Practicing Your Preps

All the guns, ammo and equipment in the world won’t do you much good if you aren’t practiced and prepared to use it. I ran into this many years ago when we were transitioning into our current home. A strong thunderstorm rumbled through knocking out power across the area, no problem I thought as I had already brought the generator, but to my dismay the heavy duty extension cord that I would normally have used to power the refrigerator was not long enough to reach – fail. I thought I was prepared; generator, fuel, cord – but I had not tested the plan. If YOU have a generator, when was the last time you started it? Does it have gas; did you use a fuel stabilizer? The point is you need to test your preps periodically to make sure they will work in a crisis.

Recently I shared an article titled ‘Hey! That’s my water!’ in which the author tested their preps by turning off the water and the challenges they faced and the lessons they learned. Most people really don’t understand how much we take water and power for granted till it’s not there. Personally we have gone for days without power and tested our blackout preps, but I think I would have a really hard time convincing my wife to turn off the water! If suddenly the water supply stopped or was somehow contaminated, how long could you survive?

water 2

One area where I was lacking and I suspect I’m not alone, is in practicing with my firearms. I’m fortunate that I can practice safely on my property and avoid the range fees, but range time can be useful as well. Range time can help you smooth out your technique, dial in the sights or even get some professional instruction, all which are important. Some ranges actually have combat training which can be invaluable in developing your skills. Unfortunately I don’t have access to such a facility here so when I practice at home I like to work on those types of skills; shooting across your body, shooting on the move, etc. Practice, practice, practice; if you’re not properly prepared to use your weapon it might very well be used on you.

target practice 1

Being practiced and confident in your skills can turn a crisis into little more than an inconvenience.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Happy prepping!

Reasons You Should Be Prepping Now

N Korea

Although they don’t yet (stress yet) have the ability to reach the US with a nuclear weapon, there is some suspicions that their 2 satellites that frequently pass above the US are capable of launching an EMP. This rogue regime continues to develop their nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities with their primary target being the US and our allies.

Iran

The worlds largest exporter of terror is flush with cash thanks to the Obama administration’s ‘gift’ of $11.9 BILLION. Gee, what could go wrong?

Cyber Attacks

We just witnessed the largest known cyberattack in history. This attack appears to have been motivated by greed, but what if this attack had targeted the US electrical grid? Attacks of this type are growing in size and frequency and its logical to think that an attack targeting the grid could at least temporarily put us all in the dark.

ISIS

The terrorist group has taken a beating as of late, but their ability to inspire ‘lone wolf’ attacks in Western countries continues to be a threat.

Antifa

The ‘anti-fascists’ groups that have been causing chaos recently are in reality anti-Capitalism/anti-Free Speech/Anarchists who throw a temper tantrum if anyone dare express an opinion they don’t share.. This group of mask wearing activist snowflakes periodically emerge from their mom’s basement to throw bottles at the police and attack innocent bystanders. Should you encounter a group of these ‘protesters’ your best protection is to pretend to be a job recruiter – they will undoubtedly maintain a safe distance.

Corrupt Media

If you fail to see the agenda driven bias of the lamestream media by now, I highly doubt you ever will. Regardless of whether you love/hate Trump, can you imagine the damage to the economy, stock markets and the value of the dollar should a corrupt media manage to actually take down a sitting President. The fact that they refuse to accept the results of the election does not give them the right to subvert the will of the people. Can you imagine the chaos in the next election cycle should they actually succeed?

Things happen

The safety and security of your family is your responsibility. The police, fire, Red Cross, FEMA, etc., are all reactionary – they show up after the fact and are often too late to actually be of much help. If you are currently relying on some government agency to bail you out of an emergency situation – you might want to rethink your plan.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Happy preppng!

Gear Review: Rolling Fox Tarp Shelter

The keys to survival remain fairly constant: food, water, shelter, security. If you carry a bug-out-bag or EDC bag you might want to consider adding this to your carry. This little shelter weights less than 2 lbs. and packs down into a very small package.

rolling fox

It’s called a tarp shelter because it’s basically a very light-weight tarp, yet unlike the traditional 8’x10’ tarp with 4 little O-rings on the corners this kit comes with a total of 16 tie down points, 4 metal stakes, and 4 9 foot pieces of paracord and a carry bag to keep it all together.

rolling fox 4

The first time I went to use it I discovered that it didn’t come with any instructions, fortunately I didn’t really need them. It’s simple and easy to set up in a variety of positions depending on what you have available to use.

rolling fox 2

In this case one tree as some level ground and we’ve got a pretty decent shelter from the elements.

The upside: compact, less than 2 lbs., easy to set-up/take down, excellent protection against rain and wind.

rolling fox 3

Downside: doesn’t provide much protection from the sun and light color makes it stand out in the woods; a darker color would probably solve both these issues.

Bottom line: for about $35 you can add this great little shelter to your bug-out-bag or like me just take in on longer hikes when that occasional summer storm might pop up. You can easily set up a quick effective shelter in the time it would take you to put on the rain gear. This shelter will accompany me on every hike from now on, period. I will add more photos and updates as I continue to put it to use throughout the summer.

Note: as of this writing the Rolling Fox Tarp Shelter is currently out of stock on both the company website as well as on Amazon; as always, we’ll keep you posted.

Rolling Fox Tarp Shelter

Top 10 items for any emergency

As storms spring storms and tornadoes rip through the South, I thought it might be a good idea to repost this basic introduction to prepping. Stay safe out there!

