Please do your own research. The information I share is only a catalyst to expanding ones confined consciousness. I have NO desire for anyone to blindly believe or agree with what I share. Seek the truth for yourself and put your own puzzle together that has been presented to you. I'm not here to teach, preach or lead, but rather assist in awakening the consciousness of the collective from its temporary dormancy.
What possible ‘good news’ could there ever be about nuclear destruction coming to America, whether it is Dirty Bombs, Terrorist Nukes, or ICBM’s from afar?
In a word, they are all survivable for the vast majority of American families, IF they know what to do beforehand and have made even the most modest of preparations.
Tragically, though, most Americans today won’t give much credence to this good news, much less seek out such vital life-saving instruction, as they have been jaded by our culture’s pervasive myths of nuclear un-survivability.
Most people think that if nukes go off then everybody is going to die, or it’ll be so bad they’ll wish they had. That’s why you hear such absurd comments as; “If it happens, I hope I’m at ground zero and go quickly.”
This defeatist attitude was born as the disarmament movement ridiculed any competing alternatives to their ban-the-bomb agenda, like Civil Defense. The activists wanted all to think there was no surviving any nukes, disarmament was your only hope. The sound Civil Defense strategies of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s have been derided as being largely ineffective, or at worst a cruel joke. Since the supposed end of the Cold War in the 80’s, most Americans saw neither a need to prepare, nor believed that preparation would do any good.
Today, with growing prospects of nuclear terrorism, and nuclear saber rattling from rogue nations, we see emerging among the public either paralyzing fear or irrational denial. People can’t even begin to envision effective preparations for ever surviving a nuclear attack. They think it totally futile, bordering on lunacy, to even try.
Ironically, the disarmament activists legacy, regardless their noble intent, has rendered millions of Americans even more vulnerable to perishing from nukes in the future.
The biggest surprise for most Americans, from the first flash of a nuke being unleashed, is that they will still be here, though ill-equipped to survive for long, if they don’t know what to do, and not do, beforehand from that very first second of the initial flash onward.
For instance, many could readily survive the delayed blast wave via the old ‘Duck & Cover’ tactic, and that is very good news, IF they knew to do it quick as the flash appeared. Unfortunately, most don’t, and even fewer know how to later survive the coming radioactive fallout which could eventually kill many times more than the blast.
However, there is still more good news possible, as well over 90% of those potential casualties from fallout are avoidable, too, IF the public was pre-trained through an aggressive national Civil Defense educational program. Simple measures taken immediately after a nuclear detonation, by a pre-trained public, can prevent agonizing death and injury from radiation exposure.
The National Planning Scenario #1, an originally confidential internal 2004 study by the Department of Homeland Security, examined the effects of a terrorist nuke detonated in Washington, D.C.. They discovered that a 10 kiloton nuke, about 2/3rds the size of the Hiroshima bomb, detonated at ground level, would result in about 15,000 immediate deaths, and another 15,000 casualties from the blast, thermal flash and initial radiation release.1
As horrific as that is, and even without ‘Duck & Cover’, the surprising revelation here is that over 99% of the residents in the DC area will have just witnessed and survived their first nuclear explosion. Clearly, the good news is most people would survive that initial blast.
However, that study also soberly determined that as many as another 250,000 people could soon be at risk from lethal doses of radiation from the fallout drifting downwind towards them after the blast. (Another study, released in August 2006 by the Rand Corporation, looked at a terrorist 10 kiloton nuke arriving in a cargo container and being exploded in the Port of Long Beach, California. Over 150,000 people were estimated to be at risk downwind from fallout, again many more than from the initial blast itself.2)
The good news here, that these much larger casualty numbers from radioactive fallout are largely avoidable, too, only applies to those pre-trained beforehand by a Civil Defense program in what they need to do before it arrives.
Today, lacking any meaningful Civil Defense program, millions of American families continue to be at risk and could perish needlessly for lack of essential knowledge that used to be taught at the grade school level.
The public at large, businesses and all our children’s schools, urgently need to be instructed in Civil Defense basics again. Like how most can save themselves by immediately employing the ‘Duck & Cover’ tactic, rather than just allowing an impulsive rush to the nearest windows to see what that ‘bright flash’ was across town, just-in-time to be shredded by the glass imploding inward from that delayed shock wave blast.
Most also don’t know, even when caught in the open, just lying flat, reduces by eight-fold the chances of being hit by debris from that brief, three second, tornado strength shock wave blast that, like lightning & thunder, could be delayed arriving anywhere from a couple seconds to 2 minutes after that initial flash.
Remember the February, 2013 Chelyabinsk Russia meteor air burst? 1,500 people were injured, most from the delayed shock wave exploding inward the window glass they were anxiously scanning the winter sky through trying to see what/where the bright flash was earlier.
“A fourth-grade teacher in Chelyabinsk, Yulia Karbysheva, was hailed as a hero after saving 44 children from imploding window glass cuts. Despite not knowing the origin of the intense flash of light, Karbysheva thought it prudent to take precautionary measures by ordering her students to stay away from the room’s windows and to perform a duck and cover maneuver. Karbysheva, who remained standing, was seriously lacerated when the blast arrived and window glass severed a tendon in one of her arms; however, none of her students, whom she ordered to hide under their desks, suffered cuts.” 3
‘Duck & Cover’, while under appreciated by most Americans, has long been known as a simple and effective shock wave blast life-saver, even as early as Hiroshima (15 KT) and Nagasaki (22 KT).
“According to the 1946 book Hiroshima, in the days between the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings in Japan, one Hiroshima policeman went to Nagasaki to teach police about ducking after the atomic flash. As a result of this timely warning, not a single Nagasaki policeman died in the initial blast.
Unfortunately, the general population was not warned of the heat/blast danger following an atomic flash because of the bomb’s unknown nature. Many people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki died while searching the skies for the source of the brilliant flash.” 4
Robert Trumbull – the New York Times Pacific and Asia war correspondent, 1941-79 who had been in Iwo Jima – documented more double-bombing survivors in his 1957 book Nine Who Survived Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Personal Experiences of Nine Men who Lived Through Both Atomic Bombings5. Two of their experiences and their ages on 9 August 1945:
Tsutomu Yamaguchi, 29, Mitsubishi ship designer who died in 2010, aged 93 (Trumbull pp. 28 and 109): “‘Suddenly there was a flash like the lighting of a huge magnesium flare,’ Yamaguchi recalls. The young ship designer was so well drilled in air-raid precaution techniques that he reacted automatically. He flung his hands to his head, covering his eyes with his fingers and stopping his ears with his two thumbs. Simultaneously he dropped to the ground, face down. … ‘As I prostrated myself, there came a terrific explosion’ … [The left side of his face and arm facing the fireball were burned, and he returned to Nagasaki, experiencing the second nuclear explosion on the sixth-floor of the headquarters office of Mitsubishi.]
Spelling out the danger of flying glass, he urged them to keep windows open during an air-raid alert, and at the instant of the flash to seize at once upon any shelter available … the second A-bomb confirmed young Yamaguchi’s words, exploding in a huge ball of fire about a mile away. Yamaguchi’s lecture [just an hour earlier!]… was not lost upon his colleagues. With the young designer’s words still fresh in their minds, they leaped for the cover of desks and tables. ‘As a result,’ said Yamaguchi, ‘my section staff suffered the least in that building. In other sections there was a heavy toll of serious injuries from flying glass’.”
Masao Komatsu, 40, was hit by falling beam in a Hiroshima warehouse and was on board a train in Nagasaki when the bomb fell (Trumbull, p101): “…the interior of the coach was bathed in a stark, white light. Komatsu immediately dived for the floor. ‘Get down!’ he screamed at the other passengers. Some recovered sufficiently from the daze of the blinding light to react promptly to his warning. Seconds later came the deafening crack of the blast, and a shock wave that splintered all the windows on both sides of the train. The passengers who had not dived under the seats were slashed mercilessly from waist to head by glass flying at bullet speed.”
While terrorist nukes would likely be smaller than the Hiroshima (15 KT) bomb, in a modern super power conflict today, the nukes would be larger, most in the 100 KT to 500 KT range. The unsurvivable ‘ground zero’ lethal zone of a 500 KT nuke airburst, would extend out to about 2.2 miles. The blast wave would arrive at that 2.2 mile marker about eight seconds after the flash and then continue on causing death or injury from there out to about 9 miles. Putting at grave risk then an additional over 15 times more souls than were already lost within that unsurvivable 2.2 mile ground zero radius. That’s IF they don’t know to ‘Duck & Cover’ in those 8 to 20+ seconds after the flash and before the blast wave arrived.
In other words, with ‘Duck & Cover’ taught to and employed by all, there could be over 15 times fewer casualties from that blast wave!6
Clearly, prompt ‘Duck & Cover’, upon any bright flash suddenly appearing, is lifesaving good news everyone should be taught!
They need to also be taught, after the blast, attempting to outrun that downwind drift of the fallout is strongly discouraged. It only works if wind direction, speed, and distance from ground zero is known and assures plenty enough time to escape exposure in the open well before the fallout would arrive along their, likely clogged, route. They must also be taught, sheltering-in-place is usually the better option, as the radioactive fallout loses 90% of its lethal intensity in the first seven hours and 99% of it in two days. For those requiring sheltering from fallout, the majority would only need two or three days of full-time hunkering down, not weeks on end, before safely joining an evacuation, if even still necessary then.
That’s more good news as an effective expedient fallout shelter can easily be improvised at home, school or work quickly, but, again, only IF the public had been trained beforehand in how to do so, as was begun in the 50’s, 60’s & 70’s with our national Civil Defense program.
Unfortunately, our government today is doing little to promote nuclear preparedness and Civil Defense instruction among the general public. Regrettably, most of our politicians, like the public, are still captive to the same illusions that training and preparation of the public are ineffective and futile against a nuclear threat.
Bush administration Department of Homeland Security head, Michael Chertoff, demonstrated this attitude in 2005 when he responded to the following question in USA Today:7
Q: In the last four years, the most horrific scenario – a nuclear attack – may be the least discussed. If there were to be a nuclear attack tomorrow by terrorists on an American city, how would it be handled?
A: In the area of a nuclear bomb, it’s prevention, prevention, prevention. If a nuclear bomb goes off, you are not going to be able to protect against it. There’s no city strong enough infrastructure-wise to withstand such a hit. No matter how you approach it, there’d be a huge loss of life.
Mr. Chertoff failed to grasp that most of that “huge loss of life” could be avoided if those in the blast zone and downwind knew what to do beforehand. He only acknowledges that the infrastructure will be severely compromised – too few first-responders responding. Civil Defense pre-training of the public is clearly the only hope for those in the blast zone and later in the fallout path.
Of course, the government should try and prevent it happening first, but the answer he should have given to that question is; “preparation, preparation, preparation” of the public via training beforehand, for when prevention by the government might fail.
The Obama administration also failed to grasp that the single greatest force multiplier to reducing potential casualties, and greatly enhancing the effectiveness of first-responders, is a pre-trained public so that there will be far fewer casualties to later deal with. Spending millions to train and equip first-responders is good and necessary, but having millions fewer victims, by having also educated and trained the public beforehand, too, would be many magnitudes more effective in saving lives. Maybe the Trump administration will do better, but time is short.
The federal government needs to launch a national mass media, business supported, and school based effort, superseding our most ambitious public awareness campaigns like for AIDs, drug abuse, drunk driving, anti-smoking, etc. The effort should percolate down to every level of our society. Let’s be clear – we are talking about the potential to save, or lose needlessly, many times more lives than those saved by all these other noble efforts combined!
Instead, Homeland Security continues with a focus primarily on…
#2 – Continuity of Government (COG) and casualty response afterwards for when #1 fails
While the vital key component continues to be largely ignored…
#3 – Continuity of the Public while it’s happening – via proven mass media Civil Defense training beforehand that would make the survival difference then for the vast majority of Americans affected by a nuclear event and on their own from that first initial flash & blast and through those critical first couple days of the highest radiation threat, before government response has arrived in force.
This deadly oversight will persist until those crippling myths of nuclear un-survivability are banished by the good news that a trained and prepared public can, and ultimately has to, save themselves. More training of the public beforehand means less body bags required afterwards, it’s that simple.
The tragic After Action Reports (AAR’s), of an American city nuked today, would glaringly reveal then that the overwhelming majority of victims had perished needlessly for lack of this basic, easy to learn & employ, life-saving knowledge.
Re-launching Civil Defense training is an issue we hope & pray will come to the forefront on the political stage, with both parties vying to outdo each other proposing national Civil Defense public educational programs. We are not asking billions for provisioned public fallout shelters for all, like what already awaits many of our politicians. We are just asking for a comprehensive mass media, business, and school based re-release of the proven practical strategies of Civil Defense instruction, a modernized version of what we used to have here, and that had been embraced by the Chinese, Russians, Swiss and Israeli’s.
There is no greater, nor more legitimate, primary responsibility of any government than to protect its citizens. And, no greater condemnation awaits that government that fails to, risking millions then perishing needlessly. We all need to demand renewed public Civil Defense training and the media needs to spotlight it by questioning officials and politicians, until the government corrects this easily avoidable, but fatal vulnerability.
In the meantime, though, don’t wait around for the government to instruct and prepare your own family and community. Educate yourself today and begin establishing your own family nuclear survival preparations by reading the free nuke prep primer HERE.
Then, post links to, or pass copies of, this ‘Good News’ article to friends, neighbors, relatives, fellow workers, churches and community organizations with a brief note attached saying simply: “We hope/pray we never need this, but just-in-case, keep it handy!” Few nowadays will find that approach alarmist and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how many are truly grateful.
Everyone should also forward copies to their local, state and federal elected representatives, as well as your own communities first-responders and local media, all to help spread this good news that’s liberating American families from their paralyzing and potentially fatal myths of nuclear un-survivability!
Bottom Line: We could easily reduce by 90% the lethality of all Chinese, Russian, N Korean and Iranian missiles, and any terrorist nukes, too, quick as the public is trained up in blast & fallout Civil Defense basics again. And, that is very good news!
Doctors for Disaster Preparedness 2020 Conference presentation of this article:
Toshiharu Kano, third generation Japanese-American, author of Passport to Hiroshima reminded us recently:
“I am the last, closest to ground zero (800 meters from hypocenter), living survivor of Hiroshima atomic bomb of August 1945. Many of the tens of thousands of victims there tragically perished from an unfamiliarity of how to protect themselves from the unique effects of a nuclear bomb’s flash, blast and radiation. As a US citizen living in middle America today I see a hauntingly similar vulnerability growing among the general public here ever since Civil Defense was discontinued after the Reagan Cold War era.
“The ‘Good News About Nuclear Destruction’ is that if all Americans were trained again in the Civil Defense basics of what to do and not do if nuclear weapons were ever unleashed again, we could instantly make all nukes 90% less lethal. Ideally, while I’d like to see a world free of nuclear weapons someday, in the meantime we should all embrace rejuvenating public Civil Defense to greatly minimize their lethality.”
Nuclear Disaster Survival Products:
RADTriangle (personal radiation detector for your wallet or pocket).
RADEX ONE (Geiger counter, nuclear radiation detector)
Mismanagement of the COVID-19 crisis has initiated a socioeconomic chain reaction that has only begun to play out. Nevertheless, this story has a silver lining: the chance to make the world a better place.
But it has to start with an honest assessment of how we got here, and point to a positive course of action…
Imagine ten years ago if someone described to you what the world would look like as we entered the 2020’s. Would you have believed them?
Interesting times eh? It’s about to get a lot more interesting.
History will remember this decade as a critical turning point. The end of an era.
2020 was the year that ideas like this went mainstream. Headlines that used to be relegated to the lunatic fringe were now being promoted by the corporate media.
Then of course we had the COVID-19 debacle. Though the ‘authorities’ would blame the disease itself, it was their ill-conceived response that actually served as the catalyst.
Their short sighted policies initiated a chain reaction. Some consequences of this chain reaction are inevitable (like a bullet that has left the barrel of a gun). Others hang in the balance. There will not, however, be any going back to normal.
This story has a silver lining; a chance to make the world a better place. But it has to start with an honest assessment of how we got here, and point to a positive course of action.
In the winter of 2020 as COVID-19 went exponential a panic was spreading even faster.
Those who hatched this plan had made no provision for a pandemic that would linger on for months or years. They didn’t even account for the socioeconomic chain reaction that the first round of lock downs would set in motion.
By the summer of 2020 flash points of violence and social unrest were flaring up in cities around the world. Pent up frustrations were building, for obvious reasons. Billions of people had just spent months locked in their houses.
Most stress relieving activities had been banned: social gatherings, sports, time with friends at restaurants or bars… even places of worship were restricted. This was a powder keg waiting for a match.
Politicians obviously saw the danger in this equation. When millions of people are suddenly left hungry and homeless that’s a recipe for revolution. Something had to be done, and quickly. So they did something. Boy did they do something.
When all you have is a hammer every problem looks like a nail, and the governments around the world were looking at a very, very large nail. The fiscal stimulus programs of 2020 were epic; absolutely off the charts. By June over 18 trillion had been disbursed globally.
Then there were the forgivable loans – via the paycheck protection program and similar schemes around the world – which were supposed to help prop up small businesses. Some of these loans ended up being extended to some rather strange small businesses.
If you’ve never heard of Quantitative Easing (or QE) you might want to look that up. The short version is that when central banks purchase assets new money is created.
The money that is transferred to the asset holders account is literally typed into existence. These asset holders typically reinvest this new money, causing asset prices (including the stocks) to rise. Poor people don’t typically own these kinds of assets so it’s basically welfare for the rich.
And while it’s wonderful that we can provide a such a nice safety net for the upper crust of society it does have one little side effect: inflating markets with liquidity creates asset bubbles. It’s like filling up a water balloon more and more… till its so big you can see through it. Sooner or later it always pops.
The first round of QE started in 2009 after the housing bubble collapsed. Cutting interest rates to zero just wasn’t enough. 2020 brought us round four (affectionately referred to by some as QE Infinity).
In this round the Fed would take their liquidity experiment to a whole new level; buying financial assets never touched during QE1, 2, or 3 including corporate debt and etfs.
In one month they purchased more assets than they had during the entire first year following the 2009 crisis.
With unemployment numbers still hovering at great depression levels and hopes of a quick, V-shaped recovery evaporating, all eyes were on governments and central banks. The question was not if there would be more stimulus and money printing, the real question was how big it would be this time.
Would it be enough? No one seemed to be asking what would happen if they went too far.
Our fearless leaders had painted themselves into a corner at this point. If unemployment benefits, mortgage forbearance and eviction moratoriums weren’t extended, those in power would soon be facing millions of homeless, hungry and angry people.
With violence and unrest already smoldering in many major cities, this would be like throwing gasoline on a fire. Extending these protections however, would not be without a price.
Eviction moratoriums and mortgage forbearance programs had temporarily prevented millions from being suddenly made homeless. But with no rent coming in, landlords would soon be defaulting on mortgages en masse, as would many homeowners and businesses.
Russia by launching an alternative to the SWIFT payment system which allowed countries to bypass U.S. sanctions and China by introducing the PetroYuanwhich would compete directly with the petrodollar.
China was also in the process developing a digital currency (aka the e-Yuan) that bypassed the need for banks all together. Transfers relied only on an app on your phone.
By imposing sanctions on any individual, company or bank which did business with Chinese officials enforcing the new security law, this legislation set the stage for Washington to cut China’s access to the dollar; a move which would ultimately divide the world into Yuan and Dollar based currency blocs.
Spoiler alert: it doesn’t end well for Uncle Sam.
These economic provocations were accompanied by multiple rounds of good old fashion saber rattling.
It’s worth noting that by this time these islands were fully militarized and operational; complete with ports, runways and other facilities that gave the Chinese a clear strategic advantage.
At this stage the rest of the world was beginning to suspect that Uncle Sam was experiencing some form of cognitive decline. He wasn’t playing four dimensional chess here. He didn’t even seem to be playing with a full deck.
This was like a drunk guy poking a tiger with a stick (probably not going to end well).
The provocations would continue on multiple fronts: embassies ordered to close, Chinese companies sanctioned or banned from operating in the U.S. Anything and everything connected to China was open game.
China condemned each of these provocations but they didn’t take the bait. Their response would come when was in their strategic interests. They would choose their own timing. If direct conflict could be averted long enough, the U.S. was likely to collapse on its own. The war could be won without firing a shot.
Thucydides Trap:
The high probability of war when an emerging power threatens the dominance of an international hegemon.
Meanwhile back in the U.S. of A. the violence and mayhem in the streets was intensifying. Businesses, government buildings and vehicles had been burning virtually every night for months on end. Protesters and counter protesters were now bringing semiautomatic weapons to the scene.
By September there were multiple fatalities on each side.
Perception of these events was increasingly polarized. The left and the right were no long behaving like political factions of a nation. They had devolved into hostile tribes fighting for control of a territory.
A radicalized strain of thought that directly endorsed violence as a political tool was metastasizing among a new generation of activists. A growing contingent had convinced themselves that they could win in an armed conflict. This was a serious miscalculation.
(If you try to outgun the police and the military you’re going to have a bad time).
Here humanity approached a crossroad. Probabilities were coalescing as the crisis progressed.
Those who saw the stakes would feel an urgency. With every moment of inaction the likelihood of a tragic ending increased. Something had to be done.
But what?
What could an ordinary individual do to improve the outcome? Could the trajectory of history really be altered?
Some questions are best answered with a riddle.
Rather than predicting what comes next, let’s tell a story. This story has multiple endings and you get to choose.
Story Time
It’s been said that every nation is three meals away from a revolution.
Never before had this principle been tested in so many countries simultaneously as it was in the 2020’s.
At first many held onto the hope that everything would soon go back to normal, but as the long term realities of the decade set in, more and more people would come to the same startling conclusion: the ‘authorities’ were out of their depth.
There was no exit strategy. The situation was not ‘under control’…
In the early stages of the crisis, when the first few governments were collapsing, very few realized how the conflux of economic, geopolitical and social variables were coalescing in a perfect storm.
But when G20 nations started dropping like flies the phenomenon it became impossible to ignore. Like dominoes falling, the collapse of one major economy destabilized every country connected to it. In the age of globalization very few would be spared.
What began as a trickle suddenly accelerated as the downfall of the U.S. dollar precipitated an unprecedented shock to global supply chains.
Imports ground to a halt all around the world. In countries dependent on outsourced food production and manufacturing this translated into widespread shortages and social unrest. In this environment extremist movements of all stripes flourished.
A small handful of nations would weather this storm peacefully. Rather than tearing themselves apart from within or transforming into totalitarian dictatorships, they would unify and adapt.
As economic and monetary shocks disrupted global supply chains and trade, these countries would quickly reorganize their economies to replace imports with local production – starting with food and essentials. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels was an important element of this transition.
To accomplish this feat every aspect of modern life was re-imagined.
Lawns were replaced by gardens; golf courses converted to orchards. Waste streams were recuperated to minimize losses. It wasn’t easy, but these countries pulled through, and before the decade was over, they were building regional trade networks that hadn’t existed before the crisis.
A lot of wealthy countries didn’t do so well in the second phase of the crisis; the part where real hardship kicked in. Populations accustomed to easy living and constant entertainment had a very short fuse.
As shortages and rationing became the new normal and homeless encampments grew, protests would morph into riots, armed uprisings and civil wars.
Governments that were ill prepared for these challenges crumbled quickly; some into the hands of populist movements, others to military juntas. In most cases the replacement was more brutal and repressive that the old system.
The underlying paradigm was rarely questioned at all.
Many regimes would extend their lifespan by totalitarian means. Emergency powers established under lockdown would prove invaluable here.
Policies previously justified by public health would now be implemented in the name of national security; control mechanisms adapted and repurposed to crack down on dissidents.
It was every petty dictator’s wet dream: granular control over every aspect of human behavior and interaction. No one allowed to gather in public without permission. Every contact tracked and traced. If you’re outside you better be prepared to show your papers.
This approach was most effective when the latent fears and hatreds of the population could be rallied against an enemy.
Convince a people that they are under attack and it’s easy to unify them under a flag.
Rather than rioting in the streets, impoverished youth can be conscripted into the military.
Their identities shattered and remolded; conditioned to obey; trained to kill on command.
Send them abroad to steal land and resources.
Use them at home to crush dissent.
War is – after all – the health of the state.
Regardless of which axis prevailed in these conflicts the result would be the same.
A new totalitarian order was the universal prescription; the only cure for the chaos.
The world’s first truly global currency would replace the dollar. This currency would be completely digital; coins and bank notes phased out. Every single transaction conducted using this currency would be recorded on a block blockchain.
Unlike the original cryptocurrencies this blockchain was controlled by a central authority and monitored with AI. Economic privacy a thing of the past.
It was the holy grail of ruling elite, the precursor for global governance with teeth, but before they even had time to properly congratulate themselves, their house of cards was already catching wind.
As living conditions deteriorate, and fear and uncertainty prevail, certain psychological forces are always unleashed. These forces are like the incoming waves of a tsunami.
Once they gather momentum there can be no stopping them.
Throughout history there have been individuals and movements who rode these waves; channeling the tides of human sentiment towards a course of action. Though the science of crowd psychology is complex and nuanced, the application of its principles is mind bogglingly simple.
So simple in fact, that intellectuals typically recoil from them, while bonafide idiots wield them easily (and to great effect).
Like riding a tsunami on a surfboard, attempting to redirect the momentum of a society is highly dangerous.
The crowd can lift a leader to great heights, but one mistake can leave them hanging from a lamp post. Those who manage to navigate these forces usually guard the formula carefully. Failure to do so would threaten the foundations of their power.
This time around however, humanity flipped the script.
In the age of the internet the science of crowd psychology and color revolutions had been available to the public for some time now, but very few saw the utility in studying it.
However as the 2020’s progressed, and it became more and it became more clear that that those in power were pushing civilization toward a dystopian nightmare, a contingent of activists would reverse engineer the tools being used against them.
The work of Gustave Le Bon and Edward Bernays would be modernized and tempered with a cultural code:
the positive application of human instinct.
The instinctual psychology of species can be harnessed for good or for evil. In the modern era it has been weaponized by the military industrial complex for regime change, and by corporations for marketing and public relations.
The same principles however can applied to create rather than destroy. Visions and values can spread like viruses from mind to mind, and from place to place.
The contagion of a single idea can inspire generations towards a new paradigm.
To topple a government is surprisingly easy when conditions are right. Silver spoon politicians who’ve never served or worked a day in their life can easily lose the respect and obedience of military and law enforcement. When that happens, it’s game over.
The question that always comes up in such events (usually as an afterthought) is what will you replace the old system with?
There is nothing more dangerous than armed men with utopian dreams. Sometimes the cure can be worse than the disease.
History provides many cautionary tales. To avoid the trap of oppressed rising up to become the oppressor the paradigm that facilitates this dynamic has to be questioned.
The vast majority of modern governments, businesses and organizations utilize a social structure called vertical collectivism. Vertical collectivism is top down system of organizing human groups which amplifies power by stacking layers of authority in pyramids.
The result is a highly stratified society where those on the bottom have little or no say, and are left to fight over scraps from above.
Vertical collectivism is apolitical. Capitalists companies and Communist regimes both use it without contradiction, as do republics that call themselves democracies.
The vertical model was born of military strategy. A general or warlord alone can only control a small army, but by using subordinate officers in layers of rank, a single individual, or a small ruling class can dominate millions of people and vast territories.
This is why a state is often defined as the monopoly on violence within a region.
Vertical collectivism didn’t spread to every corner of the globe because it improved peoples lives.
Vertical collectivism spread like a cancer because it is brutally effective in the in the context of war.
Every culture that it encountered was either crushed on the battlefield or forced to copy the model to survive. The dawn of civilization – as many euphemistically refer to it – is a story of conquest and colonialization that began approximately 10,000 years ago and continues to this day.
This was not however, the beginning of the human story.
For over 300,000 years – long before the first empires of Asia and Europe began to absorb surrounding tribes – humans organized themselves using a very different model.
Rather than building top down, stratified societies that concentrated wealth and power in the hands of an upper class, these cultures organized horizontally.
Organizing horizontally didn’t mean that there were no leaders.
The authority and instincts are far older than humanity.
Like all social animals, our species is hardwired to follow those who demonstrate courage and intelligence.
However in horizontal societies disparities of wealth and power were significantly smaller.
The leaders and councils responsible for group decisions were not insulated by armies and law enforcement conditioned to obey without question.
Defense and order were maintained by an armed citizenry, bound by a code of conduct. This dynamic forced leaders to be directly accountable to the population.
Their power was rooted in their ability to communicate with the people, build consensus and chart a course of action to the benefit of all.
The fact that horizontal societies required leaders to work with the public in such a personal way had one obvious disadvantage: it limited the size of the group. After all, why would someone voluntarily follow someone far away that they never met?
There is however, a way around this limitation. By forming federations horizontal societies can expand their sphere influence significantly.
An example of this adaptation can be found in the Iroquois confederacy which unified 5 tribes for hundreds of years in the region that came to be called New York.
Each member tribe in the confederacy had their own culture and and internal governance, but a set of shared values enabled them to cooperate economically and militarily. If one tribe was attacked they quickly mounted a common defense.
Many historians believe that United States federal system was based on the Iroquois model. One significant difference however, was that the Iroquois had no central government. There was a central council comprised of representatives from each tribe, but this council had no power to enforce its will.
Each representative was tasked with building a consensus that would resonate with their people.
A modernized adaptation of this Iroquois model gained traction in the mid 2020s as the gears of globalization ground to a halt. While governments proved incapable of solving the most basic problems, decentralized networks were replacing the system from the ground up.
They would start by organizing local food production in their communities and gradually expand cooperation to other sectors.
Their revolution was driven by an idea worth spreading. Not only was it possible to live on this planet without destroying it, this way of life was more abundant and fulfilling than the alternative. There was no need to wait for governments to act. Humans are perfectly capable of organizing themselves.
Those that succeeded became epicenters of a new renaissance; attracting skilled workers and artists from all around the world.
Some of these travelers would put down permanent roots.
Others would return to their homeland to plant seeds of their own.
From the fragments of fallen empires new nations would be born.
From the ashes of dying cultures new cultures would rise.
The great collapse of the 2020’s was not the end of the world.
It was the end of an era, and the dawn of a new one…
Time To Flip The Script
Remember how we said this story has multiple endings?
We’re going take one of them to a literal extreme; and we’re going to do it in the real world.
Now if you’re living in a crowded city center, maybe pushing the boundaries starts by planting a garden in your front yard, organizing a community compost, or speaking out against a war.
However it’s important to understand that in the era we have entered the stakes are rising, and the trajectory we’re on needs to be altered significantly.
This implies fundamental changes in the way we livRemember how we said this story has multiple endings? We’re going take one of them to a literal extreme; and we’re going to do it in the real world.
(Those who piece together the clues, get through the filters, and pass quarantine will at some point find themselves standing here. GPS COORDINATES FLASH)
Now if you’re living in a crowded city center, maybe pushing the boundaries starts by planting a garden in your front yard, organizing a community compost, or speaking out against a war.
However it’s important to understand that in the era we have entered the stakes are rising, and the trajectory we’re on needs to be altered significantly. This implies fundamental changes in the way we live, not just gestures in right direction.
You have to decide what kind of story you and your family want to be a part of. In some cases this might involve immigrating to another country. Others will be more inclined to stay, and fight to change the outcome at home. One way or the other you’ll want to be in a place where you can grow food, and you’ll want to be set up to do this without agrochemical inputs or fossil fuels.
You also don’t want to be reliant on the grid. Utilities can and will go down. Some will be shocked by how long they can stay down.
These aren’t the kind of lifestyle changes you want to make at the last moment, or put off until you can do something large scale. Far better to start transitioning to a new way of life right now. Do what you can with what you have. Join forces with others to amplify.
The learning curve for this kind of transition can be steep. There are a lot of practical skills that we should be taught in school but aren’t. Most kids when they graduate… don’t know how to build a house, or grow a garden, or even how to make bread.
The best way to learn this stuff isn’t really in a classroom anyway. People learn best by example, anchored with hands on experience.
That’s why we built this place. You could think of it as an experiential learning center / maker space. This whole landscape is a laboratory.
Here we can put ideas to an extreme test.
Rather that just reading about this stuff or watching a presentation, volunteers and travelers from all over the world come here to do it themselves. They get their hands dirty in the field: planting plants, working with animals, building crazy structures like these.
They also get to experience first hand what it takes to self organize and live in a different way.
The experience is extreme, because the challenges we face are real. We’re completely off-grid here. Our electricity comes from the sun. We have running water by pumping from the spring up to a tank on the hill.
It’s also up to us to us to maintain the road and drainage. Up here when there’s a problem we have to put our heads together and find a way to solve it.
To put this in perspective, our first long term volunteer was here when we sustained a direct hit from hurricane Maria. He also assisted in the recovery and became part of the story.
Talk is cheap. If you really want to change the world you have to be able to show people how.
We’re doing this here in the Commonwealth of Dominica cause these people are moving in the right direction, and their culture holds some of the keys to the solution.
But where ever you decide to make your stand now is the time to get serious about food security.
Our challenge in the next phase is to grow more and develop local production systems to replace imports.
Summary: A quick, “how to” guide that helps the average American weather the storm of a national crisis. It’s a workday afternoon and the power has just gone out in your city. You have no cell phone, a quarter tank of gas, and you don’t know how to contact your children. You haven’t done a single pushup in the last five years. The radio in your car is only picking up emergency broadcasts. You have some difficult decisions to make in the next 48 hours that will change your life forever, and you’re not ready. Don’t worry. You’re not alone. You are about to become an “armchair survivalist.” If you are like a lot of Americans who work behind a computer, this is your worst nightmare. What you only thought could happen in the movies is your new life. You’re not nearly resourceful enough to go to the woods and “live off the land”. Forget all that nonsense about skinning your own rabbit and eating insects. You’re going to go back to your home and be with your family.
So make the most of it. There are plenty of supplies within walking distance of your house that will help make life bearable during the dark hours. You will learn to move without the mob, to band together with friends and neighbors if possible, and to keep everything you hold dear safe from the raging population that will develop into a destructive mob before your eyes. You can do
this. You now have help.
The text you are about to read was initially designed for the worst case scenario, one where the power goes out, leaving the average person “in the dark”. The full version covers everything leading up to that point, and a lot of theory regarding the current state of the country and what the average citizen would see during a severe national crisis.
After the initial text was completed, I started working on an audio version which was accompanied by a slide show for effect. This was eventually going to be uploaded to Youtube as an instructional series.
Then I read a very disheartening news story about how 75% of the people that went back to New Orleans after Katrina didn’t bother to keep emergency supplies on hand. Let me say that again. The city drowned and many people suffered greatly because they didn’t have a backup plan. When everything dried out and they went back to their homes, they STILL didn’t prepare for a worst-case scenario.
So this project was shelved until the 2008 financial crisis got into full swing. Friends encouraged me to start it up again, despite my objections that a “financial crisis” is not the end of the world.
Or is it?
The United States power grid is run mainly from a combination of coal, hydro-electric, and nuclear plants. If all the banks fail at once, the lights will still be on. You may not have a job, but the television stations will still broadcast. The internet will still be up.
It’s the things we can’t think of that worry us. What if there is another severe oil shortage, or massive terrorist attack, anything large that disrupts food or energy supplies? That is the risk that you have to decide for yourself. Your family, your friends, your lifestyle is important to you. If you went out of your way to get life and homeowners insurance, maybe you should think about taking a few extra steps to insure you and the ones you love can weather the unpredictable storms, in whatever forms they take.
What you will read starts with a basic scenario, just to give you a frame of mind. It then covers bare bones needs, what you can do to make things more comfortable, and how to protect it. After that comes some advanced urban survival tricks, along with a longer term plan, all in language the average American can understand.
If you are reading this during an actual crisis, then God be with you.
Chapter 1: Hell in a Hand Basket
“In every American there is an air of incorrigible innocence, which seems to conceal a diabolical cunning.”
-A. E. Housman
No matter what crisis develops, you are at best, an “armchair survivalist”. The country you live in has so many layers of convenience, so many basic needs that are taken for granted, so many interconnected systems of daily living that we are dependent on, describing them all would take volumes. Suffice it to say that we are a land of luxurious, easy to use, hands free, soft touch product users. It has taken us about 80 years to reach this wonderful pinnacle of “runaway consumerism”. Our Internet is tied to our phones, which is tied to our banks. We can now use the cable company to watch television, use Internet, and phone lines, all on one bill. With even a moderate amount of money, and some online shopping, we now never have to leave our homes to survive.
Even though I grew up when the CD and computer were new, it is still a marvel to watch the new technological toys we are putting out every year. Our businesses are tied to elaborate wireless email and networking systems. Our cars now have built in DVD, GPS, and push button roadside service. Our boats have the ability to determine global location at all times. You can track your loved ones plane flight from gate to gate. Packages can be rerouted in transit, with a single text message.
America has, for all intents and purposes, made it as easy as it’s going to get. Congratulations red white and blue, you have done what all other nations have aspired to achieve! You’ve created a society of out-of-shape, lazy, Madden playing, pizza ordering, latte chugging, “text anywhere” zombies who at the first sign of trouble will probably just start chewing off their own arms for food.
Maybe I’m being too critical. Americans can deal with a crisis, as long as it’s small, and the inconvenience is short. Several years ago, in Boulder, Colorado I witnessed my first “true” power outage. The entire Western United States grid had gone down, and our software office had gone dark. It was the middle of a summer afternoon; the sun was still beaming through most of the windows.
Our office phones were dead, along with the Internet. Cell phones were up, for a while anyway. With the systems down our office manager didn’t know what to do with the employees, so we were given the rest of the afternoon off. I took a short walk down to the main drag where the highway ended and Main Street began. I watched, as cars in a large intersection didn’t know exactly what to do. The stoplights were out, and it was hard to tell who arrived at an intersection first, what with six lanes on each side. Some cars just went for it, some stayed longer than they should. Tempers were raised, and honking horns were frequent.
Bank employees just stood outside in the parking lot. The grocery stores were forced to let people abandon their carts while they escorted them out of the store. The aisles were too dark to see where to put back the items.
The city of 90,000+ was at a standstill, and it stayed that way for the next 4 hours. In less than an hour local police went to the busiest intersections within the city limits and directed traffic by hand. It had probably been a while since any of them had used their whistles, but they did a pretty good job.
Store managers stood in front of their shops and turned people away. Some simply locked their doors. Everything went fairly smoothly. I did see a few people try to enter the grocery store closest to me, each time the manager explaining that the cash registers couldn’t ring them up. Not that it mattered; the back of the store was pitch black.
Sometime later that afternoon the lights came back on, and everyone went back to what they were doing. In some ways it felt like a large fire drill. Everyone calmly walked outside, milled around quietly, and waited for it to be over. What makes this situation different from the nasty version that starts looting and puts human life at risk?
Most of the people in town didn’t know why the power went out.
It’s the unknown that gives people pause. It’s the mystery that forces people to stop and think about their decisions. Within an hour after the lights stopped working, people in their cars listening to radio stations still broadcasting found out the entire Western power grid was in the middle of a rolling blackout. There is still some debate on where exactly the breakdown occurred. The important thing was that the authorities didn’t tell anyone exactly what happened, or how long it would take to fix. It’s good policy. Never give the public information they could use against you.
To put it another way, if a teacher walks out of a classroom, the kids will have one impression. When that same teacher runs out of the classroom, and is then seen getting into their car and
driving away, the children then develop a very different attitude. Compare the West Coast grid failure, or any East Coast Blackout, with one where the reason is exposed immediately like the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake.
Watching CNN during the first few days after that particular California quake was surreal. There was some stunning video footage. Dark beauty as water mains gushed from the streets, fire burning in the middle of the water through an ignited gas main. I sat in mild shock as I watched Korean gun shop owners standing on the roof of their store, firing wildly at looters that came within 100 yards, the police nowhere in sight.
And then there were the shopping mall videos. In any modern structure, there are some backup systems when the power goes out. Hospitals have generators that can keep a surgical team going for a short duration. Many buildings have some sort of emergency lighting, and a few select ones have cameras with battery backups, catching everything that people do when they think they aren’t being watched.
The Northridge California earthquake proved something we all know, but rarely admit. For a great many of us, we do what we can get away with. Cameras caught the looting action as it unfolded. The earthquake hits, the lights go out. Within seconds, the inner hallways of the shopping malls erupted in chaos. People of all ages ransacked the shelves with greedy abandon. What surprised me wasn’t that they did it, but the speed at which everything escalated. The looting was immediate, reckless, and illogical. Electronics, shirts, shoes, alcohol, everything stripped from the stores except the basic necessities.
No one stole water or food. They stole cigarettes and alcohol. They didn’t steal batteries, they stole cell phones. Why?
Because the public was armed with very valuable information and then their short-term instincts took over. They knew eventually the city would get the power back on. The gas and water mains would be repaired, and sooner or later, the police would be able to protect the stores, just not right now. The looting masses knew that this crisis was limited to their part of California, and it wouldn’t last forever.
Food, water, anything that might help them in a real emergency was the furthest thing from their minds. The luxury items were the main target. Anything that was expensive or sellable was priority. These items were important because they knew the currency would still be valid when the lights came back on. The physical dollar would still have value because only part of California was affected. As long as the currency remains intact, there is a good chance that normal life will continue, provided of course that active food distribution lines exist.
The aftermath of Katrina showed us an even darker aspect of economic disruption. The earthquake was replaced with flooding, and again, the power was out for an extended period of time. The city population realized that the hurricane and large amounts of standing water caused the blackout, and looting began immediately. The same patterns started, but then evolved.
At first, the looting, like in Los Angeles, started with luxury items. Electronics, shoes, cigarettes, liquor, and firearms, were taken quickly. After a while, as the water didn’t subside, and there were no signs of National Guard, the basic items became much more attractive. Food, water, batteries, the things that could keep you alive, these replaced everything else.
Law enforcement officials were overwhelmed, and the water hindered their mobility. In LA, most of the streets were still drivable after the earthquake. In New Orleans, some of the streets had water higher than the roof of a truck. On foot, the police and sheriff’s department became fatigued quickly. A number of them just gave up and deserted their posts, or worse, they joined in with the looters.
Some of the authorities did have a plan. Before the winds had even died down, a local SWAT team had been dispatched to an outlying Sam’s club with orders to secure it for “local forces”. During a state of emergency, authorities have broad powers to take private supplies and buildings for their use. The storeowner was contacted and a list of all supplies taken was to be billed back to the New Orleans police department. This debt was eventually forgiven once the extent of the disaster was known. While some would condemn this law enforcement unit for what could potentially be branded as a “selfish act”, it hardly compares with a different division of the same police department, which was accused of breaking into a local Cadillac dealership and driving out of the city with 40 new cars while the city quickly filled up with water.
At night, gangs roamed the dark streets, creating anarchy wherever they went. During the day, the masses emptied the stores of anything and everything. It was a limited exercise in chaos management. What would a general population do if left on their own without outside help for an undetermined period of time?
The only thing that couldn’t be measured was the same population ‘without hope.” All the New Orleans residents who gathered around the superdome had some faith and were counting on aid. There was a small army of reporters on the scene who had flown in on helicopters. The news teams and camera crews constantly reminded the people that help was eventually coming. This and the fact that the cameras were recording many sections of the city probably helped save it.
What would happen to that same city if the reporters weren’t there, and the citizens knew that the National Guard wasn’t coming?
It’s the one thing in America we haven’t seen yet. What happens without help from the outside? Everything we have dealt with until now has been contained, been compartmentalized. An Earthquake happens in San Francisco, we send help. The Mississippi overflows and we send help. Like a giant immune system, we absorb and adjust. The question still remains: At what point are we stretched too thin, and can the American culture pull itself back from the brink?
To be sure, not all of America is vulnerable. For sake of argument, we’re going to leave out all the remote farming communities because they are remarkably self-sufficient. If you live in one of these very small agricultural groups, you still might be able to get something out of this, such as what the nearest large town closest to you might be going through, what random groups of cars might be thinking as they drive up your long country road, or more importantly, what kind
of essential goods you might be able to trade for, and where the nearest place to get them could be.
In a long-term environmental disaster, farms stand to lose more than others, depending on the situation. If the natural catastrophe in question were a comet, it would suggest that crops would have a hard time growing. If that’s the case, then livestock and perishables should be traded away as quickly as possible. A farm has a lot of assets going for it, though most would be short term.
If you happen to have a survival cabin somewhere in the North West states, such as Montana, Idaho, or the Eastern part of Washington, then you already know this drill, and quite frankly, have probably spent a huge amount of time preparing for the worst. You are therefore excluded from most of the chapters. Enjoy your powdered milk and cured meat sitting next to your propane or wood stove. I’m sure you’re very content.
The only other people I have to exclude is anyone currently living or about to move to Utah. For those of you who don’t know, “practicing Mormons” keep at least a year’s supply of food and water on hand for each member of their family. It’s a religious obligation. Sounds a bit strange I know, but from a “survival” standpoint, I can’t really argue the logic. With this in mind, and I can see some of you cringing already, if America starts collapsing in on itself, Utah will most likely be the last to go quietly into the night. It’s simple math. They already have an extra year’s supply of food right out of the gate, in non-rationed portions.
The rest of us live in a suburb, our own version of “Elm Street.” You have at least one strip mall close by and maybe a full size indoor shopping center down the road. There are fast food chains within a mile or two, and then the usual restaurants like Chili’s, Cracker Barrel, etc. Outside that
you have a bulk store like Sam’s Club or Costco, or both. The neighborhoods interconnect endlessly, and gas stations are plenty. You know the names of some of the neighbors on your street, the name of your children’s school, but probably couldn’t say who the mayor was.
Most of your bills are paid online, and most of your direct purchases are done by credit card, which by the way is carrying a balance most months. You have car payments, a mortgage (or two), and have either been divorced, separated, or are seeing a marriage counselor.
You have a 20% of being a smoker, and a 67% chance of being at least 20 pounds overweight (33% that it’s 50 pounds or more).
You could have some relatives in state, some out of state. You may have a pet, probably at least one dog, or a few cats. If your yard is big enough, it’s possible you plant a small garden when the weather is nice. You have a favorite restaurant or bar that you frequent.
Your office is 10-20 miles away. You either have a large cubicle or a smaller office with no windows. You work hard, but think you’re underpaid. This may, or may not be, your life.
What do all these things have to do with the scenario? In a major crisis all of these little details will affect your outcome in one way or another. These are the cards you have to play with. The
dealer now shows their hand.
Chapter 2: The cards you’ve been dealt
“He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened”
– Lao Tzu
You are at your office. The power has just gone out. Cell phones work, but you are having a hard time getting an outside line. You leave your cube, walk down the aisle, and look out the window. All the office buildings next to you are out as well.
If you are like many offices, upper management will assume that the outage is limited to a few blocks. They will wait a while to see if things come back on. The emergency lights in the bathrooms, as well as the plumbing, still work. Everyone at the office is bored, because all computers and phones are down. A few people try their laptops, but they can’t get out to the Internet.
Boredom turns to annoyance as an hour goes by. If it’s before lunch, management may wait another hour. If it’s after lunch, they probably just call it a day and send everyone home.
Traffic is a little slower on the drive back. Rush hour will be staggered because of the outage. All stoplights are down, and single police units direct the cars through busy intersections. You get home. The lights are of course, out, but the water is running. You have natural gas, but the power to run the furnace isn’t on. You have a wood stove, but only a few logs.
Your spouse isn’t home yet. Maybe he / she went to get the kids. The dog looks at you for attention. Another hour goes by. Your family arrives. The kids go upstairs to their rooms, which are lit through the windows by the afternoon sun. They try to entertain themselves using portable electronics. It wouldn’t have been their first choice, but at least it’s a distraction.
Two more hours go by, and you start to get curious.
There are no portable radios in the house, so you use the one in your car. Most of the stations aren’t broadcasting. The few that you do find are playing an endless loop of the emergency broadcast system. There are a few other people on the block doing the same thing. You tell your spouse. The kids overhear, but don’t understand. The dog still wants attention.
These are the cards you’ve been dealt. You have some decisions to make, and they can’t wait. Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. Follow the steps.
Step 1: Gain some confidence, right now.
Get yourself in the right frame of mind, and do it quickly. Don’t assume the worst, because it will eat you up. Try not to cover all your bases right away. Organize your priorities. As of right now you don’t have any appointments or meetings. You don’t have any flights to catch.
Your primary concern is the comfort and safety of your immediate family. They are looking to you for support, for reassurance, for guidance. Show confidence at all times. The old military posture still applies: For good or bad, be confident in your decisions. If the decision was wrong, then change direction, but do it with confidence. Nothing makes people lose faith quicker than watching their leader waiver when important things are on the line.
Confidence gives you strength. Confidence gives you the ability to do things without much question from others. Confidence allows you to walk the edge, or cross the line if needed. If you’re committed that it’s a good decision and you can confidently explain why, there is a solid chance that others will follow you, back you, and defend your ideas in your absence.
Step 2: Don’t rush.
In the long term, seconds aren’t going to make that much of a difference. Moving faster than normal gets the blood levels up, and teases the adrenalin factor. It also helps induce panic, and with it some bad decision-making. Don’t do it. Be brisk, but be calm. Keep the energy levels at a managed pace. Don’t drag anyone anywhere. Speak to your family in low tones, but be serious. Don’t yell. It doesn’t help. If your children don’t want to listen, try to explain what’s going on, but do it logically. “Just because I said so” probably won’t fly. Think of something else.
Step 3: Should you stay or should you go?
It’s a difficult choice, and you may or may not have to make it. Is there somewhere you would rather be? Do you have family members that live within driving distance, and by that I mean how far you can go with the gas that’s in your tank right now. If they aren’t within range, you’re not going. If you’re thinking of a round trip and you don’t think you’ll make it back, you’re not going. The only exception here is if you have a neighbor who you’re close with, someone you can borrow a vehicle from.
There is some breathing room here. If you have a pretty good idea that your tank will run dry within a few miles of your destination, and you have no intention of coming back, then discuss the plan with your spouse and make the call. Keep in mind your betrothed may want to go to his / her relatives house, or have them come to you. This needs to be decided first thing. The window for these options gets closed fairly quickly in the grand scheme of things. Deciding in the next few hours will make the situation a lot easier on you.
If you do decide to vacate your house, there are a few things you need to take care of. Assume that you won’t be coming back for a while. This means you should take everything that you might find useful. Leave a few lights on so that if the power comes back there will be light if needed, and contrary to what others may tell you, don’t lock anything. The average house is designed to deter crime, not prevent it. If your door is locked, and someone really wants to get in, they will just choose a window, or sliding glass door.
You’re not prepping your house for when you go to Europe. When you’re touring France, neighbors and friends back home don’t usually ransack your home looking for supplies. When these groups eventually figure out that it is vacant, they are coming in, locked door or not. If it’s unlocked, and you do return, at least you won’t come back to broken glass and shattered deadbolts.
Think carefully of other family members who might be in driving distance. Will they be trying to get to you? Do you have close friends with no family in the area who might look you up? If you answered “maybe” to the question, then play it safe and leave a few simple notes. One on the kitchen counter is good. If you want to give the neighbors a heads up, tape a quick one to the door. Something like:
Went to parents farm in Arlington,
451 East Maple Drive
Left May 14th
Jason, Carol, Timmy, Julie
The names may seem unnecessary, but it’s good to let people know who was in the group.
So go already. Load up the family and pets. If the pets aren’t that important, leave a back door open so they can come and go as they please. Animal’s survival instincts are honed a lot sharper than yours oh balding monkey. They also don’t have a conscious to deal with.
Good luck in your journey, and when you get there, read on!
Step 4: Taking stock.
At this point you’ve either decided to stay, or have already arrived at your destination. See? You’re making decisions already, and you haven’t even thought about eating people!
Seriously, you’re doing great. The next step is figuring out what you have, and in most cases, what you don’t have but need. This is probably the most time consuming part of the beginning,
but it doesn’t have to be full of anxiety. To make it easier, I’ve come up with a few easy to follow lists. These lists include a comprehensive set of “must haves”, “should haves”, and “why nots” that you should be at least thinking about prior to this day of reckoning. Before we get to that though, let’s see if there is anyone close by that can help you in acquiring the items on your list. It may be time to make peace with the lady who consistently lets her lab take a big dump on your lawn.
Chapter 3: Band of Neighbors
“True friends stab you in the front”
– Oscar Wilde
A survivalist in a suburban setting, is a strange paradox. On one hand, standard Rambo type doctrine preaches that the survivalist must be alone, because there is no one that can be trusted. They should live a solitary life, filled with religious discipline and sacrifice. They are a human fortress. They are a piece of metal. They are emotionally devoid of mercy and kindness.
I appreciate that the “true survivalist” is committed to their trade, much like a serious method actor. You are not this person. You are a social creature. After half a day sitting home alone you are climbing the drapes, looking for some interaction with the rest of the community. Then again, maybe you just play computer games all day long.
For you people who consider solitary confinement the ultimate torture, I will share a secret with you. The chances of you and your family living longer than the lone individual increases dramatically if you can get by with a little help from your friends. There is safety in numbers. You will find a better variety of skills with a group. A group has a collective mind, and if set on
a goal, can come with creative ways of accomplishing it.
But there’s a catch. You have to pick the right people, and after that, no one joins the club unless the entire group is in agreement. Trust is everything here. The wrong people join the group, and it can fall apart. I’ll use a friend of mine as an example. Her approach to the neighborhood group is a good model of what can be expected.
The neighborhood of Renaissance, Colorado
The power goes out, and right away it looks like it could be a long time before it, and order, is restored. A single mother in her late 30’s starts the chain. She only contacts people she can trust, and all of these people have a useful skill that can benefit the group. She looks up a contractor to improvise repairs when things break or are destroyed She finds a doctor to treat minor wounds, and assess major ones. She tracks down a good friend who is handy with firearms, because not everyone knows how to shoot. She contacts women who have a strong survival instinct. These are women who would fight to stay alive. No “girly girls” or useless “blob men” allowed. Everyone in this ensemble is motivated, and willing to do what it takes to weather the storm. Everyone chosen has something to bring to the table. In this situation, everyone’s got game.
