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We are trying to come up with some great ideas for t-shirts you guys might like so we decided just to ask you… and have some fun too.
Watch the Facebook post to see the new designs. If you see one you like, “like” it on Facebook.
The person’s design that WINS the most likes (that we can use) will win a $500 Cabelas gift card.
To win you should get creative, send pictures, word art or even video modeling your favorite ideas or old tees.
Here are some early entries:
If nothing else can be said about President Obama, he has adamantly stuck to one key promise – the one he made to the Brady Center to pursue gun control ‘under the radar.‘
The AR-15 is America’s most popular sporting rifle, and it has been falsely mischaracterized as an “automatic” firearm and an “assault” weapon. It has been demonized as a monstrosity via the Sandy Hook shootings. Bans on it and other so-called “assault weapons” have been attempted from every possible angle.
And now that those measures have failed to accomplish total gun control, the Obama Administration, hungry to undermine the 2nd Amendment and restrict gun ownership, is using backdoor regulations through the BATFE to ban the sale, import and manufacture of the most affordable ammunition for the AR-15. Melissa Melton writes:
“The Obama administration was unable to ban America’s most popular sporting rifle through the legislative process, so now it’s trying to ban commonly owned and used ammunition through regulation.â€
Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, has hit the nail on the head.
Following the Sandy Hook shooting, the Obama administration tried to ban several kinds of firearms, including the AR-15.
Now it seems that he may have actually found a way to do it, albeit slowly. He isn’t going to outright ban the gun itself; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) is just going to ban the most commonly sold bullets for the gun instead.
This is being sold on the dubious pretext that it is “armor piercing” and a threat to law enforcement, while the AR-15 its common 5.56 mm ammo (.223 is also used) are not even remotely the most deadly weapons in the hands of citizen gun owners. Yet the bans and restrictions are centered around the perception that is a ‘military weapon best used in war, not on the streets of America…’
Even the New York Times conceded this is the wrong focus for gun control advocates:
It turns out that big, scary military rifles don’t kill the vast majority of the 11,000 Americans murdered with guns each year. Little handguns do.
In 2012, only 322 people were murdered with any kind of rifle, F.B.I. data shows.
The continuing focus on assault weapons stems from the media’s obsessive focus on mass shootings, which disproportionately involve weapons like the AR-15, a civilian version of the military M16 rifle. This, in turn, obscures some grim truths about who is really dying from gunshots.
Annually, 5,000 to 6,000 black men are murdered with guns. Black men amount to only 6 percent of the population. Yet of the 30 Americans on average shot to death each day, half are black males.
Moreover, justifying 5.56 mm ammo for a ban has proven to be a ridiculous game of semantics, with the technical rationale a paper-thin see-through farce. Forbes writes:
Now, to be as nitpicky as the law, the M855 ball ammunition the ATF wants to ban as “armor piercing†doesn’t have a core made of the metals listed in what legally makes a bullet “armor piercing.†The M855 actually has a lead core with a steel tip. Also, the M855 is traditionally a rifle cartridge and the ban only covers handgun ammunition. The DOJ argues this doesn’t stop them because the law stipulates they can ban a bullet that “may be used in a handgun.†And, after all, any cartridge may be used in a handgun.
The ban isn’t absolute, but it puts serious pressure on gun owners and definitely infringes on the right to keep and bear arms. Melton writes:
So you can still legally own it if you already have it… but no one can import it, sell it, or even produce it.
That’s of course if you can find and it and buy it before the ban takes effect. Prices have already been soaring on this ammo, and ammo in general, given the unrelenting assault on the 2nd Amendment by Obama and his allies, including former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who ironically was caught on tape admitted that his gun ban really targets racial minorities in inner cities. That focus, of course, won’t spare the rest of America’s millions of law abiding gun owners.
It is clear that Obama’s “lame duck” years aren’t toothless soft power, but an opportunity for stealth attacks. Defied by Congress and much of the public, Obama has been emboldened in his actions knowing that there is little that can or will hold him accountable.
We have a man occupying the White House that seems absolutely determined to stretch the limits of presidential power as far as they can possibly go.
And at this point he has become so arrogant that he doesn’t even care if Congress believes that what he is doing is legal. Just consider what he said during one recent speech…
“So in the short term, if Mr. McConnell, the leader of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House, John Boehner, want to have a vote on whether what I’m doing is legal or not, they can have that vote. I will veto that vote, because I’m absolutely confident that what we’re doing is the right thing to do.†(source)
A president that is willing to use executive actions, executive orders and his trusty ‘pen and phone’ to make unilateral legislation is even more dangerous in making quiet actions little covered by the media and mostly noticed only by niche groups of citizens.
