Although it is important to be prepared for disaster situations, many are not adequately trained to handle the disaster situations in which they find themselves in. Having the proper skills and training will provide an individual with a well diversified knowledge base on how to survive during and after a disaster.

Medical Training

In a survival situation, medical training is going to be a big one.  Due to the increase use of saws, axes and knives, there will be more medical emergencies involving deep lacerated cuts.

image by Bruce Turner

Knowing how to properly clean wounds, stitch wounds, as well as knowing how to treat infected wounds will be extremely important.  Additionally, there will be an increase in burns from being in closer contact to fires.  Burns can get infected very quickly, and knowing how to decipher the degree of the burn is and how to treat it will be a concern amongst survivalists and preppers.  Typically, there are online courses offered for basic CPR/First Aid, however, those basic skills will not give a person the fundamental training they need.  Finding a local Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) class that is offered for paramedics and first responders to accidents will be a better knowledge source and better equip a person to handle emergency medical situations.

Disaster Training

Disaster training is typically offered by FEMA, the American Red Cross and other disaster organizations.  A person who is equipped with knowledge on how to plan for a disaster, how to properly prepare for a disaster, and how to mental handle the after effects of a disaster will be able to better adapt to the situation more quickly compared to those that are not.  The American Red Cross offers extensive courses in disaster safety and training as well as basic First Aid/CPR courses.  There are also online courses offered through FEMA.

Gardening Skills

In a long term survival situation, seeds will mean the difference between life and death.  The only problem is, many have lost the necessary skill of gardening because there is a grocery store on every corner of the streets these days.  It’s time to get your hands dirty and get back in touch with nature.  Learning necessary gardening skills such as companion plants, crop rotations, beneficial insects, natural ways to replenish soil, and knowledge on proper gardening tools will be beneficial.  Another relevant knowledge source is understanding the medicinal value of plants and herbs.  It is amazing how many uses there are for plants besides spicing up our cooked entrees.  Researching natural medicines is another major need in a survival situation, especially if the person has a pre-existing condition.

Firearm Certification and Training

There are dozens of firearm courses offered through the National Rifle Association.  In a situation where a person needs to defend themselves, 99% of them would want a gun.  I’m sure the Survival Mom would agree how beneficial these courses can be as a female and for teaching children.  And, the more a person practices, the better their aim gets.  This is one survival skill that a person should be as proficient as possible.  Also, knowing gun safety and being able to educate others is essential when a firearm is around.

Canning and Food Preparation

Knowing how to can and preserve foods to eat during the long winter months is essential.  Just think of all the delicious jarred goods a person can store up for when their food supply dwindles in the winter.  The canning jars can be a bit of an investment. However, this author has found people selling their canned jars on www.craigslist.com, garage sales and even at second hand stores.  Canning jars would also make an excellent bartering item.

Amateur Radio Classes

Having a radio is encouraged by many disaster relief organizations.  And having knowledge on how to work and maneuver a HAMM radio will provide a person with an emergency communication source during a time when most communication is down.  The National Association of Amateur Radio provides information based on a person’s location and course information on their website.

Sewing Classes

Typically if there is a fabric store, there are sewing classes and sewing events that are offered at the store.  Everyone has heard of how their great grandmothers would sew quilts out of material from tethered or worn clothing.  Not many of us have this skill anymore.  Sewing classes will not only teach a necessary skill, but it will also get the survival mindset in place: make something new out of what you have available.

 Outdoor Survival Skills Courses

Most preppers and survivalists are planning to “re-connect” with nature.  Learning the necessary outdoor skills will provide a person with fundamental knowledge on how to better survive.  The Boy Scouts offer adult classes as well as some community colleges.  Get creative and search around the internet.  There are some survival courses offered online (some offer free survival courses) that a person can learn from the comfort of their home.  There are also wilderness courses offered at a variety of facilities such as local colleges, the YMCA, community park and recreation facilities, etc.  Additionally, finding books, and e-books on survival skills is another way to find information on this topic.

Candle/Soap making Conventions

Soap and candle making are a lost art form in my opinion.  Having a background knowledge of these skills would also be a great bartering skill.  There are classes a person can take that are usually offered at homes as well as some conventions in certain areas.  Searching on the internet would be a great start for finding these classes.

Hunting Skills

As many are planning to hunt wild game for a food source, they will need skills on how to gut the carcass, skin the fur and properly cut the meat.  The “hunter-in-training” will also have to have a proficient knowledge on the different types of hunting tools used to prepare animal carcasses (and these tools come in different sizes based on the animal).  The National Hunting Association is a portal that can take a person to their local area hunting association in order to get more information for their specific area.  Also, this website offers the hunting guides for all of the states within the USA.

© 2013, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

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Whether you are an urban prepper or are perfecting a homestead, upgrading the locks on your home and making sure they are installed properly is one of the most overlooked, least expensive, and most effective ways to harden your security.

I believe the best way to keep the bad guys from getting your stuff is to keep them out in the first place. This is the job of a good commercial quality lock and NOT your average home alarm system. Alarm systems only let you now when someone got in – they will not keep them out.  (Unless you are taking about perimeter defense systems-which I am not.)

