Prep Updates Mar. 6, 2011

What's In The Pantry?

We made a trip to the grocery store today, and found some sales on items that we stock in the pantry, so we added a few.  Two large bottles of Listerine, two large bottles of shampoo,  two each of saline solution and multi-purpose solution (contact lenses), four boxes of granola bars, six of my wife's deodorants, and 16 rolls of paper towels.  Fuji apples were on sale, so in addition to the five I'll eat with my lunches this week, we got another six or seven for the dehydrator.  I also picked up a tub of blueberries that were on sale and I'll use them to fill in the space among the apple slices and make bluebaisens (I just made that up, feel free to use it).


Lost Treasures

I mentioned earlier that I had lost my old Every Day Carry kit when it fell off my belt, and that I had found this Sony camera belt case that has a sewn belt loop so I won't lose it again.  I went out to the shop today to look for gear to put in it.  I'll do a full report with pictures this week.  But that's not all...

 I found some other cool gear that I had totally forgotten about.  A couple space blankets, some flashlights, and a pre-Y2K pouch of Mountain House Spaghetti.  This has been stored under very uncontrolled conditions for the past 10-12 years, so I will fix it up later this week and review it.  If it is still tasty and appealing, imagine what it would be like under temperature-stable conditions.

I also found some things that were financially rewarding.  I got 5 rolls of dimes, 2 rolls of nickels, 6 rolls of pennies, and a 1993 one ounce Silver Eagle.  All told, about $65 worth of coin.  The dimes and pennies go in the vacation fund.  The Eagle is in the safe with the other silver.  As for the nickels, I've recently started setting them aside and adding rolls to my emergency fund.  Jim Rawles at SurvivalBlog.com promotes putting up nickels in anticipation of a change in the metal composition, much like pre-65 silver coins.  Seems that a nickel currently has a metal melt value of 7.3 cents. If the coin is debased to a cheaper metal rather than the current copper and nickel, than the "real" coins will go up in value.  Right now, they don't take up much room, they spend if needed, and they'll never be worth less than what I'm paying for them.


Tomorrow's Post

Tomorrow will be my 100th blog post.  I want to do something a little special to celebrate.  Folks sometimes ask me why I prep.  An answer that I seldom give is that it is hereditary.  My great-grandfather had a fallout shelter in the early 60's.  Tomorrow I'll post some of his saved newspaper clippings, notes and inventories.  He was a college mathematics professor in the teens and twenties, and later became an accountant.  You'll be amazed at how thorough he was in his notes.  You'll also be surprised at how much his inventory might be similar to yours 50 years later.

Here's a preview:

How'd you like to get a 14 day kit for that price today?

Sponsor of the Week

It's Sunday, and time for a new Sponsor of the Week!  This week it is The Berkey Guy- check out his site for the awesome Berkey water filtration systems and Wise Food Storage.  Jeff is a good guy, and he truly believes in great customer service.  I was talking preps with a friend the other day, and he said that he didn't need a filter, because he was on a deep well, and he had a shallow well if the pump on the deep one went out.  After we spoke for a while, he realized that he probably ought to have a filter since the shallow well has not been used in a long time, and he also has a pond and stream fairly close.  He could hitch the trailer to the lawn tractor and take a big Rubbermaid bin to either source, then fill up the bin with a bucket.  He could then use that water through a filter to provide for his family.  I pointed him toward The Berkey Guy of course.


Weather Alert

We are currently under a Tornado Watch and Severe Thunderstorm Warning, so I'm logging off for now.  I'll be monitoring the Weather Alert Radio and I've got my flashlights handy.

Rural Resources Mar. 5, 2011

Free Magazine

A couple years ago I started getting a free subscription to a magazine called, "Living the Country Life."  It's a quarterly, and is now in its tenth year.  I encourage you to go to their website and get yourself a free subscription as well.

The magazine is associated with a syndicated radio show, and also with Better Homes & Gardens magazine.  Each issue has several articles, reader photos, and, and some commentary.  The issue that just arrived has articles on raising chickens, restoring barns, controlling flies, and used UTVs.

Each issue typically has a couple contests as well.  Right now, they have a photo contest.  Send in a picture of your livestock, and you could win $100.  They also have a contest to win a Grasshopper zero-turn lawnmower worth over $7,000.

If you're interested in living the country life, you really ought to get the magazine.  You can't beat the price!


Blog Suggestion

Chris writes A One Acre Homestead and recently came back from a hiatus.  Last year, he and his wife raised 1,100 pounds of produce from their gardens.  That amazing feat is enough to make his blog worth checking out, but he's also an entertaining writer.  Check him out and give him some encouragement to keep it up.

If It Hits The... Mar. 4, 2011

Grocery Cart Handle?

From the Washington Regional Threat and Analysis Center...