They all meet at one house, and decide the best place to “hold up.” They decide to pool their resources and take shifts sleeping. Most importantly, they form a pact, and swear never to turn on each other, no matter how hungry, or how tired. Without this pact the group is vulnerable from within. There can be no “secret stashes” kept by anyone. To function as a single unit, everything has to be laid out on the table, right now. Any personal issues should be cleared up within 24 hours. They agree on a total of 8 people. This group could function as well with even 12 if needed. If members are added, and the social dynamics take a downward turn, then it needs to be changed, but done fairly.
They end up combining supplies from two houses that reside next to each other. They have battery powered 2 way camping radios, and use them frequently. At night, the groups are split evenly, in case of an emergency. Things work better than they had hoped. One of them gets an older power generator working, and another finds a way to hook it up to the direct TV. The doctor breaks into his own hospital and gets enough medical supplies to hold them for the duration. The gun enthusiast teaches everyone how to shoot with purpose.
The group decides against trading with other neighbors to increase inventory. It was a close vote, but in the end, the added risk of unwanted attention outweighed the additional supplies it generated. Their strategy is simple. Gather as many supplies as they could in the first few days of looting, then barricade themselves in their homes and keep a very low profile. Create the illusion that they are as desperate as anyone else. Giving the rest of the hungry community a small target is a solid plan. The neighborhood leaves them alone for the most part. Confidence is high that their friendship and wits will get them through this, and they may be right. It’s a good start. – – –
I’m not going to go so far and say something cheesy like “with friendship anything is possible”. It does help. I suppose a better saying is: People are sometimes at their best when things are at their worst. How I wish that were a consistent theme. There are a hundred things that could go wrong with the Renaissance group. There could be a hidden affair between couples. Someone with a criminal past could be exposed. There could be a psychological disorder that has been buried. There could be a unknown pregnancy.
There are also the routine survival problems. One couple is hording food for the kids; accusations of not giving their share, letting someone get hurt, etc. Any situation involving drama is possible, but then again, it could happen in a single family as well. The odds say that in the short term, the group scenario has some great advantages, both in resource gathering and protection. As supplies get thin, it can get more difficult. If the bonds of friendship are strong enough, the group has a chance of staying together to the bitter end, a great testament to the human spirit.
If you really want to be multiple steps ahead of the pack, then talk about this very scenario every few months over drinks during a neighborhood party. Feel the different people out, and see who would be up to the task. Make a mental note of whom you would choose, why you would choose
them.. Ask them about what they would do in a major crisis, and where would they go. As long as the topic doesn’t have a dark, brooding tone, your run of the mill neighbor will probably have an opinion on the subject. No need to be secretive, those not chosen will probably ignore this little “block conspiracy.” Even if they do remember, they will be in no position to take advantage of it. You will have the better numbers.
A little trick would be the “bar fight buddies” scenario. Imagine yourself walking into a strange bar far out of town with a small group of people. Suddenly, a mild misunderstanding turns into a full-blown fight, and everyone in your party is going to get roughed up. Who would you want to be there with you, and why? Try not to think about who throws the best punch, but who can handle the stress without being traumatized. After the fight, who tries to take charge and who comforts whom? Look past the action; see who the best under stress. This should help.
Chapter 4: The important things
“Fill what’s empty. Empty what’s full. Scratch where it itches”
-Alice Roosevelt Longworth
Over the years I have poured over many different survival lists for just about every disaster known. Aside for the ones that deal with different types of terrain, they share a lot of common threads.
We’re not going to touch different types of landscapes and what you might need for each one. You’re not in the mountains, or in a deep forest, or walking around in some high desert. You’re probably in an average wood framed two-bedroom house with an unfinished basement at the end of a cul-de-sac. If your surroundings are more urban, you might be in a condo or apartment building. If you’re a business traveler, you’re most likely in a hotel. The dynamics are still the same. It’s America, and there is a huge mish-mash of resources scattered for miles around. Some of these resources will be in your residence, and many will not.
There have been countless debates about the priority of “the survival list”. The top ten, the top 20, what resource counts more? To make it easy to read and understand, I will cover each topic and group it into one of three levels (Priority, what you need right now), (Secondary, quality of life items), and (optional / tradable, which covers just about everything else, including things that aren’t on my list, but could be on yours)
Each item or group of items will be given a detailed explanation and some will have examples. The hope here is to allow your mind to think of things as “resources” rather than items. Things that may not be of value to you may be in high demand by others. Each explanation will also cover where you can acquire the item in question, and when it might be available. Please keep in mind that in your environment, there will be many other people who will eventually want the same things you do. The difference here is that you will know exactly what you want before it happens, and you will have a very good idea of Where to get more before others do. Timing is important.
1. Water / consumable liquid: (Priority)
Yes it’s obvious. Yes, it’s critical. It’s number one with a big bullet. You’ve heard it mentioned in movies, television, and books. We’re made up mostly of water, and without it we won’t last long. It’s also taken for granted, and in many reported survival cases, overlooked early. Don’t just skim past this, there are some things you need to know about the most common element on the Earths surface.
The human body is basically just a large contained mass of water. All of our functions, from blood flow to digestion to neural activity, are encased in it. Water consumption is of course based on your weight, metabolism, and diet. Environment will also factor in to some degree. The basics remain the same.
You can only be away from water for about 72 hours, give or take. It is the one resource that is highly recommended not to be rationed. There have been many studies suggesting that drinking a normal amount and then running out is much easier on the body than cutting your drinking in
half, then half again. When it comes to water, it’s better to just pull the band-aid off quickly than to peel it slowly off your skin.
Water consumption is also affected by humidity. If you live in a really balmy environment, say, Florida, you will be breathing in water vapor as well as expelling it, so there is a little wiggle room. In an average urban environment, water is your prime concern. Everything else comes second.
The good news: Even if the power goes out state wide, a lot of water stations are tied into backup generators, and some even directly to the source, like a dam or power plant. These generators can keep things moving as long as the fuel holds out.
The bad news: Eventually, if the grid isn’t repaired, the water will stop, and you will have to get more.
There are two paths that need to be considered: Is the water still on, or has it stopped? If it’s still on, then that’s fantastic news for you. This gives you a chance to create reserves. Fill up every plastic and glass container you can think of with water and put a lid on it. If there’s no lid put some plastic wrap over the top. If you have containers in the garage, fill them up, and label them “do not drink”. These can still be used to run toilets if needed (See chapter X). If you have 2 bathtubs, put a rubber stopper in one and fill it up. If you don’t have a rubber stopper use anything to make it watertight. The bathtub water can be used for various things, but I wouldn’t necessarily use it for drinking or cooking, unless your tub is spotless. If you’re like me, it’s not often.
Once you have filled up everything you can think of, go back and see what you left out. Cups, sports bottles, empty soda or wine bottles. If there is a residue that excludes it from cooking or drinking, label it. Don’t forget your washing machine. It may be a bit awkward to get to, but it can hold quite a bit.
This is your base, your backup, and your insurance. If the tap is still running, then rotate water supplies slowly every few days. Water is life, and you now have a good supply. I’m not going to regurgitate all the other guides that want you to use the water tank at the back of your toilet or from your hot water heater. You’re not a caveman for Gods sake.
The taps still running, which means you can be liberal with other things. You can flush your toilet as usual. You can take cold showers. If you don’t like cold showers you can fill up your other tub half way with water, let it warm up a bit, then use a washcloth. You can wash dishes, pots, and pans in the kitchen sink.
Life in this area is just a notch or two below normal, until…
“Honey, there’s no water coming out of the faucet”.
You knew it was going to happen sooner or later. If the water was off when you got home, or just stops, or more than likely, the flow becomes weaker and weaker until it’s just a few drips, then you’re going to have to see what consumable liquids you have in the house, and then start planning on where to get some.
Search every cupboard, every cabinet. If it’s drinkable, it’s useful. Bottled juice, seltzer, and diet soda. It doesn’t matter if it tastes good; just find out how much you have. Chances are, it’s worth something. Some exceptions would be liquids that contain a large amount of salt, like spicy tomato juice or bloody Mary mix. It may taste good, but the added salt will increase the rate of dehydration.
Note: Alcoholic beverages have some water in it, but probably not enough to counteract the dehydrating effect of the alcohol itself. The only exception that you can pull off for a while is beer with its low alcohol content. A case of juice is worth a lot more than a case of beer.
Rationing: None. Don’t do it. Drink your normal amount on a daily basis and try to find more. Keeping your body running at regular levels is very important. Also, don’t eat anything if you have no water. You’re body needs water to digest food and it will only dehydrate you further.
Where to get more: There is an entire section dedicated to looting, so techniques on acquiring it, as well as keeping yourself safe is covered later. For the sake of the list, the “where” is almost entirely centered on locations close to your home. How you get in and what you might face is later. You will start forming these questions on your own as you work your way down the items.
Where: Numerous places, in many forms and in different levels of usage. One rule of thumb is that closer is better. This is because water is heavy. Surprisingly heavy. You’re made out of water, think of how heavy you are, cow. Now try carrying someone like you for a few blocks.
The water next door: No you can’t kill your neighbors, yet. Find out who’s not home, and by that I mean who’s left with a note on their door. Search the house the same way you searched yours. Organize your supplies in the afternoon. Carry them back at night.
You’re subdivision may have an artificial lake or pond. It’s probably not safe to drink, even if attempts are made to purify it. If you want to boil it or better yet, boil and save off the steam into another container, it may be ok. Water from a neighborhood pool is a little better. Water with chlorine isn’t supposed to be consumed regularly, but it will work in a pinch.
I mention these not-so-attractive options because they are closer than the nearest strip mall, convenience store, or gas station. For higher quality consumable water, you will need to explore these other locations.
The obvious choices: Grocery stores, bulk food stores, pharmacies, the corner gas station, convenience stores without gas. All these places will have pure water, consumable liquids, or both.
Secondary choices: Restaurants, Athletic clubs, office water coolers, commercial building vending machines, educational cafeterias.
Alternates: Collected rainwater. There is no real trick to this. Any plastic sheeting, tarp, even your gutters will work. Rainwater can be pretty clean, depending on where you live. All you have to do is hope for rain. If there is a concern about any contamination, it can be boiled, or partially purified by adding 4 drops of bleach per gallon.
2. Food (Priority)
Water may be life, but food is energy. Calories are literally units of heat. Food keeps your body warm, it drives your system, and it gives you the strength to endure in times of stress. Unlike water, the average human body can go without food for quite some time. Even a fit person with a small amount of body fat can survive for 30 days or more on just water.
Question: Does this mean that fat people will live longer during the apocalypse?
Answer: Unfortunately, Yes. I can’t tell you how much this upsets me. Overweight people have a pretty good chance at living longer than your fitness instructor neighbor!
However,
Like many things, there’s a catch. For those of you who are say, 50 pounds or more overweight, there is a flip side to this coin. If you have a large supply of water and no food, your body will start tapping those vast fat reserves of yours, and you will start to lose weight instead of dying, but your energy will drop dramatically, to less than 20% of their current levels. You will be colder, because there is nothing in your stomach to generate heat. You will have a constant headache, because your blood sugar will be at an all time low, and most of all, you’ll be really hungry. I mean really starving. Your thought process will be skewed and blurred. In short, you’ll survive, but suffer the entire time. You’ll look at everything and everyone and see food.
My only hope is that if you do outlive all your friends and get rescued by the government, you’ll be grateful enough and use the respect of your loved ones to have a salad every once in a while!
That being said, food needs to be gathered, counted, and estimated. Even 1000 calories a day can keep you around for a long time. Do the math, and figure out how long you can keep going with what’s in your house.
Eat all perishable foods first. These include fruits and vegetables, anything in your deli shelf, milk, anything that will expire in the next week. Then, eat everything in the freezer. Cook what you can, use a pan in the fireplace if you have to. Once these items expire, they are useless to you, so eat and overeat (the only time I will endorse this).
Have all perishables been eaten? Good. Now you can spread out your canned goods, the rice, flour, popcorn, oils, condiments, anything with calories counts, and the higher the better. Sweets too. I could break down the food into smaller groups, but eventually, it’s all going to be eaten.
The good news: Starvation fools the palette. Up until now, eating for most Americans has come down to: “What am I in the mood for”. There is so much cheap food in this country it just staggers other nations. There are many tasty varieties in unlimited supply; it’s no wonder we’ve been blowing up like balloons over the last 30 years. Maybe this “end of the world” situation is a good thing. Maybe a good chunk of the United States population will make it through this tribulation because we’ve neglected our bodies for so long.
When you get really hungry, just about anything tastes good, so if you want to have a bowl of rice with a mix of mayo and ketchup, it will do just nicely. Old candy? No problem. Your body will adjust and every meal you have will have the most vibrant flavors. This won’t apply to foods you already hate.
Try to mix fats and proteins and carbohydrates. Your body wants them. Mix the basics equally if you can. Try not to spend a week eating nothing but canned beets. You’re body will not be happy with you, and really, eating beets for a week is just weird.
Be a member of the clean plate club. Eat everything out of the can. If there is some packing water, see if you can cook with it. Lick everything clean as soon as you can. Don’t get caught going through the leftovers later.
Food requires water to digest. If you are going to finish off the last of the bread, be prepared to have a generous amount of water. If you don’t have the water, don’t eat until you find some. Salty foods require even more water. Look at both your water and food supply before you go to town.
Store your food in a cool dark place if possible. Heat tends to shorten the expiration date of anything, including canned food. I know the powers out and the only light is the sun through your living room window. You can sort them there; just move them into the shadows when you’re done.
Keep a list of your food. You should really keep a list of everything, but at least do this for food. This is done for two reasons. 1. You can do some math in your spare time, and figure out at length how long it will last you and your family. 2. You can see if any food is being consumed outside of your knowledge.
Put your empties in trash bags, just as you do now. No reason to change your patterns there. Keep the full bags in the garage if needed. They will be fairly light and will take a while before they pile up.
Rationing: Almost limitless. Your energy levels will be reduced the more you ration, but you can greatly extend your time by rationing.
Where to get more: Abandoned homes, Grocery stores, bulk food stores, pharmacies, the corner gas station, and convenience stores without gas.
Secondary choices: Restaurants, Athletic clubs, office water coolers, commercial building vending machines, educational cafeterias.
Alternates: Places you wouldn’t expect like arts and crafts stores, specialty shops that have chocolate. Any shop that you can remember that has candy at the front for the kids will work. Gift shops and novelty stores are good examples of these. The average office or cube drawer has a variety of snacks that should keep for at least a few weeks.
Note: Food manufacturing plants are a source of supplies, but will be covered under looting: What not to do.
Food footnote: A word on cannibalism
There is a nearly 100% chance that you will not become a cannibal during the apocalypse. You are a good person and don’t like to eat people. You do not have peer pressure from friends who
eat people. There is a lot of cheap flavorful food available in America, most of which tastes better than people. Also, in order to eat another person they have to be either dead or held hostage. One way or another, you have to start with murder or kidnapping. Things tend to go downhill from there. You are neither a heartless killer nor a terrorist. You are also not a vampire, and receive no mystical powers from consuming human flesh and drinking human blood.
That being said, human flesh is edible meat like any other mammal, and does contain a generous amount of calories that your body can digest. Gross right? You would never in a million years, no matter how much money, no matter what the situation, eat your friends. I agree, I would rather resort to suicide rather than eat another person. The human drive to survive is extremely strong, and can in some cases, override the dignity in taking ones own life, instead turning to an act that even now I can only describe as “barbaric”.
In most cases, an excruciating, drawn out physical hunger that blinds the palette and appetite, precedes the act of cannibalism. In these circumstances, people have been known to eat rotting food out of trashcans within one week. During the 900-day Siege of Leningrad (World War 2 Russia), people first turned on pets, birds, and rats. After this supply was exhausted, groups of starving Russians sought out lone individuals. These unlucky souls were then killed and summarily eaten. The city police had to form special units to deal with this problem.
The slippery slope from rats to people happens in a relatively short amount of time. A Rugby team crash-landed their plane in the Andes mountain range with no food, but they did have an unlimited supply of water in the form of snow. They remained there for 72 days. After several
weeks they realized the search parties weren’t coming. After a while longer, with no other resources, some turned to the frozen bodies of their dead teammates. It kept them alive long enough for the season to change. A small group then ventured out of the mountains to the nearest town. The movie based on the true story is called “Alive”.
Tips for eating people: Try to do it in a cold environment. Snow is especially good for preserving all meat. Cooked meat keeps longer than raw, and can be stored for a short amount of time. I don’t have any tips for curing human meat.
Question: If I do actually eat my neighbor, what will they taste like?
Answer: From documented reports, people taste almost identical to veal. Remember that the next time you’re at a restaurant.
3. Light Sources (Priority)
There are many survival guides that will tell you the third most important thing is either medicine or weaponry. I consider this to be utter crap. The third most important thing is a light source. You are in the dark. Without light you will be handicapped during the day, and crippled at night. You need to read labels, to read numbers, put things together, let alone see your family’s faces. Light is critical. Light is reassuring. We are drawn to it instinctually, and it makes us feel better to have it around. Light is great for morale, and morale is key during a time like this.
It’s why you have nightlights, streetlights, and hall lights. People don’t like the dark, the blackness. The darkness reminds us of the unknown, it feeds on our imagination, and not in a good way. Horror movies take place mostly at night. Where do monsters and bogeymen jump? The black of the shadows.
If the power goes out, there are several places in your own home that will very dimly lit, even during the middle of a sunny day. Interior bathrooms are normally dark, so are closets, basements, some entertainment rooms. Bigger houses have even more dim places. You need light when you search for supplies, no matter where you go.
And this is just during the day. At night, you will be totally dependent on artificial light.
So don’t let the lights go out. Even low light is better than no light. Today you’re in luck. While America is known for it’s ample food, it is also known for it’s plentiful array of portable light sources.
Light comes in many different forms, both bright and dim. Some are mobile. Some are not. Since some light sources are good trade material, we’ll look at each one individually and you can determine what value can be placed.
Flashlights
Portable. Powerful. Directional. There is a huge amount of high quality flashlights at reasonable prices, most of which use LED bulbs. LED’s, or “light emitting diodes”, are a heavy-duty solid-state bulb, which are technically classified as a low-level laser device. They never burn out, are practically indestructible, and draw much less power from the battery.
Because of this versatile technology, LED flashlights have exploded in recent years. There are basic lights, lamps, headgear, penlights, key chains, they’re everywhere! And they’re all good! Lucky you, it’s a great time to be alive in the world of portable light.
The only drawbacks to this kind of light, (you knew there were going to be some), are 1. The light emitted by an LED is more of a “moon light” rather than sun, so colors won’t be as true. 2. As mentioned above, LED’s are considered to be a laser device, and shouldn’t be used to look into people’s eyes, nor should they be looked directly into. Long-term exposure may be hazardous.
Everyone should have at least one good flashlight lying around. The more common the battery it needs, the better. One theme that will be stressed both here and in several other item descriptions is “common usage.” The majority rules, and you should follow it. This means that whatever most people use in their house, like the basic battery types, you should use as well.
When it comes to flashlights, the most common batteries are: D (Toys, radios), C (toys, radios) AA (remotes, small toys), AAA (thin remotes, very small toys, laser pointers)
Most people will have some or not all of these battery sizes. Pick one or more types and buy a good flashlight, either LED or standard
Where to get more: Hardware stores, pharmacies, grocery stores, convenience stores, Sporting goods, outdoor stores, ski shops, novelty stores, the sharper image, gadget stores, just about everywhere! Getting a flashlight shouldn’t be that hard.
Lanterns
A good second choice for light sources, and they also come in wide ranges, some for camping, and others for in house use.
For a long time, lanterns came in only one flavor, which was the oil and wick type of the 1800’s. Some of these are very collectable now. These shouldn’t be your first choice because of their mostly glass housing. If these tip over and break, well, then you’ve got the Chicago fire all over again.
Since the 1970’s, lanterns were also built to run off butane and propane. In the 80’s fluorescent bulbs were introduced. Now, we have LED lanterns added to the list.
A lantern’s main purpose is to have non-directional light for a wide area. This is good for just sitting around, going through inventory, and in some cases looking into dark places. The only drawback for a lantern is that the light shines everywhere, including into your eyes, which makes looking into distant dark places a challenge.
It also illuminates your face, so people can see who you are sometimes before you can see them. This can either be a good or a bad thing, depending on the situation.
Lanterns also have a wide base, so you don’t need to be holding it for maximum effect. Flashlights can be awkward if you need both hands. Lanterns are a good tool to fill this gap.
Where to get them: Your choices are pretty limited for this type of item. Camping and sporting goods stores are the first choice. Some bulk and general stores may carry them. The occasional specialty store that carries some random camping gear isn’t bad either.
A secondary source if needed is abandoned houses. Lucky for you, a great deal of Americans try camping at least once, and then store all the sleeping bags, tents, and lanterns, in the attic, garage, or basement.
Candles
Ah, candles, the most romantic of the survival items. It’s also the oldest type of lighting still around. The light is hypnotic, and nothing soothes the nerves quite like the light of a solid candle flame. The candle and all it’s variants have followed the human civilization through the centuries. If there is one thing you can say about the candle, is that it is universal.
They are a solid replacement for the lantern, last a lot longer, and many give off a pleasant scent that can help mask some of the unpleasant aroma of the apocalyptic world. The only real drawback to candles is the ones we always see in the movies or on television. The candle is a mobile open flame, which can ignite other materials. It also can be blown out without much effort. This is by design, but it can also work against you.
A candle should be your last resort if you are searching a dark area and need a mobile lighting device. Because your forward motion produces a relative wind, your speed is limited. No one gets to run away with a candle. It goes out, you trip and fall, and the masked serial killer gets you from behind with an axe.
Also, searching with an open flame can be hazardous: “Oh look! A gas main!” Queue explosion.
In America, good candles have gotten so trendy in the last 15 years that large stashes of them can be found in just about any decent sized town. They come in many different sizes, from tapered table to Giant five wick monstrosity living room candles that can burn for weeks. Chances are, you have candles tucked away in drawers that you don’t even know about. Go look!
Where to get more: Grocery stores, drug stores, department stores, general stores like target, wall mart, exotic furniture stores. There are even certain stores that sell nothing but candles!
Secondary choices: Abandoned houses should have a small supply of candles, whether it be dinner, table. Even birthday candles have some value!
Light sticks
This type of technology is only a few decades old, and in my opinion should be further along than what we have today, but any light is better than no light, and the light stick does have a few advantages that no other one has.
For those of you new to this light source: A light stick is a chemically created light encased in a clear flexible plastic tube. The tube is filled with one chemical. A second chemical is inside a small glass vial within the liquid. When you bend the plastic tube, the glass breaks, and the two chemicals mix like epoxy adhesive. Presto! Hours of low level, usable light.
They currently serve some specialized functions. One being they can be thrown into dark areas and stays lit no matter what. This can be helpful if you do not know how far down the rabbit hole goes, or even how deep a particular dark body of water is. They can also be hung off of items as markers. If storage is limited, a bag of these can be very handy.
I’ll admit, they science part is very cool. The drawbacks of the light stick are too many to consider it a primary light source. The light only lasts a short time, and is color skewed similar to the LED. The light isn’t very bright and would be difficult to read by. They stick itself isn’t rechargeable and has to be disposed of entirely.
However, having a few around isn’t a bad idea, and here’s why: Ease of use. Bend and shake. That’s it. No switches, no flame, no batteries.
Note: White should always be your first choice. Also, their chemical compounds break down over time. Treat them no different than batteries. Check the expiration dates and replace them every so often. The reaction in light sticks is temperature sensitive. The warmer you make the stick, the brighter it gets. This will diminish its glow time however.
Where to get more: Some camping stores, hardware stores.
Road flares
Standard issue road flares are more useful than you might think. Road flares have a limited range of environments. As a light source, they aren’t the best because of the dark red flame, which is deliberate as an emergency warning sign during traffic accidents.
They also can’t be used indoors because of the substantial smoke that is generated from the pyrotechnic compound burning. One exception to this would be in starting a fire in the fireplace. The smoke just goes up the chimney. As an ignition device it is pretty handy. 30 minutes or so of high temperature flame, which can be positioned by holding one end of the flare.
It is also the only flame-based device that can be waved back and forth safely if you wish to signal someone. You can also run with a flare if needed. Remember to hold the flare to the left or right of you while moving forward, to keep the smoke away from your face.
Road flares are also one of the only flame-based items, which need no ignition device. The top is like one giant match, and just needs to be rubbed briskly against something. This can be invaluable if water has drenched everything and you can’t get a dry fire started.
In a pinch, road flares can be used as a poor mans fuse. The flare burns uniformly at a steady rate. Attaching an item at some point on the flare will ensure that it will ignite. Keep in mind that the flare is bright, so if you are planning on using this as a timing device to “blow something up”, you may want to conceal it.
Note: Road flares shouldn’t be confused with “Marine” or underwater flares. Marine and underwater flares burn much hotter and give off a brighter light, sometimes being white rather than red. These flares create more smoke and if dropped in water, will keep burning. They can be extinguished by impacting them heavily onto a hard surface like cement, the hope being to knock off enough of a chunk of the burning tip that the underlying surface doesn’t catch. Road flares are not waterproof, and will go out if doused in water.
Where to get more them: Hardware stores, auto part stores, some general goods like target, Wal-Mart. Grocery stores with an automotive section, although some automotive sections are of
the light variety and only carry things like air fresheners and quarts of oil.
Marinas will carry marine flares. Specialty shops that deal with scuba supplies will also have marine flare and underwater flare devices.
Lighters / Matches:
In most cases this will be your last source of light. We take matches for granted. The self-striking match has been embedded in our culture, especially when it comes to the smoking population. Because of them the apocalypse will most likely never be without matches. Thank you smokers!
Who cares about matches? You do if you don’t have any lying around. This shouldn’t be a problem. Everyone has matches, or lighters, or both. Even if you don’t smoke you probably have candles, which by default need matches. Older model gas fireplaces and stoves need matches. Birthday candles need matches. Fireworks need matches!
So if you smoke, and this is the only time I will encourage you, good job! You’ve got this one covered!
Lighters and matches are basically short-term candles, and the same rules apply. Don’t go wandering around a big closet filled with fireworks with a box of matches. Don’t crawl down a badger hole with a lighter. These are bad ideas.
Where to get more: Grocery stores, drug stores, specialty stores, restaurants that still allow smoking, general stores, convenience stores, all gas stations and truck stops, most bars.
Secondary locations: Abandoned houses, abandoned factories, abandoned meeting places of every kind. Special bonus hiding place: office drawers. You’ve got a 1 in 5 chance of finding
some there. In the end of the world, those are good odds.
Note: Some matches will be more valuable than others, such as waterproof camping versions, or water resistant military version. The actual value may be off set by the huge abundance of lighters. Current estimates of lighters in America range from 50-200 million.
Still, even with the large numbers of lighters produced, it can’t hurt to several fire making materials. Pick up a few extra when you get a chance.
Vehicle headlights
The common automobile headlight is a paradox of sorts. It is by far the most powerful lighting device you own. It can light up a broad area for hours, it has a huge long life battery, and it recharges itself!
All that doesn’t do you much good while it sits inside a garage or out on the street. If you want to light up your basement, headlights aren’t going to help. Vehicles are mobile, which can give you some breathing room if needed. You have an outside project, which needs to be done at night. Using the headlights will be much more efficient than rigging up something with a lantern or series of flashlights.
Headlights are also great for security if the need arises. Criminals by nature tend to avoid bright light areas. Maybe a large beam of white light conjures up images of God exposing their sins. Nothing scares away intruders quite like high beams at short range. If you have a decent sized yard, the average vehicle can be moved into different positions facing the house, and can be used to illuminate areas that are next to a large glass door or window. Remember to run the engine every so often to keep the battery from running down. Low beams uses less energy than high beams, and will do the job just as well. High beams are good for illuminating large areas at some distance. Keeping your lights on is recommended if you are going to be using your vehicle for
sleeping. Intruders are less likely to approach a well-lit vehicle.
Tip: When sleeping in your car, set an alarm every two hours. You can use the lights without a running engine for the first two, then turn on the engine for the next two. Repeat as necessary. Your battery will stay charged. This is important in case you need to make a quick exit.
Fireplace
It’s unlikely, but there is a chance you don’t have any portable light sources at all. The fireplace will have to do. It can also supplement your light if you are low on batteries, candles, or other devices. If you haven’t used it in a while, make sure the check that the flue is open. If it’s not, the first few minutes of your fire will be filled with smoke and coughing. Using a fireplace screen is always recommended to reduce the chance of embers popping out and burning things close to the brick.
Fireplace Tips: You’re using your fireplace as much as possible. You’ve gone through the logs, and the lower branches on your trees, and your neighbor’s trees. You need something to burn! If it’s heat and light you need, and you absolutely have to have it, then you will have to turn to paper products first, then possibly furniture you don’t care about.
Look first to your recycle bin. It’s ok; the truck isn’t going to pick it up this week. Roll up the paper first. If you have rubber bands, you can make small paper or cardboard logs. If rubber bands are too small, try string or wire. Paper products will create more ash; so make sure to
clean the fireplace more often. Other paper products you can use: Catalogs, the yellow pages, and older books. I wouldn’t recommend burning the Bible, God hates that. Go through your closets, your basement, and your attic. Maybe you have a collection of National Geographic.
Note that if you have Pornography tucked away, chances are someone in your family is going to find it. Better burn that when they’re asleep.
After paper start looking at wooden shelving. Most of it is made of particleboard anyway. It should burn quite well. Try to stay away from plastics. They have the potential to create toxic smoke, and I don’t want to see anyone hurt. Do not under any circumstances try to burn old tires. Tires create a huge amount of black smoke, they don’t fit well in the fireplace, and they are difficult to extinguish. Burning a tire in the street as a distraction is ok, and would give you a real good idea of what it could do in your living room.
Generators
This fits into the light source category more than others, mostly because anyone that fires up a generator will probably try to get some electric lights working first.
Pros: The obvious. You have light again. You have power again. At the very least you can plug in multiple electrical items, like a freezer, a microwave, floodlights, power tools, air compressors, etc. In a best-case scenario, you could have your generator hardwired to a fuse box, and if there were enough power, you’d hardly even know the lights went out in the first place. The power is yours, but how long can you hold onto it?
Cons: Generators use fuel, which is limited. How long you can use it depends on the fuel supply on hand, and what you can acquire. Generators can be noisy, and in a very quiet neighborhood, absent of all the white noise that used to drown out something like a generator, you will stick out like a sore thumb.
Drawing attention to your house isn’t exactly a good thing in a tense situation. People covet, people envy. Your neighbors want what you have and they don’t. Generators have to be placed in well-ventilated areas, which usually means they are outside. They are also fairly light. Two people can walk at a good pace carrying a generator. They can be disconnected easily. These things mean that yours will be outside, making noise, and giving you light, which also draw attention. Potential predators can see this from literally a mile away.
This isn’t to scare you or make you paranoid; it’s just the facts. Anyone with a generator has to acknowledge that it is a target of theft, or maybe worse. A smart thief will know that anyone who prepared enough to have light and power will also have other things, and now this motor running outside your house is covering the sound of their footsteps.
Where to get more: Hardware stores, some camping store, some bulk stores.
4. Batteries (Priority)
Like ammunition, batteries could be lumped with their main flashlight counterparts. What makes them different is that batteries have multiple devices that can be used. This item listing was created to define types, brands and potential devices, as well as the best place to find them.
Top 2 things you will be using batteries for: 1. Flashlights. 2. Portable radios.
Batteries equal light, and as discussed above, light will be a hot commodity, one that can be bartered for. Batteries are based on metal and dense chemicals, so they are heavier than other supplies. Keep this in mind before throwing a couple hundred D cells into a large container. Try
picking that box up quickly without using your legs.
Batteries hold a charge for a limited time. The technology has gotten better, and right now the average lifespan of a good battery is about 6 or 7 years. In some cases a high-powered battery can go a year or two past that. Battery type means everything when it comes to lifespan. The more power the battery claims to have, the better it is. Your lights will be brighter, and your radio will last longer.
Brand names count for a lot when it comes to batteries. You get what you pay for. This isn’t like knockoff designer jeans where a fake can look almost like the real thing. Look for batteries by name. The two brands that quickly come to mind are Duracell and Energizer. Both are outstanding, and in blind taste tests, really can’t be told apart from one another. Everything else is a distant cousin, such as generic Eveready, ray-o-vac, and Kodak brands.
Many electronic manuals will tell you not to mix high power with low power batteries. While this is true in the civilized “why doesn’t my DVD remote work from the kitchen” world, it doesn’t hold water now. Mix away. You can even combine dead batteries with live ones in a pinch. You will get lower performance, but it’s better than nothing at all.
Batteries seem to get cheaper every year, and bulk packs are everywhere. Having some spares in the basic four flavors is recommended. The most popular being D, C, AA, and AAA.
Tip: Battery testers can be found in a variety of places now, and can really be handy in an emergency situation. They usually run about $15 and can tell you if a battery is holding high, medium and low power. The testers run off of calculator batteries, which are quite common as well. In a trading post scenario, they are essential, because the average person can’t tell good from bad when it comes to batteries, unless you were thinking of having a series of flashlights, and can judge based on the light output how valuable the battery really is.
Where to get more: Look around your house first. You will have some of what you need. Most of your remotes will use either AA or AAA. Large toys will use D and C. Small toys will use AA and AAA. Adult toys will use either AA or C.
Secondary choices: Grocery stores, Hardware stores, pharmacies, general store, bulk food outlets, electronics stores, toy stores, any place that sells any electronic devices will carry a supply of batteries.
5. Receive only radio (Priority)
What’s going on in the world? Don’t you wish that, somehow, you knew the answer to that question? World events don’t mean much to you right now. You’re sitting comfortably on your plush sectional, flipping between stations on your digital cable, knowing with reassurance that at any time you can go to one of 50 different channels dedicated to the freshest and most interesting stories. You literally have news on tap, 24 hours a day.
And what if you don’t have access to the TV right now? Maybe you’re family is hogging the remotes, pouring over entertainment delights. You still have the high speed Internet, with millions of different pages, telling you within seconds what’s going on in every part of the globe.
If and when the power goes out, all that changes. Some of you may have already experienced this once or twice in your life. In those situations a radio or portable television is your only lifeline to the outside world. This is the information that could affect your course of actions. People will crave it more than the season finale of American idol. It is the one constant source of hope. You must find the signal, the message that lets you know the government is coming to help, keeps people going, keeps people motivated, and most importantly, helps keep people from turning on each other.
This is the one item that you won’t have to worry about. If you don’t want to spend any effort, money or thought on a radio, then you don’t have to. There is a 95% chance you already have one, specially built with a rechargeable battery, multiple bands and preset stations. Heck, it’s even got heated seats! Yes, your car / truck radio is the easiest choice to find out what you want, when you want. Just get in, hit scan, and keep one ear glued to the dash.
The drawbacks for this convenience are glaring. You’re now in your car, and not in your home. Cars can be vulnerable, especially if they are parked in the street. All vehicles have the ability to
run the radio from inside the garage. This will be a relatively safe place to listen to world events. Remember to charge the battery by running the engine every so often. The radio doesn’t draw much power off of a large car battery. Running the car for 20 minutes once a week should be fine to keep the energy level high.
Again, if you run the engine in the garage make sure that either the garage door is open, or you leave the garage while it’s running. The carbon monoxide that a car exhaust creates tricks the brain into “not panicking” when your body starts to run out of oxygen. In short, you would just go to sleep and never wake up. It’s estimated that around 1800 people a year, mostly intoxicated, accidentally fall asleep when they return home to their garage, with tragic results.
A car is the easiest of all radio solutions, but it is far from optimum. There are hundreds of different portable radio devices, some designed specifically for survival situations. The best radios cover frequencies other than the basic AM and FM. If you get a chance, pick one up that can deliver basic television audio as well.
Portable radios extend their battery time by using a small earpiece instead of a speaker. Ipod type headphones also work well with portable radio jacks. Having a few different radios gives better coverage when scanning all frequencies. They also come in handy if you are looking for something constructive your children can be involved with. A radio is after all, media based, and your kids will be anxious to hear about what’s going on as much as you.
If you have the extra money, picking up a digital radio with auto scan (similar to scan in your car) is worth the extra effort. Scan means more hands free time that you could spend doing other things. Very helpful if you’re alone, or when everyone else is asleep.
Where to get more: Electronics stores, general stores, bulk stores, camping stores, hardware.
Secondary locations: – Office buildings (most will not have batteries inside), Abandoned homes, look for small radios such as I pods or older Walkman types.
6. Fire Extinguisher: (Priority)
This device is constantly overlooked, but in an emergency situation it’s potentially a lifesaver. If you still have water pressure during a fire, then using water to extinguish flames isn’t a big deal. If the water is off however, the last thing you want to do is use up your remaining water supply to fight a fire. Chemical fire extinguishers can put out the flames without any liquid, saving you resources. If the fire spreads too quickly and you’re pretty sure that you won’t be able to contain it, then move what supplies you can out of the house, because there won’t be any fire engine sirens in the distance.
Fire Extinguishers can also be used as a non-lethal weapon in a desperate situation. Pointed at the face, it can temporarily blind or disorient the attacker. Note that it isn’t tear gas, and after the person takes a few moments to clear their eyes, they will most likely be even more enraged, so hit them with an iron skillet or get the hell out of there!
The supply items mentioned so far are essential, and if you have a decent amount of all of them, you can keep going for weeks, months, or more until help arrives. Congratulations, you get to live longer than your neighbors! Now it’s time to look at items that add to the quality of life.
Chapter 5: One mans trash
“Wealth is the slave of a wise man. The master of a fool”
– Seneca
Once the priority items are taken care of, you need to look past just “living” and see how close you can get back to “normality”. It’s never going to be exactly the way it was, but with a little creative thinking, and some luck, you may be able to forge a comfortable niche for yourself. This is relative contentment. All the items in this next section fit this bill in some fashion. Again, these are not listed in any particular order, because the level of importance will depend on the group or individual. For example, first aid has been burned into our brains since childhood of being a necessity, and it can be, for small pain relief or minor injuries. A first aid kit is going to do little against a deep cut, let alone a bullet wound. It does however offer some psychological comfort and reassurance that someone can be helped if injured.
Others who are very “bathroom conscious” may see a portable toilet as holding a higher rank than say, a power inverter. After all the “creature comforts” come the vices, which again, depending on the individual, may be ranked number one. This is due mostly to the huge psychological impact of their addiction to the substance, for it provides distraction and comfort in real life. In a crisis situation like this, the level of comfort will be magnified many times, distorting the decision making process.
Cigarettes for example, slightly dull certain pain centers of the brain. Alcohol can repress short-term memory, judgment, and make pressing matters seem rather trivial. Prescription painkillers can alter reality to where the individual has forgotten their current situation entirely. As illogical as it seems to be taking these substances in a crisis situation, their value is considerably high, especially for those who have lost hope.
A word on Recreational Vehicles
For the suburban “armchair survivalist”, this represents the ultimate in apocalyptic luxury living. This was going to be a miscellaneous item, but it covers so many needs, both primary and secondary, that it’s considerable value in a crisis situation needs to be addressed.
The “RV” has evolved over the decades from a meager bed and chair to what now resembles a “rolling house”, fully equipped with multiple bathrooms, very comfortable seating and sleeping quarters, kitchen, and a myriad of electronics.
If you have one of these vehicles, or know a good friend close by who has one, consider this the primary living quarters for the duration. The recreational vehicle has several advantages over a house during an “end of the world situation.
Built in power conversion: All late model RVs have an advanced power grid, which converts electricity from its petroleum engine to regular current. Everything you need is already hard wired into the bus. As long as the engine has fuel, everything will function like it does in “normal” life. This is what the RV was designed to do, create a home like environment in places where there is no power and plumbing.
The metal home: Except for the fuel supply, RV’s are much more resistant to extremes than homes. They are designed to hold up well against wind, rain, and heat. They are also made of metal, which means the chances of an exterior fire breaking out are reduced.
Advanced information: In addition to the standard radio frequencies, many RVs have communication bands. Higher end models may even have a direct television dish, which can run if a neighborhood power grid is disabled. This will give the RV owner visual news that other homeowners will not have access to.
Hot meal ready: Mobile homes like the one pictured above have a self contained cooking facility which will run one either electricity or gas. Meals can be cooked at leisure. If the gas runs out, the on board microwave can be a suitable substitute.
Extended lifespan: It is true that RVs get terrible gas mileage, and the fuel can be used up quickly if there is no place to refill. If the vehicle is running the engine without moving, the fuel will be consumed at a much slower rate. An RV tank is generally many times larger than that of a common car. This will provide power over a long period of time if rationed wisely.
Mobility: In the event of an added emergency, like a fire, earthquake, or flood, the RV can be moved to a safer location. This can be very convenient if a neighborhood is located with better protection than your own.
Entertainment: A minor benefit in a crisis situation, but always good for morale. The RV’s entertainment systems, be it music, DVD, or video games, are still functional as long as the battery and engine have power. These things can significantly lower stress levels of yourself and your family.
Note: RVs are not bulletproof. Their metal skin can slow down and sometimes deflect small caliber ammunition, but it will not protect you against larger caliber rifle rounds.
First Aid (Optional, but important)
You’re out of your element, out of your routine. You and your family will be doing things inside the house they don’t normally do. Lifting, pulling, dragging, sorting, opening, filling, all the while in environments that are different than what they are used to. Mistakes will be made. Someone will drop something, run into something, or more likely, something will run into him or her.
Cuts, bumps, bruises are all part of the game. A first aid kid helps not only physically, but also psychologically. A band-aid does wonders for the soul, especially in children. Now if they could only package a kiss to make it better.
First aid kits vary in size from the pocket version to a full blown med kit, which can treat moderate wounds. Pick up a few, one for the home, and one for the car. Good ones include multiple size bandages, gauze, some aspirin, alcohol pads, and maybe a few lower end surgical tools.
Where to get more: First aid kids are limited in general population. General stores, camping stores, anything dealing with the outdoors.
Secondary choices: Most companies, regardless of size and type, will have at least one first aid kid on the premises.
Light Pharmaceuticals (Optional)
Never underestimate the power of low-grade painkillers. They take them for headaches, backaches, stomachaches, arthritis, joint inflammation, and sometimes even stress. Speaking of stress, did I mention that you are involved in what could quite possibly be the end of civilization as we know it? Something tells me that the over the counter painkillers are going to be a popular item.
Brand names will matter at first, but will lose their preference over time. Start out with the well known. Tylenol, Excedrin, and all their variants. Aspirin will never go out of style. Antihistamines, allergy relief, stomach relief, anything you can remember seeing a commercial for has value in this bizarre reality you now live in.
Where to get more: The usual suspects, grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, general stores, gas stations. Should be easy to find in generous quantities.
Power inverter (Optional)
For those of you who haven’t seen these, they are a great substitute for a full-blown generator, and here’s why: The power inverter plugs into the cigarette lighter of your vehicle and coverts it so that you can plug in regular household items. The premise is that your car / truck already has the engine to generate the juice; all you need is the adapter. They cost about 1/4 the price of a generator, and weigh about the same as a laptop computer. I can’t say enough about this option. If you want quick power, without worrying about theft, this may be for you.
Let’s look at it a little closer. Say you need to use a power saw to cut or build something critical next to, or in your home. You just start the car in the garage (garage door open), hook up an extension cord, hit the car alarm and away you go. If you have to go some distance, you just get in the car and drive there. Generators need 2 people to carry it easily. Best of all, you can use the power even if the car isn’t running. Be careful though. Once your car battery is drained, you will need to jump it from another vehicle.
Where to get more: Very limited supplies. Specialty camping stores, RV dealerships, some boat dealerships. Your best bet is online.
Secondary locations: None. You’re best bet when the power goes out is to steal the whole RV or large boat, because they have them built in!
Water purification tablets (Optional)
Water purification tablets are small aspirin size tabs that can be added to a suspicious water source, killing most of the harmful germs that can lead to some intestinal problems. The value of these won’t be high during the first week. Most bottled water and confirmed safe water will be used up first. After that will be rainwater. This should be purified just to be safe. Drinking your rainwater today might be completely harmless. A few weeks after a crisis situation, without accurate news to tell you of potential contaminants, can produce problems.
Purification tablets are a good trading item. Everyone will want piece of mind when it comes to drinking water. It’s a safe bet that if you stock up on these, they won’t go to waste.
Where to get more: Very limited supply. Camping stores, hardware stores, and some general stores.
Substitutions: 4 drops of generic laundry bleach per gallon of water, mix well. Boiling water can help in a pinch. In a perfect world, everyone would own an old type still, used to make moonshine. This still can make purified water (with a heat source to boil), hence the term, distilled water. Distilled water creates no residue when it dries, because the particles are too heavy to be carried with the water vapor that is created.
Sleeping bags (Optional)
Bedding in America is plentiful. Sleeping bags fall somewhere in between optional and priority, especially with families. We learn as both children and parents that when things get scary, the family likes to sleep in the same room, most commonly the parent’s bedroom.
This instinct will be even more prominent in a long-term power outage. A good place for the entire family to sleep could be the bedroom, but more likely it will be a living or family room, wherever the fireplace is. People sleep around campfires, and the light from inside the fireplace will have the same mental effect. It’s light, it’s heat, and it’s reassuring.
Sleeping bags have different temperature ratings; so pick one that is suitable for your climate. Most homes without heat will drop to near outside temperatures within a few days, regardless of the type of windows. An active fireplace will help, but if it’s 55 degrees outside, expect 59-60 inside.
Sleeping bags are also portable. They can easily be moved from one house to another, or from a house to a refugee center. Bags that can withstand lower temperatures will be thicker and heavier to carry. Keep that in mind if you plan to travel anywhere on foot.
Where to get more: Limited locations. Camping stores, some bulk stores, some general stores. Secondary locations: Abandoned homes
Substitutions – Bedding from existing sleeping quarters, extra blankets lying around.
Tip – If you use existing bedding, don’t bring everyone’s mattress into the living room. It will make it difficult to walk around during the day. Try to treat this area like a camping situation.
Tents (not recommended)
Tents always seem to pop up in survival documents. I agree they have usefulness, if you’re in the woods or other environment without pre-built structures. This isn’t that place. You’re an average American. You’ve most likely been camping what, once or twice in your life? No need to start going down that road now. Tents provide no protection in a suburban environment. I don’t even recommend them if your house has a big hole in the ceiling and it’s raining on you. You simply can’t see enough once you’re inside. With the front flap closed you are blind.
If you’re huddled on the side of a mountain, hoping the reach the summit in a few days, then great, a tent is just what you need. I still think you’re a little nutty for going up the mountain in the first place, but then again, I can’t understand ice climbers either.
Gasoline (Optional)
I’ve had a few people ask me if I was going to add this to the list. I had mixed feelings about it. It is by far and away the most important resource from an economic standpoint. Gasoline is a strange product, almost ethereal in a way. It isn’t electricity, but it can generate it if needed. It’s not a battery, but it can charge one. It can be both used to make medicine and weaponry.
It is the sole reason our civilization, especially the United States, has achieved so much growth over the last 100 years. In a severe crisis situation, it will probably be consumed so quickly, be used up at such an alarming rate, that within a few weeks, only very small pockets will exist in an average American city.
But then again, maybe the decrease in supply will be slower, more methodical. It all depends on what the average Joe does. As mentioned earlier, you will either stay or leave your current location in favor of one that gives you a better chance. If you go, the fuel in your car, which is the only fuel you have on hand, gets used during the drive. If you stay, you will have anywhere between 1 to 20 gallons of gasoline sitting in your vehicles tank.
Other than power generators, which will be few and far between, this gas, will be used to power your vehicle. It can be transferred to another car via a siphon (hose). It can also be stolen using the same siphon (see looting). Cars mean mobility, and this mobility has value. Gas can be stored in a car without any problems for 6 months or so. By then there will be a lot of siphoning going on. I’m still trying to work out the potential logistics because there is a real unknown factor to be considered. Where would you go if you had a full tank of gas? If family were more than a tank away, then it would have to be local. There is no work commute. You aren’t dropping the kids off at school. Most looting is done on foot, unless you have a group to do it with.
Gasoline is the unknown factor in the grand equation. There will be a large supply available, but
it will be broken up into hundred and thousands of smaller supply groups. If a trading post could be established, gasoline would still be the most sought after resource. People would trade things for gasoline, and fill their vehicle. They would then have options and the freedom to go places. They wouldn’t have direction though. I suppose they would be trading for the mobility option alone. In case they needed to take off, they could. There will be some people who will create Molotov cocktails (glass bottles filled with gasoline, a small piece of burning cloth attached to the bottle) they have very few practical uses in an apocalyptic situation.
Where to get more: Gas stations (good luck getting that with a siphon), marinas, private airfields, any abandoned car, truck, boat, or plane.
Tip: Airplane fuel is a higher octane and shouldn’t be used in car engines if possible. In a pinch it can be mixed with regular gasoline. Your engine will run hotter, and should not be used to tow objects or climb steep hills during that time.
Tip: Larger trucks run on diesel fuel, which will not work in regular gasoline engines. Diesel fuel smells much different than gasoline. It is still valuable for larger vehicles.
Gas Siphon (Optional)
Gas Siphons haven’t changed much over the years. In the old days, and by that I mean ever since the car was invented, people used a short length of hose to siphon gas from vehicles. All you need is suction (usually human powered) to get the gas flowing, and then you could run it into a container outside the car.
The unpleasant drawback is that the person doing the sucking is going to get a mouthful of gas when it first clears the tube, no matter what. No one tells you that part; sort of like the person getting CPR has a 90% chance of throwing up in the mouth of the person resuscitating them. Gross. Gasoline won’t kill you, even if you swallow it. I don’t recommend drinking it. It tastes terrible, much like a bad moonshine! Gas Siphons are built with a small hand pump, which does the sucking for you. If you don’t own one already, and you think you will be using or trading gas, you may want to invest the 20 bucks. If not? Get a short piece of garden hose and get ready to start sucking.
Tip: Do not think you came up with a clever idea and use a wet / dry vacuum to start the suction process out of the car. The vacuum does suck liquids, but it also runs on a motor. The motor has internal sparks. The gasoline vapor may catch fire, burning up the dry vacuum and spreading to the car.
Where to get more: Auto parts store.
Gas cans (optional)
This was going to be included with the siphon, but there are some important tips here that should be mentioned separately.
Tips: Proper gas cans will either be heavy RED plastic or metal in nature. Look carefully at the container to see if it has warnings about storing gasoline. If it does, you CANNOT use it to hold fuel for extended periods of time. Here’s why: Petroleum is one of the major ingredients in most
plastics. Because of this, it has a tendency to break down and dissolve lower level plastic containers. Tupperware will not work. Milk or water jugs will buckle and burst. You should only used “marked” gasoline containers.
Where to get more: Auto parts stores, some general stores, any store with an automotive section. Gas stations will have a limited supply of mostly 2-3 gallon containers.
Substitutions – Any metal container with a small top opening. I do not recommend large 5-gallon metal paint containers because they have such a large top lid.
Cash (Optional)
Even in the late 1970’s, cash was one of the top ten things to include in a survival pack. Today, it’s value declines to almost nothing within 72 hours.
Here’s why: Most stores, no matter what type, run on advanced electronic registers. They use laser bar code scanners and registers that calculate tax automatically. When the power goes out, the stores will be crippled. A Mom and Pop shop may run manual calculators and take cash. The problem is that no one will have it. People rarely carry any substantial amount of physical currency. Credit cards are the rule of the day. The ATM machines need power to run.
I still don’t keep any cash lying around. I do this because the grocery store, pharmacy and gas station within walking distance will just shut down in the event of a power loss. Everyone will just wait. The only situation I can think of where money might be helpful is using the cash to bribe someone who 1. Works at a place that has something I need, and 2. Is dumb enough to take it, not knowing that within a week, food and water will be the new currency.
If you doubt this, and some will, try this exercise. Imagine you had $500 in 20 dollar bills tucked away in a shoebox. Try to spend all of it in the first 72 hours of a long-term power outage. Then try to spend the rest of it a week later.
Where to get more: Just find a cash register, and open it. Banks are good too. If I see someone actually looting a bank a week or two in, I’m going to ask them what exactly are their long-term
plans. Chances are they won’t have any.
Extra clean clothes (optional)
All your disaster movies seem to have the heroes looking dirty and tattered after a short time. Real life news stories seem to mimic this in different ways. The point is people get grubby in a hurry. The world is full of dirt and grime. Your everyday clothes are vulnerable. They can get wet; suffer smoke damage, and get covered with mud. Don’t let the end of civilization stop you from looking your best!
That’s not just shallow advice. People feel better when they’re clean, except for maybe football linemen, mud wrestlers and bikers. Keeping a few changes of clothes in a sealed plastic container is always a good idea during situations like this. You’ve just been running away from zombies for the last 2 hours, you stink! How do you think you’re self esteem is going to hold up when you try to hold your son or daughter and they say, “Mommy, you smell like ass”.
Even a few outfits, something simple like jeans and a t-shirt (always a good apocalyptic classic), some socks, underwear, would be enough. Put them in a garbage bag; store them in a box or high shelf of a closet.
Where to get more: All clothing stores.
Secondary choices – Abandoned houses will have lots of extra clothing, although you may end up wearing a God awful Hawaiian Muumuu or a t-shirt that says something like “I’m with stupid”, which is oddly appropriate now. I think entire families should wear those shirts, would be a great gag.
Backpack (Optional)
You may need to make a quick exit. A backpack is just common sense. You only have two arms, and that Batman style utility belt isn’t going to hold everything and the kitchen sink.
Lots of kids carry backpacks now, from primary on up through college. Go take theirs. It’s not like they were learning anything.
Tip: When loading a backpack, try to keep the heavy items at the bottom, and things you need to get to quickly towards the top. A weapon doesn’t do you much good if you’re doing that whole back scratching movement, flailing to find something you can’t see.
Where to get more: Camping and outdoor stores, some general stores, some bulk stores.
Toilet water (Optional)
Remember that toilets work on gravity. They don’t need incoming water to function. Without running water they will need to be filled up. It may seem like a luxury, until you’re copping a squat in a bucket. Do what you can to keep the toilet working. Trust me, it’s the little things that matter.
