Ten Must-Have Items to Pack in Your Survival Kit

A survival kit is an essential part of any prepper’s inventory. In a nutshell, this is a portable pack that you can take with you in the event of an emergency. It’s stocked with the basic necessities you’ll require to stay alive and keep your family safe while you await or prepare a more permanent living situation. While each person’s idea of “necessities” might vary, these tools are universal in nature and can prove immeasurably useful in an extreme situation where your survival depends on your preparedness and resourcefulness.

Before we get into what should go inside your pack, let’s review the pack itself first. This isn’t the place for a super heavy container that you have to lug around everywhere you go. If an emergency strikes, you’ll need to be able to move quickly and get out fast. To that end, pack a bag that’s easy to carry, preferably a backpack. Fill it with what you need, but keep in mind that you may be walking a while over various terrain, so make sure it’s light enough that you can wear it for a few hours without needing to take a break. 

Here are a few items that will fit in your pack, and won’t weigh it down:

1. A fire starter kit. This one tops our list because of its practicality. If you find yourself stranded in the wilderness, you don’t want to rely on the old Boy Scout trick of rubbing two sticks together to get a fire started for your family. While that’s certainly a viable technique, it takes a while, and depending on your location and climate, you might not have the luxury of time on your hands. A fire starter kit gets the job done quickly and efficiently. Pack at least three means of starting a fire so you’re not dependent on only one. Solid choices include a lighter, matches, and a striker, as well as some additional tinder to stroke a small flame. Store them in water-tight containers and keep them in a special place in your pack. A fire isn’t just a means to stay warm. It can also be a beacon to call for help, as well as a way to cook your meals. So get that fire started soon, and you’ll be glad you were prepared.

2. A sturdy, sharp knife. From warding off predators to aiding in hunting, a sharp and solid knife is an essential part of your survival kit. Your best bet is to choose a survival knife that’s designed specifically to be used in wilderness situations, though a multi-purpose tool with a top-notch one fine in a pinch. From skinning wildlife to cutting strings and sharpening wood, your knife should be able to do a variety of tasks. Make sure it’s as sharp as possible and pack an equally reliable backup just in case you need it.

3. An emergency radio. If you’re in the wilderness, but still need to communicate with the outside world or to stay abreast on what’s going on, you’ll need an emergency radio. Designed to work and remain functional even in the absence of power, it’s a critical communication tool that some preppers tend to overlook when packing their survival kits. To maintain power as long as possible without going out, many are designed to include a hand-cranked generator in addition to a rechargeable battery. The generator will pump power to the battery to keep the radio working and finding a signal. Expect to receive the general AM and FM bands, and some will even pick up weather radio data. News sources could deliver important messages via this medium in the event of a national or local emergency, and you won’t want to be cut off from receiving those critical updates.

4. A map and compass. Even if you’re looking to get as far away as possible, you likely don’t want to be stranded with no means to determine where you are. That’s where a map and compass come in. While your GPS is certainly a helpful tool, it could go out at any moment and you’ll be happy you packed a backup. These tools are lightweight and fit easily into a backpack, adding to their convenience. In addition to a traditional road map, a topographic map can prove incredibly useful in wilderness and off-road environments. If you’re unfamiliar with how to read a map and compass, consider brushing up on a little training so you’re ready to move when and if the time comes.

5. A first-aid kit. This is a no-brainer, and an absolutely critical component of your survival kit. While you likely don’t have the space to pack an extensive one, your first-aid kid should be equipped with enough tools to help tend to a variety of minor wounds, from cuts and scrapes to bruises and sprains. Core components include antiseptic, gauze, bandages, pain reliever, tweezers, and scissors. Here’s a handy list of other can’t-miss items to ensure you’re covered. Especially in the wilderness, falls, tumbles and other accidents can happen at a moment’s notice, and you’ll need to be prepared to treat such issues when they arise so you can keep moving.

