Survival 101 Disaster

The word "Survival" can cover many things under different circumstances & to different people. I guess in the simplest terms, if you happen to encounter a bad situation & later be able to tell about it. This does not have to be miles from nowhere on a hunting/fishing trip, but could also be around home if mother nature happened to have PMS & give out LOTS of rain, WIND, volcano eruption, earthquake, fire etc. that could effect you or your family's well being. This could also be extended to major rioting, economic upheaval in a gigantic form, or anything that puts you or your family in a dire situation. It could even be where you have been unemployed for long enough that you have become homeless.

Be Prepared ; The number one thing that you can do to survive in any circumstance is BE PREPARED. Now in achieving this goal it may not put you in a comfortable environment during the interim, but may at least keep you away from a unexpected appointment with the grim reaper.

Evaluate Your Situation Beforehand ; It will make a lot of difference if you live in an urban area, out in the country, in lowland near a river or in the path of a major flood or volcano eruption. Most situations, you can still stay in your own home, but may need electrical power, or a tarp to cover a roof that a tree fell into. In those instances where you may have to move out, as during a major flood, try to locate a friend on high ground beforehand that you could move in with or park your RV at. If you live in a city where everyone else will be evacuating on the same roads, don't wait, get out as early as possible. And look at maps ahead of time, try to figure out an alternate route, more than one would be a wise choice, then drive them occasionally. It would be better to get out early & it be somewhat of a lesser emergency that was predicted, than to wait & get stalled in a major traffic jam, then run out of gasoline.

Each type of emergency will have different needs for different people. Your imagination & ability to carry out your plan will be the limiting factors.

When disasters happen, it brings out the best in people who up until then were total strangers. You will find many helping hands even without asking. You may also find that some of these hands are not extended in front of you, but are trying to take advantage of the apparent weak/unsuspecting.

In situations like these, you can be mostly on your own as far as help from the police, fire department, even EMTs may be almost non-existent for small emergencies.

In most emergency situations, life goes on. Those that have jobs still need to be able to go to work, at least after the main crisis is over with. If you live in a rural area, there are still things that need to be done, even if you are retired. And you may find yourself helping those that are less prepared than you.

Emergencies Can Be Divided Into Different Groups ; (1) Those where you can stay in your abode. (2) Those that you have to evacuate.

Given the choice, most of us will want to stay in your own home if it is anywhere near inhabitable, or at least as close by as possible. This will make a big difference in what you need to do in a disaster. And the disaster itself will dictate which it will be. It will take a lot of advance preparation if you only have less than an hour to pack up & get out. The #2 could also be broken out into the length of stay (short term as compared to long term).

In either of these choices, when things get dire, anything you have that may appear desirous to other humans, (or animals, both large & small for that matter) will be something that you may have to defend in order to keep possession of. The NUMBER ONE item in this category would be FOOD. If you live in a urban area, your small garden could get raided. Your pantry or deep freeze, or their contents are not beyond this confiscation either. If you have a farm, either large or small, your animals could be slaughtered during the dark of the night for food. And in a situation like this culling will not occur, but the ones that are the easiest to take down. NUMBER TWO item would be anything that could be construed to be SHELTER.

Things You Can Do ; Waiting could be disastrous. Within a few hours of a major flood or power outage, grocery store shelves WILL be BARE & possible no freight trucks could get in so they could be restocked anytime soon. Breads/pastries/packaged meals & meats would be the first to go, with canned goods running a close second. And in situations like this where there is an unknown, people do tend to buy more than they really need, but then they have no idea of how long this situation will last.

Safeway shelves within hours of notification of major flooding heading this way

Partner with someone to share some of the expensive items needed, like a portable generator, power saw, 4X4 quad or a small boat. Also do you or the partner have a physical condition where you/they may need help occasionally? Or worse if some of your family is so medically/physically disabled that just moving them creates a insurmountable problem. Then in the partner situation, if things get hairy as to civil uprising circumstances, you can not be on guard 24 hours a day, you need to get some rest/sleep. By choosing a partner or two, you can trade off. Here is where neighborhoods can band together for the benefit of all.

Surviving a Economic Collapse ; Now this will be somewhat the same as a natural disaster, but will be for an extended period of time. However you will usually have some time to prepare for an economic disaster as they do not happen overnight if you understand world economics. In today's world, you would have to be totally out of touch with the country's or world news to not be aware of the economy slumping. And if it does happen, you will usually be staying in your home in this case.

