Hurricane Prep List

Hurricane's are becoming more frequent and growing in power every year.  While doing research to create my own Hurricane Prep List I found that there is a wealth of information out there.  In my research I found it amazing how often the government warns us to be prepared for disasters.  From the Red Cross to FEMA'S websites there is a ton of information on how to prepare for when disaster strikes.All of their websites are very clear that you need to have supplies to fend for yourself until the government can get to you.  Make no mistake about it you are on your own to protect your family and to stay alive until order is restored.  The question you need to ask yourself is, how long will it take for order to be restored?  Your answer to this question will help to determine the amount of supplies you will need.  I personally think you should have a month's supply at minimum for disaster preps.  To help you get started preparing your family here is a prep list from the Red Cross:

Hurricane Prep List: What Supplies Do I Need:

• Water—at least a 3-day supply; one gallon per person per day

• Food—at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food

• Flashlight

• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)

• Extra batteries

• First aid kit

• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane)

• Multi-purpose tool

• Sanitation and personal hygiene items

• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies) Try storing these items in the cloud in Dropbox or on a Survivor Thumb Drive in your bug out bag.

• Cell phone with chargers

• Family and emergency contact information

• Extra cash

• Emergency blanket

• Map(s) of the area

• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers) Don't forget family may come to you so you may need a few supplies for your niece or your grand kids.

• Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)

• Tools/supplies for securing your home

• Extra set of car keys and house keys

• Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes

• Rain gear

• Insect repellent and sunscreen

• Camera for photos of damage

How to Prepare For The Hurricane:

• Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS).

• Check your disaster supplies and replace or restock as needed.

• Bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind (bicycles, lawn furniture).

• Close windows, doors and hurricane shutters. If you do not have hurricane shutters, close and board up all windows and doors with plywood.

• Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting and keep them closed as much as possible so that food will last longer if the power goes out.

• Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances.

• Fill your car’s gas tank.

• Talk with members of your household and create an evacuation plan. Planning and practicing your evacuation plan minimizes confusion and fear during the event.

• Learn about your community’s hurricane response plan. Plan routes to local shelters, register family members with special medical needs as required and make plans for your pets to be cared for.

• Evacuate if advised by authorities. Be careful to avoid flooded roads and washed out bridges.

• Because standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding, it’s important to have protection from the floods associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains and other conditions that impact the U.S. For more information on flood insurance, please visit the National Flood Insurance Program Web site at www.FloodSmart.gov.

What Do I Do After The Hurricane:

• Continue listening to a NOAA Weather Radio or the local news for the latest updates.

• Stay alert for extended rainfall and subsequent flooding even after the hurricane or tropical storm has ended.

• If you evacuated, return home only when officials say it is safe.

• Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges.

• Keep away from loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company.

• Stay out of any building that has water around it.

• Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures of damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance purposes.

• Use flashlights in the dark. Do NOT use candles.

• Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are sure it’s not contaminated.

• Check refrigerated food for spoilage. If in doubt, throw it out.

• Wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up to avoid injury.

• Watch animals closely and keep them under your direct control.

• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

Nuclear Prep List

Nuclear Prep List

General Emergency Supplies:

Every prep list has multiple layers, all of which can be highly personalized. For my Nuclear Prep List this section covers the top 45 essentials for your supplies. After covering these items I will breakdown a few other areas for you to consider in your prepping for a nuclear disaster. I will cover suggestions for basic tools, medical preps, and even give you a few planning tips!

1. 30 day supply of food

   1. 30 day supply of water

   2. Off Grid Heat Source or a small Heat source

   3. Hazmat Suit

   4. Extra pair of clothes

   5. Lights- Think grid down black outs

   6. Sanitation kit

   7. Radiation detector

   8. Recreational material- Cards, board games, etc.

   9. Decontamination Supplies–soap, water and moist towelettes will do in a pinch. There are also products made especially for radioactive decontamination, but they're primarily sold to first responders and not easy to find for sale to consumers.

