. Even if the blackout were only for weeks, the disruption to the United States would be immense.

In a matter of hours there would be large-scale looting in the major cities and in days there would be riots in all large cities over food and water. Marshal Law would be declared and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would nationalize all police forces and take control over managing the people of the United States. All available military would be following the directives of DHS as well.

A major EMP over a large part of the United States would cause all major transportation systems to break down. Most means of communication would not be possible. There would be no TV, little radio, no useable cell phone systems, no Internet system and no food or water distribution other than through the direction of Homeland Security. All essentials would be rationed. Those carrying out the DHS directives would confiscate all known critical supplies.

The civil disorder and disruptions that have taken place in New Orleans and southern Mississippi in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina are a small example of what would take place nationwide after an EMP. In that case massive aid from the rest of the nation eased the crisis but after an EMP the whole nation will be coping with the crisis and little aid will be possible.

All able bodied manpower in the United States would have to report for assignments directed by Homeland Security. All financial assets would be frozen. There would be no access to any money, the stock market would be closed and the U.S dollar would become near worthless on the world market. For weeks, months, and perhaps years there could be little gross national product in the United States. The U.S is the largest debtor nation in the world so she would be forced to default on her debt bringing about a massive world depression.

Even after the power was brought back up, it would be likely that much of the electronically controlled infrastructure systems would have to be totally replaced. This could take many years. Meanwhile, financial assets in every category either would become worthless or lose tremendous value. All financial bubbles will burst.

Likelihood of this threat occurring before A.D 2025?
If significant military action is not taken against Iran and North Korea (if they do not immediately abandon their nuclear weapons program), it is almost certain that one or more EMP attacks will be attempted with the likelihood of success being high. The possibility of a successful EMP attack before 2025 AD would in my opinion be at least a 7 on a scale of 1-10.

If Iran and North Korea no longer have nuclear capabilities the likelihood of an attack is then much less at least for a number of years. Pakistan still will be a problem because she has nuclear weapons and a large segment of the population supports terrorism against the United States. It is unlikely that China would want an EMP to happen over the United States as long as she is getting rich exporting to the United States. (The China threat could be the reason the U.S. allows the seemingly insane trade imbalances.) If China no longer needs the U.S. because world demand for their products is more than they are capable of producing and/or if Taiwan becomes a flash point, the likelihood of an EMP attack is again extremely high unless by that time the U.S. has taken major steps to harden the infrastructure against such an attack. If a cold war reemerges with Russia, they also might see a world without the United States as being in their best interest and they also would pose a grave threat to the United States either directly or by supporting Islamic terrorists groups who would use this technology to bring the U.S. to destruction.

Non-state sponsored terrorism will continue to be a threat if they can get hold of a nuclear bomb. Some reports have indicated that nuclear bombs are available on the black market. I do not know if this is actually the case but experts who have access to intelligence say the possibility of terrorists obtaining a nuke in the next 10 years is better than 50-50.

What can be done to stop this threat?
In the near term, the U.S. can only try to stop terrorists and terrorist nations from launching such an attack. What the United States really should do in the near term is to buy some time and take out Iran and North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.

If the U.S. starts in earnest now in about five years she can have the critical infrastructures hardened enough and the procedures put in place to protect critical equipment from the second and third component of an EMP. After this, an attack would probably not reduce the United States to less than a superpower but it certainly would still cause enough damage to put the U.S. in turmoil and be a catalyst for a world depression. At this time the hardening of U.S. critical infrastructures is not taking place and I know of no plans to do so on a large scale. Another defensive tactic that the U.S. may be taking is trying to appease her enemies. This could be the secret reason for some of the foolish positions she takes in the Middle and Far East. Nevertheless, I believe appeasement is playing right into the hands of the enemies and I believe that this policy is doomed to failure.

If the United States people can get their politicians off of their duffs, she can have most of the critical infrastructures hardened against an EMP attack in about five years. This would not cost all that much to do, if all new critical electronics were manufactured to be shielded and hardened. The major problem is that most politicians have their head in the sand and they are ignoring this real threat even after this threat was verified to them by the highest Intelligence sources and by their very own congressional appointed commission of scientists.

Therefore, since the danger are real, All people in the United States should have on hand or have ready access to at least six months of food and water. The sure way of escaping such a judgment is for the people of the United States to voluntarily stop all their wickedness and seek God’s protection but I just do not see that happening.