Not all locks are created equal.  The lock on your doorknob or leverset is not strong enough to withstand breaking and entering. Neither are the small screws holding the hinges to the door frame.

You need an ANSI Grade 1 deadbolt on every exterior door, the door from your attached garage leading into your home, and on every door leading to your stores. Period.

• ANSI Grade 1: Highest Rating for Commercial and Residential Locks
• ANSI Grade 2: Highest Rating for Residential Only Locks
• ANSI Grade 3: Lowest rating and only meets minimum grading requirements

Unfortunately, most common residential locks are only ANSI Grade 3 and can be quickly and easily defeated by intruders.  The ANSI grade can be found on the package of higher quality locks. I recommend and install Schlage ANSI Grade 1 Deadbolt Locks.

You will also need to install a Door Reinforcer and a Strike Plate. The door Reinforcer is a piece of steel that wraps around your door at the deadbolt location. This prevents breaking and splitting of the door.

The strike plate is critical piece of hardware installed on the doorjamb. Without a properly installed quality strike plate, your door can be kicked in – even with an ANSI 1 deadbolt. The bolt can be kicked through the wooden doorjamb and trim.

Pro Tip: Use a Lock Installation Jig for doors with no existing deadbolt.

Once you have installed your new deadbolts it is now time to install the strike plate. The strike plate should also be ANSI Grade 1. The Schlage deadbolt comes with the strike plate and 3” screws.

The strike plate must be secured into the doorjamb with at least 3” long screws. The screws should go through the doorjamb and into the structural studs in the wall. The screws must be strong enough to withstand kicking and battering. DO NOT USE black drywall type screws – they will snap in half!

Pro Tip: Use a drill to bore a pilot hole in the wood to prevent the jamb and studs from splitting.

It is imperative that you reinforce the hinge side of your doors with long screws just as you did with the strike plate. On the door side of the hinges, remove and replace one screw at a time. Use a pilot bit to prevent the jamb and studs from splitting and install the long screws. Again, the screws must be long enough to go through the jamb and into the structural studs. You will be alarmed to find the screws you just removed are only 1 ½” long. These tiny screws are holding your door in place and will be torn out of the jamb with only one or two good kicks.

Pro Tip: Use the proper sized Philips screw tip when installing the longer screws. A bit that is too small will bounce out of the slots and strip out the screw head before you get the screw seated and will be nearly impossible to remove.

Check out “how to videos” on YouTube like this one on how to secure and reinforce a door.

For around $100 per door you have hardened the security of your home and purchased real piece of mind. No lock is completely burglar proof. But, by hardening your doors, you are making it harder to break and enter, the would-be intruder needs to make more noise and spend more time to break in to your home – two things he doesn’t want to do.

Tommy is a licensed security and fire safety professional with 20 years experience designing, installing, and maintaining life safety and security systems. He is licensed in multiple states and has obtained the highest certification level from NICET.  Tommy is passionate about teaching others about how to be safe and secure at work and at home.  He specializes in perimeter protection, video surveillance, intrusion detection and fire protection technologies.

© 2013, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

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Be sure to nominate yourself or another Survival Mom for our next Survival Mom of the Month, and don’t worry if you have fewer resources, less stocked up, etc. We’re looking for women who are being proactive and will share what they’ve done.

What possible emergencies are you preparing for?

Image Credit to Samaritan’s Purse

As a young child I moved to Florida from Portland, Oregon and encountered hurricanes for the first time. I also encountered evacuating for the first time.

Although I believe I was born with “prepper” tendencies Florida life certainly caused that prepper seed to sprout! My first memory of evacuating was during the 1964 hurricane season when 12 tropical cyclones, 6 of which developed into category 3 hurricanes, caused havoc in the U.S. Three of these hurricanes slammed into Florida and two were noteworthy enough to have their names retired forever. During one of these particularly fierce storms my parents reluctantly decided to evacuate for higher ground with a neighboring family. Thinking back, the only thing I remember my parents packing was booze and a cocktail shaker for their “hurricane party.”

When we arrived at the vacant house that we were using as higher ground we had no electricity, no running water and no furniture. Even at my age I had thought to pack pillows, blankets, food, and a lawn chair for my 82 year old grandmother to lie on which turned out to be a good thing as the hard wood floors didn’t offer much in the way of comfort.  Although I don’t remember much else, I do remember my parents being utterly amazed regarding what I had thought to pack in the back of our station wagon. And I remember being utterly amazed as a young child at what my parents had not thought to pack after spending a miserable night and day in our “shelter”!

Fast forward to several stints as a volunteer Registered Nurse in the remote regions of Haiti and my prepper fate was solidified. I left the Haiti experiences more determined than ever to be prepared. I also left more thankful than ever to live in a country where we have the resources to be able to prepare whether we think we do or not.

When you live and work in a third world country you have a tendency to focus on the basics of survival rather than the cause that generates the necessity for survival preparation. I rarely focus on hurricanes, nuclear blast, or pandemic scenarios. I consider myself more of a generic prepper focusing on the basics. Enough food. Enough clean water. Shelter. Medical care.