   10. Potassium Iodide tablets– Protects against deadly thyroid cancer from exposure to iodine-131 - commonly found in radioactive fallout. You can buy this over-the-counter and keep it on-hand - it has a shelf life of about 5 years. Choose an FDA approved brand, like IoSAT or ThyroShi

   11. Radiation filter or straw: This device filters radioactive particles like: Radon 222, Radium, Plutonium, Uranium, Strontium, Cesium 137, and Radioactive Iodine, out of water. Look for devices approved by the NELAC (National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference.)

   12. Plastic bags

   13. Disposable vinyl gloves

   14. N95 Masks

   15. Gas Masks

   16. Tarps

   17. All weather radio

   18. Ham Radio

   19. Power Banks- Anker or Goal Zero

   20. Duct Tape

   21. Gorilla tape

   22. Light Sticks

   23. 5-Gallon Buckets

   24. Portable Toilet (optional)

   25. Sturdy shoes or work boots

   26. Rain gear

   27. Sunglasses

   28. Thermal underwear

   29. Work Gloves

   30. Flashlight

   31. Batteries

   32. Plastic bags for waste (if there is no toilet in the shelter space)

   33. Cell phone,

   34. Cell Phone charger & adapters

   35. Family emergency contact information

   36. Cash small bills- people won't be makeing any change for you after SHTF

   37. Emergency blanket

   38. Extra sets of keys (house, car)

   39. Whistle - helps first responders locate you

   40. Matches

   41. Towels

   42. Scissors

   43. Liquid household bleach

   44. Wool Blankets or sleeping bags

   45. Back Up Water Storage: You can never have enough water!!

Tools

This list could be a lot larger and I am sure someone is cursing my name for forgetting some really obvious choices. Tools like survival gear is a personal choice and largely based around your plan. If you have more space to store more tools by all means be my guest. But if you are just looking for the bare essentials this is your list

1. SOG Multi tool

   1. Gas shut off

   2. Can opener

   3. Crow bar

   4. Lighter

   5. Water Filter

   6. Cooking stove

   7. Cook Set

General Medical Supplies

Medical tools are great to have but they are even better when you know how to use them. You might not be able to become a surgeon but you can easily learn the basics by taking first aid classes and reading a few books before the SHFT happens. If you are preparing in a group I highly suggest adding a friend or two that has medical training to your survival group.

1. Prescription Medications- at least a 7day supply.

   1. First Aid Kit or Stomp Kit

   2. Denture Needs

   3. Extra contacts and glasses

   4. Medical Information- List of medications, medical information, physician's names/phone #'s.

   5. Glasses, contact lenses,

   6. Mobility devices,

   7. Hearing aids & batteries)

   8. Iodine Solution (tincture of iodine or Betadine)

Planning

“Failing to prepare is planning to fail”- Benjamin FranklinCreate a plan and then a back up plan for your first plan.   Nothing ever goes just the way you envision it in life and even more so in a survival situation. Planning and practice runs can be the difference between living or dying…it’s that simple!

1. Maps and Directions- keep in mind you may not have access to the Internet or GPS satellites.

   1. Evacuation plans- do you have friends or family out of the area that you could stay with in a crisis? Have their information, phone numbers, directions available. Make sure to have multiple routes planned to get to your desired location.

   2. Plans for your pets– For the big time animal lover, you may want create a plan for your pets. If you have the time and if you can't bring them with you, you may want to create a list of places where you could board them. Phone numbers and directions would be a good idea.

Personal Documentation

Being able to prove who you are and what you own is important after disaster strikes. I am sure that some folks preparing for nuclear war may feel that the world will never bounce back and possessions will become meaningless. All though this may be true depending on your disaster scenario, if the world does fix it’s self I would love to have the needed documentation to help pick up the pieces. For this reason, I keep hard copies in a secure location and digital copies of these documents on a tough Survivor USB stick. This guy is small and as tough as nails but holds a ton of data. Here’s what you need to store:

1. Personal Papers (Can be made part of the Family Disaster Plan)

   1. Wills, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks, and bonds

   2. Passports, Social Security Cards, Immunization Records

   3. Bank account numbers

   4. Credit card account numbers and company contacts

   5. Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)

   6. Local emergency coordinators and first-responder info

   7. Print out information you may need

General Tips From The Editor

1. Inventory of valuable household goods- you can’t use it if you don’t know you have it!

   1. Every family is unique. You may have emergency needs not included in this list. Figure out those special needs and plan for them now.