You can usually see this one coming if you keep your head out of the sand. When this begins to take shape, get rid of as many of your expenses as possible, like trade you newer car that you still owe much for, in onto a older cheaper, but yet sound vehicle. Start stocking up on food. You will need to prepare for a whole different world than you know now. Being able to survive this will be a bit more challenging than camping out for a few days until the flood waters recede.

The more dedicated survivalists will usually be preparing for an economic collapse, which will take the longest time to recover from. There can be good things to be said about preparing for this especially with the current economic downturn on our backs, but I caution you to consider your own situation, evaluate it, do some preparation but do not get hurriedly carried away. Try to come up with a plan that will work for you. If you have enough land, consider a small garden, (even a small greenhouse) a milk goat (not a cow because of the extensive need for it's food), a few chickens etc.

For those of you who may want to investigate this, CLICK HERE for a link to a very informational survival website. This is a comprehensive website that even though you may not now be a died in the wool survivalist, it will open your eyes as to possible situations that you may encounter.

Do not go deep into debt to get ready for this situation. You can be frugal & yet have assembled a well laid out plan. Put together a list of necessities, then a sub wish list. These could change at any point in time with updated evaluations.

Have a Go Bag ; Have a grab bag filled with the bare necessities if you have little notice (especially if you live in a urban area). For those of you who hunt, fish or go camping, you may already have most of the makings of this bag. A back-pack could be a good start along with a duffle bag filled with a sleeping bag & some clothing. CLICK HERE for a link to quality larger military approved type backpacks. Even a couple of airline wheeled travel bags could hold a lot & be readily movable could be a desired item.

Vehicle & Fuel ; Always try to have a full fuel tank or at least some extra fuel available for a vehicle. Remember that all the gas station fuel pumps are now computer operated & by electricity. If the power was to go off, no gas could be pumped without a portable generator being used & many station operators may not have made provisions for this or simply don't care. AND most assuredly the price of gasoline WILL increase IF it is available. Recommended would be numerous 5 gallon plastic fuel cans (10 would not be unrealistic). The reason for 5 gallon cans is that they are in the size that most people could readily move them if required. Date them, keep them full & stabilized & in a dark, cool location. Rotate them by using this fuel in your vehicle so that they do not get over a year old. Also keep some extra engine & transmission oil on hand. Have a siphon hose on hand.

Consider purchasing a medium to full size 4X4 vehicle with a heavy duty bumper guard on the front, if in case you get trapped in a traffic situation like a small riot (stay away from any area where a large riot may occur), you may be able to bully yourself out of the conflict as if you were in a destruction derby, or go thru otherwise impassable terrain. Even a electric winch on this vehicle may prove to be useful. Many dedicated hunters already drive these types of vehicles.

Maybe even a motorcycle or quad could be useful under some circumstances, which could be used to get around in difficult places & on considerably less fuel than a full sized vehicle.

How about being sure your vehicle fire extinguishers are operational? Have a spare vehicle key hid outside/under the vehicle in a magnetic case.

Groceries ; Buy groceries in quantities so that you have a surplus enough to keep you thru for at LEAST a week or two at all times. Much of this could be dry goods, like beans, brown rice, biscuit mix, dried potatoes, even some dried milk, coffee or tea, salt/pepper/sugar. Canned food like Spam, corned beef, hash or canned chicken or tuna that does not need to be refrigerated & can be eaten without heating would be good to have on hand. Rice-A-Roni would be a good bet here. A case or two of military surplus MREs would not be a bad thing either, even if the expiration date was past. A large bag or two of Halloween candy is a good item also.

A book on wild edibles could be very important, especially if it had color photos of these items. Camping & Wilderness Survival book is one that you may consider purchasing.

A fishing rod unit & some tackle may also supplement your diet if the conditions were right. Don't try to use a fly rod if you are a fly fisherman, as you are not out for the sport now, but a more useful spinning outfit. Set up gear for a set line with many hooks on it would be more realistic. By using this, you do not have to spend valuable time trying to catch fish. You could check it once or twice a day.

Extra salt should be considered in case your stay gets extended, whereby it can be used to preserve food, like drying / smoking. Learn how to smoke fish & game meat. Also learn how to dry fruits & vegetables.