The good news: You can use just about any liquid to fill the back of the toilet. Pond water, stream water, rain water, you name it. Just get a container and fill it from time to time. I know it’s heavy, but you’re motivated.
Tip: If there is a large supply of pond water, get it during the day, and let your neighbors know what you’re up to. They may follow your example, and their houses will smell a bit better too.
Tip: Conserving water is a good idea, but don’t wait too long to flush. Your mood will already be bad enough without having to flush an apocalyptic toilet. Ick.
Where to get more: Any place that has a generous amount of non-potable (not drinkable) water.
Toilet paper (Optional?)
Logic dictates that you should be eating less as food resources start getting scarce, but you will need to use the lieu from time to time.
Someone once wrote: “the apocalypse doesn’t officially start until the toilet paper runs out”. I love that quote. It’s meaning is simple: We take for granted the little conveniences that make our lives easier, and when these things are removed, it just pisses us off. Toilet paper is one of these. We use it every day for various tasks. We fight over who left the empty roll on the holder. We laugh as the cat discovers that it spins! We watch Seinfeld as Elaine asks if she can spare a square.
You’ve just run out, oh crap! There are no easy answers here. You either have it or you don’t. Ration out your squares people!
Where to get more: General store, grocery, pharmacies, bulk stores, some convenience. Secondary locations: Abandoned homes, any abandoned building with a bathroom. Substitutes:
Sub 1 – Kleenex type tissue. This type of tissue is softer than toilet paper, but doesn’t dissolve well in septic systems. You are now free and clear to use these at will.
Sub 2 – Paper napkins / Paper towels. Depending on the type and brand, tend to be rougher than normal TP. They also don’t dissolve well in sewer systems.
Sub 3 – Any other regular paper product from newspaper to copy machine stacks. Brace yourself. If you are the tender backside type, it is going to be an eye opening experience. The good side is that you will never complain about generic toilet paper again.
Advanced tip: If you absolutely cannot find any paper products, you can use small squares of
cloth, but don’t flush them down the toilet. They tend to jam up pipes quickly. Treat them like dog poop in a city. Put it in a small bag and tie it off. After a while you may think about burying or burning it.
Sponges (Optional)
After a few days of not taking a shower, you’re going to start getting pretty gamy. A few days after that and your dog is going to think about rolling in you. Do yourself and the people around you a favor, and wash up. What? No running water? No problem! This is a very old trick taken from the healthcare community. Sponge baths! Bucket of water, some soap, and of course, a sponge.
Go into the bathroom with maybe a candle, preferably scented, and scrub yourself down. This may even be fun with a spouse involved, or maybe not. Get the kids washed up too. You don’t want them catching anything. Just about any sponge will do, big ones hold the most water. You can also use them to get water on top of your head. It’s soothing, relaxing, and gives you a chance to unwind a bit. Yes you are vulnerable while partially or completely naked. If you’re worried about a break in, consider that the least amount of crime occurs at sunrise and sunset.
.Where to get more: General stores, some convenience stores, some bulk stores, any place that sells cleaning supplies.
Secondary locations: Abandoned homes (Make sure to rinse out any sponges that smell like cleaning products), any company’s janitor closet.
Substitutes: Washrags work just about as well, but don’t hold as much water.
Portable stove (Toasty)
You can eat your food cold, but why? There is a reason why they call them hot meals, it’s because they taste better than cold meals. Heating up food is a time-honored tradition. It improves morale. Imagine smile on your children’s faces as they are eating a hot bowl of, raccoon casserole. I’m kidding. It’s squirrel.
A portable cooking station is a great way to bring people together. The heat lets the aroma out, gets peoples appetites up, and even makes the food seem better than it really is. Think of all the fond kitchen memories you have of someone close to you cooking a delicious meal and the smells surrounding it.
Anything that runs propane is a great choice, because it can be set up anywhere. If you do acquire one, make sure to get extra fuel for it. This is by far the most relevant quality of life item, because even though rations will keep you alive, it’s little things like hot cooked food that make life worth living.
Where to get more: Camping stores, some bulk outlets, some hardware stores: Substitutes: You have a couple, so no excuses; fix your family a hot meal!
Sub 1. Gas grill, if you have it. The propane in those tanks should hold you for a week or so. Use pans on top and cook with lid closed to increase heat efficiency.
Sub 2. The fireplace. Burn the wood or paper under the grating, and use a pan with a lid to keep any stray ash out.
Portable toilet (Smelly)
These vary in shapes and size, but the cheapest and easiest to make and use are standard 5 gallon buckets with a cheap plastic lid in the shape of a toilet seat. The portable toilets are meant mostly for hunters who think it’s fun to spend their Fall days getting drunk in the woods while sitting in
a deer blind. Good times! They work with a garbage can type liner that collects the good stuff. You then tie off the bag and bury it. I recommend burying it somewhere the dog can’t get to it. You’d rather have your canine rolling in an old moose carcass than bringing one of those bags back into the house. “Daddy, the dog’s breath smells worse than you do”!
This is a “just in case” item. If the power runs out your toilet will still work as long as the water is on. When the water is off you can still fill the tank. All well in good, but maybe there is an earthquake, and the toilet cracks, making it unable to hold water? That is where the portable version comes in. Let’s hope you never have to use it.
Where to get more: – Camping stores.
Secondary locations – Abandoned houses of people that hunt.
Substitutes: Does a yuppie crap in the backyard? They will if they don’t have a toilet.
Agood hat (hats are back in)
This may seem like a ridiculous item. It’s not. I don’t have a lot of hair and I still bought one. I’m not thinking of me here, I’m thinking for those people with good hair. You know who you are. I hate you, and yet, I still try to help. You good hair types are going to be taking sponge baths now, and washing your hair isn’t going to be high on your list of things to do. Fend off zombies, check. Steal gas from neighbor’s car, check. Wash hair, nah.
Hats get hair out of the way. Hats let you do more active things without worrying about it. Ever been river rafting or seen pictures of people river rafting? People wear a lot of hats. Hats give you some protection. You could go with something more elaborate, like a bike helmet, but then people will just ask “where ya headed”? You could wear a plastic construction hat, and then people will ask you to help them with their water or power because they think you work for the city. How about an army style helmet? Eh, probably too militant for your neighborhood. Stick with something simple. Your kids may also like hats; it’s like dress up!
Cloth baseball type caps are good. Try to stay away from the nylon and foam types. Darker colors are better because they don’t show grime as much. White foam caps that say “keep on truckin” or “best friends forever” are right out. I will be looking for you people. Black hats with a Harley Davidson eagle are bad ass.
Where to get more: Sporting good stores, camping stores, clothing stores, especially towns with a college. College kids love hats.
Secondary choices: – Abandoned homes, Some companies will give these out as promotional materials to clients, although, the more I think about it, don’t loot a company warehouse just for hats, that’s silly, unless it’s a Harley Davidson hat. That’s bad ass.
A good pair of work boots (butch)
Good shoes. Should I say more? A good pair of footwear can mean all the difference. The world is burning around you. Those 8-year-old flip-flops with the broken strap aren’t going to cut it. Neither are those 4-inch pumps. I don’t care if they’re more comfortable than they look. It’s dark. You’re going to be stubbing your toe into all sorts of new things. You’re going to drop a variety of items from chest level, and they are going to land somewhere near those oh so delicate clodhoppers of yours. Protect them, with a solid pair of shoes.
Pretend you were going to go camping. You never go camping, I see. Just pretend! What would you wear? Put those on now, and keep them on. No, snow boots are not the same thing, neither are galoshes. High top basketball shoes are better; something with a steel toe would be nice. Of all the items of clothing, this should be the first choice when looking around.
Where to get more – Shoe stores, camping stores, some hardware, some ski shops.
Police scanner (because you are a bad person)
Some years ago I ran into a group of guys who on a regular basis, would get drunk on happy hour martinis, eat a bunch of oysters, and talk about robbing a bank. Invariably, one of their items in this robbery fantasy was a police scanner.
This is a very optional item. As mentioned earlier, local law enforcement is going to go offline within a few days. There may be a crusader or two out there trying to keep the streets safe. This device allows you to listen into all emergency band frequencies within the city limits. It’s a pretty safe bet what you will hear is an increasing level of activity immediately after the blackout, which keeps building until there is a head to head conflict with a mob of some sort. This is where the intensity peaks, followed by a sharp decrease as law enforcement either deserts or moves to a safe location. After a while, you might hear some civilians on those channels as police units are stolen.
It’s an intriguing item. They are pretty expensive for what you get out of them. Tapping into the emergency bands of a town could tell you a great deal about where trouble is, and more importantly, where emergency vehicles are. You could use this information to find the nearest fire or police vehicle in case you had injured or sick people in your party.
Or, you could find out where the police and fire units were not.
Where to get more: Specialty electronic stores, Radio shack, some pawnshops.
Earplugs (What?)
Soldiers wear them. The firing range requires them. Your long-term hearing is important. Then again, so is your short term. Anyone who has ever fired a gun without hearing protection, or had a very loud explosion noise go off next to their head doesn’t need an explanation. To the rest of you, I’ll explain. A firearm round is not only propelled by a small explosive charge, but most bullets break the speed of sound right out of the barrel. Sound travels like ripples on the water. If they are used outdoors, the sound disperses quickly, depending on obstacles next to you. Inside a house, they dance around and play havoc with your eardrum.
Trust me when I say this. Firing a shotgun in a hallway or bedroom has a chance of disorienting you. The sound will bounce off the walls and seem to come at you from all sides. Your ears will ring loudly, and that ringing won’t fade for some time. Make it easy on yourself and take the sound out of the equation. You don’t need the added distraction of a temporary hearing loss. The flash of the gun, the shock of it pushing against your hand or shoulder, will be quite enough.
Having hearing protection also can give you an added advantage in a gunfight that takes longer than 10 seconds. If your opponent isn’t using any, he / she will be hearing impaired after their first shot. You will be able to hear their footsteps or their weapon action. They may even be dumb enough to yell over the ringing at anyone behind them. I recommend wearing them every time you’re carrying a firearm. Can’t be too careful.
Where to get more: Hardware stores, some auto parts stores.
At one point I think I had five different can openers in storage. Over the last ten years, food-packaging technology, especially in convenience-oriented America, has gotten a lot better. Most soup cans now have pull-tab tops, which require no tools whatsoever. This is the same for some canned meats and vegetables, tuna fish, etc. I would expect that within the next five years, just about all cans to have this type of opening system.
However, this is not necessarily true for large bulk food can items you might find at Costco or a restaurant supply house. These items haven’t seen an increased demand for ease of use. As long as there are regular can tops out there, you should acquire one or two can openers. Why?
Because your electric can opener doesn’t work any more.
Where to get more: Hardware stores, Grocery stores, some bulk food stores, some camping supply stores.
Secondary choice: Abandoned homes.
Two way radio
Two-way radios have improved a great deal in the last 30 years, with some models running up to 25 miles or more. They’re small in size, and usually come with cool extras like power saving features, hands free talk options, and multiple channels for security. In short, they are cell phones that can be used within city limits.
If you plan on being alone the whole time, the two-way radio isn’t going to be of much use, unless you’re really bored. If you have a friend, and I really hope you do, then you now have long distance communication that can be helpful during scout missions, looting, defending, just about anything. Don’t overlook this item. All law enforcement units, including special weapons teams use them. You should too.
Deck of cards (Go fish!)
There is something I need to tell you about the apocalypse. There is no net flix. You can fiddle with your Play station controls all day; it’s not going to work. Americans are addicted to entertainment that is based on electricity. Without it, some people will really think the world has ended.
It’s times like these we have to return to the basic forms of entertainment that kept all the generations before us occupied. Board games, physical games, and of course, cards. There are hundreds of different card games and some believe or not, are pretty engaging! It wasn’t that long ago that my family spent the evenings teaching me all the rites of passage in old school entertainment: Yahtzee, Boggle, Sorry. Maybe those are too easy. How about Trivial Pursuit or Pictionary? Want something that takes a long time? Get the kids into a 4-hour marathon of Monopoly or Risk.
A little leisure goes a long way. It distracts you from the rest of the world. Who wants to think about giant radioactive spiders all day? Games are as old as humanity. The only difference in this type of world is that we have to take a step back and adjust to having fun without electronics. Oh yes, there will be holdouts. The game boys will be used until the little screens go dark. Some people will fire up generators just to play Madden 2010.
This is especially for the kids, who are going to create their own games if none are provided. You do not want them making up stuff like “pin the tail on the giant three-headed rabbit” or “who can hit the mutant with the most flaming tennis balls”. It just angers the mutants and that’s not fun for anyone.
Keep your urchins (and yourself) busy with a wholesome family game. Winners get extra rations. Losers get a cold sponge bath, or have to use bathroom tissue made out of copy paper. Let them pick. It adds to the fun.
Where to get more: Toy stores, general stores, any place that sells games. Some convenience stores.
Secondary choices: Abandoned homes.
Chapter 6: Smoke em if you got em:
“There are two infinites: One is the Universe, and the other is mankind’s stupidity, and I’m not sure about the Universe”
– Albert Einstein
No list would be complete without a small group of bad habits. In most end of the world movies where human vices survive, there is still a high demand for them. Why? Because they’re addictive! They’re bad for you. In a world where people are scrapping to live to the next day there is no logical reason for these things to exist!
Some of you will argue whether or not this section has any value. Who does it benefit? Today I can say with a great voice of confidence that it benefits you! Here’s why. You don’t have a vice. Fantastic. The opportunities for you and your family are nearly endless.
In times of high stress people turn even harder to things that make them feel better. In a situation where the stress never ends, the breaking point for people with addictions will be much quicker. When they finally snap, they will turn to whoever has what they need for help. If the people holding what they need are weaker, they will be overcome. If they are stronger, the addicts will barter. The addicts bartering abilities won’t be done with a clear head. They will be desperate, and in some cases will trade almost anything. Use this to your advantage, and bring them to their knees!
You feel sorry for them. There is nothing wrong with that. Pat yourself on the back, because you’re a good person. If you want, go ahead and give them some sensible words of advice, but do it after the trade. Don’t feel bad because they’re walking away with a few moments of relief, while you just gained weeks worth of supplies. You were more prepared. You were “stronger willed”. You are the ant. They are the grasshoppers.
It’s the vices that will be snapped up first, grabbed off the shelves in a mindless fury by the desperate. Your best chance at taking the upper hand here is to buy some now and store it away. These bottles and small boxes could mean the difference between starving and salvation. They could buy the time you and your family need.
Liquor (Vice)
Government sanctioned, population approved. Alcohol has been by our side for thousands of years. It is the cause of, and solution to, many of life’s problems. It is sought after by the young, and used as a crutch by the old. Almost everyone I know has a good (and bad) alcohol story.
Alcohol itself, in whatever form it takes, is by definition a depressant. It dulls the senses and reaction time. It dissolves the edge off of urgency. It impairs judgment. It has been called “liquid courage”.
It really has no place in a pure, organized survival structure. The last thing you want is to have alcohol mixed in with a group of people carrying weapons. The results could be disastrous. It ebbs the chain of command. Orders are ignored, respect takes a back seat, and basic instinct takes over.
My favorite alcohol based saying is from old Russia. “What’s on a sober mans mind is on a drunk mans tongue”. Drunk people say things they shouldn’t, and lose perspective. You don’t want tempers flaring. Not now. You and your group are barely holding on as it is. Trade the alcohol off to the masses, otherwise known as the morons. Choose your trades wisely. Keep it away from people you like.
There is a time for everything, and I agree that people should eventually get a chance to cut loose. Alcohol does facilitate that. If you want to use it yourself, then save it for later, after the dust finally dies down.
Alcohol’s strength is based on proof, or measurement of alcohol content. The closer the proof number is to 200, the more pure alcohol it has. The higher the proof, the more potent the beverage is. As the potency gets higher, it takes less to get someone intoxicated. A bottle of whiskey is more valuable than a case of beer. It weighs much less. You need to drink less to receive the desired effect. For this reason alone I recommend sticking to hard liquors as a trade material. Any hard liquor is worth more than a bottle of wine. And to a lesser extent, a bottle of wine is worth more than a few cans of beer.
Note that all alcohol tricks the body into releasing excess water through urination. This is why you feel dehydrated later. Alcohol can never replace actual water. The low alcohol content of beer means you can drink more of it, but you’re still going to be thirsty afterwards.
Advanced tip: The most valuable alcohol in this situation has seen a recent comeback. It is government-sanctioned moonshine called Ever clear. Some of you will remember the name from social gatherings of your youth. It is 190 proof, the highest alcohol content available for legal sale, and about 10 states still aren’t allowed to sell it. It cannot be consumed without a mixer. It must be diluted with something else, like water, juice, or tonic. It has no smell or taste. Ever clear can be purchased at most liquor stores, and is inexpensive at $15 for a large bottle.
What makes Ever clear different from all other alcohol products is it’s ultra refined properties. It is pure alcohol, and is extremely flammable. It can be used in certain camping stoves. It can be used to start fires. Ever clear is sterile, and can be used to treat wounds if needed. Because of it’s very high alcohol content, it cannot ever freeze, and can be used to de-ice metal parts. One bottle can last a long time, in more than one capacity.
Where to get more: Depending on what state you live in, Alcohol may only be sold in liquor stores, or it could be sold in grocery stores and possibly bulk food stores.
Secondary sources – Abandoned home liquor cabinets.
Cigarettes (I have a bone to pick with you people)
For five years I told myself I wouldn’t bring this item to the trading table. It has done so much damage to our country. I can’t overstate it. Everyone knows someone who has died or is dying of cigarette related cancer. Everyone knows exactly what the product can do, and yet 30 years after the ads have been banned from television and radio, this country still has over 50 million people who smoke.
Maybe Dennis Leary was right. At this point you could put the cigarettes into a black pack with a skull and crossbones on the front, and people would still buy them. No matter what we do, there is a very large group of people out there who have decided that dulling the pain centers of their brain in small amounts is more important than the huge health consequences.
Once the cigarette trucks stop moving, their value will skyrocket. You think your smoker buddies light up a lot now, just wait until their stress levels jump up about five notches.
This item will be looted first, even before alcohol, because of its lightweight and convenient pre-packed portions. You will not be able to find cigarettes a week after the lights go out.
I have a challenge for the smoker reading this. You have the chance to live longer than most people. All you have to do is save the cigarettes you have, the cigarettes you just bought, and trade them later for needed supplies. Cigarettes can get you food, water, medicine, weapons,
anything. Just stop smoking when the power goes out. Lock them in a chest and hide the key. Put them in a plastic bag and bury them in the backyard.
Where to get more: Grocery stores, liquor stores, convenience stores, bulk food. Secondary choices: Vending machines, Office drawers, Vehicle glove boxes, abandoned homes.
Prescription drugs (Vice)
There are certain medicines that can be helpful to treat sick people. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, etc. For every one of those that are another five currently being abused in this country. Most of the culprits fall into the painkiller category. In normal circumstances they relieve extreme forms of pain. In regular doses, they can help with surgery recovery, muscle tears, broken bones and torn ligaments. That’s what they were designed for.
If taken by a healthy individual, the person feels a great sense of euphoria. In short, they get high, and could care less about anything. They are powerful escapism drugs, as strong as most black-market items. In a low resource environment, they will be more valuable than alcohol and cigarettes combined, because they can produce several mind-altering effects simultaneously.
Normally I would only recommend them for injuries. However if their value increases enough, it might be wise to see what you can get in trade. Prescription drugs, being chemical based, have an official expiration date of maximum potency. It’s value will slowly decrease after this date is reached, until the drugs effects are nominal.
The most popular types of prescription drugs include painkillers, mood stabilizers, and ADD or hyperactivity drugs.
Examples of Painkillers–sometimes referred to as narcotics—are morphine, codeine, and related medications. Morphine is often used before or after surgery to alleviate severe pain. Codeine is used for milder pain. Other examples of opioids that can be prescribed to alleviate pain include oxycodone (OxyContin) (Darvon) (Vicodin) (Dilaudid) (Demerol), which are used less often because of its side effects. In addition to their effective pain relieving properties, some of these medications can be used to relieve severe diarrhea (Lomotil, for example, which is diphenoxylate) or severe coughs (codeine).
Examples of mood stabilizers–Barbiturates, (Mebaral) (Nembutal), which are used to treat anxiety, tension, and sleep disorders.
(Valium), (Librium), (Xanax), which can be prescribed to treat anxiety, acute stress reactions, and panic attacks. (ProSom), can be prescribed for short-term treatment of sleep disorders.
Examples of Stimulants— (Dexedrine) (Ritalin) Stimulants increase the levels of these chemicals in the brain and body. This, in turn, increases blood pressure and heart rate, constricts blood vessels, increases blood glucose, and opens up the pathways of the respiratory system. In addition, the increase in dopamine is associated with a sense of euphoria that can accompany the use of stimulants.
Where to get more: Very limited supply. Hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, or any grocery store with a pharmacy.
Secondary choices: Abandoned homes, more specifically, medicine cabinets and bedroom nightstands.
Prostitution (Just say no!)
The oldest profession in the world. This millennia old industry has been a part of every world city, both large and small. In an unstable environment like a breakdown of general society, it’s best to stay far away from anything that has to do with it. There are just too many unknowns, all with potentially horrible results.
Here’s just a few:
Safety. Pimps in a city full of armed stressed out people? Are you kidding? They wouldn’t last an hour, which means no protection for the woman, and you’re not a pimp!
Disease. Condoms are going to be in short supply, and it’s a safe bet that tricks will be turned without them. Bad idea. Hospitals and clinics will have bigger problems to deal with, assuming that they are still operational.
Predators. With the streets turning very violent, don’t be surprised to see some women just get thrown into the back of a truck, and then never seen again.
I don’t want to say that you can’t have sex at the end of the world, but trying to sell or trade it in this new environment is a poor choice. That being said, it is still a commodity for women who find themselves in a dire situation. Would you sell your body to save your child? Would you sell your body to save yourself? Some would say yes.
All I can say to you brave souls is to be careful. I mean it. Men are especially dangerous in a high stress environment with few laws, and double-crossing you is an easy decision. If you have a regular place for sex then place a weapon under a pillow or mattress. You don’t need much. A knife, ice pick, or big pair of hedge clippers will do the trick. Having someone to watch your back is better.
Black Market Drugs
This would include any illegal substance that is bought on a street level. It’s not a realistic trade item, with the exception of Marijuana. Overseas drug runners deal in cash, and in this scenario the dollar has plummeted to nothing. Distribution lines will be cut. Local Meth labs need raw materials, which will dry up fast. Marijuana requires sunlight, or grow lights, which need large amounts of electricity. There are better things to spend your generator juice on.
For those of you who still want them, there will be some small pockets of marijuana, mushrooms, and other organic drugs surfacing in more rural areas where farmable land is available.
Chapter 7: Rock, paper, scissors, gun
“The quickest way to end a war is to lose it”
– George Orwell
This topic raises a lot of eyebrows, and passions. Americans are so divided on the issue of gun
control and lethal weapons in general, it deserves it’s own section. I’ll be as objective as I can. You can decide your own defensive options.
The point of this item / section is that everything you have accumulated so far, which hopefully will have been water, food, and light sources, needs to be defended at all costs. First, we need to find you a weapon of choice. Further down we will cover the attitude around combat for the average American. Right now we just need to pick something off the rack.
Let’s start with a quick test to see where you stand when it comes to weapons. Try to do this in an empty house without your family. If your family is there, try not to look obvious; otherwise they might think you’re having some sort of breakdown.
Use your imagination, and picture a person banging at your front door and yelling. You don’t know who it is, or how many people might be there with this person. What you do you for sure is that they intend to cause you some sort of harm. If it makes it easier, pretend it’s a burglar with a violent side. We’ve all entertained that thought at one point or another. You need to defend yourself, right now. You have 60 seconds before that door comes crashing down. Drop the book, take 60 seconds, see what you would go for, and then come back.
PAUSE
… Really, not kidding. Get off the couch and pretend this is real. It will give you a new perspective on what might happen.
… If you did go and come back, then kudos. If you just “imagined” yourself getting off the couch, then you’re in worse shape than I thought, and probably aren’t taking this very seriously. I will do my best to shed some different light on the topic in hopes that it will motivate you.
Did you immediately go to the kitchen and fumble around for the biggest knife you could find? Did you grab a tire iron you had sitting in a closet, or a big wrench? A pair of scissors perhaps? When you got this life saving device, did you think of where you might be standing when the door opens, what to look for? Are you going to hold the knife with both hands in front of you, waving wildly like the wife in “the shining”, or perhaps go charging in like Glenn Close in “fatal attraction”. You’re protecting your family from an unknown threat. This person isn’t going to go away. The weapon you chose, do you really think it’s going to stop whatever is behind that door?
I’m not asking you to buy a gun. You may hate guns. You may be, or know someone who has been a victim of domestic violence or some other violent crime. This section isn’t meant to offend you.
I’m also not going to offend the red meat eating gun enthusiasts, some of which have an unnecessarily large stockpile of firearms, and think that it’s their right to accumulate even more.
The attempt here is to try to find a happy medium, one that will keep you safe, without looking so militant that people think you’re going to start a revolution.
This is about weapons, any weapons that you are comfortable with and will use if someone tries to take something that is yours. We are assuming here that if someone says: Please hand over your food and water, you won’t just roll over and say “God bless you”. That would be a pretty silly ending to your efforts.
If you are into baseball bats, then grab a bat. If you are into knives, grab a knife. If you think you can hold your stash with a 9 iron, by all means, go to the back of your Range Rover and get one of those.
However,
Sooner or later, and in this country it means sooner, one day, you will bring a knife to a gunfight. If the other party is of even average skill, you will lose. It’s just that simple. Rock, paper, scissors, gun. Gun wins. Remember where you are. This is America: Land of the crazy, and home of the armed.
Fine, you are a bow hunter, and are very skilled at it. To you I say first: You get one shot, then you’re trouble scale goes way up. Second, I have yet to meet a bow hunter who doesn’t also own a firearm. The same goes for you crossbow people. Don’t get cute; I’ve heard all the arguments a thousand times.
If you are so against firearms and are so stubborn that you absolutely will not use one, then at least pretend, and get one of those high-end air soft “replica” toy guns that look like the real thing. Even that will give the person across from you pause. If they see a kitchen knife, the fight is over.
Demographics say if you’re reading this, the idea of a firearm in any form isn’t totally out of the question. For you I offer this: Make your choices wisely. Your life depends on it. The over used KISS principle of sports (keep it simple stupid) applies even more so in mortal combat situations. Try not to get fancy or exotic. Exotic when referring to firearms often means complicated. If you’re the type who has a problem running a television remote and eating a bag of chips at the same time, stay away from the complicated weapons.
Complicated weapons are sexy. They are cool; they are deadly, in the right hands. Let’s leave the complicated firearms to the military and the police special weapons unit (note the word special). We are Plumbers, middle managers, and programmers. We are ordinary business people who spend more time with their families than at firing ranges. You need something you can actually use, not something that looks good on a “my space” page.
Your weapon should suit you and you only. Don’t plan on a universal weapon that others will use. Don’t plan on your spouse using it. They can get their own. I’ve been studying small arms for 25 years, and there is a lot to consider before purchasing one. Forget the magazines say and forget what your buddies down at the gun shop tell you. Treat this decision even more carefully than you would in buying a car. It’s that critical. This small piece of metal and plastic could save you, your family, and everything you hold important, from tragedy.
The highly revered George S. Patton, decorated General of the US Army during World War 2 once said: “The basic principle of war hasn’t changed. It is to deliver the maximum amount of firepower in the minimum amount of time”. In layman’s terms, fire the biggest weapon you can that holds the largest amount of shells.
The concept, though now 60 years old, is still valid. From a single person point of view, it comes down to body weight, muscle, and the energy your firearm delivers. It’s common sense that a 120 woman would be hard pressed to fire an elephant gun on a regular basis without suffering some heavy bruises or maybe even a dislocated shoulder. On that same line it would be a waste to have a 240-pound man firing a tiny pistol designed to hunt rabbits. In a stressful situation, shoot the biggest thing that you can, comfortably.
Numerous survival guides will tell you that in the long term, you should own at least 1 rifle, 1 shotgun, and one handgun, with a generous amount of ammunition for each. This is not bad advice, but a little hardcore for the average citizen. Let’s reduce it down a bit, and again, keep it simple.
One rifle or shotgun, and one handgun.
If you have to choose between a rifle and a shotgun, I’d probably choose a shotgun for an everyday neighborhood environment. Rifles have greater range, hit harder at greater distances, and can carry more shells. Shotguns hit much harder in the first 50 yards, but aren’t good at long range, and hold fewer rounds.
You, me, and just about everyone else isn’t that accurate at longer ranges, so a rifle isn’t going to help you much there. You’ll have a chance to hit things from far away, but the percentage isn’t very high. Rifles also have a double-edged problem, and that they can penetrate house walls very easily. Shooting at something inside a house and missing means that it will most likely go through several other rooms, exit your house and go into someone else’s. No need to start creating accidents that will haunt you later.
On the other hand, if you are convinced that in a gunfight you will be blind with panic, and totally out of control, a semi automatic rifle may be your only real answer. There is something to be said about pulling the trigger and letting 30 bullets fly in front of you. You’re bound to hit the bad guys once, right? There is logic there. Just remember that any time you miss, the bullet has to go somewhere, and a rifle will be sending bullets hundreds of yards in that direction.
Choice 1: Shotgun
You’ve chosen a shotgun. Good for you. Shotguns haven’t changed much in the 100 plus years that they’ve been around, and there is a wide selection to choose from.You also need to choose between Semi-automatic, which means you just pull the trigger and the weapon fires each time,
or pump action, in which each shot needs to be chambered manually. You will need to choose the size of shell you want to fire. I’ll help you along the way.
Pros and cons of semi-automatic: They are more expensive by a few hundred dollars. They have
a narrower selection. Semi-automatic is usually found in bird hunting shotguns. If you want a good one that holds the maximum amount of shells (at the time of this writing, 9) it can run you up to $1000. One obscure drawback of the semi-auto is its inability to fire “non-standard” shells, ones made by custom ammunition makers. The semi-auto mechanism, which ejects one shell and inserts another, is based on a minimum amount of powder to power the action. If there is not enough power, the action jams. If the action jams and what you’re shooting at is still standing, that’s bad.
Pros and cons of pump action: Less expensive, holds the same maximum amount of shells. Wide variety of models can fire any type of shell, standard or non-standard. One drawback is that you will fire slower because of its manual operation. This may or may not help you, and here’s why: People tend to shoot too many times when pumped up on adrenalin. That’s much easier to do with a semi-automatic. A pump action slows you down a bit, giving you time to think as you deliberately cycle the shells. A pump action also will let you know you’re out of ammunition about a second later than an automatic, because of the extra pump, but this may not affect much.
By far and away the most popular shotgun caliber is the 12 gauge round. It is the current US military caliber, and is preferred by all types of hunters and law enforcement. There are millions of rounds of 12-gauge ammunition in circulation, with many different purposes. Please see Item (Ammunition) for types and potency.
Tip: There are some slight differences in shotgun shell sizes when it comes to 12-gauge ammunition. The variance is in length. 12 gauge comes in 2 ¾ inches, 3 inches, and some a little longer. Make absolutely sure that your shotgun can handle the length of the shells. A shotgun labeled 2-¾ inch cannot take 3-inch shells. A 3-inch shotgun can however, take the shorter rounds. The majority of ammunition made is in 2 ¾, but since they look almost identical, it’s always good to go with a larger chamber, just to be sure.
All other calibers in the shotgun category should be considered distant seconds. This includes .410, 16, 20, and 10 gauge models.
Choice 2: Rifle
You’ve chosen a rifle. Rifles have been around even longer than shotguns, hundreds of years in fact, and being the murdering warmongers that we are, we have created everything from low-level plinkers to bristling monstrosities that can rip down small buildings.
The same topics apply for the rifle as they did the shotgun. Semi-auto vs. manual, and the size of shell you want to fire. Let’s get the easy choice out of the way. Choose semi-auto. I’m not saying this because there is anything particularly wrong with manual, bolt-action rifles. There is just a huge fundamental difference between bolt action rifles and say, pump shotguns. Bolt action is
where you have to lift up the bolt lever, pull the spent shell back, push it forward, and swing the bolt down again. This is four movements versus two for the pump shotgun, which is just pull back and push out.
All the movie and television scenes where the guy with the bolt-action rifle screws up and jams the weapon under high stress, that really happens! Don’t be like them and get eaten by the dinosaur, or the giant crocodile, or the mutant rat, or whatever else seems to know that you are using a bolt-action rifle in a life or death situation.
Whether it’s a $400 off the shelf bolt action, or a $10,000 gold inlayed, custom made, elephant killing bolt action, it still works basically the same. Soldiers don’t use bolt action, general police don’t use bolt action. The only people that really use it are snipers. Why? Because bolt-action rifles are consistently more accurate at long ranges, on a target that is only in there for one shot.
If a bolt action is all you have, then try not to engage anyone at close range. If you do, chances are you will have one shot. Treat your strategy like you’re using a musket.
The semi auto rifle comes in all sizes, and being that we’re in America, you have an enormous selection in front of you.
Here’s why: Back in the early 1980’s some Hollywood producers realized that the popular Clint Eastwood series “Dirty Harry”, had increased the sales of the .44 magnum revolver by leaps and bounds. In collaboration with the major US and then later foreign manufacturers, Hollywood started giving every leading man a sexy gun of some kind, and the firearm makers in turn, started churning out “civilian” versions of the same weapons to the public. They fired the same shell, held the same number of bullets, and looked identical. The only difference is that they weren’t “machine guns”, weapons that fire multiple shells with one pull of the trigger.
Public response was very enthusiastic and the general public bought everything in sight. Every year up until the Brady gun bill was passed the gun makers created more and more exotic weapons for the public. Some of these included drum fed shotguns, plastic pistols that held 100 shells, rifles with shotguns bolted to them.
One side effect of this, whether deliberate or not, is that America has now the most well armed civilian population on the surface of the Earth. Not exactly an appetizing target if you were going to invade. There are as many firearms in circulation as there are Americans, the downside being 17,000 domestic gun related deaths a year.
As with the shotgun, there are some military calibers to consider. Our current US army rifle cartridge is the 5.56 mm, .223 inches. Many companies make the civilian version of the US army weapon. They range in price from $600-$2000. If you weigh less than 160 pounds I highly recommend this caliber. If you are over 160 pounds, you may want to look at the larger military caliber 7.62, .308 inches. The selection is fewer, but the shells reach farther, and hit harder. Both domestic and international companies manufacture them. They range in price from $400-$3000 and are well worth looking into. If money is an object, but you still want a popular round, try any of the civilian AK-47 variants that are in high supply in today’s market.
Handgun:
The choice of a one handed firearm is simpler. While it is true that there are a large variety of handguns manufactured in this country, the decisions of what to use in a crisis still come down to the two same basic options. Semi auto or revolver, and the caliber used.
Revolver:
An old, tried and tested technology. A revolver is what we grew up with, played cowboys and Indians with. Movie after movie, year after year, used the revolver. It holds six rounds; and in most cases has no safety. Cops used them, criminals used them, and the Lone Ranger had one that fired silver bullets. Dirty Harry used one for most of his career. It is by far the most comfortable in our hands. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Some of the cartridges used have been manufactured for over 150 years.
Pros and cons: In the majority of revolvers, you have six shots as fast as you can pull the trigger. If you have to reload, the cylinder has to swing out and shells ejected manually. Revolvers have regained some popularity recently because the shells stay in the gun. No shells, no fingerprints or DNA. Professional assassins gravitate towards these weapons in certain discrete situations. The revolver doesn’t have a safety. To combat this, some users keep at least one chamber empty to prevent an accidental firing.
The revolver has one very important advantage. It’s instinctual in a crisis situation for the common man. You point and shoot. You don’t cycle a round, you don’t throw in a clip. A revolver doesn’t jam, and it is one of the few weapons that can fire repeatedly underwater if needed.
Until the mid 1980’s, all law enforcement in America used the revolver. When the military type weapons began entering the civilian population, law enforcement found themselves in firefights where the criminals were doing most of the shooting. This wasn’t good, both for police mortality rates and morale. It was then that law enforcement switched from .38 and .357 revolvers to their semi auto counterparts, evening the odds.
Some popular revolver calibers in include the .22, .38, .357, .44, and .45. Each has it’s own purpose which will be explained in a short listing at the end of this section.
Semi Auto Pistol
Until the mid 1980’s, the predominant semi auto pistol in America was the legendary Colt 45. All war movies up until that time used them. A beer was named after it. George Patton carried a customized .45. Their legacy dates back to 1911 when a refined version entered service. It uses a very slow bullet; so slow in fact the sound could be silenced completely if needed. The first weapon “silencers” were based on this round.
After 1980, the civilian market saw a huge influx of semi auto pistols, first with the ex-Nazi 9-millimeter round, and then followed by slightly larger versions such as the .40, the 10 millimeter, and then the heavier rounds like the .357 and .44 mag. The most popular of these was the 9mm, mostly because is was the current US military round. In 1985, it replaced the US army .45 as the official American army sidearm. Almost every sidearm company in the world makes a 9mm pistol, despite its reputation as a “wounding round”. The concept behind a “non-killing” bullet was very similar to the .223 rifle round used in the American M-16, in that an army that wounds more soldiers than it kills will eventually win the war, because wounded men used up far more resources than dead ones.
The semi auto pistols of today have seen very few modifications in the last 20 years. The pros and cons now are the same as they were then. The semi auto holds many more rounds, and in the hands of an experienced user, can be reloaded more quickly than a revolver. The semi auto can jam in certain situations. It can be fired very quickly because the action keeps the next shell in “ready” mode, which requires a lighter pull on the trigger. Semi auto weapons come with a variety of safety features, includes some that will not allow the weapon to fire without a strong grip on the handle.
The two most popular calibers for semi auto pistols currently are 9mm, and .45. Where to get more: The manufacture and sale of new and used firearms is controlled (sometimes loosely) by the federal government. Because of this, the number of places firearms can be acquired is limited and monitored. Because of their dangerous nature, everyone and every place that sells firearms implement safety precautions.
Primary: Firearm shops, Some hardware and sporting goods stores, pawn shops, gun shows, private firearm dealers, online manufacturers, and of course, online private owners through the classifieds. Secondary locations: Abandoned homes, security offices of some companies, abandoned police stations, National Guard armories.
Gunplay
You don’t use firearms on a regular basis. The range fees can be expensive, ammunition isn’t free, and quite frankly, we’re normally way too busy to be playing with things that we’re never going to use in a practical situation anyway. Get real. Stress and panic turns us all into idiots. The reason they put push bar levers on auditorium doors is because when people panic, they forget how to use things, like door handles. Learn the basics, get to a range, and practice every once in a while. If you’re reading this by flashlight because the powers already gone out, and you have yet to fire a gun, then you have some things to think about. Don’t freak out. You’re holding a gun, not a cobra. Both are deadly, but this one is built to
protect you. Make sure the safety is off when you are ready to shoot. The whole point of the safety is to keep you from shooting things accidentally, like your underwear drawer. If you think you’ll forget, then take the safety off and leave it off for the duration of the apocalypse. Aim for the legs. This was taught to me decades ago and I firmly believe it is the best method for house-to-house fighting. Shooting the legs means there is a good chance your target doesn’t get to stand up any more. It puts your enemy on the ground, where they are much slower. Shooting the legs doesn’t kill them right away. This should make you anti-killing people feel a little better. Shooting them in the legs creates an obstacle for the person behind them. It gives you options. All the targets and training about hitting someone in the torso talk about hitting vital organs. This is good advice, but it doesn’t cover body armor. Even if your adversary is only wearing a t-shirt and you hit their stomach they’re still going to be standing for a little while longer. Shooting someone in the foot will produce better results than hitting them in shoulder.
Count your shots. If you’re not yelling out some movie inspired Viking battle cry, then try to count how many shots you’re firing. It sounds juvenile. I agree. Counting your shots lets you know how close you are to being empty. Being empty is bad. Most studies of small arms combat have proven time and time again, that in a one-on-one gunfight, the person who runs out of bullets last usually wins. Count your shots; reload if you have the time. Don’t be the one standing there with when the gun goes “click”, instead of “bang”.
You can let them live. Survivalists all over the country are screaming No! My history teacher from 10th grade was one of the first to tell me that if an intruder comes in with the intention of sending you to the grave, your only logical choice is to shoot them as many times as possible. I used to like this advice. I will probably follow this advice. This advice isn’t perfect, and here’s why. You’re not a killer! Ok, some of you are, and I hope you don’t live next to me. The rest of you aren’t expected to end anyone’s life. Guns and the images of death follow each other everywhere. You can do what you want with your gun. You can fire a warning shot into the air, you can fire a warning shot next to their head. I’m aiming for the legs. If you wound them, and they retreat, they’ll carry their sorry butts out the door. If you empty 20 bullets into them, guess what, you have to drag them out of your place. This is America. There are some heavy burglars out there. If the person weighs more than 200 pounds, you may not be able to move them, and then what?
If you haven’t figured out the most important reason to ‘wound them and let the burglars run out the door”, here it is: They can’t get their wounds treated anyway! The hospitals aren’t operational! The first aid kits are far away, and can’t do anything for bullet wounds! So fire away America, your conscious is clear!
Ammunition (Priority)
Normally this would be embedded inside the weapons category, but ammunition in itself is both a tool and a tradable item. There are many calibers you could acquire but not need. At the same time they could provide a huge value for someone else, either as an asset or a trade item. Tip: All ammunition has value, and its trade range can vary widely. Firearm manufacturers in the last 30 years have made it so that calibers that used to be exclusive to pistols and rifles are now interchangeable. Because of this the list below is not broken down into rifles and pistols, just calibers and what can use them. Note that Shotgun shells are forbidden by the general public to be used in a pistol.
Sawed off shotguns (barrels under 18 inches) are considered a federal crime, punishable by a minimum 10 years in prison without early release, which means if you were planning on sawing off the top part of your hunting shotgun, be sure to do it after the end of the world has started. You don’t have to read the ammunition chart below, it’s just for reference. Most popular ammunition types (most valuable) .223 – Current allied forces rifle round. Small bullet, fast speed. Can penetrate most house walls. Medium range. .9mm – Current allied forces pistol round. Medium bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate car doors. Low range. .308 – Current allied forces heavy rifle round. Medium bullet, fast speed. Can penetrate standard body armor. High range. 12 gauge – Current allied forces shotgun round. Heavy bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate car doors. Very low range.
.45 – Older allied forces pistol round. Heavy bullet, slow speed, Can penetrate car doors. Low range. .762×39 – Current Russian military rifle round. Medium bullet, fast speed. Can penetrate lower body armor. High range. Secondary ammunition types (very tradable) .30.06 – Older allied forces rifle round. Medium bullet, fast speed. Can penetrate most non-plate body armor. High range. .38 – Older police pistol round. Medium bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate car doors. Low range. .357 – Older police pistol round. Medium bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate car doors. Low range. .44 – Older hunting pistol round. Heavy bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate most non-plate body armor. Medium range. .40 – Current law enforcement pistol round. Medium bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate most house walls. Medium range. .454 – Popular hunting pistol round. Heavy bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate most non-plate body armor. Medium range. .22 – Older rifle / pistol round. Small bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate most house walls. Low range. .50 – Older allied forces machine gun round. Heavy bullet, very fast speed. Can penetrate plate armor. High range. Miscellaneous ammunition types (some trade value) .380 – Popular light pistol round. Small bullet, low speed. Can penetrate some house walls. Low range. .25 – Popular light pistol round. Small bullet, low speed. Can penetrate some house walls. Low range. .22 mag – Popular light pistol round. Small bullet, fast speed. Can penetrate most house walls. Medium range. .41 mag – Popular pistol round. Large bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate some body armor. Low range. You will only be using a few calibers from the above lists. If you do come across any of the others, keep them for later. You never know when they might prove useful. Note: Ammunition has almost no expiration date. As long as it isn’t stored underwater, shells can stay preserved almost forever. At the time of this writing there is still ammunition manufactured in the 1960’s currently being sold around the world. Tip: Please remember that ammunition should be treated like an explosive. If ammunition is thrown into a fire, the brass or steel casing will heat up quickly and ignite the powder inside. The bullet will then fire in whatever direction it is facing. If you see a fire that you know contains a stash of ammunition, get to cover as quickly as possible!
Where to get more: Ammunition isn’t under strict regulation by the government, and can be acquired quickly from many locations. Large quantities are kept in: Firearm shops, sporting good and hardware stores. They can also be purchased online in many states without paperwork. Secondary locations: Abandoned houses, abandoned police stations, National Guard armory (only for military calibers)
Chapter 8: Hot loot, cold loot “Honey, I think we’re out of toilet paper”
– Your Spouse)
You’re like most of your peers. By the objective standards of the law, you qualify as a good person. You don’t rob banks, or shoplift, or kidnap. The most trouble you’ve seen in the last 10 years are a pair of speeding tickets and a slightly guilty feeling in your stomach that you took too many tax deductions. Or, you could be squeaky clean. I mean shiny sparkly. You don’t miss a Sunday of church. You have never looked at an Internet site full of naked people. You take your family to Disney every few years. You have parental locks on the television. You respect authority, and in turn condemn anyone who doesn’t. Convincing you that the brutal basic human instincts still lie within your DNA will be difficult, but not impossible. In this crisis scenario everything is possible, including turning your overly righteous and judgmental butt into a logical and sensible survivor that will look past the unthinkable, barbaric actions of the masses, someone that will see yourself and family as priority number one. Believe it or not I used to be the most law-abiding person around. I feared authority, and did everything I was told. I respected all laws, and tried to stay out of trouble. Circumstances change. People change. You will change.
You yell: “I would never!” How many times have I heard that? Remember the first time you watched a news broadcast during Christmas, you know the one, where the rare toy gets released, the one that all the kids want? The department store only had 60 cabbage patch dolls, and there are 500 people outside. The doors opened, and chaos ensued. Mothers pushed and shoved, Fathers cursed and threatened. Kids were trampled. It was Christmas, and this was a toy for God’s sake. These are your neighbors in action. Maybe that was an isolated incident. Did you watch the home run king Barry Bonds as he hit those last five shots deep into the stands? Each ball was worth thousands, and when each landed, the crowds went berserk. They punched, kicked, screamed. People bled. People went to jail. This was about the chance, just the chance, to sell the ball on Ebay. These are your friends banging on your door. When the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake took place, the looting started within seconds. When Katrina hit, the looting didn’t stop for weeks. Even the police were taking things from the stores. You may be a good person, bordering on saint hood. You may be so perfect that it is difficult to gaze on you directly. Your sense of righteousness may be the size of a city bus, but you are still human. Humans in a survival situation act in very similar and predictable ways. Imagine just for a second, that you’ve been wrongly accused of some minor crime and are thrown in a jail cell. You’re getting hungry, and the jailer opens the mail slot at the bottom of your door. He shoves a sandwich through, and a dirty glass of water. You’re not really a sandwich person. To make things worse, it’s a Spam sandwich, with spicy mustard. You hate both Spam and spicy mustard. You just sit and stare at it. Now pretend that the jailer isn’t coming back for a few days.
After a while, that sandwich starts looking better and better. You are like a vampire. You hunger, you thirst. You fight it, but your mind starts playing tricks on you. Unless you are the most stubborn and overly dignified person on earth, or maybe British, you will eat the sandwich. Your instinct will override all other bias, all protests, and all objections. Now, imagine one more thing. Pretend that your life depended on it. Pretend that your family’s life depends on you breaking the rules. Deny it all you want. The quicker you accept that you are a part of the masses, the faster you can stay ahead of them.
To be clear, I am not officially endorsing the looting process. In a perfect world, authorities would distribute resources evenly. In some places this might actually happen. In most they will not. People will have to fend for themselves. The criminal element will act first. The people with injured or sick family members will move second. Those with younger families will follow that. Let’s take a look at will probably happen to an average strip-mall over the first few days of a power outage.
0-24 hours: This scenario assumes that there is loss of power only with no hint of why or when it will return. At first the power outage is seen as a curious anomaly. Everyone is on stand by. Order is contained. Routine burglaries see an increase. Some outlying liquor stores are robbed, as well as some smaller stores that sell small, expensive electronics such as phones and portable music players. Hospitals automatically switch over to backup generators, with a limited amount of fuel. Their clock is ticking. Most of the gas stations close. Large amounts of local law enforcement are allocated to traffic control. A number of intersections have officer’s running lights with LED batons. Grocery stores pack what they can in ice, and close their doors. Some smaller shops attempt to stay open with calculators. Convenience stores along major roads begin to raise prices on popular items.
24-48 hours: Assuming the emergency broadcast system hasn’t been activated, burglaries involving luxury items increase dramatically as criminals realize alarm systems are down and the backup power supplies have been exhausted. Confused individuals drive around town, looking for any store to be open. There are small gatherings outside of supermarkets. This is the critical point where state and local authorities dictate the actions of the population. If the emergency broadcast system is running, and instructions are given over major radio stations, it will buy a few days for protection to be put in place. For our scenario we will imagine that any available National Guard troops have been dispatched to other locations. Your town has to depend only on local law enforcement for security. By design, local law enforcement is not equipped to deal with martial law. Their first priority, like at Katrina and Los Angeles, is to protect human life. SWAT teams are few and far between. Your average sheriff or traffic officer is not going to spend their days firing rounds into angry mob. They just aren’t equipped for this type of situation. By the end of the second day, people will start becoming resolved on their next course of action. They will want solutions from the authorities, and the authorities won’t have the best answers. We are waiting for the state or federal government to issue instructions. This waiting doesn’t feed your children. There are people around you who have run out of diapers, soap, and toilet paper. Toilet paper! 48-72 hours: The resolutions will manifest as day breaks. At first light, friends and neighbors will again start gathering in front of the larger supermarkets. They will start congregating in front of Costco and Sam’s club. The things they need are in the darkened stores. Supplies are just sitting there. The registers don’t work, so the items can’t be paid for. The aisles are very dim, so it isn’t safe to shop. The general population won’t care. The only thing sitting between them and the things that power their comfort zone is a single law enforcement unit.
The bold individuals will approach the lone officer, friendly at first, asking questions about when the store might be open, casually suggesting ideas about letting a few people in, taking names and phone numbers so that the store can be reimbursed later. Those sales pitches will start to get old after the first few dozen times. The officer will use the radio occasionally, to show the growing crowd there is backup if needed.
Unfortunately, this scene is being played out all over town, and there is no backup to send. The police and sheriff units are stretched too thin, and the officer knows it. Hour by hour the crowd gets more agitated. The strain is starting to show. By midday, his / her hand is constantly at rest on their sidearm, and with good reason. Then, a loud, desperate voice from the crowd demands that the people be let through to get what they need. Threats come from the masses. The corresponding threat of reprisal by the officer is impotent. After all, how many people can they arrest and still protect the store?
The situation is not a stalemate. The officer will lose. Even if the officer has civilian friends that come to their aid, they will get pushed aside or fall. The reason is simple. Law and order can only function as long as the public is at relative peace with itself. The population’s needs must be met, and those needs are insatiable. A bullhorn can’t compete with the yelling of hundreds. 72+ hours: The officer stops responding to questions. Only the mob is yelling now. A sound comes over the police radio. One of the stores at the other side of town has just been overtaken by a large group of people. The police chief orders all units to pull away from what they’re doing and converge on that particular supermarket. The chief’s logic is flawed. He can only save one store with the manpower he has, and it is already being overrun. They will lose the store, people will be arrested, and officers potentially injured. All the while the rest of the town is being taken apart. The lone officer gets into the car and drives away quickly, siren blaring. The crowd doesn’t even wait until the police unit is out of earshot before smashing through the grocery store glass. Within 60 seconds there is already fighting in the aisles. Within an hour, that same store will hear gunfire.
This scene will have different variations of tempo, but the theme is constant. It will happen. The general population is not very different from man’s best friend. Your family dog is loyal. It hunts with you; it plays with your children and licks your face. If it is not fed, given enough time, your dog will turn on you as food. You could easily be one of the mob, but you’re better than that. You’re smarter than that. The mob runs off of pure instinct. Collectively, their decisions are childish, brutal, and reckless. The only way to beat the mob is to become your own animal, one that is more cunning, logical, and level headed.
In order to be one step ahead, the group mentality needs to be understood. Once you have the knowledge, and can predict what a mob will do before hand, Everything will play out like a well-executed crime movie. All eyes are looking in one direction, but you and what you need to do, will be somewhere else. Somewhere secret. Most people are creatures of habit. We take the same route to work, even though multiple streets are available to us. We watch the same television shows each week, have lunch at the same group of restaurants, use the same ATM, and most important to this topic: We shop at the same grocery store, month after month.
The community mentality runs on simple rules, and survives on a very primitive mindset. We are out of food. Where do we get more food? I shop there. We need to go there. Where are you going to get food? I am going there. I am going there as well. Let’s both go there, to get food. You’d think we just learned to walk upright, heading out of our caves to kill a mammoth. It just gets worse from here. Food store closed. Dark. Locked. Lots of glass. We don’t need to use door. Angry person with gun in front of store. We will wait. The sentences may play out a little better than that, but not much. Some may think of other stores, only to find a different group of people, and the same law enforcement units. The clever people will do the math and deduce that with that amount of people in front of the store, no one is getting out with a cart full of anything. There aren’t enough goods in the aisles for that. They will start thinking of the obvious alternatives; the most obvious being the bulk food outlets. There is one thing about following the mob mindset. If you’ve thought of it, others have to. Of course, Costco! People will be slapping their heads by the hundreds. There is way more food and supplies there. We need to hit that place! Let’s go!