6. A water filtration system. If you’re traveling in the wilderness for an extensive period of time, you don’t want to load down your pack with heavy bottled water. Instead, pack a simple water filtration system to help turn stream and creek water into drinkable fluid for your family. You can’t survive longer than about 72 hours without drinking water, and if you foresee being away for longer than that, this system is absolutely essential. One easy tool to pack that takes up virtually no space is a LifeStraw. This system lets you turn 4,000 liters of contaminated water into drinkable water with ease. You’ll simply put it into the water source and drink, making it easy to keep everyone in your group hydrated throughout the journey. 

7. A light source. This one doesn’t say “flashlight” because unless you’re packing an arsenal of backup batteries, you shouldn’t rely on a flashlight alone to light your way. Plan to pack one, of course, but also keep a survival torch on hand as a backup in case of a power outage or other emergency. These are lightweight and will fit inside your pack, and will provide you with the ease of mind that no matter how dark it gets, you’re stocked with a way to light the path. 

8. A heliograph. When the threat of danger has passed and you need to be found by emergency personnel, you may be sought after by helicopters circling above. In this situation, you need to be able to quickly signal to them where you are. A heliograph or signal mirror will be your ticket to safety in this case. Designed to reflect light from the sun, it reflects the light in flashes and alerts first responders to your location. As it’s fragile and breakable, store it somewhere padded and safe in your pack.

9. Thick cord. From climbing over mountains to dragging freshly killed game, strong cordage is a necessity when you’re in a survival situation. Don’t scrimp in this category, but invest in sturdy rope that will do the trick no matter the task. High-quality cords can also be used to fish with, to bundle firewood, to dry clothes, and a variety of other helpful functions. Don’t weigh your pack down with tons of mediocre rope, but purchase enough top-notch material to handle all the tasks you foresee requiring.

10. Layers. Pack enough clothes for everyone in your family to ensure that even if temperatures dip below freezing, you’ve got layers to put on. Be sure to keep the weather in mind when gathering these items, and pack plenty of rainproof gear as well. To keep these clothes from taking up too much space in your pack, roll them as tightly as possible, and pack them toward the bottom. Worried you’ve packed too many warm clothes? Don’t be. Research reveals that cold kills 20 times more people than heat, and you can never be too prepared or too protected against the threat of hypothermia.

This list is far from exhaustive, but it serves as a solid baseline for packing your essential survival kit. When it comes to prepping, being prepared is everything, and having this stocked kit ready to take with you at any moment can do wonders for your peace of mind. Thankfully, a majority of these items are available in stores and online for minimal costs, so start shopping and start packing and rest easy tonight.

Lavender Oil Uses: 7 Benefits of Lavender for Survival

With its antiseptic properties, this plant is a popular choice for home remedies, helping relieve a number of illnesses such as headaches, anxiety, or upset stomachs. This wonderful essential oil has been a go-to first aid treatment of my family for a long time now. Get to know some uses for lavender oil as you read through this article.

1. First Aid

If you have scalds or burns, apply topically some lavender oil on the affected area to prevent blisters from forming. This can also lessen the pain from the scalds or burns. Additionally, if you apply lavender oil to minor scrapes, this can avoid scarring. Lavender oil is definitely a must-have in your first aid kit!

2. Bleeding

When you accidentally get a cut, no need to panic. Simply put a few drops of lavender oil directly on the cut to stop it from bleeding. The essential oil can also clean the wound and kill bacteria.

3. Muscle Pains or Sprains

For muscle pains or sprains, mix lavender oil with a carrier oil like olive oil, jojoba oil, or coconut oil. Once you have your selected carrier oil and lavender oil combined well, rub the mixture on the affected area for soothing relief. This is best done right before going to sleep.

4. Splinter Removal

Getting a splinter out from your foot or finger can be quite challenging. Normally, you would think of using tweezers to remove the stubborn splinter but using lavender oil could be the better thing to do. Simply put a few drops of lavender oil to the splinter. Wait until you see some swelling so you can easily remove that annoying splinter.

