Sunday, February 26, 2012
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Sustainability – A Discussion
by fren2ken
As a youngster who romped around my rural home and the deep woods areas of the Northcountry, I learned many valuable lessons about being well prepared for unanticipated natural conditions. They have taught me lessons about sustainability, as we now term it in our adult years. There is nothing quite like getting caught in an unforeseen cold rainstorm without shelter or a good fire to keep you warm and dried out. At that time (back in "prehistory") we had to pack canned foods on our trips or, hunt for our food. Freeze-Dried camp foods hadn't been available back then. We hated to haul the extra weight ... and sometimes paid the price for it.
As I grew into adulthood, these experiences stuck in my memory. I watched the drama of world events unfold, both in politics and in nature, and felt uneasy about how delicate "civilized" humanity's condition was. That is when I became what is known nowadays as a "Prepper". At the time, the only available label was "Survivalist". I was determined to train and learn as much as I could of technology and maintained my survival skills by training our youth in wilderness survival skills. This also started me planning to become as independent of external factors as possible.
I have come to understand that merely Prepping, storing food, securing long term shelter and, arming oneself, was not enough. To maintain a reasonable level of comfort and satisfaction, one must learn additional skills. Stockpiling building supplies, metals, and hand tools is also required. After all, what good is your shelter if the roof blows off and you don't have the skills, materials and tools to repair it? If you can't repair your equipment and shelter, you will become just another refugee. I have seen many blogs and other discussions which cover obtaining sustainable food supplies, how to protect yourself and family, and build up supplies and shelter. My intent is to get you thinking about the nuts-and-bolts of surviving beyond that first 6-months and into an uncertain future.
If it has become too late for you to gain some of these skills, or are mega-unhandy, this is a good time to cultivate a good relationship with another Prepper who may be able to assist you. Gathering good contacts with Preppers who able to fulfill each other's knowledge gap is a very good thing to do. This is called forming a Self Organizing Collective (SOC). I encourage you, if you have not already done so, reach out to other Preppers and form such associations. If we do not support each other, we will eventually go the same way as the Sheeple already did..... much to our chagrin.
We often focus too intently on short term goals. While that is fine and good to do, thought needs to be given to the long term too. I hope that I have caused you to consider the question of, “What happens in 2nd 6-months of craziness? The 2nd year of insanity? The 3rd?”. Keep building your plans. Keep prepping but, think about the longer term and add that plan to your prepping too. Try to establish a support group (a SOC).
As a youngster who romped around my rural home and the deep woods areas of the Northcountry, I learned many valuable lessons about being well prepared for unanticipated natural conditions. They have taught me lessons about sustainability, as we now term it in our adult years. There is nothing quite like getting caught in an unforeseen cold rainstorm without shelter or a good fire to keep you warm and dried out. At that time (back in "prehistory") we had to pack canned foods on our trips or, hunt for our food. Freeze-Dried camp foods hadn't been available back then. We hated to haul the extra weight ... and sometimes paid the price for it.
As I grew into adulthood, these experiences stuck in my memory. I watched the drama of world events unfold, both in politics and in nature, and felt uneasy about how delicate "civilized" humanity's condition was. That is when I became what is known nowadays as a "Prepper". At the time, the only available label was "Survivalist". I was determined to train and learn as much as I could of technology and maintained my survival skills by training our youth in wilderness survival skills. This also started me planning to become as independent of external factors as possible.
I have come to understand that merely Prepping, storing food, securing long term shelter and, arming oneself, was not enough. To maintain a reasonable level of comfort and satisfaction, one must learn additional skills. Stockpiling building supplies, metals, and hand tools is also required. After all, what good is your shelter if the roof blows off and you don't have the skills, materials and tools to repair it? If you can't repair your equipment and shelter, you will become just another refugee. I have seen many blogs and other discussions which cover obtaining sustainable food supplies, how to protect yourself and family, and build up supplies and shelter. My intent is to get you thinking about the nuts-and-bolts of surviving beyond that first 6-months and into an uncertain future.
If it has become too late for you to gain some of these skills, or are mega-unhandy, this is a good time to cultivate a good relationship with another Prepper who may be able to assist you. Gathering good contacts with Preppers who able to fulfill each other's knowledge gap is a very good thing to do. This is called forming a Self Organizing Collective (SOC). I encourage you, if you have not already done so, reach out to other Preppers and form such associations. If we do not support each other, we will eventually go the same way as the Sheeple already did..... much to our chagrin.
We often focus too intently on short term goals. While that is fine and good to do, thought needs to be given to the long term too. I hope that I have caused you to consider the question of, “What happens in 2nd 6-months of craziness? The 2nd year of insanity? The 3rd?”. Keep building your plans. Keep prepping but, think about the longer term and add that plan to your prepping too. Try to establish a support group (a SOC).
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Our Safe Spot
by olgoat
When I retired from the Navy some years ago we came to West Virginia because we felt the world was going to hell soon. At that time we never even heard the term "Prepper" but that's what we were.
We own fifty acres surrounded by several thousand acres of prime timberland, not far from the New River Gorge National Park.