Author Michael Snyder dubbed it a ‘War on Preppers,’ targeting the 1% who have the foresight to stock up on ammo and supplies in order to remain prepared for all contingencies, including being appropriately armed for self-defense:
Previously, the Obama administration attempted unsuccessfully to ban the AR-15. That didn’t work, so now Obama is going after the ammunition. This is yet another example of the war on preppers that is going on all over the nation. Whether you are a gun owner or not, this assault on our constitutional rights should disturb you greatly.
Melissa Melton notes:
Banning the right to keep and bear arms has been on the federal agenda for years now. It would appear that since the government knows it can’t just outright ban the Second Amendment, they’ll just inch it up incrementally and undermine it into oblivion.
The lesson here remains eternal vigilance, and a reminder never to turn your back on a “lame duck” president in the age of executive actions and rule by agency.
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Hello Folks! Sorry for the lack of uploads lately! In this video I give you a general idea of my Cabin and what I plan for it in the future. Make sure to giv…
Best viewed in 720p. Like what you see? hit ‘like’ and hey, why not subscribe? In this episode, Jesse shows off the knife about which he’s most sentimental a…
Today’s non-fiction writing contest entry was written by Dallas S
My wife Jennifer and I have been preppers since 1998, 2 years before the famous Y2K scare! We saved up lots of food, water and various goods and tools back then, in case the bottom dropped out. We also learned something beneficial. Storing food is ALWAYS an investment and helps you financially down the road.
We were really praying that the world would be thrown 100 years back to a more peaceful time. We both think we were born to late in time! Well, we all know that Y2K never materialized, so after the Y2K scare was forgotten, we started using our stored foods.
(M.D. Adds: Y2K was a real threat at the time, but we had prior warning and enough time and an inclination to fix the problem before it caused any damage.)
My wife didn’t buy sugar for 4 years. We bought 5-lb bag for of sugar for storage for only 79 cents each. When she had to finally go buy sugar, it was about $2 a bag and really sticker-shocked her! The same was true for all our storage foods, but look at all the savings we had added up for all that time! So even if there isn’t a future threat, people should invest in foods that they will be good to eat later on.
Something else we learned was to recycle some things, well one thing! We sure are not tree-huggers or “save the planet†types. But plastic pop bottles came in very handy for us. The advantages of pop bottles was that they can easily store everything you can think of. You can see through them to see what it is, in case you forget to label them, and they are air tight.
We save every size bottle that pop (or soda water for your Texans!) came in. When finished with your drink, rinse the bottle out and the cap, and let them dry well. If possible we put them outside in the sun even. Here is just a small sampling of what we do with them:
The 8 oz bottles were great for black pepper and storing all other spices. They are small enough to fit in drawers and can stack many spice varieties in one small area. If you have a dehydrator, this is a great way to store celery, onions, carrots, sage, thyme, anything you can get the moisture out of. If you want to be extra protective, you can add an oxygen absorber to your dehydrated foods.
The 16-20 oz pop bottles are good for tea, coffee, lentils, baking powder and soda, etc. We also thought if SHTF, this would be a good size to barter with for other items. BTW you can dehydrate a big industrial #10 can of corn, beans or anything else and once dried it will all fit easily in a 20-oz. bottle.
The 1-liter pop bottles are great for salt. It will hold between 2-3 of the 1-lb boxes of salt, depending on how much you pack it down. It’s a good size for rice, elbow mac and other pastas also. (Just a side note here, but when we started this, all the 1 & 2-liters bottles had a large mouth on them. That made it much easier to fill and empty all our products. I keep writing bottling companies to request they bring this feature back, but so far no luck.
Maybe you can join in and help me on this endeavor.) You can also store single serving of water in these. Just add a drop of bleach to each bottle. You can link to http://www.csgnetwork.com/h2oemergencypurifycalc.html for a calculator so you’ll know how many drops of bleach to add for the amount of water you want to purify and store. This works even for 55-gallon food-grade drums. The 1-liter bottles are also good for cookie mix, dry milk, instant potatoes, etc. Use your imagination. If it comes in a box or a bag, you can use a funnel and store it forever in a pop bottle!
The 2-liter pop bottles are great for sugar, corn meal, rice, and flour, if you must use this size. But we found that the 3-liter is best for holding a 5-pouind bag of flour easier. That is all we use 3-liter bottles for. Another trick, a just-in-case measure, is to add one Bay Leaf at the top of each flour bottle. Weevils can’t stand it in the flour container in the house, so we figured we’d do it in the bottles also. The 3-liter also have the wide mouth and makes it easier to fill and empty flour. You can use 2-liter but it takes longer to fill since the opening is small.