   2. Remember to update your kit according to changing needs of your family and seasons.

   3. Be sure it’s ready to use and accessible! In a disaster situation, you may need to get your emergency supply kit quickly, whether you are sheltering at home or evacuating.

   4. Once you have gathered your supplies, pack the items in easy-to-carry containers.

   5. Clearly label the containers and store them where you and other members of your family can reach them easily.

   6. Make sure you show your family where your preps are located and how to use them. You are only as strong as your weakest link!

   7. Know Your House: Find out where your gas, electric, and water shut-off locations are, and how to turn them off.

   8. Remember that certain items, like medications and paper documents, need to be kept in waterproof containers or in controlled environments free of major temperature changes.

   9. You may need additional supplies to make sure the whole family is ready. Remember not everyone prepares!

   10. Keep everything in a covered storage container. Store papers, medications, matches, batteries, phones, radios, flashlights,(and anything else subject to water damage) in waterproof containers.

   11. Check the expiration dates on food, water, medicine, and batteries at least two times per year. It’s extremely important that all items in your kit are functional at the time of an emergency.

Nuclear Attacks According To Ready.gov

In general, potential targets include

• Strategic missile sites and military bases.

• Centers of government such as Washington, DC, and state capitals.

• Important transportation and communication centers.

• Manufacturing, industrial, technology, and financial centers.

• Petroleum refineries, electrical power plants, and chemical plants.

• Major ports and airfields.

The three factors for protecting oneself from radiation and fallout are distance, shielding and time.

• Distance - the more distance between you and the fallout particles, the better. An underground area such as a home or office building basement offers more protection than the first floor of a building. Shielding - the heavier and denser the materials - thick walls, concrete, bricks, books and earth - between you and the fallout particles, the better.

• Time - fallout radiation loses its intensity fairly rapidly. In time, you will be able to leave the fallout shelter. Radioactive fallout poses the greatest threat to people during the first two weeks, by which time it has declined to about 1 percent of its initial radiation level.

Taking shelter during a nuclear blast is absolutely necessary. There are two kinds of shelters:

• Blast shelters are specifically constructed to offer some protection against blast pressure, initial radiation, heat and fire. But even a blast shelter cannot withstand a direct hit from a nuclear explosion.

• Fallout shelters do not need to be specially constructed for protecting against fallout. They can be any protected space, provided that the walls and roof are thick and dense enough to absorb the radiation given off by fallout particles.

Remember that any protection, however temporary, is better than none at all, and the more shielding, distance and time you can take advantage of, the better.

Before a Nuclear Blast

The following are things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your property in the event of a nuclear blast.

• Build an Emergency Supply Kit

• Make a Family Emergency Plan.

• Find out from officials if any public buildings in your community have been designated as fallout shelters.

• If your community has no designated fallout shelters, make a list of potential shelters near your home, workplace and school, such as basements, subways, tunnels, or the windowless center area of middle floors in a high-rise building.

• During periods of heightened threat increase your disaster supplies to be adequate for up to two weeks.

During a Nuclear Blast

The following are guidelines for what to do in the event of a nuclear explosion.

• Listen for official information and follow the instructions provided by emergency response personnel.

• If an attack warning is issued, take cover as quickly as you can, below ground if possible, and stay there until instructed to do otherwise.

• Find the nearest building, preferably built of brick or concrete, and go inside to avoid any radioactive material outside.

• If better shelter, such as a multi-story building or basement can be reached within a few minutes, go there immediately.

• Go as far below ground as possible or in the center of a tall building.

• During the time with the highest radiation levels it is safest to stay inside, sheltered away from the radioactive material outside.

• Radiation levels are extremely dangerous after a nuclear detonation but the levels reduce rapidly.

• Expect to stay inside for at least 24 hours unless told otherwise by authorities.

• When evacuating is in your best interest, you will be instructed to do so. All available methods of communication will be used to provide news and / or instructions.

If you are caught outside and unable to get inside immediately:

• Do not look at the flash or fireball - it can blind you.