We bought a used house trailer and moved onto our property. From there we bought a sawmill and began cutting timber from our property. With just me and my wife doing all the work, we eventually moved into our log home (owing $300 on a credit card on the day we moved in).
Since then we have built a barn, purchased hand tools, seeds, food and medical supplies, guns and ammo, livestock and a very big dog.
We formed a group of family and friends (thirty of us to date) and continued prepping.
Currently we have enough supplies to last us over a year with no outside assistance from anybody. One of our members, Mike, is a former Seal and his wife was a medic for a Seal Team in Afganistan and now a RN.
Mike teaches combat training under contract to the military and has stored twelve M-16s and twelve 9mm pistols here at our safe place (all legally purchased).
Half of our group are children and teens. We are teaching them everything they'll need to know to survive in a post SHTF society.
We aren't fanatics or doomsayers but we believe in preparing for anything that is survivable just because the world is getting to be a more dangerous place. We aren't building bunkers because we don't want to live in a world where that's necessary. We don't even care about prophecy because prophecy is so vague.
What we care about is giving the children a fighting chance if things go to hell.
Reply to this thread here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=390&t=15186
When I retired from the Navy some years ago we came to West Virginia because we felt the world was going to hell soon. At that time we never even heard the term "Prepper" but that's what we were.
We own fifty acres surrounded by several thousand acres of prime timberland, not far from the New River Gorge National Park.
We bought a used house trailer and moved onto our property. From there we bought a sawmill and began cutting timber from our property. With just me and my wife doing all the work, we eventually moved into our log home (owing $300 on a credit card on the day we moved in).
Since then we have built a barn, purchased hand tools, seeds, food and medical supplies, guns and ammo, livestock and a very big dog.
We formed a group of family and friends (thirty of us to date) and continued prepping.
Currently we have enough supplies to last us over a year with no outside assistance from anybody. One of our members, Mike, is a former Seal and his wife was a medic for a Seal Team in Afganistan and now a RN.
Mike teaches combat training under contract to the military and has stored twelve M-16s and twelve 9mm pistols here at our safe place (all legally purchased).
Half of our group are children and teens. We are teaching them everything they'll need to know to survive in a post SHTF society.
We aren't fanatics or doomsayers but we believe in preparing for anything that is survivable just because the world is getting to be a more dangerous place. We aren't building bunkers because we don't want to live in a world where that's necessary. We don't even care about prophecy because prophecy is so vague.
What we care about is giving the children a fighting chance if things go to hell.
Reply to this thread here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=390&t=15186
Friday, July 22, 2011
The Record Heat Waves
With the record heat waves and drought across the nation, the American Preppers Network hopes that you have been prepared. Disasters of any type can and do happen anywhere, at anytime, and without warning. We are now witnessing and will continue to witness a prime example of how one disaster can cause a chain reaction leading to other disasters. Here are some potential disasters to be aware of as a result of the drought and heat waves.
1) Water shortages. Water is the number 1 most important necessity to survival. The average human can only survive 3 days without water, and even less in a heat wave. I hope you've stored some. If the water system shuts down or does not have enough, you could turn on the tap only to have a few drips. If you run into a situation where there is not enough municipal water supply to your home, start looking for other sources of stored water.
Got Water?
2) Heat. Heat poses many risks, including but not limited to:
4) Food Prices Expect food prices to increase. Especially meat. Many ranchers are butchering all of there livestock as there is not enough food and water to care for them, this means shortages in the future. Produce crops are drying up. Prices of corn, wheat and other grains will increase. Even produce grown in unaffected areas may increase in price as well due to demand. If the blackouts are too severe, stores, gas stations and truck stops may close down temporarily disrupting the supply chain and preventing food from making it to the stores.
Stay safe during this heat wave and dought. This is a serious and potentially devastating national disaster.
If you have tips, ideas, news, videos or pictures that you wish to share regarding this heat wave you can submit your article to americanprepper@yahoo.com. If your article is chosen we will post it on your states preppers network blog. Top articles will get posted on APN. The top article of the week will win a free flashlantern valued at $49.95 (made in the USA). Articles must be submitted before 7/29.
Feel free to copy and repost this article in it's entirety. Credit source as AmericanPreppersNetwork.com
Here are some free helpful pdf files to download
Fire and Heat Waves
- ARC - Are You Ready - Fire
- ARC - Are You Ready - Heat Wave
- ARC - Are You Ready - Wildfires
- Fact Sheet: Fires
- Fact Sheet: Fire Safe
- WildFires
Water
- ARC - Food and Water in Emergency
- Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water
- How To Make A Solar Still (Plastic Cover)
- Purification Of Water On A Small Scale
- Simple Solar Still For The Production Of Distilled Water
- Slow Sand Filters
- Water Purification
- Water Treatment
Fire Safety
- Fighting Fire
- Fire Safety
Get More Free Downloads here:
http://preppers.info/Free_Downloads.html
1) Water shortages. Water is the number 1 most important necessity to survival. The average human can only survive 3 days without water, and even less in a heat wave. I hope you've stored some. If the water system shuts down or does not have enough, you could turn on the tap only to have a few drips. If you run into a situation where there is not enough municipal water supply to your home, start looking for other sources of stored water.