E. Coli Found on 50 Percent of Shopping Carts
Researchers from the University of Arizona swabbed shopping cart handles in four states looking for bacterial contamination. Of the 85 carts examined, 72 percent turned out to have a marker for fecal bacteria. The researchers took a closer look at the samples from 36 carts and discovered Escherichia coli, more commonly known as E. coli, on 50 percent of them — along with a host of other types of bacteria. “That’s more than you find in a supermarket’s restroom,” said the lead researcher on the study and a professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona. The study’s results may explain earlier research that found that kids who rode in shopping carts were more likely than others to develop infections caused by bacteria such as salmonella and campylobacter, the lead researcher said. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41838546/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/
 
So I saw this today.  I stopped at Wal Mart on the way home from work tonight.  I noticed that the sanitizing wipes, that usually are positioned after you grab a cart, were positioned before you grab the cart.  On purpose, or just random placement that I happened to notice today?  I don't know, but I wiped down my cart like Howard Hughes.  I also picked up a big bottle of alcohol hand sanitizer for the truck while I was in there.


Wal Mart Closeout Shelves

Look for the closeout section in your local Wal Mart.  The one I was in today had it in the corner behind all the pharmacy items.  There were some good prep items.  Several heavy duty cable locks, mountain bike accessories (I got a new seat for mine), some fishing reels and line, a propane fired instant heat camping shower, lots of different deer lures and attractants, and a few other things.  I picked up a couple of packs of these:

I'll use one pack when I go to Pathfinder wilderness survival school this summer.  The other goes in the larder.  They were marked down from $8.97 to $5.  Not a bad savings.

March is Red Cross Month

From our friends at FEMA:

SEATTLE -- March is American Red Cross Month, a great opportunity for citizens, families and businesses to review disaster plans and build or restock emergency kits. According to FEMA Region X Administrator Ken Murphy, the American Red Cross not only provides help, hope and healing when disaster strikes, but also offers a wide selection of CPR/AED, first aid, disaster response and emergency preparedness training.

"The Red Cross is FEMA's major partner coordinating food and shelter during catastrophic disasters, but the key to any successful emergency response, regardless of the nature of the event, is personal preparedness," said Murphy. "Red Cross classes and resources help people prepare with a few simple steps: build an emergency supply kit, make an emergency plan, and stay informed of the hazards in your area. These resources can go a long way towards empowering our communities to make a real difference when the chips are down."

President Obama recognized the month's significance in a proclamation released yesterday: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/02/28/presidential-proclamation-american-red-cross-month-2011

Resolve to be Ready in 2011 is led by FEMA's Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and The Advertising Council. For more information on the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, visit Ready.gov and CitizenCorps.gov. Follow FEMA online at http://www.twitter.com/fema,%20www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. Social media links are provided for reference only. FEMA does not endorse non-government websites, companies or applications.

Preparedness is moving more and more mainstream.  Granted, I wish "they" would suggest at least two weeks supplies instead of just 72 hours, but really, most Americans can't get through 72 hours without support right now, so even that would be a drastic improvement.  The more people that have basic readiness, the better.

On The Edge Mar. 3, 2011

Keep Your Blades Sharp!

When I was about 8, my Grandpa gave me my first pocket knife, a three-blade Old Timer.  He also gave me a whetstone, and showed me how to use it.  One thing I remember from him all these years later, is that a dull knife is much more dangerous than a sharp one.  You need to use more pressure on a dull blade, and it is more likely to slip.  My Grandma's kitchen knives were all razor sharp, and worn to about half the width they started at from decades and decades of faithful sharpening.

Today, the true experts will still use a stone, but it takes skill and talent to do it right.  I recently refound my Lansky Deluxe Sharpening System that I bought before Y2K.  It is easy to use, and pretty darned effective for those of us who have not perfected the art of the stone.  I also have the "C" clamp mount which I think makes it even easier to use.I had to relearn the technique it had been so long since I used it, but it came back pretty quick. 

The Lansky system works on everything from small pocket knives to large hunting or combat knives.  If you move the blade mount a few times, you can even use it on a machete or other large knife.

Now that I've refound this great tool, I really need to touch up most of my knives.

To give you an idea of how it works, here's a video I found on You Tube.


Knives are like any other tool, you need to take care of them, so they'll take care of you.

Reviews Mar. 2, 2011

Delicious Dehydrated Apples

The apples turned out looking very appetizing, and the taste is just as good as the appearance.  I got about 8 or 9 zip lock baggies full.  Most will become part of my lunches at work, but I promised my niece I'd bring her some to try.  I'll keep with the small batches for now, but next fall when we go apple picking up near Charlottesville, I'll get enough to keep the Excalibur running for a week or so, and actually put away enough apples to make it worthwhile.  Here's what they ended up looking like:



These Are My Magic Sho-oes

Unlike Mr. Gump's, my new shoes are not necessarily meant for fast running, but are for running off-road.  Team If It Hits The Fan is competing in the Rugged Maniac 5K adventure race in May, and we're getting ready.  The regular running shoes aren't cutting it on the off-road trails.  I got the Saucony Progrid Xodus 2 today.

These things are not attractive, but they have an aggressive tread, Vibram soles, and are pretty comfortable.  They are a little flashy for my taste, but are the most subdued that I could find.  The laces are easy to adjust, and so far they seem to stay tied just fine.  I just wore them out to dinner tonight, I'll give them their first off-road test this weekend.

My polypropylene socks are a little too think.  I need to find some socks that are thinner, durable, and will keep my feet healthy.  My pals Pat and Robby are marathon runners, so I'll ask them for their advice.  Any of you who have ideas, please leave me a comment with your sock suggestions.