Documentation that this EMP threat is very real
I am not pulling this imminent threat to the United States out of thin air. A commission of top experts was appointed by the U.S. congress right after the 9/11 attack. They were commissioned to report to them on this EMP threat. The report was given to the congress in 2004 AD. The report is below and it gives all the details you may never want to know. Other intelligence sources have also written about this grave threat to the United States.
.

B. THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION TO ASSESS THE THREAT TO THE U.S. FROM ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE ATTACK
22 JULY 2004, HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES -One Hundred Eighth Congress

Read the Congressional report here:
http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/security/has204000.000/has204000_0.htm

A few excerpts from the 108th House Committee’s Commission to assess the threat to the US of an EMP attack, 22 July 2004:
• I have at a number of hearings where it was appropriate to ask our military people how much of their warfighting capability would remain after a robust EMP laydown. Most frequently, the generals and the admirals turn to their staff who is behind them, and then they say, ”Gee, we will get back to you on the record for that.”
• One of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agents who are knowledgeable in this area told me that several years ago he briefed one of the Army Joint Chiefs on the EMP threat, and, after the briefing, the General cussed him out. He said, ”Why did you do that? Why did you have to ruin my day? You know there is nothing I can do about that. Why did you want to make me feel bad?” That is not the right response to this problem.

Congressman Weldon mentioned our meeting in Vienna, Austria, and the comment that Vladimir Lukin said. Now he was not a happy camper at that point in our meeting there because he had been sitting there in that hotel room for a couple of days with his arms crossed on his chest, looking up at the ceiling. At one point, he said, ”You spit on us, and now why should we help you?”

After that, he made the comment that Congressman Weldon referred to. He said, ”If we really wanted to hurt you with no fear of retaliation, we would launch an Submarine-launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM), we would detonate a nuclear weapon high above your country and shut down your power grid for six months or so.”
Curt understands enough Russian that he turned to me, and he said, ”Roscoe, did you hear what he said?” Well, of course, I heard it. I did not understand any of it until the translator. But Curt had understood it when he said it.
Then the third-ranking Communist was there, Alexander Shabanov, who smiled and said, ”If one weapon would not do it, we have some spares.”
So it is not that our enemy does not know that this is a big vulnerability in our country. This is, in fact, the ultimate asymmetric attack, not just on our military, but on our culture, on our society as a whole.
• What we have concluded is that several potential adversaries have or over the next 15 years, which was the time horizon you mandated for us, over that time, can acquire the capability to attack the United States or its interests, friends and allies with a high-altitude nuclear weapon-generated electromagnetic pulse. Not only that, but a determined adversary can achieve an EMP attack capability without having a high level of sophistication.

EMP is one of a small number of threats that can hold our society at risk of catastrophic consequences and might result in the defeat of our military forces. EMP has the capability to produce significant damage to critical infrastructures and, thus, to the very fabric of U.S. society, as well as to our ability to project influence and military power abroad.

More reading on this topic is available at the following websites:
› Nuke over U.S. could unleash electromagnetic tsunami, from World Tribune article: http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/05/front2453711.9284722223.html

› Gingrich sees Iran threat to U.S. like Nazi Germany:
http://www.wnd.com/2005/11/33506/

› Senator Jon Kyl speaks of this EMP threat:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57774-2005Apr15.html

› Powerful Solar Storm Could Shut Down U.S. for Months:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,478024,00.html

› 90 seconds from catastrophe from solar storm (pdf file)
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/legacy/broadbandgrants/comments/7927.pdf

.
C. Stealth EMP Delivery systems now in production
New Hidden Missile System Unknown To Feds
See article at:
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/new-hidden-missile-system-unknown-to-feds/nFDfM/

A portion of the article follows:
ATLANTA —
A Russian weapons company is marketing a new missile system that is hidden inside an ordinary shipping container. It can turn a ship, train or truck into a long-range missile launcher. Channel Two Action News anchor Justin Farmer investigated the threat and found officials at the Port of Savannah had never heard of the Club K Missile system.
It sounds like something out of a James Bond movie. A hidden cruise missile that can transform a shipping container into a missile launcher. The problem is it’s real and a Russian weapons company is advertising it for sale to anyone who has the cash to pay for it.