- Your hot water tank may have 30 - 50 gallons of water stored.
- The top supply tank to your toilette is typically clean water that you can use.
- Your plumbing in your house could have a few gallons. Open a higher faucet in your house as in a shower, sink, or upstairs source to relieve pressure, then open a lower outside faucet to retrieve water from your plumbing system.
Got Water?
2) Heat. Heat poses many risks, including but not limited to:
- Heat Stroke. Watch family members closely, especially the elderly, watch for slurred speech and disorientation. When in doubt, call for help. Time lost is brain lost. Never leave pets or children in a vehicle, and keep them out of the direct sun. Drink lots of water.
- Fire. Fires are much more common in the heat. Things dry out and become more flammable. Keep dry brush and trash picked up. Do not store fuel in or around your house, and keep well ventilated in a cool area out of the sun. Keep grass cut short, especially if your city is rationing water and not allowing watering of lawns. Do not store any flammables in the direct sun or in your attic.
- Vehicle breakdowns. Avoid driving unless it's absolutely necessary, or drive at nite. Check your fluid levels and make sure your oil and coolant are topped off. Bring extra oil and coolant with you in case you need it. DO NOT top off your fuel tank! Make sure your tires are property inflated and not over or under inflated. Bring extra water with you in case you do break down. Drive with the A/C off when going uphill. Watch your vehicles tempature when climbing grades. If your car starts to overheat when going uphill, pull over at a safe location to let it cool. Check to make sure your thermostat is working before you make your trip.
4) Food Prices Expect food prices to increase. Especially meat. Many ranchers are butchering all of there livestock as there is not enough food and water to care for them, this means shortages in the future. Produce crops are drying up. Prices of corn, wheat and other grains will increase. Even produce grown in unaffected areas may increase in price as well due to demand. If the blackouts are too severe, stores, gas stations and truck stops may close down temporarily disrupting the supply chain and preventing food from making it to the stores.
Stay safe during this heat wave and dought. This is a serious and potentially devastating national disaster.
If you have tips, ideas, news, videos or pictures that you wish to share regarding this heat wave you can submit your article to americanprepper@yahoo.com. If your article is chosen we will post it on your states preppers network blog. Top articles will get posted on APN. The top article of the week will win a free flashlantern valued at $49.95 (made in the USA). Articles must be submitted before 7/29.
Feel free to copy and repost this article in it's entirety. Credit source as AmericanPreppersNetwork.com
Here are some free helpful pdf files to download
Fire and Heat Waves
- ARC - Are You Ready - Fire
- ARC - Are You Ready - Heat Wave
- ARC - Are You Ready - Wildfires
- Fact Sheet: Fires
- Fact Sheet: Fire Safe
- WildFires
Water
- ARC - Food and Water in Emergency
- Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water
- How To Make A Solar Still (Plastic Cover)
- Purification Of Water On A Small Scale
- Simple Solar Still For The Production Of Distilled Water
- Slow Sand Filters
- Water Purification
- Water Treatment
Fire Safety
- Fighting Fire
- Fire Safety
Get More Free Downloads here:
http://preppers.info/Free_Downloads.html
Monday, March 7, 2011
West Virginia Preppers Roll Call - All Preppers Please Check In
The American Preppers Network is conducting a network-wide roll call. Whether you are a member or not please check in and let us know what you are doing to prepare.
This is a good opportunity to network with other preppers near you.
West Virginia Preppers, to respond to the roll call please follow this link:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=389&t=9290
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register
This is a good opportunity to network with other preppers near you.
West Virginia Preppers, to respond to the roll call please follow this link:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=389&t=9290
- Reply to the Roll Call and let us know what you have been doing to prepare.
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Canning Green Beans
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Saturday, February 26, 2011
25 Police State Update: TSA Pat Downs, Bag Searches AFTER Passengers Get Off Trains
- February 25th, 2011
According to a first-hand video account from a train station in Savannah, Georgia the Transportation Security Administration is now performing security pat downs and bag searches AFTER passengers disembark from their trips.
According to a first-hand video account from a train station in Savannah, Georgia the Transportation Security Administration is now performing security pat downs and bag searches AFTER passengers disembark from their trips.
First Hand Account as Reported by the Videographer :The only bad thing on our trip was TSA was at the Savannah train station. There were about 14 agents pulling people inside the building and corralling everyone in a roped area AFTER you got OFF THE TRAIN! This made no sense!!! Poor family in front of us! 9 year old getting patted down and wanded. They groped our people too and were very unprofessional. I am all about security, but when have you ever been harassed and felt up getting OFF a plane? Shouldn’t they be doing that getting ON??? And they wonder why so many people are mad at them.
We realize that this will fall on deaf ears at the TSA, but it’s worth pointing out that there’s this old Constitutional amendment that was designed to protect the American people from this exact type of violation of personal liberty:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
The Fourth Amendment (Amendment IV) to the United States Constitution
At the onset of the backscatter and pat-down controversy in 2010 we opined that TSA airport security was just a stepping stone to the next level of government intrusion into our lives.