5. Insect Bites

Insect bites can cause itching and swelling. But don’t fret! Just grab your lavender oil and apply a few drops to the insect bite. This will lessen the itch and reduce the swelling.

6. Insect Repellent

If you’re going out into the wilderness, it’s best to be prepared against insect bites. While there are a lot of insect repellents you can buy, you can choose instead to make use of lavender oil to ward off those pesky insects. Mix lavender oil with a carrier oil of your choice then rub the mixture to any exposed skin, normally the arms and legs. This should keep those insects away.

7. Headache

Suffering from a headache? Lavender oil can grant relief! Just rub some lavender oil on your forehead or temples. You can also combine lavender oil with peppermint to have a calming and numbing effect.

How to Properly Clean a Gun and Keep It useful

Most people don’t clean their guns properly. They buy too many products, clean too often, and over clean when they do clean. 

If you’re one of those people, it’s time to set your rifle down and pay attention. Unless your daughter is walking in with her boyfriend, then, by all means, keep cleaning. 

It really depends on how often you shoot as to how often you need to clean. It may not be as often as you think. 

Unless you carry concealed, you only have to clean a gun every 1000-5000 rounds. The more often you clean your gun, the more likely you are to mess something up. And if you don’t seat the bushing correctly or do something similarly stupid, you’ll negate any benefit you had to cleaning the gun.

Since you understand how often to clean a gun, let’s move on to how to actually clean a gun.

1. Gather Your Tools

You don’t need a complicated cleaning kit. Just keep it simple. 

What should you look for in a good yet simple cleaning kit? 

A simple effective kit should have a bore brush, a cleaning rod, a cleaning brush, a patch holder with cleaning patches, and a polishing cloth. That and some lubricant and solvent will work just fine for most handguns and rifles. 

Unless you don’t care about the surface you’re working on, it’s wise to use either some newspaper or an old towel as a workspace. But if you want to put down a little bit extra cash, you can buy an anti-slip anti-solvent mat that will help keep all your parts in one place.

2. Never Clean a Loaded Weapon

This may sound like common sense, but there are people out there stupid enough to do this. Always remove the magazine and clear the chamber before cleaning your weapon. 

It’s a simple task and it will save you either your life or a grave injury. 

Safe gun handling is the number one thing any gun-owner needs to learn. Simple rules get overlooked if you haven’t taken a basic safety course.

Cleaning a gun requires that you look down the barrel of your gun. And one of the first things you learn in a safety class is never look down the barrel of a loaded gun even if the safety is on. You don’t want to play with your life like that.

When you do remove ammunition from your weapon, be sure you do not place it in any solvents. Solvents can damage ammunition and cause it to fail. 

3. It’s Time to Disassemble Your Weapon

Only disassemble as much as the manufacturer recommends. Most new guns come with a manual. You can find the manufacturer recommendations in your gun’s manual.

If you bought a used gun or from a surplus supplier, you won’t receive a manual. This is absolutely ok as plenty of online forums will have information about your weapons. You can also check the manufacturer’s website for a particular manual.

Guns are actually quite simple to tear down. But it certainly depends on the type of weapon you’re cleaning. While a Glock 9MM is pretty easy to take apart and reassemble, others are more complicated.

You don’t usually need to fully tear apart a gun to clean it. Know your gun inside and out before attempting to disassemble it.

4. Now It’s Time to Look Down the Barrel

Once your gun is empty of ammunition and you’ve torn down what you need, you can safely look down the barrel. You should see the barrel’s rifling unless, you’re looking down a shotgun barrel. These are the spiral grooves that cause the bullet to spin and maintain its trajectory.

This is the most important part of the gun to clean. Once you’re done cleaning it, you should be able to look down the barrel and see virtually no bits of debris or flecks along the inside of the barrel.