TV Shows

There are two shows out right now that really like.  Top Shot on History and Sons of Guns on Discovery. 

Top Shot is in its second season and pits great shooters from all disciplines in team and head to head shootouts to determine the winner of $100,000 and the title of Top Shot.  Weapons so far this season have included 1911 .45's, Thompson sub-machineguns, Official Police revolvers, and compound bows. 

Sons of Guns follows the Red Jacket shop in Baton Rouge.  They design and build machine guns, suppressors, and historical arms.  Some shows focus on building a unique gun for profit, others on doing it for "good" (not that profit isn't good!).  In one they rebuilt a WWII flamethrower for the last surviving Marine Medal of Honor recipient from Iwo Jima.  Tonight they had a young Marine who lost the use of his right arm in the current war, and with it, lost the ability to hunt.  They built him an ATV with a pintle-mounted semi-auto 12 gauge shotgun that he could shoot with one hand and regain the sport he loves.

Both of these shows really take the positive aspects of gun ownership to the general public.  They show that private citizens can be trusted with even the most exotic of weaponry.  I salute Discovery and History for bringing these shows in, and hope that the trend continues with other shows and channels.


Another New Sponsor!

I'd like to extend a big welcome to our newest sponsor, Essential Packs!  Essential Packs has a wide variety of unique survival and preparedness gear... from emergency kits especially for dogs and cats to an 8,000 KW generator, they have it.  They have emergency kits for home, school, the office and when traveling, and a selection of CERT gear too.  They also offer 14 varieties of genuine Wegner Swiss Army Knives.

They are going to have me review some of their products, so stay tuned for that.

Please visit their website and when you make a purchase, let them know you heard about them at If It Hits The Fan!

We Have a Winner! Mar. 1, 2011

Thrifty Prepper Challenge

Well, we only had one entrant to the Challenge, but he scored a heck of a good haul for his $10, so he earned the win.  Congratulations to James!  Here's his entry:

I'm glad you reposted about the thrift store finds. for the life of me i couldn't remember what site it was i has read it on. a few weeks back i was called by a friend of mine who happens to run my local thrift shop to come over and see if i could fix a few bikes that were donated. my payment is usually what ever i find within reason for free. usually its some junk that they couldn't or wouldn't sell. there's always a corner of the back room that's got stuff they haven't put out. after fixing the bikes i could, and loading the junk ones in the back of my truck for scrap i was able to reach a brown metal tool box that I've had my eye on in the corner but could never reach to see what was in it. this day i was able to reach it and as soon as i grabbed it i was told they would have to have $20 for it and what ever was inside. ever the bargain hunter i am, i offered $10 "i got a bet going with some friends on who can get the best deal for $10". she said DEAL! the box had a cheap`O lock on it so i took it home. i could hear there were a few tools inside but could tell what. when i got home and cut the lock i found everything was coated in dirt oil and rust. someone left it either in the trunk of there car for awhile or bed of there truck best as i could tell cause it was pretty beat up. the box alone i figured worth 10 bucks. Inside was my treasure. a few Stanley screwdrivers, hammer, cheap`o pliers, and a set of 7 metric and standard ratching wrenches. They say gearwrench on them. WOW these go for at least $60 bucks a pop at autozone. i felt guilty so i called my friend up and told her what i found and what it was worth and all she told me was "Good deal" then said if she remembered right it was dropped off by a woman who's boyfriend had left and brought in all his stuff. seems as they didn't have anything to cut the lock it just sat in the corner and was forgot about. Not by me it wasn't. I've seen it sitting back there for at least 6 months.

sorry for the long post but i felt it was needed to better tell my story. the wrenches work great and I've always wanted a set. just could never afford them. most of the rust was surface and wiped right off. the box is now sitting behind the seat of my truck with a everything but the wrenches in it along with a few other tools for an emergency kit.

James has a nice blog himself, check him out at Bikevision 2003.  James, please send me an email with your mailing address and I'll get your prize out to you.  I dug around in the Barter Larder and came up with a few packs of Moldex Sparkplugs corded earplugs and this Victorinox two-blade Swiss Army Knife.

Congratulations, James, and thanks for participating!

The Apple Project

I mentioned a few days ago that I got a bunch of delicious Fuji apples and that I was going to dehydrate them. 

When I made my first batch of apples in the fall, I used a corer/slicer, then hand sliced each 8th of the apple into 4 more slices.  It was terribly time consuming and made for little, tiny dehydrated apples. 

This time I used a knife to cut out the cores.

I then broke out my new mandoline slicer.  It took a few apples to get the hang of it.  Using the slicer on its base caused the slices to jam up at the bottom.  I then figured out that it would fit great over a large plastic bowl.

I ended up with two large bowls full.  I filled the bowls with water to keep the apples from browning.  I probably should have squeezed some lemon juice in there, but I didn't have any.

I then loaded up the trays in my Excalibur 5 tray dehydrator.  I then realized, I probably should have bought the 9 tray...  I had about 4 apples left over that wouldn't fit.  I ate some of them, but the rest will go in the compost bin with the cores.