Now that travelers are more or less used to getting groped and prodded, the TSA is stepping up efforts. All public transportation systems and venues are fair game, including trains, buses, planes, sporting events and shopping malls.
This is to be expected in a country like China or the former Soviet Union, but there is simply no legitimate justification for such actions in the United States of America, unless our government is now attempting to mimic authoritarian regimes, which seems very much to be the case.
Hat Tip Sherrie Questioning All
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Belt-fed .22 caliber full-auto pellet gun…..cool!
I came across this product on Facebook. Looks like it would be very fun to have. Years ago I had a full-auto BB sub-machine gun that ran on canned Freon. It was made by Larc International and cost $39.95. This full-auto pellet gun shoots at over 600 fps……and cost over $500.
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Not cheap – but still cool.
Product information is available at http://air-ordnance.com.
Those poor squirrels!!
Rourke
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Saturday, January 1, 2011
History this day in West Virginia
January 1
On January 1, 1853, the first Baltimore & Ohio train: To read more of this day and the rest of the month please follow the link below:
http://www.wvculture.org/history/thisdayinwvhistory/january.html
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On January 1, 1853, the first Baltimore & Ohio train: To read more of this day and the rest of the month please follow the link below:
http://www.wvculture.org/history/thisdayinwvhistory/january.html
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Visit the West Virginia Forum at www.WestVirginiaPreppersNetwork.net
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Sing the health praises of parsley and sage
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Terrorist may poison the food supply (but the food companies already have)
Join the APN Forum at www.AmericanPreppersNetwork.net
Visit the West Virginia Forum at www.WestVirginiaPreppersNetwork.net
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Federal healthcare bill
by okie B » Mon Dec 13, 2010 12:51 pm
Federal judge in Virginia declares the Obama healthcare bill to be unconstitutional. This promises to be an on-going, arduous fight, but it is good to see at least some hope that it may be overturned.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101213/ap_ ... l_virginia
To respond to this post follow link below:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=191&t=6637
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Visit the West Virginia Forum at www.WestVirginiaPreppersNetwork.net
Federal judge in Virginia declares the Obama healthcare bill to be unconstitutional. This promises to be an on-going, arduous fight, but it is good to see at least some hope that it may be overturned.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101213/ap_ ... l_virginia
To respond to this post follow link below:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=191&t=6637
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Join the APN Forum at www.AmericanPreppersNetwork.net
Visit the West Virginia Forum at www.WestVirginiaPreppersNetwork.net
Saturday, November 27, 2010
West Virginia Preppers Roll Call
The West Virginia Preppers Network is conducting a Roll Call on our forum. If you are a prepper please check in.
* Here is a link to the Roll Call:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=389&t=6170
You have to be registered to check in. If you aren't registered please join here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register
* If you are a HAM Radio Operator check in here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=143&t=6219
* If you are an A.N.T.S. member please check in here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=618&t=6220
* Here is a link to the Roll Call:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=389&t=6170
You have to be registered to check in. If you aren't registered please join here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register
* If you are a HAM Radio Operator check in here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=143&t=6219
* If you are an A.N.T.S. member please check in here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=618&t=6220
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
New WV members
The West Virginia Preppers Network Welcomes our Newest Members:
mountainprepper
MOUNTAINPREPPER HERE. LOOKING TO LEARN.
to post your welcome please follow this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=563&t=5781&p=54585
SeekerofWisdom
"This is great! Im looking forward to learning as much as possible here."
to post your welcome please follow this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=563&t=4921
mommymagpie
"Looking forward to learning a lot here."
to post your welcome please follow this link:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=563&t=4961
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Join the APN Forum at www.AmericanPreppersNetwork.net
Visit the West Virginia Forum at www.WestVirginiaPreppersNetwork.net
mountainprepper
MOUNTAINPREPPER HERE. LOOKING TO LEARN.
to post your welcome please follow this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=563&t=5781&p=54585
SeekerofWisdom
"This is great! Im looking forward to learning as much as possible here."
to post your welcome please follow this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=563&t=4921
mommymagpie
"Looking forward to learning a lot here."
to post your welcome please follow this link:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=563&t=4961
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Join the APN Forum at www.AmericanPreppersNetwork.net
Visit the West Virginia Forum at www.WestVirginiaPreppersNetwork.net
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
How To Join The West Virginia Preppers Network
Come learn survival, preparedness and sustainable living with us!
The Preppers networks are all about volunteering our knowledge and skills with each other. We share ideas, tips and basically network with each other to survive any type of disaster whether natural, man made, or economic. Information that you learn and share with others will help everyone learn how to find "Freedom Through Teaching Others Self Reliance."
Joining the West Virginia Preppers Network is simple, and most of all, it's Free! To join, just follow these few steps.
1) Register to become a member of the American Preppers Network www.AmericanPreppersNetwork.net The registration page is here: http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register
2) Once you have your account, go to the index page of the forum and do your first post by introducing yourself in the new members area. http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/index.php
3) Once you know how to do posts, visit the West Virginia forum and introduce yourself. The West Virginia forum can be found by scrolling to the lower section of the index page where you will find a list of states, or you can go directly by following this URL: www.West VirginiaPreppersNetwork.net
4) After you've visited the West Virginia forum, follow this link to learn how to join the West Virginia Preppers Network group:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=564&t=2738
APN's success depends on your contributions. If you would like to donate to our organization by becoming a Gold Member you can join the APN Gold Members club by following this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/page.php?p=apn-gold-membership&sid=5b241e92a767cdfbe7a345c54dd55127
Gold Membership is only $5 per month. For a list of Gold Member benefits go here
Thank you for your support!