Water ; Keep enough purified water on hand. A couple of 5 gallon plastic cans per person would surely be helpful. Date it & check it occasionally, dump & replace. If you live in a area where it rains occasionally, make provisions to catch roof runoff water.

Have the ability to purify it by (1) boiling, (2) disinfecting, or (3) distillation. Water is the single most important element needed to sustain life. The water we use must be uncontaminated & pure. You should purify all water of uncertain origin before using it for drinking, food preparation or hygiene. There are many ways to purify water. None are perfect. Often the best solution is a combination of methods. Before purifying, let any suspended particles settle to the bottom, or strain them through several layers of a paper towel or a clean cloth.

(1) BOILING, is the safest method of purifying water. Bring it to a boil for from 3 to 5 minutes. It will taste better if you put oxygen back into it by pouring it back & forth between two clean containers. This will also improve the taste of stored water.

(2) DISINFECTING, can be accomplished by using ordinary household liquid bleach. Use only regular household bleach containing 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. Do not use scented bleaches.

Add 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water, stir & let stand for at least 30 minutes. If the water does not have a slight bleach odor, repeat the dosage & let stand for another 15 minutes. Agents other than household bleach, such as iodine or water treatment products sold in camping or surplus stores, do not contain the 5.25% sodium hypochlorite as the active ingredient, & should not be trusted.

(3) DISTILLATION, involves boiling water then collecting the vapor that condenses back to water. The condensed vapor will not include salt or other impurities. To distill, fill a pot halfway with water. Suspend a cap size container from the handle on the pot's lid, so the container will hang right-side up when the lid is upside-down. Make sure the container is not dangling into the water. Boil the water 20 minutes. The water that drips from the lid into the container is distilled. This method is usually beyond what most people will consider.

The town of Adna Washington 12-2007. The house center foreground soon was soon swept away. Note the helicopter above & the person standing on it's skid.	Drift-boat & trailer that was in storage, now on roof of Fairgrounds building that had 14' of water in it. This photo taken from a boat with 8' of water still remaining.

Got an RV? ; If you have a RV, travel trailer or pickup camper, keep it stocked & ready to go. You do not have to spend lots of dollars on an RV. Do some research & consider your current needs that may fit a RV into for a later survival situation. Good older usable used units could be available sometimes at in a economical price range, maybe not as fancy, but very serviceable even though some repairs may be needed.

Even a tent would be better than sleeping in a park or field. Maintain a propane bottle in the RV that is close to being full or better yet have a couple of full spare bottles. Extra sleeping bags should also be high on the list. Have extra wool blankets on hand. A 10' X 12' tarp may be useful as a additional shelter.

Fire/Cooking Source ; Keep some sort of a heat source on hand for heat as well as cooking that is readily movable, like the Propane or Butane camp style burners as long as you also provide for extra fuel. Some of these units act as a combo heater or a cooking unit depending on the placement of the burner. Even a outdoor metal fire pit made of a damaged truck wheel with grates & firewood could be used for cooking. Or you could save a old Bar-B-Que grill & use it for a outdoor fire pit grill to cook on. Of course any of these will be of little help if you do not have cooking utensils, pots & pans, water buckets.

Establish a Rendezvous; You will need to establish a secure central location so that if your family may get separated, that they all understand where to meet at. Have a alternative location also in case the primary one is impossible to get to.

A Light Source ; You will need a means of supplying some kind of a light source. This can be in the form of a portable generator, (you don't need a large one, possibly a 1000 to 1500 watt) propane lanterns, or Kerosene lamps, even candles. Flashlights (with extra batteries) while only a temporary situation, but still needed. The head lamp lights are very useful in a hands free situation. Which ever you choose, have enough fuel to carry you thru your expected emergency. Even this extra fuel could be good trading stock.

Currency or Trading Stock ; Keep extra cash money readily available & in denominations $20 & under, up to as much as you feel comfortable with. However do not carry it in your wallet, possibly a money belt or a clip-on wallet in your boot, but not something a pick-pocket could quickly have access to. In today's economy where the interest rates are very low, even having a secure safe at home & some of your savings in it, has benefits by you having access when you need it.

Have more than one major credit card. Even though you may not normally use a cash machine, it may be good to write down your PIN number (if you can't remember it) in a secure location in your wallet, just in case.

Seek out small inexpensive items beforehand that may become in demand, & use these for trading stock. This could include Butane cigarette lighters, candles, candy bars, sewing kits, safety pins, soap/shampoo, tube stockings, 22RF ammo, Sterno & propane fuel canisters, etc.