• Take cover behind anything that might offer protection.

• Lie flat on the ground and cover your head. If the explosion is some distance away, it could take 30 seconds or more for the blast wave to hit.

• Take shelter as soon as you can, even if you are many miles from ground zero where the attack occurred - radioactive fallout can be carried by the winds for hundreds of miles.

• If you were outside during or after the blast, get clean as soon as possible, to remove radioactive material that may have settled on your body.

• Remove your clothing to keep radioactive material from spreading. Removing the outer layer of clothing can remove up to 90% of radioactive material.

• If practical, place your contaminated clothing in a plastic bag and seal or tie the bag. Place the bag as far away as possible from humans and animals so that the radiation it gives off does not affect others.

• When possible, take a shower with lots of soap and water to help remove radioactive contamination. Do not scrub or scratch the skin.

• Wash your hair with shampoo or soap and water. Do not use conditioner in your hair because it will bind radioactive material to your hair, keeping it from rinsing out easily.

• Gently blow your nose and wipe your eyelids and eyelashes with a clean wet cloth. Gently wipe your ears.

• If you cannot shower, use a wipe or clean wet cloth to wipe your skin that was not covered by clothing.

After a Nuclear Blast

People in most of the areas that would be affected could be allowed to come out of shelter within a few days and, if necessary, evacuate to unaffected areas. The heaviest fallout would be limited to the area at or downwind from the explosion. It might be necessary for those in the areas with highest radiation levels to shelter for up to a month.

Returning to Your Home

Remember the following when returning home:

• Keep listening to the radio and television for news about what to do, where to go and places to avoid.

• Stay away from damaged areas. Stay away from areas marked “radiation hazard” or “HAZMAT.”

What would you add to this prep list? Comment below...

72 Hour Kits

72 Hour Kits

This is an amazing article from Ready Nutrition on 72 Hr kits or Bug out bags.  Please follow links to her site, she does an amazing job and is a leader in the art of Prepping.

 Are You Ready Series: 72 Hour Kits

Via Ready Nutrition

Many prepping websites have multiple articles on 72 hours bags (aka: evac packs, bug-out-bags, blow out bags or survival kits).  Every family should have a 72 hour kit ready, not because we should all run for the hills, but because there may be an unforeseen disaster such as a chemical spill or flash flooding where your family will have to make a swift evacuation.There are certain disasters that can occur with little or no warning such as fires, hurricanes and flooding. Having things in order as well as a plan in place will expedite the process of leaving, as well as keeping things running as smoothly as possible. The main goal of having a 72 hour bag is to be equipped to survive a three day period; and in this case, survival is dependent upon you. Therefore, the 72 hour bag should be pre-assembled and ready to go as well as have a 72 hour bag separately for the vehicle.Personally speaking, when I assembled my family’s bug out bags it took a few hours to run through the house getting all the supplies in order. If I was in a time sensitive situation, I would have forgotten half of the items I packed. It’s essential that your B.O.Bs (Bug Out Bags) are ready to go.

 What To Put Into a 72 Hour Kit?

The type of bag used for evacuation purposes is not important – some use duffle bags, backpacks and suitcases to store their gear in. Ensure the bag is sturdy and has the ability to hold gear and equipment. Many preppers have purchased their bags at military surplus stores due to the high grade fabric used. Another consideration is for the bag or container to be waterproof. For those with multiple people in their family, each person in the family should have their own 72 hour bag that is placed into a large plastic container. A bag or container with a carrying handle would be advisable if the container holds many items or is for a family. Some thoughts to keep in mind when preparing your 72 hour bag are:

• Have a plan in place (choosing the location, let family members know where your destination is, the contact information, a secondary destination, etc.) Click here for a checklist on creating a family emergency plan.
• Keep the basic needs in mind: food, water, shelter, clothing, safety and communication.
• Try and find items that are light weight, functional and versatile so that carrying them in a container will not be a strain.
• Take your bag out and use it a few times to test that nothing is forgotten.