A cruise missile in a shipping box on sale to rogue bidders
See news article at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/7632543/A-cruise-missile-in-a-shipping-box-on-sale-to-rogue-bidders.html
Club – K container missile system. Stills from an animated film being used to market a missile system that allows cruise missiles to be launched from a freight container. this can be loaded onto a lorry, ship, or train as desired to move into position before launching missiles

Defense experts are warning of a new danger of ballistic weapons proliferation after a Russian company started marketing a cruise missile that can be launched from a shipping container.

New Hidden Missile System Unknown To Feds
See news article at:
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/new-hidden-missile-system-unknown-to-feds/nFDfM/

North Korean Missile/Cargo Ships
http://www.eaglespeak.us/2007/02/north-korean-missilecargo-ships.html

The DPRK may have some hidden assets as reported here: http://english.chosun.com/
A recent report by the U.S. Congress’ research unit Congressional Research Service (CRS) has raised questions about North Korea’s ability to transform cargo ships into missile launch pads. The CRS report said that North Korea has developed a submarine – or ship-mounted ballistic missile system with a range of at least 1550 miles (2,500 kilometers). The North has also transformed ordinary cargo ships to launch the missiles, the report said.

[And this is just what we, the common folks on the street, have learned.
What else of such importance might be known by the Federal government & military intelligence, but not mentioned publicly.
What is being assembled in secret by an enemy foreign government or terrorist organization, or even constructed in a derelict building right here in the USA?
Given a 1500 mile range, an EMP device could be: 1) launched against the east and/or west coast from half way across the ocean; 2) or launched from northern tip of South America against the central USA; 3) shipped north by railway to the US-Mexican border and launched against practically any/every region in the US; or 4) against the east and central US from a foreign oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

EMP attacks could also be made against Gulf of Mexico oil platforms with US gulf coast cities as collateral damage, thus crippling much of the US oil production. EMP attacks could more easily be made strictly against Gulf oil production facilities, thus avoiding a direct attack against Western populations and a certain nuclear retaliation.

In either case, EMP used against the US mainland, Gulf of Mexico or Persian Gulf oil production will all be long m crippling events for the US economy. The internal dynamics of the US population will undoubtedly lead to truly massive unruly behavior and crime, as prices and shortages go from “0 to 60” overnight.

Think about it.
One day (or night) we may simply realize that we’ve lost electrical power or don’t have an energy supply.
The welfare net will be broken; regions will have lost the ability to function as a 21st Century civilization; tens of millions, maybe a hundred million people will be without an income, without jobs – for months, perhaps years; regional agriculture tillage will be down, the crop planting or harvest lost; cannerys will not open, mills will not grind or bake, slaughterhouses will not process meat; grocery shelves will become bare within 12 hours; shelves in all stores will not be restocked, there will be no “just in time” shipments; gas station pumps will have ceased to operate without electric power, autos still running will run out of gasoline within days; medications will be depleted. Two weeks after the attack, with the nuclear power plant’s water pump generator fuel reserves depleted, reactor cores and spent fuel ponds will have lost cooling capacity leading to regional, national or continental wide meltdowns and the consequent spread of high levels of radiation across downwind population centers; meanwhile, the public’s solid and liquid waste will accumulate within homes and along the streets, disease will follow; thirsty and hunger driven individuals and families will have first gone to their neighbors for help, then they’ll begin to walk…like ants spreading out from towns and cities in the disrupted areas, walking into the countryside, hungry and desperate.

Many of the news articles presented above were published between 2004 and 2010. There has been a lot of time since then for our adversaries to improve, test and update the missile delivery systems discussed, indeed to develop still other related attack schemes.
Mitigate the effects, do what you can, now.
Mr. Larry]

1 Comment

Filed under Prepper articles, Survival Manual

Tagged as disaster, ecology, economy, emergency, EMP, famine, food, future, government, precious metals, storage, water

Wednesday, August 8, 2012 · 12:10 AM

25 Difficult questions the mainstream media can’t, or won’t address.

(News & Editorial/ 25 Difficult questions the mainstream media can’t address)

Can You Answer 25 Difficult Questions That The Mainstream Media Does Not Seem To Have Answers To?
6 June 2012, The American Dream,
Pasted from <http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/can-you-answer-25-difficult-questions-that-the-mainstream-media-does-not-seem-to-have-answers-to>

The mainstream news just seems to get sillier and shallower with each passing day. Our world is becoming incredibly unstable, corruption is everywhere, we are on the verge of another massive economic crisis, government debt is absolutely exploding, war could erupt in the Middle East at any time and signs of deep social decay are everywhere and yet the mainstream media seems absolutely obsessed with reporting on celebrities and scandals. It would be nice if the mainstream media would do a lot more true investigative reporting and would actually try to answer some of the difficult questions that we are being faced with. Unfortunately, most of what passes for “news” these days is essentially just “infotainment”. That is one of the reasons why we have seen such a surge in the popularity of alternative news outlets in recent years. People are searching for the truth, and they know that they are not getting much of it from the mainstream media these days. One thing that I enjoy doing is pointing out some of the really silly stories that pass for “news” these days. Let’s take a quick look at some of the headlines on the front pages of some of the biggest news sites on the Internet right now….