You should have stayed at the grocery store. Costco is a literal fortress compared to the average supermarket. Have you ever been parked outside a Costco and just stared at it? It’s a stone and metal warehouse, with giant rolling steel doors. The small doors are steel too, with windows too small to squeeze through. Yes, it is filled literally to the ceiling with every kind of supply you could think of. Forget for a moment about how solid the building is. Another problem is that all these great supplies are in the middle of a giant room with few windows, and no light. Throw in the fact that you will have about 1000 people sitting outside it trying to find a way in. Do you have a plan of getting a large amount of food out of this building? Here are a few bad ideas to consider. Attempt 1. You force open a smaller door on the back loading dock with pry bars and portable drills. A bottleneck is now created. You would need armed guards to keep people out while you went in, filling a flatbed cart with everything you could in about 10 minutes. Word spreads through the crowd in the front, and hundreds of people flock to the back to see if they can get in on it. You get the cart back to the door, and try to load up your truck for the escape. If you were smart you pull the guards off the door and let people flood in, distracting them from your getaway. For this you need at least five people, armed, who you can trust, and who are willing to open fire if things get ugly. This will be difficult with a group. If you don’t have the manpower, then the bulk food store isn’t a valid target. It doesn’t matter how many firearms you carry by yourself, there are some things a single person can’t do. Attempt 2: You get a backhoe or front loader and just plow through one of the front steel doors. Once down, you set up armed guards to keep people from getting in, and use the same plan of attack from before. The same amount of people are required, plus you need the bulldozer, which you don’t have. Because of the large opening, there is a good chance that warning shots will need to be fired if you expect to keep other people out of the area.
Attempt 3: You wait until someone else breaches an entrance, and then try to find what you can. This is called a “hot loot” situation, and is only recommended as a last resort. “Hot loot” refers to an area that is either 1. Being looted by two or more people at the same time, or 2. Being looted, even though there are defenses present. Stores that are being mobbed are hot loot zones. Stores that are being protected by owners are also Hot Loot zones. Homes with owners inside are a hot loot area.
These areas are dangerous, because they are filled with unpredictable people. You don’t know if the person next to you wants that same 5-pound container of peanuts. If they go for it, what are you going to do? Grab it back? Hit them? Start shooting? Hot loot zones are chaotic, full of noise and panic. Adrenalin is up, and everyone is moving quickly, because the faster you move, the faster you can pick up things. It’s like a giant game of musical chairs, but you don’t know where the chairs are, everyone has guns, and if you can’t find a chair when the music stops, you starve. Pushing a cart is a waste of time. The store is dark, flashlights the only way to see anything. You get to a section you were thinking of, and it’s been cleaned out. You can’t carry enough. Did you bring a backpack? Some people a few rows over start fighting, and a gun goes off. People scream, some run. The smart ones stay. You go into that row and have to step over a body to see if there’s any more beef jerky. This isn’t where you should be. Someone shines a flashlight at your backpack, then into your eyes. You hear the cocking of a weapon.
You are better than this, more clever. The last thing you need is to be spending your time running around dark hallways fighting for scraps. Look, listen and learn. The mob is like a swarm of angry bees, moving as a single unit, like a virus, consuming everything it touches. It is something to be feared. It is also something that can be manipulated.
The best thing, what you and your family need, is a “cold loot” situation. A place that isn’t either a primary or secondary target. A place that is so far ahead of the mob that they can only wish they thought of it first. Cold loot refers to a stash of supplies that can be acquired alone, or with a group you trust. There is no competition here. It can be emptied at your leisure. It is ahead of the curve. When the tentacles of the mob finally reach it, they will find only empty shelves. More importantly, they will not find you. Imagine yourself blending in with the mob. Feel what they feel. See what they see. They are a blunt instrument looking for resources. All their targets, every single one of them, will be a hot loot situation. Every stash they find will be by definition, a danger zone. Understand their primary and secondary targets.
Week 1: Mob Primary targets
Grocery stores – The lifeblood of any community. They contain food, water, batteries, and toilet paper; everything needed to keep an average household operational. Pharmacies – non-perishable food, water, batteries, toilet paper, enough to keep an average household operational. Bulk food stores – Food, water, batteries, toilet paper. Everything needed to keep an average household operational, and it’s in large, easily transportable amounts. Convenience stores – Non-perishable food, water, batteries, enough to keep an average household operational. The first week of the outage is an orgy of acquiring consumption materials. The grocery stores will be bare, emptied in a frenzy of consumer madness. The adjoining pharmacies will be hit almost simultaneously. As discussed earlier, the bulk food stores will be the biggest challenge, and most likely produce the highest amount of casualties because of the higher concentration of people combined with a collision of well-laid plans. Some people will try to drive into the store, others will try to access some of the food and supplies placed 20 feet above the floor. Forklifts will tip over. Lots of people will make mistakes.
There are huge stashes of basic supplies in a bulk food store; enough to last well organized group years if rationed well. There will be more than one group that will make a play for it. There will be in store skirmishes. Can you imagine what it would be like to be an average family walking into that giant dark place? There is a gun battle raging in one corner of the warehouse, and all the while supplies that could keep them alive for months are within an arms reach.
The only good thing to say about convenience stores is that each one is so small; a single vehicle would be able to empty out the entire place in less than 30 minutes. It could be done with twenty garbage bags and vehicle headlights to illuminate the store. The process would be relatively painless. Either you’re there alone, or you’ve missed your window. Note that many convenience stores are franchise owned, which means the owners / employees will probably just move in and live off the inventory.
Week 2: Mob Secondary targets
Gas stations – Some non-perishable food, some water, batteries. Enough to keep an average household alive. Restaurants – Some canned food, some water, and misc items. Enough to keep an average household alive. Hardware stores – Some non-perishable food, some water, misc items. Enough to keep an average household alive. Specialty shops – Some non-perishable food, some water, misc items. Enough to keep an average household alive. Sporting good stores – Some non-perishable food, misc items, including firearms. Can supplement household supplies. As the primary targets are being depleted, first level alternative stores become more attractive to the mob. Even the smallest gas station carries a substantial supply of candy and chips. Restaurants vary in the different types of canned food, but the rule of thumb is, the better the restaurant, the better the stash. Note that a large share of restaurants have alcoholic beverages (tradeable) as well. Fast food franchises still suck in the apocalypse, with the majority of their supplies coming in large cans of sauces and a huge amount of perishable frozen food that will
become useless once thawed. Hardware stores carry a large supply of batteries The smart looters will ignore the shelves, and go into the back stockrooms where everything is packed into large boxes. Some sporting good shops will carry not only camping gear and power bars, but also a generous supply of non-military firearms. The mob will have some trouble with acquiring these weapons. Security devices for guns have gotten better over the years. Some firearms contain a special lock that covers the entire trigger section. It can only be unlocked with a key. The average person cannot make the gun function without the aid of power tools. The other, more popular option for securing store firearms is to run a long steel cable between all the triggers. This can be severed easily with a set of bolt cutters.
Week 3: The first sweep By week three, there will be some organized groups using trucks. They will be searching business to business, looking for anything consumable. They will find the water cooler bottles, the vending machines, and the factory cafeterias. If the groups have anyone efficient running the operation, they will go from location to location until the truck is filled, and then head back to a rally point. Running the sweeps during the day will make it easier to find things, save battery time, and make it easier to coordinate personnel. Night sweeps are risky. In a dark world, headlights can be seen for miles away. Ambushes will be frequent. Some of the smaller teams might work at night with minimal lighting in order to avoid the larger groups. The successful ones will be fast, mobile, and have the ability to work with smaller lights, or even night vision. Week 4: Leftovers By the end of the first month, all the visible targets will have been exhausted. All stores and shops that contain supplies that can be seen from the street will be gone. Soda machines will have been forced open. Specialty shops with small amounts of candy next to the register. All office refrigerators containing non-perishable liquids, all the snacks in Blockbuster, every candle at Williams Sonoma. The camping sections of any hardware store will be decimated. Every can of food in the hotel kitchens will be gone. The juice bar at the local spa will be bare. The only things left now are misc items hidden away in all the drawers, cabinets, and cupboards within office buildings. If your coworkers are as consistent as mine, there still is quite a bit to be had. God bless us, for there is food in almost every cubicle. It will just take more energy to find it. The general mob finally runs out of motivation at this point. Their wave crests here. The shopping spree is over. The looting of commercial and corporate America has come to and end. Unfortunately, some of the smaller, more hardcore groups are still alive. If they are to survive, they can only do so by taking on the homeowners. Personal residences are the final targets. The predators are forced to try their luck against the everyday citizen. This is the unknown scenario which even government models have a hard time predicting. Is the house that is being raided occupied? Will the owners fight back? Are there casualties? When do the looters give up? When it comes to long-term predictions, there has been much debate in the survival world. Some
think that it will develop into a “Thunder dome” scenario, where limited trade is restored. Some think that larger groups will venture out of the city, hoping to find a better outpost. Their purpose seems aimless. Yours is not. You still have hope; have faith that the government who used to be in charge will return to help their population to restore order. This is what you can cling to, and with some organization, can create a protective bubble that can keep those who you care about safe.
You now have a rough blueprint of targets that a garden-variety town mob will take to secure resources. Do you see the pattern? Have you figured out the trends, and what you could do to take advantage of this? The mob attacks the obvious, and keeps hitting it until the resource is exhausted. They then move to the next big thing that sticks out. In short, the mob is a bunch of slack jawed mouth breathers who couldn’t make a good decision if their life depended on it. You’re much better off without them. Your window lies in the small gaps that the mob overlooks. Your chance is hidden between the huge waves of chaos these people create. The timelines mentioned above will have some variance, but it will give you the chance to get what you need, without the added pressure of looking over your shoulder.
Your edge, your angle, is a cold loot target that only you know. Forget the mobs first choices. They are the choices for the masses. All their focus will be the immediate three targets closest to their homes. Take the easier path. Sieze your chance and hit a well thought out cold loot target. The target chosen could be anything from a secondary mob choice, or something special you came up with on your own. If your decision is well thought out, there won’t be any law enforcement or lights. Look for a back service entrance or loading dock, something that faces away from the street. Expect the unexpected. Employees of this establishment, especially kids, will come up with the idea to hit their own store shortly, and may move on it. Have at least one backup selection, and maybe two.
To get an idea of what you should look for; be overly observant the next time you are driving through town. Look for some interesting stores. Here’s what I mean: Pick a supermarket or any good-sized grocery store. Now look right across the street and see what’s there. Maybe there’s a convenience mart, coffee shop, radio shack, or a restaurant, all with service entrances that are not visible from the grocery store parking lot. This is the place where your knuckle dragging adversaries will be. The restaurant has canned food. Radio shack has equipment. The coffee shop has bottled everything. The decision is yours.
This is your sweet spot. You won’t need much motivation. The crowds making that incredible ruckus should get your blood pumping. Go at night, and bring the smallest portable light sources you have. Did you have your tools prepared? Are you ready to make the score that could buy your family weeks or months that they need until help arrives? You’re not ready yet? C’mon, let’s get the tools, pack your bags, and get psyched! This is the
moment of truth, the all or nothing night of your life! Are you going alone or bringing a friend to help you keep your nerve? Look over your gear once more: Looting equipment:
Nylon or leather bags. Try to find a balance between weight and strength. Standard travel luggage is a bad idea, and don’t even think about using something with roller wheels! Those damn things are loud enough on a perfectly smooth airport concrete, and you want to roll this thing down a mile of city grade asphalt? Backpacks aren’t terrible; just make sure you leave them mostly unbuckled for a quick getaway. The size of the bag will work itself out naturally. If you choose one that’s too large, and notice that after it’s filled that you can’t lift it, then you are holding the proof that you’ve made a bad decision. Take some stuff out and try again
Entry tool. These can be more valuable than weapons. Good examples are crowbars, pry bars, bolt cutters, the sturdier the better. They are all heavy steel, and you need to lug them to the location. That’s bad. The flip side is you can either bring them back with you on the first trip, or leave them until the last trip. The crow bar and pry bar are used to wedge into door jams, in order to force them open, breaking the lock. The bolt cutter is to punch through steel cable, padlocks, or chain link fences. When it comes to bolt cutters I recommend anything over 36 inches in length. That size will sever most steel barriers.
Light source. Don’t grab your giant flashlight. This is supposed to be a covert operation. The only reason you’re bringing any light at all is to see what is being stuffed into the bag. Penlights are a good first choice, unless you have night vision goggles. If you are wealthy and crazy enough to own these, then you’re way ahead of the game. You should already have a solid plan of your own. Use your lights only if you are unsure of the terrain. If there is an obstacle in your way, light it up and check it out before trying to hurdle it.
Be Defensive. You run into trouble, you have to look at the odds before making a move. One person? Size them up fight club style, and decide if they can be bargained with, or will it turn into a skirmish? Did you see two or more people? You may have to cut and run, even if they’re younger and smaller. If you are thinking about taking on one of them, the other may be running for help. There is no honor among thieves.
Distraction device (optional) Head out at dark, not dusk. You don’t want anyone in your immediate vicinity following you. If you know the area well enough, then try to travel without any light. Walk down the middle of the street if you have to. Walk quickly, but quietly. This new world has some long stretches of silent streets. No need to give yourself away. If you consider yourself adept on a mountain bike, then you could save some travel time. Note that large bags will throw off your balance, especially when filled. The extra weight will make it harder to start and stop, but you will be able to outrun people on foot. Take small detours to avoid any other people you hear up ahead, and remember where they were for the return trip home. Anyone that has a bonfire going will work to your benefit. The light
from the fire resets their night vision, making it almost impossible for them to see at any distance in the dark. Don’t take the long way around just to avoid a fire. When you arrive at the entrance of the store, force it open as quickly as possible, but use some stealth. If you need to hammer in a window, wrap the hammer in cloth to muffle the sound. If the back door needs to be worked over with a pry bar for a few minutes, take a break every once in a while to check your surroundings. If it’s going to take 15 minutes, you may want to consider a distraction. Distraction techniques: Sometimes, it is like the movies. Distractions are used in warfare, but are called diversions. There are times where you need to divert your opponent’s attention to something else. Use the environment around you, and try to keep it simple. If it’s dark, use something that involves light. If it’s quiet, create something that makes a lot of noise. A few examples: Fire is your friend. Despite what your parents have told you, it’s ok to play with fire. We are moths to the flame. We sit around campfires and stare into the glow. We watch apartment buildings burn. In a world without electric lights, fires become a magnet, the bug zapper of the apocalypse. People will gather around and stare at a burning house like it was a giant beach bonfire, and why not? There are no fire trucks to put it out.
Don’t get fancy. Find some flammable liquid. It can be gasoline, paint thinner, lamp oil, a strong alcohol. Locate a wood structure, preferably with smaller pieces. Set the blaze quickly, and then head over to your cold loot target. The fire doesn’t have to start big; a little goes a long way. Car alarms. Did you ever think you would see the day you would welcome the sound of a car alarm? Find some vehicles a few hundred yards away from the store you want to get into. Hit them hard with a blunt object. If the car / truck doesn’t start making noise after a few whacks, move to the next. Once the alarm goes off, high tail it out of there and get to work.
Once the distraction is set, you enter the coffee shop, or specialty store, or whatever you have chosen. Use your lights sparingly. Even if you use the front door as an entrance, try to use the back door as an exit. Fill up the bag with what you can comfortably carry, then calmly walk out and start heading home. If you are wearing a watch, start keeping track of how long it takes you per trip. Rinse and Repeat: When you do get back to home base, check your watch again, and see how many more times you can hit this store before the sun comes up. As the sky starts to get lighter, you are done. I mean it. Stop. Take inventory of what you now have, get some rest, and if you’re up to it, begin again the next night. If the plan goes wrong: Sometimes, you can’t just go home. You are on your third trip back, and there are some people following you. If you’re lucky, they won’t know the area as well as you do. They are tailing you, waiting to see where you will crash for the night. Do not under any circumstances lead them to
your home and family. If your bag is heavy, look for a quick place to stash it. Hide it in some bushes, underneath a car, some place that you can get back to in the daytime. As soon as you ditch the bag, move faster, take an unusual corner. Don’t panic, just lose them, anyway you see fit. If you think you can set up a quick ambush and scare them off, then do that. If you have to fight, then fight.
Dangerous zones
“Extreme hot loot zones”, only recommended for groups of 10 or more people. In every state, there are manufacturing facilities. Taking the odds into consideration, most of these places will be making and storing products like distributor cap parts, plastic vomit, or lawn furniture. These companies will only be useful for supplies you can get out of the cafeteria, vending machines, or office drawers. Then there are the gold mines, the warehouses that have literally lifetimes of supplies. They include things like, a Campbell’s soup factory, a Nabisco plant, a grocery store distribution center, a Wal-Mart shipping hub. Do not try to approach these places alone, or even in small groups. The logistics are too large for you. Imagine a Costco, only 10 times as big, with everything needing a forklift to move, in pitch-blackness. Now imagine all the employees that work there, day after day, who will approach this facility within 24 hours.
Any employee with keys to the main gate will fill a truck by the end of the second day. After that, anyone working in the immediate industrial park will try to get some groups together and take their shot. After that, the public will catch wind of it, and things will start to get crazy. These factories and warehouses are normally located in industrial zones, which are some distance away from residential areas. Using a car or truck is a good idea. A tractor-trailer rig is better, with a large group of people to guard it. A well-armed group could get in and get out without too much trouble, and it could be done quickly if someone knew how to run a forklift. Some brave souls may move some of the supplies into a more secure part of the building, and just try to live at the warehouse. That would be a 24/7 job, constantly patrolling the area. With enough troops it could be possible. These specialized stashes are rare, and shouldn’t be considered a viable option for most people. Military or law enforcement groups have the best chance of securing these, for whatever purpose they see fit.
Tip: There are only a few places that should be considered “too dangerous” to approach. One example would be small gun shops run by private owners. Most firearm stores are like this. They only sell firearms and firearm related products. Some of their employees carry side arms during normal business hours. When the power goes out, they are instructed to immediately go to the store and stand guard. This store has a lot to lose. These owners will shoot first, and ask questions of your body later. They have more guns than you do, and enough ammunition to start a small war. You can’t bargain with them, and sure as hell can’t out gun them. Go away, and never think of it again. Some of your heavily armed pawnshops also fit into this category, although they aren’t as dangerous in an extended fight because of their limited supply of
ammunition. One other dangerous location is any privately owned army/navy surplus store. Some of these places carry firearms on site. The owners of these shops are survival oriented. They will be armed, and they are already convinced anyone approaching the store is a looter. The Mormon supply house: Weeks after the power goes out, when all the stores, factories, and vending machines have been licked clean, there will be house to house skirmishes. The supplies acquired from these poorly organized neighborhood battles almost don’t seem worth it, because the average family won’t have much of a stockpile.
Well that is, except for the Mormon families living outside of Utah. I don’t want to pick on the Mormons, I really don’t. I’d like to think of myself as treating everyone equally. I’d like to state officially that I don’t have anything against the Mormon faith. Freedom of religion is a right in this country. I happen to respect that this religious group practices what they preach and prepares for their version of Armageddon. Great job! You have at least a year’s supply of food for every member of your family, and weeks after the power has gone out; some of your neighbors just remembered that little nugget of information. For you, it’s time to start sleeping with one eye open! Unfortunately, this version of the grasshopper and the ant doesn’t end well. Outside of Utah there are way more grasshoppers and the ants don’t have nearly enough guns to keep them out. To be fair, I’m going to give help to both sides; I don’t want to play favorites. If you are a practicing Mormon living outside of Utah, you should consider upgrading your security. This means more fire extinguishers, bigger rifles, and more ammunition. You may want to have a safe room built, one that can withstand fire. There should be some walls in certain areas of your home with steel plating or heavy stone. Bomb shelters are an excellent fall back position. Shoot first and shoot often. Keeping your opponent off guard and off balance is important. Have faith that the neighbors will lose their nerve and go away!
If you are living in a large neighborhood and are planning on attacking a Mormon house: You had better be ready for a drawn out fight. These families have God in their hearts, and will not give up willingly. Luckily for you, unless a few families have banded together, you’re probably looking at three guns or less coming at you. The best way to breach the house is to back a car into a living room wall at about 20-30 miles per hour. Note I said back in you monkey. Why would you drive in nose first and wreck your engine? Think people! Back the car / truck through the wall, then drive forward, exposing the hole. There is your access point.
Yes, you could just burn the house down. The drawbacks are that it takes almost 24 hours before you can even begin to start sifting through the wreckage, and you’ll have to move that out of the way to get to the basement. The smoke won’t affect any canned goods, but the heat might. If they are storing fuel in the basement, then all bets are off, and there may not be anything to
salvage. Better stick with the car idea. Also note that a gun battle in your neighborhood will draw huge amounts of attention, even blocks away. If or when you are victorious, and start carrying out all that hard fought cache of supplies, you will now have become the new Mormons. You also are walking around the street holding food and water instead of weapons. I hope for your sake that God is on your side now.
Chapter 9: Advanced: The trading post “Who is rich? He who is content. Who is that? Nobody.”
-Benjamin Franklin
The concept of the trading post is simple, but the implementation can be challenging, and end badly if you’re not very careful. An organized barter system is the best, and worst of both worlds. It can be a windfall of essential resources, especially if used with specialized looters. It will also draw some unwanted attention to your location, including potential thieves who may make a move to take over your new enterprise. A trading post can be started within 72 hours after the power goes out, and if well secured, will be one of the last places with access to needed supplies. A trading post brings a sense of order, as well as a familiar gathering place. If it’s completed quickly, it can bring a community together, give it perspective, and allow organized barter to replace the chaotic roar of the mob. The trading post can be as simple, or as complex as you want, depending on your manpower, stockpile of items, and location. Keep in mind that the more complex and spread out it is, the harder it will be to defend. The quick rules of the trading post are simple. 1. Acquire and distribute needed supplies, and 2. Defend the stash at all costs. Once completed, the trading post will provide you will potential goods, manpower, and most importantly, information. It will become the general store where people come to gossip, trade,
and lament about their situation. All of these bits of information can become useful to you. The key in any trading post is to be consistent, organized, and always project confidence in what you are doing, whether you have it or not. You can set up a barter based system with as few as two people, but I recommend four. To start, you need a good trade building, one that isn’t your current residence. The building should be solid, with as much brick and stone as possible. Brick and stone are resistant to gunfire and impacts from vehicles (Remember the Mormons!). More stone means less wood. This means it can withstand fire, and fire related products. It doesn’t have to be a large structure. You’re not running a Costco, nor do you want to. This is a neighborhood trading post, which will cover an area up to, 2-3 square miles. This is the maximum walking distance you should expect any one person or group to travel to your location.
Bring the inventory you want to trade to the location, and then create a trading post sign. The larger the sign is, the better. The sign should be moveable if possible. Don’t just get a can of spray paint and write on the side of the building: “Trading!” What happens if you move? Better to take a wooden door off its hinges, use that as the sign, and then lean it against the building. When the post closes for the night, you simply lay the door down. Keep it mobile! The important part of the post structure is where exactly the trade takes place. A window that is big enough to pass through goods is a great start. Treat it more like a ticket window at a ballpark, or a bank teller. People give you money. You give them the ticket. No one is behind the counter but you. Your total inventory should not be visible from the ticket window, only the goods you are trading. The window doesn’t get left unattended, ever. Give the impression that you have a number of armed people inside the building, project threat. Be serious, but be fair. The trading post is not only there to help you, but to build the trust of the community. You are not there to loot and pillage. You are providing a service. You are providing some order that people recognize. You are providing hope.
I recommend doing all trading through a window or on a trading table outside the front door. One thing you should stick to, and I cannot stress this enough: Never use the front door for anything. Put furniture in front of it, nail it shut, or better yet, cut holes in it big enough to stick out gun barrels. The front door is the visible access point. No one should see it open. All inventories should be brought in through the back door. Again, treat this like a ticket window, or if it makes it easier, a bank teller window. The average customer should leave with a sense of mystery. They should be doing anything else but thinking about how to rob you. Your group should appear strong and organized. You are the shopkeepers. The force you represent is unknown. People fear the unknown. When people do business with you, they will do so without thinking of crime. Display your firearms, real and fake. Replicas or props will work fine. You want an honest trade, and so do your customers. If you feel safer with more than one person running the ticket window, then use more. What’s important here is that they are polite and civil, and know how to spot the BS. People with customer service skills are good. Bartenders are good. People who
know how to deal with crap on a regular basis are what you need. You have your inventory sitting somewhere hidden in some type of solid structure which can’t be crashed into with a car / truck. You have a few friends or neighbors, people you can trust, running the trade window. You place random guns in visible distance and look as intimidating as you can. You raise up the painted door sign and you are open for business! At first you hear nothing but crickets. What did you expect? Did you want a local celebrity cutting a ribbon on this grand opening? People will not be bursting out of their homes, running with hands in the air, cheering the fact that there is finally a store open. Give it time. Be patient. The great thing about a trading post in this scenario is that everyone’s a potential regular customer. If you can get them to deal with you even once, they will come by almost every day until the end. The process starts slow, but gains momentum. The people wandering streets need things, your things. The dialogue is always the same. What the first customers want will dictate the specials list. What do you have to trade? What to you need? I need water. I need food. I need bullets. I need cigarettes. Everyone is looking for something, and you may or may not have this something. If you think you might be able to trade it later, add it to the need items list, and post it outside the window. You may also want to post a “Robbers will be shot”, in an attempt to keep people honest. Most of the first people that come to window are just the curious types walking around. They aren’t carrying anything. They have nothing to trade, except maybe a weapon, ammunition, or water. They’re going to be holding onto those things. The old saying is true: We want most that which we cannot have. They will be looking to you for something they need, maybe a few AA batteries for their flashlight? You have them, and let them know. Now comes the barter. What do they have? What they bring to the table has to correspond with your needs list. You give them a business card with your needs list on the back-side. This is something they can take home with them. The trade rate isn’t on the list, just the items. This is how the process starts.
They go home, and start looking through their inventory. They don’t know how much you have, because it isn’t visible, so they aren’t thinking (for now) about robbing you. They debate, they fret. What is important to them? Their decision process is extensive. The next day they show up with a bag of goods, hoping to trade for some AA batteries. What are they bringing? Canned food? Candles? Other batteries? Now the barter process kicks in, and haggling starts. Don’t be unfair on the priority goods. See what it is worth, and what you can gain from it. These trades should be as honest as possible. Your profit will come from another source. The person in question gives you three cans of food for 4 AA batteries that expire in a year. Always try to trade the earliest expiring items first. The exchange is made through the window. You inspect the cans, they inspect the batteries, maybe even try them out in the flashlight. Everyone is happy, and they go on their way. No fuss, no problems. You’ve just made a solid customer, maybe even a friend. Given enough time, this person may even work for you. The barter system is whatever you see fit to implement, but there are some guidelines in the new
world you should pay attention to, especially when it comes to priority items, and vices. Examples of possible trades: 1 can of food = 1 battery or 3 rounds of ammunition or 1 cigarette (non filtered) 1 bottle of water (sealed) = 2 cans of food or 6 rounds of ammunition or 2 cigarettes 3 cigarettes = 1 shot of hard alcohol The combinations for trade are endless. Try to be as consistent as possible. It’s going to be tough, because demand is going to change. This is a cross between a general store and the stock market. Someone may try to buy you out of AAA batteries, or all of your light sticks. Don’t completely empty your inventory. Those last scraps will turn into gold. One day a can of food might be worth a few batteries, then someone who looted a warehouse tries to trade more water than you could use in a few months. Weigh the trades carefully. You have the time. If a line forms, then try to assure the people that everyone will be serviced as soon as possible.
Don’t try to scam any of the fair trade people, especially if there are others in line. Your reputation is everything. Word of mouth is crucial. Your ability to function as a vendor is the most important thing in the world. You have the option of allowing people to trade with each other in line. This doesn’t hurt you. In fact, you may want to encourage it. Your trading post will become a gathering place, a hub of activity. Days go by. You bring in items, you trade out items. Maybe you develop a relationship with a regular customer or two, and some of them are handy with other things. In exchange for letting them be part of the group, they help you with different functions. They can you help with security, they can help with bartering. Your supply chain is becoming more efficient and helpful. The people you deal with are grateful for what they have. The trade itself gives them purpose, gives them some meaning in this difficult time. The people that will make the real difference to you are the stragglers that have little or no supplies, but are hoping you can help out. There is no charity in the Apocalypse. There are only contracts. The people who have nothing to lose will be your greatest asset.
The Carders
“Obviously crime pays, or there’d be no crime”
-G. Gordon Liddy
The saying goes: “All any person wants is something to love. If you can’t give them that, give them something to hope for. If you can’t give them that, then just give them something to do”. The potential free time after a power outage is immense, but it shouldn’t be leisurely. Time is money. Time is resources. For the downtrodden people walking the street, time may be their only bargaining chip. As the trading post develops, your inventory will neither grow nor shrink in any great amount as long as the trades are fair. If people are desperate, then they will make trades to your advantage. You will also be consuming resources which will balance these things out. Where the inventory
starts to expand is with the loose contracts you make with people who have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. We’ve already established that you are a good person. You take care of your own. You, your family, and your friends are fed, safe, and are now part of the only business in your area. There are others not so lucky. People who need guidance, who need a way of life to follow. The trading post will be their new temporary church. You will offer them purpose, and they will be grateful. You are looking for loners. These are your valuable assets. The conversations start the same, and require a delicate touch. What do you have for trade? Us? We have almost everything, what do you have? Me? Not much, a saddened look crosses their face. Look, (handing them the loot list card) this is what we need. If you can get any of these things, we can do business. If you want, hint that some of the houses in this area appear to be abandoned. For the first time in weeks, they have hope in their eyes. They turn and head down the street. 24 hours later, you see the same person, carrying a large bag over their shoulder. They have items for trade. These items are worth something to you. You deal. They smile. Once trust is gained, you offer them something else. Your makeshift supply bank. A chance to store their stash while they’re out looking for other supplies, for a small fee, of course.
The Bank
The supply bank is an easy to learn concept, and it only works if there is trust on both sides. The person looting is having a hard time carrying the stash they have. If they try to hide it in a house it could be stolen, and then they will have lost everything. You offer to keep their stash for them, inside the secure trading post, at a rate of 25-33 percent, or 1/4 to 1/3. Translation. For every 4 cans of food they store with you, the post keeps 1. For every 12 rounds of ammunition, you keep 4. I recommend an inventory list, like a bank book, which they sign off on every time they leave the post. They can view the inventory list at any time, but cannot come inside to look at the goods physically. If they insist you can offer to bring it around to the main window, but this shouldn’t happen too often.
Rate of contract is established and set for all “carders” (People who have a bank account) If you set it at 25%, then that is what is will stay at. Carders will run into each other from time to time. They should all have the same rate.
The inventory sheet should be on hand for them to view. They can deposit, withdraw, or close an account at will. You will not stop them. This freedom establishes trust. Trust builds relationships. You need allies.
Carders have to check in to the post every three days to confirm existence. This is a nice way of saying that they have to prove they haven’t gotten themselves killed. If check in isn’t completed in three days, the house lays claim to the entire inventory of the carder. Three days is
plenty of time and should be acceptable. Date the inventory sheets and keep good records of them. If a carder is gone for 5 days, then shows up out of the blue, they will still lose their inventory. You have an option of replacing this with a starter account that gives them enough water and food to last them another three days. This will keep them going while they get back to work. This is to reestablish trust.
Looting is strongly recommended in abandoned homes. If a house is occupied, the carder should leave at once and seek another location. Imply to others that you are a socially responsible organization.
Carders must respect other carders. If two are looting the same house, they should identify themselves to each other immediately. Whoever had entered the house first has priority over the other. Any deals cut between the two looters are outside of the post. Disputes will be settled between the members. The post will not be involved in general looting matters.
Exterior conflicts will not be brought to the post. The idea here is that eventually, a carder will stray into an occupied house. Let’s say for arguments sake, that an occupied house contains four families, and a bunch of guns. They chase the carder back to the post. One of the home’s occupants is injured. They demand justice. You now need to be a temporary judge. This is a potential situation and needs to be considered. Less than 2 months ago you were crying because you’re laptop didn’t have Internet, and now, you’re presiding over a domestic violence case. Nothing happens inside the post. For security reasons, all disputes are handled somewhere outside the main building. Judging isn’t that hard without a jury. You listen to both sides, determine a course of action, and then make a decision. Did the carder hurt anyone? What were the circumstances? What do the homeowners want for compensation? Do they want to trade? Are they a current customer? Do they want blood? You get to decide. If the carder is a real problem or has been a thorn in your side, then you could hand them over to the group, but that’s not really fair. Exile may be better, maybe a running head start? I suppose you could just open fire. It’s your decision; choose wisely! The odds say that these carders will be taking chances you wouldn’t. They may enter a house and get shot. They may fall down some stairs and get mauled by large dogs, they may get chased away from another group. Your goal is to make sure that either way the post benefits. You’re not exactly rooting for their demise, are you? I didn’t think so. The great part about this system is that it is driven by basic instincts. They are hungry, and there is no credit at the trading post. To eat, they have to forage for supplies. They become the perfect employee. No loafing, no clock punching, no long lunches. Sounds like a sweet deal doesn’t it? Time to kick back and enjoy your success. It will be an easy ride until help arrives. Think again.
The flip side of the trading post is unwanted attention. As time passes, different groups will think about how they can get in to your supplies. Every location has a weakness. They are looking for it, and you can’t let your guard down for a minute. They will send carders who seem like honest people. Beware of carders who want to come inside and take a look. Keep a close eye on everyone that’s working for you. Remember the story about the dog. Everyone is trustworthy until they get hungry enough. As time goes on, and you become the only game in town, you are
almost guaranteed to have at least one standoff. A group will move past the line, armed, and want to take what you have. You and your sentries will be outnumbered. Don’t back down. They don’t want to start shooting. Hell, some of those guns may not even be loaded. Ask them what they want to trade for, but be prepared to take action. If you lose the post the game is over. Quick words can sometimes save the day faster than quick guns.
Chapter 10: When the bullets run out
“You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you”
Eric Hoffer
Something very serious has just happened, and it doesn’t involve toilet paper. You’re out of ammunition. This is not a happy thing. In fact, for a lot of survivalists, it’s the scariest time of all. Resources are running low! You might actually have to get your hands dirty in a real fight! All your years of learning computer programming has not prepared you for this! What the hell are you supposed to do now! This is not the time for a “stay calm” speech. You play this too cool and you’re going to be having a personal conversation with the Lord. There are literally thousands of self-defense styles, with so many practical techniques I can’t begin to scratch the surface. Teaching you how to fight is not what you need. You need huge amounts of bring-to-bear confidence.
You have to believe that even without a firearm, you can do enough damage to the other person that they either collapse in a blubbering pile of pathetic Jell-O, or run away at top speed, screaming in pain, thinking of the one adversary they never want to meet again, you!
There just isn’t that much I can teach you in a few short paragraphs. Some things will come naturally. Your adrenalin will kick in; giving you enhanced strength and reflexes. You will attack with everything you have, and with a little luck and God’s blessing, you will be the last one standing. If you have friends and family, think of them, and how you are their last line of defense! Of course it also helps if you are willing to fight dirty, and have some cool tricks to back it up. Let’s review some items that might give you an edge in a hand-to-hand fight.
Brass knuckles:
Your hands are soft like a baby’s bottom. You haven’t done a hard day’s work in your life. There is no way that you will transform into a seasoned union dockworker in the next 10 seconds, so stop with the fantasy. Any martial arts training will tell you to hit someone with the base of your palm. It saves you a lot of pain and still will deliver a good impact. You won’t remember that though. All your fight training was in grade school, or maybe you learned from the movies, which means you will hit with fist closed, knuckle to chin. Make it count, but if you can help it, get something that will protect your hand. Go online and pick up a cheap pair of brass knuckles. This little toy is a solid piece of metal with holes to stick your fingers through. It rests tight enough in your hand that you can hit something with a full swing and the only thing that strikes your target is the metal wrapped around your knuckles, hence the name. The beauty of this item is that you can miss your opponent and strike something solid like a wall or your refrigerator, and you won’t break your hand!
For decades, this product was strictly a black market item like it’s cousin the switchblade knife. You can really hurt someone with a pair of brass knuckles. It’s like getting a small pipe to the face; only it fits in your pocket. There were extra legal penalties if the police caught you with a pair. Then someone figured out you could mass produce them, call them paperweights, and presto! Brass knuckles you can buy over the Internet!
Aluminum bat
Feed off of your childhood. Everyone has held a baseball bat at one point or another. It’s a playground regular. It doesn’t matter if you were chosen almost last on your elementary school teams; you still got to hold the bat. It was built to be swung and to hit things. They can be found in many places, you don’t need the Internet for this. Aluminum bats are best because they don’t break easily. When it comes to size, the smaller the better. Remember that if you are swinging inside the house, there are walls, furniture, and knickknacks. A long bat will just get in your way, and will slow down or even stop if you over swing and hit a solid object. A dark colored bat is better than a light colored one.
Knife:
You are now a part of history! Humans have been hurting each other with knives ever since they
lumbered out of the caves and started carving them out of flint. We’ve come so far! Yep. Pretty straight forward, and I mean that literally. The sharp point goes into the bad guy. Note I said point, not blade. Short strong thrusts forward, not side-to-side. Don’t start waving that thing around wildly. If that happens, there is a good chance you’ll also cut yourself in the fight.
Flammable liquid, and a match:
This defense technique is kind of tricky, but the principal idea is taken straight from the prison yard. Take 8-12 ounces of a flammable liquid and throw at target. Then throw a lighter, match, or candle at target. Target catches fire. Target then either rolls on floor yelling something about “being on fire” and “how much it burns”, or they run down the hall and out of the building, fanning the flames, and drawing attention to them.
Martial arts:
You are not Chuck Norris. No one is. If I see one more amateur attempting martial arts in a real fight I swear I’m going to go insane! Martial arts are a discipline, not an absolute. Martial arts create a fighting style, not a guarantee that you will win, or even that you have an edge. Every wonder why those reality cage fights on television aren’t filled with a lot of guys jumping and twisting, trying to land that perfect palm technique? Watch a match and you’ll see. Each fight is different depending on your opponent! If you are trying some Matrix style drunken boxing, and your opponent wants to wrestle that will end your movie real quick.
You can’t do spin kicks in your entryway. There is no flying tiger inside a bathroom. There is no karate kid crane technique from the other side of a dining room table. Just hit for the head, sternum or genitals as hard as you can. Box their ears, try to smack the base of the back of their neck, there is a big nerve cluster where the shoulder meets the neck. Claw at the eyes; try to hit their Adams apple. So it’s not a pretty, visually entertaining fight, the goal is to win, not to look good!
Throwing things
When I was growing up my sister used to throw anything she could at me. I learned quickly when to catch, and when to dodge. You are not a professional baseball player. If a major league pitcher has someone coming through their front door they have permission to throw the high fastball. You throw slowly, because you are a sloth. Being a good video game player doesn’t mean your reflexes will help you hit someone from across the room with a book. If you have something good to throw, like a bowling ball, or an all steel crock pot, then get close to the door, and hit them from 4 feet or less.
Note on throwing things: Do not throw your gun at the target! This is a bad lesson taught by bad guys in the movies! Just set it down or put it back into your pocket. You never know when you might find extra ammunition.
Stun Guns
Due to the bad memories this item brings up, and that I’m not a fan of less than lethal devices, I can say only this: Hit the intruder with the stun gun and don’t let go of the trigger. The disruption that they have on a body’s electrical system is somewhat cumulative, and really taxes the brain if you give them an extra dose. Hit them long enough, and they will stay down for 30 minutes or more. Just to be sure, just empty the battery on the target.
Pepper spray
There have been many documented cases about the use of pepper spray and there is some bad news. You spray your enemy with mace, and you will get some on yourself. It’s like spraying underarm deodorant on another person. No matter how careful you are, you’re going to smell it. The difference here is that mace stings a great deal. If you don’t mind some tears and shortness of
breath, then this one is for you.
Hiding
This goes against our basic “fight or flight” instincts. You may have been great at hide and seek as a child, but hiding under a pile of clothes, or under the stairs with your pornography isn’t going to do much this time around. Remember that this is a low resource scenario. All those televisions programs where the mob guys toss the apartment looking for the stolen drugs, that’s amateur hour now. People will be going through everything, and unless you have an Anne Frank style piece of furniture, they’re going to find you, in which case you’ll have to choose something else mentioned above.
Playing dead
It works on bears, doesn’t it? Sometimes it works on bears. It works on people sometimes too. The cases that seem to have the most success involve a large-scale military conflict, and there are a lot of bodies. People hide underneath them, and try to blend in. Do you have a lot of bodies in your home? If you do, then you have some larger issues, and the looters are just your next victims. I’ll make sure to stay clear of your place. If you are alone and trying to play dead, you may want to consider a few things before putting on your best “open eye and open mouth” dead movie face. First, the person coming in the door is looking for things, but they are also looking for you, to see if you’re a threat. If they have a lot of extra ammunition they may just put a bullet into you. If bullets are scarce, they may poke you with something and check for a reaction. If they try to check your pulse, the jig is up, and I recommend using their close proximity to hit hard and fast. Say however, that your performance is convincing, and they think you’re really taking the big dirt nap. You are still going to have to deal with this person going through all your pockets. Let’s hope you’re not ticklish.
Acting crazy
I like this idea, even though I can’t pull it off. Start screaming and flailing about, acting as insane as possible. For some of you, this will be quite easy. The idea is that a really noisy, scary person may not be worth the trouble. This is recommended even before they come in the room. The motivation is to pretend you are a human car alarm. If you make enough of a ruckus, the stealthy attacker may just move on, and kill your neighbors instead. To summarize: If you are out of bullets, find the best weapon you can come up with, and ambush your attacker with everything you’ve got. The best places to do this are either directly by the door they are entering from, or behind a blind corner inside the house. I don’t recommend trying it from underneath the bed. Everyone knows there are monsters under there.
The End?
That’s it, everything you need. Water, food, light, weapons, tactics, and some sensible advice that could save your families life. You are now officially versed in the wonderful world of urban survival. The majority of you reading will have found it mildly entertaining. It was a small distraction in a never ending series. A short time from now you will be back to watching something on network television. In a week you will have forgotten most of what’s been said here. A smaller number of you may discuss some of the concepts casually with other people, pondering the possibility of a national crisis situation. Your friends and coworkers will have not read the guide, and therefore will condemn it as some extremist nonsense. You will feel relieved at this and return to some form of quiet contentment.
There may be a few that actually get something out of this guide. To those individuals who know deep in their hearts that the worst can happen, or have survived limited catastrophes of their own, I say this: Start small and follow through. You don’t have to drive at top speed to the nearest bulk food store and stock a spare bedroom floor to ceiling with freeze-dried goods. The secret, the KEY to this whole idea, is to start small. Buy a footlocker sized plastic container, make a small list of things you might want to have if your house was say, hit by a tornado, and start filling the container. Once the list is checked off, and your footlocker contains the things you need, you might just stop and call it good. Mission accomplished, you’ll never think of it again. Chances are though, that as you make the effort to acquire your items, you will think of others, and those other things will give you more ideas. It can snowball. Before you know it, you have a nice corner of your basement ready for anything. And while you’re putting things into your plastic containers, why not include this manual as well? Thanks for reading this, I hope it one day helps you and yours. BUT ALSO HOPING THAT IT WON’T COME TO THAT.
There is a sequence of outright lies and fabrications used to justify far-reaching policy decisions which in the course of the last 18 months are literally destroying people’s lives Worldwide.
“Fake science” is used to justify confinement, social distancing, the face mask, the prohibition of social gatherings, cultural and sports events, the closure of economic activity, all of which are upheld as a means to repealing the “killer virus”.
Who is this “Killer Virus” which has been personified by both the media and our governments, held responsible for triggering economic and social chaos Worldwide?
You might recall that at the height of the February 2020 financial collapse, “V the Virus” was held responsible for the largest stock market crash since 1929.
Has the “Killer Virus” been Identified. Has SARS-CoV-2 been Isolated?
This article will review this contentious issue starting at the outset of the crisis in January 2020. Part of this analysis is based on research conducted in early 2020.
The central question raised in this review is the following: is there reliable evidence provided by the WHO and national health authorities that the alleged SARS-CoV-2 virus has been isolated/purified from an “unadulterated sample taken from a diseased patient”?
While the alleged virus was initially defined as the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated in January 2020 that it did not have in its possession details regarding the isolation/purification and identity of 2019-nCoV.
And because details concerning isolation / purification were not available, the WHO decided to “customize” The Real Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) Test using the alleged “similar” 2003 SARS virus (subsequently renamed SARS-1) as “a point of reference” for detecting genetic fragments of the novel 2019-nCoV.
What this decision entails is that novel 2019-CoV-2 is NOT a novel virus. It was categorized by the Chinese authorities and the WHO as “similar” to the 2003 SARS-CoV as well as to MERS.
2003 SARS-CoV was subsequently renamed SARS-CoV-1.
History: Isolation of the Virus
Chinese Health Authorities
The Chinese authorities announced on January 7, 2020 that “a new type of virus” had been identified “similar to the one associated with SARS and MERS” (related report , not original Chinese government source). The underlying method is described below:
We prospectively collected and analysed data on patients with laboratory-confirmed 2019-nCoV infection by real-time RT-PCR and next-generation sequencing.
Data were obtained with standardised data collection forms shared by WHO and the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium from electronic medical records. (emphasis added)
The following article entitled “A new coronavirus associated with human respiratory disease in China, (Nature, February 3, 2021) was among the first to report on the China’s novel coronavirus:…[We] collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and performed deep meta-transcriptomic sequencing. The clinical specimen was handled in a biosafety level 3 laboratory at Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center. Total RNA was extracted from 200 μl of BALF and a meta-transcriptomic library was constructed for pair-end (150-bp reads) sequencing using an Illumina MiniSeq as previously described 4,6,7,8. .In total, we generated 56,565,928 sequence reads that were de novo-assembled and screened for potential aetiological agents. ….The genome sequence of this virus, as well as its termini, were determined and confirmed by reverse-transcription PCR (RT–PCR)10 and 5′/3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), respectively. This virus strain was designated as WH-Human 1 coronavirus (WHCV) (and has also been referred to as ‘2019-nCoV’) and its whole genome sequence (29,903 nt) has been assigned GenBank accession number MN908947. .The viral genome organization of WHCV was determined by sequence alignment to two representative members of the genus Betacoronavirus: a coronavirus associated with humans (SARS-CoV Tor2, GenBank accession number AY274119) [2003] and a coronavirus associated with bats (bat SL-CoVZC45, GenBank accession number MG772933) . (Nature, February 3, 2020) .
It is unclear from the above quotations as well as from the documents consulted, whether the Chinese health authorities undertook an isolation / purification of a patient’s specimen.
US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Following the Chinese announcement on the 28th of January 2020, the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that the novela corona virus had been isolated.The CDC statement dated January 28th, 2020 (updated December 2020) is unequivocal:
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was isolated in the laboratory and is available for research by the scientific and medical community.
….
Timeline:
On January 20, 2020, CDC received a clinical specimen collected from the first reported U.S. patient infected with SARS-CoV-2. CDC immediately placed the specimen into cell culture to grow a sufficient amount of virus for study.
On February 2, 2020, CDC generated enough SARS-CoV-2 grown in cell culture to distribute to medical and scientific researchers.
On February 4, 2020, CDC shipped SARS-CoV-2 to the BEI Resources Repository.
An article discussing the isolation and characterization of this virus specimen is available in Emerging Infectious Diseases.
…
One important way that CDC has supported global efforts to study and learn about SARS-CoV-2 in the laboratory was by growing the virus in cell culture and ensuring that it was widely available. Researchers in the scientific and medical community can use virus obtained from this work in their studies.
SARS-CoV-2 strains supplied by CDC and other researchers can be requested, free, from the Biodefense and Emerging Infections Research (BEI) Resources Repositoryexternal icon by established institutions that meet BEI requirements. These requirements include maintaining appropriate facilities and safety programs, as well as having the appropriate expertise. BEI supplies organisms and reagents to the broader community of microbiology and infectious disease researchers. (Emphasis added).
See also related study which was posted on the CDC website.
The CDC Acknowledges that SARS-CoV-2 has not been Isolated.
The official CDC document, (dated July 21, 2021) entitled “CDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel reads as follows:
Since no quantified virus isolates of the 2019-nCoV were available for CDC use at the time the test was developed [January 2020] and this study conducted, assays designed for detection of the 2019-nCoV RNA were tested with characterized stocks of in vitro transcribed full length RNA (N gene; GenBank accession: MN908947.2) of known titer (RNA copies/µL) spiked into a diluent consisting of a suspension of human A549 cells and viral transport medium (VTM) to mimic clinical specimen. (emphasis added, page 40)
Compare the above statement to the CDC January 28th, 2020 advisory confirming the isolation of SARS-CoV-2:
On January 20, 2020, CDC received a clinical specimen collected from the first reported U.S. patient infected with SARS-CoV-2. CDC immediately placed the specimen into cell culture to grow a sufficient amount of virus for study.
***
See the analysis of CDC responses in the section below on Freedom of Information Requests.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Did Not Undertake The Isolation / Purification of a Specimen
From the documents quoted below, the Chinese authorities did not provide the WHO with a specimen ofisolated / purified SARS-CoV-2.
And because details concerning isolation were not available, the WHO decided to “customize” its Real Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) test using a so-called isolate of the “similar” 2003 SARS corona virus (subsequently renamed SARS-CoV-1) as “a point of reference” (or proxy) for detecting genetic fragments of the 2019 SARS-CoV-2.
While Drosten et al’s study confirmed that “several viral genome sequences had been released”, in the case of 2019-nCoV, “virus isolates or samples from infected patients were not available … ”
The recommendations to the WHO were as follows:
“The genome sequences suggest presence of a virus closely related to the members of a viral species termed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-related CoV,a species defined by the agent of the 2002/03 outbreak of SARS in humans [3,4].
We report on the the establishment and validation of a diagnostic workflow for 2019-nCoV screening and specific confirmation [using the RT-PCR test], designed in absence of available virus isolates or original patient specimens. Design and validation were enabled by the close genetic relatedness to the 2003 SARS-CoV, and aided by the use of synthetic nucleic acid technology.” (Eurosurveillance, January 23, 2020, emphasis added).
What this bold statement suggests is that the isolation / purification of 2019-nCoV was not required and that “validation” would be enabled by “the close genetic relatedness to the 2003-SARS-CoV.”
The investigative report provides detailed documentation based on Freedom of Information (FOI) requests addressed to ninety Health /Science institutions in a large number of countries.
The responses to these requests confirm that there is no record of isolation / purification of SARS-CoV-2 “having been performed by anyone, anywhere, ever.”
“The 90 Health /Science institutions that have responded thus far have provided and/or cited, in total, zero such records:
Our requests [under “freedom of information”] have not been limited to records of isolation performed by the respective institution, or limited to records authored by the respective institution, rather they were open to any records describing “COVID-19 virus” (aka “SARS-COV-2”) isolation/purification performed by anyone, ever, anywhere on the planet.”
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC was contacted by the author of this report in the form of four separate requests: November 2, 2020, March 1, 2021, March 3, 2021, which are reviewed below:
March 1, 2021:The CDC again made clear that they still have no records of “SARS-COV-2” isolation performed by anyone, anywhere on the planet, ever… just not in so many words. Instead, the CDC absurdly implied that isolation/purification of “SARS-COV-2” would require the replication of a “virus” without host cells and thus is impossible. (The request had nothing to do with replication.)
CDC again failed to provide/cite any records describing “SARS-COV-2” isolation/purification by anyone anywhere ever… but would no longer simply say so (as they did on November 2nd); instead they gave song and dance citing the study by Harcourt et al. which is the same one posted on CDC’s website:
CDC admitted they have no record of “SARS-COV-2” purification from a patient sample via maceration, filtration and use of an ultracentrifuge, by anyone, anywhere, ever:
Here are 5 compilation pdfs containing FOI responses from 79 institutions in 22 countries/jurisdictions, re the isolation/purification/existence of “SARS-COV-2”, as well as emails from authors of studies that claimed to have “isolated the virus” and an email from the Head of the Consultant Laboratory for Diagnostic Electron Microscopy of Infectious Pathogens at Germany’s Robert Koch Institut, last updated July 13, 2021
Screenshot of a selected responses are provided below : New Zealand, Canada, UK.
Consult the full archive of letters and responses. This work was undertaken over a period of more than 12 months.
Response Public Health England
It follows from the above detailed study that there is no evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been isolated/purified from a patient’s sample, as evidenced by the responses “under freedom of information” (FOI) from some 90 health / science institutions Worldwide.
“Gemma O’Doherty is an Investigative Journalist in Ireland.
“This Irish Investigation into Covid shows that The Department of Health refuses to confirm the existence of a “virus” in writing. Confirmation that the virus was never isolated.”
“As part of our legal action we had been demanding the evidence that this virus actually exists [as well as] evidence that lock downs actually have any impact on the spread of viruses; that face-masks are safe, and do deter the spread of viruses – They don’t. No such studies exist; that social distancing is based in science – It isn’t. it’s made up; that contact tracing has any bearing on the spread of a virus – of course it doesn’t. This organization here – is making it up as they go along.” – Gemma O’Doherty
Isolation of the Virus. The Legal Battle in Alberta. Patrick King
Patrick King. The Virus Has Not Been Isolated! “No I Did Not Win The Court Case”. “They Do Not Have the Evidence”.
The following video features Patrick King in his legal Battle against the Alberta Government. There are a lot of people in Alberta and around the World who are Fighting against the Big Lie.
lbry://@PressForTruth#4/Pat-King-Interview#6
Concluding Remarks: “Biggest Medical Fraud in World History”
SARS-CoV-2 has not been isolated. Does the virus Exist?
Neither the Chinese authorities nor the CDC, the WHO, national governments, scientific / health authorities have provided evidence that SARS-CoV-2 has been isolated /purified.
Based on the investigative research of Christine Malley we have access to the responses of numerous governments and health authorities, including that provided by the Republic of Ireland to journalist Gemma O’Doherty.
What this means is that the entire covid narrative falls flat.
We have been systematically misled.
Everything you have been told by your governments is a lie, a complexity of lies and falsehoods.
There is no pandemic. The isolation / purification of the virus has not been undertaken.
All the policies adopted by governments worldwide allegedly to “save lives” are illegal, socially destructive and in violation of fundamental human rights.
These policies have been instrumental in “destroying people’s lives”.
Dr. Stephen Frost refers to the alleged “Covid pandemic” as“The Biggest Medical Fraud in World History”.
