Category Archives: Family Preparedness

How People May React

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This morning I was pulling into a gas station pump when I witnessed an occurrence that was disturbing after I thought about it.  The gas station was crowded, with every row filled with a customer.  The station also had parking spots facing the convenience store.  A woman, driving this huge Suburban (let’s call her (“Suburban Driver”) with kids in the back seat, was backing out of one of the convenience store spots got very close to hitting the minivan at the pump next to me.  The driver of the miniwan,(we’ll call her “Minivan Lady”) honked her horn as she was afraid the Suburban will surely hit her car.  It got close, but nothing was hit.  I expected Suburban Driver to just shrug and keep going, but instead, she got very furious that she got honked at.  Her face contorted into an angry mask, and instead of just driving away, she actually got out of her Suburban and started yelling and gesticulating that Minivan Lady should relax.  “CALM DOWN I WAS NOT ABOUT TO HIT YOU – YOU f—*** b–*** !!!,” which seemed really ironic given she was the one losing her temper.  Suburban Driver got really aggressive and went up to the window of Minivan Lady who just locked her doors and looked aghast.  Suburban Driver finally went back to her car and sped off, driving aggressively.  Minivan Lady was quite shaken.

After witnessing this encounter, I was perturbed that someone would get so aggressive and exhibit violence over something as trivial as getting honked at, and in front of kids.  I really shouldn’t be shocked–we’ve heard of fights breaking out over parking spots and people coming to blows at Christmas sales.  But actually seeing how people react and get ugly made it more glaring.  Who can say what frame of mind she had to begin with?  She may have been stressed but that is no excuse.  If someone could potentially get violent over a trivial incident, can you imagine how people would react when there is a disaster?

Last week I wrote about obstacles that could keep you from getting home in an emergency.  Witnessing the incident this morning, I realized road rage can become an obstacle when:

  • People are stuck in unending traffic jams and unable to get home
  • Store shelves become empty and people can’t get food and water for their families
  • Depressed or mentally ill patients will no longer have access to mood altering medication
  • Jobs become scarce and livelihoods are threatened
  • Homes are foreclosed or lost

What can you do?

  • Realize and accept that people will not be acting at their best
  • If you are the one starting to feel stressed and agitated, take a step back and take a deep breath.  The cliche about counting to 10 works.
  • Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and empathize with what they may be going through.
  • If you are the target, do not let the matter escalate – you always have a choice to walk away.  Pride and “being in the right” won’t matter much to your family if you get hurt or killed.
  • Pray for patience and strength to overcome any difficulties.
  • Be prepared.

Even in everyday situations, being prepared can help you could avoid many irritants and inconveniences:

  • Leaving early instead of late will avoid the stress of being rushed.
  • Saving money for a rainy day helps you deal with unexpected financial emergencies
  • Preparing your kids’ clean clothes, lunches, paperwork the night before avoids the morning rush
  • Keeping at least a quarter to half a tank of gas at all times avoids having to stop at a gas station when it’s inconvenient.
  • Getting out of debt means less worries.
  • Having food stored at home means not having to run to the store.

Being prepared goes a long way toward giving you peace of mind, whether a disaster happens or not.

 

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Big City Obstacles to Getting Home in a Disaster

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Soon after the Boston Marathon bombing, the city went on lockdown.  A relative who lives a mile or so away from the blast site was visiting a friend at the time.  He texted the family that he could not leave his friend’s house for hours because entire neighborhoods were on lockdown.  This got me thinking about what could potentially keep you from getting home in the event of a disaster.  You can have all your “ducks in a row” such as a well stocked get home bag, emergency texting tree, contingency plans, but these things could provide obstacles to your getting home plans:

News Delays

On typical work days we get our news reports during the morning or afternoon drive while listening to the radio.  But what if something happens in the middle of the day?  It may be a good idea to check the news at certain times during the day via your phone or your computer just to be aware of what’s going on.  I am not recommending surfing the internet as you work, but perhaps checking during your break or lunch would not be a bad idea.  If you don’t know that there’s an emergency going on until later, you may waste precious time.

Malfunctioning Elevators

The first thing you need to do is get out of your building if it is safe to go out.  I have gotten locked in a packed elevator with 10 other people and it was not a good experience.  It only lasted for a few minutes but that was enough that I do not get into an elevator that is overly packed.  I’d rather take the stairs.  In an emergency, elevators may not even work.

  • Get to know your building layout.
  • Find out about stairwells and alternate routes out of your floor.

Blocked Exits

Parking structures may get congested or worse, destroyed and you may be unable to get your car out.

  • Have a plan in case you have to walk out of downtown.
  • Have some emergency cash in case you have to take a cab or bus home.
  • Know where you can get public transportation just in case.
  • Have a “get home” bag.
  • You should always  have comfortable shoes with you.

Traffic Congestion and Accidents

Think about the flow of traffic in your area.  Houston traffic is horrendous at certain hours, but some cities are even worse.  The freeways get really packed during rush hours.  Add a fender bender or two and you can be sitting there for hours.