Legal Documents ; Get your legal documents photo copied & the originals put in a safe deposit box. This could be your will, living will or trust, community property agreement, power of attorney, bank account numbers, property deeds, vehicle titles, passports, cemetery deeds, promissory notes, etc, etc.

Firearms ; Have some firearms & ammunition available, not necessarily to hunt game with but also to protect you from the human predator if the time comes because if you are the one who has prepared & they have not, they may desire what you have. And IF they are a gang, bigger than you (or have the means where they can bully you), you WILL be the victim.

These firearms need to be selected carefully so that they are a common enough caliber that ammo is/will be readily available & transportable if need be. Here is really no need for a high powered elk or sniper style rifle, (however if that is all you have, then keep it). One gun that comes to mind for a outdoor survival is a Savage model 24 over/under in 22RF / 410 or 20 ga. for a subsistence firearm. A Ruger 12/22 semi-auto rifle would also be hard to beat. 22 RF ammo is rather inexpensive & a lot can be stored in relatively small containers. Also consider purchasing a few boxes of 22 RF Subsonic or CB ammo. This can be used to shoot small animals or birds for food but yet not attract attention as they are so low powered that they make very little noise. When things get bad, you could possibly shoot, opossums, pigeons, crows, sea gulls, even starlings for food. Air rifles & sling shots should not be overlooked.

For a personal defense long gun, you need something that looks MEAN. If the time comes that you have to stand in front of your family or possessions, to protect them, you do not want a single shot or hunting firearm, but something that anyone who has watched war movies will readily recognize without you having to convey it's purpose to them. This could be a Soviet military style AK47 or American AR15 type rifles. Have 15 & 30 round magazines loaded & readily available. The 30 round magazines in one of these firearms make them quite impressive. And do not be hesitant in showing off your means of protection in times like these if you have to confront a possible adversary. You will probably not have to say a word, as they will get the message, if not, then it is showdown time. And if you back down, it's all over.

As for a handgun, a 22RF to match your survival rifle's ammo AND a 9mm or 45ACP semi-automatic for personal defense. However if you already own a 357 or 44 Magnum & have enough ammo, these will work, (EXCEPT a high capacity magazined semi-auto is considered way better in a defense situation). Wear a concealed holster for your handgun, shoulder holsters would be high on the list here. No sense in advertising. As surprise is on your side in a situation like this. Your adversary to be, will not walk up to you waving a skull & crossbones flag, but will approach you as a friend or someone in need & if they decide you are vulnerable, will take you on when you least expect it. Be VERY observant & suspicious of EVERYONE.

If you opt for a shotgun instead of the rifle, (however I would recommend both) then a riot type pump (18" or 20" barrel) would be the one to have. They could still be used for shooting game if need be. But choose wisely so that you have the ability to have enough ammo to get you thru any situation. Or you can trade/requisition what ammo you need. If possible have it use the same ammo as your survival combo gun. Have your previous mentioned partner consider the same calibers so your combined ammo goes farther.

Have a lot of ammunition on hand for all of your selected firearms. Keep it in old military sealable metal 30 & 50 caliber ammo cans.

Sight in these firearms & become familiar with them & understand their functioning before your emergency occurs. Consult a gunsmith & purchase a spare parts kits for your firearms.

Cache ; Consider having some guns with corresponding ammo stored in a waterproof container, buried in a safe but readily accessible location & not necessarily on your property.

Sanitation ; Having some hand soap & towels available to be able to wash up with would be important items. Have a portable toilet, Port-A-Potty or even a 5 gallon bucket & a garbage liner with extra toilet paper available. Lime could also be used for the toilet disposal to help prevent possible later contamination.

Spare Clothing ; Have more than one extra change of clothes, as you may not be close to a means of washing clothes for some time, other than in a pond, stream or river. Even have fowl weather gear if it appears that need may arise. A camouflaged jacket & hat could be a lifesaver as in situations like this you do not want to stand out. This is the time for camouflage clothing instead of your florescent orange hunting gear or highly visible boating type fowl weather gear. A spare pair of outdoor type shoes or rubber boots might also be a good idea if you have the room. Don't forget extra stockings. Again a couple of wool blankets may well be important.