From the outset in January 2020, the flawed and invalid RT-PCR test was used to “detect” the alleged 2019 SARS-CoV-2 virus, despite the fact that details regarding the isolation/purification of the original virus were not available.
Curbing the alleged SARS-CoV-2 pandemic through the imposition of face masks, social distancing, closing down of national economies are of a criminal nature, they have absolutely no validity,
The original strain of SARS-CoV-2 has not be isolated /purified: How does that affect the process of so-called “detection” of the “deadly variants” of the original virus?
Mortality and Morbidity: While there is “No Killer Virus”, there is a “Killer Vaccine”.
While the SARS-CoV-2 virus is presented by the media and the governments as a “killer virus” (when in fact the WHO and CDC describe it as “similar to seasonal influenza”, a totally invalid and dysfunctional Covid -19 vaccine is currently being imposed on the entire population of Planet Earth: 7.9 billion people.
It’s a multibillion dollar endeavour with Pfizer in the lead, establishing a near Worldwide monopoly for the sale and distribution of the mRNA killer vaccine.
Important Question:
How did Big Pharma manage to develop a vaccine (sponsored by the WHO, GAVI, the Gates Foundation, et al) with a mandate “to protect people” against a virus which has not been isolated/ purified?
Moreover, 2019SARS-CoV-2 has been categorized as similar to the 2003 SARS-CoV which means that the 2019 SARS-CoV-2 is not a novel virus.
The legitimacy of the Covid vaccine project hinges upon the hundreds of thousands of RT-PCR fake positive cases Worldwide combined with fake Covid related mortality data.
Big Pharma’s mRNA vaccine has resulted in countless deaths and injuries Worldwide which are barely reported by the mainstream media.
While we do not have figures for the entire Planet, the latest official figures for the European Union and the U.S are revealing. Bear in mind they vastly underestimate the real trends in vaccin related mortality and morbidity:EU/EEA/Switzerland to 31 July 2021 – 20,595 Covid-19 injection related deaths and over 1.94 million injuries, per EudraVigilance Database.
UK to 21 July 2021 – 1,517 Covid-19 injection related deaths and over 1.1 million injuries, per MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.
USA to 23 July 2021 – 11,940 Covid-19 injection related deaths and over 2.4 million injuries, per VAERS database.
TOTAL for EU/UK/USA – 34,052 Covid-19 injection related deaths and over 5.46 million injuries reported as at 1 August 2021
Nota Bene: It is important to be aware that the official figures above (reported to the health authorities) are but a small percentage of the actual figures. Furthermore, people continue to die (and suffer injury) from the injections with every day which passes. (D4CE
So why are governments pressuring people to get vaccinated?
Heads of State and heads of government Worldwide are being pressured, bribed, coopted and/or threatened by powerful financial interests into accepting the Covid vaccine consensus. The vaccine passport is the endgame, which constitutes a transition towards digital tyranny.
The study and reports analyzed in this article should be used to confront politicians.
Does the virus Exist?
The governments and the WHO do not have a Leg to Stand On. And neither does Bill Gates.
What we must seek is to confront a very fragile consensus, which is based on fraud and deceit.
PS: I remain indebted to Christine Massey for her extensive research and investigation on the issue of isolation /purification.
Within the World Economic Forum’s Great Reset, the mantra has come out that by the year 2030, “you’ll own nothing. And you’ll be happy.”
For those of us who haven’t been brainwashed by communism, this likely seems somewhat disturbing. But let us examine just how one can ensure “people don’t own anything.”
Let’s look at what a world without personal property looks like.
“If it were up to me, anybody not wearing a mask when they are out in public would be arrested … That’s an act of domestic terrorism and should be treated like one,” Lancaster, California, Mayor Rex Parris.
Let’s start with the low-hanging fruit, shall we? John Locke pointed out that “Every man has a property in his own person,” with Paul Skousen further adding that your body is your first piece of original property that you own. If you are to own nothing, does it not follow that your body will no longer be your own as well?
We already see the fruits of this type of thinking in forced (or coerced)vaccinations for people to work and travel (and not be arrested). We’ve most certainly seen this with mandatory masking. What could be the further logical progressions of this type of thought, though?
Is mandatory sterilization out of the question? What about forced organ donation? Are these indeed that far out of a concept – are they not the next logical step – in a world where you own nothing?
Forced Relocation
“The theory of communism may be summed up in the single sentence: abolition of private property.” – Karl Marx.
You will no longer own your house. And if you no longer hold the right to choice, your body, or your property, then you likely won’t have much of a say as to where you would reside either.
Perhaps climate change could be argued as a reason to move all people into cities. Maybe racism/equity could be claimed as to why your home is being given to somebody else.
Regardless of which form it takes place, there are excellent odds that you would not be permitted to live where you want for long.
The Death Of The Second Amendment
“The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism.” – Karl Marx
Your right to defend is centered around your right to life and right to own property. As illustrated above, if you no longer own the right to your own body, you in essence no longer own the right to your own life either. As such, there’s nothing for you to defend. “We – the government – will do that for you.”
Likewise, the Second Amendment must be destroyed to crush any potential opposition. In his masterpiece The Road to Serfdom, FA Hayek pointed out that people resist being robbed: whether that be by someone with a ski mask or by someone with a badge. The only way that a collectivist can thus ensure that his mandates are followed is by ever-increasing amounts of violence against resistors.
This act is sorely hampered by those who are capable of defending themselves against attack. It is much easier to force an unarmed populace to bend to your every whim (witness current Australia, Canada, or the UK), and thus, America must be disarmed.
Vaporization Of Savings Or Nationalization Of Savings
“Because we have been guided by a Republican administration who believes in the simplistic notion that people who have wealth are entitled to keep it and they have an antipathy to our means of redistributing wealth.” – Jim Moran (D-VA) November 10, 2008
If you are to own nothing, that means that you can no longer have anything in your savings. Any money you have put into a 401k, savings account, safety deposit boxes, or the like will be vaporized overnight. It can come about through three main mechanisms.
#1 Hyperinflation
The first is through hyperinflation. As John Stormer pointed out in None Dare Call It Treason, hyperinflation was one of the prime reasons for the communization of China. If you can deflate a nation’s currency to the point that it is worthless (partially accomplished by abandoning the gold standard), you can drive a country into ruin. Once that has happened, you can rebuild out of the ashes – Karl Marx’s intentions for communism all along.
That destroyed nation is now ripe for the harvest by communists who will swiftly step into the void and create a government of their own.
#2 Nationalization
The second way that savings can be confiscated is through nationalization. When a government simply decides that all retirement accounts will be nationalized, you just lost all of your savings through government-sponsored theft. You will likely be given the balm of, “But look, we’ll take care of you. There’s a government pension for you, a universal basic income, free education, free healthcare, free housing, food stamps. Don’t worry. You don’t have your savings anymore, but this ismuch better.”
Keep in mind that a cashless society makes it far easier for the government to control your every cent.
#3 Destruction Of A Nation
The third means that savings can be destroyed is through the destruction of a nation via war.
In much the same way as hyperinflation, invaders climb over the ruins to craft a “new” currency in a nation. It can occur via outright war/invasion or by “humanitarian aid” following some sort of national tragedy that leaves a nation in ruins.
Nationalization Of Your Business
“Socialism is the doctrine that man has no right to exist for his own sake. That his life and his work do not belong to him, but belong to society, that the only justification of his existence is his service to society, and that society may dispose of him in any way it pleases for the sake of whatever it deems to be its own tribal, collective good.” – Ayn Rand
Your business is a part of your property. It enables you to produce – with production being true wealth, as Ayn Rand pointed out – and thus, it must be taken from you as well. It will likely come via the nationalization of all businesses.
This already happened in the past (e.g., nationalization of railroads) and must be enforced for the WEF’s intentions of a ‘no property planet’ to be realized.
Whether you’ll still be permitted to work in your chosen field remains to be seen. Choice is an aspect of freedom (the second domain according to John Stuart Mill), and only a fool would believe that the WEF is about freedom.
Thus, it is highly likely that centralized planning would determine where some people would work (e.g., government-sponsored dams, roads, canals, etc.)
Anti-Hoarding Laws Endorsing Government Confiscation
Very severe penalties would be enacted against those who didn’t voluntarily bring all that was required of them. Again, this is of necessity in such a world, as FA Hayek pointed out.
Overwhelming shows of force would likely be used against initial resistors with a considerable media dispersal to cow into submission to those riding the fence on the issue.
For those who still resisted, door-to-door confiscation would only continue, with armed men doing what it took for them to confiscate what remained.
“The family is now one of the major obstacles to improved mental health, and hence should be weakened, if possible, so as to free individuals and especially children from the coercion of family life.” – International Congress on Mental Health, London, 1948
Once more, collectivism throughout history has often resorted to children being held in common. Witness the government confiscation of children in ancient collectivist Sparta. Boys were taken at the age of 7. In the collectivist Incan empire, all girls were turned over to the state at 13.
A third became involved in religious practices, a third were given away as wives/concubines, and the remaining third were slaughtered at the altar. If we look at more recent history, we can see how the Hitler Youth impacted the future of their nation.
The Death Of All Human Rights
“If it were discovered that you had not character and industry enough to be worth all this trouble, you might possibly be executed in a kindly manner…” – George Bernard Shaw, socialist
As Ayn Rand pointed out, once property rights die, all other rights are soon to follow. Property rights are the foundation of all other rights.
Given that the destruction of property rights is the end goal of the World Economic Forum and the Great Reset – as illustrated by their own propaganda – this means that free speech, the right to defense, the right to life will not be that far behind.
In many cases and many ways, these freedoms are already being chiseled away. Do you want to live in a world where that destruction is brought to completion?
What Is To Be Done?
It may come across to some reading as if I am solely spreading fear for fear’s sake itself. I assure you, that is not the case. I am writing this to you because I am genuinely concerned. Think through the logical progressions for yourself.
If you are going to live in a society where you own nothing, what are the logical stepping stones of such a state? What can be inferred?
My conclusions on the matter are by no means original. They come from examining what already happened to humanity and looking at the full implications of a world without property.
By doing the same, I believe you’ll come to the same conclusions as I.
So what does a world where you own nothing look like?
I can guarantee you this: it is one where happiness is an emotion you will have long since forgotten.
Summary: A quick, “how to” guide that helps the average American weather the storm of a national crisis. It’s a workday afternoon and the power has just gone out in your city. You have no cell phone, a quarter tank of gas, and you don’t know how to contact your children. You haven’t done a single pushup in the last five years. The radio in your car is only picking up emergency broadcasts. You have some difficult decisions to make in the next 48 hours that will change your life forever, and you’re not ready. Don’t worry. You’re not alone. You are about to become an “armchair survivalist.” If you are like a lot of Americans who work behind a computer, this is your worst nightmare. What you only thought could happen in the movies is your new life. You’re not nearly resourceful enough to go to the woods and “live off the land”. Forget all that nonsense about skinning your own rabbit and eating insects. You’re going to go back to your home and be with your family.
So make the most of it. There are plenty of supplies within walking distance of your house that will help make life bearable during the dark hours. You will learn to move without the mob, to band together with friends and neighbors if possible, and to keep everything you hold dear safe from the raging population that will develop into a destructive mob before your eyes. You can do
this. You now have help.
The text you are about to read was initially designed for the worst case scenario, one where the power goes out, leaving the average person “in the dark”. The full version covers everything leading up to that point, and a lot of theory regarding the current state of the country and what the average citizen would see during a severe national crisis.
After the initial text was completed, I started working on an audio version which was accompanied by a slide show for effect. This was eventually going to be uploaded to Youtube as an instructional series.
Then I read a very disheartening news story about how 75% of the people that went back to New Orleans after Katrina didn’t bother to keep emergency supplies on hand. Let me say that again. The city drowned and many people suffered greatly because they didn’t have a backup plan. When everything dried out and they went back to their homes, they STILL didn’t prepare for a worst-case scenario.
So this project was shelved until the 2008 financial crisis got into full swing. Friends encouraged me to start it up again, despite my objections that a “financial crisis” is not the end of the world.
Or is it?
The United States power grid is run mainly from a combination of coal, hydro-electric, and nuclear plants. If all the banks fail at once, the lights will still be on. You may not have a job, but the television stations will still broadcast. The internet will still be up.
It’s the things we can’t think of that worry us. What if there is another severe oil shortage, or massive terrorist attack, anything large that disrupts food or energy supplies? That is the risk that you have to decide for yourself. Your family, your friends, your lifestyle is important to you. If you went out of your way to get life and homeowners insurance, maybe you should think about taking a few extra steps to insure you and the ones you love can weather the unpredictable storms, in whatever forms they take.
What you will read starts with a basic scenario, just to give you a frame of mind. It then covers bare bones needs, what you can do to make things more comfortable, and how to protect it. After that comes some advanced urban survival tricks, along with a longer term plan, all in language the average American can understand.
If you are reading this during an actual crisis, then God be with you.
Chapter 1: Hell in a Hand Basket
“In every American there is an air of incorrigible innocence, which seems to conceal a diabolical cunning.”
-A. E. Housman
No matter what crisis develops, you are at best, an “armchair survivalist”. The country you live in has so many layers of convenience, so many basic needs that are taken for granted, so many interconnected systems of daily living that we are dependent on, describing them all would take volumes. Suffice it to say that we are a land of luxurious, easy to use, hands free, soft touch product users. It has taken us about 80 years to reach this wonderful pinnacle of “runaway consumerism”. Our Internet is tied to our phones, which is tied to our banks. We can now use the cable company to watch television, use Internet, and phone lines, all on one bill. With even a moderate amount of money, and some online shopping, we now never have to leave our homes to survive.
Even though I grew up when the CD and computer were new, it is still a marvel to watch the new technological toys we are putting out every year. Our businesses are tied to elaborate wireless email and networking systems. Our cars now have built in DVD, GPS, and push button roadside service. Our boats have the ability to determine global location at all times. You can track your loved ones plane flight from gate to gate. Packages can be rerouted in transit, with a single text message.
America has, for all intents and purposes, made it as easy as it’s going to get. Congratulations red white and blue, you have done what all other nations have aspired to achieve! You’ve created a society of out-of-shape, lazy, Madden playing, pizza ordering, latte chugging, “text anywhere” zombies who at the first sign of trouble will probably just start chewing off their own arms for food.
Maybe I’m being too critical. Americans can deal with a crisis, as long as it’s small, and the inconvenience is short. Several years ago, in Boulder, Colorado I witnessed my first “true” power outage. The entire Western United States grid had gone down, and our software office had gone dark. It was the middle of a summer afternoon; the sun was still beaming through most of the windows.
Our office phones were dead, along with the Internet. Cell phones were up, for a while anyway. With the systems down our office manager didn’t know what to do with the employees, so we were given the rest of the afternoon off. I took a short walk down to the main drag where the highway ended and Main Street began. I watched, as cars in a large intersection didn’t know exactly what to do. The stoplights were out, and it was hard to tell who arrived at an intersection first, what with six lanes on each side. Some cars just went for it, some stayed longer than they should. Tempers were raised, and honking horns were frequent.
Bank employees just stood outside in the parking lot. The grocery stores were forced to let people abandon their carts while they escorted them out of the store. The aisles were too dark to see where to put back the items.
The city of 90,000+ was at a standstill, and it stayed that way for the next 4 hours. In less than an hour local police went to the busiest intersections within the city limits and directed traffic by hand. It had probably been a while since any of them had used their whistles, but they did a pretty good job.
Store managers stood in front of their shops and turned people away. Some simply locked their doors. Everything went fairly smoothly. I did see a few people try to enter the grocery store closest to me, each time the manager explaining that the cash registers couldn’t ring them up. Not that it mattered; the back of the store was pitch black.
Sometime later that afternoon the lights came back on, and everyone went back to what they were doing. In some ways it felt like a large fire drill. Everyone calmly walked outside, milled around quietly, and waited for it to be over. What makes this situation different from the nasty version that starts looting and puts human life at risk?
Most of the people in town didn’t know why the power went out.
It’s the unknown that gives people pause. It’s the mystery that forces people to stop and think about their decisions. Within an hour after the lights stopped working, people in their cars listening to radio stations still broadcasting found out the entire Western power grid was in the middle of a rolling blackout. There is still some debate on where exactly the breakdown occurred. The important thing was that the authorities didn’t tell anyone exactly what happened, or how long it would take to fix. It’s good policy. Never give the public information they could use against you.
To put it another way, if a teacher walks out of a classroom, the kids will have one impression. When that same teacher runs out of the classroom, and is then seen getting into their car and
driving away, the children then develop a very different attitude. Compare the West Coast grid failure, or any East Coast Blackout, with one where the reason is exposed immediately like the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake.
Watching CNN during the first few days after that particular California quake was surreal. There was some stunning video footage. Dark beauty as water mains gushed from the streets, fire burning in the middle of the water through an ignited gas main. I sat in mild shock as I watched Korean gun shop owners standing on the roof of their store, firing wildly at looters that came within 100 yards, the police nowhere in sight.
And then there were the shopping mall videos. In any modern structure, there are some backup systems when the power goes out. Hospitals have generators that can keep a surgical team going for a short duration. Many buildings have some sort of emergency lighting, and a few select ones have cameras with battery backups, catching everything that people do when they think they aren’t being watched.
The Northridge California earthquake proved something we all know, but rarely admit. For a great many of us, we do what we can get away with. Cameras caught the looting action as it unfolded. The earthquake hits, the lights go out. Within seconds, the inner hallways of the shopping malls erupted in chaos. People of all ages ransacked the shelves with greedy abandon. What surprised me wasn’t that they did it, but the speed at which everything escalated. The looting was immediate, reckless, and illogical. Electronics, shirts, shoes, alcohol, everything stripped from the stores except the basic necessities.
No one stole water or food. They stole cigarettes and alcohol. They didn’t steal batteries, they stole cell phones. Why?
Because the public was armed with very valuable information and then their short-term instincts took over. They knew eventually the city would get the power back on. The gas and water mains would be repaired, and sooner or later, the police would be able to protect the stores, just not right now. The looting masses knew that this crisis was limited to their part of California, and it wouldn’t last forever.
Food, water, anything that might help them in a real emergency was the furthest thing from their minds. The luxury items were the main target. Anything that was expensive or sellable was priority. These items were important because they knew the currency would still be valid when the lights came back on. The physical dollar would still have value because only part of California was affected. As long as the currency remains intact, there is a good chance that normal life will continue, provided of course that active food distribution lines exist.
The aftermath of Katrina showed us an even darker aspect of economic disruption. The earthquake was replaced with flooding, and again, the power was out for an extended period of time. The city population realized that the hurricane and large amounts of standing water caused the blackout, and looting began immediately. The same patterns started, but then evolved.
At first, the looting, like in Los Angeles, started with luxury items. Electronics, shoes, cigarettes, liquor, and firearms, were taken quickly. After a while, as the water didn’t subside, and there were no signs of National Guard, the basic items became much more attractive. Food, water, batteries, the things that could keep you alive, these replaced everything else.
Law enforcement officials were overwhelmed, and the water hindered their mobility. In LA, most of the streets were still drivable after the earthquake. In New Orleans, some of the streets had water higher than the roof of a truck. On foot, the police and sheriff’s department became fatigued quickly. A number of them just gave up and deserted their posts, or worse, they joined in with the looters.
Some of the authorities did have a plan. Before the winds had even died down, a local SWAT team had been dispatched to an outlying Sam’s club with orders to secure it for “local forces”. During a state of emergency, authorities have broad powers to take private supplies and buildings for their use. The storeowner was contacted and a list of all supplies taken was to be billed back to the New Orleans police department. This debt was eventually forgiven once the extent of the disaster was known. While some would condemn this law enforcement unit for what could potentially be branded as a “selfish act”, it hardly compares with a different division of the same police department, which was accused of breaking into a local Cadillac dealership and driving out of the city with 40 new cars while the city quickly filled up with water.
At night, gangs roamed the dark streets, creating anarchy wherever they went. During the day, the masses emptied the stores of anything and everything. It was a limited exercise in chaos management. What would a general population do if left on their own without outside help for an undetermined period of time?
The only thing that couldn’t be measured was the same population ‘without hope.” All the New Orleans residents who gathered around the superdome had some faith and were counting on aid. There was a small army of reporters on the scene who had flown in on helicopters. The news teams and camera crews constantly reminded the people that help was eventually coming. This and the fact that the cameras were recording many sections of the city probably helped save it.
What would happen to that same city if the reporters weren’t there, and the citizens knew that the National Guard wasn’t coming?
It’s the one thing in America we haven’t seen yet. What happens without help from the outside? Everything we have dealt with until now has been contained, been compartmentalized. An Earthquake happens in San Francisco, we send help. The Mississippi overflows and we send help. Like a giant immune system, we absorb and adjust. The question still remains: At what point are we stretched too thin, and can the American culture pull itself back from the brink?
To be sure, not all of America is vulnerable. For sake of argument, we’re going to leave out all the remote farming communities because they are remarkably self-sufficient. If you live in one of these very small agricultural groups, you still might be able to get something out of this, such as what the nearest large town closest to you might be going through, what random groups of cars might be thinking as they drive up your long country road, or more importantly, what kind
of essential goods you might be able to trade for, and where the nearest place to get them could be.
In a long-term environmental disaster, farms stand to lose more than others, depending on the situation. If the natural catastrophe in question were a comet, it would suggest that crops would have a hard time growing. If that’s the case, then livestock and perishables should be traded away as quickly as possible. A farm has a lot of assets going for it, though most would be short term.
If you happen to have a survival cabin somewhere in the North West states, such as Montana, Idaho, or the Eastern part of Washington, then you already know this drill, and quite frankly, have probably spent a huge amount of time preparing for the worst. You are therefore excluded from most of the chapters. Enjoy your powdered milk and cured meat sitting next to your propane or wood stove. I’m sure you’re very content.
The only other people I have to exclude is anyone currently living or about to move to Utah. For those of you who don’t know, “practicing Mormons” keep at least a year’s supply of food and water on hand for each member of their family. It’s a religious obligation. Sounds a bit strange I know, but from a “survival” standpoint, I can’t really argue the logic. With this in mind, and I can see some of you cringing already, if America starts collapsing in on itself, Utah will most likely be the last to go quietly into the night. It’s simple math. They already have an extra year’s supply of food right out of the gate, in non-rationed portions.
The rest of us live in a suburb, our own version of “Elm Street.” You have at least one strip mall close by and maybe a full size indoor shopping center down the road. There are fast food chains within a mile or two, and then the usual restaurants like Chili’s, Cracker Barrel, etc. Outside that
you have a bulk store like Sam’s Club or Costco, or both. The neighborhoods interconnect endlessly, and gas stations are plenty. You know the names of some of the neighbors on your street, the name of your children’s school, but probably couldn’t say who the mayor was.
Most of your bills are paid online, and most of your direct purchases are done by credit card, which by the way is carrying a balance most months. You have car payments, a mortgage (or two), and have either been divorced, separated, or are seeing a marriage counselor.
You have a 20% of being a smoker, and a 67% chance of being at least 20 pounds overweight (33% that it’s 50 pounds or more).
You could have some relatives in state, some out of state. You may have a pet, probably at least one dog, or a few cats. If your yard is big enough, it’s possible you plant a small garden when the weather is nice. You have a favorite restaurant or bar that you frequent.
Your office is 10-20 miles away. You either have a large cubicle or a smaller office with no windows. You work hard, but think you’re underpaid. This may, or may not be, your life.
What do all these things have to do with the scenario? In a major crisis all of these little details will affect your outcome in one way or another. These are the cards you have to play with. The
dealer now shows their hand.
Chapter 2: The cards you’ve been dealt
“He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened”
– Lao Tzu
You are at your office. The power has just gone out. Cell phones work, but you are having a hard time getting an outside line. You leave your cube, walk down the aisle, and look out the window. All the office buildings next to you are out as well.
If you are like many offices, upper management will assume that the outage is limited to a few blocks. They will wait a while to see if things come back on. The emergency lights in the bathrooms, as well as the plumbing, still work. Everyone at the office is bored, because all computers and phones are down. A few people try their laptops, but they can’t get out to the Internet.
Boredom turns to annoyance as an hour goes by. If it’s before lunch, management may wait another hour. If it’s after lunch, they probably just call it a day and send everyone home.
Traffic is a little slower on the drive back. Rush hour will be staggered because of the outage. All stoplights are down, and single police units direct the cars through busy intersections. You get home. The lights are of course, out, but the water is running. You have natural gas, but the power to run the furnace isn’t on. You have a wood stove, but only a few logs.
Your spouse isn’t home yet. Maybe he / she went to get the kids. The dog looks at you for attention. Another hour goes by. Your family arrives. The kids go upstairs to their rooms, which are lit through the windows by the afternoon sun. They try to entertain themselves using portable electronics. It wouldn’t have been their first choice, but at least it’s a distraction.
Two more hours go by, and you start to get curious.
There are no portable radios in the house, so you use the one in your car. Most of the stations aren’t broadcasting. The few that you do find are playing an endless loop of the emergency broadcast system. There are a few other people on the block doing the same thing. You tell your spouse. The kids overhear, but don’t understand. The dog still wants attention.
These are the cards you’ve been dealt. You have some decisions to make, and they can’t wait. Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. Follow the steps.
Step 1: Gain some confidence, right now.
Get yourself in the right frame of mind, and do it quickly. Don’t assume the worst, because it will eat you up. Try not to cover all your bases right away. Organize your priorities. As of right now you don’t have any appointments or meetings. You don’t have any flights to catch.
Your primary concern is the comfort and safety of your immediate family. They are looking to you for support, for reassurance, for guidance. Show confidence at all times. The old military posture still applies: For good or bad, be confident in your decisions. If the decision was wrong, then change direction, but do it with confidence. Nothing makes people lose faith quicker than watching their leader waiver when important things are on the line.
Confidence gives you strength. Confidence gives you the ability to do things without much question from others. Confidence allows you to walk the edge, or cross the line if needed. If you’re committed that it’s a good decision and you can confidently explain why, there is a solid chance that others will follow you, back you, and defend your ideas in your absence.
Step 2: Don’t rush.
In the long term, seconds aren’t going to make that much of a difference. Moving faster than normal gets the blood levels up, and teases the adrenalin factor. It also helps induce panic, and with it some bad decision-making. Don’t do it. Be brisk, but be calm. Keep the energy levels at a managed pace. Don’t drag anyone anywhere. Speak to your family in low tones, but be serious. Don’t yell. It doesn’t help. If your children don’t want to listen, try to explain what’s going on, but do it logically. “Just because I said so” probably won’t fly. Think of something else.
Step 3: Should you stay or should you go?
It’s a difficult choice, and you may or may not have to make it. Is there somewhere you would rather be? Do you have family members that live within driving distance, and by that I mean how far you can go with the gas that’s in your tank right now. If they aren’t within range, you’re not going. If you’re thinking of a round trip and you don’t think you’ll make it back, you’re not going. The only exception here is if you have a neighbor who you’re close with, someone you can borrow a vehicle from.
There is some breathing room here. If you have a pretty good idea that your tank will run dry within a few miles of your destination, and you have no intention of coming back, then discuss the plan with your spouse and make the call. Keep in mind your betrothed may want to go to his / her relatives house, or have them come to you. This needs to be decided first thing. The window for these options gets closed fairly quickly in the grand scheme of things. Deciding in the next few hours will make the situation a lot easier on you.
If you do decide to vacate your house, there are a few things you need to take care of. Assume that you won’t be coming back for a while. This means you should take everything that you might find useful. Leave a few lights on so that if the power comes back there will be light if needed, and contrary to what others may tell you, don’t lock anything. The average house is designed to deter crime, not prevent it. If your door is locked, and someone really wants to get in, they will just choose a window, or sliding glass door.
You’re not prepping your house for when you go to Europe. When you’re touring France, neighbors and friends back home don’t usually ransack your home looking for supplies. When these groups eventually figure out that it is vacant, they are coming in, locked door or not. If it’s unlocked, and you do return, at least you won’t come back to broken glass and shattered deadbolts.
Think carefully of other family members who might be in driving distance. Will they be trying to get to you? Do you have close friends with no family in the area who might look you up? If you answered “maybe” to the question, then play it safe and leave a few simple notes. One on the kitchen counter is good. If you want to give the neighbors a heads up, tape a quick one to the door. Something like:
Went to parents farm in Arlington,
451 East Maple Drive
Left May 14th
Jason, Carol, Timmy, Julie
The names may seem unnecessary, but it’s good to let people know who was in the group.
So go already. Load up the family and pets. If the pets aren’t that important, leave a back door open so they can come and go as they please. Animal’s survival instincts are honed a lot sharper than yours oh balding monkey. They also don’t have a conscious to deal with.
Good luck in your journey, and when you get there, read on!
Step 4: Taking stock.
At this point you’ve either decided to stay, or have already arrived at your destination. See? You’re making decisions already, and you haven’t even thought about eating people!
Seriously, you’re doing great. The next step is figuring out what you have, and in most cases, what you don’t have but need. This is probably the most time consuming part of the beginning,
but it doesn’t have to be full of anxiety. To make it easier, I’ve come up with a few easy to follow lists. These lists include a comprehensive set of “must haves”, “should haves”, and “why nots” that you should be at least thinking about prior to this day of reckoning. Before we get to that though, let’s see if there is anyone close by that can help you in acquiring the items on your list. It may be time to make peace with the lady who consistently lets her lab take a big dump on your lawn.
Chapter 3: Band of Neighbors
“True friends stab you in the front”
– Oscar Wilde
A survivalist in a suburban setting, is a strange paradox. On one hand, standard Rambo type doctrine preaches that the survivalist must be alone, because there is no one that can be trusted. They should live a solitary life, filled with religious discipline and sacrifice. They are a human fortress. They are a piece of metal. They are emotionally devoid of mercy and kindness.
I appreciate that the “true survivalist” is committed to their trade, much like a serious method actor. You are not this person. You are a social creature. After half a day sitting home alone you are climbing the drapes, looking for some interaction with the rest of the community. Then again, maybe you just play computer games all day long.
For you people who consider solitary confinement the ultimate torture, I will share a secret with you. The chances of you and your family living longer than the lone individual increases dramatically if you can get by with a little help from your friends. There is safety in numbers. You will find a better variety of skills with a group. A group has a collective mind, and if set on
a goal, can come with creative ways of accomplishing it.
But there’s a catch. You have to pick the right people, and after that, no one joins the club unless the entire group is in agreement. Trust is everything here. The wrong people join the group, and it can fall apart. I’ll use a friend of mine as an example. Her approach to the neighborhood group is a good model of what can be expected.
The neighborhood of Renaissance, Colorado
The power goes out, and right away it looks like it could be a long time before it, and order, is restored. A single mother in her late 30’s starts the chain. She only contacts people she can trust, and all of these people have a useful skill that can benefit the group. She looks up a contractor to improvise repairs when things break or are destroyed She finds a doctor to treat minor wounds, and assess major ones. She tracks down a good friend who is handy with firearms, because not everyone knows how to shoot. She contacts women who have a strong survival instinct. These are women who would fight to stay alive. No “girly girls” or useless “blob men” allowed. Everyone in this ensemble is motivated, and willing to do what it takes to weather the storm. Everyone chosen has something to bring to the table. In this situation, everyone’s got game.
They all meet at one house, and decide the best place to “hold up.” They decide to pool their resources and take shifts sleeping. Most importantly, they form a pact, and swear never to turn on each other, no matter how hungry, or how tired. Without this pact the group is vulnerable from within. There can be no “secret stashes” kept by anyone. To function as a single unit, everything has to be laid out on the table, right now. Any personal issues should be cleared up within 24 hours. They agree on a total of 8 people. This group could function as well with even 12 if needed. If members are added, and the social dynamics take a downward turn, then it needs to be changed, but done fairly.
They end up combining supplies from two houses that reside next to each other. They have battery powered 2 way camping radios, and use them frequently. At night, the groups are split evenly, in case of an emergency. Things work better than they had hoped. One of them gets an older power generator working, and another finds a way to hook it up to the direct TV. The doctor breaks into his own hospital and gets enough medical supplies to hold them for the duration. The gun enthusiast teaches everyone how to shoot with purpose.
The group decides against trading with other neighbors to increase inventory. It was a close vote, but in the end, the added risk of unwanted attention outweighed the additional supplies it generated. Their strategy is simple. Gather as many supplies as they could in the first few days of looting, then barricade themselves in their homes and keep a very low profile. Create the illusion that they are as desperate as anyone else. Giving the rest of the hungry community a small target is a solid plan. The neighborhood leaves them alone for the most part. Confidence is high that their friendship and wits will get them through this, and they may be right. It’s a good start. – – –
I’m not going to go so far and say something cheesy like “with friendship anything is possible”. It does help. I suppose a better saying is: People are sometimes at their best when things are at their worst. How I wish that were a consistent theme. There are a hundred things that could go wrong with the Renaissance group. There could be a hidden affair between couples. Someone with a criminal past could be exposed. There could be a psychological disorder that has been buried. There could be a unknown pregnancy.
There are also the routine survival problems. One couple is hording food for the kids; accusations of not giving their share, letting someone get hurt, etc. Any situation involving drama is possible, but then again, it could happen in a single family as well. The odds say that in the short term, the group scenario has some great advantages, both in resource gathering and protection. As supplies get thin, it can get more difficult. If the bonds of friendship are strong enough, the group has a chance of staying together to the bitter end, a great testament to the human spirit.
If you really want to be multiple steps ahead of the pack, then talk about this very scenario every few months over drinks during a neighborhood party. Feel the different people out, and see who would be up to the task. Make a mental note of whom you would choose, why you would choose
them.. Ask them about what they would do in a major crisis, and where would they go. As long as the topic doesn’t have a dark, brooding tone, your run of the mill neighbor will probably have an opinion on the subject. No need to be secretive, those not chosen will probably ignore this little “block conspiracy.” Even if they do remember, they will be in no position to take advantage of it. You will have the better numbers.
A little trick would be the “bar fight buddies” scenario. Imagine yourself walking into a strange bar far out of town with a small group of people. Suddenly, a mild misunderstanding turns into a full-blown fight, and everyone in your party is going to get roughed up. Who would you want to be there with you, and why? Try not to think about who throws the best punch, but who can handle the stress without being traumatized. After the fight, who tries to take charge and who comforts whom? Look past the action; see who the best under stress. This should help.
Chapter 4: The important things
“Fill what’s empty. Empty what’s full. Scratch where it itches”
-Alice Roosevelt Longworth
Over the years I have poured over many different survival lists for just about every disaster known. Aside for the ones that deal with different types of terrain, they share a lot of common threads.
We’re not going to touch different types of landscapes and what you might need for each one. You’re not in the mountains, or in a deep forest, or walking around in some high desert. You’re probably in an average wood framed two-bedroom house with an unfinished basement at the end of a cul-de-sac. If your surroundings are more urban, you might be in a condo or apartment building. If you’re a business traveler, you’re most likely in a hotel. The dynamics are still the same. It’s America, and there is a huge mish-mash of resources scattered for miles around. Some of these resources will be in your residence, and many will not.
There have been countless debates about the priority of “the survival list”. The top ten, the top 20, what resource counts more? To make it easy to read and understand, I will cover each topic and group it into one of three levels (Priority, what you need right now), (Secondary, quality of life items), and (optional / tradable, which covers just about everything else, including things that aren’t on my list, but could be on yours)
Each item or group of items will be given a detailed explanation and some will have examples. The hope here is to allow your mind to think of things as “resources” rather than items. Things that may not be of value to you may be in high demand by others. Each explanation will also cover where you can acquire the item in question, and when it might be available. Please keep in mind that in your environment, there will be many other people who will eventually want the same things you do. The difference here is that you will know exactly what you want before it happens, and you will have a very good idea of Where to get more before others do. Timing is important.
1. Water / consumable liquid: (Priority)
Yes it’s obvious. Yes, it’s critical. It’s number one with a big bullet. You’ve heard it mentioned in movies, television, and books. We’re made up mostly of water, and without it we won’t last long. It’s also taken for granted, and in many reported survival cases, overlooked early. Don’t just skim past this, there are some things you need to know about the most common element on the Earths surface.
The human body is basically just a large contained mass of water. All of our functions, from blood flow to digestion to neural activity, are encased in it. Water consumption is of course based on your weight, metabolism, and diet. Environment will also factor in to some degree. The basics remain the same.
You can only be away from water for about 72 hours, give or take. It is the one resource that is highly recommended not to be rationed. There have been many studies suggesting that drinking a normal amount and then running out is much easier on the body than cutting your drinking in
half, then half again. When it comes to water, it’s better to just pull the band-aid off quickly than to peel it slowly off your skin.
Water consumption is also affected by humidity. If you live in a really balmy environment, say, Florida, you will be breathing in water vapor as well as expelling it, so there is a little wiggle room. In an average urban environment, water is your prime concern. Everything else comes second.
The good news: Even if the power goes out state wide, a lot of water stations are tied into backup generators, and some even directly to the source, like a dam or power plant. These generators can keep things moving as long as the fuel holds out.
The bad news: Eventually, if the grid isn’t repaired, the water will stop, and you will have to get more.
There are two paths that need to be considered: Is the water still on, or has it stopped? If it’s still on, then that’s fantastic news for you. This gives you a chance to create reserves. Fill up every plastic and glass container you can think of with water and put a lid on it. If there’s no lid put some plastic wrap over the top. If you have containers in the garage, fill them up, and label them “do not drink”. These can still be used to run toilets if needed (See chapter X). If you have 2 bathtubs, put a rubber stopper in one and fill it up. If you don’t have a rubber stopper use anything to make it watertight. The bathtub water can be used for various things, but I wouldn’t necessarily use it for drinking or cooking, unless your tub is spotless. If you’re like me, it’s not often.
Once you have filled up everything you can think of, go back and see what you left out. Cups, sports bottles, empty soda or wine bottles. If there is a residue that excludes it from cooking or drinking, label it. Don’t forget your washing machine. It may be a bit awkward to get to, but it can hold quite a bit.
This is your base, your backup, and your insurance. If the tap is still running, then rotate water supplies slowly every few days. Water is life, and you now have a good supply. I’m not going to regurgitate all the other guides that want you to use the water tank at the back of your toilet or from your hot water heater. You’re not a caveman for Gods sake.
The taps still running, which means you can be liberal with other things. You can flush your toilet as usual. You can take cold showers. If you don’t like cold showers you can fill up your other tub half way with water, let it warm up a bit, then use a washcloth. You can wash dishes, pots, and pans in the kitchen sink.
Life in this area is just a notch or two below normal, until…
“Honey, there’s no water coming out of the faucet”.
You knew it was going to happen sooner or later. If the water was off when you got home, or just stops, or more than likely, the flow becomes weaker and weaker until it’s just a few drips, then you’re going to have to see what consumable liquids you have in the house, and then start planning on where to get some.
Search every cupboard, every cabinet. If it’s drinkable, it’s useful. Bottled juice, seltzer, and diet soda. It doesn’t matter if it tastes good; just find out how much you have. Chances are, it’s worth something. Some exceptions would be liquids that contain a large amount of salt, like spicy tomato juice or bloody Mary mix. It may taste good, but the added salt will increase the rate of dehydration.
Note: Alcoholic beverages have some water in it, but probably not enough to counteract the dehydrating effect of the alcohol itself. The only exception that you can pull off for a while is beer with its low alcohol content. A case of juice is worth a lot more than a case of beer.
Rationing: None. Don’t do it. Drink your normal amount on a daily basis and try to find more. Keeping your body running at regular levels is very important. Also, don’t eat anything if you have no water. You’re body needs water to digest food and it will only dehydrate you further.
Where to get more: There is an entire section dedicated to looting, so techniques on acquiring it, as well as keeping yourself safe is covered later. For the sake of the list, the “where” is almost entirely centered on locations close to your home. How you get in and what you might face is later. You will start forming these questions on your own as you work your way down the items.
Where: Numerous places, in many forms and in different levels of usage. One rule of thumb is that closer is better. This is because water is heavy. Surprisingly heavy. You’re made out of water, think of how heavy you are, cow. Now try carrying someone like you for a few blocks.
The water next door: No you can’t kill your neighbors, yet. Find out who’s not home, and by that I mean who’s left with a note on their door. Search the house the same way you searched yours. Organize your supplies in the afternoon. Carry them back at night.
You’re subdivision may have an artificial lake or pond. It’s probably not safe to drink, even if attempts are made to purify it. If you want to boil it or better yet, boil and save off the steam into another container, it may be ok. Water from a neighborhood pool is a little better. Water with chlorine isn’t supposed to be consumed regularly, but it will work in a pinch.
I mention these not-so-attractive options because they are closer than the nearest strip mall, convenience store, or gas station. For higher quality consumable water, you will need to explore these other locations.
The obvious choices: Grocery stores, bulk food stores, pharmacies, the corner gas station, convenience stores without gas. All these places will have pure water, consumable liquids, or both.
Secondary choices: Restaurants, Athletic clubs, office water coolers, commercial building vending machines, educational cafeterias.
Alternates: Collected rainwater. There is no real trick to this. Any plastic sheeting, tarp, even your gutters will work. Rainwater can be pretty clean, depending on where you live. All you have to do is hope for rain. If there is a concern about any contamination, it can be boiled, or partially purified by adding 4 drops of bleach per gallon.
2. Food (Priority)
Water may be life, but food is energy. Calories are literally units of heat. Food keeps your body warm, it drives your system, and it gives you the strength to endure in times of stress. Unlike water, the average human body can go without food for quite some time. Even a fit person with a small amount of body fat can survive for 30 days or more on just water.
Question: Does this mean that fat people will live longer during the apocalypse?
Answer: Unfortunately, Yes. I can’t tell you how much this upsets me. Overweight people have a pretty good chance at living longer than your fitness instructor neighbor!
However,
Like many things, there’s a catch. For those of you who are say, 50 pounds or more overweight, there is a flip side to this coin. If you have a large supply of water and no food, your body will start tapping those vast fat reserves of yours, and you will start to lose weight instead of dying, but your energy will drop dramatically, to less than 20% of their current levels. You will be colder, because there is nothing in your stomach to generate heat. You will have a constant headache, because your blood sugar will be at an all time low, and most of all, you’ll be really hungry. I mean really starving. Your thought process will be skewed and blurred. In short, you’ll survive, but suffer the entire time. You’ll look at everything and everyone and see food.
My only hope is that if you do outlive all your friends and get rescued by the government, you’ll be grateful enough and use the respect of your loved ones to have a salad every once in a while!
That being said, food needs to be gathered, counted, and estimated. Even 1000 calories a day can keep you around for a long time. Do the math, and figure out how long you can keep going with what’s in your house.
Eat all perishable foods first. These include fruits and vegetables, anything in your deli shelf, milk, anything that will expire in the next week. Then, eat everything in the freezer. Cook what you can, use a pan in the fireplace if you have to. Once these items expire, they are useless to you, so eat and overeat (the only time I will endorse this).
Have all perishables been eaten? Good. Now you can spread out your canned goods, the rice, flour, popcorn, oils, condiments, anything with calories counts, and the higher the better. Sweets too. I could break down the food into smaller groups, but eventually, it’s all going to be eaten.
The good news: Starvation fools the palette. Up until now, eating for most Americans has come down to: “What am I in the mood for”. There is so much cheap food in this country it just staggers other nations. There are many tasty varieties in unlimited supply; it’s no wonder we’ve been blowing up like balloons over the last 30 years. Maybe this “end of the world” situation is a good thing. Maybe a good chunk of the United States population will make it through this tribulation because we’ve neglected our bodies for so long.
When you get really hungry, just about anything tastes good, so if you want to have a bowl of rice with a mix of mayo and ketchup, it will do just nicely. Old candy? No problem. Your body will adjust and every meal you have will have the most vibrant flavors. This won’t apply to foods you already hate.
Try to mix fats and proteins and carbohydrates. Your body wants them. Mix the basics equally if you can. Try not to spend a week eating nothing but canned beets. You’re body will not be happy with you, and really, eating beets for a week is just weird.
Be a member of the clean plate club. Eat everything out of the can. If there is some packing water, see if you can cook with it. Lick everything clean as soon as you can. Don’t get caught going through the leftovers later.
Food requires water to digest. If you are going to finish off the last of the bread, be prepared to have a generous amount of water. If you don’t have the water, don’t eat until you find some. Salty foods require even more water. Look at both your water and food supply before you go to town.
Store your food in a cool dark place if possible. Heat tends to shorten the expiration date of anything, including canned food. I know the powers out and the only light is the sun through your living room window. You can sort them there; just move them into the shadows when you’re done.
Keep a list of your food. You should really keep a list of everything, but at least do this for food. This is done for two reasons. 1. You can do some math in your spare time, and figure out at length how long it will last you and your family. 2. You can see if any food is being consumed outside of your knowledge.
Put your empties in trash bags, just as you do now. No reason to change your patterns there. Keep the full bags in the garage if needed. They will be fairly light and will take a while before they pile up.
Rationing: Almost limitless. Your energy levels will be reduced the more you ration, but you can greatly extend your time by rationing.
Where to get more: Abandoned homes, Grocery stores, bulk food stores, pharmacies, the corner gas station, and convenience stores without gas.
Secondary choices: Restaurants, Athletic clubs, office water coolers, commercial building vending machines, educational cafeterias.
Alternates: Places you wouldn’t expect like arts and crafts stores, specialty shops that have chocolate. Any shop that you can remember that has candy at the front for the kids will work. Gift shops and novelty stores are good examples of these. The average office or cube drawer has a variety of snacks that should keep for at least a few weeks.
Note: Food manufacturing plants are a source of supplies, but will be covered under looting: What not to do.
Food footnote: A word on cannibalism
There is a nearly 100% chance that you will not become a cannibal during the apocalypse. You are a good person and don’t like to eat people. You do not have peer pressure from friends who
eat people. There is a lot of cheap flavorful food available in America, most of which tastes better than people. Also, in order to eat another person they have to be either dead or held hostage. One way or another, you have to start with murder or kidnapping. Things tend to go downhill from there. You are neither a heartless killer nor a terrorist. You are also not a vampire, and receive no mystical powers from consuming human flesh and drinking human blood.
That being said, human flesh is edible meat like any other mammal, and does contain a generous amount of calories that your body can digest. Gross right? You would never in a million years, no matter how much money, no matter what the situation, eat your friends. I agree, I would rather resort to suicide rather than eat another person. The human drive to survive is extremely strong, and can in some cases, override the dignity in taking ones own life, instead turning to an act that even now I can only describe as “barbaric”.
In most cases, an excruciating, drawn out physical hunger that blinds the palette and appetite, precedes the act of cannibalism. In these circumstances, people have been known to eat rotting food out of trashcans within one week. During the 900-day Siege of Leningrad (World War 2 Russia), people first turned on pets, birds, and rats. After this supply was exhausted, groups of starving Russians sought out lone individuals. These unlucky souls were then killed and summarily eaten. The city police had to form special units to deal with this problem.
The slippery slope from rats to people happens in a relatively short amount of time. A Rugby team crash-landed their plane in the Andes mountain range with no food, but they did have an unlimited supply of water in the form of snow. They remained there for 72 days. After several
weeks they realized the search parties weren’t coming. After a while longer, with no other resources, some turned to the frozen bodies of their dead teammates. It kept them alive long enough for the season to change. A small group then ventured out of the mountains to the nearest town. The movie based on the true story is called “Alive”.
Tips for eating people: Try to do it in a cold environment. Snow is especially good for preserving all meat. Cooked meat keeps longer than raw, and can be stored for a short amount of time. I don’t have any tips for curing human meat.
Question: If I do actually eat my neighbor, what will they taste like?
Answer: From documented reports, people taste almost identical to veal. Remember that the next time you’re at a restaurant.
3. Light Sources (Priority)
There are many survival guides that will tell you the third most important thing is either medicine or weaponry. I consider this to be utter crap. The third most important thing is a light source. You are in the dark. Without light you will be handicapped during the day, and crippled at night. You need to read labels, to read numbers, put things together, let alone see your family’s faces. Light is critical. Light is reassuring. We are drawn to it instinctually, and it makes us feel better to have it around. Light is great for morale, and morale is key during a time like this.
It’s why you have nightlights, streetlights, and hall lights. People don’t like the dark, the blackness. The darkness reminds us of the unknown, it feeds on our imagination, and not in a good way. Horror movies take place mostly at night. Where do monsters and bogeymen jump? The black of the shadows.
If the power goes out, there are several places in your own home that will very dimly lit, even during the middle of a sunny day. Interior bathrooms are normally dark, so are closets, basements, some entertainment rooms. Bigger houses have even more dim places. You need light when you search for supplies, no matter where you go.
And this is just during the day. At night, you will be totally dependent on artificial light.
So don’t let the lights go out. Even low light is better than no light. Today you’re in luck. While America is known for it’s ample food, it is also known for it’s plentiful array of portable light sources.
Light comes in many different forms, both bright and dim. Some are mobile. Some are not. Since some light sources are good trade material, we’ll look at each one individually and you can determine what value can be placed.
Flashlights
Portable. Powerful. Directional. There is a huge amount of high quality flashlights at reasonable prices, most of which use LED bulbs. LED’s, or “light emitting diodes”, are a heavy-duty solid-state bulb, which are technically classified as a low-level laser device. They never burn out, are practically indestructible, and draw much less power from the battery.
Because of this versatile technology, LED flashlights have exploded in recent years. There are basic lights, lamps, headgear, penlights, key chains, they’re everywhere! And they’re all good! Lucky you, it’s a great time to be alive in the world of portable light.
The only drawbacks to this kind of light, (you knew there were going to be some), are 1. The light emitted by an LED is more of a “moon light” rather than sun, so colors won’t be as true. 2. As mentioned above, LED’s are considered to be a laser device, and shouldn’t be used to look into people’s eyes, nor should they be looked directly into. Long-term exposure may be hazardous.
Everyone should have at least one good flashlight lying around. The more common the battery it needs, the better. One theme that will be stressed both here and in several other item descriptions is “common usage.” The majority rules, and you should follow it. This means that whatever most people use in their house, like the basic battery types, you should use as well.
When it comes to flashlights, the most common batteries are: D (Toys, radios), C (toys, radios) AA (remotes, small toys), AAA (thin remotes, very small toys, laser pointers)
Most people will have some or not all of these battery sizes. Pick one or more types and buy a good flashlight, either LED or standard
Where to get more: Hardware stores, pharmacies, grocery stores, convenience stores, Sporting goods, outdoor stores, ski shops, novelty stores, the sharper image, gadget stores, just about everywhere! Getting a flashlight shouldn’t be that hard.
Lanterns
A good second choice for light sources, and they also come in wide ranges, some for camping, and others for in house use.
For a long time, lanterns came in only one flavor, which was the oil and wick type of the 1800’s. Some of these are very collectable now. These shouldn’t be your first choice because of their mostly glass housing. If these tip over and break, well, then you’ve got the Chicago fire all over again.
Since the 1970’s, lanterns were also built to run off butane and propane. In the 80’s fluorescent bulbs were introduced. Now, we have LED lanterns added to the list.
A lantern’s main purpose is to have non-directional light for a wide area. This is good for just sitting around, going through inventory, and in some cases looking into dark places. The only drawback for a lantern is that the light shines everywhere, including into your eyes, which makes looking into distant dark places a challenge.
It also illuminates your face, so people can see who you are sometimes before you can see them. This can either be a good or a bad thing, depending on the situation.
Lanterns also have a wide base, so you don’t need to be holding it for maximum effect. Flashlights can be awkward if you need both hands. Lanterns are a good tool to fill this gap.
Where to get them: Your choices are pretty limited for this type of item. Camping and sporting goods stores are the first choice. Some bulk and general stores may carry them. The occasional specialty store that carries some random camping gear isn’t bad either.
A secondary source if needed is abandoned houses. Lucky for you, a great deal of Americans try camping at least once, and then store all the sleeping bags, tents, and lanterns, in the attic, garage, or basement.
Candles
Ah, candles, the most romantic of the survival items. It’s also the oldest type of lighting still around. The light is hypnotic, and nothing soothes the nerves quite like the light of a solid candle flame. The candle and all it’s variants have followed the human civilization through the centuries. If there is one thing you can say about the candle, is that it is universal.
They are a solid replacement for the lantern, last a lot longer, and many give off a pleasant scent that can help mask some of the unpleasant aroma of the apocalyptic world. The only real drawback to candles is the ones we always see in the movies or on television. The candle is a mobile open flame, which can ignite other materials. It also can be blown out without much effort. This is by design, but it can also work against you.
A candle should be your last resort if you are searching a dark area and need a mobile lighting device. Because your forward motion produces a relative wind, your speed is limited. No one gets to run away with a candle. It goes out, you trip and fall, and the masked serial killer gets you from behind with an axe.
Also, searching with an open flame can be hazardous: “Oh look! A gas main!” Queue explosion.
In America, good candles have gotten so trendy in the last 15 years that large stashes of them can be found in just about any decent sized town. They come in many different sizes, from tapered table to Giant five wick monstrosity living room candles that can burn for weeks. Chances are, you have candles tucked away in drawers that you don’t even know about. Go look!
Where to get more: Grocery stores, drug stores, department stores, general stores like target, wall mart, exotic furniture stores. There are even certain stores that sell nothing but candles!
Secondary choices: Abandoned houses should have a small supply of candles, whether it be dinner, table. Even birthday candles have some value!
Light sticks
This type of technology is only a few decades old, and in my opinion should be further along than what we have today, but any light is better than no light, and the light stick does have a few advantages that no other one has.
For those of you new to this light source: A light stick is a chemically created light encased in a clear flexible plastic tube. The tube is filled with one chemical. A second chemical is inside a small glass vial within the liquid. When you bend the plastic tube, the glass breaks, and the two chemicals mix like epoxy adhesive. Presto! Hours of low level, usable light.
They currently serve some specialized functions. One being they can be thrown into dark areas and stays lit no matter what. This can be helpful if you do not know how far down the rabbit hole goes, or even how deep a particular dark body of water is. They can also be hung off of items as markers. If storage is limited, a bag of these can be very handy.
I’ll admit, they science part is very cool. The drawbacks of the light stick are too many to consider it a primary light source. The light only lasts a short time, and is color skewed similar to the LED. The light isn’t very bright and would be difficult to read by. They stick itself isn’t rechargeable and has to be disposed of entirely.