Following the guidelines in the book that came with the dehydrator, I set it at 135 degrees, and set the timer for 10 hours (the guide says 7-15 hours until pliable).  Here they are ready to go. 

I'll put up a picture of the finished product tomorrow.

It's the first of the month, have you...

Test run your generator?
Rotated you gasoline stores?
Tested your smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors?
Checked your household and vehicle fire extinguishers?
Given your dog his heart worm pill and flea/tick treatment?
Changed your HVAC filters?



Ammo Recall Feb. 28, 2011

.45 acp Recall

Please check out this product safety warning from Federal and American Eagle.  It seems they might contain some incorrect powder charges in some recent lots.  That can cause problems ranging from a gun malfuntion to serious injury (or death if your gun malfunctions in a SHTF situation).

Please share this link on any firearms or other survival forums and blogs your frequent.

Prepper Ponderings Feb. 27, 2011

A Blog I Like

I've recently come across another preparedness blog that I've added to my Links I Like page.  Jake writes No More Dependence a couple of times a week.  No More Dependence provides free emergency, disaster, survival, and preparedness information. Learn survival skills and prepare for an eventual emergency.  I particularly like the way he breaks his posts down in to several different main categories so that the reader can easily find topics of interest.  Take a look at No More Dependence and see if you agree.


Gun Show Report

I went to a gun show today.  This was a new promoter in a new location.  It wasn't as big as the two that have been in this area for years, but it wasn't bad.  There was a good assortment of dealers and items.  Plenty of "black" guns, hunting guns, antiques, pistols and revolvers.  There were even two dealers in machine guns and suppressors.  The prices throughout the building were typical.  No highway robbery, but no great bargains, either.  A couple big ammo dealers were there, but I didn't look too much at pricing.  Lots of knives were available.  Everything from the cheapest junk knives to high quality factory blades like Cold Steel, and even a few custom bladesmiths.  One couple had a few tables selling survival books and fire starters.  They had a display advertising their wilderness and urban survival training.  I'm going to look into their offerings and see what's up. 

I didn't really see anything that I had to have.  The only thing I bought was a handmade western gun belt.  I plan to go to a Cowboy Action Shooting match next month, and it seems I've outgrown the belt I used for many years.  This one is of OK quality, but it was a great price and I bought it from the guy who made it.  I hope to be back into my old belt by fall.


Storage Food Recipe

Folks often make dried food mixes and store them in jars to use as quick meals or for long term storage.  My wife recently found a quick and easy cake recipe that follows that principle.  Mix together one box of Duncan Hines angel food cake mix, and one box of any other flavor cake mix.  Store the combined powder in a jar.  When you want some cake, dump 1/3 cup of the combined mixes into a coffee mug.  Stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons of water.  Put in the microwave for 1 minute in the microwave and it comes out as a fluffy, flavorful, cake for one.  We haven't experimented yet to see if it will work in a regular oven, but if you have a generator, a minute in the microwave could be easily done.  As I understand it, the reason this works so well is that the angel food cake has dehydrated egg powder already mixed in.  Even if it doesn't work in the oven, it's a good way to LTS a treat for those nights when you don't feel like real cooking.


Welcome to Shelf Reliance!

I'm very pleased to announce that If It Hits The Fan has a new sponsor!  Shelf Reliance has a great reputation in the preparedness community, and some wonderful products.  They have many different sizes of food rotation systems ranging from the Harvest 72 to the Cansolidator Cupboard.  They even offer a planning calculator so that you can enter the measurements of your storage space and it will tell you what unit will best fit.

They also have the THRIVE brand of freeze dried foods.  They have a huge variety of foods, including some that I have not seen before in other brands.  I love Mandarin oranges, and am looking forward to trying THRIVE brand ones soon.  They have a food storage calculator, and the Q program to set up planned and budgeted monthly purchases to reach your goals without busting the bank account.

Please check out our new sponsor, and let them know you heard about Shelf Reliance here at If It Hits The Fan.  They have some monster discounts and sales going on through Feb. 28.  They are also our Sponsor of the Week.

Prepper Ponderings Feb. 26, 2011

Thrifty Prepper Challenge

Only two days left to enter the extended time Thrifty Prepper Challenge!  It was originally supposed to end 2/13, but I extended it to the end of the month.  Take $10 to a thrift store and buy survival gear.  List your purchases in a blog comment on the 2/4 posting.  Whoever I believe got the most bang for their bucks wins something cool and useful from my barter larder.  It's tougher than I thought.  I've been to about a half dozen thrift shops this month and have managed to get nothing but two copies of Popular Science Mechanics with survival articles.  Give it a try, you might just find the perfect piece of gear.  If this doesn't work, we'll do it again in the spring, but add yard sales to the options.


Survival Seed Bank

My sponsor, Directive 21, not only sells Wise Food Storage and the entire line of Berkey water filter systems, he also sells a Survival Seed Bank of non-hybrid, non-GMO seeds that are sealed in a ammo can-style seed vault.  Jack Spirko at The Survival Podcast just released a video product review of the seed bank, and also provide commentary on some of the others in the emergency seed industry.  He has asked other bloggers to share his review.  Since Directive 21 supports both of us as sponsors, I wanted to share this review with my readers.