CNN
“Is this baby doll really saying b****?”
“Toddler accidentally served vodka”
“Elton John frets over Gaga”

MSNBC
“Zimmerman stocks up on Cheetos in jail”
“Axl Rose robbed of $200,000 worth of jewelry”
“Taco Bell may take on Chipotle with ‘Cantina’ menu”

Fox News
“Custom Car Builder Claims Hot Wheels Stole His Truck”
“Lighter Side of ‘Tanning Mom”
“Nudist expo bares all in naked tourist industry”
It must be a slow news day, right?
Wrong.

Our world is changing faster than ever before and bombshell stories are breaking at a pace that is really hard to keep up with.
Sadly, the mainstream media in the United States is pretty much a total joke at this point.
But that doesn’t mean that the rest of us can’t ask the important questions and search for the important answers.

Can you answer these 25 questions that the mainstream media in the United States does not seem to have answers to?….
1 – What in the world was Mitt Romney doing at the Bilderberg Group conference? Reporter Charlie Skelton claims that he has four different eyewitnesses that saw Romney there….
Four eyewitnesses on the hotel staff told me Willard Mitt Romney was here at Bilderberg 2012. My four eyewitnesses place him inside. That’s one more than Woodward and Bernstein used. Romney’s office initially refused to confirm or deny his attendance as Bilderberg is “not public”. They later said it was not him.
2 – Is the financial crisis in Europe ultimately going to result in the creation of a new “European superstate” dominated by Germany?
3 – Shouldn’t we be alarmed that a thousand tons of radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear disaster is being poured into the Pacific Ocean every single day?
4 – Why is the mainstream media in the United States so silent about the grave threat that Fukushima reactor number 4 poses to the entire northern hemisphere?
5 – Why are radiation levels in the rain falling in southern California five times above normal?
6 – The CDC is located in Atlanta, Georgia. A number of people down in Georgia have recently been attacked by flesh-eating bacteria. Is there any connection?
7 – Why is the EPA now using drones to spy on farmers in Nebraska and Iowa?
8 – Is the Obama administration actually going to take military action against Syria before the November election?
9 – Are we on the verge of seeing World War III erupt in the Middle East?
10 – Why has Citigroup been put in charge of issuing “digital-identity badges” to individuals that work for Defense Department contractors?
11 – Why are “pre-crime” cameras being installed in mass transit locations all over the United States? Just check out the following example….
A new breed of security cameras can supposedly detect terrorism and crime without a human judgment call–and mass transit agencies are shelling out big bucks for the product. San Francisco’s Municipal Transit Authority, which oversees the city’s MUNI trains, has signed a contract with security firm BRS Labs to deploy cameras to 12 subway stations that use algorithms and machine learning techniques to spot anomalous behavior.
12 – Why is the Department of Homeland Security monitoring the use of hundreds of different keywords on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter?
13 – Why are smart meters being aggressively pushed down the throats of American consumers when most people don’t want them in their homes?
14 – What does the fact that “organized shoplifting” is rapidly rising in America say about the level of social decay in our nation?
15 – Why has the U.S. Congress been spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on printing costs related to meaningless declarations? The following is from a recent Daily Caller article….
The U.S. Senate has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on printing costs associated with passing simple resolutions declaring observances such as “National Chess Day,” “National Safe Digging Month” and the “Year of Water.”
16 – Why was the U.S. government spending 20 million dollars to develop a Pakistani version of Sesame Street?
17 – Why aren’t Americans being warned that the share of the U.S. national debt per person is on pace to triple by the year 2037?
18 – Why are parents being arrested for cheering at high school graduation ceremonies?
19 – Why did swarms of large spiders suddenly attack large numbers of people attending a religious festival in one town in India recently?….
It may sound like a B-grade horror movie, but residents of the town of Sadiya, in Assam state, say that on the evening of May 8 as they were celebrating a Hindu festival swarms of spiders suddenly appeared and attacked them, The Times of India reported. Over the next few days two people — a man, Purnakanta Buragohain, and an unnamed school boy — died after being bitten by the spiders. Scores more turned up at the town’s hospital with spider bites.
20 – Why have there been so many “cannibalism incidents” in the United States lately?
21 – Why does the United Nations want to govern the Internet? Why aren’t more people getting upset about their attempted power grab?
22 – Why has Planned Parenthood been allowed to set up a clinic inside a high school in Los Angeles?
23 – Why is the U.S. military developing a plan to implant microchips into our soldiers?
24 – Why are some schools in Texas planning to use RFID tracking chips to monitor the movement of their students? Just check out what one school district down in the San Antonio area has planned….
Northside Independent School District plans to track students next year on two of its campuses using technology implanted in their student identification cards in a trial that could eventually include all 112 of its schools and all of its nearly 100,000 students.
25 – Why have TSA agents been caught committing so many crimes? The following is what one member of Congress recently had to say about a new report detailing dozens of serious crimes that TSA agents have committed in recent years….
“TSA needs to immediately remove themselves from the human resource business. This report details highly disturbing cases where pedophiles and child pornographers wearing federal law enforcement uniforms are not only patting down unsuspecting travelers, but in many cases stealing valuables from their bags. Enough is enough. It’s time for Congress to step in and demand accountability from Administrator Pistole”