We use our pop bottles for everything, and you can use them over and over. If you use a Sharpie or marker to label your bottles, you can use a scratcher pad to remove old writing, or use hairspray or WD-40 to rub the dates and labels off. This idea has no limits and you can use any plastic bottles for just about everything! I store my tow chains in a milk jug after cutting a small hole opposite the handle. I wouldn’t recommend using milk jugs for food storage though.
The plastic may absorb and transfer the smell and taste of the milk, plus it can’t be sealed tightly as with a screw cap. Along these lines, I would also say do not use the bottles that single-serving water comes in. The plastic is far to thin to do any good and the bottles crush or get punctured very easily. The 1-liter Aquafina bottles are the same grade as pop bottles.
There you have it – our small notch in saving the world environment! We’re always learning new tricks every time we do this, so explore and do your part. In all these years that we have been using pop bottles, we have never had any problems with mice chewing on the bottles.
It is impossible for weevils to get into the tightened cap flour bottles, or any other bug, moisture, air or germ infestations. At least since 1998 we have had no problems. I can’t recall using anything we’ve bottled that tasted old or rancid. So save those bottles from the landfill and invest in your future. You know that food will never go down in price, only up!
Originally at: TheSurvivalistBlog.net
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YouTube: The AMFAW channel
Our friends at PrepperZine.com have allowed us to participate in a newly released article listing overlooked items by preppers. We are happy to share this article with you here at American Preppers Network because Knowledge Is Power and sharing it strengthens all of our connections.
Many websites and channels glamorize the prepping and survival community. In fact, if a friend or family member hears you mention “being prepared”, they respond with…”Oh you’re one of those ‘Doomsday Preppers‘ I’ve seen on TV.”
Like it or loath it, that show has encouraged many people to get into preparedness. The trouble is, most of them think that being prepared is all about guns, bug out bags and bunkers.
So today the PrepperZine team has invited 8 top Survival and Preparedness experts to share The Number ONE Thing Most Overlooked By Preppers.
Lets take a look at what our experts have to say.
The post 8 Most Overlooked By Preppers According To PrepperZine appeared first on American Preppers Network.
Poteat’s Contribution to Polanyi’s Thinking: A Radically Dynamic Anthropology.
Peg talks a bit about taking care of parts of the outside of the home before cold weather hits. Painting, sealing and staining are examples of this.
Missouri wind Raptor blades are shit WHITE PLASTIC SCAM are shit WHITE PLASTIC SCAM Missouri wind raptor blades break easy after one year in the sun. Missour…
My Tiny Home journey thus far. Please consider supporting me on my GoFundMe page at: http://www.gofundme.com/5ndv8s Thank you and may your life be rich with …
This is a documentary on Joel Nunn and his photography business.
Foraging for food is one of the most vital survival skills anyone can learn. No matter where you are, whether you bug out intentionally or get stranded in the wilderness, you’ll need to eat at some point. Your bug out bag can only get you so far. You’ll eventually have to put your survival skills to the test and find your own food, or else risk starvation.
It is important to already have in mind which plants, bugs, and animals can be foraged and eaten throughout the year.  You also need to know where to find fresh water during the dry summer months and the cold winter months.
Knowing how to forage for both food and water throughout the year as well as during various catastrophic events are very important survival skills to maintain. What used to be common knowledge has now become virtually unknown to the majority of the world’s population as centralized agriculture, economics, and governmental institutions become the norm. However, to guarantee survival in any situation, specific mushrooms, plants, and even bugs and small animals can be eaten in order to maintain proper protein biosynthesis and amino acid synthesis.  Certain natural tools and elements can also be constructed together in order to purify drinking water in case a natural supply of fresh water is not around. Keep in mind however that foraging for some plants and animals may differ depending upon the season in which outdoor primitive survival skills are being practiced.
Wild Mushrooms and Edible Plants
In early spring and summer wild mushrooms can be picked, gathered, and eaten to compliment other foods that are being gathered and stored. Even in the early fall months most mushrooms can be eaten. However, foraging for mushrooms in the winter can be difficult, as most that are growing at that time of the year may not be edible. Some common mushrooms that can be eaten with certainty are known as morels, chanterelles, puffballs, and polypores.
Morels
ChanterellesÂ
Puffballs
Apart from providing sustenance, puffball mushrooms are also known for their medicinal properties. Via herbsforhealthandwellbeing
Polypores
For the most part edible plants are available year round. However, in the spring and summer, fruits and vegetables are plentiful. These plants produce the most beneficial nutrients the body needs at this time. Some edible plants that are disguised as weeds can be eaten throughout the winter months and include Japanese Knotweed, Dandelions, Bull Thistle, and Burdock.