However, having a few around isn’t a bad idea, and here’s why: Ease of use. Bend and shake. That’s it. No switches, no flame, no batteries.
Note: White should always be your first choice. Also, their chemical compounds break down over time. Treat them no different than batteries. Check the expiration dates and replace them every so often. The reaction in light sticks is temperature sensitive. The warmer you make the stick, the brighter it gets. This will diminish its glow time however.
Where to get more: Some camping stores, hardware stores.
Road flares
Standard issue road flares are more useful than you might think. Road flares have a limited range of environments. As a light source, they aren’t the best because of the dark red flame, which is deliberate as an emergency warning sign during traffic accidents.
They also can’t be used indoors because of the substantial smoke that is generated from the pyrotechnic compound burning. One exception to this would be in starting a fire in the fireplace. The smoke just goes up the chimney. As an ignition device it is pretty handy. 30 minutes or so of high temperature flame, which can be positioned by holding one end of the flare.
It is also the only flame-based device that can be waved back and forth safely if you wish to signal someone. You can also run with a flare if needed. Remember to hold the flare to the left or right of you while moving forward, to keep the smoke away from your face.
Road flares are also one of the only flame-based items, which need no ignition device. The top is like one giant match, and just needs to be rubbed briskly against something. This can be invaluable if water has drenched everything and you can’t get a dry fire started.
In a pinch, road flares can be used as a poor mans fuse. The flare burns uniformly at a steady rate. Attaching an item at some point on the flare will ensure that it will ignite. Keep in mind that the flare is bright, so if you are planning on using this as a timing device to “blow something up”, you may want to conceal it.
Note: Road flares shouldn’t be confused with “Marine” or underwater flares. Marine and underwater flares burn much hotter and give off a brighter light, sometimes being white rather than red. These flares create more smoke and if dropped in water, will keep burning. They can be extinguished by impacting them heavily onto a hard surface like cement, the hope being to knock off enough of a chunk of the burning tip that the underlying surface doesn’t catch. Road flares are not waterproof, and will go out if doused in water.
Where to get more them: Hardware stores, auto part stores, some general goods like target, Wal-Mart. Grocery stores with an automotive section, although some automotive sections are of
the light variety and only carry things like air fresheners and quarts of oil.
Marinas will carry marine flares. Specialty shops that deal with scuba supplies will also have marine flare and underwater flare devices.
Lighters / Matches:
In most cases this will be your last source of light. We take matches for granted. The self-striking match has been embedded in our culture, especially when it comes to the smoking population. Because of them the apocalypse will most likely never be without matches. Thank you smokers!
Who cares about matches? You do if you don’t have any lying around. This shouldn’t be a problem. Everyone has matches, or lighters, or both. Even if you don’t smoke you probably have candles, which by default need matches. Older model gas fireplaces and stoves need matches. Birthday candles need matches. Fireworks need matches!
So if you smoke, and this is the only time I will encourage you, good job! You’ve got this one covered!
Lighters and matches are basically short-term candles, and the same rules apply. Don’t go wandering around a big closet filled with fireworks with a box of matches. Don’t crawl down a badger hole with a lighter. These are bad ideas.
Where to get more: Grocery stores, drug stores, specialty stores, restaurants that still allow smoking, general stores, convenience stores, all gas stations and truck stops, most bars.
Secondary locations: Abandoned houses, abandoned factories, abandoned meeting places of every kind. Special bonus hiding place: office drawers. You’ve got a 1 in 5 chance of finding
some there. In the end of the world, those are good odds.
Note: Some matches will be more valuable than others, such as waterproof camping versions, or water resistant military version. The actual value may be off set by the huge abundance of lighters. Current estimates of lighters in America range from 50-200 million.
Still, even with the large numbers of lighters produced, it can’t hurt to several fire making materials. Pick up a few extra when you get a chance.
Vehicle headlights
The common automobile headlight is a paradox of sorts. It is by far the most powerful lighting device you own. It can light up a broad area for hours, it has a huge long life battery, and it recharges itself!
All that doesn’t do you much good while it sits inside a garage or out on the street. If you want to light up your basement, headlights aren’t going to help. Vehicles are mobile, which can give you some breathing room if needed. You have an outside project, which needs to be done at night. Using the headlights will be much more efficient than rigging up something with a lantern or series of flashlights.
Headlights are also great for security if the need arises. Criminals by nature tend to avoid bright light areas. Maybe a large beam of white light conjures up images of God exposing their sins. Nothing scares away intruders quite like high beams at short range. If you have a decent sized yard, the average vehicle can be moved into different positions facing the house, and can be used to illuminate areas that are next to a large glass door or window. Remember to run the engine every so often to keep the battery from running down. Low beams uses less energy than high beams, and will do the job just as well. High beams are good for illuminating large areas at some distance. Keeping your lights on is recommended if you are going to be using your vehicle for
sleeping. Intruders are less likely to approach a well-lit vehicle.
Tip: When sleeping in your car, set an alarm every two hours. You can use the lights without a running engine for the first two, then turn on the engine for the next two. Repeat as necessary. Your battery will stay charged. This is important in case you need to make a quick exit.
Fireplace
It’s unlikely, but there is a chance you don’t have any portable light sources at all. The fireplace will have to do. It can also supplement your light if you are low on batteries, candles, or other devices. If you haven’t used it in a while, make sure the check that the flue is open. If it’s not, the first few minutes of your fire will be filled with smoke and coughing. Using a fireplace screen is always recommended to reduce the chance of embers popping out and burning things close to the brick.
Fireplace Tips: You’re using your fireplace as much as possible. You’ve gone through the logs, and the lower branches on your trees, and your neighbor’s trees. You need something to burn! If it’s heat and light you need, and you absolutely have to have it, then you will have to turn to paper products first, then possibly furniture you don’t care about.
Look first to your recycle bin. It’s ok; the truck isn’t going to pick it up this week. Roll up the paper first. If you have rubber bands, you can make small paper or cardboard logs. If rubber bands are too small, try string or wire. Paper products will create more ash; so make sure to
clean the fireplace more often. Other paper products you can use: Catalogs, the yellow pages, and older books. I wouldn’t recommend burning the Bible, God hates that. Go through your closets, your basement, and your attic. Maybe you have a collection of National Geographic.
Note that if you have Pornography tucked away, chances are someone in your family is going to find it. Better burn that when they’re asleep.
After paper start looking at wooden shelving. Most of it is made of particleboard anyway. It should burn quite well. Try to stay away from plastics. They have the potential to create toxic smoke, and I don’t want to see anyone hurt. Do not under any circumstances try to burn old tires. Tires create a huge amount of black smoke, they don’t fit well in the fireplace, and they are difficult to extinguish. Burning a tire in the street as a distraction is ok, and would give you a real good idea of what it could do in your living room.
Generators
This fits into the light source category more than others, mostly because anyone that fires up a generator will probably try to get some electric lights working first.
Pros: The obvious. You have light again. You have power again. At the very least you can plug in multiple electrical items, like a freezer, a microwave, floodlights, power tools, air compressors, etc. In a best-case scenario, you could have your generator hardwired to a fuse box, and if there were enough power, you’d hardly even know the lights went out in the first place. The power is yours, but how long can you hold onto it?
Cons: Generators use fuel, which is limited. How long you can use it depends on the fuel supply on hand, and what you can acquire. Generators can be noisy, and in a very quiet neighborhood, absent of all the white noise that used to drown out something like a generator, you will stick out like a sore thumb.
Drawing attention to your house isn’t exactly a good thing in a tense situation. People covet, people envy. Your neighbors want what you have and they don’t. Generators have to be placed in well-ventilated areas, which usually means they are outside. They are also fairly light. Two people can walk at a good pace carrying a generator. They can be disconnected easily. These things mean that yours will be outside, making noise, and giving you light, which also draw attention. Potential predators can see this from literally a mile away.
This isn’t to scare you or make you paranoid; it’s just the facts. Anyone with a generator has to acknowledge that it is a target of theft, or maybe worse. A smart thief will know that anyone who prepared enough to have light and power will also have other things, and now this motor running outside your house is covering the sound of their footsteps.
Where to get more: Hardware stores, some camping store, some bulk stores.
4. Batteries (Priority)
Like ammunition, batteries could be lumped with their main flashlight counterparts. What makes them different is that batteries have multiple devices that can be used. This item listing was created to define types, brands and potential devices, as well as the best place to find them.
Top 2 things you will be using batteries for: 1. Flashlights. 2. Portable radios.
Batteries equal light, and as discussed above, light will be a hot commodity, one that can be bartered for. Batteries are based on metal and dense chemicals, so they are heavier than other supplies. Keep this in mind before throwing a couple hundred D cells into a large container. Try
picking that box up quickly without using your legs.
Batteries hold a charge for a limited time. The technology has gotten better, and right now the average lifespan of a good battery is about 6 or 7 years. In some cases a high-powered battery can go a year or two past that. Battery type means everything when it comes to lifespan. The more power the battery claims to have, the better it is. Your lights will be brighter, and your radio will last longer.
Brand names count for a lot when it comes to batteries. You get what you pay for. This isn’t like knockoff designer jeans where a fake can look almost like the real thing. Look for batteries by name. The two brands that quickly come to mind are Duracell and Energizer. Both are outstanding, and in blind taste tests, really can’t be told apart from one another. Everything else is a distant cousin, such as generic Eveready, ray-o-vac, and Kodak brands.
Many electronic manuals will tell you not to mix high power with low power batteries. While this is true in the civilized “why doesn’t my DVD remote work from the kitchen” world, it doesn’t hold water now. Mix away. You can even combine dead batteries with live ones in a pinch. You will get lower performance, but it’s better than nothing at all.
Batteries seem to get cheaper every year, and bulk packs are everywhere. Having some spares in the basic four flavors is recommended. The most popular being D, C, AA, and AAA.
Tip: Battery testers can be found in a variety of places now, and can really be handy in an emergency situation. They usually run about $15 and can tell you if a battery is holding high, medium and low power. The testers run off of calculator batteries, which are quite common as well. In a trading post scenario, they are essential, because the average person can’t tell good from bad when it comes to batteries, unless you were thinking of having a series of flashlights, and can judge based on the light output how valuable the battery really is.
Where to get more: Look around your house first. You will have some of what you need. Most of your remotes will use either AA or AAA. Large toys will use D and C. Small toys will use AA and AAA. Adult toys will use either AA or C.
Secondary choices: Grocery stores, Hardware stores, pharmacies, general store, bulk food outlets, electronics stores, toy stores, any place that sells any electronic devices will carry a supply of batteries.
5. Receive only radio (Priority)
What’s going on in the world? Don’t you wish that, somehow, you knew the answer to that question? World events don’t mean much to you right now. You’re sitting comfortably on your plush sectional, flipping between stations on your digital cable, knowing with reassurance that at any time you can go to one of 50 different channels dedicated to the freshest and most interesting stories. You literally have news on tap, 24 hours a day.
And what if you don’t have access to the TV right now? Maybe you’re family is hogging the remotes, pouring over entertainment delights. You still have the high speed Internet, with millions of different pages, telling you within seconds what’s going on in every part of the globe.
If and when the power goes out, all that changes. Some of you may have already experienced this once or twice in your life. In those situations a radio or portable television is your only lifeline to the outside world. This is the information that could affect your course of actions. People will crave it more than the season finale of American idol. It is the one constant source of hope. You must find the signal, the message that lets you know the government is coming to help, keeps people going, keeps people motivated, and most importantly, helps keep people from turning on each other.
This is the one item that you won’t have to worry about. If you don’t want to spend any effort, money or thought on a radio, then you don’t have to. There is a 95% chance you already have one, specially built with a rechargeable battery, multiple bands and preset stations. Heck, it’s even got heated seats! Yes, your car / truck radio is the easiest choice to find out what you want, when you want. Just get in, hit scan, and keep one ear glued to the dash.
The drawbacks for this convenience are glaring. You’re now in your car, and not in your home. Cars can be vulnerable, especially if they are parked in the street. All vehicles have the ability to
run the radio from inside the garage. This will be a relatively safe place to listen to world events. Remember to charge the battery by running the engine every so often. The radio doesn’t draw much power off of a large car battery. Running the car for 20 minutes once a week should be fine to keep the energy level high.
Again, if you run the engine in the garage make sure that either the garage door is open, or you leave the garage while it’s running. The carbon monoxide that a car exhaust creates tricks the brain into “not panicking” when your body starts to run out of oxygen. In short, you would just go to sleep and never wake up. It’s estimated that around 1800 people a year, mostly intoxicated, accidentally fall asleep when they return home to their garage, with tragic results.
A car is the easiest of all radio solutions, but it is far from optimum. There are hundreds of different portable radio devices, some designed specifically for survival situations. The best radios cover frequencies other than the basic AM and FM. If you get a chance, pick one up that can deliver basic television audio as well.
Portable radios extend their battery time by using a small earpiece instead of a speaker. Ipod type headphones also work well with portable radio jacks. Having a few different radios gives better coverage when scanning all frequencies. They also come in handy if you are looking for something constructive your children can be involved with. A radio is after all, media based, and your kids will be anxious to hear about what’s going on as much as you.
If you have the extra money, picking up a digital radio with auto scan (similar to scan in your car) is worth the extra effort. Scan means more hands free time that you could spend doing other things. Very helpful if you’re alone, or when everyone else is asleep.
Where to get more: Electronics stores, general stores, bulk stores, camping stores, hardware.
Secondary locations: – Office buildings (most will not have batteries inside), Abandoned homes, look for small radios such as I pods or older Walkman types.
6. Fire Extinguisher: (Priority)
This device is constantly overlooked, but in an emergency situation it’s potentially a lifesaver. If you still have water pressure during a fire, then using water to extinguish flames isn’t a big deal. If the water is off however, the last thing you want to do is use up your remaining water supply to fight a fire. Chemical fire extinguishers can put out the flames without any liquid, saving you resources. If the fire spreads too quickly and you’re pretty sure that you won’t be able to contain it, then move what supplies you can out of the house, because there won’t be any fire engine sirens in the distance.
Fire Extinguishers can also be used as a non-lethal weapon in a desperate situation. Pointed at the face, it can temporarily blind or disorient the attacker. Note that it isn’t tear gas, and after the person takes a few moments to clear their eyes, they will most likely be even more enraged, so hit them with an iron skillet or get the hell out of there!
The supply items mentioned so far are essential, and if you have a decent amount of all of them, you can keep going for weeks, months, or more until help arrives. Congratulations, you get to live longer than your neighbors! Now it’s time to look at items that add to the quality of life.
Chapter 5: One mans trash
“Wealth is the slave of a wise man. The master of a fool”
– Seneca
Once the priority items are taken care of, you need to look past just “living” and see how close you can get back to “normality”. It’s never going to be exactly the way it was, but with a little creative thinking, and some luck, you may be able to forge a comfortable niche for yourself. This is relative contentment. All the items in this next section fit this bill in some fashion. Again, these are not listed in any particular order, because the level of importance will depend on the group or individual. For example, first aid has been burned into our brains since childhood of being a necessity, and it can be, for small pain relief or minor injuries. A first aid kit is going to do little against a deep cut, let alone a bullet wound. It does however offer some psychological comfort and reassurance that someone can be helped if injured.
Others who are very “bathroom conscious” may see a portable toilet as holding a higher rank than say, a power inverter. After all the “creature comforts” come the vices, which again, depending on the individual, may be ranked number one. This is due mostly to the huge psychological impact of their addiction to the substance, for it provides distraction and comfort in real life. In a crisis situation like this, the level of comfort will be magnified many times, distorting the decision making process.
Cigarettes for example, slightly dull certain pain centers of the brain. Alcohol can repress short-term memory, judgment, and make pressing matters seem rather trivial. Prescription painkillers can alter reality to where the individual has forgotten their current situation entirely. As illogical as it seems to be taking these substances in a crisis situation, their value is considerably high, especially for those who have lost hope.
A word on Recreational Vehicles
For the suburban “armchair survivalist”, this represents the ultimate in apocalyptic luxury living. This was going to be a miscellaneous item, but it covers so many needs, both primary and secondary, that it’s considerable value in a crisis situation needs to be addressed.
The “RV” has evolved over the decades from a meager bed and chair to what now resembles a “rolling house”, fully equipped with multiple bathrooms, very comfortable seating and sleeping quarters, kitchen, and a myriad of electronics.
If you have one of these vehicles, or know a good friend close by who has one, consider this the primary living quarters for the duration. The recreational vehicle has several advantages over a house during an “end of the world situation.
Built in power conversion: All late model RVs have an advanced power grid, which converts electricity from its petroleum engine to regular current. Everything you need is already hard wired into the bus. As long as the engine has fuel, everything will function like it does in “normal” life. This is what the RV was designed to do, create a home like environment in places where there is no power and plumbing.
The metal home: Except for the fuel supply, RV’s are much more resistant to extremes than homes. They are designed to hold up well against wind, rain, and heat. They are also made of metal, which means the chances of an exterior fire breaking out are reduced.
Advanced information: In addition to the standard radio frequencies, many RVs have communication bands. Higher end models may even have a direct television dish, which can run if a neighborhood power grid is disabled. This will give the RV owner visual news that other homeowners will not have access to.
Hot meal ready: Mobile homes like the one pictured above have a self contained cooking facility which will run one either electricity or gas. Meals can be cooked at leisure. If the gas runs out, the on board microwave can be a suitable substitute.
Extended lifespan: It is true that RVs get terrible gas mileage, and the fuel can be used up quickly if there is no place to refill. If the vehicle is running the engine without moving, the fuel will be consumed at a much slower rate. An RV tank is generally many times larger than that of a common car. This will provide power over a long period of time if rationed wisely.
Mobility: In the event of an added emergency, like a fire, earthquake, or flood, the RV can be moved to a safer location. This can be very convenient if a neighborhood is located with better protection than your own.
Entertainment: A minor benefit in a crisis situation, but always good for morale. The RV’s entertainment systems, be it music, DVD, or video games, are still functional as long as the battery and engine have power. These things can significantly lower stress levels of yourself and your family.
Note: RVs are not bulletproof. Their metal skin can slow down and sometimes deflect small caliber ammunition, but it will not protect you against larger caliber rifle rounds.
First Aid (Optional, but important)
You’re out of your element, out of your routine. You and your family will be doing things inside the house they don’t normally do. Lifting, pulling, dragging, sorting, opening, filling, all the while in environments that are different than what they are used to. Mistakes will be made. Someone will drop something, run into something, or more likely, something will run into him or her.
Cuts, bumps, bruises are all part of the game. A first aid kid helps not only physically, but also psychologically. A band-aid does wonders for the soul, especially in children. Now if they could only package a kiss to make it better.
First aid kits vary in size from the pocket version to a full blown med kit, which can treat moderate wounds. Pick up a few, one for the home, and one for the car. Good ones include multiple size bandages, gauze, some aspirin, alcohol pads, and maybe a few lower end surgical tools.
Where to get more: First aid kids are limited in general population. General stores, camping stores, anything dealing with the outdoors.
Secondary choices: Most companies, regardless of size and type, will have at least one first aid kid on the premises.
Light Pharmaceuticals (Optional)
Never underestimate the power of low-grade painkillers. They take them for headaches, backaches, stomachaches, arthritis, joint inflammation, and sometimes even stress. Speaking of stress, did I mention that you are involved in what could quite possibly be the end of civilization as we know it? Something tells me that the over the counter painkillers are going to be a popular item.
Brand names will matter at first, but will lose their preference over time. Start out with the well known. Tylenol, Excedrin, and all their variants. Aspirin will never go out of style. Antihistamines, allergy relief, stomach relief, anything you can remember seeing a commercial for has value in this bizarre reality you now live in.
Where to get more: The usual suspects, grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, general stores, gas stations. Should be easy to find in generous quantities.
Power inverter (Optional)
For those of you who haven’t seen these, they are a great substitute for a full-blown generator, and here’s why: The power inverter plugs into the cigarette lighter of your vehicle and coverts it so that you can plug in regular household items. The premise is that your car / truck already has the engine to generate the juice; all you need is the adapter. They cost about 1/4 the price of a generator, and weigh about the same as a laptop computer. I can’t say enough about this option. If you want quick power, without worrying about theft, this may be for you.
Let’s look at it a little closer. Say you need to use a power saw to cut or build something critical next to, or in your home. You just start the car in the garage (garage door open), hook up an extension cord, hit the car alarm and away you go. If you have to go some distance, you just get in the car and drive there. Generators need 2 people to carry it easily. Best of all, you can use the power even if the car isn’t running. Be careful though. Once your car battery is drained, you will need to jump it from another vehicle.
Where to get more: Very limited supplies. Specialty camping stores, RV dealerships, some boat dealerships. Your best bet is online.
Secondary locations: None. You’re best bet when the power goes out is to steal the whole RV or large boat, because they have them built in!
Water purification tablets (Optional)
Water purification tablets are small aspirin size tabs that can be added to a suspicious water source, killing most of the harmful germs that can lead to some intestinal problems. The value of these won’t be high during the first week. Most bottled water and confirmed safe water will be used up first. After that will be rainwater. This should be purified just to be safe. Drinking your rainwater today might be completely harmless. A few weeks after a crisis situation, without accurate news to tell you of potential contaminants, can produce problems.
Purification tablets are a good trading item. Everyone will want piece of mind when it comes to drinking water. It’s a safe bet that if you stock up on these, they won’t go to waste.
Where to get more: Very limited supply. Camping stores, hardware stores, and some general stores.
Substitutions: 4 drops of generic laundry bleach per gallon of water, mix well. Boiling water can help in a pinch. In a perfect world, everyone would own an old type still, used to make moonshine. This still can make purified water (with a heat source to boil), hence the term, distilled water. Distilled water creates no residue when it dries, because the particles are too heavy to be carried with the water vapor that is created.
Sleeping bags (Optional)
Bedding in America is plentiful. Sleeping bags fall somewhere in between optional and priority, especially with families. We learn as both children and parents that when things get scary, the family likes to sleep in the same room, most commonly the parent’s bedroom.
This instinct will be even more prominent in a long-term power outage. A good place for the entire family to sleep could be the bedroom, but more likely it will be a living or family room, wherever the fireplace is. People sleep around campfires, and the light from inside the fireplace will have the same mental effect. It’s light, it’s heat, and it’s reassuring.
Sleeping bags have different temperature ratings; so pick one that is suitable for your climate. Most homes without heat will drop to near outside temperatures within a few days, regardless of the type of windows. An active fireplace will help, but if it’s 55 degrees outside, expect 59-60 inside.
Sleeping bags are also portable. They can easily be moved from one house to another, or from a house to a refugee center. Bags that can withstand lower temperatures will be thicker and heavier to carry. Keep that in mind if you plan to travel anywhere on foot.
Where to get more: Limited locations. Camping stores, some bulk stores, some general stores. Secondary locations: Abandoned homes
Substitutions – Bedding from existing sleeping quarters, extra blankets lying around.
Tip – If you use existing bedding, don’t bring everyone’s mattress into the living room. It will make it difficult to walk around during the day. Try to treat this area like a camping situation.
Tents (not recommended)
Tents always seem to pop up in survival documents. I agree they have usefulness, if you’re in the woods or other environment without pre-built structures. This isn’t that place. You’re an average American. You’ve most likely been camping what, once or twice in your life? No need to start going down that road now. Tents provide no protection in a suburban environment. I don’t even recommend them if your house has a big hole in the ceiling and it’s raining on you. You simply can’t see enough once you’re inside. With the front flap closed you are blind.
If you’re huddled on the side of a mountain, hoping the reach the summit in a few days, then great, a tent is just what you need. I still think you’re a little nutty for going up the mountain in the first place, but then again, I can’t understand ice climbers either.
Gasoline (Optional)
I’ve had a few people ask me if I was going to add this to the list. I had mixed feelings about it. It is by far and away the most important resource from an economic standpoint. Gasoline is a strange product, almost ethereal in a way. It isn’t electricity, but it can generate it if needed. It’s not a battery, but it can charge one. It can be both used to make medicine and weaponry.
It is the sole reason our civilization, especially the United States, has achieved so much growth over the last 100 years. In a severe crisis situation, it will probably be consumed so quickly, be used up at such an alarming rate, that within a few weeks, only very small pockets will exist in an average American city.
But then again, maybe the decrease in supply will be slower, more methodical. It all depends on what the average Joe does. As mentioned earlier, you will either stay or leave your current location in favor of one that gives you a better chance. If you go, the fuel in your car, which is the only fuel you have on hand, gets used during the drive. If you stay, you will have anywhere between 1 to 20 gallons of gasoline sitting in your vehicles tank.
Other than power generators, which will be few and far between, this gas, will be used to power your vehicle. It can be transferred to another car via a siphon (hose). It can also be stolen using the same siphon (see looting). Cars mean mobility, and this mobility has value. Gas can be stored in a car without any problems for 6 months or so. By then there will be a lot of siphoning going on. I’m still trying to work out the potential logistics because there is a real unknown factor to be considered. Where would you go if you had a full tank of gas? If family were more than a tank away, then it would have to be local. There is no work commute. You aren’t dropping the kids off at school. Most looting is done on foot, unless you have a group to do it with.
Gasoline is the unknown factor in the grand equation. There will be a large supply available, but
it will be broken up into hundred and thousands of smaller supply groups. If a trading post could be established, gasoline would still be the most sought after resource. People would trade things for gasoline, and fill their vehicle. They would then have options and the freedom to go places. They wouldn’t have direction though. I suppose they would be trading for the mobility option alone. In case they needed to take off, they could. There will be some people who will create Molotov cocktails (glass bottles filled with gasoline, a small piece of burning cloth attached to the bottle) they have very few practical uses in an apocalyptic situation.
Where to get more: Gas stations (good luck getting that with a siphon), marinas, private airfields, any abandoned car, truck, boat, or plane.
Tip: Airplane fuel is a higher octane and shouldn’t be used in car engines if possible. In a pinch it can be mixed with regular gasoline. Your engine will run hotter, and should not be used to tow objects or climb steep hills during that time.
Tip: Larger trucks run on diesel fuel, which will not work in regular gasoline engines. Diesel fuel smells much different than gasoline. It is still valuable for larger vehicles.
Gas Siphon (Optional)
Gas Siphons haven’t changed much over the years. In the old days, and by that I mean ever since the car was invented, people used a short length of hose to siphon gas from vehicles. All you need is suction (usually human powered) to get the gas flowing, and then you could run it into a container outside the car.
The unpleasant drawback is that the person doing the sucking is going to get a mouthful of gas when it first clears the tube, no matter what. No one tells you that part; sort of like the person getting CPR has a 90% chance of throwing up in the mouth of the person resuscitating them. Gross. Gasoline won’t kill you, even if you swallow it. I don’t recommend drinking it. It tastes terrible, much like a bad moonshine! Gas Siphons are built with a small hand pump, which does the sucking for you. If you don’t own one already, and you think you will be using or trading gas, you may want to invest the 20 bucks. If not? Get a short piece of garden hose and get ready to start sucking.
Tip: Do not think you came up with a clever idea and use a wet / dry vacuum to start the suction process out of the car. The vacuum does suck liquids, but it also runs on a motor. The motor has internal sparks. The gasoline vapor may catch fire, burning up the dry vacuum and spreading to the car.
Where to get more: Auto parts store.
Gas cans (optional)
This was going to be included with the siphon, but there are some important tips here that should be mentioned separately.
Tips: Proper gas cans will either be heavy RED plastic or metal in nature. Look carefully at the container to see if it has warnings about storing gasoline. If it does, you CANNOT use it to hold fuel for extended periods of time. Here’s why: Petroleum is one of the major ingredients in most
plastics. Because of this, it has a tendency to break down and dissolve lower level plastic containers. Tupperware will not work. Milk or water jugs will buckle and burst. You should only used “marked” gasoline containers.
Where to get more: Auto parts stores, some general stores, any store with an automotive section. Gas stations will have a limited supply of mostly 2-3 gallon containers.
Substitutions – Any metal container with a small top opening. I do not recommend large 5-gallon metal paint containers because they have such a large top lid.
Cash (Optional)
Even in the late 1970’s, cash was one of the top ten things to include in a survival pack. Today, it’s value declines to almost nothing within 72 hours.
Here’s why: Most stores, no matter what type, run on advanced electronic registers. They use laser bar code scanners and registers that calculate tax automatically. When the power goes out, the stores will be crippled. A Mom and Pop shop may run manual calculators and take cash. The problem is that no one will have it. People rarely carry any substantial amount of physical currency. Credit cards are the rule of the day. The ATM machines need power to run.
I still don’t keep any cash lying around. I do this because the grocery store, pharmacy and gas station within walking distance will just shut down in the event of a power loss. Everyone will just wait. The only situation I can think of where money might be helpful is using the cash to bribe someone who 1. Works at a place that has something I need, and 2. Is dumb enough to take it, not knowing that within a week, food and water will be the new currency.
If you doubt this, and some will, try this exercise. Imagine you had $500 in 20 dollar bills tucked away in a shoebox. Try to spend all of it in the first 72 hours of a long-term power outage. Then try to spend the rest of it a week later.
Where to get more: Just find a cash register, and open it. Banks are good too. If I see someone actually looting a bank a week or two in, I’m going to ask them what exactly are their long-term
plans. Chances are they won’t have any.
Extra clean clothes (optional)
All your disaster movies seem to have the heroes looking dirty and tattered after a short time. Real life news stories seem to mimic this in different ways. The point is people get grubby in a hurry. The world is full of dirt and grime. Your everyday clothes are vulnerable. They can get wet; suffer smoke damage, and get covered with mud. Don’t let the end of civilization stop you from looking your best!
That’s not just shallow advice. People feel better when they’re clean, except for maybe football linemen, mud wrestlers and bikers. Keeping a few changes of clothes in a sealed plastic container is always a good idea during situations like this. You’ve just been running away from zombies for the last 2 hours, you stink! How do you think you’re self esteem is going to hold up when you try to hold your son or daughter and they say, “Mommy, you smell like ass”.
Even a few outfits, something simple like jeans and a t-shirt (always a good apocalyptic classic), some socks, underwear, would be enough. Put them in a garbage bag; store them in a box or high shelf of a closet.
Where to get more: All clothing stores.
Secondary choices – Abandoned houses will have lots of extra clothing, although you may end up wearing a God awful Hawaiian Muumuu or a t-shirt that says something like “I’m with stupid”, which is oddly appropriate now. I think entire families should wear those shirts, would be a great gag.
Backpack (Optional)
You may need to make a quick exit. A backpack is just common sense. You only have two arms, and that Batman style utility belt isn’t going to hold everything and the kitchen sink.
Lots of kids carry backpacks now, from primary on up through college. Go take theirs. It’s not like they were learning anything.
Tip: When loading a backpack, try to keep the heavy items at the bottom, and things you need to get to quickly towards the top. A weapon doesn’t do you much good if you’re doing that whole back scratching movement, flailing to find something you can’t see.
Where to get more: Camping and outdoor stores, some general stores, some bulk stores.
Toilet water (Optional)
Remember that toilets work on gravity. They don’t need incoming water to function. Without running water they will need to be filled up. It may seem like a luxury, until you’re copping a squat in a bucket. Do what you can to keep the toilet working. Trust me, it’s the little things that matter.
The good news: You can use just about any liquid to fill the back of the toilet. Pond water, stream water, rain water, you name it. Just get a container and fill it from time to time. I know it’s heavy, but you’re motivated.
Tip: If there is a large supply of pond water, get it during the day, and let your neighbors know what you’re up to. They may follow your example, and their houses will smell a bit better too.
Tip: Conserving water is a good idea, but don’t wait too long to flush. Your mood will already be bad enough without having to flush an apocalyptic toilet. Ick.
Where to get more: Any place that has a generous amount of non-potable (not drinkable) water.
Toilet paper (Optional?)
Logic dictates that you should be eating less as food resources start getting scarce, but you will need to use the lieu from time to time.
Someone once wrote: “the apocalypse doesn’t officially start until the toilet paper runs out”. I love that quote. It’s meaning is simple: We take for granted the little conveniences that make our lives easier, and when these things are removed, it just pisses us off. Toilet paper is one of these. We use it every day for various tasks. We fight over who left the empty roll on the holder. We laugh as the cat discovers that it spins! We watch Seinfeld as Elaine asks if she can spare a square.
You’ve just run out, oh crap! There are no easy answers here. You either have it or you don’t. Ration out your squares people!
Where to get more: General store, grocery, pharmacies, bulk stores, some convenience. Secondary locations: Abandoned homes, any abandoned building with a bathroom. Substitutes:
Sub 1 – Kleenex type tissue. This type of tissue is softer than toilet paper, but doesn’t dissolve well in septic systems. You are now free and clear to use these at will.
Sub 2 – Paper napkins / Paper towels. Depending on the type and brand, tend to be rougher than normal TP. They also don’t dissolve well in sewer systems.
Sub 3 – Any other regular paper product from newspaper to copy machine stacks. Brace yourself. If you are the tender backside type, it is going to be an eye opening experience. The good side is that you will never complain about generic toilet paper again.
Advanced tip: If you absolutely cannot find any paper products, you can use small squares of
cloth, but don’t flush them down the toilet. They tend to jam up pipes quickly. Treat them like dog poop in a city. Put it in a small bag and tie it off. After a while you may think about burying or burning it.
Sponges (Optional)
After a few days of not taking a shower, you’re going to start getting pretty gamy. A few days after that and your dog is going to think about rolling in you. Do yourself and the people around you a favor, and wash up. What? No running water? No problem! This is a very old trick taken from the healthcare community. Sponge baths! Bucket of water, some soap, and of course, a sponge.
Go into the bathroom with maybe a candle, preferably scented, and scrub yourself down. This may even be fun with a spouse involved, or maybe not. Get the kids washed up too. You don’t want them catching anything. Just about any sponge will do, big ones hold the most water. You can also use them to get water on top of your head. It’s soothing, relaxing, and gives you a chance to unwind a bit. Yes you are vulnerable while partially or completely naked. If you’re worried about a break in, consider that the least amount of crime occurs at sunrise and sunset.
.Where to get more: General stores, some convenience stores, some bulk stores, any place that sells cleaning supplies.
Secondary locations: Abandoned homes (Make sure to rinse out any sponges that smell like cleaning products), any company’s janitor closet.
Substitutes: Washrags work just about as well, but don’t hold as much water.
Portable stove (Toasty)
You can eat your food cold, but why? There is a reason why they call them hot meals, it’s because they taste better than cold meals. Heating up food is a time-honored tradition. It improves morale. Imagine smile on your children’s faces as they are eating a hot bowl of, raccoon casserole. I’m kidding. It’s squirrel.
A portable cooking station is a great way to bring people together. The heat lets the aroma out, gets peoples appetites up, and even makes the food seem better than it really is. Think of all the fond kitchen memories you have of someone close to you cooking a delicious meal and the smells surrounding it.
Anything that runs propane is a great choice, because it can be set up anywhere. If you do acquire one, make sure to get extra fuel for it. This is by far the most relevant quality of life item, because even though rations will keep you alive, it’s little things like hot cooked food that make life worth living.
Where to get more: Camping stores, some bulk outlets, some hardware stores: Substitutes: You have a couple, so no excuses; fix your family a hot meal!
Sub 1. Gas grill, if you have it. The propane in those tanks should hold you for a week or so. Use pans on top and cook with lid closed to increase heat efficiency.
Sub 2. The fireplace. Burn the wood or paper under the grating, and use a pan with a lid to keep any stray ash out.
Portable toilet (Smelly)
These vary in shapes and size, but the cheapest and easiest to make and use are standard 5 gallon buckets with a cheap plastic lid in the shape of a toilet seat. The portable toilets are meant mostly for hunters who think it’s fun to spend their Fall days getting drunk in the woods while sitting in
a deer blind. Good times! They work with a garbage can type liner that collects the good stuff. You then tie off the bag and bury it. I recommend burying it somewhere the dog can’t get to it. You’d rather have your canine rolling in an old moose carcass than bringing one of those bags back into the house. “Daddy, the dog’s breath smells worse than you do”!
This is a “just in case” item. If the power runs out your toilet will still work as long as the water is on. When the water is off you can still fill the tank. All well in good, but maybe there is an earthquake, and the toilet cracks, making it unable to hold water? That is where the portable version comes in. Let’s hope you never have to use it.
Where to get more: – Camping stores.
Secondary locations – Abandoned houses of people that hunt.
Substitutes: Does a yuppie crap in the backyard? They will if they don’t have a toilet.
Agood hat (hats are back in)
This may seem like a ridiculous item. It’s not. I don’t have a lot of hair and I still bought one. I’m not thinking of me here, I’m thinking for those people with good hair. You know who you are. I hate you, and yet, I still try to help. You good hair types are going to be taking sponge baths now, and washing your hair isn’t going to be high on your list of things to do. Fend off zombies, check. Steal gas from neighbor’s car, check. Wash hair, nah.
Hats get hair out of the way. Hats let you do more active things without worrying about it. Ever been river rafting or seen pictures of people river rafting? People wear a lot of hats. Hats give you some protection. You could go with something more elaborate, like a bike helmet, but then people will just ask “where ya headed”? You could wear a plastic construction hat, and then people will ask you to help them with their water or power because they think you work for the city. How about an army style helmet? Eh, probably too militant for your neighborhood. Stick with something simple. Your kids may also like hats; it’s like dress up!
Cloth baseball type caps are good. Try to stay away from the nylon and foam types. Darker colors are better because they don’t show grime as much. White foam caps that say “keep on truckin” or “best friends forever” are right out. I will be looking for you people. Black hats with a Harley Davidson eagle are bad ass.
Where to get more: Sporting good stores, camping stores, clothing stores, especially towns with a college. College kids love hats.
Secondary choices: – Abandoned homes, Some companies will give these out as promotional materials to clients, although, the more I think about it, don’t loot a company warehouse just for hats, that’s silly, unless it’s a Harley Davidson hat. That’s bad ass.
A good pair of work boots (butch)
Good shoes. Should I say more? A good pair of footwear can mean all the difference. The world is burning around you. Those 8-year-old flip-flops with the broken strap aren’t going to cut it. Neither are those 4-inch pumps. I don’t care if they’re more comfortable than they look. It’s dark. You’re going to be stubbing your toe into all sorts of new things. You’re going to drop a variety of items from chest level, and they are going to land somewhere near those oh so delicate clodhoppers of yours. Protect them, with a solid pair of shoes.
Pretend you were going to go camping. You never go camping, I see. Just pretend! What would you wear? Put those on now, and keep them on. No, snow boots are not the same thing, neither are galoshes. High top basketball shoes are better; something with a steel toe would be nice. Of all the items of clothing, this should be the first choice when looking around.
Where to get more – Shoe stores, camping stores, some hardware, some ski shops.
Police scanner (because you are a bad person)
Some years ago I ran into a group of guys who on a regular basis, would get drunk on happy hour martinis, eat a bunch of oysters, and talk about robbing a bank. Invariably, one of their items in this robbery fantasy was a police scanner.
This is a very optional item. As mentioned earlier, local law enforcement is going to go offline within a few days. There may be a crusader or two out there trying to keep the streets safe. This device allows you to listen into all emergency band frequencies within the city limits. It’s a pretty safe bet what you will hear is an increasing level of activity immediately after the blackout, which keeps building until there is a head to head conflict with a mob of some sort. This is where the intensity peaks, followed by a sharp decrease as law enforcement either deserts or moves to a safe location. After a while, you might hear some civilians on those channels as police units are stolen.
It’s an intriguing item. They are pretty expensive for what you get out of them. Tapping into the emergency bands of a town could tell you a great deal about where trouble is, and more importantly, where emergency vehicles are. You could use this information to find the nearest fire or police vehicle in case you had injured or sick people in your party.
Or, you could find out where the police and fire units were not.
Where to get more: Specialty electronic stores, Radio shack, some pawnshops.
Earplugs (What?)
Soldiers wear them. The firing range requires them. Your long-term hearing is important. Then again, so is your short term. Anyone who has ever fired a gun without hearing protection, or had a very loud explosion noise go off next to their head doesn’t need an explanation. To the rest of you, I’ll explain. A firearm round is not only propelled by a small explosive charge, but most bullets break the speed of sound right out of the barrel. Sound travels like ripples on the water. If they are used outdoors, the sound disperses quickly, depending on obstacles next to you. Inside a house, they dance around and play havoc with your eardrum.
Trust me when I say this. Firing a shotgun in a hallway or bedroom has a chance of disorienting you. The sound will bounce off the walls and seem to come at you from all sides. Your ears will ring loudly, and that ringing won’t fade for some time. Make it easy on yourself and take the sound out of the equation. You don’t need the added distraction of a temporary hearing loss. The flash of the gun, the shock of it pushing against your hand or shoulder, will be quite enough.
Having hearing protection also can give you an added advantage in a gunfight that takes longer than 10 seconds. If your opponent isn’t using any, he / she will be hearing impaired after their first shot. You will be able to hear their footsteps or their weapon action. They may even be dumb enough to yell over the ringing at anyone behind them. I recommend wearing them every time you’re carrying a firearm. Can’t be too careful.
Where to get more: Hardware stores, some auto parts stores.
At one point I think I had five different can openers in storage. Over the last ten years, food-packaging technology, especially in convenience-oriented America, has gotten a lot better. Most soup cans now have pull-tab tops, which require no tools whatsoever. This is the same for some canned meats and vegetables, tuna fish, etc. I would expect that within the next five years, just about all cans to have this type of opening system.
However, this is not necessarily true for large bulk food can items you might find at Costco or a restaurant supply house. These items haven’t seen an increased demand for ease of use. As long as there are regular can tops out there, you should acquire one or two can openers. Why?
Because your electric can opener doesn’t work any more.
Where to get more: Hardware stores, Grocery stores, some bulk food stores, some camping supply stores.
Secondary choice: Abandoned homes.
Two way radio
Two-way radios have improved a great deal in the last 30 years, with some models running up to 25 miles or more. They’re small in size, and usually come with cool extras like power saving features, hands free talk options, and multiple channels for security. In short, they are cell phones that can be used within city limits.
If you plan on being alone the whole time, the two-way radio isn’t going to be of much use, unless you’re really bored. If you have a friend, and I really hope you do, then you now have long distance communication that can be helpful during scout missions, looting, defending, just about anything. Don’t overlook this item. All law enforcement units, including special weapons teams use them. You should too.
Deck of cards (Go fish!)
There is something I need to tell you about the apocalypse. There is no net flix. You can fiddle with your Play station controls all day; it’s not going to work. Americans are addicted to entertainment that is based on electricity. Without it, some people will really think the world has ended.
It’s times like these we have to return to the basic forms of entertainment that kept all the generations before us occupied. Board games, physical games, and of course, cards. There are hundreds of different card games and some believe or not, are pretty engaging! It wasn’t that long ago that my family spent the evenings teaching me all the rites of passage in old school entertainment: Yahtzee, Boggle, Sorry. Maybe those are too easy. How about Trivial Pursuit or Pictionary? Want something that takes a long time? Get the kids into a 4-hour marathon of Monopoly or Risk.
A little leisure goes a long way. It distracts you from the rest of the world. Who wants to think about giant radioactive spiders all day? Games are as old as humanity. The only difference in this type of world is that we have to take a step back and adjust to having fun without electronics. Oh yes, there will be holdouts. The game boys will be used until the little screens go dark. Some people will fire up generators just to play Madden 2010.
This is especially for the kids, who are going to create their own games if none are provided. You do not want them making up stuff like “pin the tail on the giant three-headed rabbit” or “who can hit the mutant with the most flaming tennis balls”. It just angers the mutants and that’s not fun for anyone.
Keep your urchins (and yourself) busy with a wholesome family game. Winners get extra rations. Losers get a cold sponge bath, or have to use bathroom tissue made out of copy paper. Let them pick. It adds to the fun.
Where to get more: Toy stores, general stores, any place that sells games. Some convenience stores.
Secondary choices: Abandoned homes.
Chapter 6: Smoke em if you got em:
“There are two infinites: One is the Universe, and the other is mankind’s stupidity, and I’m not sure about the Universe”
– Albert Einstein
No list would be complete without a small group of bad habits. In most end of the world movies where human vices survive, there is still a high demand for them. Why? Because they’re addictive! They’re bad for you. In a world where people are scrapping to live to the next day there is no logical reason for these things to exist!
Some of you will argue whether or not this section has any value. Who does it benefit? Today I can say with a great voice of confidence that it benefits you! Here’s why. You don’t have a vice. Fantastic. The opportunities for you and your family are nearly endless.
In times of high stress people turn even harder to things that make them feel better. In a situation where the stress never ends, the breaking point for people with addictions will be much quicker. When they finally snap, they will turn to whoever has what they need for help. If the people holding what they need are weaker, they will be overcome. If they are stronger, the addicts will barter. The addicts bartering abilities won’t be done with a clear head. They will be desperate, and in some cases will trade almost anything. Use this to your advantage, and bring them to their knees!
You feel sorry for them. There is nothing wrong with that. Pat yourself on the back, because you’re a good person. If you want, go ahead and give them some sensible words of advice, but do it after the trade. Don’t feel bad because they’re walking away with a few moments of relief, while you just gained weeks worth of supplies. You were more prepared. You were “stronger willed”. You are the ant. They are the grasshoppers.
It’s the vices that will be snapped up first, grabbed off the shelves in a mindless fury by the desperate. Your best chance at taking the upper hand here is to buy some now and store it away. These bottles and small boxes could mean the difference between starving and salvation. They could buy the time you and your family need.
Liquor (Vice)
Government sanctioned, population approved. Alcohol has been by our side for thousands of years. It is the cause of, and solution to, many of life’s problems. It is sought after by the young, and used as a crutch by the old. Almost everyone I know has a good (and bad) alcohol story.
Alcohol itself, in whatever form it takes, is by definition a depressant. It dulls the senses and reaction time. It dissolves the edge off of urgency. It impairs judgment. It has been called “liquid courage”.
It really has no place in a pure, organized survival structure. The last thing you want is to have alcohol mixed in with a group of people carrying weapons. The results could be disastrous. It ebbs the chain of command. Orders are ignored, respect takes a back seat, and basic instinct takes over.
My favorite alcohol based saying is from old Russia. “What’s on a sober mans mind is on a drunk mans tongue”. Drunk people say things they shouldn’t, and lose perspective. You don’t want tempers flaring. Not now. You and your group are barely holding on as it is. Trade the alcohol off to the masses, otherwise known as the morons. Choose your trades wisely. Keep it away from people you like.
There is a time for everything, and I agree that people should eventually get a chance to cut loose. Alcohol does facilitate that. If you want to use it yourself, then save it for later, after the dust finally dies down.
Alcohol’s strength is based on proof, or measurement of alcohol content. The closer the proof number is to 200, the more pure alcohol it has. The higher the proof, the more potent the beverage is. As the potency gets higher, it takes less to get someone intoxicated. A bottle of whiskey is more valuable than a case of beer. It weighs much less. You need to drink less to receive the desired effect. For this reason alone I recommend sticking to hard liquors as a trade material. Any hard liquor is worth more than a bottle of wine. And to a lesser extent, a bottle of wine is worth more than a few cans of beer.
Note that all alcohol tricks the body into releasing excess water through urination. This is why you feel dehydrated later. Alcohol can never replace actual water. The low alcohol content of beer means you can drink more of it, but you’re still going to be thirsty afterwards.
Advanced tip: The most valuable alcohol in this situation has seen a recent comeback. It is government-sanctioned moonshine called Ever clear. Some of you will remember the name from social gatherings of your youth. It is 190 proof, the highest alcohol content available for legal sale, and about 10 states still aren’t allowed to sell it. It cannot be consumed without a mixer. It must be diluted with something else, like water, juice, or tonic. It has no smell or taste. Ever clear can be purchased at most liquor stores, and is inexpensive at $15 for a large bottle.
What makes Ever clear different from all other alcohol products is it’s ultra refined properties. It is pure alcohol, and is extremely flammable. It can be used in certain camping stoves. It can be used to start fires. Ever clear is sterile, and can be used to treat wounds if needed. Because of it’s very high alcohol content, it cannot ever freeze, and can be used to de-ice metal parts. One bottle can last a long time, in more than one capacity.
Where to get more: Depending on what state you live in, Alcohol may only be sold in liquor stores, or it could be sold in grocery stores and possibly bulk food stores.
Secondary sources – Abandoned home liquor cabinets.
Cigarettes (I have a bone to pick with you people)
For five years I told myself I wouldn’t bring this item to the trading table. It has done so much damage to our country. I can’t overstate it. Everyone knows someone who has died or is dying of cigarette related cancer. Everyone knows exactly what the product can do, and yet 30 years after the ads have been banned from television and radio, this country still has over 50 million people who smoke.
Maybe Dennis Leary was right. At this point you could put the cigarettes into a black pack with a skull and crossbones on the front, and people would still buy them. No matter what we do, there is a very large group of people out there who have decided that dulling the pain centers of their brain in small amounts is more important than the huge health consequences.
Once the cigarette trucks stop moving, their value will skyrocket. You think your smoker buddies light up a lot now, just wait until their stress levels jump up about five notches.
This item will be looted first, even before alcohol, because of its lightweight and convenient pre-packed portions. You will not be able to find cigarettes a week after the lights go out.
I have a challenge for the smoker reading this. You have the chance to live longer than most people. All you have to do is save the cigarettes you have, the cigarettes you just bought, and trade them later for needed supplies. Cigarettes can get you food, water, medicine, weapons,
anything. Just stop smoking when the power goes out. Lock them in a chest and hide the key. Put them in a plastic bag and bury them in the backyard.
Where to get more: Grocery stores, liquor stores, convenience stores, bulk food. Secondary choices: Vending machines, Office drawers, Vehicle glove boxes, abandoned homes.
Prescription drugs (Vice)
There are certain medicines that can be helpful to treat sick people. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, etc. For every one of those that are another five currently being abused in this country. Most of the culprits fall into the painkiller category. In normal circumstances they relieve extreme forms of pain. In regular doses, they can help with surgery recovery, muscle tears, broken bones and torn ligaments. That’s what they were designed for.
If taken by a healthy individual, the person feels a great sense of euphoria. In short, they get high, and could care less about anything. They are powerful escapism drugs, as strong as most black-market items. In a low resource environment, they will be more valuable than alcohol and cigarettes combined, because they can produce several mind-altering effects simultaneously.
Normally I would only recommend them for injuries. However if their value increases enough, it might be wise to see what you can get in trade. Prescription drugs, being chemical based, have an official expiration date of maximum potency. It’s value will slowly decrease after this date is reached, until the drugs effects are nominal.
The most popular types of prescription drugs include painkillers, mood stabilizers, and ADD or hyperactivity drugs.
Examples of Painkillers–sometimes referred to as narcotics—are morphine, codeine, and related medications. Morphine is often used before or after surgery to alleviate severe pain. Codeine is used for milder pain. Other examples of opioids that can be prescribed to alleviate pain include oxycodone (OxyContin) (Darvon) (Vicodin) (Dilaudid) (Demerol), which are used less often because of its side effects. In addition to their effective pain relieving properties, some of these medications can be used to relieve severe diarrhea (Lomotil, for example, which is diphenoxylate) or severe coughs (codeine).
Examples of mood stabilizers–Barbiturates, (Mebaral) (Nembutal), which are used to treat anxiety, tension, and sleep disorders.
(Valium), (Librium), (Xanax), which can be prescribed to treat anxiety, acute stress reactions, and panic attacks. (ProSom), can be prescribed for short-term treatment of sleep disorders.
Examples of Stimulants— (Dexedrine) (Ritalin) Stimulants increase the levels of these chemicals in the brain and body. This, in turn, increases blood pressure and heart rate, constricts blood vessels, increases blood glucose, and opens up the pathways of the respiratory system. In addition, the increase in dopamine is associated with a sense of euphoria that can accompany the use of stimulants.
Where to get more: Very limited supply. Hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, or any grocery store with a pharmacy.
Secondary choices: Abandoned homes, more specifically, medicine cabinets and bedroom nightstands.
Prostitution (Just say no!)
The oldest profession in the world. This millennia old industry has been a part of every world city, both large and small. In an unstable environment like a breakdown of general society, it’s best to stay far away from anything that has to do with it. There are just too many unknowns, all with potentially horrible results.
Here’s just a few:
Safety. Pimps in a city full of armed stressed out people? Are you kidding? They wouldn’t last an hour, which means no protection for the woman, and you’re not a pimp!
Disease. Condoms are going to be in short supply, and it’s a safe bet that tricks will be turned without them. Bad idea. Hospitals and clinics will have bigger problems to deal with, assuming that they are still operational.
Predators. With the streets turning very violent, don’t be surprised to see some women just get thrown into the back of a truck, and then never seen again.
I don’t want to say that you can’t have sex at the end of the world, but trying to sell or trade it in this new environment is a poor choice. That being said, it is still a commodity for women who find themselves in a dire situation. Would you sell your body to save your child? Would you sell your body to save yourself? Some would say yes.
All I can say to you brave souls is to be careful. I mean it. Men are especially dangerous in a high stress environment with few laws, and double-crossing you is an easy decision. If you have a regular place for sex then place a weapon under a pillow or mattress. You don’t need much. A knife, ice pick, or big pair of hedge clippers will do the trick. Having someone to watch your back is better.
Black Market Drugs
This would include any illegal substance that is bought on a street level. It’s not a realistic trade item, with the exception of Marijuana. Overseas drug runners deal in cash, and in this scenario the dollar has plummeted to nothing. Distribution lines will be cut. Local Meth labs need raw materials, which will dry up fast. Marijuana requires sunlight, or grow lights, which need large amounts of electricity. There are better things to spend your generator juice on.
For those of you who still want them, there will be some small pockets of marijuana, mushrooms, and other organic drugs surfacing in more rural areas where farmable land is available.
Chapter 7: Rock, paper, scissors, gun
“The quickest way to end a war is to lose it”
– George Orwell
This topic raises a lot of eyebrows, and passions. Americans are so divided on the issue of gun
control and lethal weapons in general, it deserves it’s own section. I’ll be as objective as I can. You can decide your own defensive options.
The point of this item / section is that everything you have accumulated so far, which hopefully will have been water, food, and light sources, needs to be defended at all costs. First, we need to find you a weapon of choice. Further down we will cover the attitude around combat for the average American. Right now we just need to pick something off the rack.