Communications ; Have a working cell phone with your normal call numbers in the memory bank, plus emergency numbers & a 12 volt charging unit. Consider a solar charger. But be aware that the lines may become jammed with everyone trying to make calls. If an emergency happens, the word is that cell phone usage will overburden the resources & calls will not go thru, but text messages will because of the less space they take up on the server.

Have a emergency radio on hand. These are usually operated by either household electricity, battery or can be sonar operated. The small 2-way hand held rechargeable CB hunting type radios could be very beneficial for close range communications. Purchase the marine survival whistles for everyone in the family plus your neighbors. Set up a code system, write it down on each whistle so no one forgets.

If you store most of your information on your computer, copy it off/back up onto a mini disc often & store this in a safe deposit box also. If you have the room, take your lap-top computer & charging cord if you have to evacuate.

First Aid/Medical Conditions ; Take a First Aid class & have a well stocked kit on hand that has a First Aid book as well. If you have young children in the family, their needs will be paramount. Even games for them is important to keep them occupied.

If you or any of your family use medication daily, be sure to have some extra (but rotate the old stock), & if you need your eye glasses, keep a old pair available as a backup. Spare hearing aid batteries for those who are hearing impaired may be a worthwhile investment but again rotate these also.

Keep current on your flu shots. Have a well stocked medicine kit containing pain pills, antiseptics, bandages, cough drops etc. Ask your family Physician what they would suggest in expanding your First Aid kit.

If you have someone in the family that is wheelchair bound & or on Oxygen, this will be a contributing factor in many of your decisions.

Miscl. ; It would be a necessity to have an axe or bow saw (preferably both) available. If you have the room a small chain saw that may be a lifesaver. Of course if you go for the chain saw, you will need fuel, or the oil to mix with gasoline, bar oil, extra chain & a chain file.

A trail camera that hunters use to observe game could be useful if you get in a situation where you can not be on guard all the time. Even night vision binoculars could be considered.

A deck of cards may even help pass the time could save your sanity.

Have some darker colored 3/8" Nylon rope in 50' to 100' lengths. A couple of 50' parachute cords (military OD color) may be useful. The reason for the dark color is that you may have to use them for snares or as a perimeter boundary fence with noise making ability (tin cans tied to it with rocks inside) at night.

A hunting type knife would seem to be a necessity. A Leatherman type multi-purpose tool could be invaluable. Plus a toolbox filled with normal mechanic's hand tools. A few Bungee cords could come in very handy. Duct tape can fix many things, even act as band aids.

Emergency tire repair kits & a road map of your state or adjacent states may be helpful. A set of binoculars may well be beneficial also.

A few salt blocks on hand & kept airtight until needed (to keep them from absorbing water) could prove important if you lived in a rural area which could be used to attract wild game.

This list could go on & on if you want to play the "What Ifs" game & they could all be viable & worthwhile under the right/ wrong circumstances. However this preparedness game can get out of hand, depending on your finances, location & experiences. For those of you who are a "City Slicker" with no outdoor experience other than a occasional backyard barbeque, your learning curve will be VERY STEEP & your nose may become very flat before you even begin to learn even the basics.

Consider co-opping with neighbors to do brainstorming for a What If list. Maybe others have different needs & ideas that can be beneficial.

Normally you will not know how long of an ordeal you will be up against or to the extent it will play out to. BE PREPARED. Ask around & listen to people who have went thru natural disasters like floods or wild fires. Do some research on the internet to possible past economic collapses. Think & rethink out potential circumstances & revise your plan accordingly.

I do not consider myself a survivalist, however I believe that I could come thru most circumstances quite well. I am 75 years old, in good health, have worked in the timber industry in my younger years. Have been a maintenance mechanic/machinist/welder/gunsmith all my life. Have a well stocked machine shop. And have raised horses, beef cattle, sheep, rabbits & chickens. I have hunted & fished all my life, have a old 8' camper & a couple of boats, 10' & 18'. I also own a 3500 watt portable generator that will run my well pump, plus power the deep freezes & refrigerator. I just acquired a smaller used 1850 watt Coleman generator for $200 that starts like a dream & seems to power my camper just fine.

I have lived thru numerous major earthquakes, a volcano eruption, a few BAD windstorms & numerous record breaking floods. They say good judgment comes from experience, which can in turn come from bad judgment. Good judgment can also come from observing actions of others & adding that to your memory bank, which I hope I may have somewhat accomplished with this article for you. If nothing else this article may get you to thinking.