If you don’t clean this part of your gun well, your accuracy will take a hit and the gun might eventually cease to function. 

Take your bore brush and attach it to your cleaning rod. You can add a small amount of solvent to the brush before pushing the brush through the barrel.

You should run it through the barrel several times while adding solvent every few passes. Once you’ve completed this step, replace the brush with your patch holder. Add a swab in the holder and run it through the barrel as well. 

You should come out with a fairly dirty patch if you’ve been using your gun. 

Replace the patch and repeat. Do this until the patch comes back fairly clean and the inside of the barrel is free of debris or particles. Make sure you use a flashlight for this. Shine the flashlight into the chamber from the other end and look down the barrel.

The last thing you need to do to the barrel is protect it from corrosion. Put a few drops of oil on a patch and run it through your barrel. 

If you are cleaning a revolver, be sure to clean each of the chambers as well. Treat them just like you would a barrel. 

5. The Rest of Your Gun

The rest of the gun may not need to be cleaned as often. But when you do clean it, use a very small amount of solvent to remove debris. A little goes a very long way.

After you’ve wiped down the gun with a solvent laden patch, you can then add some oil over all the metallic parts of your gun. Just like the inside of your barrel, this will preserve the gun and keep it from corroding.

And lastly, make sure you lubricate the moving parts in your gun as well. But not too much. If you apply too much lubrication to things like your firing pin, it could gum up in the small amount of space there is between the pin and its housing. Plus, too much lubricant attracts unwanted debris and dirt.

A double-action gun will need some lubrication on the cylinder ratchet and the ejector rod. A single-action requires oil on the cylinder, ratchet, and pin.

A Clean Gun Could Save Your Life

Make cleaning your gun a habit. A well maintained firearm could save your life. A poorly maintained firearm might fail you.

The Hydra Light Product Review!!! Wow!

The Hydra Light Product Review

I got word a water powered Flashlight was heading my way for a product review & immediately pictured a contraption with a propeller to dip in a running stream, or some penlight hooked up to a water bottle. Instead, I got the Hydra Light, a foot long, rubber-coated, yellow & black plastic cylinder, looking every inch a serious lighting device. It sported some heft to it too, but strangely, no propeller or water tank.  Instead, inside it was a long white cylinder where a battery would be, with two metal ends and holes along the length of it’s sides.

End-cap with fold-out hook

The end-cap flares out forming a stable base with a recessed fold-out plastic hook to hang it upside down. (Although I doubt the hook will hold up long.)

At the business end, a clear plastic lamp bezel sports a mirrored concave top cover, and an aperture in the center. Around the single white LED inside the bezel, was more mirrored plastic.

The bezel does double duty. Slide the bezel fully extended, the light is configured as a lantern. With the bezel retracted, it becomes a directed flashlight, projecting the light out the end through the aperture.

So far, it LOOKS like a flashlight. But now what’s up with this white plastic can-like tube inside, where a proper battery would be? It looked intriguing.

The fuel cell of tomorrow?

I learned it’s the fuel cell that relies on a process of Ion Transfer involving oxygen as fuel. The Hydra-Light fuel cell has a generous heft to it. It rattles, which I assume is something that somehow reacts to moisture.

I began to figure out that this ISN’T a water POWERED flashlight as the advertising implies. Instead, water is used another way, as a CONDUCTOR.

A chemical reaction occurs when two dissimilar forms of metal interact with each other. It’s called ELECTROLYSIS. Simply put, molecular ions from one metal flows to another metal when a current path between the two is present. A common example of electrolysis is galvanic corrosion…how Iron becomes rusty when exposed to oxygen. All it takes is a conductor. It just so happens WATER is a conductor, and it’s conductivity is greatly increased when MINERALS are dissolved in it.

It clicked…(like a light bulb over my head). Inside this moistened fuel cell container, enough electrical current is generated when the contents of the fuel cell is moistened and exposed to oxygen, causing Ions to flow from one metal end-cap to the other .