Food – In a bug out situation, put thought into the situation you could find yourself in. You will be in a high stress environment where you may be on foot walking for long periods, or for that matter walking up and down hills. The foods we will carry will make all the difference in the world in terms of maintaining energy levels, and nutrition. Many preppers underestimate how much food they will need for their 72 hour bags. They believe that living off of survival bars for a main source of nutrition for 3 days will  give you the optimum nutrition. This just isn’t so.When you are preparing your bug out bag, you want your diet to give you ample calories, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and some fats. Keep in mind that ages and genders will play a role in calorie consumption. As mentioned, you will be operating in a high stress and high energy environment, therefore your body needs to be running as efficiently as possible. With this in mind, you should plan to eat small meals every 2-3 hours. Click here for a list of adequate bug out meals.Have a means to prepare your food. A lightweight camping stove to cook food in, and purify water will increase your chances of survival. Try and find foods that are light weight an high in essential nutrition in order to increase your energy levels. Click here for more information on bug out meal planning. Have enough food for a 3 day period.  Some other possible food suggestions would be:

• MRE’s
• Crackers
• Pasta
• Hard candy
• Energy bars
• Dried fruits and nuts
• Instant oatmeal
• Granola bars
• Powdered milk
• Jerky

Some other suggestions for meals would be:

• • Bouillon cubes
  • Instant rice/mashed potatoes
  • Dried soups
  • Camping freeze dried foods
  • Gum
  • Instant pudding
  • Powdered drink mixes (Tang, Crystal Light)
  • Cookware set
  • Paper plates, cups and eating ware. Try this camp set

Water – Having a good water supply is more important than food. A person cannot go without 3 days of water so have a plentiful amount.  Disaster organizations stress for each person to have one gallon of water per day. In an emergency situation, it is also one of the first items to disappear off of a store shelf.  Having this stored in your 72 hour bag may be different. Therefore, many carry large water travel water bottles and then carry water purification tablets or a water filter to keep their load down. Here are some additional  ideas for carrying water:

• • • Individual water bottles in the pack, gallon jugs of water, etc.
    • Canteen
    • Collapsible water container
    • Portable water filter
    • Water purification tablets
    • Life straws
    • Hydration powders

Clothing – Clothes in the 72 hour bag should be rotated every season and be appropriate to the environment you are in. As well, finding clothing that wicks moisture away would be helpful in both warm and cold climates. Having items in your bag that can be layered is a great option.

• • •  If it is the winter season: Pack all cold weather essentials for maintaining body heat: Layered clothing, warm hat preferably with flaps over the ears, waterproof pants, mittens, etc.
    • Work gloves
    •  Have at least one change of clothing in your bag and two extra pairs of socks.
    •  A good pair of boots (hiking or combat boots) with a deep trench in the sole.
    • Rain suit
    • Poncho
    • Hat to keep the sun off your face.
    • Bandanna

Shelter – A shelter is to keep out the natural elements at bay as well as provide a warm place to sleep to maintain body temperature.

• • • Tents (lightweight)
    • Sleeping bag
    • Durable long lasting emergency blankets
    • Tube tent (emergency shelter)
    • Tarp
    • Garbage bags can even be used for a shelter.
    • Mylar emergency blankets

Fire – Having a means to producing fire will help maintain proper body temperature, assist in cooking food, and boiling water. If an emergency arises and you have to leave, you want to be able to have items on hand to make a fire to stay warm.

• • • Waterproof matches
    • Magnesium Fire starters
    • Homemade fire starters
    • Cigarette Lighters

Communication – In a survival situation, communication is key. Family members and friends want to know that everyone is safe and sound and have made it to their ideal locations. Additionally, news sources such as radios need to be heard to find out if you are in a safe location, safe to go back to your home or are in a dangerous area.

• • • Cell Phone
    • A 2-way radio
    • Radio to get news and information
    • Signals such as whistles, flares and mirrors are important
    • Additional batteries

Paycheck 9- Food Preservation

Food Preservation

Food is a huge part of our lives  both for nourishment and social interaction.  food brings us together and can ultimately tear us apart.  A hungry man is a dangerous man.  This is why it is crucial that you start learning how to preserve food and how to store it safely.  If you are going to take this mission on you will need to read books, watch YouTube videos, and learn from someone that knows what they are doing. 