911 - Fail Feb. 25, 2011

911 System Storm Failure

This story from WUSA in Washington, D.C. looks at the weaknesses of the 911 system in the National Capital Region that were exposed in the Jan. 26th snow storm.


This is especially concerning for those who are completely on cell phone, with no land lines.  If the cellular system goes down, whether from natural disaster or terrorist attack, do you have an alternative method of communication?  I carry a CB in my truck.  We have these Midland radios around the house.  Neither of these is good for distance communication or contacting emergency services (around here, police used to monitor CB Ch. 40 in their cars - I doubt that many still do).

I have a good friend who is an avid amateur radio (HAM) radio user.  One of these days my wife and I need to learn how to use them and get our licenses.  I hope it doesn't hit the fan before we do.

What alternative communications methods do you plan to use?

Sole' Tiles Feb. 24, 2011

Sole' Power Tiles

I was watching "This New House" on the DIY network on TV and saw a product called Sole' Power Tiles.  They are architecturally designed solar panels that match up with clay barrel tiles as you would find on a hacienda.  They are a deep blue, made of car bumper plastic with a solar membrane overlay, and simply plug into each other to carry the power.

According to the show, they cost about $50/sq. foot installed, last 25-30 years, are eligible for a 30% federal tax credit, and have a 5-10 year payback.  They look like a very cool idea.  Much more attractive than normal solar panels. 

But, I question the cost.  The usual way to determine the value of solar is the cost per kilowatt.  The company website doesn't give any information about how much energy these tiles are capable of.

Currently, they are only available in California, but they are rolling out national distribution soon.  They don't match my house, but if you live in a Southwest style place, they might work for you.  I'd have to see more information about their effectiveness and efficiency before I could make a better call on them.

I'm letting the company know about this post, and my questions.  If I get the scoop from them, I'll be sure to let you know.

We're Growing!

As of a few minutes ago, we passed 5,000 page views for February!  I had 650-some in December, and almost 2,900 for January.  I truly appreciate your readership and support!  When I get a case of writer's block or am tired after work, knowing I have so many people reading what I have to say is amazingly motivating.  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

EOC Planning Feb. 23, 2011

Regional Planning

I had a meeting today at the Emergency Operations Center in the city where I work.  The purpose was to update hazard mitigation planning.  We began the process several years ago, and needed to refresh the plan.

We first looked at the hazards faced by our city and region.  Hurricane winds, storm surge flooding, and tornados are a high risk.  Of the federally declared disasters in Virginia in the last 50 years, our region has been in 20% of them.  On the unnatural hazards side, we are an Urban Area Security Initiative locale, which means that the feds have figured us to be at high risk for terrorism.  We are a military city and region, have three nuclear facilities surrounding us, have a major interstate passing through the middle of town, and are halfway between major historical and tourist attractions.

I'm fortunate to be associated with a city with a well organized emergency plan and staff.  In drills, the feds and state folks routinely rank us highly.


Every city and county in the US should have an office of emergency management or something similar.  I encourage you to learn about what your locality has, and what plans they have in place for the local hazards.  Consider finding ways to volunteer as a part of the process.  Consider joining CERT.  If you don't have a

background in public safety, CERT can give you information and experience that can help your family and community during emergencies.  Being involved in the emergency operations community can also keep you more informed about the risks in your area.


Ammo Contest

Lucky Gunner is a sponsor over at MD Creekmore's Survivalist Blog, and they have a great contest going with at $200 gift card as the grand prize.  Lucky Gunner has some great deals on ammo like this .45 Hornady or this PMC .308, both of which would be great assets to my larder.  The .45 would feed my trusty Sig Sauer P220 or my WWII Colt 1911A1.  The .308 would be for my PTR91, an American built HK91 (but better).  Lucky Gunner also has a cool page with different targets you can print off.  As a person who once tried to make bullseye targets using Excel, this is a very welcome bonus!  Check out Lucky Gunner for great ammo deals (and a really cool logo!), and visit The Survivalist Blog to learn how you can enter the contest and read some great content.

Backwoods Home Feb. 22, 2011

Latest Issue

I got my favorite self-reliance magazine in the mail today, the Mar/Apr issue of Backwoods Home.  I haven't read it yet, just skimmed a few the article, but it looks like a good one!

I really like the libertarian editorial slant, and Dave Duffy has a column discussing reigning in local government through the purse strings.  I recently had an exchange with a couple members of my county board of supervisors about their ongoing goals of excessive power, and I think I'll be sending them copies of this column.

There's also articles about LED lighting, driving a well, goat milk, and a bunch about gardening.  I always learn quite a bit from Jackie Clay's Q&A column.

What really caught my eye was Massad Ayoob's gun article.  Honest, I got the magazine today, and did not see it before yesterday's blog post.  This month, Mas writes about lights on guns for self and home defense, as well as nocturnal pest control.  He goes into it quite a bit deeper than I did yesterday.  I encourage you to check it out.  Massad Ayoob wrote the first defensive firearms book I ever bought, In The Gravest Extreme, when I was a teenager.  It's a great work for those new to the idea.