Recommended Prepper Resources:

I have to say YouTube and the internet in general has been my favorite tools. Any question I have is answered right at my finger tips. I taught myself how to can by watching YouTube. I taught myself how to raise chickens reading various blogs on Google. I do a lot of researching and I spend a lot of time researching a vast number of subjects. If I find something I find particularly useful (like how to can butter that lasts for two years) I copy the article and put it in my homemade prepper notebook.  The notebook contains everything from how to make a solar oven (I have one!) to how to make saline nose drops. I started this in case we have power outages for lengthy periods of time and my beloved internet is not available for quick references.

Fiction:

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank made a huge impact on me when it was required reading back in the old high school days. It is still one of my favorite books.

Nonfiction:

When in Haiti I picked up a copy of “Where There Is No Doctor.” A must have for everyone in the medical profession.  (Editor’s Note: Free copies are available for download at Hesperian Books.)

I have a copy of The Physicians Desk Reference that I picked up at a thrift store. As a nurse it’s imperative that I am able to calculate correct medications doses in times of extreme emergencies if the medications are available.

The Complete Book Of Home Preserving is the home canners Bible. I love mine purchased used on Ebay

TV:

I am drawn to shows like the Discovery Channel’s Dual Survival and National Geographic’s Doomsday Preppers. I am always fascinated by peoples focus in certain areas and their skill sets. Jericho was an awesome albeit short lived tv series, as well, that cut to the quick regarding what is important and what is not important during a survival situation.

Websites:

Craig’s List and Freecycle are my all time favorites. I don’t have a lot of money to spend on preparation so these sights are invaluable resources for free and cheap items like rain barrels and firewood. Meetup.com is a great sight and you never know what groups are available in your area. I found a great Urban Homesteading group and a permaculture group in my city.

What have you done to prepare your home and family for these possible emergencies?

I am also the mom of three adopted special needs children so my medical focus is a little out of the “norm” when it comes to preparing for disaster. Because of my kids complex medical conditions we are way beyond simply storing up band aids and Tylenol in our family!

My son has Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bone disease) so I have adequate pain medication and splinting and casting materials on hand in case of fractures which are part of our every day life. They all have asthma so in addition to their multi-dose inhalers and rescue medications I have a battery powered nebulizer which also works off a car engine. The girls have cerebral palsy and one is unable to ambulate and uses a wheel chair. I am always cognizant of the fact that I will not be able to carry all of them if we are bugging out so having the chairs ready to rock and roll and/or having a wagon or, bike handy to aid in transportation is imperative. Jogger strollers are also handy on rough terrain and I have one that a friend of mine built from discarded parts of other strollers.

I do the usual food storage and have it shelved according to expiration dates and am always looking for dates that give me the longest shelf life. I also taught myself to can last year by watching YouTube videos and take advantage of seasonal produce and utilize local farmers and markets.

This year we added four backyard chickens and are getting 4 eggs a day now. I compost their coop shavings and manure and use it in our organic garden.  We have bins of red wiggler worms to help dispose of scraps and they make wonderful compost for the garden as well. Nothing is wasted.

In the garden this year I’ve branched out and added some fruit trees that don’t take up much room such as figs, Pomegranates, Surinam Cherry and bananas. My goal is to make my backyard into an urban homestead.

Last year I added bug out back packs in the closet near our front door. One for each family member including one for the dog, cat and chickens. I copied birth certificates, social security cards, and pertinent medical records and placed them in each backpack in a plastic, water resistant bag. The originals are in a small fire proof, water proof safe which I can easily toss into the van if we have to leave quickly. Periodically, I go through them and make sure I don’t need to add or remove anything. Each child has an identification necklace and whistle to wear around their necks.

What advice to you have for new Survival Moms who want to prepare their families as well?

Start now and quit procrastinating. None of your excuses regarding having plenty of time to get started or not enough money to prepare are legitimate. Even the poorest family can afford to buy one small bag of cheap rice a month and store it away. And don’t even get me started on people who tell me they can’t afford to prepare but go to Starbucks everyday or frequent fast food drive thrus.

Do not think the government or local cities are going to be able to feed, cloth or rescue you during times of extreme disaster. We are so inclined in the USA to rely on bailouts that it is hard to get past that mentality and that is dangerous mindset. People in this country are not used to waiting in long lines or delaying gratification. Prepare to be as self sufficient as possible as soon as possible because our microwave society can blow at any moment. Start simply if you’re not a prepper by nature. Make your own laundry soap. Put up a clothes line. Purchase some canned goods. Stock up on medication. Start thinking outside of the box.

When I was evacuating during Hurricane George I thought I’d stop by a local chicken place and pick up a couple of buckets for my gracious host who was putting us up in her non-evacuation zone home. I noticed the guy in front of me peeled out and gave the employee the finger.

“Welcome to our restaurant. May I take your order?” When I ordered the chicken she replied, “I’m sorry. We are out of chicken.” Everything I rattled off they were already out of so I asked her what she did have?

“Soda.”

It only takes a couple of hours for a grocery store or fast food place to empty out. Even during times of “impending disaster” food disappears fast and tempers flare. Do yourself favor and avoid the trip, the lines and the irate people by being prepared.

