Archive for month: July, 2019

Bugs may not seem like the ideal meal to Americans, but eating insects is a common practice in Asian and African countries. Here’s list of bugs you can eat:

Losing power at anytime can create serious disruptions in your everyday life, however, when it is cold out it not only creates disruptions it can become deadly. Ideally, you are prepared for disruptions in cold weather, and have paid particular attention to keeping everyone warm during a power outage.
Things You Can Do before the Power Goes Out
If the local forecast calls for weather that could disrupt your power such as ice and heavy snows, you can take steps before the power goes that will be beneficial to you during the outage.
Turn up your refrigerators and freezers to the highest setting. You want the foods inside as cold as possible for when the power does go out. Considering combing contents into one refrigerator or freezer because the more food items inside of a freezer or refrigerator the longer the foods will maintain a safe temperature. Remember to turn down the settings when the power is restored.
Once the power goes out avoid opening the doors. Refrigerators if full can maintain a safe temperature in some cases up to 6 hours, while a full freezer can maintain safe temperatures up to 48 hours and one that is half full up to 24 hours.
Any perishable foods that have been stored above 40° F for more than two hours will need to be discarded.
Make sure all cell phones and other devices are fully charged before the power goes out, and check all flashlights and other battery operated devices.
Fill your bathtubs with water to use for toilet flushing and other sanitation needs. You can use the water for drinking only after proper purification unless you use a waterBOB .
If you rely on electricity for your heat then you will need to essentially close off portions of the home to conserve what heat is in the home. If you have a wood burning fireplace, or have a gas burning one then of course, this would be the room to gather in, otherwise pick a room that everyone can stay in and likely sleep in as well.
Your emergency supplies should have Mylar emergency blankets , wool blankets, sleeping bags , and consider bubble wrap as well. Bubble wrap can be used as an insulator between you and the floor. The material of course is made of air filled chambers. The air chambers will provide insulation and cushioning for sleeping.
The wrap can also be placed over windows to reduce heat conduction. Cut the wrap to fit and then wet the glass slightly and then place the wrap over the glass, it will cling to the glass.
People that are chilled or you suspect may be in the early stages of hypothermia can be wrapped in the material to help control the core body temperature in an emergency.
Hang Mylar or other blankets in doorways to reflect heat back into the room you are staying in and they can be placed over windows and outside doors as well.
Water pipes may freeze so make sure they are well insulated , and if you still believe they may freeze during an outage you can shut off the main water supply and open all faucets to drain the lines. Make sure you shut off the power to the hot water tank before shutting off the main water supply. The water in the tank will stay warm for hours, so it can be used for bathing and other needs or used as an emergency drinking water source after it has been filtered and purified. Attach a hose to the drain spigot to get water from the tank once you have shut off the main water supply. 
Snow banks can be used as emergency refrigerators during a power outage. Try to find areas that receive the least amount of sunshine. Radiant heat from sunlight will warm up surfaces beyond what the air temperature is. This is why you will see snow melting on surfaces even when the air temperature is below freezing. The food items will need to be under as much snow as possible and in waterproof containers.
Snow can be melted for drinking water but it must be warmed before drinking so you do not lower your core body temperature. If there are no obvious contaminates melted snow can generally be consumed without purification. However, if you suspect contamination then purify the water. If the snow has been contaminated with any chemicals then it cannot be used for any purposes. Do not consume water from melted icicles that hang from the roofline without purifying first.
Small propane heaters that are rated for indoor use will typically have a low oxygen shutoff valve. The valve will not allow a flame when there is not enough fresh oxygen in the room. Always use any heating device with caution and kerosene heaters, charcoal Hibachis and other fossil fuel devices should never be used in any confined space.
Consider a Generator
A transfer switch can be added so the generator is essentially wired to the home’s electrical system but this must be done by a professional. If you do it yourself and it is not done properly electricity generated can flow back through the lines hurting anyone working on the lines. This is important.
Fuel Supply for Heat and Cooking
If you have a wood fireplace then you will need an ample supply of wood that is accessible. Before the storm bring some wood close to the house so you do have to carry it through the snow or try to navigate icy surfaces with an armload of wood.    
One pound propane bottles are the only containers rated for indoor use and they can be used with camp stoves and small heaters as well as lanterns. 
Avoid outside as much as possible, because ice and snow or broken limbs may have brought power lines down. Ice sliding off of roofs can be a hazard as well, not to mention falling trees and limbs because of heavy layers of ice buildup.
To protect your electronic devices you should connect your devices to surge protectors of good quality. Unplugging the devices can prevent damage from power surges once power is restored.