The Preppers networks are all about volunteering our knowledge and skills with each other. We share ideas, tips and basically network with each other to survive any type of disaster whether natural, man made, or economic. Information that you learn and share with others will help everyone learn how to find "Freedom Through Teaching Others Self Reliance."
Joining the West Virginia Preppers Network is simple, and most of all, it's Free! To join, just follow these few steps.
1) Register to become a member of the American Preppers Network www.AmericanPreppersNetwork.net The registration page is here: http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register
2) Once you have your account, go to the index page of the forum and do your first post by introducing yourself in the new members area. http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/index.php
3) Once you know how to do posts, visit the West Virginia forum and introduce yourself. The West Virginia forum can be found by scrolling to the lower section of the index page where you will find a list of states, or you can go directly by following this URL: www.West VirginiaPreppersNetwork.net
4) After you've visited the West Virginia forum, follow this link to learn how to join the West Virginia Preppers Network group:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=564&t=2738
APN's success depends on your contributions. If you would like to donate to our organization by becoming a Gold Member you can join the APN Gold Members club by following this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/page.php?p=apn-gold-membership&sid=5b241e92a767cdfbe7a345c54dd55127
Gold Membership is only $5 per month. For a list of Gold Member benefits go here
Thank you for your support!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Disaster Alert: Floods in Virginia , West Virginia , North Carolina , and New York
The APN-Disaster Reporting Service thanks D_Loki for providing us with the following update:
January 26, 2010
West Virginia – Storms caused river flooding that affected the residents of Greenbrier, Monroe and Pocahontas Counties on Monday. The Governor declared a stat of emergency for Greenbrier County and the surrounding areas. The Chapter deployed a DAT Team, opened 4 shelters and provided Mass Care to local residents.
North Carolina – River flooding in Surry County destroyed homes, damaged others and prompted the evacuation of dozens of local residents in the affected area on Monday. The Surry County Chapter deployed a DAT Team, opened a shelter, and provided MC services for the evacuees. The Northwest North Carolina Chapter deployed DAT and provided individual assistance to affected-area residents.
New York – A rainstorm that filled rivers and streams in the northeast portion of the state delayed flights and blew debris from buildings on Monday. The ARC of Northeastern New York Chapter deployed DAT and opened a precautionary shelter for local residents.
January 26, 2010
Disaster Alert
Virginia – Heavy rains caused flash flooding in Augusta , Rockbridge and Albemarle Counties on Monday that prompted the evacuation of residents in low-lying areas. The Central Virginia Chapter deployed a Disaster Action Team (DAT), opened a shelter, placed an Emergency Response Vehicle on standby and provided Mass Care (MC) for shelter residents. The Shenandoah Chapter deployed DAT and opened a shelter for affected-area residents.West Virginia – Storms caused river flooding that affected the residents of Greenbrier, Monroe and Pocahontas Counties on Monday. The Governor declared a stat of emergency for Greenbrier County and the surrounding areas. The Chapter deployed a DAT Team, opened 4 shelters and provided Mass Care to local residents.
North Carolina – River flooding in Surry County destroyed homes, damaged others and prompted the evacuation of dozens of local residents in the affected area on Monday. The Surry County Chapter deployed a DAT Team, opened a shelter, and provided MC services for the evacuees. The Northwest North Carolina Chapter deployed DAT and provided individual assistance to affected-area residents.
New York – A rainstorm that filled rivers and streams in the northeast portion of the state delayed flights and blew debris from buildings on Monday. The ARC of Northeastern New York Chapter deployed DAT and opened a precautionary shelter for local residents.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Solar Landscaping Lights
Re-post courtesy of MatthiasJ from Kentucky Preppers NetworkAt the KPN Meetup Bullseye brought up a great point about the Solar Landscaping Lights that you can purchase. These are great for cheap lighting at night for your sidewalks, gardens, placed around your property for a little night light or added security. They are basically maintenance free and require no cables or cords to power them.
The cool thing about them is that they have small solar cells on top of them that draw their power from the sun during the day. For night use the power is stored in a standard rechargeable AA battery. Some of these lights have two batteries in them and those are the bigger ones. If you have a stock of rechargeable batteries (which you should) you can purchase solar chargers for pretty cheap. But the landscaping lights can be dual purpose. Light at night, and charged batteries when you need them.
These lights are pretty cheap and you could make a "garden" of solar lights just for charging your batteries. You can get a 10-pack from Amazon for around $30.00. That's not bad considering you could charge at least 1 battery per light (I'm not sure if these will do 1 or 2). This would eliminate the need for an at home solar charging option. It would still be a good idea to have a portable solar charging unit for your batteries but for home use these are perfect.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
A guide to pressure canning
Re-post courtesy of MatthiasJ from Kentucky Preppers Network
I have never done any pressure canning myself, but if you have a garden it's a great way to preserve and store your own homegrown food for later use. Pressure canning is fairly simple and can be used to can just about anything. With a little studying and practice you can be canning the food from your garden in no time. Below is a guide to pressure canning written by the Utah State University Extension. A PDF version of the guide can be viewed here.