Build community relationships. Start in your own neighborhood. When you are preparing think beyond your family to that elderly neighbor down the street or that single mom. There is strength in numbers and everyone has something to contribute. There are preppers who do not feel the necessity to share anything and would turn you away in a heart beat. I am a firm believer in the fact that we will reap what we sow. Prepare ahead of time so you do not feel compelled to sow selfishness.

Don’t think you need a tremendous amount of money to be a prepper. Utilize free stuff. Re-use. Re-purpose and re-cycle.

Get started today!

© 2013, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

The post February Survival Mom of the Month: MilkweedMama! by thesurvivalmom appeared first on The Survival Mom™. Be sure to check it out!

Be sure to nominate yourself or another Survival Mom for our next Survival Mom of the Month, and don’t worry if you have fewer resources, less stocked up, etc. We’re looking for women who are being proactive and will share what they’ve done.

image by clexow

Peg says: Our family is prepping mainly for a financial collapse – and possibly a collapse of society once the financial collapse happens.  Another possibility is an EMP blast or solar flare but we will not be prepping for that for a while because we need to get some basic survival things done.

What have you done to prepare your family for these emergencies?

One of the first things we’ve done is to build up our supply of canned and dry food from the grocery store.  For the last 15 weeks, our car has been in the shop (and we’ve only been prepping for about 10 weeks) – so most of our preps have had to be items we could have my husband bring home on the motorcycle or that we could fit in a small rental car if we rented a car one or two weekends.  This has meant we don’t have bulky items like toilet paper, paper towels, etc. stocked up yet.

We currently have probably 2-3 months of food on hand.  I’m in the process of making out a 14 day menu plan that I can use to multiply by 26 (2 weeks X 26 = 52 weeks of food for the year).  For instance, if I know we’re going to need egg noodles three times during that 14 day menu, then I know that we will need 78 packages of egg noodles to be “fully stocked’ for a year.

I bought a canner off Ebay and it arrived yesterday. I’m also buying new and used canning jars and am going to be working on canning meat that I’ll buy in bulk on sale and from another source that I’ll talk about in a minute. I am also going to be canning butter and cream cheese and possibly some other cheeses so that if the power goes out, we can still have some of these items on hand.

We have bought a Volcano oven.  I also plan to buy a solar oven and get our grill outdoors in working order and stock up on supplies for all three ovens (charcoal, propane, etc).  Right now I’m not as focused as I could be on these items because I am focused on food storage. Once April hits, I plan to change direction a bit and work on the charcoal, etc. since it will hopefully start being cheaper then.  As we enter the picnic season, I’ll stock up on paper plates, cups, etc. too.

Survival Mom’s note: Watch for fantastic sales on charcoal over summer holiday weekends. Very often, Lowe’s has the best prices on charcoal.

Unlike many people who might be reading your site, Survival Mom, not only are we new to prepping but if you count our grocery budget also (since we’re focusing on food storage right now) we probably have a little over $1,000 per month to put towards prepping.  I say this because as I share what we’re doing, I don’t want others to get discouraged because they can’t spend as much.  We’ve decided to stop putting money in our 401K for a few months to prep and we recently paid off our vehicle.

So here is some of what we’re doing…we have three paydays per month.  The 1st is when we receive my husband’s military retirement pay and that pays our mortgage. The first paycheck of his current job of the month is our “lower” paycheck and the second paycheck of the month (paid every two weeks) has about $300 more in it.  (We are paying off a loan that comes out of that first paycheck of the month).

Every payday we are currently buying the following things:  15-25 pounds of flour, 5-10 pounds of sugar, 5 gallons of gas to store in a container (w/ gas stabilizer), 20+ pounds of meat to can, a bag of chocolate chips (I am going to vacuum seal these in half gallon size canning jars), large package of toilet paper, $20 of over-the-counter meds for us, 15 of OTC meds to use for bartering/charity ,vitamins, batteries, $10 of candles, matches, lighters, lamp oil (about to start this once we buy some lamps), feminine pads and I’m about to start setting aside $20 for “kid’s items” from Dollar Tree – like some cute teddy bears they had or crayons and coloring books, etc.

I also buy a bag of dog food every payday whether we need it or not and extra cat food. I need to do more about water. We are currently buying a couple of cases of bottled water per payday, plus a 5 gallon water jug to store water plus a couple of gallon water jugs that have water.  Currently, lack of water is our current weakness, but I do know that and am working on making improvements.

On our smaller paydays we are/will be buying $50 or so in fish and bird antibiotics online.  On our larger paydays we will be getting ahead on our prescriptions (I’m ordering some online).  For January our bigger payday is also “stock up on underwear and socks” with 3 packages of each per person – one to be used – two to be set aside.  February we’ll buy 2 pairs of sturdy shoes from Walmart or something plus a pair of sneakers per person – to be set aside on the bigger payday.  In March we’ll do sturdy jeans – 3-4 pairs per person to set aside.  By April I hope to use the extra funds on those bigger paydays to buy things like walkie talkies and other communication equipment along with things that are more “emergency” related. I also plan to use the larger paydays to buy “water bricks” to store water and other water storage containers.

As far as “charity” or bartering, I’m deliberately stocking up at Dollar Tree (where things are $1 or less) on items like anti-diaherreal meds, painkillers, toothbrushes, etc. The packages of medicines are smaller since they are only $1 but this way I can use them to give away or barter as needed.  By the end of the year, I’d like to have about $500 worth of meds, etc. set aside for this.