The saying, “If you cannot protect what is yours then you do not own it”, is often cited when discussing home security. However, for most people it is merely an academic discussion because it has never happened to them, nor is it likely to ever happen. It sounds simple enough when being discussed over coffee or a beer, but the reality is of course much different.

It will be assumed that law enforcement is not available, neighbors are of no help, and that the intruders are armed. Society is in turmoil, and some police and others in authority have already abandoned their post to take care of their own homes and families. You are on your own for the time being.

You and your spouse/partner are the only ones that can get your home back. You both had left to gather information, and when you came back you found your home occupied by an unknown number of people.

Even the most heavily guarded installations can be overrun, and then those forced out, are left looking in. Once this happens can you retake your home, or any structure for that matter that has been overrun and is now in the hands of others.

It is also assumed the intruders are not there to grab a few supplies and then hot foot it out of the home. They want the home for shelter as well as the all of the supplies. They want all the comforts of your home, and asking nicely will not get them to leave.

If You Have Not Planned and Prepared For It Then It Is Unlikely You Would Prevail

The first decision you have to make is it worth it. Is it worth a fight, where others including yourself may be injured or killed, to get your home and supplies back. If the answer is yes, you will do what it takes to reclaim what is yours then start planning now for the possibility.

First, bury survival caches close by, with an emphasis on firearms and ammunition, then food, water, medical supplies and any other supplies you will need to sustain yourself as the drama unfolds. You may need temporary shelter as well, because the standoff may last for several days.

Other items you can cache that could be used to help you retake your home would include smoke bombs, tear gas and/or pepper spray, non-lethal rounds such as rubber slugs and beanbag rounds. Have respirators cached for your own protection.

You may also need insulated heavy duty wire cutters, bolt cutters, rope, and some type of portable/collapsible ladder, shovel, and a fire ax. Include heavy duty gloves and a bee suit or some other form of protection against bee stings. Have an ample supply of zip ties that can be used for wrist and ankle restraints.

Cache some materials that can be used to stop up chimneys and stove pipes and this could include rags and heavy duty plastic sheeting or garbage bags as long as the stove pipe or opening is not so hot it melts or ignites the material.

You need a hiding place close by, as well, where you can shelter, and so you are out of sight of the home as well. If those that have taken over your home assume you have run off scared they may reduce their defensive posture a few notches, so do not hover where they can see you unless you are ready to start the festivities.

Simply engaging those inside in a firefight would not be practical. You will use up ammunition, damage the home and you might very well get injured or killed. They are inside shooting out at you and you are hiding behind bushes trying to keep from getting shot.

Your objective is to get them outside so they can be engaged on equal ground, so they can be shot, disabled, and/or captured. You want them confused and maybe even mad and scared if possible so they make bad decisions. Use non-lethal rounds if you do not want to kill or seriously injure anyone.

1.) Can you disrupt the power source, steal the gasoline for the generator, and/or sabotage the generator. Can you cut the cables using the insulated cutters to solar panels, can you shut down any wind or hydro power source by cutting cables or disabling any components.

2.) Smoke bombs can be placed so it appears the structure is on fire forcing them outside.

3.) A Hornets nest can be tossed inside the home by smashing a window. Angry hornets will run anyone out of the home. This is why you would need protective clothing.

4.) Can you disrupt the water source by cutting or otherwise disrupting any water lines? Can you empty water storage tanks? Look for ways to disrupt them inside, to force them outside.

5.) Tear gas and pepper spray can be used to force them out unless you have a supply of respirators or gas masks laying around for them to use.

6.) Rope, or wire cables can be strung to trip anyone running from the home, or place the rope/cables along avenues of escape. Make sure you can avoid the traps while those running after you cannot.

7.) If the home has a wood burning stove or fireplace and it is in use, you can plug up the chimney/stovepipe to force smoke back in the home. This is providing you can get on to, and off the roof safely and without being detected. This is where planning comes into play. Rope ladders can be secured in nearby trees, out buildings or hidden elsewhere that could help you get down from the roof. Rope ladders would not be much help getting you on the roof, so you have to plan for this, but they can help you get down if they can be somehow secured.