Japanese knotweed
Dandelions
You have great survival skills if you know that dandelions are actually nutritious weeds. Via wildfoodgirl.com
Burdock
Identifying edible weeds is one of the survival skills you need to learn. Via worldofmedicinalherbs.com
Bugs and Small/Wild Game
Like plants, bugs are plentiful in both the spring and summertime.  Surprisingly, most bugs provide the human body with essential nutrients such as protein for sustenance. The only catch is that bugs must be consumed in large quantities in order to create an adequate meal.  Fortunately though bugs are usually easy to find and can be easily gathered in large numbers for a quick meal while foraging for other food.
Earthworms
Some bugs that are high in sustenance that can be easily found are earthworms, ants, beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, and termites. Most of these bugs can be found year round including the harsh winter months. Turning logs and rocks over as well as digging beneath the earth will be necessary in order to find these types of bugs while snow is on the ground or while other forms of harsh weather are occurring. If hunting tools are not available, traps can be set for small wild game. Traps however are much more difficult to construct and will take quite a bit of time to assemble.
Wild game
Fresh and Purified Water
When foraging for water it is important to be mindful of any nearby streams, rivers, or even land locked lakes. These three natural formations are usually the first sources of fresh water. Also, in the late spring through late summer, glaciers tend to melt near mountain tops due to increasing temperatures which in turn provide an abundance of fresh water.  If there is no fresh water supply nearby, collect rain water with containers that can be easily carried. If emergency water is needed, as a last resort, you can drink precipitation build-up on leaves and various shrubbery in a limited quality.
One of the survival skills that need to be mastered is knowing if water is safe to drink. Via mayin.org
If there is no supply of fresh water around, stagnant or even salty water will need to be filtered.  This can be done organically using natural elements such as sand, gravel, charcoal, and even moss. The first method is to filter water through moss. The water may still be foggy and have a soil-like taste afterwards but should be clean enough to consume for the most part. The second method is to pile gravel into the bottom of a container filling it 1/3 of the way. Be sure to have holes punctured through the bottom of the container for water-flow. Next, fill charcoal 1/3 of the way in the container on top of the gravel. If charcoal cannot be found, use gravel inside the container as a replacement. Finally, pile sand on top of the charcoal or gravel, topping off the last of the space within the container. Pour the water over the sand allowing it to soak downward through the charcoal and/or gravel. Have another container ready to collect the filtered water that falls through the drain holes at the bottom. These steps may need to be repeated multiple times before the water may begin to be filtered enough to consume.
(Researchers say major cities will be overrun during a major crisis like a virus outbreak)
Should the world as we know it ever fall apart as a result of an economic collapse, a massive natural disaster, cyber attack or widespread pandemic there will be millions of people looking for food, clean water and other essential resources.
The cities will be plagued with violence and supply shortages. Government officials will, as Homeland Security has previously admitted, not be able to provide any meaningful support. The masses will be left to fend for themselves.
But just because the whole system around us falls apart doesn’t mean there won’t be any safe havens.
According to researchers at Cornell University who recently published a study analyzing the spread of a deadly virus and how it would affect the population, if you want to improve your chances of survival you should head for the hills.
But the researchers warn that even this may not be enough, noting that we are likely “doomed” either way.
Researchers from Cornell University have now discovered that the correct thing to do should the dead start to walk the earth is to literally head for the hills.
…
They found that cities would fall quickly, but it would take weeks for zombies to penetrate into less densely populated areas, and months to reach northern parts of the mountain-time zone.
Their advice is to head for the Rockies.
The research involved results from simulations the researchers wrote themselves, similar to modelling chemical reactions.
…
The Cornell team are less optimistic about our prospects.
The abstract for their research ends with the line: ‘We build up to a full scale simulation of an outbreak in the United States, and discover that for “realistic” parameters, we are largely doomed.’
…
After a zombie outbreak, you might want to run for the Rocky Mountains, at least according to researchers at Cornell University.
The research team used statistical mechanics to figure out that this is the safest place to live during a zombie apocalypse.
However, the research wasn’t completely fictional. The models they used could also be applied to real-world disease outbreaks.
The study specifically models a viral outbreak, in this case, a zombie viral outbreak. But realistically speaking the statistical mechanics analysis suggest what many in the preparedness community already know: cities will be death zones and your best chance at survival will be sparsely populated areas.
James Rawles, founder of Survival Blog, has discussed the concept of the Golden Horde extensively in his writings. The Horde is best described as the masses of people who will be migrating from mega cities in search of food and other resources in the aftermath of a major collapse that results in supply breakdowns. And though a zombie virus may be fictional, the golden horde and a zombie horde would behave in much the same way, razing everything in their path.