It's not rocket science so don't shy away from it.  You just need to make sure you follow proper guidelines and techniques when handling and storing food.  The entire point behind prepping is to stay a live so don't let your own preps kill you! On a positive note, food preservation is a fantastic skill to have and it is very fulfilling.  I love eating a pasta sauce on a cold winter's night that came from my summer garden! So go out and grow it, hunt it, and then preserve it!

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Preps To Buy

• Kosher Salt (10 lbs.)

• Sugar (20 lbs.)

• Curing Salt (10 lbs.)

• Pickling Salt (5-10 lbs.)

• White Vinegar- a Few Gallons

• Apple Cider Vinegar- a few gallons

• Molasses (5-10 lbs)

• Powdered Fruit Pectin

• Canning Jars (in an assortment of sizes), lids and rings

• Food Drying Racks You can also make these yourself

• Pressure Canner

• Food strainer

• Canning rack

Pantry Preps

• Mylar Bags (in different sizes)

• Oxygen Absorbers

• 5 Gallon Buckets & Lids

• Desiccants

• Plastic Food Storage Containers

• Food Vacuum Sealer with plastic liners

• Heat Clamp or Iron- (Curling Iron will work) this is to seal your mylar bags

• Food Saver ( If you have the extra cash)

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Prepper Projects:

1. Research: Begin researching and finding resources to have on hand for the different food preservation methods. There are some great resources for preserving food on different homesteading websites and even homesteading magazines. Check Out Our YouTube Channel for suggested videos!

2. Food Preservation: Practice makes perfect! So, start practicing today. You need to learn about canning and growing food.

3. Garden: Start a garden so you can grow food to preserve for later use. If you’re limited on space try the Square Foot Garden Method!

4. Food Storage: ind a safe, dry area in the home to store your longer-term food supplies. Those who are tight on space can use creative methods such as shelving units high in their closets, extra bedrooms, under the bed or closets. As long as the space is dry, is free from temperature fluctuations, and is large enough to store the food it will work. It is best not to use a garage or attic for a food storage area due to the drastic temperature fluctuations that occur in these areas of the home.

5. Food Supply: Make a list of what types of long-term foods you plan on storing for your long-term food supply. Those that have family members with special dietary needs should do further research on which types of foods they will need.

6. Practice using your food storage tools on short-term foods to ensure that you understand how the  tools work. If you have leftovers use your food sealer to store them for later use. Dehydrate meats into jerky or preserve fruits in a dehydrator for latter use!

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Prepper’s Tip

Where To Purchase These Products?

• Amazon- For smaller scale purchases

• Sorbent Systems– For Food Storage Items

• Latter Day Saint Food Storage Warehouses

• Mountain House

• Wise Food

• Patriot Supply

• Winco

• Azure

• EBAY

• Costco

• Your Back Yard!!! Start your survival garden today!

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Paycheck 10- Pantry and Fuel Preps

Pantry and Fuel Preps

Pereping your pantry full of foods your family likes to eat is a great start for anyone wanting to become more prepared.  However, it's really important that you stock up on ways to cook and heat the food in your pantry.  Here are a few suggestions to buy for your preps on this paycheck.

Food Preps

• White rice in bulk quantities

• Beans in bulk quantities

• Wheat in bulk quantities

• Oats in bulk quantities

• Sugar in bulk quantities

• Salt in bulk quantities

• Bouillon granules in bulk quantities

• Powdered milk in bulk quantities

• 2-gallons of cooking oil

You can buy a lot of these items at Costco, Sams club or Winco Foods. I recommend Winco as they seal everything you need for food storage including the food grade buckets and mylar bags. You can see a list of their bulk food items on their website.

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Fuel Preps

• Metal fuel storage containers
  
  

• Seasoned fire wood (ample supply)

• Fuel of choice to run generators, appliances, provide electricity for 1-3 month duration (if legally allowed to do so)

• Fuel for cooking (ample supply): This can be camp stoves, propane, wood, fuel pucks etc.

