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."