As hordes spread out from major cities there will be a widespread die-off for a variety of reasons, namely the lack of sustenance. And, given that there will likely be no functioning gas pumps because of a lack of electricity there is a strong possibility that most people will never make it out of about a 300 mile radius of a major city simply because they will only be able to go as far as a single tank of gas will take them.
This means that those living in rural areas, especially mountainous rural areas, will have the best chance at surviving a zombie or any apocalypse. We recently published a map of the areas you want to avoid during an emergency. The map is based on population density, something that survival expert Joel Skousen says is the single biggest threat you’ll face in a collapse scenario:
The number one threat that I concentrate on. It’s not terrorism, it’s not natural disaster, it’s not even government or war.
The major threat is population density.
Because every crisis that threatens, even a local crisis, can turn exponential because of close proximity to people who cannot help themselves. Even good people panic in a crisis…
But the gut wrenching reality is that if something goes down and you find yourself in the middle of a major city and you have failed to plan ahead you’re going to have a serious problem.
Todd Savage of Strategic Relocation explains:
If we took a survey, probably more than 95% are not fully prepared. This is not good. Is it the end of the world if your family doesn’t own a retreat? Of course not, the reality is that most Preppers can’t afford a separate fully operational retreat, and that’s ok.
However, not having a pre-arranged destination of some kind, with pre-positioned supplies is absolutely not acceptable. This could be located at a fiends or relatives home in the country, or a group purchase of a retreat, even a small parcel with a stream and cached supplies is better than nothing.
Excerpt via: The Gut Wrenching Reality: One of the Best Bug-Out Strategy Guides You’ll Ever Read
Once a breakdown starts it will be unstoppable and it will completely overwhelm a city within just a few days, according to The Prepper’s Blueprint author Tess Pennington.
That means your best chance at surviving will be for you to have a preparedness plan in place before it happens.
The idea of a zombie apocalypse is far-fetched and in the minds of many marginalizes the real threats posed to our civilization. Any number of events could lead to an apocalypse-level crisis that leaves millions dead. Even our government has warned about the possibility of long-term disasters. And the fact is that FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security have spent billions of dollars on the aforementioned supplies in anticipation of such an event.
But all of those supplies they are stockpiling will likely never find their way to the general public, as they are reserved for government officials and their families who will be transported to secure underground facilities in the mountains.
You on the other hand, will be left on your own. That means whatever preparedness plan you make today will be all that’s available to you  should the zombies start roaming the land.
Related Reading:
When Real Disaster Strikes: These Are The People Who Will Loot, Pillage and Kill You For Your Food
Strategic Relocation Briefings By Joel Skousen and Todd Savage
Map: Where You Don’t Want To Be When It Hits The Fan
How horrific will it be for those who fail to prepare?
The national weather service has predicted this year to be comparatively colder than the previous years. This drastic drop-down of temperature will naturally result in extreme weather conditions like, snow storms and blizzards. There is however prior warning given by weather advisers, people are being informed through television, radios and the internet is usually full with the news of weather forecast; in case of any extreme weather conditions.
The national weather service declares snow storms as deceptive killers, for being a direct or indirect reason of many deaths. Every year many deaths occur due to these storms, either being directly affected by them or in some other way like affecting health. The dangerously low temperatures, very low pressure and cold winds unfavorably affect every living specie and particularly human health.
Common Health Issues Caused by Blizzards:
If you are experiencing winds blowing at a very strong speed almost over a speed of 35 miles per hour or more then this is exactly what we’re warning you from. Every year, several deaths are reported caused by accidents during a blizzard.
Zero Sight:
Blizzards usually cause zero visibility due to complete whiteout conditions. With below freezing point temperatures the human body is more likely to suffer from diseases like hypothermia and frost bite.
Hypothermia:
Hypothermia is a condition where the body suffers from extreme dropdown of temperature, causing breathing issues. When the body is affected by hypothermia, where the body temperature falls down below the normal 35 C; it starts malfunctioning, directly affecting the nervous, respiratory and cardiac system. Some people suffer from complete heart failure if their hypothermia is left untreated.
Frost Bite:
Another general health problem people suffer from during blizzards is a skin condition, known as frostbite. When a body tissue (mostly skin) is frozen to a point of blood vessel contraction eventually leading to reduced oxygen and blood flow to other body parts. Due to prolonged exposure to extreme cold frost bites usually results in numbness and change in color of affected body parts.
Carbon Monoxide Inhalation:
With every winter storm there are high chances of unintentional inhalation of carbon monoxide caused by extremely harmful fumes from snow clogged vehicle exhaust system.
Â
Preventive Measures:
People residing in areas with a Blizzard warning, should take preventive measures to avoid severe health conditions during or after the storm has passed.
These preventive measures are simple and can easily be adopted by people living in areas that might receive heavy snow storms.