Leave a comment

Filed under News & Editorial

Tagged as economy, future, investing, precious metals

Friday, September 30, 2011 · 1:53 AM

Tornado Survival

(Survival Manual/1. Disaster/Tornado survival)

A. Tornado: A deadly natural disaster!
The Midwest portion of the United States has the worst tornadoes in the world, with Kansas and Oklahoma being the two most affected states, while Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and North Texas following follow closely behind.

A tornado is defined as a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of 250 mph or more. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long.
In an average year, 800 tornadoes are reported nationwide.

Tornadoes can happen any time of the year and any time of day. In the southern states, peak tornado season is from March through May. Peak times for tornadoes in the northern states are during the summer. A few southern states have a second peak time for tornado outbreaks in the fall. Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Planning for a Tornado
When a tornado is coming, you have only a short amount of time to make life-or-death decisions. Advance planning and quick response are the keys to surviving a tornado.
Conduct tornado drills each tornado season. Practice getting to your shelter from different areas of the house. Practice this at night, as well as during the day. Practice with your pets, if you have any, so they too can become comfortable with the escape plan.

Develop an emergency communication plan
In case family members are separated from one another during a tornado (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), have a plan for getting back together.

Tornado Watches and Warnings
It is very important that you discuss with your family members the difference between a “tornado watch” and a “tornado warning.”
A tornado watch is issued by the National Weather Service when tornadoes are possible in your area. Remain alert for approaching storms. This is time to remind family members where the safest places within your home are located, and listen to the radio or television for further developments.
A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.

Tornado Danger Signs: Learn these tornado danger signs:
• An approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible.
• Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still.
• Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.

B. What You Need to do BEFORE a Tornado Strikes
Whether or not you decide that you need a shelter in your house, you can take two important steps to protect yourself and your family during a tornado:
1) Prepare an emergency plan
2) Put an emergency supply kit together.

If you decide to install a shelter, your emergency plan should include notifying local emergency managers and family members or others outside the immediate area that you have a shelter. This will allow emergency personnel to quickly free you if the exit from your shelter becomes blocked by debris. You should also prepare an emergency supply kit and either keep it in your shelter or be ready to bring
it with you if you need to evacuate your house. Some of the items that the emergency supply kit should include are:

an adequate supply of water for each person in your household
non-perishable foods that do not have to be prepared or cooked (if these include canned goods, remember to bring a can opener!)
a first-aid kit, including necessary prescription medicines
Cash and credit cards
Sturdy shoes
Tools and supplies

flashlight (do not bring candles or anything that lights with a flame)
battery-operated radio
cellular phone or CB radio
list of telephone important telephone numbers (work numbers, schools, Grandparents, etc.)
extra batteries
camera and film for recording the damage after the tornado. DO NOT attempt to take pictures of the tornado! tornadoes are unpredictable and deadly!
wrench (to turn off household gas and water)
clothing and bedding
portable toilet
Special items:
- for baby – formula, diapers, bottles, powdered milk
- for adults – contact lenses and supplies, extra glasses
- for pets – food, leashes, Rescue Remedy calming drops
  (available at local health food stores)