  • Know the traffic conditions in your area:
  • Keep track of traffic reports and have several alternate routes home.
  • Don’t rely on your GPS – know the routes by heart or have a paper map.
  • Consider taking a defensive driving course – you can improve your driving skills and possibly qualify for a discount off your car insurance.

Flooded, Blocked or Damaged Streets

We live in an area that floods quickly during heavy rains.  Again, know your alternate routes, and stay clear of areas that you know will become choke points.  In an earthquake, riot or weather-related disaster, many streets may be blocked or damaged.   You should have a backup street map in case cell phones are not working and you are unable to access Mapquest or Google Maps.

Lock Downs

Employers and school officials have emergency lockdown procedures.  Get to know the lock down procedures in your office and kids’ schools if you are a parent.  If your building goes on lock down you may be prevented from leaving.

  • Know where to pick up your kids.
  • Schools sometimes close down certain driveways and exits, and you will waste valuable time if you have to take time to search for the open one.
  • Designate who picks up whom in advance to avoid duplication and wasted time.

Crime

Related to road rage described above, desperate people will resort to desperate acts.   Someone who is unable to get a vehicle may try and take yours.  You may be trying to walk out and someone may steal your get home bag – anything can happen.  Have a way to defend yourself if necessary.   I am not suggesting everyone needs to carry a weapon, but just be aware this can happen so you can take precautions.

  • Don’t call attention to yourself if you are walking.
  • Stay away from open doorways and steer clear of blind corners.
  • If you are driving, keep your doors and windows closed.

This post is not meant to scare you but rather get you to think about possible impediments to getting home in an emergency so you can plan ahead.  Take the extra steps of informing your family and test your emergency plan.

 

ReadyMade Resources is a trusted source for your preparedness supplies:

Check out information and products available at SafeGuard Clothing, or click on the link below.

Find products that are equally functional for wilderness survival as well as urban preparedness:

Prepare for the Flu Season

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Catching the flu can turn into a minor emergency for any household.  With the news reporting the the flu season came early this year, it is a good time to prepare and stock up on supplies just in case.

Prevention

Prevention is still the ideal situation during the flu season.  With a few precautions, perhaps we can avoid catching the flu altogether.

Avoid crowds   Staying away from people can be difficult this time of year, but try it anyway.  Being among lots of people increases your chances of getting contaminated.   Do your shopping online, or if you like the mall, go shopping on a weekday or at least ahead of the big day before Christmas rush.

Doctors recommend the vaccine for especially for high risk individuals  People with asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or a weakened immune system are generally considered high risk and therefore are recommended to get vaccinated.  However, this is a personal decision and is different for everyone.  I got the vaccine once when free vaccine was being offered at work, and I felt quite miserable enough to miss work the next day.  I know it will be quickly pointed out that “you cannot catch the flu from the vaccine because the it contains a weak or dead form of the virus,” but everyone reacts differently.  Check with your doctor and do your research before making a decision.

Wash your hands  Get everyone in the family in the habit of washing their hands as they come home from public places and before eating.  If you cannot wash your hands right away, use antibacterial wipes.

Stop touching your eyes and face  Once you touch something with germs, and you touch near your eyes or mouth, you can instantly catch a disease.  Be aware of this and if you cannot wash your hands right away, at least keep your hands away from your face.

Disinfect surfaces around you  Keep a box of antibacterial wipes and clean door knobs, light switches and other commonly touched items around you.  I like to keep a canister of my own Lysol wipes at the office and disinfect my desk, keyboard and phone on a regular basis.  I may sound paranoid about germs but I’d rather not risk catching anything with lots of people hacking and coughing around the office.

Bolster your Immune System

Strengthening your immune system is another good way to avoid catching the flu.

  • Get enough sleep and rest.
  • Relax and avoid stress.
  • Exercise at least three to four days a week.
  • Eat a healthy diet.  Take vitamin supplements if you feel you don’t eat well enough.

Flu Care Kit

Hopefully you will never need it, but keeping a few items in your emergency kit will help you avoid having to go to the store if you were sick and miserable:

  • Over the counter pain relievers such as Tylenol, Advil, Nyquil or Dayquil
  • Thermometer
  •  Extra boxes of tissues
  •  Cough drops
  •  Decongestant
  •  Canned juices
  •  Canned chicken soup – I know home made is best, but sometimes you just feel too sick to make anything and canned chicken noodle soup will do in a pinch.

If you do get sick, see a doctor right away, as you might be able to get a prescription for an antiviral flu drug that may shorten your symptoms.  Stay home and rest.  You will avoid spreading it to others and the rest will help you recover quicker than if you kept going.  Can you imagine being in a disaster AND having the flu at the same time?   A few preparations ahead of time would help you avoid the additional misery.

 

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A Non-Threatening Way to Get Them to Prep

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One of the most common questions from readers is how to get their loved ones to prep.  Sometimes, you’ll find out by accident as I did while we were watching The Walking Dead; other times, you can approach the subject but no one wants to listen.