Author Bio
Monica is a passionate blogger for Ostanding, a Custom Roller and Roman Shade dealer based in CA. Follow @ShopOstanding  for more updates.
The post Surviving A Blizzard appeared first on American Preppers Network.
Das SOL-1510 ist ein normales UKW / MW Radio, das jedoch ein paar interessante Zusatzfeatures besitzt, die es zu einem perfekten Notfall-Radio machen: Solarp…
Do you have any idea how much of your prepper knowledge is actually recorded in your head and nowhere else? I’m talking about details that you think are common knowledge but aren’t actually common among those in your survival party. If you are the key member of the group—the one who has done the lion’s share of planning and training, it’s likely that others don’t know as much as you think they know or that they will be able to remember as much as you think they will. If you drop off your twig unexpectedly or suffer a mentally-incapacitating illness or accident prior or during a SHTF event, that lack of knowledge among the rest of the group may be their unforeseen Achilles heel.
A recent change in my health, in addition to my advancing age, convinced me that I needed to view my survival preparations from the perspective of not being there to carry out the plan as the primary leader. Would my family be able to put to use all that I had planned for? Of what value are decades of planning and preparations on my part, if I have failed at passing on sufficient knowledge for them to survive without me?
A surprising number of survivalists have military or government employment backgrounds. This topic is nothing new to them. They are already aware of the central role of operating procedures or operating instructions in government organizations. The same is true of those who have worked in civilian organizations such as law enforcement, hospitals, and in industries that handle hazardous materials or carry out functions that, if done improperly, can get someone hurt or killed.
If you’ve been around operating instructions in those settings, they probably left a bad taste. You have memories of the excessive bureaucratic nonsense and overkill that is invariably the product of governments and large organizations. However, you are in charge now. You can compose operating instructions that are meaningful to you and your loved ones or survival group.
This blog post has been written to help you understand why you need operating instructions, what good instructions contain, and how to write and maintain your own set of instructions. A short trip to the office supply store and some head-scratching time can produce a good set of operating instructions. The result is that it will minimize the impact of your loss to the party, should something unforeseen occur, such as you being separated from the group. Reviewing them with your family or group and securing the collection in a common area will give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the ship won’t go down if it loses the captain.
Let’s sell you on the idea by choosing a common topic area of survival preps— emergency water supplies. You’ve done your homework. You read and studied and then purchased what you needed to process and store water for hard times. You now have a solid collection of storage containers filled with potable water, and you have the tools required to treat the water and access it when needed. Job well done! However, if the information in your head is not also stored so that others can access it, your diligent preps may suffer a potentially fatal and certainly inconvenient end result. If all the knowledge that remains in your head remains only in your head, your spouse and children as well as any others who may be depending upon that water are left on their own.
Are we making too much of this? Not at all. Having great storage containers filled with water is of questionable worth, if the group that needs the water does not know where they are stored. Are there items critical to purification or filtration? Where, what, when, and how? Sure, you told some of them or all of them. Or did you? Do they even remember? If you stored water, was it safe to drink to begin with? What date did you fill the containers? Where is that special tool needed to open the containers without damage to the container itself?
These are the sort of details that are just as important as the physical water itself. You spent many hours and many dollars putting your plan into place. It would be a shame to see the plan crippled by something as simple as a bit of paper that could serve as a reference and resource.
As much as I don’t miss the overarching bureaucratic mess of keeping up with all too many “OI’s†when I was in the military, I did learn some valuable things. An old sergeant once chewed me out for being such an idiot as to assume something. He said, “Do you know what ASSUME stands for, Dummy? ASSUME is making an A** out of U and ME.†Don’t assume anyone knows what you know or will remember what you have taught them.
A good operating instruction should be written to enable the reader to carry on the activity area covered in the instruction without you. There are some areas that are more important to cover than other areas. This list is not all-inclusive. Think of it as a minimum. You can add other information, of course, but here are some suggested minimums, drawn from instructions common to military organizations.
Title: In our example, this would be something like “Emergency Water Storage and Purification.â€
Purpose Statement: Yes, you really need to cover this. Don’t assume everyone who needs to know the information is clear about the purpose of the instruction. In our example, it might be something like, “This instruction covers the amount and location of water currently stored at our home, in our vehicles, and at our safe location. It also covers the purification methods, chemicals, and equipment needed to purify water dispensed from the containers and to fill them. The sources we are planning to use to obtain water locally, while traveling, and at the safe location are listed, as are vendors and sources for replacement supplies.â€
Explanation of Terms: You might readily understand what a bung wrench is. Don’t assume your spouse or teenager knows. When you use the term “chlorine powder†you need to explain if it is labeled by another chemical name, such as calcium hypochlorite. To identify the terms you need to explain, walk yourself mentally through the process as though you were explaining it all to a non-prepper. This list of terms and their explanations is where you can also make things absolutely clear. “Blue storage container†might seem obvious, but if you have used different sizes and that info is important, the explanation might be better as, “Water storage container. Blue plastic. Twenty-eight, 5 gallon cubes. In basement at safe spot location.â€
Responsibilities: This is where you can use the operating instruction to serve as a diagram and flow chart as well as assign duties. In our example, this might designate your two older sons as those charged with checking the freshness of stored water and replenishing it at specific intervals of time. In a very real sense, think of it also as a letter of last instructions—using your position as leader to pass the torch to someone else. Who is to take over the primary role in both maintaining the instruction and supervising the knowledge area and task?