I also have a real heart for the children and what their life may be like after the crash. So I’m stocking up on toys and stuff for the next 3-6 months.  Once again, this is just a small amount per payday at Dollar Tree, and once the summer hits, I plan to hit yard sales and look for jeans and sturdy shoes that I can find cheap.  I’ll also be checking out thrift stores.

I don’t really want to “barter” for children’s stuff when things happen. I want to be able to give them to children and help make their lives easier.

A couple of other things that I’ve done is to join Shelf Reliance as a representative. This will allow me to buy many of the emergency items we need and get commission from them (along with commission from our food) which will save me money in the long run.  I bought their Harvest can rotation shelf unit to help us keep track of our inventory.

I’ve also signed up with Zaycon Foods – a company which distributes case-lots of meats to their customers in various cities across the country.  I have yet to take part in one of their “events” – currently they’re doing buffalo wings, chicken tenders, salmon and cod and catfish. However, I noticed on their Facebook site that ham is coming, and I plan to set aside enough to buy two cases (about 44 pounds) of ham for canning.  I also want to buy their boneless chicken breasts and hamburger meat.

I’ve started couponing – largely from buying coupons on Ebay. I try to stick to items that we use and that have good coupons – like the 33 coupons I bought (and they were a bit pricey) for large cans of Maxwell House coffee (one of my weaknesses). The coupons cost me about $100 – BUT – the coffee is worth about $330….so it was worth it to me to spend that money. I’m sharing a picture of some of the coupons I bought…I try to pay no more than 20% of the amount of the money I’ll be saving – unless it is something we’ll REALLY use (like the coffee).

Looking back – it seems hard to believe how much my life has changed in the last few weeks.  Some of the upcoming things I will be doing (along with learning to can in January) is to work on my HAM radio license (starting in February), work on learning about essential oils and herbal medicines (starting in March), work on gardening and then canning the produce (most of the summer) and possibly work on storing up what I need to make candles and soaps, etc. in the fall. I will also be learning to shoot a gun.

What resources (books, websites, etc.) have helped you the most in preparing?

Honestly, Survival Mom (book) was one of the first books I bought after reading a review.  In several Amazon.com reviews, he mentioned various books and said if you could only get 2 or 3 to get certain ones and yours was on the list as being highly recommended.

I’m sending a picture of some of the books I recommend along with listing a few below.

FICTION:

“299 Days: The Preparation” is a must-read in my mind. This is a fairly new series by Glen Tate – so far four books are out in the series and this is the first one. Glen’s book changed my  prepping as he helped me to calm down and to use some of the local stores like Dollar Tree, etc.

“One Second After” is another must-read in my mind.  It helps you see what life can be like after an EMP attack and there are things we don’t think about – like where will get the medications, birth control pills, etc.

“Lights Out” is almost as good the above two books – a bit more fighting, etc. – but it is the story of a community that bands together to take care of each other – once again – after an EMP attack.

NON-FICTION:

Beyond Collapse – a 400+ page free book that can be downloaded at:   https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6e3oH1LuRvzeGZlTHRkeHZQSkk/edit?pli=1  This was one of my first exposures to think about life “after” a collapse…about how a society rebuilds, etc. This book gave me the idea that I want to stock up not only for us – but for bartering – and for helping others.  I LOVE this book and want to buy a hardcopy of it.

LDS Preparedness Manual – another FREE resource you can download..  http://www.ldsavow.com/PrepManualGeneral.html   I HIGHLY recommend this – particularly for everything you learn about food storage. I am not LDS and there is a bit of doctrine, etc. in the beginning of the book but I found the checklists and information on stocking up food to be invaluable and have printed up many of the sheets from this book.

Where There Is No Doctor – I didn’t know you could get a free pdf of this book when I bought it online – still yet – I’m glad I got it!  http://hesperian.org/books-and-resources/  – also check out “Where There Is No Dentist”

You can see other books that I’m recommending in the picture – the titles are pretty descriptive!

WEBSITES:

www.thesurvivalmom.com is the first website I check every day.
www.foodstoragemadeeasy.net – they have an awesome book/program on food storage that I bought on Black Friday and love!
www.preparedsociety.com – the forums are AWESOME – I check in here several times a day – especially the food and foraging section
http://everydayfoodstorage.net/   -  not a total favorite but has good stuff too
I used to visit www.shtfplan.com every day (I still visit it often) but I found it upset me and got me all worried. I would share links to it with my husband and my adult son and they both said that it seemed like the site was designed more to stir up people than to give useful information. It was actually my son who recommended that I visit Survival Mom every day instead because I get ideas of what I CAN do instead of getting scared of what MIGHT happen.

http://rainydayfoodstorage.blogspot.com/ – I wish there daily updates on this but I like this site a lot too

What advice to you have for new Survival Moms who want to prepare their families as well?
First of all, decide what it is you want to prepare for.  For instance, if you live in a hurricane prone area, you may not want to prep to “shelter-in” and may need to focus on bugging out. If you live where there are frequent blizzards, you may need to shelter in and not bug-out.