Even though it only takes water to create electrical current, there’s not a whole lot of electrical current being produced. There’s another component in this that makes it work… a super efficient LED!

The star of the show is this LED

LED’s have revolutionized lighting. Light Emitting Diodes have become very efficient after years of development, all but replacing the incandescent light bulb. Being able to radiate bright white light from very little energy, modern LED’s are now the ideal low cost, low maintenance, long-life light source.

And it’s a single LED that makes everything happen.

Now…Something needs pointing out.

While this Ion transfer process results in electrical current being generated, there isn’t a LOT of electrical current. So while the LED is efficiently producing light, it’s not the brightest of lights. The Hydra Light isn’t meant to blind, it’s made to produce light, JUST using water!

Within these narrow constraints, the Hydra Light DOES IT’S JOB, LIKE NO OTHER!

The Hydra Light is ideally suited as a emergency light source, one that can provide light with just water, without ANY other technology.  I get that, and anyone who is desperately NEEDING light when ALL ELSE FAILS would get that too.

The Hydra-Light boasts up to 100 hours of continuous service. One short dunking of the fuel cell in water is all it takes.

THAT I put to the test.

I dipped the power cell in a glass of tap water, shook out the excess water, slipped it in the Hydra Light, and turned it on.  The LED immediately produced a bright blue-white light. As a flashlight it threw a very impressive beam. As a Lantern the single LED was able to light up a totally dark room to a respectable level, not super bright, but still bright enough.  Then I left the Hydra Light on and started the clock.

72 hours later (that’s THREE DAYS), the light was noticeably dimmer, and it went dark while I was away at work at day four. at least 90 hours total. That’s close enough for me.

Again, this is just dunking the fuel cell in water, shaking out the excess and turning the lamp on.

Pretty darn impressive IMHO.

For the Hydra-light, the duration test is more of showing how long the fuel cell will conduct current until the fuel cell dries out. Of course, normal battery powered flashlights can last 100 hours, (often brighter too.)  But after that, you just need to briefly re-moisten the fuel cell of the Hydra Light, & the light can stay on for 100 hours more. (Do that with other flashlights.)

After a few dips in water, the efficiency of the fuel cell diminishes. Still, that’s remedied by simply adding salt to the water. The saltier the water, the brighter the lamp will glow. According to the maker, more fuel cells are available. But generally speaking, the whole idea of a emergency light source that can be left on a shelf for decades, & still be able to produce light after just a dip in some water, is just the thing to have when all else fails.

And for that, I TOTALLY approve.

3 Ways to Use Your Swimming Pool for Emergency Preparedness

There are plenty of warnings not to drink pool water, but would the same advice still apply in an emergency situation? The fact is pool water is not potable and contains many different chemicals, but despite all that, a swimming pool is one of the best things to own during an emergency. The average 20 ft by 40 ft inground swimming pool can provide access to up to 34,000 gallons of water at a time when getting it from the tap or well may not be feasible. Here’s how to prepare to use this valuable resource in a SHTF scenario.

Use Pool Water as Gray Water

Pools contain chlorine to keep them pristine, but when the electricity goes down and the pumps stop running, the automatic filtration and treatment system stops too. That can be a good thing as chlorine dissipates over time into the air. Thus, there is less and less of it. You may even notice algae starting to grow, which is also a beneficial sign that the chlorine is about gone. Then, you can use the water as gray water to do laundry, flush toilets, and take baths. The amount of water you use from the pool can keep your potable water stores from being wasted and used on those activities that do not require the absolute best filtration or water treatment. 