Excalibur Project

I picked up about 10 lbs of Fugi apples (wonderfully sweet and juicy, a hint of pineapple flavor) on sale Sunday.  I got a mandoline slicer recently and I think it will make quick work of the apples after I core them, and give me uniform slice width to give uniform dehydrating results.  I'll work on this project this weekend and let you know how it goes.  I'm still new to the Excalibur dehydrator, and the mandoline is brand new.

House Clearing Feb. 21, 2011

Clear!

Heard a bump in the night?  Did the dog bark for no apparent reason?  Why did that motion detector light in the back yard come on?

Twice this weekend, I had to arm myself and investigate something out of the ordinary.  Lest you think I'm paranoid, I haven't had to do that in several years.  Before I tell of my experiences, please think about a few things.

Have you practiced getting around your house in the dark?  How about any outbuildings?  That Glock looks cool with the light kit.  How much practice have you had with it?  If you don't have a light kit, have you done low-light flashlight drills with your pistol?  What about your shotgun, baseball bat, 3 iron, or any other home defense weapon?  Do your family members know what to do if you are clearing the house?  When should you hunker down in a defensive posture versus actively seeking out an intruder?

Let me tell you what I did and why...

Saturday night, the dog nosed aside the curtains at a low window on the back side of the house and barked in an unusually sharp manner.  I looked out and saw that the light was on inside my workshop.  I picked up my Sig Sauer P220 and a flashlight, and went out at the low ready.  There are several ways to hold a flashlight and a pistol.  As a cop, I trained extensively holding my hands back to back, so that is what I reverted to without even thinking about it. (In the police academy, we were taught one method of holding the flashlight in the off hand as high up as we could and as far away from the body as we could - the thought was that a bad guy would think he was being approached by a giant?!?!?!?!)  There is no cover between the back door and the shop, so I was very alert as I approached.  I could see through a window that an interior door was open, which was very unusual.  I moved to the door, using the jamb as limited cover, and entered, quickly scanning the room and removing myself from the fatal funnel of the doorway.  I then repeated as I moved through the interior door into the other room.  The exterior door from that room was slightly ajar.  Nothing was amiss, and our back yard is surrounded by a 6 foot chain link fence with closed gates with carabiners on the latches (I have keyed alike padlocks, but they only come out when we are out of town or if there is an emergency).  I'm confident that no one had been in the shop, I more than likely forgot to turn off the light and close the door when I left it earlier.  But it was good practice.

Sunday night was not nearly as dramatic.  The dog was going crazy barking, and my wife smelled a skunk.  I went out front with my .45 and flashlight, and searched the yard and the neighboring wood lines, but to no avail.  The stinker got away.

So, the long and short of it is, if you get put in the position of doing something similar, I have a few suggestions for you.
1.   Know your local laws about self-defense, property defense, and having a gun or other weapon outside of your home.
2.   Be familiar and confident with your weapon and a light.
3.   Be familiar with your home and property in the dark or low light conditions.
4.   Have a plan for you and your family, and periodically practice the plan.
5.   Check your flashlight batteries and keep them fresh.

Prepper Ponderings Feb. 20, 2011

Book Review:  Escape

Escape is an autobiographical story of surviving and prevailing against overwhelming odds.  It's not your typical survival book.  There is no wilderness, no wild animals, no devastating natural disaster.  It's the story of a young woman, Carolyn Jessop, who was born into and raised in a polygamous cult, the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS).  This is not the LDS/Mormon Church.  This group splintered off in the late 1800's when the Mormons disavowed polygamy.  Neither recognizes the other as legitimate.  You probably remember the raids on the FLDS compound and the manhunt and arrest of their leader, Warren Jeffs, a couple years ago.

Carolyn Jessop was born into the FLDS.  Her family had been a part of it for generations.  At 18, she was forced into a plural marriage with a powerful member, Merril Jessop, and over the next fifteen years, had eight children by him and suffered incredible psychological abuse at the hands of him, his older wives, and eventually, even her own family. 

She eventually escaped, and contributed to the criminal and civil charges that brought down Jeffs, weakened the cult's power, and helped countless other wives and children.

Carolyn Jessop has amazing fortitude and mental strength that gave her the insight to learn that her life was not as it should be and that she had to escape in order to survive. 

If you are interested in the psychological survival of those trapped by cults, or about the dirty backstory of apocalyptic religions, I recommend Escape for your library.


Emergency Essentials

Got the February sale catalog from Emergency Essentials this week.  If you don't get it, check out their website to see their huge variety of freeze dried food and other items, and get on their mailing list.  Also check out their blog, they have monthly contests, and this month are giving away a 25 gallon boxed water kit, a $29.99 value.  The contest ends Feb. 23, so be sure to enter ASAP!


 Sponsor of the Week

Survival Gear Bags is up as our Sponsor of the Week.  Please visit their site and check out the wide variety of bags and packs they have at very reasonable prices.  They also stock complete kits and accessories too.  Give them a try, and I think you'll be very satisfied with your purchases, and especially with the personal service!

Boots & Biscuits Feb. 19, 2011

Product Reviews:  Herman Survivors and Matterhorn Boots

Abercrombie & Fitch used to be one of the premier sporting goods stores in the world.  In their NYC shop, one could order a custom built rifle and book an African safari on which to use the rifle.  Now some designer owns the name and the A&F stores are in malls to sell grunge clothes to slackers.