C. What You Need to do AFTER a Tornado Strikes

Help injured or trapped persons
Give first aid when appropriate. Don’t try to move the seriously injured unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help.
Turn on radio or television to get the latest emergency information.
Stay out of damaged buildings. Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
Use the telephone only for emergency calls.
Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, or gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately. Leave the buildings if you smell gas or chemical fumes.
Take pictures of the damage–both to the house and its contents– for insurance purposes.
Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance– infants, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

D. Inspecting utilities in a damaged home

Check for gas leaks–If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.
Look for electrical system damage–If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.
Check for sewage and water lines damage–If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid using water from the tap. You can obtain safe water by melting ice cubes.

You can get more information about emergency planning from American Red Cross (ARC) and FEMA publications

E. Fujita Tornado Intensity Scale

Category F0, Gale tornado, (40-72 mph) Light damage
Some damage to chimneys; break branches off trees; push over shallow-rooted trees; damage to sign boards.
Category F1, Moderate tornado, (73-112 mph) Moderate damage.
The lower limit is the beginning of hurricane wind speed; peel surface off roofs; mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned; moving autos pushed off the roads. (Hurricane Ike at Lufkin, TX)
Category F2, Significant tornado, (113-157 mph) Considerable damage.
Roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars pushed over; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated.
Category F3, Severe tornado, (158-206 mph) Severe damage
Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forest uprooted; heavy cars lifted off ground and thrown.
Category F4, Devastating tornado (207-260 mph) Devastating damage
Well- constructed houses leveled; structure with weak foundation blown off some distance; cars thrown and large missiles generated.
Category F5, Incredible tornado (261-318 mph) Incredible damage
Strong frame houses lifted off foundations and carried considerable distance to disintegrate; automobile sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 yards; trees debarked; incredible phenomena will occur.

F. Storm Shelters
Look below to see how Storm Shelters manufactured from inferior materials compare!

Storm Shelter Information

[Internet image, above left: Twister Safe: a) Basic safe room = 5′ X 8′ X 6’4″ = 40 sqft.= $5586.00, b) Larger safe room 6′ X 8′ X 6’4″ = 48sqft. = $6195.00 http://www.twistersafe.com/installation.asp
Image, above right: The Yard Bunker is installed 60 inches below ground with a 2 foot mound of dirt over the top. This fiberglass unit repels water, has a high gloss interior, and is easy to maintain. The large entry door and full size molded stairway makes for easy access, with molded seating for 8 to 12 people. <http://www.stormsaferoom.com/belowground/index.htm>]

[Internet image, above left: Steel storm shelter http://www.safezonesheltersinc.com/indexoct20.html
Image, above right: Concrete storm shelter http://www.hidy-holes.com/ ]

G. Tornado realities
News: Tornado outbreak second deadliest in U.S. history- 27 April 2011
Posted: Apr 30, 2011 9:01 AM CDT Updated: Apr 30, 2011 9:46 PM CDT
(RNN) – As the death toll keeps rising, a destructive storm that swept through the Southeast and killed more than 350 people is so far the second deadliest tornado outbreak in U.S. history.
Authorities and FEMA administrators said the fatality numbers from the devastating severe storms across the South have climbed to 354.
“Large tornado outbreaks like these are very rare,” said Russell Schneider, director of the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center. “But during the days of the storms they seemed all too common, and these were very strong, violent tornadoes.”
The largest death toll was on March 18, 1925, with 747 people being killed by storms that ripped through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.

[Internet image of 3 of the many tornados that ripped across the South on Wed. 27 April 2011. Left>
right images: Tuscaloosa, AL; north Texas; Ringgold GA.]

Thousands have been injured, and untold more have been left homeless, hauling their belongings in garbage bags or rooting through disgorged piles of wood and siding to find anything salvageable.

While Alabama was hit the hardest, the storm spared few states across the South. Thirty-four people were reported dead in Tennessee, 33 in Mississippi, 15 in Georgia, 7 in Virginia and one in Kentucky. With search and rescue crews still climbing through debris and making their way down tree-strewn country roads, the toll is expected to rise.