In our case, we are concerned about the economy and society and believe that there will be a major collapse. While we do talk at times about bugging out, we’re focusing right now on sheltering-in and being here in our community even though we don’t know people that well.  Because of this, instead of focusing as much on bug-out bags and tents and sleeping bags, etc., we’re focusing on food storage (my mom lived through the Great Depression and used to talk about what life was like), on water storage, and on some weapons to protect us.  We want to add in a generator later on and I want to do some EMP-related stuff like having walkie talkies and shortwave radios, etc. stored in safe places.  But those will come in time.  Knowing where you will be staying / bugging out to is a key thing.

Ask yourself what resources you have.  This includes financial resources but also time and skills.  What can you give up – to prepare?  For instance, I will be giving up some of my internet time to can meats in bulk quantities. We don’t go out to eat as much so we can put our money into food storage.  Perhaps you have items you can sell to bring in more money.

Create a plan. Figure out the parts of prepping that matter most to you right now. Food? Water? Shelter? Safety/weapons? First Aid?

Even if you don’t have a lot of money to prep – you can still make small choices that will help you prep – for instance – watch the sale flyers and buy your foods when they’re on sale (in larger amounts) or even start as my son has – by buying an extra case of water and putting it aside….or buying a couple extra cans of soup and setting them aside.

YOU CAN DO IT!  Yes, it will take time and energy and at times you may feel afraid. But bit by bit and piece by piece it will start to come together.

Just one thing….start today…right now.

Don’t just read about being a prepper – BECOME A PREPPER!

© 2013, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

The post January Survival Mom of the Month: TexasMama! by thesurvivalmom appeared first on The Survival Mom™. Be sure to check it out!

image by kevin dooley

Trust your gut, your instinct, your woman’s intuition, or whatever you want to call it. If you’re feeling a little extra uneasy about the future, take some common sense steps to prepare yourself and your family.

© 2012 – 2013, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

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• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation

This is the bare minimum, especially if you live in a climate that is hot and humid. You’d be surprised at how quickly a gallon disappears! Washing face, sanitation, some laundry, drinking, food preparation…water goes fast. Since water is, basically, “free”, don’t scrimp on your water storage. Re-filled 2-liter soda bottles stored under beds, on the floors of closets, behind the couch, will all add up.

Have at least a couple of different ways to purify water. Bleach has a limited shelf life but since it’s so inexpensive and readily available, do keep at least one bottle on hand at all times. Write the purchase date on the bottle, and every six months or so, buy a new one and use the bleach in the older bottle.

It’s also smart to have a larger system that can purify larger amounts of water quickly and smaller portable purifiers for emergency kits, bug out bags, and outdoor activities, such as camping, hunting, and hiking. Some of the brands I’ve used and own are PurifiCup, LifeStraw, Berkey water systems, SteriPEN, and Katadyn products.

• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food

Non-perishable means these foods do not require refrigeration and if they can be eaten without being cooked, that’s even better. Some simple items to have on hand are dried fruit, peanut butter, pilot bread, nuts, energy bars, canned tuna and chicken, and MREs. You can find a longer list here.

Even though these foods may not require cooking, you should still have a couple of ways to heat water and cook food. Food in the freezer and fridge goes bad after just a short time once the temperature rises above 40 degrees. That’s going to be a whole lot of wasted meat, in particular, if you can’t grill it or cook it with a camp stove, over a fire pit, etc.

I recommend having a solar oven of some sort to take advantage of sunny days. Solar ovens don’t require any fuel at all, although the cooking time will be longer than an electric or gas stove/oven. I own a Sun Oven and recommend it because it is so sturdy, simple, and yet well-designed. Additionally, have another method to cook food, one that uses dual fuel, if possible. The Stove Tec Rocket Stove and EcoZoom stove both have this feature, but there’s no need to spend a lot of money. Check Craigslist, eBay, second hand stores, and yard sales for various types of camp stoves. Just be sure you have stored a large amount of the fuel required, be it wood, propane, butane, or charcoal.

• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both

Rule of thumb, you can never have too many batteries. A shortwave radio is worth the money as it would be extra helpful in a long-term power outage or after a catastrophe in which lines of communication are destroyed. Not knowing what is going on outside your own property line or neighborhood is highly stressful. If you have methods of receiving information, you’ll be able to make the smartest decisions possible in the midst of chaos.

• Flashlight and extra batteries

A single flashlight is hardly enough, and families with children know all too well how quickly flashlights disappear. You should stock up on all light sources! Headlamps, lanterns, LED are preferable. Buy light sticks for kids. Even solar path lights can be brought in at night and used for light.

Lighting candles may seem like an easy and cheap way to go, but be very, very careful with open flame candles. Very few of us are used to having open flames around the house, and adding a fire to an existing emergency is no way to find out whether or not the local firefighters are on duty or not.

• First aid kit

A first aid kit is so not enough. Buy the best and most fully equipped kit that you can afford but just as importantly, take a first aid and CPR class, and then take a refresher course every year or so. Knowledge of home remedies and medicinal herbs should also be included, and it would help to know who in you neighborhood has medical training, e.g. a vet, an EMP, nurse, etc.

