let someone know

Always let someone know where you are going and when you intend to return, especially when hiking, hunting, etc. A whole host of things could happen that would prevent you from making it back safely, and on time, from twisting an ankle, to getting snakebit, or rustling up a yellow jacket nest. If you are long overdue, it would be comforting to know that someone knows where you are and will be coming for you.

survival knives

A straight blade knife is much better in a survival situation than a folding knife. A folding knife has more potential to break when using it as a tool it was not intended for. Try to pick one that has a tang (the part that the handle attaches to) that runs the entire length of the knife, handle and all. When constructed this way they are much stronger and can withstand much more abuse. You don't want to be working with broken equipment in situations like this. That would just be asking for an accident to happen. This is not a good time to be injured from a self inflicted wound.

A good multitool from gerber or leatherman is still the best choice to have if you have to choose, but I would rather have both a good knife and a multitool on hand if possible.

rural survival

Ok, to some people this is going to seem a bit far fetched, but I refer back to a former posts about the gas can panic. It is my firm belief that people living in rural areas are much more prepared to "make it" for a period of time than people living in more urban areas. When I go home after work in the evening I make sure I have picked up pretty much whatever necessities that may be needed for the day, so I can avoid going back out to pick something forgotten up. People that live in more urban areas don't worry about this as much generally, because they don't have as far to travel and it's a lot less trouble. If I forget something minor, I do without it until I go back out the next day.

Now let's just imagine this scenario. The radio and tv sends out a broadcast warning that the power is going to be out for an indefinate amount of time for whatever reason. Anyone living in an area that has snow in the winter knows what this will cause. Every time there is so much as a chance of snow around here, the bread, milk and eggs disappear in short order. So after this announcement and as everyone is on the way to their local supermarket, Wally world, whatever and are steadily calling all their friends advising them to do the same, people start realizing the food is going fast. So they grab all they can. The people seeing others do this decide it's best they do the same, and so on. Next thing you know the shelves are bare. This in itself will cause major panic very quickly. So a week goes by and the city folk have eaten all their food and have no water. People are looting what they can. Then they start thinking, "where can I find food and supplies?" Us dumb ole country folks is where. While we may not be living high on the hog, most anyone that grew up in the country or has lived there for any amount of time, will still have some food of some sort to get by on even after a week.

So you are sitting on your porch, wondering when all this will subside, stoking your fire occasionally, when people start toward your house asking for food. Now us country folks are more than hospitable most of the time, but times are hard, you have a family to take care of, and little to spare. What do you do? If you decide to share, no doubt more will come. If you don't there is the possibility the scene could turn hostile. Look at what happened in New Orleans.

The point of all this is be somewhat prepared to defend your home, family, and supplies. This is going to be one of those situations where "sorry I can't help is not going to cut it."

basic survival tip

This may seem like it goes without saying, but sometimes it's the little things we forget. Pay attention to the weather. Being prepared for sudden weather changes could easily be the difference in being in a survival situation or just merely inconvenient.

survival tip

Always keep a supply of wood, no matter what climate you live in, or what season it is. Just beacause you live in southern Florida you still cook right? What if you need to boil some water. Think about the popular reality show Survivor. The most coveted prize is always fire, and they havn't been many places where it got very cold.

prepare an emergency kit

You never know when you are going to face a situation at home when no power, water, or renewable source of food will be easily obtainable.

These are the tips from the homeland security sight, witha bit of my own input thrown in.
1. water--Homeland security recommends 1 gallon of water per person for 3 days.
I recommend all you have room to store reasonably. I have been without power in my home for a week or so due to ice storms and it is amazing how much water you can go through, especially when you are not accustomed to rationing it. I also recommend the addition of some water purification tablets that can be purchased very reasonably in most any decent camping supply section. undoubtedly you will store the water and then a year down the road need it and have doubts about drinking it. This should remove all doubts.

2.--Homeland security recommends a 3 day supply of nonperishable food.
I recommend a bit more. Imagine you are stuck in the house with 2 kids, and no way to entertain them. Every 15 minutes they will will be screaming, "I'm hungry" (just trust me on that one). I keep the pantry full of canned food that can be easily warmed up on whatever type of heat source is available. I go so far as to buy canned food that has a long shelf life that I know no one in the house will pull out of the pantry and say this is what I want for dinner, yet is still food that will get you by for a few days if necessary. That way I know it will always be there.