8.) Some extreme measures could be recordings of large barking dogs or other animal sounds that could instill fear in anyone inside the home. Recordings of people shouting and dogs barking may give the impression there is a much larger force than there really is outside ready to attack. This takes prior planning and materials, but it can be done if you are serious about taking back your home.

There are measures, other than listed that can be taken of course and some are more extreme than others are. This is simply an academic exercise to get you to think about certain scenarios. There are no guarantees that the above listed measures would work, and by no means are any of them recommended except in the most extreme situations, and no one should consider them unless they have certain training and demonstrated skill sets.

The above listed scenario is not likely to ever happen, but if you are serious about planning for a SHTF situation, then you have to plan for all possibilities.

First, a question, do you scrape your magnesium bar to get fine particles or do you shave it to get curls.

High quality magnesium shavings will burn at approximately 5600° F/3093° C. The magnesium content in the bars available at camping stores and other retail outlets can vary. The percentage of magnesium would not be 100 percent. Other metal alloys are mixed in, and the more alloys contained in the stick the lower the burning temperature.

While magnesium sticks or bars are ideal for fire starting there are some things to consider before heading out to the backcountry with one.

Magnesium is impervious to water and temperature and when in mass form it is very stable, but when in particle form it is highly flammable and can be ignited from a single spark.

Magnesium shavings are light, so if you are trying to scrape enough together when it is breezy out you can find it very difficult to get the shavings and tinder paired up. You can shave the stick with a knife blade to create curls, which can be handled for better placement in a tinder bundle.

Tip: Cut a hacksaw blade down to sizes that can be paired up with your magnesium sticks. Attach to the sticks using “Ranger Bands“, so you always have a piece of metal available. Use the blade pieces for shaving the sticks and for creating a spark with the Ferro rod that is usually imbedded in the stick.

To get curls in the field you would likely have to use a knife blade. Handle the blade carefully. Use just a small section of blade near the Quillon for better control of the blade, and so you do not dull more of the cutting edge than necessary.

Prepare Ahead Of Time

Magnesium sticks can be drilled at home to create curls of magnesium that are easy to handle and store. Store them in an old pill bottle along with cotton balls or other dry tinder. Go slow and let the bit slowly create curls as it works its way through the stick. The curl size will depend on the drill bit size.

Another method that can be done ahead of time involves duct tape and cotton balls. Optional items would be dryer lint and paraffin to create fireballs that can burn for several minutes, up to ten minutes in some cases, which would allow you to start fires in damp/wet conditions.

Lay out a six inch strip of duct tape adhesive side up and then shave your magnesium bar over the tape. Make sure the shavings are adhered well and sprinkled along the entire strip of tape. Next, shave the magnesium bar over some cotton balls making sure the shavings become imbedded in the cotton fibers. You can now simply roll the cotton balls up in the tape. Tape off one end, and then either tape off the other end, or drip some melted wax in the end to create a plug to keep any loose magnesium shavings inside the fireball.

Make as many fireballs as you think you might need and store so they remain dry. Old pill bottles are ideal storage containers.

The wax plug can melt under some conditions, or it may simply fall out. You have to decide what would work best for you. When ready to use, remove the tape/plug and fluff some of the cotton ball that is visible and ignite the fireball with a spark.

Variations of this would include dipping the cotton balls in petroleum jelly, or dip them in wax and then roll up in the tape. If dipping in wax keep in mind wax cannot be ignited by a spark, it would require a flame.

You can experiment with wax and magnesium shavings, but again, you would probably still need a flame to ignite. A fireball created from wax and magnesium however, would likely burn long enough to ignite larger pieces of combustibles.

You do not want to make fire starting complicated. It is easy enough to experiment in your backyard, but you do not want to experiment out in the field. You want methods that are known to work under virtually any conditions.

Dryer lint can be used instead of cotton balls. However, unless you only dry cotton material or other organic materials in your dryer, the synthetic fibers contained in much of the clothing today are not as flammable, and certain clothing/bedding especially for children is treated with a fire retardant.

Do not pull the lint out of the lint tray, especially right after drying a load of clothes, and pack away, it must dry thoroughly first. Spread it out and let dry before packing in pill bottles or wrapping in duct tape.

You can also use char cloth to create an ember in the fireball. The objective is to create a fire that can be sustained long enough to ignite larger pieces of combustibles in a field environment under wet and windy conditions.