Stock up on over-the-counter medications. Costco has large bottles of ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and other OTC drugs at very reasonable prices.Think about the medications, treatments, ointments, etc. that you reach for most often and then begin stocking up on extras of those items.

Other helpful items are first aid books, wilderness survival medicine, and some medical reference books, such as a MerckManual and The Pill Book.

If someone in the house requires insulin or something that requires refrigeration, have a plan for keeping that medication cool!

• Whistle to signal for help

Okay, a whistle can’t hurt. Keep one in your car, in each emergency kit, in a Bug Out Bag, a Get Home Bag, a vehicle emergency kit and your kid’s backpack. They can be helpful if you are ever stranded, trapped in rubble, or are lost in the wilderness. Teach your kids the universal distress signal (3 shorts, 3 longs, 3 shorts) in case they are ever in need of help.

• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place

A dust face mask may be better than nothing but if the air around you is actually contaminated, it isn’t going to help a whole lot if it doesn’t fit tightly to your face, and dust masks do not. It is better to invest in an actual gas mask. Keep the dust masks handy for emergencies in which dust, not contaminated air, is the problem. They’re inexpensive and can be purchased at any home improvement store.

If you’re not used to wearing a face mask, practice wearing one every so often to get used to the feeling of near-suffocation, or at least that’s how they feel to me.

Regarding the plastic sheeting and duct tape, well, ask yourself what type of scenario might cause you to need a gas mask, plastic sheeting for windows, doors, and vents. Your answer is likely to be a scary one, e.g. nuclear attack, an accident at a nuclear power plant, airborne pandemic. These are worst case scenarios but it’s worth taking time to consider how you might help your family survive.

And, regarding, “shelter-in-place”, the government has already let us know that in case of a nuclear attack, we’re on our own. You’d better be equipped to stay in your home for weeks, perhaps longer, without any outside help. You’ll need a good supply of uncontaminated water, 2-3 months worth of food, alternate sources of energy, and a lot more.

• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

Most Americans don’t realize just how much we depend on our convenient indoor plumbing. We have no idea where the water comes from or where it goes when we drain a sink or flush a toilet. In a big enough crisis, you may be on your own to provide this service.

At the bare minimum, have a couple of 5 gallon buckets to use as toilets, water, sawdust or kitty litter, room spray and plenty of heavy-duty plastic bags. Line the bucket with two of the plastic bags. You’ll have to take the filled bag outside and start with a new one each morning. This is where hot water and sanitation play a big role. We don’t want to see a return of cholera or dysentery, and this is one more reason for having a way to heat water. It will go a long way toward killing nasty microbes. (I go into greater detail on this topic in my book. Every mom knows that dealing with poop and pee is just part of the job.)

You might as well start stocking up on bars of soap, hand sanitizer, and keep in mind that the bleach you have stored for water purification makes an awesome cleaner when diluted with water (1/4 t. bleach and 2 cups water).

• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

Know where these tools are and how to turn off gas and water. In fact, you should have extras of these tools specifically for this purpose, placed in a location that everyone in the family can find. You should know how and where to turn off your neighbor’s water, gas, and electricity as well.

•  Manual can opener for food

Make sure you have several backups! Since the food we store for emergencies often is canned, you definitely don’t want to be opening those cans with a hammer, screwdriver, or power drill!

• Local maps

Look for detailed maps. Plan several evacuation routes going out in all directions not just from your home but also from your place of work. If a crisis happens to the north, you’ll need a plan to evacuate in another direction. Also, maps of surrounding states might be helpful. Laminate these maps and mark routes with sharpies.

Remember that in a crisis, circumstances change by the moment. A road that is clear one minute may be blocked by floodwater or trees the next, or authorities may decide to barricade that particular route. Have several different routes and destinations in mind.

• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

Communication and lack of information will almost certainly occur, throwing our Information Age population into a panic. Definitely have a backup charger, and remember that text messages get through when phone calls can’t.  People outside of the disaster area will be helpful in providing information you may not be able to get but you’ll need a way to contact them. Amateur radio (HAM radio) will likely be the best source of information, unless the operator’s radio equipment is damaged.

FEMA goes on to list other items, but these are at the top of their list.  What do you think of their list? What other items would be on your life-and-death emergency list?

© 2012 – 2013, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

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Well, of course I have plenty of each!