Banana Republic used to sell very cool clothes suitable for hunting in Montana, carousing in Havana, or hiking the Alps.  Now they sell the same type slacker clothes as A&F.

Herman Survivors used to make some of the best hiking, work and combat boots, dating back to the late 1800's.  Now Wal Mart owns the name and sells boots under that label, made in China.

Back in December, I bought a pair of Herman Survivors 9" Suede and Camo Hunter Boots at my local Wal Mart. The website shows them at $35, but out of stock.  I got them for $26.  They are Thinsulate insulated and waterproof.  They are also pretty darn ugly.  I tromped around in the snow, and even stepped into the muddy edges of a frozen pond.  The tongue is pretty narrow and is not attached very high up on it, so they have to be laced up very methodically to ensure no gaps that would let in water.  If I did my part there, they kept my feet warm and dry.  They were pretty comfortable, but one of them had a slight squeak every step.  The reviews I read on line are pretty consistent that they are not very durable.  I haven't had mine long enough to judge.  I think these will find a home behind the seat of my truck to be a part of my winter emergency kit.  I'll save some money for a replacement by next year.  I can't recommend these, especially at the $35 price.  If you are flat broke and just need some winter boots to get you through this season, I might say you should look at them if your local store has them at the $26 that I paid.

My favorite winter boot is the Matterhorn 10" 600 gram Thinsulate/Waterproof boot.

 

I bought my first pair at Camp Lejeune before we shipped out to Saudi Arabia in 1991.  We had some very cold nights out in the desert, and these things made me a lot more comfortable and battle ready.  After returning, I used them the following winter in my job caretaking elephants and rhinos.  The held up great to ankle deep piles of poo and freezing water from a fire hose.  I think I paid $120 for them, a pretty steep price for me at the time, but well worth it.  They lasted for years.  I got my second pair in 2001 from a roommate who was a retired Army helicopter pilot who got them when he was in mountain warfare school.  He had never worn them, so they were like new when I got them.  I still have them, and they still work great and are very comfortable.  The Gore-tex and Thinsulate lining is within a fine mesh casing, so they are great for slipping on over bare feet to check on a bump in the night or fire up the generator in nasty weather.  They are for sure my first choice, and I highly recommend them if you need a winter boot.

Civil War Hardtack

Today we went to one of the local battlefield parks to hike around and enjoy the beautiful weather.  I looked around the little gift shop and saw a piece of hardtack for only a dollar, so I picked it up.  If you don't know what it is, hardtack was the MRE or C-Ration of the Civil War.  A soldier would be issued a pound (about 10 pieces) a day when on the march.  It's kind of like a large, thick, extremely crunchy Saltine cracker, but without the flavor.  It will store indefinitely if kept dry, so it may have some use for you in your 72 hour or car emergency kit.

To make hardtack, use 5 cups of flour, 2 cups of water, and 2 teaspoons of salt.  Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Knead all ingredients until you get a stiff dough.  Roll out on a floured surface and cut into 3" squares.  Poke 16 holes in the top of each square (4 rows of 4).  Bake for 15 minutes on each side.  Turn oven down to 200 degrees and let cool, then bake the crackers until moisture is gone, about 8-12 hours.  Eat plain, soak in a little milk, or fry in grease and sprinkle with sugar to make Skillygally.

My Excalibur dehydrator goes to 155 degrees.  I'm going to try a batch that way instead of 200 degree oven.  I'm thinking it might work pretty well that way.  I'll vacuum seal a handful and stick them in the truck. 

Friday Fun Stuff Feb. 18, 2011

Survivalism Songs

It's been a cold, nasty winter so far.  I'm sure we'll get more between now and spring.  But today, it's Friday, and it got to 78 sunny degrees!  So let's have a little fun tonight.  Here are a few of my favorite songs that have something to do with survivalism.  Post some of your own favorites in the comments.  The more, the merrier!  Back to serious posts tomorrow...


It has to start with Bocephus




I'm guessing Warren Zevon is a fan of my blog




The 80's Stereotype Survivalist



TEOTWAWKI




Post some of your favorites!

Enjoy the weekend, and don't forget about the Thrifty Prepper Challenge!  Remember that the deadline has been extended to Feb. 28.

Welcome! Feb. 17, 2011

Thanks For Visiting!

I've had a ton of new readers today coming over from Modern Survival Online (thanks, Rourke)!  I thought I'd kind of give a quick introduction of my self and of If It Hits The Fan.

I live with my wonderful wife on a wooded two-acre spread in rural Central Virginia.  We're getting ready to start our second year of gardening, have chickens for neighbors, and occasionally have to defend the homestead from intruding skunks.

I've been practicing survivalism since I was a young suburban teen in the early 80's.  I read Mel Tappan, Dr. Bruce Clayton, Jerry Ahern, and every gun and survival magazine I could get my hands on.  I had what would now be called a BOB (Bug Out Bag) packed up under my bed with some food, a canteen of water, some purification tabs, a Ka-Bar knife, and a flashlight.  I also had my .30-30 Winchester and pistol-gripped Mossberg 500 12 gauge ready to go.