Policy: This is where you can discuss in detail the “how, when, and where†of the subject. It’s where you delineate specifics and address multiple locations, or variances in the policy. A good instruction will address all locations, tools, supplies, and procedures used or needed. How is the water to be disinfected? How often? With what? How much of the chemical? Where are the supplies and tools stored? This is the meat of the operating instruction. Imagine yourself instructing someone in how to carry out the task by making a YouTube sort of how-to video. “Policy†would be the transcript of that video.
References and Attachments: This is the place where you can list important information that the reader can go to or needs for further information than what is provided in the policy. In our example, references might include a cross reference to a household inventory list of all supplies. It might include a list of vendors of water supplies or a material safety data sheet concerning the chemicals that are used. Owner’s or technical manuals for equipment, for example, might also be included. You may find it handy to make those references that are not other operating instructions, themselves, attachments to the instruction.
Date of Instruction and Review: This is where you indicate the creation date of the operating instruction. This is more important than usually realized. It tells the reader the currency of the information. Imagine picking up a book that looks like current information and then noticing that it was written fifty years ago and has been updated. You might have doubts. You would have doubts.
You should have an area that will allow you to indicate that you have reviewed it and the date you most recently reviewed it. You should also indicate if you made changes. If you are listing changes, it is likewise critical that you cross out the information changed in the instruction. You want to insure that it is clear what is no longer current or to be followed. You can write in the new information, legibly, rather than edit and reprint the instruction, although the neat-freaks among us might choose to revise a saved electronic copy that was used to print out the hard copy.
Frequency of review depends on how critical the information is or how often it is subject to change or updating. Once per year is usually sufficient. It is not so often to become burdensome or skipped, and not too infrequent so as to miss changes that need to be changed or updated. An exception is when you make changes to preps that need to be updated right away. For example, if you just changed your method of water purification; that is something important enough to justify making the changes right away. It would be hard to purify water with supplies or equipment you no longer possess or intuitively to know how to use new supplies or equipment.
Location(s) of Instructions: The purpose of this area is to handle the situation of multiple copies of the instruction. Perhaps you have a second copy of the operating instruction binder at your safe location or a copy in your bug-out vehicle. Listing them here is critical, so that you don’t overlook a copy when you are changing any information in the instruction. Keep in mind that multiple copies are not always better that one. The more is not the merrier; they all have to be kept current, with none overlooked. The fewer copies, the more likely you will not overlook updating all copies and that the info the reader has at the time of need is current and correct.
Log: This is my own preferred last item in the instruction, not a normal inclusion in military operating instructions. It is simply an area that I can annotate my thoughts and date them. “Reviewed but no time to update yet. I think the information on chlorine use might be out of date, or even incorrect. I need to get this information ASAP.†This is then followed by a date and initials. It lets the reader know that you were in doubt and had plans but had not gotten around to carrying them out. It allows for adding important information short of a formal review. It gives an opportunity to add or modify to some extent without formal review and editing.
Today, we present another entry for Round 57 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:
First Prize:
Second Prize:
Third Prize:
Round 57 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.
There is something abut Friday’s and Giveaways! As I announced at the beginning of the year, Backdoor Survival has recovered from what I like to call “giveaway burnout†and is working diligently to bring you fantastic new giveaway items that will fill your survival and prepping cupboard for free.
This week is a reader favorite, free food. More specifically, two 48 Hour Emergency Meal Kits from Mountain House have been reserved for one lucky Backdoor Survival reader. These kits are brand new to the Mountain House product line with each providing enough food to provide one person with 2,100 calories per day.
Here is what is included in each 48 Hour Meal Kit.
As I mentioned a couple weeks or weeks ago in The Survival Buzz, there are a lot of new things going on at Mountain House, one of which is new packaging. The MH entrée pouches are still blue but the photos have been updated to reflect outdoor locations all around Oregon.
I do have to tell you, though, the meal pouches for the all new Chicken Fried Rice and Italian Pepper Steak look as though they could have been photographed at Quarry Nine here at Roche Harbor where I live.