Pressure canning is a safe and economical method of preserving low acid foods which has been used for decades, especially by home gardeners and others interested in providing food storage for their families where quality control of the food is in one's own hands. Home food preservation also promotes a sense of personal satisfaction and accomplishment. Further, the guess-work is taken out of being able to provide a safe food supply at home when guidelines for operating a pressure canner are followed exactly, scientifically tested/approved recipes are utilized, and high quality equipment, supplies and produce are used.
Older model pressure canners (made before 1970) were heavy-walled kettles with clamp-on or turn-on lids fitted with a dial-type gauges. A vent port, in the form of a petcock or counterweight, and a safety fuse were also present. Modern pressure canners are lightweight, thin-walled kettles and most have turn-on lids. They usually have a perforated metal rack or basket with handles, rubber gasket, a dial or weighted gauge, an automatic vent/cover lock, a vent port (steam vent) to be closed with a counterweight or weighted gauge, and a safety fuse.
Note: When purchasing a used pressure canner, make certain all parts are accounted for and in good condition. It is nearly impossible to find replacement parts for older models.
2. Leave weight off vent port or open petcock. Heat at the highest setting until steam flows from the petcock or vent port.
3. Maintain high heat setting, exhaust steam 10 minutes, and then place weight on vent port or close petcock. The canner will pressurize during the next 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Start timing the process when the pressure reading on the dial gauge indicates that the recommended pressure has been reached, or when the weighted gauge begins to jiggle/ rock.
5. Regulate heat under the canner to maintain a steady pressure at or slightly above the correct gauge pressure. If the pressure reading goes below the recommended pressure, you must bring the pressure back up and start the timing process over again from the beginning.
6. When timed processing is completed, turn off the heat, remove canner from heat (if electric range), and let the canner "depressurize" at room temperature. (dial needle moves back to "0" or no steam sounds when weight is gently nudged). Do not force-cool the canner. Releasing pressure from a partially opened vent or placing the canner under cool water will result in under-processing. It may also cause unsealed jars and loss of liquid from the jars. Quick-cooling can also warp the canner lid of older model canners.
7. After the canner is depressurized, remove the weight from the vent port or open the petcock. Wait 2 minutes, unfasten the lid, and remove it carefully. Lift the lid away from you so that the steam does not burn your face.
8. Remove jars with a lifter, and place on towel or cooling rack, if desired. Do not set on a cold surface or expose to breezy conditions.
Gaskets: Handle canner lid gaskets carefully and clean them according to the manufacturer's directions. Nicked or dried gaskets will allow steam leaks during pressurization of canners and should be replaced. Keep gaskets clean between uses. A lid which is difficult to remove after cooling may indicate a gummy, or dry gasket and is reason to replace it.
I have never done any pressure canning myself, but if you have a garden it's a great way to preserve and store your own homegrown food for later use. Pressure canning is fairly simple and can be used to can just about anything. With a little studying and practice you can be canning the food from your garden in no time. Below is a guide to pressure canning written by the Utah State University Extension. A PDF version of the guide can be viewed here.
Why Choose Pressure Canning to Preserve Food?
Pressure canning is a safe and economical method of preserving low acid foods which has been used for decades, especially by home gardeners and others interested in providing food storage for their families where quality control of the food is in one's own hands. Home food preservation also promotes a sense of personal satisfaction and accomplishment. Further, the guess-work is taken out of being able to provide a safe food supply at home when guidelines for operating a pressure canner are followed exactly, scientifically tested/approved recipes are utilized, and high quality equipment, supplies and produce are used.
What Foods Are Typically Processed/Preserved Using a Pressure Canner and Why?
Becoming Familiar with the Parts of a Pressure Canner
Older model pressure canners (made before 1970) were heavy-walled kettles with clamp-on or turn-on lids fitted with a dial-type gauges. A vent port, in the form of a petcock or counterweight, and a safety fuse were also present. Modern pressure canners are lightweight, thin-walled kettles and most have turn-on lids. They usually have a perforated metal rack or basket with handles, rubber gasket, a dial or weighted gauge, an automatic vent/cover lock, a vent port (steam vent) to be closed with a counterweight or weighted gauge, and a safety fuse.
Note: When purchasing a used pressure canner, make certain all parts are accounted for and in good condition. It is nearly impossible to find replacement parts for older models.
Selecting The Correct Processing Time and Pressure
Steam-Pressure Canner Altitude Chart
| Altitude (feet) | Weighted Gauge | Dial Gauge |
| 0 - 1,000 | 10 | 11 |
| 1,001 - 2,000 | 15 | 11 |
| 2,001 - 4,000 | 15 | 12 |
| 4,001 - 6,000 | 15 | 13 |
| 6,001 - 8,000 | 15 | 14 |
| 8,001 - 10,000 | 15 | 15 |
Steps for Successful Steam-Pressure Canning
2. Leave weight off vent port or open petcock. Heat at the highest setting until steam flows from the petcock or vent port.