To Stay Cool in Hot Situations

One of the most dangerous times for the power to go down is in the heat of summer. Luckily, if you own a pool, you won’t be one of those people who might end up with heat stroke. A pool isn’t just handy for jumping into when the temperatures get too high, but it can also be used for 12V battery-operated evaporative coolers, so you can sleep well at night. You can opt for the DIY option of a swamp coolers which works by cooling very dry areas down by spritzing water on them. However, there are also battery-operated swamp coolers on the market. Evaporative cooling is an ancient technique to keep buildings cool, and if you have an area with brick, you can even spray water on it and let the natural evaporation cool that space down. 

You Can Drink It (With Some Cautions)

You probably are very aware what goes into your pool water, when it comes to additives and chemicals. Many pool builders might even be creating salt water pools for the neighbors or treating them with heavy metals, though. Thus, you might not know exactly what is in everyone’s pools, but you do know your own. It will need to be filtered and protected, to try to maintain some of the chlorine to avoid contamination. Cover your pool with a cover at the first indication that you are undergoing a long-term emergency. This will not only keep the sun from breaking down all the chlorine, but it will also keep debris out of the water. Use a swimming pool test kit to check the chlorine levels and once it goes below 4 ppm, it is safe to drink(assuming no other harsh chemicals are in it). You will still want to use a biofilter to remove any potential bacteria and additional chemicals before giving it a swig. If you have access to a solar still, this is the best way to treat pool water before drinking it. Do not drink pool water for more than a few days, just in case you’ve missed something. Also, don’t drink pool water from a different person’s pool because they might not know how it’s been treated and what is in the water. If you decide to build your own pool, you can run a quick search of “pool builders near me“ and ask for information regarding pool water as well as what designs best fit you.

Get Your Own Pool for Emergencies

Having your own pool is the best assurance of what goes into the water prior to an emergency. In the event of an emergency, you don’t want to rely on the kindness of your neighbors to offer up some of their pool water and then find out it has been harshly treated with too many chemicals or salts to make it drinkable. Instead, treat your pool with chlorine and have a plan to protect it and use it appropriately when the time comes.

EMP: Electromagnetic Pulse By Bobby Akart, six-time bestselling author and founder of Freedom Preppers

Albert Einstein once wrote, “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”

I believe that Einstein envisioned a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world without  power. In poll after poll, one of the threats that concerns preppers is the use  of a nuclear-delivered electromagnetic pulse weapon to cause a grid-down  scenario. There are many bad actors on the international stage. Each one is capable of wreaking havoc in the United States by shutting down our power grid  and enjoying the resulting chaos.

What is an electromagnetic pulse?

Let’s get technical, so bear with me for a moment.

An electromagnetic pulse—EMP, is an intense burst of electromagnetic energy caused by an abrupt, rapid acceleration of charged particles, usually electrons. An EMP can contain elements of energy over a large part of the electromagnetic spectrum, from very-low-frequency radio, to ultraviolet, wavelengths.

A typical example is a lightning strike that produces a localized EMP. As the lightning makes contact, it can direct a large electrical current in nearby wires. A single current surge can damage sensitive electronic circuitry, such as wires and connection contained in computers and ancillary equipment.

By definition, an explosion results from the very rapid release of a large amount of energy within a limited space. This definition applies to a lightning strike, a conventional explosive like dynamite, as well as for a nuclear detonation. However, the energy produced by any one of these explosions results from different means. Understand that all explosions are relative. The effects of the shock wave are directly proportional to the amount of electromagnetic energy associated with the detonation. Its force and effect depend on the quantity of energy associated with the explosion.

Which brings us to the principal differences between conventional weapons and a nuclear EMP is the powerful electrical currents created by the blast. For that reason, the effectiveness of the conventional bomb and a nuclear EMP differ because the target is vastly different. Conventional weapons seek out hard targets—a surface burst. Nuclear EMPs seek out a high-altitude location above the Earth’s surface—an air burst.

What’s the difference between a nuclear delivered EMP and an electromagnetic pulse caused by a Coronal Mass Ejection?