“History tells me estimating deaths is a bad business,” said W. Craig Fugate, the Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator, in a conference call with reporters. Cries could be heard into the night here on Wednesday, but on Thursday hope was dwindling. Mayor Walt Maddox said that the search and rescue operation would go for 24 to 48 more hours, before the response pivoted its focus to recovery. “They’re looking for five kids in this rubble here,” said Lathesia Jackson-Gibson, 33, a nurse, pointing to the incoherent heap of planks and household appliances sitting next to the muddled guts of her own house. “They’re mostly small kids.”

[Top image: April 27^th tornado tracks shown on US map.
Bottom image: Aerial view of one tornado’s track on the ground.]

President Obama announced that he was coming to Alabama on Friday afternoon, saying in a statement that the federal government had pledged its assistance. Gov. Robert Bentley toured the state by helicopter along with federal officials, tracking a vast scar that stretched from Birmingham to his hometown, Tuscaloosa. He declared Alabama “a major, major disaster.” “As we flew down from Birmingham, the track is all the way down, and then when you get in Tuscaloosa here it’s devastating,” Mr. Bentley said at an afternoon news conference, with an obliterated commercial strip as a backdrop.

An enormous response operation was under way across the South, with emergency officials working alongside churches, sororities and other volunteer groups. In Alabama, more than 2,000 National Guard troops have been deployed.

Across nine states, more than 1,680 people spent Wednesday in Red Cross shelters, said Attie Poirier, a spokeswoman with the organization. The last time the Red Cross had set up such an elaborate system of shelters was after Hurricane Katrina, a comparison made by even some of those who had known the experience firsthand. “It reminds me of home so much,” said Eric Hamilton, 40, a former Louisianan, who was sitting on the sidewalk outside the Belk Activity Center, which was being used as a Red Cross shelter in south Tuscaloosa.

Mr. Hamilton lived in a poor area of Tuscaloosa called Alberta City, which residents now describe merely as “gone.” He wiped tears off his cheeks. “I’ve never seen so many bodies,” Mr. Hamilton said. “Babies, women. So many bodies.”

Officials at the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center said they had received 137 tornado reports on Wednesday, with 104 of them coming from Alabama and Mississippi. Over all, there have been 297 confirmed tornadoes this month, breaking a 36-year-old record.

Southerners, who have had to learn the drill all too well this month, watched with dread on Wednesday night as the shape-shifting storm system crept eastward across the weather map. Upon hearing the rumble of a tornado, or even the hysterical barking of a family dog, people crammed into closets, bathtubs and restaurant coolers, clutching their children and family photos.

Many of the lucky survivors found a completely different world when they opened their closet doors.
“We heard crashing,” said Steve Sikes, 48, who lives in a middle-class Tuscaloosa neighborhood called the Downs. “Then dirt and pine needles came under the door. We smelled pine. “When you smell pine,” he said, gesturing, by way of a conclusion, toward a wooden wreck behind him, so mangled that it was hard to tell where tree ended and house began.
Some opened the closet to the open sky, where their roof had been, some yelled until other family members pulled the shelves and walls off them. Others never got out.
Pasted from <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/29/us/29storm.html>

Internet images from various states struck by the April 27^th tornados.
<http://media.mlive.com/us-world-news/photo/9523847-large.jpg>
<http://media.al.com/birmingham-news/photo/9524110-essay.jpg
<http://media.naplesnews.com/media/img/photos/2011/04/28/APTOPIX_Severe_Weather_t607.jpg>
<http://uk.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20110417&t=2&i=390198205&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2011-04-17T170803Z_01_BTRE73G1BLH00_RTROPTP_0_USA-WEATHER-DEATHS>

Looters, con men plague tornado-torn US South
May 4, 2011 at 2:04 PM, Associated Press APISON, Tennessee
(AP) — The crooks walked up to Kenneth Carter’s tornado-damaged property with the purposeful air of relief workers in need of an all-terrain vehicle like the one he had parked out back. “They said, ‘Excuse us, we’ve got to get this four-wheeler out of here,'” said the 74-year-old Apison resident. “I said, ‘I don’t think so — that four-wheeler belongs to me!”

Carter avoided becoming a victim, but authorities say the South has been plagued by a variety of swindles since the twister outbreak last week that ripped apart houses and killed 329 people in seven states. Looters have carried off televisions, power tools and prescription pills. Elsewhere, there are unscrupulous businesses are charging double for a tank of gas or jacking up the cost of a hotel room.