3. Maintain high heat setting, exhaust steam 10 minutes, and then place weight on vent port or close petcock. The canner will pressurize during the next 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Start timing the process when the pressure reading on the dial gauge indicates that the recommended pressure has been reached, or when the weighted gauge begins to jiggle/ rock.
5. Regulate heat under the canner to maintain a steady pressure at or slightly above the correct gauge pressure. If the pressure reading goes below the recommended pressure, you must bring the pressure back up and start the timing process over again from the beginning.
6. When timed processing is completed, turn off the heat, remove canner from heat (if electric range), and let the canner "depressurize" at room temperature. (dial needle moves back to "0" or no steam sounds when weight is gently nudged). Do not force-cool the canner. Releasing pressure from a partially opened vent or placing the canner under cool water will result in under-processing. It may also cause unsealed jars and loss of liquid from the jars. Quick-cooling can also warp the canner lid of older model canners.
7. After the canner is depressurized, remove the weight from the vent port or open the petcock. Wait 2 minutes, unfasten the lid, and remove it carefully. Lift the lid away from you so that the steam does not burn your face.
8. Remove jars with a lifter, and place on towel or cooling rack, if desired. Do not set on a cold surface or expose to breezy conditions.
Additional Safety/Operating Tips
Gaskets: Handle canner lid gaskets carefully and clean them according to the manufacturer's directions. Nicked or dried gaskets will allow steam leaks during pressurization of canners and should be replaced. Keep gaskets clean between uses. A lid which is difficult to remove after cooling may indicate a gummy, or dry gasket and is reason to replace it.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Gear Review: Katadyn Combi Water Filter
Re-post courtesy of MatthiasJ from Kentucky Preppers Network
Katadyn makes some of the best backpacking filters on the market. They have a lot of different models that would fit nearly anyone's hiking or backpacking needs. These filters are well made, durable, and hold up while on the trail. With a Katadyn hiking filter, all you need is a decent water source and you can have all the clean drinking water that you can pump out. These are perfect for your Get Home Bag, Bug Out Bag, or Get Out Of Dodge Bag. They're small, lightweight, and remove the need to carry water, which is very heavy.
Out of all the models of filters Katadyn makes I wanted to choose a filter that was within my budget range and also had a filter that would last a long time. There are a lot of filters on the market that you can get for fairly cheap but most will only filter a couple hundred gallons at the most. If you're using a filter for your Get Home Bag, you want something that has a filter that will filter enough water as long as you're out with your bag. The Katadyn Combi was the filter I settled on.
The Katadyn Combi is part of Katadyn's Endurance Series of filters. The endurance series of filters are designed for 1 - 4 people to use, have an extremely long life and are for extremely dirty water. It's filter combines a silver impregnated ceramic element and a refillable, activated carbon cartridge. It is effective against bacteria and protozoa and also reduces chemicals and bad taste. The ceramic element filters down to 0.2 microns which will remove 99.9% of all bacteria. The ceramic element is washable which will prolong the life of the filter. The activated carbon isn't required for the filter to work but will make the taste and smell of the water a lot better.
The ceramic element will filter around 13,000 gallons (depending on water quality) and the activated carbon will last for 100 gallons before needing to be replaced. The unit itself is only 12" long and less than 3" in diameter. It will will filter around 1 liter of water per minute (hand pumping it) and weighing in at less than 21 ounces it is the perfect backpack filter. The housing is made of durable plastic and is built to last.
The unit comes with a quality carrying bag, 1 ceramic element, 2 packs of activated carbon, and a bottle adapter to attach the filter on top of any standard water bottle (Nalgene). There is a optional water faucet adapter that allows the Combi to be used in a camper, cottage, or a boat. This filter would also be great for a pop-up camper or a small camping setup without a filter in the camper.
The Combi comes with a 1 year warranty and the list price is $159.99 without the faucet adapter. The cheapest place to get the Combi is eBay for around $135.00. The faucet adapter is around $40.00 from Amazon, which is the cheapest. I don't have the faucet adapter but I did purchase an extra filter so I have the ability to filter around 26,000 gallons of water. I do need to get a few more packs of the activated carbon, but as stated above you can use the filter without the carbon.
Katadyn makes some of the best backpacking filters on the market. They have a lot of different models that would fit nearly anyone's hiking or backpacking needs. These filters are well made, durable, and hold up while on the trail. With a Katadyn hiking filter, all you need is a decent water source and you can have all the clean drinking water that you can pump out. These are perfect for your Get Home Bag, Bug Out Bag, or Get Out Of Dodge Bag. They're small, lightweight, and remove the need to carry water, which is very heavy.
Out of all the models of filters Katadyn makes I wanted to choose a filter that was within my budget range and also had a filter that would last a long time. There are a lot of filters on the market that you can get for fairly cheap but most will only filter a couple hundred gallons at the most. If you're using a filter for your Get Home Bag, you want something that has a filter that will filter enough water as long as you're out with your bag. The Katadyn Combi was the filter I settled on.