The simple answer is that a Coronal Mass Ejection originates from the Sun when enormous quantities of solar energized paritlces envelope Earth and causes a disruption in the Earth’s magnetosphere. These energized particles are an EMP. In part two of this discussion, which will be published in a week, we will
discuss solar flares and CMEs in depth.

Regardless of the source of an electromagnetic pulse, the impact upon our nation could be catastrophic. Recently, the constant barrage of cyber intrusions into the public and private sector have captured the news headlines, but it is time to refocus on the threat an EMP poses for our nation’s critical infrastructure.

Senator Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, began hearings in the summer of 2015 on the threat of an EMP detonation over the United States.

The witnesses included, among others; James Woolsey, former Director of Central Intelligence, Joseph McClelland, Director of the Office of Energy Infrastructure Security at FERC, and Christopher Currie, Director of Homeland Security and Justice with the Government Accountability Office. Their conclusion: The threat is real, and the need for the U.S. to prepare for this eventuality is critical. Chairman Johnson, in his opening remarks, stated that although the issue of EMP has been on the government radar for years, it has largely gone ignored. He pointed out the fact that not one of the suggestions put forward by the congressionally mandated EMP Commission, formed in 2002, has been put in place.

The science behind an electromagnetic pulse might be considered complicated and frightening to some. An EMP event can occur either naturally, (through solar flares, as discussed above) or artificially, as the result of a high-altitude nuclear explosion. The high-energy particles from such an explosion would cascade down to Earth, interacting with the planet’s magnetic field and destroying the electronic systems below. The resulting pulse of energy could destroy millions of transformers in America’s power grid, as the pulse travelled along transformer lines.

The possibility of man-made EMP events has grown in relation to the technological sophistication of America’s adversaries. It is a widely known fact, that both Russia and China already have this capability, and both countries have carried out serious work relating to the generation of EMP in recent years, as part of their respective military modernization programs.

Now, America’s enemies like Iran and North Korea may not be that far behind. Iran, for example, is known to have simulated a nuclear EMP attack several years ago, using short-range missiles launched from a freighter. In 2015, the Iranians fired a medium-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. North Korea, meanwhile, has acquired the blueprints to build an EMP warhead. In July of 2013, a North Korean freighter made it all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, through the Panama Canal, carrying two nuclear-capable missiles in the ship’s hold.

All of these countries have successfully orbited a number of satellites that could potentially evade U.S. early warning radars. The Strategic Defense Initiative, or Star Wars, as former President Ronald Reagan once called it, was widely panned as bizarre by political opponents and the mainstream media. Today,
satellites carrying nuclear warheads are at the ideal altitude to generate an EMP across the entire continental US. Perhaps, President Reagan was right.

Scientists concur that such an attack, if it occurred, would have devastating consequences. A nuclear warhead detonated three hundred miles above St. Louis, Missouri, could collapse the entire nation’s power grid. According to the EMP Commission, the recovery time from such a nationwide EMP event might be anywhere from one to ten years. In the meantime, ninety percent of Americans would likely
die from starvation, disease, or societal collapse.

Are the threats to our critical infrastructure from an EMP attack and Cyber Warfare mutually exclusive?

Not necessarily. North Korea’s recent nuclear test and dictator Kim Jong Un’s claim that he has a hydrogen bomb, has shifted focus away from the cyber threat and onto EMP once again. Although the focus of attention has shifted, at least temporarily, away from cyber threats, the North Korean nuclear threat is just another dimension of the threat from cyber warfare.

Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have all adopted an asymmetric warfare capability. Cyber warfare is not limited to computer viruses and hacking but is a combined-arms operation that includes the coordinated use of physical sabotage and an EMP attack. Our enemies consider a high-altitude nuclear EMP attack as the ultimate weapon. North Korea’s recent low-yield nuclear test, and its claim that it has a hydrogen bomb, are confirmation of the Congressional EMP Commission’s findings that North Korea is attempting to acquire a super-EMP weapon —a low-yield hydrogen bomb.