If you’re depending on some Government agency to come rushing to rescue, odds are you’ve found yourself here by mistake! However, if you believe it is your responsibility to take care of yourself and your family, then you’ve come to the right place. So without further delay…

Water – you can’t live without it and you can’t have too much, also consider having a Water Purifier.

Food – basic canned goods along with other longer shelf life products can literally be a life saver. Check out our big incomplete list of items to store:

Medication and basic first aide – any prescription medication that you or your family need plus Baby Aspirin, Band-Aids, gauze, antibiotic creme etc…consider a small First Aid Kit.

Light – getting around a darkened house can be dangerous; a couple of good flashlights, LED Lantern and of course batteries will brighten any situation.

Heat source – particularly in colder climates, a small indoor-safe propane heater can be the difference between life and death when the power goes out.

Propane stove/grill – obviously not all food needs to be warmed/cooked to be edible, but having a camping stove definitely opens the menu a bit.

Fuel – usually becomes scarce quickly and your nifty stove and heater are useless without it. Also, if you need to ‘bug out’ your vehicle is a lot more effective if it has fuel!

Radio – knowing what is going on in any emergency situation is critical for planning as well as for simple peace of mind. A good AM/FM radio is fine, but I like the Red Cross Hand Crank Radio that you can use to charge your cell phone with.

Firearms and ammo – it many disaster situations looting starts almost immediately; all the supplies you’ve stashed won’t do you any good if you can’t protect them. Please be sure to not only practice using your firearm, but make sure everyone in your family does as well.

Cash – cash is still king, at least for now. I don’t recommend hiding all your money under the mattress, but a few hundred dollars in small bills may buy you out of a jam. We keep a decent stash of cash at home, some in each vehicle as well as a few bucks stashed behind the old cell phone cover.

Yes, there a dozens of other items that could be added to the list, but for now let’s keep it simple. Regardless of what you’re personally preparing for these 10 items will give you a definite advantage over those who simply go through life chasing Pokemon and watching America’s Got Talent.

Happy prepping!

Lessons From the TN Wildfires – Be Ready to Run

Bug in vs. bug out as long been the debate amongst preppers and your answer typically was based primarily on where you lived. If you were city you bugged out, country you bugged in with those in the suburbs kind of in the middle. We have always planned to bug in and ride out any disaster that might befall us, however, watching the carnage of the Tennessee wildfires of 2016 has given us a new perspective. You can read about them here.

The wild fires swept through the area at an amazing rate catching many off guard and forcing them to flee with little more than the clothes on their back. Churches and schools soon became makeshift shelters, but those arriving had absolutely nothing – they were completely unprepared for what had happened. Some hadn’t even heard the news reports and fled only when the fires became apparent – scary thought.

Here in my part of Tennessee a local gun range began organizing a relief effort (along with many others across the State), but what were the needs? Aside from food and water which the Red Cross had delivered, they needed the basics:

Deodorant
Tooth paste, tooth brushes
Diapers and baby wipes
Underwear, socks
Soap, shampoo

Personal care items that no one had time or forethought to gather before leaving, which brings me to my point. Aside from survival gear (here’s a link to an entire site dedicated to building a bug out bag), you should have a basic travel bag ready (mine stays in the car) in case you have to flee. Think if you were going away for a long weekend, what would you pack, and keep it light as you might actually have to carry it long distances. Being prepared is more than having a great stash of food and water or being able to function in a grid down situation; it’s being prepared for anything. How is your prepper journey progressing?

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Happy prepping!

Baby its cold outside!

The country is caught in a vicious cold snap which requires we all exercise a bit more caution when venturing out. Icy winds can freeze skin in mere minutes while icy roads could send you reeling off into the woods or worse. Getting stranded in your car during a time of freezing temperatures could lead to serious injury or death if you are not prepared to survive.

Now many of us have an EDC or Everyday Day Carry bag, but extreme weather (in my opinion) calls for some additional preparations. Note: I’m currently revamping my EDC based on a great article by The Armed Christian which I recommend you read here. The author covers pretty much everything you would need to get you out of a bind. The only thing I have changed is that I carry 2 additional magazines for my carry pistol.

That being said, I add an additional bag for days like today; snowy, icy roads and below zero wind chills. Fortunately, there are about a half dozen hotels within a 2 mile radius of where I work, so if conditions are bad enough I will simply grab a hotel for the night. That being the case the additional bag has everything I might need for an overnight stay including clothes for work the next day or even the following. I also add extra candles, lighters, hand warmers, a real blanket, hat, gloves, scarf, extra bottled water and extra energy bars.

Finally, some good rules to follow would be to ALWAYS keep the gas tank at least half full, keep the cell phone charged and have an additional charger. Slow down, watch the other guy, and be prepared for anything; or better yet stay home if you can!

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Happy prepping!

Guns: Self-Defense in the Real World

First of all; the right to defend yourself is not a gift from your Government, it is the absolute right of every living thing and our most basic instinct. Protecting one’s right to life is as elementary as you can get yet millions of Americans have been brainwashed by the Government, State run Education and of course a radicalized left wing media to think that you don’t have that right, hogwash. If you don’t want a gun, don’t buy one! I find it ironic how Hollywood actors get rich playing ‘good guys with guns’ then come out and tell us how bad guns are and how we need to ‘get them off the street.’ Gun grabbing politicians have grand plans on how to take them from law abiding citizens, but I’ve yet to see their plans on how to take them away from criminals. Guns in the hands of responsible people do save lives; allow me to share a personal story. Continue reading “Guns: Self-Defense in the Real World” →