The Katadyn Combi is part of Katadyn's Endurance Series of filters. The endurance series of filters are designed for 1 - 4 people to use, have an extremely long life and are for extremely dirty water. It's filter combines a silver impregnated ceramic element and a refillable, activated carbon cartridge. It is effective against bacteria and protozoa and also reduces chemicals and bad taste. The ceramic element filters down to 0.2 microns which will remove 99.9% of all bacteria. The ceramic element is washable which will prolong the life of the filter. The activated carbon isn't required for the filter to work but will make the taste and smell of the water a lot better.
The ceramic element will filter around 13,000 gallons (depending on water quality) and the activated carbon will last for 100 gallons before needing to be replaced. The unit itself is only 12" long and less than 3" in diameter. It will will filter around 1 liter of water per minute (hand pumping it) and weighing in at less than 21 ounces it is the perfect backpack filter. The housing is made of durable plastic and is built to last.
The unit comes with a quality carrying bag, 1 ceramic element, 2 packs of activated carbon, and a bottle adapter to attach the filter on top of any standard water bottle (Nalgene). There is a optional water faucet adapter that allows the Combi to be used in a camper, cottage, or a boat. This filter would also be great for a pop-up camper or a small camping setup without a filter in the camper.
The Combi comes with a 1 year warranty and the list price is $159.99 without the faucet adapter. The cheapest place to get the Combi is eBay for around $135.00. The faucet adapter is around $40.00 from Amazon, which is the cheapest. I don't have the faucet adapter but I did purchase an extra filter so I have the ability to filter around 26,000 gallons of water. I do need to get a few more packs of the activated carbon, but as stated above you can use the filter without the carbon.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Get your dentist trip in before SHTF
Re-post courtesy of Matthiasj from Kentucky Preppers Network
One thing that's always important is taking care of yourself. Prepping is a mindset that can be used on a daily basis in nearly all your activities. Whether you're just going to the post office or going on a overnight trip, you always want to be prepared. You're body is no exception to this rule. In the uncertain times we live in, who knows if you're job will be there tomorrow, or if the economy will still be standing tomorrow. Never put anything off to tomorrow that you can do today. This includes your teeth.
Just as stocking up on eyeglasses is important, keeping your teeth healthy is equally important. After SHTF you won't be able to rely on a dentist to work on your teeth, so if you have any pending issues you should get them fixed NOW. Everytime I go to the dentist I have them check all my fillings in case they need repair. There are some "field manuals" on how to do emergency dentist work but I would rather avoid having to pull a tooth by fixing what's wrong while you still can.
Along with dentist trips you want to have a good stock of toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss. Regular maintenance on your teeth will prevent most tooth issues. Our teeth are meant to last a lifetime with little or no maintenance, but floss and brushing will prolong the life of your teeth even more. If you're looking for a fluoride free toothpaste that you can make yourself, check out my post; homemade toothpaste recipe.
Some tooth/mouth problems can start out minor but turn into serious issues. Prevent the minor issues and you will never have any major issues. Another good tip for healthy teeth is STAY AWAY FROM SWEETS. Everytime you eat something sweet your mouth produces an acid that eats away at the enamel of your teeth. This will last up to 30 min. after you've eaten the sweets. If you do eat sweets, try to eat them all at one time of the day. Don't spread out your snack (munch on candy for hours) that will keep that acid in your mouth and do harm to your teeth. Eat all your sweets at one time to keep the acid levels in your mouth to a minimum.
One thing that's always important is taking care of yourself. Prepping is a mindset that can be used on a daily basis in nearly all your activities. Whether you're just going to the post office or going on a overnight trip, you always want to be prepared. You're body is no exception to this rule. In the uncertain times we live in, who knows if you're job will be there tomorrow, or if the economy will still be standing tomorrow. Never put anything off to tomorrow that you can do today. This includes your teeth.
Just as stocking up on eyeglasses is important, keeping your teeth healthy is equally important. After SHTF you won't be able to rely on a dentist to work on your teeth, so if you have any pending issues you should get them fixed NOW. Everytime I go to the dentist I have them check all my fillings in case they need repair. There are some "field manuals" on how to do emergency dentist work but I would rather avoid having to pull a tooth by fixing what's wrong while you still can.
Along with dentist trips you want to have a good stock of toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss. Regular maintenance on your teeth will prevent most tooth issues. Our teeth are meant to last a lifetime with little or no maintenance, but floss and brushing will prolong the life of your teeth even more. If you're looking for a fluoride free toothpaste that you can make yourself, check out my post; homemade toothpaste recipe.
Some tooth/mouth problems can start out minor but turn into serious issues. Prevent the minor issues and you will never have any major issues. Another good tip for healthy teeth is STAY AWAY FROM SWEETS. Everytime you eat something sweet your mouth produces an acid that eats away at the enamel of your teeth. This will last up to 30 min. after you've eaten the sweets. If you do eat sweets, try to eat them all at one time of the day. Don't spread out your snack (munch on candy for hours) that will keep that acid in your mouth and do harm to your teeth. Eat all your sweets at one time to keep the acid levels in your mouth to a minimum.
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