Let’s start with a quick test to see where you stand when it comes to weapons. Try to do this in an empty house without your family. If your family is there, try not to look obvious; otherwise they might think you’re having some sort of breakdown.
Use your imagination, and picture a person banging at your front door and yelling. You don’t know who it is, or how many people might be there with this person. What you do you for sure is that they intend to cause you some sort of harm. If it makes it easier, pretend it’s a burglar with a violent side. We’ve all entertained that thought at one point or another. You need to defend yourself, right now. You have 60 seconds before that door comes crashing down. Drop the book, take 60 seconds, see what you would go for, and then come back.
PAUSE
… Really, not kidding. Get off the couch and pretend this is real. It will give you a new perspective on what might happen.
… If you did go and come back, then kudos. If you just “imagined” yourself getting off the couch, then you’re in worse shape than I thought, and probably aren’t taking this very seriously. I will do my best to shed some different light on the topic in hopes that it will motivate you.
Did you immediately go to the kitchen and fumble around for the biggest knife you could find? Did you grab a tire iron you had sitting in a closet, or a big wrench? A pair of scissors perhaps? When you got this life saving device, did you think of where you might be standing when the door opens, what to look for? Are you going to hold the knife with both hands in front of you, waving wildly like the wife in “the shining”, or perhaps go charging in like Glenn Close in “fatal attraction”. You’re protecting your family from an unknown threat. This person isn’t going to go away. The weapon you chose, do you really think it’s going to stop whatever is behind that door?
I’m not asking you to buy a gun. You may hate guns. You may be, or know someone who has been a victim of domestic violence or some other violent crime. This section isn’t meant to offend you.
I’m also not going to offend the red meat eating gun enthusiasts, some of which have an unnecessarily large stockpile of firearms, and think that it’s their right to accumulate even more.
The attempt here is to try to find a happy medium, one that will keep you safe, without looking so militant that people think you’re going to start a revolution.
This is about weapons, any weapons that you are comfortable with and will use if someone tries to take something that is yours. We are assuming here that if someone says: Please hand over your food and water, you won’t just roll over and say “God bless you”. That would be a pretty silly ending to your efforts.
If you are into baseball bats, then grab a bat. If you are into knives, grab a knife. If you think you can hold your stash with a 9 iron, by all means, go to the back of your Range Rover and get one of those.
However,
Sooner or later, and in this country it means sooner, one day, you will bring a knife to a gunfight. If the other party is of even average skill, you will lose. It’s just that simple. Rock, paper, scissors, gun. Gun wins. Remember where you are. This is America: Land of the crazy, and home of the armed.
Fine, you are a bow hunter, and are very skilled at it. To you I say first: You get one shot, then you’re trouble scale goes way up. Second, I have yet to meet a bow hunter who doesn’t also own a firearm. The same goes for you crossbow people. Don’t get cute; I’ve heard all the arguments a thousand times.
If you are so against firearms and are so stubborn that you absolutely will not use one, then at least pretend, and get one of those high-end air soft “replica” toy guns that look like the real thing. Even that will give the person across from you pause. If they see a kitchen knife, the fight is over.
Demographics say if you’re reading this, the idea of a firearm in any form isn’t totally out of the question. For you I offer this: Make your choices wisely. Your life depends on it. The over used KISS principle of sports (keep it simple stupid) applies even more so in mortal combat situations. Try not to get fancy or exotic. Exotic when referring to firearms often means complicated. If you’re the type who has a problem running a television remote and eating a bag of chips at the same time, stay away from the complicated weapons.
Complicated weapons are sexy. They are cool; they are deadly, in the right hands. Let’s leave the complicated firearms to the military and the police special weapons unit (note the word special). We are Plumbers, middle managers, and programmers. We are ordinary business people who spend more time with their families than at firing ranges. You need something you can actually use, not something that looks good on a “my space” page.
Your weapon should suit you and you only. Don’t plan on a universal weapon that others will use. Don’t plan on your spouse using it. They can get their own. I’ve been studying small arms for 25 years, and there is a lot to consider before purchasing one. Forget the magazines say and forget what your buddies down at the gun shop tell you. Treat this decision even more carefully than you would in buying a car. It’s that critical. This small piece of metal and plastic could save you, your family, and everything you hold important, from tragedy.
The highly revered George S. Patton, decorated General of the US Army during World War 2 once said: “The basic principle of war hasn’t changed. It is to deliver the maximum amount of firepower in the minimum amount of time”. In layman’s terms, fire the biggest weapon you can that holds the largest amount of shells.
The concept, though now 60 years old, is still valid. From a single person point of view, it comes down to body weight, muscle, and the energy your firearm delivers. It’s common sense that a 120 woman would be hard pressed to fire an elephant gun on a regular basis without suffering some heavy bruises or maybe even a dislocated shoulder. On that same line it would be a waste to have a 240-pound man firing a tiny pistol designed to hunt rabbits. In a stressful situation, shoot the biggest thing that you can, comfortably.
Numerous survival guides will tell you that in the long term, you should own at least 1 rifle, 1 shotgun, and one handgun, with a generous amount of ammunition for each. This is not bad advice, but a little hardcore for the average citizen. Let’s reduce it down a bit, and again, keep it simple.
One rifle or shotgun, and one handgun.
If you have to choose between a rifle and a shotgun, I’d probably choose a shotgun for an everyday neighborhood environment. Rifles have greater range, hit harder at greater distances, and can carry more shells. Shotguns hit much harder in the first 50 yards, but aren’t good at long range, and hold fewer rounds.
You, me, and just about everyone else isn’t that accurate at longer ranges, so a rifle isn’t going to help you much there. You’ll have a chance to hit things from far away, but the percentage isn’t very high. Rifles also have a double-edged problem, and that they can penetrate house walls very easily. Shooting at something inside a house and missing means that it will most likely go through several other rooms, exit your house and go into someone else’s. No need to start creating accidents that will haunt you later.
On the other hand, if you are convinced that in a gunfight you will be blind with panic, and totally out of control, a semi automatic rifle may be your only real answer. There is something to be said about pulling the trigger and letting 30 bullets fly in front of you. You’re bound to hit the bad guys once, right? There is logic there. Just remember that any time you miss, the bullet has to go somewhere, and a rifle will be sending bullets hundreds of yards in that direction.
Choice 1: Shotgun
You’ve chosen a shotgun. Good for you. Shotguns haven’t changed much in the 100 plus years that they’ve been around, and there is a wide selection to choose from.You also need to choose between Semi-automatic, which means you just pull the trigger and the weapon fires each time,
or pump action, in which each shot needs to be chambered manually. You will need to choose the size of shell you want to fire. I’ll help you along the way.
Pros and cons of semi-automatic: They are more expensive by a few hundred dollars. They have
a narrower selection. Semi-automatic is usually found in bird hunting shotguns. If you want a good one that holds the maximum amount of shells (at the time of this writing, 9) it can run you up to $1000. One obscure drawback of the semi-auto is its inability to fire “non-standard” shells, ones made by custom ammunition makers. The semi-auto mechanism, which ejects one shell and inserts another, is based on a minimum amount of powder to power the action. If there is not enough power, the action jams. If the action jams and what you’re shooting at is still standing, that’s bad.
Pros and cons of pump action: Less expensive, holds the same maximum amount of shells. Wide variety of models can fire any type of shell, standard or non-standard. One drawback is that you will fire slower because of its manual operation. This may or may not help you, and here’s why: People tend to shoot too many times when pumped up on adrenalin. That’s much easier to do with a semi-automatic. A pump action slows you down a bit, giving you time to think as you deliberately cycle the shells. A pump action also will let you know you’re out of ammunition about a second later than an automatic, because of the extra pump, but this may not affect much.
By far and away the most popular shotgun caliber is the 12 gauge round. It is the current US military caliber, and is preferred by all types of hunters and law enforcement. There are millions of rounds of 12-gauge ammunition in circulation, with many different purposes. Please see Item (Ammunition) for types and potency.
Tip: There are some slight differences in shotgun shell sizes when it comes to 12-gauge ammunition. The variance is in length. 12 gauge comes in 2 ¾ inches, 3 inches, and some a little longer. Make absolutely sure that your shotgun can handle the length of the shells. A shotgun labeled 2-¾ inch cannot take 3-inch shells. A 3-inch shotgun can however, take the shorter rounds. The majority of ammunition made is in 2 ¾, but since they look almost identical, it’s always good to go with a larger chamber, just to be sure.
All other calibers in the shotgun category should be considered distant seconds. This includes .410, 16, 20, and 10 gauge models.
Choice 2: Rifle
You’ve chosen a rifle. Rifles have been around even longer than shotguns, hundreds of years in fact, and being the murdering warmongers that we are, we have created everything from low-level plinkers to bristling monstrosities that can rip down small buildings.
The same topics apply for the rifle as they did the shotgun. Semi-auto vs. manual, and the size of shell you want to fire. Let’s get the easy choice out of the way. Choose semi-auto. I’m not saying this because there is anything particularly wrong with manual, bolt-action rifles. There is just a huge fundamental difference between bolt action rifles and say, pump shotguns. Bolt action is
where you have to lift up the bolt lever, pull the spent shell back, push it forward, and swing the bolt down again. This is four movements versus two for the pump shotgun, which is just pull back and push out.
All the movie and television scenes where the guy with the bolt-action rifle screws up and jams the weapon under high stress, that really happens! Don’t be like them and get eaten by the dinosaur, or the giant crocodile, or the mutant rat, or whatever else seems to know that you are using a bolt-action rifle in a life or death situation.
Whether it’s a $400 off the shelf bolt action, or a $10,000 gold inlayed, custom made, elephant killing bolt action, it still works basically the same. Soldiers don’t use bolt action, general police don’t use bolt action. The only people that really use it are snipers. Why? Because bolt-action rifles are consistently more accurate at long ranges, on a target that is only in there for one shot.
If a bolt action is all you have, then try not to engage anyone at close range. If you do, chances are you will have one shot. Treat your strategy like you’re using a musket.
The semi auto rifle comes in all sizes, and being that we’re in America, you have an enormous selection in front of you.
Here’s why: Back in the early 1980’s some Hollywood producers realized that the popular Clint Eastwood series “Dirty Harry”, had increased the sales of the .44 magnum revolver by leaps and bounds. In collaboration with the major US and then later foreign manufacturers, Hollywood started giving every leading man a sexy gun of some kind, and the firearm makers in turn, started churning out “civilian” versions of the same weapons to the public. They fired the same shell, held the same number of bullets, and looked identical. The only difference is that they weren’t “machine guns”, weapons that fire multiple shells with one pull of the trigger.
Public response was very enthusiastic and the general public bought everything in sight. Every year up until the Brady gun bill was passed the gun makers created more and more exotic weapons for the public. Some of these included drum fed shotguns, plastic pistols that held 100 shells, rifles with shotguns bolted to them.
One side effect of this, whether deliberate or not, is that America has now the most well armed civilian population on the surface of the Earth. Not exactly an appetizing target if you were going to invade. There are as many firearms in circulation as there are Americans, the downside being 17,000 domestic gun related deaths a year.
As with the shotgun, there are some military calibers to consider. Our current US army rifle cartridge is the 5.56 mm, .223 inches. Many companies make the civilian version of the US army weapon. They range in price from $600-$2000. If you weigh less than 160 pounds I highly recommend this caliber. If you are over 160 pounds, you may want to look at the larger military caliber 7.62, .308 inches. The selection is fewer, but the shells reach farther, and hit harder. Both domestic and international companies manufacture them. They range in price from $400-$3000 and are well worth looking into. If money is an object, but you still want a popular round, try any of the civilian AK-47 variants that are in high supply in today’s market.
Handgun:
The choice of a one handed firearm is simpler. While it is true that there are a large variety of handguns manufactured in this country, the decisions of what to use in a crisis still come down to the two same basic options. Semi auto or revolver, and the caliber used.
Revolver:
An old, tried and tested technology. A revolver is what we grew up with, played cowboys and Indians with. Movie after movie, year after year, used the revolver. It holds six rounds; and in most cases has no safety. Cops used them, criminals used them, and the Lone Ranger had one that fired silver bullets. Dirty Harry used one for most of his career. It is by far the most comfortable in our hands. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Some of the cartridges used have been manufactured for over 150 years.
Pros and cons: In the majority of revolvers, you have six shots as fast as you can pull the trigger. If you have to reload, the cylinder has to swing out and shells ejected manually. Revolvers have regained some popularity recently because the shells stay in the gun. No shells, no fingerprints or DNA. Professional assassins gravitate towards these weapons in certain discrete situations. The revolver doesn’t have a safety. To combat this, some users keep at least one chamber empty to prevent an accidental firing.
The revolver has one very important advantage. It’s instinctual in a crisis situation for the common man. You point and shoot. You don’t cycle a round, you don’t throw in a clip. A revolver doesn’t jam, and it is one of the few weapons that can fire repeatedly underwater if needed.
Until the mid 1980’s, all law enforcement in America used the revolver. When the military type weapons began entering the civilian population, law enforcement found themselves in firefights where the criminals were doing most of the shooting. This wasn’t good, both for police mortality rates and morale. It was then that law enforcement switched from .38 and .357 revolvers to their semi auto counterparts, evening the odds.
Some popular revolver calibers in include the .22, .38, .357, .44, and .45. Each has it’s own purpose which will be explained in a short listing at the end of this section.
Semi Auto Pistol
Until the mid 1980’s, the predominant semi auto pistol in America was the legendary Colt 45. All war movies up until that time used them. A beer was named after it. George Patton carried a customized .45. Their legacy dates back to 1911 when a refined version entered service. It uses a very slow bullet; so slow in fact the sound could be silenced completely if needed. The first weapon “silencers” were based on this round.
After 1980, the civilian market saw a huge influx of semi auto pistols, first with the ex-Nazi 9-millimeter round, and then followed by slightly larger versions such as the .40, the 10 millimeter, and then the heavier rounds like the .357 and .44 mag. The most popular of these was the 9mm, mostly because is was the current US military round. In 1985, it replaced the US army .45 as the official American army sidearm. Almost every sidearm company in the world makes a 9mm pistol, despite its reputation as a “wounding round”. The concept behind a “non-killing” bullet was very similar to the .223 rifle round used in the American M-16, in that an army that wounds more soldiers than it kills will eventually win the war, because wounded men used up far more resources than dead ones.
The semi auto pistols of today have seen very few modifications in the last 20 years. The pros and cons now are the same as they were then. The semi auto holds many more rounds, and in the hands of an experienced user, can be reloaded more quickly than a revolver. The semi auto can jam in certain situations. It can be fired very quickly because the action keeps the next shell in “ready” mode, which requires a lighter pull on the trigger. Semi auto weapons come with a variety of safety features, includes some that will not allow the weapon to fire without a strong grip on the handle.
The two most popular calibers for semi auto pistols currently are 9mm, and .45. Where to get more: The manufacture and sale of new and used firearms is controlled (sometimes loosely) by the federal government. Because of this, the number of places firearms can be acquired is limited and monitored. Because of their dangerous nature, everyone and every place that sells firearms implement safety precautions.
Primary: Firearm shops, Some hardware and sporting goods stores, pawn shops, gun shows, private firearm dealers, online manufacturers, and of course, online private owners through the classifieds. Secondary locations: Abandoned homes, security offices of some companies, abandoned police stations, National Guard armories.
Gunplay
You don’t use firearms on a regular basis. The range fees can be expensive, ammunition isn’t free, and quite frankly, we’re normally way too busy to be playing with things that we’re never going to use in a practical situation anyway. Get real. Stress and panic turns us all into idiots. The reason they put push bar levers on auditorium doors is because when people panic, they forget how to use things, like door handles. Learn the basics, get to a range, and practice every once in a while. If you’re reading this by flashlight because the powers already gone out, and you have yet to fire a gun, then you have some things to think about. Don’t freak out. You’re holding a gun, not a cobra. Both are deadly, but this one is built to
protect you. Make sure the safety is off when you are ready to shoot. The whole point of the safety is to keep you from shooting things accidentally, like your underwear drawer. If you think you’ll forget, then take the safety off and leave it off for the duration of the apocalypse. Aim for the legs. This was taught to me decades ago and I firmly believe it is the best method for house-to-house fighting. Shooting the legs means there is a good chance your target doesn’t get to stand up any more. It puts your enemy on the ground, where they are much slower. Shooting the legs doesn’t kill them right away. This should make you anti-killing people feel a little better. Shooting them in the legs creates an obstacle for the person behind them. It gives you options. All the targets and training about hitting someone in the torso talk about hitting vital organs. This is good advice, but it doesn’t cover body armor. Even if your adversary is only wearing a t-shirt and you hit their stomach they’re still going to be standing for a little while longer. Shooting someone in the foot will produce better results than hitting them in shoulder.
Count your shots. If you’re not yelling out some movie inspired Viking battle cry, then try to count how many shots you’re firing. It sounds juvenile. I agree. Counting your shots lets you know how close you are to being empty. Being empty is bad. Most studies of small arms combat have proven time and time again, that in a one-on-one gunfight, the person who runs out of bullets last usually wins. Count your shots; reload if you have the time. Don’t be the one standing there with when the gun goes “click”, instead of “bang”.
You can let them live. Survivalists all over the country are screaming No! My history teacher from 10th grade was one of the first to tell me that if an intruder comes in with the intention of sending you to the grave, your only logical choice is to shoot them as many times as possible. I used to like this advice. I will probably follow this advice. This advice isn’t perfect, and here’s why. You’re not a killer! Ok, some of you are, and I hope you don’t live next to me. The rest of you aren’t expected to end anyone’s life. Guns and the images of death follow each other everywhere. You can do what you want with your gun. You can fire a warning shot into the air, you can fire a warning shot next to their head. I’m aiming for the legs. If you wound them, and they retreat, they’ll carry their sorry butts out the door. If you empty 20 bullets into them, guess what, you have to drag them out of your place. This is America. There are some heavy burglars out there. If the person weighs more than 200 pounds, you may not be able to move them, and then what?
If you haven’t figured out the most important reason to ‘wound them and let the burglars run out the door”, here it is: They can’t get their wounds treated anyway! The hospitals aren’t operational! The first aid kits are far away, and can’t do anything for bullet wounds! So fire away America, your conscious is clear!
Ammunition (Priority)
Normally this would be embedded inside the weapons category, but ammunition in itself is both a tool and a tradable item. There are many calibers you could acquire but not need. At the same time they could provide a huge value for someone else, either as an asset or a trade item. Tip: All ammunition has value, and its trade range can vary widely. Firearm manufacturers in the last 30 years have made it so that calibers that used to be exclusive to pistols and rifles are now interchangeable. Because of this the list below is not broken down into rifles and pistols, just calibers and what can use them. Note that Shotgun shells are forbidden by the general public to be used in a pistol.
Sawed off shotguns (barrels under 18 inches) are considered a federal crime, punishable by a minimum 10 years in prison without early release, which means if you were planning on sawing off the top part of your hunting shotgun, be sure to do it after the end of the world has started. You don’t have to read the ammunition chart below, it’s just for reference. Most popular ammunition types (most valuable) .223 – Current allied forces rifle round. Small bullet, fast speed. Can penetrate most house walls. Medium range. .9mm – Current allied forces pistol round. Medium bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate car doors. Low range. .308 – Current allied forces heavy rifle round. Medium bullet, fast speed. Can penetrate standard body armor. High range. 12 gauge – Current allied forces shotgun round. Heavy bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate car doors. Very low range.
.45 – Older allied forces pistol round. Heavy bullet, slow speed, Can penetrate car doors. Low range. .762×39 – Current Russian military rifle round. Medium bullet, fast speed. Can penetrate lower body armor. High range. Secondary ammunition types (very tradable) .30.06 – Older allied forces rifle round. Medium bullet, fast speed. Can penetrate most non-plate body armor. High range. .38 – Older police pistol round. Medium bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate car doors. Low range. .357 – Older police pistol round. Medium bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate car doors. Low range. .44 – Older hunting pistol round. Heavy bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate most non-plate body armor. Medium range. .40 – Current law enforcement pistol round. Medium bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate most house walls. Medium range. .454 – Popular hunting pistol round. Heavy bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate most non-plate body armor. Medium range. .22 – Older rifle / pistol round. Small bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate most house walls. Low range. .50 – Older allied forces machine gun round. Heavy bullet, very fast speed. Can penetrate plate armor. High range. Miscellaneous ammunition types (some trade value) .380 – Popular light pistol round. Small bullet, low speed. Can penetrate some house walls. Low range. .25 – Popular light pistol round. Small bullet, low speed. Can penetrate some house walls. Low range. .22 mag – Popular light pistol round. Small bullet, fast speed. Can penetrate most house walls. Medium range. .41 mag – Popular pistol round. Large bullet, medium speed. Can penetrate some body armor. Low range. You will only be using a few calibers from the above lists. If you do come across any of the others, keep them for later. You never know when they might prove useful. Note: Ammunition has almost no expiration date. As long as it isn’t stored underwater, shells can stay preserved almost forever. At the time of this writing there is still ammunition manufactured in the 1960’s currently being sold around the world. Tip: Please remember that ammunition should be treated like an explosive. If ammunition is thrown into a fire, the brass or steel casing will heat up quickly and ignite the powder inside. The bullet will then fire in whatever direction it is facing. If you see a fire that you know contains a stash of ammunition, get to cover as quickly as possible!
Where to get more: Ammunition isn’t under strict regulation by the government, and can be acquired quickly from many locations. Large quantities are kept in: Firearm shops, sporting good and hardware stores. They can also be purchased online in many states without paperwork. Secondary locations: Abandoned houses, abandoned police stations, National Guard armory (only for military calibers)
Chapter 8: Hot loot, cold loot “Honey, I think we’re out of toilet paper”
– Your Spouse)
You’re like most of your peers. By the objective standards of the law, you qualify as a good person. You don’t rob banks, or shoplift, or kidnap. The most trouble you’ve seen in the last 10 years are a pair of speeding tickets and a slightly guilty feeling in your stomach that you took too many tax deductions. Or, you could be squeaky clean. I mean shiny sparkly. You don’t miss a Sunday of church. You have never looked at an Internet site full of naked people. You take your family to Disney every few years. You have parental locks on the television. You respect authority, and in turn condemn anyone who doesn’t. Convincing you that the brutal basic human instincts still lie within your DNA will be difficult, but not impossible. In this crisis scenario everything is possible, including turning your overly righteous and judgmental butt into a logical and sensible survivor that will look past the unthinkable, barbaric actions of the masses, someone that will see yourself and family as priority number one. Believe it or not I used to be the most law-abiding person around. I feared authority, and did everything I was told. I respected all laws, and tried to stay out of trouble. Circumstances change. People change. You will change.
You yell: “I would never!” How many times have I heard that? Remember the first time you watched a news broadcast during Christmas, you know the one, where the rare toy gets released, the one that all the kids want? The department store only had 60 cabbage patch dolls, and there are 500 people outside. The doors opened, and chaos ensued. Mothers pushed and shoved, Fathers cursed and threatened. Kids were trampled. It was Christmas, and this was a toy for God’s sake. These are your neighbors in action. Maybe that was an isolated incident. Did you watch the home run king Barry Bonds as he hit those last five shots deep into the stands? Each ball was worth thousands, and when each landed, the crowds went berserk. They punched, kicked, screamed. People bled. People went to jail. This was about the chance, just the chance, to sell the ball on Ebay. These are your friends banging on your door. When the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake took place, the looting started within seconds. When Katrina hit, the looting didn’t stop for weeks. Even the police were taking things from the stores. You may be a good person, bordering on saint hood. You may be so perfect that it is difficult to gaze on you directly. Your sense of righteousness may be the size of a city bus, but you are still human. Humans in a survival situation act in very similar and predictable ways. Imagine just for a second, that you’ve been wrongly accused of some minor crime and are thrown in a jail cell. You’re getting hungry, and the jailer opens the mail slot at the bottom of your door. He shoves a sandwich through, and a dirty glass of water. You’re not really a sandwich person. To make things worse, it’s a Spam sandwich, with spicy mustard. You hate both Spam and spicy mustard. You just sit and stare at it. Now pretend that the jailer isn’t coming back for a few days.
After a while, that sandwich starts looking better and better. You are like a vampire. You hunger, you thirst. You fight it, but your mind starts playing tricks on you. Unless you are the most stubborn and overly dignified person on earth, or maybe British, you will eat the sandwich. Your instinct will override all other bias, all protests, and all objections. Now, imagine one more thing. Pretend that your life depended on it. Pretend that your family’s life depends on you breaking the rules. Deny it all you want. The quicker you accept that you are a part of the masses, the faster you can stay ahead of them.
To be clear, I am not officially endorsing the looting process. In a perfect world, authorities would distribute resources evenly. In some places this might actually happen. In most they will not. People will have to fend for themselves. The criminal element will act first. The people with injured or sick family members will move second. Those with younger families will follow that. Let’s take a look at will probably happen to an average strip-mall over the first few days of a power outage.
0-24 hours: This scenario assumes that there is loss of power only with no hint of why or when it will return. At first the power outage is seen as a curious anomaly. Everyone is on stand by. Order is contained. Routine burglaries see an increase. Some outlying liquor stores are robbed, as well as some smaller stores that sell small, expensive electronics such as phones and portable music players. Hospitals automatically switch over to backup generators, with a limited amount of fuel. Their clock is ticking. Most of the gas stations close. Large amounts of local law enforcement are allocated to traffic control. A number of intersections have officer’s running lights with LED batons. Grocery stores pack what they can in ice, and close their doors. Some smaller shops attempt to stay open with calculators. Convenience stores along major roads begin to raise prices on popular items.
24-48 hours: Assuming the emergency broadcast system hasn’t been activated, burglaries involving luxury items increase dramatically as criminals realize alarm systems are down and the backup power supplies have been exhausted. Confused individuals drive around town, looking for any store to be open. There are small gatherings outside of supermarkets. This is the critical point where state and local authorities dictate the actions of the population. If the emergency broadcast system is running, and instructions are given over major radio stations, it will buy a few days for protection to be put in place. For our scenario we will imagine that any available National Guard troops have been dispatched to other locations. Your town has to depend only on local law enforcement for security. By design, local law enforcement is not equipped to deal with martial law. Their first priority, like at Katrina and Los Angeles, is to protect human life. SWAT teams are few and far between. Your average sheriff or traffic officer is not going to spend their days firing rounds into angry mob. They just aren’t equipped for this type of situation. By the end of the second day, people will start becoming resolved on their next course of action. They will want solutions from the authorities, and the authorities won’t have the best answers. We are waiting for the state or federal government to issue instructions. This waiting doesn’t feed your children. There are people around you who have run out of diapers, soap, and toilet paper. Toilet paper! 48-72 hours: The resolutions will manifest as day breaks. At first light, friends and neighbors will again start gathering in front of the larger supermarkets. They will start congregating in front of Costco and Sam’s club. The things they need are in the darkened stores. Supplies are just sitting there. The registers don’t work, so the items can’t be paid for. The aisles are very dim, so it isn’t safe to shop. The general population won’t care. The only thing sitting between them and the things that power their comfort zone is a single law enforcement unit.
The bold individuals will approach the lone officer, friendly at first, asking questions about when the store might be open, casually suggesting ideas about letting a few people in, taking names and phone numbers so that the store can be reimbursed later. Those sales pitches will start to get old after the first few dozen times. The officer will use the radio occasionally, to show the growing crowd there is backup if needed.
Unfortunately, this scene is being played out all over town, and there is no backup to send. The police and sheriff units are stretched too thin, and the officer knows it. Hour by hour the crowd gets more agitated. The strain is starting to show. By midday, his / her hand is constantly at rest on their sidearm, and with good reason. Then, a loud, desperate voice from the crowd demands that the people be let through to get what they need. Threats come from the masses. The corresponding threat of reprisal by the officer is impotent. After all, how many people can they arrest and still protect the store?
The situation is not a stalemate. The officer will lose. Even if the officer has civilian friends that come to their aid, they will get pushed aside or fall. The reason is simple. Law and order can only function as long as the public is at relative peace with itself. The population’s needs must be met, and those needs are insatiable. A bullhorn can’t compete with the yelling of hundreds. 72+ hours: The officer stops responding to questions. Only the mob is yelling now. A sound comes over the police radio. One of the stores at the other side of town has just been overtaken by a large group of people. The police chief orders all units to pull away from what they’re doing and converge on that particular supermarket. The chief’s logic is flawed. He can only save one store with the manpower he has, and it is already being overrun. They will lose the store, people will be arrested, and officers potentially injured. All the while the rest of the town is being taken apart. The lone officer gets into the car and drives away quickly, siren blaring. The crowd doesn’t even wait until the police unit is out of earshot before smashing through the grocery store glass. Within 60 seconds there is already fighting in the aisles. Within an hour, that same store will hear gunfire.
This scene will have different variations of tempo, but the theme is constant. It will happen. The general population is not very different from man’s best friend. Your family dog is loyal. It hunts with you; it plays with your children and licks your face. If it is not fed, given enough time, your dog will turn on you as food. You could easily be one of the mob, but you’re better than that. You’re smarter than that. The mob runs off of pure instinct. Collectively, their decisions are childish, brutal, and reckless. The only way to beat the mob is to become your own animal, one that is more cunning, logical, and level headed.
In order to be one step ahead, the group mentality needs to be understood. Once you have the knowledge, and can predict what a mob will do before hand, Everything will play out like a well-executed crime movie. All eyes are looking in one direction, but you and what you need to do, will be somewhere else. Somewhere secret. Most people are creatures of habit. We take the same route to work, even though multiple streets are available to us. We watch the same television shows each week, have lunch at the same group of restaurants, use the same ATM, and most important to this topic: We shop at the same grocery store, month after month.
The community mentality runs on simple rules, and survives on a very primitive mindset. We are out of food. Where do we get more food? I shop there. We need to go there. Where are you going to get food? I am going there. I am going there as well. Let’s both go there, to get food. You’d think we just learned to walk upright, heading out of our caves to kill a mammoth. It just gets worse from here. Food store closed. Dark. Locked. Lots of glass. We don’t need to use door. Angry person with gun in front of store. We will wait. The sentences may play out a little better than that, but not much. Some may think of other stores, only to find a different group of people, and the same law enforcement units. The clever people will do the math and deduce that with that amount of people in front of the store, no one is getting out with a cart full of anything. There aren’t enough goods in the aisles for that. They will start thinking of the obvious alternatives; the most obvious being the bulk food outlets. There is one thing about following the mob mindset. If you’ve thought of it, others have to. Of course, Costco! People will be slapping their heads by the hundreds. There is way more food and supplies there. We need to hit that place! Let’s go!
You should have stayed at the grocery store. Costco is a literal fortress compared to the average supermarket. Have you ever been parked outside a Costco and just stared at it? It’s a stone and metal warehouse, with giant rolling steel doors. The small doors are steel too, with windows too small to squeeze through. Yes, it is filled literally to the ceiling with every kind of supply you could think of. Forget for a moment about how solid the building is. Another problem is that all these great supplies are in the middle of a giant room with few windows, and no light. Throw in the fact that you will have about 1000 people sitting outside it trying to find a way in. Do you have a plan of getting a large amount of food out of this building? Here are a few bad ideas to consider. Attempt 1. You force open a smaller door on the back loading dock with pry bars and portable drills. A bottleneck is now created. You would need armed guards to keep people out while you went in, filling a flatbed cart with everything you could in about 10 minutes. Word spreads through the crowd in the front, and hundreds of people flock to the back to see if they can get in on it. You get the cart back to the door, and try to load up your truck for the escape. If you were smart you pull the guards off the door and let people flood in, distracting them from your getaway. For this you need at least five people, armed, who you can trust, and who are willing to open fire if things get ugly. This will be difficult with a group. If you don’t have the manpower, then the bulk food store isn’t a valid target. It doesn’t matter how many firearms you carry by yourself, there are some things a single person can’t do. Attempt 2: You get a backhoe or front loader and just plow through one of the front steel doors. Once down, you set up armed guards to keep people from getting in, and use the same plan of attack from before. The same amount of people are required, plus you need the bulldozer, which you don’t have. Because of the large opening, there is a good chance that warning shots will need to be fired if you expect to keep other people out of the area.
Attempt 3: You wait until someone else breaches an entrance, and then try to find what you can. This is called a “hot loot” situation, and is only recommended as a last resort. “Hot loot” refers to an area that is either 1. Being looted by two or more people at the same time, or 2. Being looted, even though there are defenses present. Stores that are being mobbed are hot loot zones. Stores that are being protected by owners are also Hot Loot zones. Homes with owners inside are a hot loot area.
These areas are dangerous, because they are filled with unpredictable people. You don’t know if the person next to you wants that same 5-pound container of peanuts. If they go for it, what are you going to do? Grab it back? Hit them? Start shooting? Hot loot zones are chaotic, full of noise and panic. Adrenalin is up, and everyone is moving quickly, because the faster you move, the faster you can pick up things. It’s like a giant game of musical chairs, but you don’t know where the chairs are, everyone has guns, and if you can’t find a chair when the music stops, you starve. Pushing a cart is a waste of time. The store is dark, flashlights the only way to see anything. You get to a section you were thinking of, and it’s been cleaned out. You can’t carry enough. Did you bring a backpack? Some people a few rows over start fighting, and a gun goes off. People scream, some run. The smart ones stay. You go into that row and have to step over a body to see if there’s any more beef jerky. This isn’t where you should be. Someone shines a flashlight at your backpack, then into your eyes. You hear the cocking of a weapon.
You are better than this, more clever. The last thing you need is to be spending your time running around dark hallways fighting for scraps. Look, listen and learn. The mob is like a swarm of angry bees, moving as a single unit, like a virus, consuming everything it touches. It is something to be feared. It is also something that can be manipulated.
The best thing, what you and your family need, is a “cold loot” situation. A place that isn’t either a primary or secondary target. A place that is so far ahead of the mob that they can only wish they thought of it first. Cold loot refers to a stash of supplies that can be acquired alone, or with a group you trust. There is no competition here. It can be emptied at your leisure. It is ahead of the curve. When the tentacles of the mob finally reach it, they will find only empty shelves. More importantly, they will not find you. Imagine yourself blending in with the mob. Feel what they feel. See what they see. They are a blunt instrument looking for resources. All their targets, every single one of them, will be a hot loot situation. Every stash they find will be by definition, a danger zone. Understand their primary and secondary targets.
Week 1: Mob Primary targets
Grocery stores – The lifeblood of any community. They contain food, water, batteries, and toilet paper; everything needed to keep an average household operational. Pharmacies – non-perishable food, water, batteries, toilet paper, enough to keep an average household operational. Bulk food stores – Food, water, batteries, toilet paper. Everything needed to keep an average household operational, and it’s in large, easily transportable amounts. Convenience stores – Non-perishable food, water, batteries, enough to keep an average household operational. The first week of the outage is an orgy of acquiring consumption materials. The grocery stores will be bare, emptied in a frenzy of consumer madness. The adjoining pharmacies will be hit almost simultaneously. As discussed earlier, the bulk food stores will be the biggest challenge, and most likely produce the highest amount of casualties because of the higher concentration of people combined with a collision of well-laid plans. Some people will try to drive into the store, others will try to access some of the food and supplies placed 20 feet above the floor. Forklifts will tip over. Lots of people will make mistakes.
There are huge stashes of basic supplies in a bulk food store; enough to last well organized group years if rationed well. There will be more than one group that will make a play for it. There will be in store skirmishes. Can you imagine what it would be like to be an average family walking into that giant dark place? There is a gun battle raging in one corner of the warehouse, and all the while supplies that could keep them alive for months are within an arms reach.
The only good thing to say about convenience stores is that each one is so small; a single vehicle would be able to empty out the entire place in less than 30 minutes. It could be done with twenty garbage bags and vehicle headlights to illuminate the store. The process would be relatively painless. Either you’re there alone, or you’ve missed your window. Note that many convenience stores are franchise owned, which means the owners / employees will probably just move in and live off the inventory.
Week 2: Mob Secondary targets
Gas stations – Some non-perishable food, some water, batteries. Enough to keep an average household alive. Restaurants – Some canned food, some water, and misc items. Enough to keep an average household alive. Hardware stores – Some non-perishable food, some water, misc items. Enough to keep an average household alive. Specialty shops – Some non-perishable food, some water, misc items. Enough to keep an average household alive. Sporting good stores – Some non-perishable food, misc items, including firearms. Can supplement household supplies. As the primary targets are being depleted, first level alternative stores become more attractive to the mob. Even the smallest gas station carries a substantial supply of candy and chips. Restaurants vary in the different types of canned food, but the rule of thumb is, the better the restaurant, the better the stash. Note that a large share of restaurants have alcoholic beverages (tradeable) as well. Fast food franchises still suck in the apocalypse, with the majority of their supplies coming in large cans of sauces and a huge amount of perishable frozen food that will
become useless once thawed. Hardware stores carry a large supply of batteries The smart looters will ignore the shelves, and go into the back stockrooms where everything is packed into large boxes. Some sporting good shops will carry not only camping gear and power bars, but also a generous supply of non-military firearms. The mob will have some trouble with acquiring these weapons. Security devices for guns have gotten better over the years. Some firearms contain a special lock that covers the entire trigger section. It can only be unlocked with a key. The average person cannot make the gun function without the aid of power tools. The other, more popular option for securing store firearms is to run a long steel cable between all the triggers. This can be severed easily with a set of bolt cutters.
Week 3: The first sweep By week three, there will be some organized groups using trucks. They will be searching business to business, looking for anything consumable. They will find the water cooler bottles, the vending machines, and the factory cafeterias. If the groups have anyone efficient running the operation, they will go from location to location until the truck is filled, and then head back to a rally point. Running the sweeps during the day will make it easier to find things, save battery time, and make it easier to coordinate personnel. Night sweeps are risky. In a dark world, headlights can be seen for miles away. Ambushes will be frequent. Some of the smaller teams might work at night with minimal lighting in order to avoid the larger groups. The successful ones will be fast, mobile, and have the ability to work with smaller lights, or even night vision. Week 4: Leftovers By the end of the first month, all the visible targets will have been exhausted. All stores and shops that contain supplies that can be seen from the street will be gone. Soda machines will have been forced open. Specialty shops with small amounts of candy next to the register. All office refrigerators containing non-perishable liquids, all the snacks in Blockbuster, every candle at Williams Sonoma. The camping sections of any hardware store will be decimated. Every can of food in the hotel kitchens will be gone. The juice bar at the local spa will be bare. The only things left now are misc items hidden away in all the drawers, cabinets, and cupboards within office buildings. If your coworkers are as consistent as mine, there still is quite a bit to be had. God bless us, for there is food in almost every cubicle. It will just take more energy to find it. The general mob finally runs out of motivation at this point. Their wave crests here. The shopping spree is over. The looting of commercial and corporate America has come to and end. Unfortunately, some of the smaller, more hardcore groups are still alive. If they are to survive, they can only do so by taking on the homeowners. Personal residences are the final targets. The predators are forced to try their luck against the everyday citizen. This is the unknown scenario which even government models have a hard time predicting. Is the house that is being raided occupied? Will the owners fight back? Are there casualties? When do the looters give up? When it comes to long-term predictions, there has been much debate in the survival world. Some
think that it will develop into a “Thunder dome” scenario, where limited trade is restored. Some think that larger groups will venture out of the city, hoping to find a better outpost. Their purpose seems aimless. Yours is not. You still have hope; have faith that the government who used to be in charge will return to help their population to restore order. This is what you can cling to, and with some organization, can create a protective bubble that can keep those who you care about safe.
You now have a rough blueprint of targets that a garden-variety town mob will take to secure resources. Do you see the pattern? Have you figured out the trends, and what you could do to take advantage of this? The mob attacks the obvious, and keeps hitting it until the resource is exhausted. They then move to the next big thing that sticks out. In short, the mob is a bunch of slack jawed mouth breathers who couldn’t make a good decision if their life depended on it. You’re much better off without them. Your window lies in the small gaps that the mob overlooks. Your chance is hidden between the huge waves of chaos these people create. The timelines mentioned above will have some variance, but it will give you the chance to get what you need, without the added pressure of looking over your shoulder.
Your edge, your angle, is a cold loot target that only you know. Forget the mobs first choices. They are the choices for the masses. All their focus will be the immediate three targets closest to their homes. Take the easier path. Sieze your chance and hit a well thought out cold loot target. The target chosen could be anything from a secondary mob choice, or something special you came up with on your own. If your decision is well thought out, there won’t be any law enforcement or lights. Look for a back service entrance or loading dock, something that faces away from the street. Expect the unexpected. Employees of this establishment, especially kids, will come up with the idea to hit their own store shortly, and may move on it. Have at least one backup selection, and maybe two.
To get an idea of what you should look for; be overly observant the next time you are driving through town. Look for some interesting stores. Here’s what I mean: Pick a supermarket or any good-sized grocery store. Now look right across the street and see what’s there. Maybe there’s a convenience mart, coffee shop, radio shack, or a restaurant, all with service entrances that are not visible from the grocery store parking lot. This is the place where your knuckle dragging adversaries will be. The restaurant has canned food. Radio shack has equipment. The coffee shop has bottled everything. The decision is yours.
This is your sweet spot. You won’t need much motivation. The crowds making that incredible ruckus should get your blood pumping. Go at night, and bring the smallest portable light sources you have. Did you have your tools prepared? Are you ready to make the score that could buy your family weeks or months that they need until help arrives? You’re not ready yet? C’mon, let’s get the tools, pack your bags, and get psyched! This is the
moment of truth, the all or nothing night of your life! Are you going alone or bringing a friend to help you keep your nerve? Look over your gear once more: Looting equipment:
Nylon or leather bags. Try to find a balance between weight and strength. Standard travel luggage is a bad idea, and don’t even think about using something with roller wheels! Those damn things are loud enough on a perfectly smooth airport concrete, and you want to roll this thing down a mile of city grade asphalt? Backpacks aren’t terrible; just make sure you leave them mostly unbuckled for a quick getaway. The size of the bag will work itself out naturally. If you choose one that’s too large, and notice that after it’s filled that you can’t lift it, then you are holding the proof that you’ve made a bad decision. Take some stuff out and try again
Entry tool. These can be more valuable than weapons. Good examples are crowbars, pry bars, bolt cutters, the sturdier the better. They are all heavy steel, and you need to lug them to the location. That’s bad. The flip side is you can either bring them back with you on the first trip, or leave them until the last trip. The crow bar and pry bar are used to wedge into door jams, in order to force them open, breaking the lock. The bolt cutter is to punch through steel cable, padlocks, or chain link fences. When it comes to bolt cutters I recommend anything over 36 inches in length. That size will sever most steel barriers.
Light source. Don’t grab your giant flashlight. This is supposed to be a covert operation. The only reason you’re bringing any light at all is to see what is being stuffed into the bag. Penlights are a good first choice, unless you have night vision goggles. If you are wealthy and crazy enough to own these, then you’re way ahead of the game. You should already have a solid plan of your own. Use your lights only if you are unsure of the terrain. If there is an obstacle in your way, light it up and check it out before trying to hurdle it.
Be Defensive. You run into trouble, you have to look at the odds before making a move. One person? Size them up fight club style, and decide if they can be bargained with, or will it turn into a skirmish? Did you see two or more people? You may have to cut and run, even if they’re younger and smaller. If you are thinking about taking on one of them, the other may be running for help. There is no honor among thieves.
Distraction device (optional) Head out at dark, not dusk. You don’t want anyone in your immediate vicinity following you. If you know the area well enough, then try to travel without any light. Walk down the middle of the street if you have to. Walk quickly, but quietly. This new world has some long stretches of silent streets. No need to give yourself away. If you consider yourself adept on a mountain bike, then you could save some travel time. Note that large bags will throw off your balance, especially when filled. The extra weight will make it harder to start and stop, but you will be able to outrun people on foot. Take small detours to avoid any other people you hear up ahead, and remember where they were for the return trip home. Anyone that has a bonfire going will work to your benefit. The light
from the fire resets their night vision, making it almost impossible for them to see at any distance in the dark. Don’t take the long way around just to avoid a fire. When you arrive at the entrance of the store, force it open as quickly as possible, but use some stealth. If you need to hammer in a window, wrap the hammer in cloth to muffle the sound. If the back door needs to be worked over with a pry bar for a few minutes, take a break every once in a while to check your surroundings. If it’s going to take 15 minutes, you may want to consider a distraction. Distraction techniques: Sometimes, it is like the movies. Distractions are used in warfare, but are called diversions. There are times where you need to divert your opponent’s attention to something else. Use the environment around you, and try to keep it simple. If it’s dark, use something that involves light. If it’s quiet, create something that makes a lot of noise. A few examples: Fire is your friend. Despite what your parents have told you, it’s ok to play with fire. We are moths to the flame. We sit around campfires and stare into the glow. We watch apartment buildings burn. In a world without electric lights, fires become a magnet, the bug zapper of the apocalypse. People will gather around and stare at a burning house like it was a giant beach bonfire, and why not? There are no fire trucks to put it out.
Don’t get fancy. Find some flammable liquid. It can be gasoline, paint thinner, lamp oil, a strong alcohol. Locate a wood structure, preferably with smaller pieces. Set the blaze quickly, and then head over to your cold loot target. The fire doesn’t have to start big; a little goes a long way. Car alarms. Did you ever think you would see the day you would welcome the sound of a car alarm? Find some vehicles a few hundred yards away from the store you want to get into. Hit them hard with a blunt object. If the car / truck doesn’t start making noise after a few whacks, move to the next. Once the alarm goes off, high tail it out of there and get to work.
Once the distraction is set, you enter the coffee shop, or specialty store, or whatever you have chosen. Use your lights sparingly. Even if you use the front door as an entrance, try to use the back door as an exit. Fill up the bag with what you can comfortably carry, then calmly walk out and start heading home. If you are wearing a watch, start keeping track of how long it takes you per trip. Rinse and Repeat: When you do get back to home base, check your watch again, and see how many more times you can hit this store before the sun comes up. As the sky starts to get lighter, you are done. I mean it. Stop. Take inventory of what you now have, get some rest, and if you’re up to it, begin again the next night. If the plan goes wrong: Sometimes, you can’t just go home. You are on your third trip back, and there are some people following you. If you’re lucky, they won’t know the area as well as you do. They are tailing you, waiting to see where you will crash for the night. Do not under any circumstances lead them to
your home and family. If your bag is heavy, look for a quick place to stash it. Hide it in some bushes, underneath a car, some place that you can get back to in the daytime. As soon as you ditch the bag, move faster, take an unusual corner. Don’t panic, just lose them, anyway you see fit. If you think you can set up a quick ambush and scare them off, then do that. If you have to fight, then fight.
Dangerous zones
“Extreme hot loot zones”, only recommended for groups of 10 or more people. In every state, there are manufacturing facilities. Taking the odds into consideration, most of these places will be making and storing products like distributor cap parts, plastic vomit, or lawn furniture. These companies will only be useful for supplies you can get out of the cafeteria, vending machines, or office drawers. Then there are the gold mines, the warehouses that have literally lifetimes of supplies. They include things like, a Campbell’s soup factory, a Nabisco plant, a grocery store distribution center, a Wal-Mart shipping hub. Do not try to approach these places alone, or even in small groups. The logistics are too large for you. Imagine a Costco, only 10 times as big, with everything needing a forklift to move, in pitch-blackness. Now imagine all the employees that work there, day after day, who will approach this facility within 24 hours.
Any employee with keys to the main gate will fill a truck by the end of the second day. After that, anyone working in the immediate industrial park will try to get some groups together and take their shot. After that, the public will catch wind of it, and things will start to get crazy. These factories and warehouses are normally located in industrial zones, which are some distance away from residential areas. Using a car or truck is a good idea. A tractor-trailer rig is better, with a large group of people to guard it. A well-armed group could get in and get out without too much trouble, and it could be done quickly if someone knew how to run a forklift. Some brave souls may move some of the supplies into a more secure part of the building, and just try to live at the warehouse. That would be a 24/7 job, constantly patrolling the area. With enough troops it could be possible. These specialized stashes are rare, and shouldn’t be considered a viable option for most people. Military or law enforcement groups have the best chance of securing these, for whatever purpose they see fit.
Tip: There are only a few places that should be considered “too dangerous” to approach. One example would be small gun shops run by private owners. Most firearm stores are like this. They only sell firearms and firearm related products. Some of their employees carry side arms during normal business hours. When the power goes out, they are instructed to immediately go to the store and stand guard. This store has a lot to lose. These owners will shoot first, and ask questions of your body later. They have more guns than you do, and enough ammunition to start a small war. You can’t bargain with them, and sure as hell can’t out gun them. Go away, and never think of it again. Some of your heavily armed pawnshops also fit into this category, although they aren’t as dangerous in an extended fight because of their limited supply of
ammunition. One other dangerous location is any privately owned army/navy surplus store. Some of these places carry firearms on site. The owners of these shops are survival oriented. They will be armed, and they are already convinced anyone approaching the store is a looter. The Mormon supply house: Weeks after the power goes out, when all the stores, factories, and vending machines have been licked clean, there will be house to house skirmishes. The supplies acquired from these poorly organized neighborhood battles almost don’t seem worth it, because the average family won’t have much of a stockpile.
Well that is, except for the Mormon families living outside of Utah. I don’t want to pick on the Mormons, I really don’t. I’d like to think of myself as treating everyone equally. I’d like to state officially that I don’t have anything against the Mormon faith. Freedom of religion is a right in this country. I happen to respect that this religious group practices what they preach and prepares for their version of Armageddon. Great job! You have at least a year’s supply of food for every member of your family, and weeks after the power has gone out; some of your neighbors just remembered that little nugget of information. For you, it’s time to start sleeping with one eye open! Unfortunately, this version of the grasshopper and the ant doesn’t end well. Outside of Utah there are way more grasshoppers and the ants don’t have nearly enough guns to keep them out. To be fair, I’m going to give help to both sides; I don’t want to play favorites. If you are a practicing Mormon living outside of Utah, you should consider upgrading your security. This means more fire extinguishers, bigger rifles, and more ammunition. You may want to have a safe room built, one that can withstand fire. There should be some walls in certain areas of your home with steel plating or heavy stone. Bomb shelters are an excellent fall back position. Shoot first and shoot often. Keeping your opponent off guard and off balance is important. Have faith that the neighbors will lose their nerve and go away!
If you are living in a large neighborhood and are planning on attacking a Mormon house: You had better be ready for a drawn out fight. These families have God in their hearts, and will not give up willingly. Luckily for you, unless a few families have banded together, you’re probably looking at three guns or less coming at you. The best way to breach the house is to back a car into a living room wall at about 20-30 miles per hour. Note I said back in you monkey. Why would you drive in nose first and wreck your engine? Think people! Back the car / truck through the wall, then drive forward, exposing the hole. There is your access point.
Yes, you could just burn the house down. The drawbacks are that it takes almost 24 hours before you can even begin to start sifting through the wreckage, and you’ll have to move that out of the way to get to the basement. The smoke won’t affect any canned goods, but the heat might. If they are storing fuel in the basement, then all bets are off, and there may not be anything to
salvage. Better stick with the car idea. Also note that a gun battle in your neighborhood will draw huge amounts of attention, even blocks away. If or when you are victorious, and start carrying out all that hard fought cache of supplies, you will now have become the new Mormons. You also are walking around the street holding food and water instead of weapons. I hope for your sake that God is on your side now.
Chapter 9: Advanced: The trading post “Who is rich? He who is content. Who is that? Nobody.”
-Benjamin Franklin
The concept of the trading post is simple, but the implementation can be challenging, and end badly if you’re not very careful. An organized barter system is the best, and worst of both worlds. It can be a windfall of essential resources, especially if used with specialized looters. It will also draw some unwanted attention to your location, including potential thieves who may make a move to take over your new enterprise. A trading post can be started within 72 hours after the power goes out, and if well secured, will be one of the last places with access to needed supplies. A trading post brings a sense of order, as well as a familiar gathering place. If it’s completed quickly, it can bring a community together, give it perspective, and allow organized barter to replace the chaotic roar of the mob. The trading post can be as simple, or as complex as you want, depending on your manpower, stockpile of items, and location. Keep in mind that the more complex and spread out it is, the harder it will be to defend. The quick rules of the trading post are simple. 1. Acquire and distribute needed supplies, and 2. Defend the stash at all costs. Once completed, the trading post will provide you will potential goods, manpower, and most importantly, information. It will become the general store where people come to gossip, trade,
and lament about their situation. All of these bits of information can become useful to you. The key in any trading post is to be consistent, organized, and always project confidence in what you are doing, whether you have it or not. You can set up a barter based system with as few as two people, but I recommend four. To start, you need a good trade building, one that isn’t your current residence. The building should be solid, with as much brick and stone as possible. Brick and stone are resistant to gunfire and impacts from vehicles (Remember the Mormons!). More stone means less wood. This means it can withstand fire, and fire related products. It doesn’t have to be a large structure. You’re not running a Costco, nor do you want to. This is a neighborhood trading post, which will cover an area up to, 2-3 square miles. This is the maximum walking distance you should expect any one person or group to travel to your location.
Bring the inventory you want to trade to the location, and then create a trading post sign. The larger the sign is, the better. The sign should be moveable if possible. Don’t just get a can of spray paint and write on the side of the building: “Trading!” What happens if you move? Better to take a wooden door off its hinges, use that as the sign, and then lean it against the building. When the post closes for the night, you simply lay the door down. Keep it mobile! The important part of the post structure is where exactly the trade takes place. A window that is big enough to pass through goods is a great start. Treat it more like a ticket window at a ballpark, or a bank teller. People give you money. You give them the ticket. No one is behind the counter but you. Your total inventory should not be visible from the ticket window, only the goods you are trading. The window doesn’t get left unattended, ever. Give the impression that you have a number of armed people inside the building, project threat. Be serious, but be fair. The trading post is not only there to help you, but to build the trust of the community. You are not there to loot and pillage. You are providing a service. You are providing some order that people recognize. You are providing hope.