There are solutions, and the clarion bell has been rung. Our nation’s leaders have a duty to protect the homeland.

What if the preppers are right? 

Further, if the threat is real, and most preppers acknowledge that it is, how do you prepare?

Where do you begin in formulating a Preparedness Plan? An entire preparedness guide, hundreds of pages long, may still not adequately cover the elements of a comprehensive preparedness plan. The numerous disaster preparedness guides, blogs, and professional videos are all excellent resources. But where do you start?

Essentially, it all boils down to: Beans, Band-Aids & Bullets

Well, of course there is much more to developing a preparedness plan than the big three, but all preparedness experts know these are the basics. Many preppers are well organized and rely heavily upon checklists. We urge you to review the following link to a FREE PDF DOWNLOAD of an extensive preparedness checklist. Preppers constantly update their checklists to insure they didn’t overlook anything. You will as well.

As you review the following, keep in mind certain basic principles when preparing your plan.

The survival rule of threes: You can only live three minutes without air; three hours without shelter in extreme conditions; three days without water; and three weeks without food. This helps you prioritize your preps for a post collapse survival situation.

The prepper rule of redundancy: Three is two, two is one, and one is none. When your prepper supplies run out, you can’t drive down to Wal-Mart and restock.

Building your prepper supplies to an acceptable level for long term survival requires baby steps. Thus, survival planning starts with the perfect trinity of prepping—beans, band-aids and bullets. Clearly, an oversimplification of what a preparedness plan entails, but it is a pretty good reflection of what you better have covered. This is a well known expression within the prepper community as it outlines the essentials that you will need in the event of TEOTWAWKI—the end of the world as we know it.

In summary, beans will include your prepper supplies, the items in your prepper pantry and water. Band-aids will refer to all things medical. Bullets represent the weapons and ammunition necessary to protect yourself, your family and your preps.

I wrote EMP: Electromagnetic Pulse to be a primer on the threats we face as a nation from an attack delivered by an Electromagnetic Pulse weapon. This book is intended to raise awareness of the threat, and provide the reader with preparedness solutions. EMP: Electromagnetic Pulse will also help you answer the question:

What if?

EMP: A threat from above to America’s soft underbelly below.

The clock is ticking. One second after. One year after.
~ by Bobby Akart, Contributing writer to the American Preppers Network and GaltStrike. He is the Amazon Top 100 Author of his best-selling

The Boston Brahmin Series and the Prepping for Tomorrow series.

Bobby is the best-selling author of the epic series of novels entitled The Boston Brahmin Series. Political suspense collides with post-apocalyptic thriller fiction as nine Bostonians whose lineage dates back to
the American Revolution navigate the societal and economic collapse of America. Can The Loyal Nine save the republic while protecting the interests of their mysterious benefactors — The Boston Brahmin? Learn more at  www.TheBostonBrahmin.com.

He has also written the Prepping for Tomorrow series, which has achieved three #1 bestsellers in twenty-nine non-fiction genres on Amazon. His attention to detail and impeccable research is critically acclaimed. Visit www.BobbyAkart.com to learn more.

Because you never know when the day before … is the day before.
Prepare for tomorrow.

How to Build a Campfire : Arranging Wood for a Campfire

This campfire infographic will help start your fire at the camp in no time. It’s a necessary skill, whether you’re just spending the night outdoors or if you’ve found yourself in a dire survival situation.

Campfire Infographic | Building Your Campfire in No Time

Whether you’re building a campfire to enjoy with friends on a camping trip or keeping yourself warm through a cold winter night, knowing how to build a great fire is a must-have skill. To build the perfect campfire, you need the right combination of tinder and fire starter, as well as the right way to feed your fire with oxygen for it to burn as long as possible. Are you ready to work on your campfire building skills? This campfire infographic will give you the perfect instructions.

Editors Pick: Worlds Most Reliable Fire Starter