Authorities also warn of construction workers who leave with the cash before opening their tool kit and the danger that identities could be stolen off wind-blown documents.

Though the region has seen similar scams after hurricanes and the Gulf oil spill, the speed of flimflam men this time around has surprised authorities and survivors. “We have received a surprising amount of calls,” said Noel Barnes, consumer protection chief for the Alabama attorney general’s office. “We’re not going to allow people to further victimize our citizens.”

Some residents are packing firearms to scare off the lowlifes. In Alabama, Mike Capps was guarding his parents’ house over the weekend with an M-1 carbine rifle. Capps, 41, said he returned to the site the day after Wednesday’s tornadoes, leaving his parents in the hospital. Walking up Dogwood Lane, he saw a man carrying a rolled-up power cord that looked familiar. Then he noticed the cord had his own name on it. “I said, ‘If your conscience will let you live with what you just did, then you’ve earned that cord.’ And he kept on walking,” Capps said.

Later Capps noticed a group — six adults with children — on the far side of the lot, going through a plastic bag of his mother’s prescription bottles. They were shaking them to see which held pills.

“What are you doing in my house? It’s time to go,” Capps says he told them, and the group complied.

In nearby Birmingham, looters took a woman’s flat screen TV off her wall, while to the west thieves swiped a $150 saw from the remains of Claude Patterson’s welding shop, his livelihood. Elsewhere, stolen items have included the equipment utility companies are using to try to restore power.

Police in several of the states have charged people with looting, though officials said they aren’t keeping statewide numbers on those arrests. Tuscaloosa’s mayor on Wednesday ordered five more days of an 8 p.m. curfew to curb crime in the most heavily damaged areas, to be enforced by police and National Guard troops. The city that was hit the hardest by the outbreak is also going to start credentialing volunteers to prove they are legitimate.

Marauding thieves aren’t residents’ only concern. The attorney general’s office in Alabama has received nearly 1,800 phone calls complaining about price gouging, Barnes said. The complaints include $2 bags of ice being sold for $5, $400 generators being sold for $1,600 on the side of the road, hotels jacking up
their prices and unfair gasoline prices. Just across the border in Tennessee, authorities were investigating a complaint that a service station was charging $40 for $20 worth of gasoline.

Both states have laws against price-gouging. In Alabama, businesses are prohibited after disasters from increasing the price of items for sale or rent by 25 percent or more above the average price charged in the same area within the last 30 days.

Dozens of Tennessee gasoline stations were charged with price gouging following Hurricanes Ike and Gustav in 2008. Settlements totaled more than $175,000.

This week, Tennessee investigators were urging victims to upload digital pictures of questionable prices to photo-sharing sites, then submit the links through a complaint form on the state’s Department of Commerce and Insurance website, spokesman Christopher Garrett said

Officials said they were also receiving reports of another disaster-zone scam: construction crews that offer to repair homes, then disappear with the money after doing shoddy work or none at all. And they warned that criminals might collect confidential information scattered in the debris to use in identity
theft.

Among the cruelest scams has been criminals impersonating relief workers to steal from tornado survivors. Authorities in Alabama’s northern Lawrence County have charged three men and a woman with that crime. Rusty Snyder, 34, said he was stunned by how quickly the thieves moved in after Wednesday’s storms.
“It happened at 8:45 at night, and by 10 there were looters,” he said.
Pasted from <http://www.ktvb.com/news/national/121271019.html>

1 Comment

Filed under Survival Manual, __1. Disaster

Tagged as disaster, insurance, investing, precious metals, shelter, storm

Tag Archives: precious metals

“I’ll be alright” vs. “Being prepared”

Cash is King, at least at first

Underlying questions about prepping

Home invasion, Part 2 of 2

Home invasion, Part 1 of 2

An EMP attack, Pearl Harbor II?

25 Difficult questions the mainstream media can’t, or won’t address.

Tornado Survival

Mr. Larry

Blog Stats

Categories

Text word search

Email subscription

25 Recent Enteries

Top 12 Posts & Pages

Tag Cloud (select)

SHTF Plan news

Market News

Threat board sites

Tier 2 observers

Monthly Archives

Tag Archives: precious metals

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Mr. Larry

Blog Stats

Categories

Text word search

Email subscription

25 Recent Enteries

Top 12 Posts & Pages

Tag Cloud (select)

Market News

Threat board sites

Tier 2 observers

Monthly Archives