I served 6 years in the Marine Corps Reserve as an artilleryman.  Part of that time was Operation Desert Storm where I had my first true personal survival test.  In the buildup to Y2K, I was a true believer.  Several friends and I were truly ready for the breakdown.  I lived in a huge rented farmhouse on over 200 acres, and had enough food for over a year and enough weaponry to defend it.  I encouraged my family members to prepare, and some of them still have their Aladdin lamps and propane camp stoves.  Two friends and I even bought a 1-900 number and a developed a website called SimplifY2K.com.  Catchy name, good idea, horrible execution - we knew nothing of running a website (who did in 1998?) and I think we had like 2 calls on the 900 number.

For the past 23 years, I've worked in various capacities of law enforcement and security.  For the past 5 years, I've been the director of security and emergency management for a large urban school division.  In that role, I've become very involved in municipal emergency management and have been in the city's EOC (Emergency Operations Center) during several major storms and near disasters.  I've attended numerous disaster and emergency management courses, and am a Certified Emergency Management Assistant (one of only 40 in Virginia).  In addition to being prone to tropical storms, the city where I work is surrounded by three different nuclear facilities.  I've really developed a passion and skill for emergency planning and it is a major part of my professional and personal life.

I started this blog on an almost weekly basis in May of 2010.  January 1st, I committed to daily posts (I've missed one a month) and building it up.  My readership has drastically increased since I made that change.  I'm very humbled that folks take time out of their busy days to read what I have to say.  I don't take that for granted, and I strive to meet and exceed their expectations.

As a new visitor, please look around.  Check out some of the different topics.  I've written about gardening; guns; fishing; food storage; product, TV and even music reviews; and current events.  Use the search box on the right.  Please "like" us on Facebook in the upper right corner of this page.  Leave comments on the posts that interest you.  Shoot me an email here if you have a question or suggestion.

Thanks for checking me out.  As the balladeer from The Beverly Hillbillies used to say, "Y'all come back now, ya hear?"

This Is Only A Test Feb. 16, 2011

Beeeeep Beeeeep Beeeeep

We've all heard the tones.  Sometimes on TV, other times on the radio.  The older among us remember it as the Emergency Broadcast System (The really old baby boomers might remember the War Emergency Radio Service or CONELRAD).  Now it is the Emergency Alert System.  The vast majority of the time, it is a test of the system or an announcement of a siren or other alarm test.  It is frequently for local weather emergencies. 

Although capable since the early 1950's, the system has never been used for an Emergency Alert Notification.  That is the code used for the president to activate the system for a national address.  That's about to change.  Sometime in late 2011, the system will be tested.

Emergency management, FCC and FEMA types are concerned about an unwary public freaking out from the test.  They plan two months of advanced notice and outreach to prepare the citizenry to hear the message.  I think I hold a little more confidence in my fellow Americans...  But remember the whole War of the Worlds thing.

I think this is a good thing.  I find it amazing that the ability has existed for 60 years, but has never even been tested.  If some national incident such as a wide-spread nuclear or other attack happens, the people will need to hear from the president, no matter who he happens to be at the time.

Ripoff Warning Feb. 15, 2011

Barnes & Noble Survival Kit

I was at B&N this evening, looking at the discount shelf.  Mixed in with the macrame and sushi kits, I found this "US Army Survival Pack."

All the kits on the shelf had ripped boxes, I suppose accounting for the discount status.  The marked down price was $19.99.  I don't know, but I'd guess $29.99 at full price.  It has a hand warmer, space blanket, waterproof matches, match container/whistle combo, compass, pouch (looked like a GI first aid kit pouch), canteen and cover.  It also included the US Army Survival Manual (FM 21-76).  All of it made in the People's Republic of China.  So, is it a good deal?  I don't think so.

Let's take it piece by piece...

FM 21-76, US Army Survival Manual Simply click on the link to download it as a free .pdf from my buddy Rourke over at ModernSurvivalOnline.  If you must have it as a printed manual, it is all over the Internet in the $5-6 range.

Hand Warmers 80 of them through Amazon for $22.95, so that's about 29 cents apiece and they are Hot Hands, name brand

Space Blanket 4 of them through Amazon for $2.13 - about 53 cents each

Lifeboat Matches 2 packs for $13.46 on Amazon (each pack is about twice as many as the B&N pack and are the NATO issue) - $3.37 for an equal amount,

Match Case/Whistle/Compass Amazon has it for $6.71

F/A Kit Pouch Our sponsor, Survival Gear Bags, has a MOLLE gear F/A pouch in the new digital camouflage for only $10.  If you really want the same style as the B&N pack, you can find a genuine GI one at a gun show or surplus store for about $2

Canteen & Cover Survival Gear Bags has a 2qt. bladder canteen with a MOLLE digital camouflage set for $15 ($4 & $11 respectively).  If you want a genuine GI 1 qt and cover, and don't mind used (if you were in the service, you didn't get a new one in your issue, and someone else got yours after you turned it back in), keep your eyes out at yard sales and gun shows and it's easy to find one for $2-3 for the set.

So, with a little shopping around, you can find all of these items for about $15 or even less.  And it will be better quality that what B&N sells.