I recommend doing all trading through a window or on a trading table outside the front door. One thing you should stick to, and I cannot stress this enough: Never use the front door for anything. Put furniture in front of it, nail it shut, or better yet, cut holes in it big enough to stick out gun barrels. The front door is the visible access point. No one should see it open. All inventories should be brought in through the back door. Again, treat this like a ticket window, or if it makes it easier, a bank teller window. The average customer should leave with a sense of mystery. They should be doing anything else but thinking about how to rob you. Your group should appear strong and organized. You are the shopkeepers. The force you represent is unknown. People fear the unknown. When people do business with you, they will do so without thinking of crime. Display your firearms, real and fake. Replicas or props will work fine. You want an honest trade, and so do your customers. If you feel safer with more than one person running the ticket window, then use more. What’s important here is that they are polite and civil, and know how to spot the BS. People with customer service skills are good. Bartenders are good. People who
know how to deal with crap on a regular basis are what you need. You have your inventory sitting somewhere hidden in some type of solid structure which can’t be crashed into with a car / truck. You have a few friends or neighbors, people you can trust, running the trade window. You place random guns in visible distance and look as intimidating as you can. You raise up the painted door sign and you are open for business! At first you hear nothing but crickets. What did you expect? Did you want a local celebrity cutting a ribbon on this grand opening? People will not be bursting out of their homes, running with hands in the air, cheering the fact that there is finally a store open. Give it time. Be patient. The great thing about a trading post in this scenario is that everyone’s a potential regular customer. If you can get them to deal with you even once, they will come by almost every day until the end. The process starts slow, but gains momentum. The people wandering streets need things, your things. The dialogue is always the same. What the first customers want will dictate the specials list. What do you have to trade? What to you need? I need water. I need food. I need bullets. I need cigarettes. Everyone is looking for something, and you may or may not have this something. If you think you might be able to trade it later, add it to the need items list, and post it outside the window. You may also want to post a “Robbers will be shot”, in an attempt to keep people honest. Most of the first people that come to window are just the curious types walking around. They aren’t carrying anything. They have nothing to trade, except maybe a weapon, ammunition, or water. They’re going to be holding onto those things. The old saying is true: We want most that which we cannot have. They will be looking to you for something they need, maybe a few AA batteries for their flashlight? You have them, and let them know. Now comes the barter. What do they have? What they bring to the table has to correspond with your needs list. You give them a business card with your needs list on the back-side. This is something they can take home with them. The trade rate isn’t on the list, just the items. This is how the process starts.
They go home, and start looking through their inventory. They don’t know how much you have, because it isn’t visible, so they aren’t thinking (for now) about robbing you. They debate, they fret. What is important to them? Their decision process is extensive. The next day they show up with a bag of goods, hoping to trade for some AA batteries. What are they bringing? Canned food? Candles? Other batteries? Now the barter process kicks in, and haggling starts. Don’t be unfair on the priority goods. See what it is worth, and what you can gain from it. These trades should be as honest as possible. Your profit will come from another source. The person in question gives you three cans of food for 4 AA batteries that expire in a year. Always try to trade the earliest expiring items first. The exchange is made through the window. You inspect the cans, they inspect the batteries, maybe even try them out in the flashlight. Everyone is happy, and they go on their way. No fuss, no problems. You’ve just made a solid customer, maybe even a friend. Given enough time, this person may even work for you. The barter system is whatever you see fit to implement, but there are some guidelines in the new
world you should pay attention to, especially when it comes to priority items, and vices. Examples of possible trades: 1 can of food = 1 battery or 3 rounds of ammunition or 1 cigarette (non filtered) 1 bottle of water (sealed) = 2 cans of food or 6 rounds of ammunition or 2 cigarettes 3 cigarettes = 1 shot of hard alcohol The combinations for trade are endless. Try to be as consistent as possible. It’s going to be tough, because demand is going to change. This is a cross between a general store and the stock market. Someone may try to buy you out of AAA batteries, or all of your light sticks. Don’t completely empty your inventory. Those last scraps will turn into gold. One day a can of food might be worth a few batteries, then someone who looted a warehouse tries to trade more water than you could use in a few months. Weigh the trades carefully. You have the time. If a line forms, then try to assure the people that everyone will be serviced as soon as possible.
Don’t try to scam any of the fair trade people, especially if there are others in line. Your reputation is everything. Word of mouth is crucial. Your ability to function as a vendor is the most important thing in the world. You have the option of allowing people to trade with each other in line. This doesn’t hurt you. In fact, you may want to encourage it. Your trading post will become a gathering place, a hub of activity. Days go by. You bring in items, you trade out items. Maybe you develop a relationship with a regular customer or two, and some of them are handy with other things. In exchange for letting them be part of the group, they help you with different functions. They can you help with security, they can help with bartering. Your supply chain is becoming more efficient and helpful. The people you deal with are grateful for what they have. The trade itself gives them purpose, gives them some meaning in this difficult time. The people that will make the real difference to you are the stragglers that have little or no supplies, but are hoping you can help out. There is no charity in the Apocalypse. There are only contracts. The people who have nothing to lose will be your greatest asset.
The Carders
“Obviously crime pays, or there’d be no crime”
-G. Gordon Liddy
The saying goes: “All any person wants is something to love. If you can’t give them that, give them something to hope for. If you can’t give them that, then just give them something to do”. The potential free time after a power outage is immense, but it shouldn’t be leisurely. Time is money. Time is resources. For the downtrodden people walking the street, time may be their only bargaining chip. As the trading post develops, your inventory will neither grow nor shrink in any great amount as long as the trades are fair. If people are desperate, then they will make trades to your advantage. You will also be consuming resources which will balance these things out. Where the inventory
starts to expand is with the loose contracts you make with people who have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. We’ve already established that you are a good person. You take care of your own. You, your family, and your friends are fed, safe, and are now part of the only business in your area. There are others not so lucky. People who need guidance, who need a way of life to follow. The trading post will be their new temporary church. You will offer them purpose, and they will be grateful. You are looking for loners. These are your valuable assets. The conversations start the same, and require a delicate touch. What do you have for trade? Us? We have almost everything, what do you have? Me? Not much, a saddened look crosses their face. Look, (handing them the loot list card) this is what we need. If you can get any of these things, we can do business. If you want, hint that some of the houses in this area appear to be abandoned. For the first time in weeks, they have hope in their eyes. They turn and head down the street. 24 hours later, you see the same person, carrying a large bag over their shoulder. They have items for trade. These items are worth something to you. You deal. They smile. Once trust is gained, you offer them something else. Your makeshift supply bank. A chance to store their stash while they’re out looking for other supplies, for a small fee, of course.
The Bank
The supply bank is an easy to learn concept, and it only works if there is trust on both sides. The person looting is having a hard time carrying the stash they have. If they try to hide it in a house it could be stolen, and then they will have lost everything. You offer to keep their stash for them, inside the secure trading post, at a rate of 25-33 percent, or 1/4 to 1/3. Translation. For every 4 cans of food they store with you, the post keeps 1. For every 12 rounds of ammunition, you keep 4. I recommend an inventory list, like a bank book, which they sign off on every time they leave the post. They can view the inventory list at any time, but cannot come inside to look at the goods physically. If they insist you can offer to bring it around to the main window, but this shouldn’t happen too often.
Rate of contract is established and set for all “carders” (People who have a bank account) If you set it at 25%, then that is what is will stay at. Carders will run into each other from time to time. They should all have the same rate.
The inventory sheet should be on hand for them to view. They can deposit, withdraw, or close an account at will. You will not stop them. This freedom establishes trust. Trust builds relationships. You need allies.
Carders have to check in to the post every three days to confirm existence. This is a nice way of saying that they have to prove they haven’t gotten themselves killed. If check in isn’t completed in three days, the house lays claim to the entire inventory of the carder. Three days is
plenty of time and should be acceptable. Date the inventory sheets and keep good records of them. If a carder is gone for 5 days, then shows up out of the blue, they will still lose their inventory. You have an option of replacing this with a starter account that gives them enough water and food to last them another three days. This will keep them going while they get back to work. This is to reestablish trust.
Looting is strongly recommended in abandoned homes. If a house is occupied, the carder should leave at once and seek another location. Imply to others that you are a socially responsible organization.
Carders must respect other carders. If two are looting the same house, they should identify themselves to each other immediately. Whoever had entered the house first has priority over the other. Any deals cut between the two looters are outside of the post. Disputes will be settled between the members. The post will not be involved in general looting matters.
Exterior conflicts will not be brought to the post. The idea here is that eventually, a carder will stray into an occupied house. Let’s say for arguments sake, that an occupied house contains four families, and a bunch of guns. They chase the carder back to the post. One of the home’s occupants is injured. They demand justice. You now need to be a temporary judge. This is a potential situation and needs to be considered. Less than 2 months ago you were crying because you’re laptop didn’t have Internet, and now, you’re presiding over a domestic violence case. Nothing happens inside the post. For security reasons, all disputes are handled somewhere outside the main building. Judging isn’t that hard without a jury. You listen to both sides, determine a course of action, and then make a decision. Did the carder hurt anyone? What were the circumstances? What do the homeowners want for compensation? Do they want to trade? Are they a current customer? Do they want blood? You get to decide. If the carder is a real problem or has been a thorn in your side, then you could hand them over to the group, but that’s not really fair. Exile may be better, maybe a running head start? I suppose you could just open fire. It’s your decision; choose wisely! The odds say that these carders will be taking chances you wouldn’t. They may enter a house and get shot. They may fall down some stairs and get mauled by large dogs, they may get chased away from another group. Your goal is to make sure that either way the post benefits. You’re not exactly rooting for their demise, are you? I didn’t think so. The great part about this system is that it is driven by basic instincts. They are hungry, and there is no credit at the trading post. To eat, they have to forage for supplies. They become the perfect employee. No loafing, no clock punching, no long lunches. Sounds like a sweet deal doesn’t it? Time to kick back and enjoy your success. It will be an easy ride until help arrives. Think again.
The flip side of the trading post is unwanted attention. As time passes, different groups will think about how they can get in to your supplies. Every location has a weakness. They are looking for it, and you can’t let your guard down for a minute. They will send carders who seem like honest people. Beware of carders who want to come inside and take a look. Keep a close eye on everyone that’s working for you. Remember the story about the dog. Everyone is trustworthy until they get hungry enough. As time goes on, and you become the only game in town, you are
almost guaranteed to have at least one standoff. A group will move past the line, armed, and want to take what you have. You and your sentries will be outnumbered. Don’t back down. They don’t want to start shooting. Hell, some of those guns may not even be loaded. Ask them what they want to trade for, but be prepared to take action. If you lose the post the game is over. Quick words can sometimes save the day faster than quick guns.
Chapter 10: When the bullets run out
“You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you”
Eric Hoffer
Something very serious has just happened, and it doesn’t involve toilet paper. You’re out of ammunition. This is not a happy thing. In fact, for a lot of survivalists, it’s the scariest time of all. Resources are running low! You might actually have to get your hands dirty in a real fight! All your years of learning computer programming has not prepared you for this! What the hell are you supposed to do now! This is not the time for a “stay calm” speech. You play this too cool and you’re going to be having a personal conversation with the Lord. There are literally thousands of self-defense styles, with so many practical techniques I can’t begin to scratch the surface. Teaching you how to fight is not what you need. You need huge amounts of bring-to-bear confidence.
You have to believe that even without a firearm, you can do enough damage to the other person that they either collapse in a blubbering pile of pathetic Jell-O, or run away at top speed, screaming in pain, thinking of the one adversary they never want to meet again, you!
There just isn’t that much I can teach you in a few short paragraphs. Some things will come naturally. Your adrenalin will kick in; giving you enhanced strength and reflexes. You will attack with everything you have, and with a little luck and God’s blessing, you will be the last one standing. If you have friends and family, think of them, and how you are their last line of defense! Of course it also helps if you are willing to fight dirty, and have some cool tricks to back it up. Let’s review some items that might give you an edge in a hand-to-hand fight.
Brass knuckles:
Your hands are soft like a baby’s bottom. You haven’t done a hard day’s work in your life. There is no way that you will transform into a seasoned union dockworker in the next 10 seconds, so stop with the fantasy. Any martial arts training will tell you to hit someone with the base of your palm. It saves you a lot of pain and still will deliver a good impact. You won’t remember that though. All your fight training was in grade school, or maybe you learned from the movies, which means you will hit with fist closed, knuckle to chin. Make it count, but if you can help it, get something that will protect your hand. Go online and pick up a cheap pair of brass knuckles. This little toy is a solid piece of metal with holes to stick your fingers through. It rests tight enough in your hand that you can hit something with a full swing and the only thing that strikes your target is the metal wrapped around your knuckles, hence the name. The beauty of this item is that you can miss your opponent and strike something solid like a wall or your refrigerator, and you won’t break your hand!
For decades, this product was strictly a black market item like it’s cousin the switchblade knife. You can really hurt someone with a pair of brass knuckles. It’s like getting a small pipe to the face; only it fits in your pocket. There were extra legal penalties if the police caught you with a pair. Then someone figured out you could mass produce them, call them paperweights, and presto! Brass knuckles you can buy over the Internet!
Aluminum bat
Feed off of your childhood. Everyone has held a baseball bat at one point or another. It’s a playground regular. It doesn’t matter if you were chosen almost last on your elementary school teams; you still got to hold the bat. It was built to be swung and to hit things. They can be found in many places, you don’t need the Internet for this. Aluminum bats are best because they don’t break easily. When it comes to size, the smaller the better. Remember that if you are swinging inside the house, there are walls, furniture, and knickknacks. A long bat will just get in your way, and will slow down or even stop if you over swing and hit a solid object. A dark colored bat is better than a light colored one.
Knife:
You are now a part of history! Humans have been hurting each other with knives ever since they
lumbered out of the caves and started carving them out of flint. We’ve come so far! Yep. Pretty straight forward, and I mean that literally. The sharp point goes into the bad guy. Note I said point, not blade. Short strong thrusts forward, not side-to-side. Don’t start waving that thing around wildly. If that happens, there is a good chance you’ll also cut yourself in the fight.
Flammable liquid, and a match:
This defense technique is kind of tricky, but the principal idea is taken straight from the prison yard. Take 8-12 ounces of a flammable liquid and throw at target. Then throw a lighter, match, or candle at target. Target catches fire. Target then either rolls on floor yelling something about “being on fire” and “how much it burns”, or they run down the hall and out of the building, fanning the flames, and drawing attention to them.
Martial arts:
You are not Chuck Norris. No one is. If I see one more amateur attempting martial arts in a real fight I swear I’m going to go insane! Martial arts are a discipline, not an absolute. Martial arts create a fighting style, not a guarantee that you will win, or even that you have an edge. Every wonder why those reality cage fights on television aren’t filled with a lot of guys jumping and twisting, trying to land that perfect palm technique? Watch a match and you’ll see. Each fight is different depending on your opponent! If you are trying some Matrix style drunken boxing, and your opponent wants to wrestle that will end your movie real quick.
You can’t do spin kicks in your entryway. There is no flying tiger inside a bathroom. There is no karate kid crane technique from the other side of a dining room table. Just hit for the head, sternum or genitals as hard as you can. Box their ears, try to smack the base of the back of their neck, there is a big nerve cluster where the shoulder meets the neck. Claw at the eyes; try to hit their Adams apple. So it’s not a pretty, visually entertaining fight, the goal is to win, not to look good!
Throwing things
When I was growing up my sister used to throw anything she could at me. I learned quickly when to catch, and when to dodge. You are not a professional baseball player. If a major league pitcher has someone coming through their front door they have permission to throw the high fastball. You throw slowly, because you are a sloth. Being a good video game player doesn’t mean your reflexes will help you hit someone from across the room with a book. If you have something good to throw, like a bowling ball, or an all steel crock pot, then get close to the door, and hit them from 4 feet or less.
Note on throwing things: Do not throw your gun at the target! This is a bad lesson taught by bad guys in the movies! Just set it down or put it back into your pocket. You never know when you might find extra ammunition.
Stun Guns
Due to the bad memories this item brings up, and that I’m not a fan of less than lethal devices, I can say only this: Hit the intruder with the stun gun and don’t let go of the trigger. The disruption that they have on a body’s electrical system is somewhat cumulative, and really taxes the brain if you give them an extra dose. Hit them long enough, and they will stay down for 30 minutes or more. Just to be sure, just empty the battery on the target.
Pepper spray
There have been many documented cases about the use of pepper spray and there is some bad news. You spray your enemy with mace, and you will get some on yourself. It’s like spraying underarm deodorant on another person. No matter how careful you are, you’re going to smell it. The difference here is that mace stings a great deal. If you don’t mind some tears and shortness of
breath, then this one is for you.
Hiding
This goes against our basic “fight or flight” instincts. You may have been great at hide and seek as a child, but hiding under a pile of clothes, or under the stairs with your pornography isn’t going to do much this time around. Remember that this is a low resource scenario. All those televisions programs where the mob guys toss the apartment looking for the stolen drugs, that’s amateur hour now. People will be going through everything, and unless you have an Anne Frank style piece of furniture, they’re going to find you, in which case you’ll have to choose something else mentioned above.
Playing dead
It works on bears, doesn’t it? Sometimes it works on bears. It works on people sometimes too. The cases that seem to have the most success involve a large-scale military conflict, and there are a lot of bodies. People hide underneath them, and try to blend in. Do you have a lot of bodies in your home? If you do, then you have some larger issues, and the looters are just your next victims. I’ll make sure to stay clear of your place. If you are alone and trying to play dead, you may want to consider a few things before putting on your best “open eye and open mouth” dead movie face. First, the person coming in the door is looking for things, but they are also looking for you, to see if you’re a threat. If they have a lot of extra ammunition they may just put a bullet into you. If bullets are scarce, they may poke you with something and check for a reaction. If they try to check your pulse, the jig is up, and I recommend using their close proximity to hit hard and fast. Say however, that your performance is convincing, and they think you’re really taking the big dirt nap. You are still going to have to deal with this person going through all your pockets. Let’s hope you’re not ticklish.
Acting crazy
I like this idea, even though I can’t pull it off. Start screaming and flailing about, acting as insane as possible. For some of you, this will be quite easy. The idea is that a really noisy, scary person may not be worth the trouble. This is recommended even before they come in the room. The motivation is to pretend you are a human car alarm. If you make enough of a ruckus, the stealthy attacker may just move on, and kill your neighbors instead. To summarize: If you are out of bullets, find the best weapon you can come up with, and ambush your attacker with everything you’ve got. The best places to do this are either directly by the door they are entering from, or behind a blind corner inside the house. I don’t recommend trying it from underneath the bed. Everyone knows there are monsters under there.
The End?
That’s it, everything you need. Water, food, light, weapons, tactics, and some sensible advice that could save your families life. You are now officially versed in the wonderful world of urban survival. The majority of you reading will have found it mildly entertaining. It was a small distraction in a never ending series. A short time from now you will be back to watching something on network television. In a week you will have forgotten most of what’s been said here. A smaller number of you may discuss some of the concepts casually with other people, pondering the possibility of a national crisis situation. Your friends and coworkers will have not read the guide, and therefore will condemn it as some extremist nonsense. You will feel relieved at this and return to some form of quiet contentment.
There may be a few that actually get something out of this guide. To those individuals who know deep in their hearts that the worst can happen, or have survived limited catastrophes of their own, I say this: Start small and follow through. You don’t have to drive at top speed to the nearest bulk food store and stock a spare bedroom floor to ceiling with freeze-dried goods. The secret, the KEY to this whole idea, is to start small. Buy a footlocker sized plastic container, make a small list of things you might want to have if your house was say, hit by a tornado, and start filling the container. Once the list is checked off, and your footlocker contains the things you need, you might just stop and call it good. Mission accomplished, you’ll never think of it again. Chances are though, that as you make the effort to acquire your items, you will think of others, and those other things will give you more ideas. It can snowball. Before you know it, you have a nice corner of your basement ready for anything. And while you’re putting things into your plastic containers, why not include this manual as well? Thanks for reading this, I hope it one day helps you and yours. BUT ALSO HOPING THAT IT WON’T COME TO THAT.
There are many millions of Americans today in the post-election environment that feel uneasy about the fate of the country given the rise of a Biden presidency. And though I understand why this tension exists, I want to offer a possible “silver lining”; a different way of looking at the situation:
With Biden in the White House, there is no longer any ambiguity about what conservatives (and some of the more courageous moderates) need to do and need to accomplish. Now we know where we stand, and now the stakes are clear.
With Trump in office, a lot of liberty minded people became a little too comfortable, to the point that they were inactive. They actually believed the system could be repaired and corruption ended from within, and without much effort on our part beyond our votes. Trump made many conservatives lazy.
Then there was the Q-anon-sense floating around on the web which also misled some freedom activists into thinking that people much higher placed or “smarter” than us were fighting the good fight behind the scenes and that the globalists would be swept up in a grand 4D chess maneuver. This was a fantasy; it was never going to happen. Finally, everyone knows this and we can get on with the business of fighting the real battles ahead.
I think we are reaching a stage in the conflict between freedom advocates and collectivist tyrants when many illusions are going to melt away, and all we will be left with is cold hard reality. Now is the time when we find out who is going to stand their ground and fight for what they believe in, and who is going to cower and submit just to save their own skin. Now is the time when we find out who has balls.
The last four years plus the election of 2020 have revealed that political solutions are out the window. A lot of conservatives should have known better, but maybe it takes a perceived disaster to shock some people out of their waking dreams. Elections, voting, potential third parties; it’s all Kabuki theater. It’s all a facade to keep us docile and under control.
The liberty movement cannot revolve around a single political figure. We cannot bottleneck our efforts into the hands of one man or one political party. The fight is up to us – each of us as individuals. It was ALWAYS up to us.
A different form of organization needs to happen if Americans are going to protect our freedoms; a grassroots approach from the ground up rather than the top down. There will of course be people who stand out as teachers and pioneers, those that lead by example. But overall, the movement will not be acting on orders from on high. Rather, it will be acting according to self motivation. The liberty movement is not driven by personalities, but by shared principles which take on a life of their own.
I’m not worried about Biden. In fact, his presence may be the best thing to happen to conservative unity in well over a decade. The only thing I worry about, as noted, is who is going to stand their ground, and who is going to give in?
Biden may also be a wake up call for any moderate democrats out there who thought that by voting for a hair-sniffing corporate puppet they might put an end to the division and civil unrest in the nation. I think they will discover that Joe will attract even MORE civil unrest. He might trigger more looting and rioting by Antifa and BLM than Trump did, by the simple fact these insane people will assume that Biden will be malleable and easier to exploit.
Biden himself is not all that important; he is nothing more than a foil for bigger events and a proxy for more nefarious people. His presence signals that the “Great Reset” agenda is fully greenlit. This agenda has a pretty obvious set of goals, many of them openly admitted to by the World Economic Forum, and some of them strongly implied by the extreme political left and the media. They include:
1) Perpetual pandemic lockdowns and economic controls until the population submits to medical tyranny.
2) Medical passports and contact tracing as a part of everyday life.
3) The censorship and de-platforming of all voices that oppose the agenda.
4) Greatly reduced economic activity in the name of stopping “climate change”.
5) Greatly increased poverty and the loss of private property.
6) The introduction of “Universal Basic Income” in which the government becomes the all-powerful welfare provider and nursemaid for a generation of dependent and desperate people.
7) A cashless society and digital currency system where privacy in trade is completely erased.
8) The creation of a “shared economy” in which no one will own anything and independent production is outlawed.
9) The deletion of national borders and the end of sovereignty and self-determination.
10) The centralization of global political power into the hands of a select few elitists.
Now, you would think that most sensible people would be opposed to such a dystopian agenda. It would inevitably lead to mass death in economic terms, as well as war. Unless you are a psychopath that gets a vicarious thrill from the brutal oppression of millions of people, or you are a globalist that stands to gain immense power, there is nothing about the Reset that benefits you.
That said, there will still be millions of useful idiots that support totalitarian policies, and they will act to enforce them. Some of them will be convinced that they are serving the “greater good”, and others will think that they can “earn a place at the table” if they lick the boots of tyrants long enough. Bottom line? It’s not just the globalists we need to worry about, it is also the contingent of zombies they have duped or bribed into serving the Reset.
The information war is about to take a backseat and a new fight is about to begin. But how will it start?
I believe the first test for conservatives will be Biden’s pandemic response. The Reset agenda and the pandemic are closely intertwined. Do not be misled by calls from Democrats to reopen the economy; there are strings attached.
When New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said that the state needed to reopen, or there would be “nothing left”, he also consistently hinted that vaccination numbers needed to improve. There are two big lies involved in this narrative – The first is that the vaccination rollout has failed on a technical level.
They want us to believe that only around 60% of the first 2 million vaccine doses have been administered because the state and hospitals failed to get them to citizens fast enough. The truth is, as we’ve seen in numerous polls of Americans and medical staff, millions of people DO NOT WANT to take the vaccine. The situation in New York must be shocking to establishment elites; it’s one of the most leftists states in the US and yet they can’t seem to trick enough people into taking the shot.
The same is true across the country, and it’s not because of bureaucratic failure, it is a propaganda failure.
Second, Cuomo’s statements hint that though lockdowns are destroying the economy, vaccine saturation is paramount. The message is this – “Take the vaccine, or the economy will crash.” The pandemic response is a carrot and stick approach: The lockdowns are the stick, and the reopenings are the carrot.
Of course, even if most people get vaccinated and submit to medical passports and contact tracing like good little slaves, this does not mean life will go back to normal. On the contrary, things will get much worse.
As I have noted in past articles like ‘Waves Of Mutilation: Medical Tyranny And The Cashless Society’, the globalists have admitted that the covid mandates and controls are going to be in place for many years, perhaps forever. Elites at MIT and the Imperial College Of London have written extensively about a strategy I call “Wave Theory”, in which governments constantly batter the public with waves of lockdowns followed by brief windows of partial openings and limited freedom.
The reopenings are a trick, a way to release public tension like a steam valve and make everyone think that the crisis is almost over. Then, the draconian mandates are brought back once again. This will never end. The only way to stop it is to remove the globalists from power and crush the Reset agenda.
A new narrative is already being injected into the mainstream media hinting that even vaccinations will not lead to freedom.
Anthony Fauci and others have argued that those who are vaccinated still need to follow lockdown mandates and wear masks. This policy completely ignores the scientific FACT that the death rate of covid is only 0.26% for anyone outside of a nursing home. It ignores the fact that masks have been consistently proven to do nothing to stop the spread of the virus. It ignores the fact that hospitals across the US have remained mostly empty, with only 15% of capacity in use during Covid . And, it ignores the fact that the vaccines are barely tested experimental cocktails that even the former VP of Pfizer has warned might cause dangerous autoimmune reactions and infertility.
On top of this, more and more stories about “covid mutations” are hitting the news wire. They are supposedly more infectious and more deadly than the original (which runs contrary to the natural evolution of the vast majority of viruses), and the mutation in South Africa is also “possibly” unaffected by existing vaccines. There is no concrete proof to support any of the claims, but I think you see where all of this is headed, right?
My guess is that in about two months the CDC and WHO will announce a new global outbreak of a more deadly strain of Covid. They will say the current vaccines are ineffective, and that lockdowns must continue. Hundreds of millions of people around the world are savvy to the old covid-19 scheme, so the elites are going to introduce covid-20, and covid-21, and covid-22, etc.
Biden will call for Level 4 lockdowns similar to those implemented in Europe and Australia, and this is where conservatives must draw a line in the sand and announce that we are not subject to unconstitutional restrictions, that we are breaking free. This will be our first major test.
It’s not enough to simply say “I won’t submit” when the consequences are minimal. One must be willing to fight back even when the consequences are dire. Being willing to lose everything for what you believe, being willing to possibly die for your values and principles means you are no longer a spectator in history, but an actor that can affect the future. Anything less is not enough to win the war that is coming.
We are at war. Yes. And I don’t mean the West against the East, against Russia and China, nor the entire world against an invisible corona virus.
No. We, the common people, are at war against an ever more authoritarian and tyrannical elitist Globalist system, reigned by a small group of multi-billionaires, that planned already decades ago to take power over the people, to control them, reduce them to what a minute elite believes is an “adequate number” to inhabit Mother Earth – and to digitize and robotize the rest of the survivors, as a sort of serfs. It’s a combination of George Orwell’s “1984” and Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”.
Welcome to the age of the transhumanism. If we allow it.
Vaccination
That’s why vaccination is needed in warp speed, to inject us with transgenic substances that may change our DNA, lest we may wake up, or at least a critical mass may become conscious – and change the dynamics. Because dynamics are not predictable, especially not in the long-term.
The war is real and the sooner we all realize it, the sooner those in masks and those in social distancing take cognizance of the worldwide “anti-human” dystopian situations we have allowed our governments to bestow on us, the better our chance to retake our sovereign selves.
Today we are confronted with totally illegal and oppressive rules, all imposed under the pretext of “health protection”.
Non-obedience is punishable by huge fines; military and police enforced rules: Mask wearing, social distancing, keeping within the allowed radius of our “homes”, quarantining, staying away from our friends and families.
Actually, the sooner, We, the People, will take up an old forgotten characteristic of human kind – “solidarity” – and fight this war with our solidarity, with our love for each other, for mankind, with our love for LIFE and our Love for Mother Earth, the sooner we become again independent, self-assured beings, an attribute we have lost gradually over the last decades, at the latest since the beginning of the neoliberal onslaught of the 1980s.
Slice by tiny slice of human rights and civil rights have been cut off under false pretexts and propaganda – “security” – to the point where we, drowned in propagated dangers of all kinds, begged for more security and gladly gave away more of our freedoms and rights. How sad.
Now, the salami has been sliced away.
We suddenly realize, there is nothing left. Its irrecoverable.
We have allowed it to happen before our eyes, for promised comfort and propaganda lies by these small groups of elitists – by the Globalists, in their thirst for endless power and endless greed – and endless enlargements of their riches, of their billions. – Are billions of any monetary union “riches”? – Doubtfully. They have no love. No soul, no heart just a mechanical blood-pump that keeps them alive, if you can call that a “life”.
These people, the Globalists, they have sunk so deep in their moral dysfunction, totally devoid of ethics, that their time has come – either to be judged against international human rights standards, war crimes and crimes against humanity – similar as was done by the Nuremberg Trials after World War II, or to disappear, blinded away by a new epoch of Light.
As the number of awakening people is increasing, the western Powers that Be (PTB) are becoming increasingly nervous and spare no efforts coercing all kinds of people, para-government, administrative staff, medical personnel, even independent medical doctors into defending and promoting the official narrative.
It is so obvious, when you have known these people in “normal” times, their progressive opinions suddenly turning, by 180 degrees, to the official narrative, defending the government lies, the lies of the bought “scientific Task Forces” that “advise” the governments, and thereby provide governments with alibis to “tighten the screws” a bit more (Ms. Merkel’s remarks) around the people, the very people the governments should defend and work for; the lies and deceptive messages coming from “scientists” who may have been promised “eternal, endless ladders of careers”, or of lives in a hidden paradise?
What more may they get in turn for trying to subvert their friends’, peers’, patients’ opinions about the horror disease “covid-19”? – Possibly something that is as good as life itself – and is basically cost free for the avaricious rich. For example, a vax-certificate without having been vaxxed by the toxic injections, maybe by a placebo – opening the world of travel and pleasurable activities to them as “before”.
By the way, has anybody noticed that in this 2020 / 2021 winter flu-season, the flu has all but disappeared? – Why? – It has conveniently been folded into covid, to fatten and exaggerate the covid statistics. It’s a must, dictated by the Globalists, the “invisible” top echelon, whose names may not be pronounced. Governments have to comply with “covid quotas”, in order to survive the hammer of the Globalists.
Other special benefits for those selected and complacent defender of the official narrative, the placebo-vaxxed, may include dispensation from social distancing, mask wearing, quarantining – and who knows, a hefty monetary award. Nothing would be surprising, when you see how this tiny evil cell is growing like a cancer to take over full power of the world – including and especially Russia and China, where the bulk of the world’s natural resources are buried, and where technological and economic advances far outrank the greed-economy of the west. They will not succeed.
What if the peons don’t behave? – Job loss, withdrawal of medical licenses, physical threats to families and loved ones, and more.
Screen Shot: NTD, December 16, 2020
The Globalists evil actions and influence-peddling is hitting a wall in the East, where they are confronted with educated and awakened people.
We are at war. Indeed. The 99.999% against the 0.001%.
Their tactics are dividing to conquer, accompanied by this latest brilliant idea – launching an invisible enemy, a virus, a plandemic, and a fear campaign to oppress and tyrannize the entire world, all 193 UN member countries.
The infamous words, spoken already more than half a century ago by Rockefeller protégé, Henry Kissinger, comes to mind:
“Who controls food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the world.”
“People everywhere are eager to bid farewell to 2020, a year in which our lives were turned upside down by power-mad elites who seized the Covid-19 pandemic as a chance to go full police state.
But be careful what you wish for…. merely putting up a new calendar does nothing to address [the mounting repression and tyranny], which seem certain to reach a breaking point.
Humanity has been pushed to the limit with arbitrary rules, enforced poverty, and mandated isolation — it will only take a spark or two for things to explode.”
And it continues –
”As vaccines are rolled out to the general public, the divide between those obeying the rules and the dissidents will only grow. Those who decline to get the jab will be treated as pariahs, banned from some public spaces and told it’s their fault life hasn’t gone back to normal, just as so-called “anti-maskers” have been.”
And more glorious prospects
“Anyone who isn’t thrilled by the idea of ingesting an experimental compound whose makers have been indemnified from any lawsuits, will be deemed an enemy of the state, even separated from their children or removed from their home as a health risk. Neighbors will gleefully rat each other out for the equivalent of an extra chocolate ration, meaning even the most slavishly obedient individuals could end up in “quarncentration camps” for upsetting the wrong person.”
Yes, we are in the midst of war.
A war that has already ravaged our society, divided it all the way down to families and friends.
If we are not careful, we may not look our children and grandchildren in the eyes, because we knew, we ought to have known what was and is going on, what is being done, by a small dark power elite – the Globalists. We must step out of our comfort zone, and confront the enemy with an awakened mind of consciousness and a heart filled with love – but also with fierce resistance.
If we fail to step up and stand up for our rights, this war goes on to prepare future generations – to abstain from congregating with other people.
They are already indoctrinating our kids into keeping away from friends, school colleagues, peers, and from playing in groups with each other – as the New Normal.
The self-declared cupula – the crème of the crop of civilization – the Globalist evil masters, already compromised and continue to do so, the education systems throughout the globe to instill into kids and young adults that wearing masks is essential for survival, and “social distancing” is the only way forward.
We were told initially that the premise for lockdown was to ‘flatten the curve’ and therefore protect the NHS from being overwhelmed.
It is clear that at no point was the National Health Service (NHS) in any danger of being overwhelmed, and since May 2020 covid wards have been largely empty; and crucially the death toll from covid has remained extremely low.
We now have hundreds of thousands of so-called ‘cases’, ‘infections’ and ‘positive tests’ but hardly any sick people. Recall that four-fifths (80%) of ‘infections’ are asymptomatic Covid wards have been by and large empty throughout June, July, August, and September 2020.
Most importantly covid deaths are at an all-time low. It is clear that these ‘cases’ are in fact not ‘cases’ but rather they are normal healthy people.
So-called asymptomatic cases have never in the history of respiratory disease been the driver for the spread of infection. Rather it is symptomatic people who spread respiratory infections – not asymptomatic people.
It is also abundantly clear that the ‘pandemic’ is basically over and has been since June 2020.
We have very highly likely reached herd immunity and therefore have no need for a vaccine.
We have safe and very effective treatments and preventative treatments for covid, we, therefore, call for an immediate end to all lockdown measures, social distancing, mask-wearing, testing of healthy individuals, track and trace, immunity passports, the vaccination program, and so on.
There has been a catalog of unscientific, non-sensical policies enacted which infringe our inalienable rights, such as – freedom of movement, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly. These draconian totalitarian measures must never be repeated.
Ultimate Proof: Covid-19 Was Planned To Usher In The New World Order LOCKDOWN Covid has proved less deadly than previous influenza seasons – There were 50,100 flu deaths from December 2017 to March 2018 in England and Wales. There were 80,000 flu deaths in 1969. To date, we have circa 42,000 covid related deaths in the UK. We have never locked down society for a respiratory virus before. The basis for the lockdown was a mathematical model by Professor Neil Ferguson. His modeling which predicted half a million deaths in the UK has been roundly condemned as being not fit for purpose. His estimated death figures were clearly wrong by a factor of 10 or 12 times. Professor Ferguson’s modeling was not even peer-reviewed before being acted upon by several nations. Eminent epidemiologists such as Professor Gupta from Oxford University were ignored, they estimated the death count would be far lower in the UK. Professor Ferguson has a long track record of woeful modeling he was entirely wrong about sars, mers, mad cow’s disease (CJD), and swine flu. Why did the world listen to him again? Countries that did not lock down Sweden, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Belarus have all done significantly better than us in terms of the percentage of population deaths. They also have herd immunity and intact economies.
Lockdown did not save lives, and this has been published in the Lancet ‘….in our analysis, full lockdowns and wide-spread COVID-19 testing were not associated with reductions in the number of critical cases or overall mortality.’ The vast majority of deaths occurred in elderly and very elderly people The vast majority of deaths occurred in people with severe pre-existing health issues such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes etc. Covid poses virtually zero risks to the under 45’s who have more chance of being struck by lightning than dying from covid. Covid poses a very small risk for healthy under 60-year-olds who have a greater chance of accidental drowning than dying from covid. The entire nation was essentially placed under house arrest. We have never isolated the healthy before. Isolating the sick and those who are immunocompromised makes sense. Isolating the healthy has hampered the establishment of herd immunity and makes no sense. To put it into perspective we had 115,000 smoking related deaths in the UK in 2015 compared to the 42,000 deaths from covid. We usually have around 600,000 deaths every year in the UK, roughly 1600 deaths per day. COLLATERAL DAMAGE THE CURE IS WORSE THAN THE VIRUS Placing the public under virtual house arrest has caused untold damage to both physical and mental health. Ventilating patients instead of oxygenating patients proved to be a deadly policy and an unwarranted failure. Ventilation resulted in many unnecessary deaths. Sending infected people from hospitals to care homes placed the elderly and frail under unnecessary risk and resulted in many unnecessary deaths. Blanket Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders were imposed on thousands of people without their consent nor the consent of their families – this is both unlawful and immoral and leads to unnecessary deaths in care homes. Hospitals became essentially ‘covid only’ centers vast numbers of patients were wilfully neglected, resulting in many thousands of unnecessary deaths. The government’s own report estimates that some two hundred thousand (200,000) people will die as a direct result of lockdown – not the virus. Hospitals being closed, suicide and poverty will result in more deaths than the virus. The cure is worse than the disease!
DEATH CERTIFICATES The majority of people who died had significant comorbidities, such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Counting death certificates with a ‘mention’ of covid as being a death caused by covid is a gross misrepresentation of the facts and has vastly over-exaggerated the death toll. The rules for the signing of death certificates have been changed solely for covid by the Coronavirus 2020 Act. Doctors do not even need to have physically seen the patient in order to sign death certificates. The Act has removed the need for a confirmatory medical certificate for cremations. Autopsies have virtually been banned, no doubt leading to misdiagnosis of the true cause of deaths, and also reducing our understanding of the disease itself. Worse still, care home staff who largely have no medical training are able to give a statement as to the cause of death. Covid was put on death certificates merely on the ‘suspicion’ of people having covid. This may well be unlawful since it is a crime to falsify death certificates. People who die within 28 days of a positive PCR test are deemed to have died from covid, even if they die in a car crash or from a heart attack; clearly over-inflating the death toll ECONOMIC RUIN Reports now estimate that as many as six and a half million (6,500,000) people in the UK will lose their jobs as a result of lockdown. It is well known that poverty directly adversely affects health, we can expect to see many people suffering from poor health and resulting in many premature deaths, as a direct result of lockdown. CENSORSHIP The government has acted maliciously in censoring doctors, nurses, and NHS staff. The people have the perfect right to hear what is going on in hospitals, and the medical profession has a duty to look after the public and to reassure them. The medical profession has not been allowed to let the public know that covid wards have been empty for months, nor that covid deaths have reached an all-time low for months, and this has unnecessarily added to the public’s distress and anxiety. Doctors and scientists with views that differ from the government narrative have had their videos and articles removed from the internet TESTING – FALSE POSITIVES PCR tests cannot be verified for accuracy as there is no ‘gold standard’ against which to check them. The virus has not been purified. PCR tests cannot detect viral loads and are prone to false positives. A positive PCR test does not mean that an individual is infected nor infective. In fact, approximately 90% of the PCR positive ‘cases’ are false positives. We, therefore, have no second wave and no pandemic. The government’s report estimates a false positive rate of between 0.8 to 4.0 % using data from other viral infections – not from covid Viral fragments may remain in people’s bodies for several weeks following recovery from infection. The crisis will never end if we are waiting for zero positive tests. Everyone has probably had a cold caused by a coronavirus and will likely have a few viral fragments matching those of the cousin SARS-CoV-2 virus Testing healthy asymptomatic individuals is non-sensical, unscientific and a colossal waste of money. The government’s moon shot daily testing program will cost £100 Billion roughly two-thirds of the annual NHS budget. Antibody testing is not the gold standard as many people have T-cell immunity, and antibodies may not circulate following recovery from infection.
HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE
The controversial drug Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been unfairly smeared, by the WHO, CDC, NIH, and the media. However HCQ has very firm support from, amongst others: Professor Harvey Risch epidemiologist from Yale, The American Association of Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), American Frontline Doctors, the Henry Ford Health System, and Professor Didier Raoult microbiologist and infectious disease specialist – to name but a few. The Lancet was even forced to retract a study on HCQ after it was revealed by the Guardian newspaper that they had been completely fabricated and written by a sci-fi writer and a porn star. Even following this astounding revelation HCQ was still banned in most countries. HCQ according to AAPS has a ninety percent (90%) cure rate when given early and alongside zinc HCQ is safer than many over the counter drugs such as aspirin, Benadryl, and Tylenol. The AAPS also points out that there has never been a vaccine as safe as HCQ. HCQ has been licensed for over sixty years and has been safely used by billions of people worldwide. There is a very small risk of arrhythmia which is easily monitored. Why was HCQ banned then? Could it be that there are no huge profits to be made from this out-of-patent drug? HCQ was used to great effect in the Sars1 outbreak of 2005 In short, had HCQ been available then there would not have been a pandemic!
PREVENTION
Preventative measures such as hydroxychloroquine or vitamin D,vitamin C, and zinc should have been recommended for the public. Early calcifediol (25-hydroxyvitamin D) treatment to hospitalized COVID-19 patients significantly reduced intensive care unit admissions Vit D reduces the severity of covid. Voluntary isolation of the frail – should they so choose; in combination with preventative measures would have been a far better strategy. The rest of society could and should have continued as normal.
VACCINE
A rushed vaccine is clearly not in the public’s best interest Indemnifying vaccine manufacturers against all liability is also clearly not in the public’s best interest
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Chief Scientific Officer Sir Patrick Vallance has £600,000 worth of shares in GSK Glaxo Smith Klein. He has in recent years sold £5 million of shares in GSK which he ‘earned’ whilst chief of GSK Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer UK, accepted over £30 million in funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to study malaria vaccines. It has become clear that members of SAGE, Public Health England (PHE), World Health Organisation (WHO), Centre for Disease Control (CDC), National Institute for Health (NIH), etc have many conflicts of interest. They all accept very large ‘donations’ from the pharmaceutical and vaccine industry. These conflicts of interests may well have effectively corrupted their integrity. It is also clear that governments are heavily lobbied by the pharmaceutical industry and the vaccine industry, again this may have compromised their integrity.
CUI BONO? WHO BENEFITS?
Vaccine manufacturers will make trillions from this, as will track and trace manufacturers, and the pharmaceutical industry stand to make trillions from covid testing. Prime minister Boris Johnson announced the new ‘moon shot’ testing will cost £100 Billion, approximately two thirds of the annual NHS budget. Surely these vast sums would be far better spent on treating all of the neglected patients who have been wilfully neglected during lockdown and who now face huge waiting lists.
CONCLUSIONS
We have effective and safe treatments and preventative medications for covid, therefore there is no need for any lockdown restrictions and associated measures. The pandemic is essentially over as can be seen by the consistent low death rate and hospital admissions over the past four months.
We demand the immediate and permanent ceasing of all lockdown measures.
Lockdowns do not save lives, that is why they have never been used before. Civil liberties and fundamental freedoms have been unnecessarily removed from the public and this must never happen again.
Preventative measures such as Hydroxychloroquine, vitamin C, Vitamin D and zinc must be made readily available to the public.
Isolation must be voluntary. People are perfectly capable of making their own assessment of the risks and must be free to go about their lives as they so choose. People must have the right to choose whether to isolate or not.
Likewise, businesses must have the right to remain open if they so choose.
We demand that doctors, nurses, scientists and healthcare professionals must be permitted free speech and never be censored again.
Professor Mark Woolhouse epidemiologist and specialist in infectious diseases, Edinburgh University Member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours, that advises the Government stated that –
‘…Lockdown was a monumental disaster on a global scale. The cure was worse than the disease.’
‘I never want to see national lockdown again. It was always a temporary measure that simply delayed the stage of the epidemic we see now. It was never going to change anything fundamentally, however low we drove down the number of cases,’
‘We absolutely should never return to a position where children cannot play or go to school.’
I believe the harm lockdown is doing to our education, health care access, and broader aspects of our economy and society will turn out to be at least as great as the harm done by Covid-19.’
The World Doctors Alliance agree fully with Prof Woolhouse’s assertions, he is right! We must never lockdown again!
Congratulations, Americans! The media that declares the winners of your (s)elections have reported that the voting machines that decide the winner of your (s)elections have (s)elected Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. to become the 46th President of the good ol’ US of A in January!
And in a longstanding tradition befitting of the nation that stands as the Beacon of Democracy and Leader of the Free World™, we know that the loyal slaves subjects citizens of the United States will dust themselves off, shake hands, compliment each other on a good contest and go back to business as usual, right?
No, of course not. Things are not going back to business as usual. They aren’t meant to. That’s the point.
Literal blacklists that will be used to financially boycott and socially ostracize ex-Trump staffers and campaign workers (and, inevitably, supporters).
No, today’s pronouncement (which, lest we forget, will be challenged) is not the end of anything. It’s just the beginning.
And it does not present a path out of chaos. On the contrary. This path leads straight into the heart of chaos.
None of this is surprising. In fact, things are going exactly according to plan.
Confused? Don’t be. I have a data dump of info for you.
Let’s start with Rosa Brooks and Nils Gilman.
Brooks is a Georgetown law professor who has publicly advocated a military coup as one method of “getting rid of” Trump and Gilman is an historian at the globalist Berggruen Institute who once called for the execution of a lecturer and research fellow at Hillsdale College.
Back in 2019, these completely neutral political observers took it upon themselves to organize something called the Transition Integrity Project (TIP), bringing together a “bipartisan” group of politicos to simulate four different scenarios “aimed at identifying potential risks to the integrity of the 2020 election and transition process.”
And who, exactly, did Brooks and Gilman bring on board for this totally bipartisan endeavour?
Oh, just concerned and distinterested political observers like John “Pizzagate” Podesta, Donna “DNC Rigger” Brazile, William “Neocon” Kristol and David “Axis of Evil” Frum.
See? It was a totally bipartisan effort involving deep state operatives from both sides of the phoney left/right political spectrum!
The four scenarios that the group simulated were as follows:
Scenario A: Democratic party candidate Joe Biden wins both the popular vote and the Electoral College by a healthy margin;
Scenario B: Biden wins both the popular vote and the Electoral College by a narrow margin;
Scenario C: President Trump wins the Electoral College vote by a narrow margin, but loses the popular vote by a healthy margin;
Scenario D: The winner of the election was not known as of the morning after the election and the outcome of the race was too close to predict with certainty.
The report that they produced this past August (and which the controlled corporate media dutifully fawned all over) lays out in black and white the exact (organized) chaos that we have seen play out over the last few days, noting that:
The concept of “election night,” is no longer accurate and indeed is dangerous.
A determined campaign has opportunity to contest the election into January 2021.
The administrative transition process itself may be highly disrupted.
The first part of their prediction has already started to unfold: “We anticipate lawsuits, divergent media narratives, attempts to stop the counting of ballots, and protests drawing people from both sides.
President Trump, the incumbent, will very likely use the executive branch to aid his campaign strategy, including through the Department of Justice.”
The rest of their prediction seems equally plausible given how things stand at the moment:
“We assess that there is a chance the president will attempt to convince legislatures and/or governors to take actions – including illegal actions – to defy the popular vote.
“Federal laws provide little guidance for how Congress should resolve irregularities when they convene in a Joint Session on January 6, 2021. Of particular concern is how the military would respond in the context of uncertain election results.”
Oh, and the whole report ends by suggesting:
that there needs to be a “truth and reconciliation commission” set up to deal with ex-Trump collaborationists;
and that there needs to be a campaign to root out the “white supremacist and extremist networks that enabled Trump’s rise to power.”
Of course, this TIP report isn’t an amazingly accurate “prediction.”
It is a predictive program, a cover for the exact operation that we see playing out right now.
In their “scenario” the TIP LARPers “imagined” the following:
The Trump Campaign engaged in a large and coordinated disinformation campaign primarily focused on the legitimacy of the mail-in ballots.
This campaign used the media to amplify “stolen election” and “voter fraud” narratives, and launched [a] noisy DoJ investigation into voter fraud.
Keep in mind that this report was released three months ago, before this very “stolen election” scenario became the news headlines that we are reading in today’s paper.
Now, if one were a conspiracy theorist, one might posit that a criminal group who was going to use forged mail-in ballots and voting machine software “glitches” to steal an election would want to seed the idea ahead of time that any talk of election stealing is a transparent lie.
That way, when they commit their crime, the victim would either have to accept the stolen election or play into their narrative by doing exactly what they predicted he would do.
Seriously. Read the report for yourself. You can’t make this stuff up.
But if there is one moment when the TIP coup planners reveal their hand, it is where they suggest that rather than “healing the pain” and bringing together a divided nation, the Democrats should instead double down and make sure that they utterly crush any Republican opposition to their coming rule.
According to the report, “GOP activists (possibly encouraged by Trump himself and by far-right media) may seek to create ongoing street-level chaos and conflict,” which, according to these “experts” should be countered by the Democrats escalating the tension by “publicly supporting the peaceful protest movement that has emerged since late May, rather than continuing to seek conciliation and compromise with the GOP.”
You see, the plan was never to cool things off or calm people down after this scripted (s)election drama plays out. Not even close. In reality, the chaos is the plan.
This is only confusing if you think that the deep state consists only of establishment Democrats who care about the continued functioning of the status quo functioning of USA Inc.
But we conspiracy realists know that is not the case.
The real deep staters — the ones with Rs after their name and the ones with Ds after their name and the ones who aren’t even American and the ones who participated in the assassination of JFK and the ones who coordinated the 9/11 plot and the ones who have worked to erect the biosecurity state that is locking the world down even as we speak — are not interested in the long-term survival of Pax Americana.
In fact, it’s the exact opposite. The plan has always been for a Great Reset to bring about a New World Order of a one-world financial system and an international governing body to implement the perfect technocratic state.
And, as I have stressed time and time again, that cannot happen until the current paradigm — the Pax Americana built on the petrodollar and enforced by NATO — is destroyed.
As I wrote during the last chaotic change of puppets in Washington:
Of course, we have to understand that we have been brought to this point for a reason. In order to get their new order, the powers-that-shouldn’t-be had to generate this current chaos.
The unprecedented levels of social, political and economic tension we are experiencing right now are part of a game plan. To reset the chess pieces, the board has to be knocked over first.
These words are even more apt today than they were on the day that I first wrote them.
And it is important for the Americans in the crowd to know that the lockdowns and pandemic hysteria that have engulfed the entire world in this year of chaos was not all about the American political (s)election.
The Trump/Biden circus is just one chapter in the Book of 2020 that is being written by the Gateses and the Schwabs and the technocrats who are seeking to force through fundamental changes in the governing order of the world.
If you want a sense of where the Great Resetters are planning to take America and the globe, just turn to their handy-dandy Great Reset bible where they discuss these issues at great length:
On an individual basis, for many, life as they’ve always known it is unravelling at alarming speed. But deep, existential crises also favour introspection and can harbour the potential for transformation.
The fault lines of the world – most notably social divides, lack of fairness, absence of cooperation, failure of global governance and leadership – now lie exposed as never before, and people feel the time for reinvention has come. A new world will emerge, the contours of which are for us to both imagine and to draw.
And, just in case you didn’t get the point:
Many of us are pondering when things will return to normal. The short response is: never.
Nothing will ever return to the “broken” sense of normalcy that prevailed prior to the crisis because the coronavirus pandemic marks a fundamental inflection point in our global trajectory.
Some analysts call it a major bifurcation, others refer to a deep crisis of “biblical” proportions, but the essence remains the same: the world as we knew it in the early months of 2020 is no more, dissolved in the context of the pandemic. Radical changes of such consequence are coming that some pundits have referred to a “before coronavirus” (BC) and “after coronavirus” (AC) era.
By 2025, people seemed to be growing weary of so much top-down control and letting leaders and authorities make choices for them. Wherever national interests clashed with individual interests, there was conflict.
Sporadic pushback became increasingly organized and coordinated, as disaffected youth and people who had seen their status and opportunities slip away — largely in developing countries — incited civil unrest.
In 2026, protestors in Nigeria brought down the government, fed up with the entrenched cronyism and corruption.
Even those who liked the greater stability and predictability of this world began to grow uncomfortable and constrained by so many tight rules and by the strictness of national boundaries.
The feeling lingered that sooner or later, something would inevitably upset the neat order that the world’s governments had worked so hard to establish.
No, this is not about a US presidential (s)election.
This is about the Titanic forces that are leading us through a dialectical process of conflict and unrest into a world of top-down control the likes of which has never been seen before in human history. And we are only at the beginning of this change.
In short, prepare for more chaos, not less, as the deep state cheerleaders pop the corks on their champagne bottles and prematurely rejoice a return to “normality.” I think we’re all about to find out we’re not in Kansas anymore.
The World We Live In 