3. Homeland security recommends a hand crank flashlight and radio with extra batteries for both.
I go along with the handcrank radio and flashlight but I don't understand the batteries for both of those. That's the purpose of the handcrank (no batteries needed). I suggest picking up a few of these those to have on hand and kept at various locations throughout the house. The situation may not occur when you have the luxury of flicking on all the lights in the house to find "your kit". Make sure you get led lights in any flashlights, crank or battery, they will last much longer and do have spare batteries for those that are not crank. Try to have radios and flashlights and whatever else you feel you will need that operate on the same size batteries.

4. Homeland security recommends a dust mask.
Personally don't understand that one unless they know something I don't. They are cheap enough, if it will make you feel better buy a few. It would be further down my list I think.

5. Homeland security recommends moist toilettes, garbage bags and ties for personal sanitization.
I'd go along with that and they have a lot of other uses as well if the problem lingers longer than anticiapted, but I'll go into that another time.

6. Homeland security recommends a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.
I recommend a good multitool, like a gerber or leatherman that has various tools all in one. I keep one with me most all the time and use it quite a bit. As for the turning off the utilities, don't go messing with the power connectons if you don't know what you are doing. Hopefully if you have enough sense to be reading this you understand why.

7. Homeland security recommends a can opener for food.
Well maybe it's just me, but I'd put that back up there under the number 2 section.

8. Homeland security recommends local maps.
I recommend that if you don't know where you are and you have all these things with you, that you should get out of the house more.

9. They put prescription meds in the category of things to consider. In some cases that should be way up the list. You know your own situation best.

For some reason I see no candles, oil lanterns, or suggestions of heat sources on their list, all of which are high on my personal list. Hopefully if you are at your home clothing won't be an issue. I do think it is a good idea to have more blankets in the house than are needed during normal circumstances, and if there are kids in the house you better have a way of entertaining them or you will all go nuts in a short amount of time.

I don't see mention of first aid high on the list either. I keep one put out of sight out of mind, that way little items don't get swiped from them here and there, such as bandaids, as well as some type of pain reliever/fever reducer.

If you have pets, don't forget about them. It's easy to not replenish their food until it runs out, but if something happens and you can't get back out to the store or are in a hurry, it would be nice to know you had enough food for the pets for a few days already on hand.

Emergency preparedness

With all the various natural disasters and terrorist attacks, that happen seemingly on a daily basis, it just seems plain silly to me to not be somewhat prepared to be able to provide for your family for a few days at a minimum. I began thinking about these things more and more over the past year or so and started making my little preparation kits, and buying some things that my wife just rolls her eyes at when I tell her why I'm buying them. That's just the thing, no one ever thinks they will need them, and if the time comes they think they can run down to the local store and buy what they need. That is the exact problem. PRACTICALLY EVERYONE thinks "they will make an announcement on the news and I can get ready." Well, that MAY work for a short bit of time. But when panick ensues that plan is shot. Here is a simple example. A year or so ago when alerts came out that gas was going to skyrocket, a friend called me and we were talking about it. He mentioned that the local stores were reporting that all the gas cans were being bought up and they were quickly running out of stock. Well, what did I do? I ran from store to store to buy a gas can, and sure enough had to go to several before I found some. I bought 2 (even though I already own about 5). But sure enough the gas cans were being sold out in the entire area in half a day. When the weatherman calls for snow, what is the first thing you do? Run to the grocery store to buy bread, milk and eggs and if you get there early enough you may get some.

When the alert comes over every tv and radio around that something real serious is about to happen will you need to be running to the store in order to have food and water for a few days? If you answered yes, I think you should reconsider. If people went this crazy over gas cans, what do you think they will do over food? It would be a free for all.

I live a pretty good ways out in the country and it is not uncommon for the power to go out for several days at a time. While it is inconvenient, we have no trouble making it. I have a woodstove for backup heat and cooking. A couple different types of camping stoves with extra fuel for them. I keep the pantry full of all kinds of canned foods that can be easily heated up for a quick meal. But most importantly is water. You would be suprised how much water is needed. Water is needed for cooking, cleaning, drinking, and after a day or 2 it's nice if you have enough to flush the toilet (I go outside myself to avoid that problem, bu convincing my wife and daughter to do this is extra work). I save 2 liter drink bottles and milk jugs occasionally and keep myself a decent supply of water. If you intend on drinking the water at some point, it will need to be rotated out to keep fresh.

It's always a good idea to have a basic first aid kit handy. I keep one in a kit I keep put away for such situations so that things don't get taken out of them and not replaced.

Take a minute, go look in your cabinets. Can you feed your family for a week? Can you keep them warm for several nights? If they are hurt or injured, or get sick, can you care for them for a few days without seeing a doctor? I can.