• Fuel Pucks

• Survival Fuel Tablets & Stoves

• Alternative cooking source (a solar oven, Korean cook stove, Volcano Stove, reflector oven, Dutch Oven, Rocket Stove, propane grill or stove)

• Propane (you should set a goal to have a few tanks on hand)

• Long burning jarred candles (You can never have to many …maybe add a few candles to your Amazon Subscribe and save)

• Extra wicks for candles (can be purchased on Amazon or Ebay)

• Solo Stove

• Matches (Normal strike anywhere and Water Proof)

Always go back through your supplies and make sure you have extras of everything. Remember the old prepper saying that “Two is one and one is none…”

If you have only one way to filter water, one way to stay dry or only one type of fuel you are setting yourself up for failure. If you have a few extra bucks add a few redundancies to your preps every paycheck.

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Prepper Projects:

1. Food Calculator: Calculate the amount of food your family will need for a month long disaster.

2. Food Storage: With the food storage items purchased on your last paycheck, begin assembling Mylar bags and storage containers and pour food contents in and seal for long-term storage. Have a print out on hand on the directions for packing food long term to ensure that you are storing food correctly. Don’t forget oxygen absorbers!!!

3. Ensure that food lids are sealed correctly!!!

4. Store sealed food containers in a cool, dark, and dry area of the home.

5. As a reminder, remember not to forget your pets in your long-term food storage plans and ensure that you have packed enough food away for your pets. Dog and cat food can also be stored in food grade plastic containers for long-term use. You can buy bulk at WINCO!!

6. Read about the different types of fuel and decide which fuel choice(s) are best for your family.

7. Find an appropriate area outside of the home where the fuel can be stored.

8. Ensure that you rotate your fuel regularly and check to make sure there are no signs on leaking.

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Prepper's Pro Tip:

Need an excuse to dig or purchase a fire pit?  Well your families back yard fire pit can become a great place to grill or cook in an off grid situation.  Practice cooking on open flame as it's an art form and a little different than your BBQ.  This is a great way to spend some time out doors with your family. 

****Just remember if you’re in a truly off grid situation you may want to be careful cooking outside, as the smells can attract those that are hungry and unprepared. I bet a steak would smell great to someone that is starving!

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How To Start A Fire

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How to Start a Square Foot Garden

How to Start A Square Foot Garden

First, you have to build out a large square. Using 6-inch wide untreated lumber works the best, but any material can be used. Make sure to put down a weed barrier so weeds and grass don’t grow up into the raised bed. The best size for a square foot garden is 4×4 feet. You can be creative though in your design, but 4 feet across is best for adults and 3 feet for kid’s gardens as their arms just can’t reach that far. Here are 10 raised bed garden ideas.The soil that you put into your square foot garden needs to be full of nutrients and is best when it is a blend of different materials. Here is a great garden soil recipe for your raised bed: Equal parts of potting soil or compost, vermiculite, and peat moss. For the potting soil, I often will mix a few different types together with compost to give a good variety of nutrients to the mix. Make sure to water down this mixture until you can squeeze a handful of it and no water drips out – that’s how you know that it has been completely absorbed.Once you have the soil in the planter box, add a 12” grid on top using tape or string, so you know where to plant.Guide to help you know how many plants go into each square:Small: 16 plants per square for 3” spacingMedium: 9 plants per square for 4” spacingLarge: 4 per square for 6” spacingExtra Large: 1 per square for 12” spacingUse the seed packet as a good guideline to know how many seeds to put into a square. Many people love to grow tomatoes and since they are heavy nutrient eaters, one per square works best. The same goes for pepper and squash plants. Smaller plants like radishes and carrots can have 16 per square, sometimes more depending on the varieties chosen.There is very little weeding that needs to be done using the square foot gardening method. If you want a natural way to keep pests out of your garden, plant a few marigolds in the squares with the other plants as they are a natural pest deterrent – this is also called companion planting. Another great companion planting is to plant corn and green beans together and let the beans grow up the corn stalks instead of having to stake them. I will also plant garlic throughout my raised beds as they keep away a lot of bugs too!Experiment with your square foot garden and try different plants together. This concept of gardening is a lot of fun to do and easy to get the whole family involved in!More Square Foot Gardening Resources:You can read more about square foot gardening in All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew."

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