Setting up “camp” at Quarry Nine
Another aspect of the new packaging design includes showing the protein content and servings size on the front of each meal pouch. Beyond the packaging, the following new entrees have recently been introduced:
Mountain House Italian Style Pepper Steak with Rice and Tomatoes
Made with tender cuts of steak, with red, green and yellow bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes and long grain rice. This new item is gluten-free.Mountain House Chicken Fried Rice
Made with long grain rice and cooked chicken, scrambled eggs, onions, mushrooms, green peas, red peppers and carrots.Mountain House Precooked Scrambled Eggs
Back by popular demand are Mountain House Precooked Scrambled Eggs. With 16 grams of protein per serving this offering is both vegetarian and gluten-free.Mountain House Breakfast Skillet Pro-Pak
Mountain House’s breakfast mix of hash browns, scrambled eggs, pork sausage, peppers and onions is now available in their proprietary Pro-Paks. (Pro-Paks are vacuum sealed so they’ll take up less space and won’t expand at higher altitudes.)Mountain House Precooked Scrambled Eggs with Bacon Pro-Pak
The popular Mountain House breakfast is now available in Pro-Pak.
You know how I like to try out new things, right?
Last night I sampled both the Chicken Fried Rice and the Italian Pepper Steak. All I can say is that they were delicious! What I love about Mountain House is that you can cook your food right in the pouch. Note though, as is my experience with ALL brands of freeze-dried entrees, use about 3/4 of the water called for in the directions.
I won’t keep you in suspense any longer. Here is the part you have been waiting for. To enter the giveaway, you need to utilize the Rafflecopter form below.
The deadline is 6:00 PM Pacific next Tuesday with the winner notified by email and announced on the Rafflecopter in the article. Please note that the winner must claim their prize within 48 hours or an alternate will be selected.  Winners are usually, but not always, selected on Fridays.
I would like to thank Mountain House and their parent company Oregon Freeze Dry for their ongoing support of Backdoor Survival. Over the years, I have come to enjoy their products time and again when it was 10PM and I still had not eaten dinner. I am never disappointed with their entrees, whether in pouches or #10 tins.
Please enter the Mountain House Emergency Food Kit Giveaway and win some “Free Food Fridayâ€Â products of your own.
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye
If you enjoyed this article, consider voting for Backdoor Survival daily at Top Prepper Websites! In addition, SUBSCRIBE to email updates and receive a free, downloadable copy of my e-book The Emergency Food Buyer’s Guide.
Bargain Bin: Cooking outdoors does not have to be a challenge. Start with the Solo Stove and add some low cost items that will make cooking and bugging out less of a daunting. But first, check out these links to a dehydrator and solar oven.
Mountain House Italian Style Pepper Steak Pouch: Â The new Italian Pepper Steak as well as a plethora of other Mountain House products are available at Amazon.com.
Nesco 600-Watt Food Dehydrator:Â This modestly priced dehydrator (less than $60) has over 1000 reviews and comes up as the most highly rated dehydrator on Amazon.Â
All American Sun Oven: A sun oven is another option for dehydrating food although I have not done so myself.
Solo Stove: I was so impressed that I renamed this the “Amazing Little Solo Stoveâ€. The price is $69.99 but for a small amount more, you can get a version that also burns alcohol.  (You will see the Solo Stove in my “setting up camp” photo above.)
Swedish Firesteel: Using this basic pocket fire-starter, you can get a nice fire going under almost any conditions.
Light My Fire Tinder Sticks: Some people prefer to purchase tinder and this is a good choice. I like to use cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly that I make up myself, a couple dozen at a time. They store well in a small Ziploc baggie or re-purposed mint tin.
Lightweight Anodized Aluminum Outdoor Mess Kit:Â This is a well-priced, under $20, mess kit that is lightweight and with decent reviews.Â
Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets: You will be surprised at how warm these will keep you. Be sure to test one out in advance so that you have the confidence to trust the blanket in an emergency. You will be amazed at how small and portable these are; a packet will easily fit in a back pocket.
Emergency Shelter Tent: The Emergency Tent is a lightweight and compact emergency shelter. It is wind and waterproof and easy to set up and is roomy enough for two people. Less than $10.
Kershaw OSO Sweet Knife: This “oh so sweet†knife is solidly built, stainless steel knife that comes razor sharp right out of the package. It will pretty much cut through anything the price is amazing.
Rothco Type III Commercial Paracord: You can get 100 feet of Paracord for about $8. This is a real bargain but be aware that price can vary substantially depending on the color.
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Free Food Friday: Mountain House Emergency Food Kit by Gaye Levy first appeared on Backdoor Survival.