• Usually a backpack is the best choice because it leaves both hands free. This is especially important if you have kids. In an emergency, you don’t want to be distracted by a shoulder bag falling off your shoulder, weighing too much, etc.
• Look for sturdy fabric, quality stitching, inner pouches and pockets to help keep your supplies organized.
• A hard-sided suitcase with heavy-duty wheels may be a good choice. It will protect the contents of your kit and be easy to pull, as long as the wheels hold out.
• Before committing to a specific bag, assemble all your supplies together and assess what size of bag you need. You don’t want to stuff the bag so full that you can’t find what you need, when you need it. On the other hand, something that is too large will end up being inconvenient and bulky.
• If you plan on having more than one bag, or emergency kit, use different types of containers. For example, an ice chest on wheels is handy as a container for emergency meals, eating utensils, and a small cook stove, and when emptied, it can double as a baby bathtub, a basin for washing dishes, even as a wheeled tote for carrying firewood. Spend some time looking around at Target or Walmart and checking out the variety of containers for more ideas.
• This list will help you pull together the items that are most necessary for your bag. http://thesurvivalmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/The-Everyday-Emergency-Kit.pdf
• I recommend putting your own bag together rather than buying one that is ready-made. I’ve seen quite a few of those close up and many contain items that are not high quality. If someday life may depend on a tool or supply, I want it to be the best quality I can afford. Other disadvantages of a ready-made kit?
  • The bag itself may be of inferior quality. In the event that you ever really do have to, “bug out,” that bag is going to take quite a beating. This isn’t the time to scrimp.
  • A ready-made kit may lull you into a sense of complacency, and you may not ever really check out the contents of the bag or learn how to utilize them until you’re in the middle of a crisis.
  • These kits are put together by committees, people who don’t know you, your family, or your circumstances. What they think is a necessity may end up taking space for something that youreally need.
• When is a ready-made kit the best choice? When you know that you will never actually put together your own customized kit! Hey, I’m famous for saying, “I could make that!”, but then I never do. If a ready-made kit is all you can manage right now, then it’s better than nothing. Just do yourself a favor and get to know the contents, and use my checklist (above) to add additional items you know your family will need.

© 2012, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

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Survival Blog gave me a big kick in the pants for getting started in preparedness, but it also sucked me into near-panic attacks and bouts of despair.  One day my husband came home from work to find me at my desk, in my pajamas, hypnotically reading article after article on Survival Blog.  Rather than motivate me into action, I was frozen with fear.

© 2012, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

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image by dyobmit

Yes, if anything you are stocking up could be destroyed or ruined because you can’t properly store it.

One woman confessed to me that all her food was stored in her Phoenix area garage!  If your stored food and supplies are exposed to heat, intense cold, high humidity, and cannot be secured from the possibility of theft, then you may, indeed, be over-prepared.  Two options are to radically de-clutter your home, garage, attic, and other storage spaces or rent a storage unit.  The whole point of preparing is that you’ll having your goods available and in good condition when you need them!

Yes, if you have no idea what you have.

Too many preppers buy, buy, buy and end up with too much of one thing and not enough of another.  Why have seven hammers and only one hatchet?  Or forty-nine cans of pasta sauce and only twelve boxes of pasta?  Keeping an inventory and know what you have.  It will end up saving you money, space, and time in the long run.

Yes, if you have no idea how to utilize what you have.

What?  Are you waiting for the prepper fairy to come down and teach you how to use that pressure canner or candle making kit?  Stop procrastinating and learn how to grind that wheat and make a decent loaf of bread!  If you don’t know how to use it, don’t buy it until you do or you’re sure you’ll have the time to learn.

Yes, if you’re neglecting your financial commitments in favor of expensive prepping.

Don’t go into foreclosure on your house because you’re purchasing a two-year food supply for every person in your family!  Financial stability is, arguably, the most important part of being prepared for an uncertain future.

Yes, if you’re doing it thoughtlessly.

This isn’t the time to let your emotions rule your decisions.  Have a plan.  Make lists.  Do your research.  Compare prices.  Apply what you’ve learned to your own circumstances and needs.  Don’t mindlessly assume someone else’s recommendations will fit your situation.

Yes, if you’re preparing for the least likely emergency first.

HAZMAT suits and field medic kits may be all the rage among hard-core survivalists but won’t be of much help if you lose your job.  I guess you could sell them on eBay, but seriously, prepare for the most likely emergencies and scenarios first!  Winter is coming.  Are you ready for a world class blizzard or ice storm?  Do you live in an area threatened by earthquakes or wildfires?  In our current economy, most individuals and families should prepare for a dramatic decrease in income first.  The good news is that being prepared for one event helps you be prepared for others.

© 2012, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

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image by toastiest

Every once in a while I come across an article online that I want to bookmark, but what with my computer restarting itself for updates and my kids coming along and closing windows, I invariably lose and forget about the link.

If you’ve ever experienced a computer virus that shuts down your computer or some other malfunction, you know the frustration of not having access to online resources.  If those resources include vital information related to preparedness and survival, start printing!  It just so happens that this four-day weekend would make a terrific time to track down valuable articles and begin printing them out.

You’ll need an extra ream of paper, maybe two, an extra ink cartridge, a 3-ring binder, a 3-hole punch, and a set or two of notebook dividers.  Some helpful categories for organizing your information are:

• evacuations
• finances
• food preservation
• food storage
• fuel and energy
• health and fitness
• security
• skills
• water

Websites that have helpful articles, worthy of printing out, are:

• SurvivalBlog
• PreparednessPro
• FoodStorageMadeEasy
• Dr.BonesandNurseAmy

Also, check out my downloads and various survival manuals, my blogroll and our Survival Mom-Blog Ring.

If articles contain photos or other graphics, I usually copy and paste the entire thing into a Word document and then delete photos and anything else I don’t want printed out.

Bookmarking sites just isn’t enough in a crisis.  You want a hard copy of the most important information and you’re going to need it in a well-organized binder, otherwise known as the Survival Mom Binder!  This project should keep you busy until next week’s Action Step!

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

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