If you want to take matters into your own hands, how about giving a prepper themed basket for the next special occasion?  Everyone enjoys receiving baskets and getting to know the contents is part of the fun.

To save money, purchase baskets at Goodwill or thrift stores – they have a huge selection.  Build each basket around a specific theme.  Some examples:

Power Outage Basket

Include matches, flashlights, batteries, small lamp or lantern, solar charger, battery or crank radio, simple board game such as UNO card game or playing cards

Winter Storm Basket

Include similar items as the Power Outage Basket, but add microfiber blankets, instant hot soup mixes, hot chocolate and marshmallows.

All-Purpose Emergency Basket

Include some basic emergency supplies such as: food bars, water bottles, chlorine tablets with instructions on how to use them, Swiss Army knife, matches and/or Bic lighters, flashlights, mini first aid kit, etc.

Multi-Use Emergency Items Basket

Include items that have multiple emergency uses such as multi-tool, plain bleach, baking soda, vinegar, salt, witch hazel, duct tape etc.  Include a list of uses for each item.

Don’t forget to include basic emergency instructions, such as free PDF files.

Your recipient may not have thought about emergency preparedness, but your gift would accomplish a couple of goals:

  • Good conversation starter to get them to at least consider being prepared
  • If they do nothing else, you would know that you gave them something that will help them in the next emergency

 

ReadyMade Resources is a trusted source for your preparedness supplies:

Check out information and products available at SafeGuard Clothing, or click on the link below.

Find products that are equally functional for wilderness survival as well as urban preparedness:

 

 

Explaining Emergency Preparedness to Kids

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Being prepared for emergencies involves both buying supplies and gear, as well as developing new skills.  Young children may notice differences in routines, behavior, as well as a new influx of unfamiliar supplies and activities.  They may get curious about what’s going on, or if there is an impending emergency such as an ice storm or hurricane, may become fearful.

Here are a few tips on explaining preparedness to kids:

  • Take the time to discuss emergency preparedness when you are not rushed or stressed out.  Rushing to the grocery store right before a hurricane would not be the ideal time to do it.  A better time would be during a car ride on the way to go shopping at the market, or while you a picking up extra water or canned foods.
  • Explain it in a level they can understand, and ask them for feedback about what they think could happen if there is no electricity or no water.   This way you can adjust your conversation to their level of understanding.
  • Without sharing your worries, communicate that you are trying to make sure everyone will be fine and comfortable when the power goes out, or if water does not come out of the tap.
  • Give examples of emergencies such as storms, earthquake that are common in your area that they are most likely to experience.
  • Let them help you stack canned foods, cap up the water bottles etc. to help them feel they are part of the efforts to prepare.
  • Encourage them to share their feelings and accept if they are feeling scared.  Show them how preparing properly helps everyone feel less scared.
  • Answer questions about things they may have heard about.
  • Limit unsupervised TV.  Lately there have been a lot of alarming commercials about apocalypse prophesies, doomsday etc.  Even though the shows are in a different channel or time slot, the commercials are scary enough.
  • Teach them about 9-1-1:  when to call for help, and types of situations such as when there is no one around to help, and someone is in danger or injured.
  • Visit http://www.ready.gov/kids  for activities that can help kids understand emergency readiness.
  • For older children who are home alone, post emergency numbers in a visible spot such as the refrigerator door and show them where it is.
  • Do some role-playing and hold family drills in dealing with various situations such as fire, sudden evacuation, tornado warnings etc.  Take the time to communicate each step of what you are trying to do.
  • Include children in the fun activities associated with being prepared, including acquiring new skills – gardening, fishing, etc.

Once kids see you doing preparedness activities on a regular basis, they will start to associate them with normal, everyday routines.  If you include them in creative and fun projects they will adapt and accept preparedness as part of daily life.  Growing up with valuable skills and the ability to be resilient are priceless gifts you can give them.

 

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Don’t Forget Gloves for your Emergency Kit and Bug Out Bag

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I never thought much about gloves until I started preparing.  At the most I had a pair of rubber gloves for washing dishes.  Now I have several types.

Disposable gloves

Disposable gloves can be used for quick and dirty jobs such as cleaning up messes, pet waste, handling contaminated surfaces to avoid infection etc.  However these are generally very flimsy.  Thankfully, they are not very expensive.  I got a 10 pack at the 99 Cents Only store, but a box from the warehouse store would be a better deal.

Heavy rubber gloves

If you do not want to run the risk of the gloves tearing up, you’ll want a pair of heavy duty rubber gloves.  Use these for larger jobs such as hauling trash, digging in the mud etc.  You can purchase these at any grocery or discount store.

Work gloves

The first time we went camping, I didn’t even think about bringing work gloves.  Mr. Apt. Prepper brought his and I saw how the gloves protect your hands from injury when picking up branches and chopping wood.

The next time we went out to the mountains, I came prepared with my own work gloves:

–I never had to worry about getting splinters and minor cuts.
–They give you a better grip
–Keep your hands warm as the day grows colder.
–Protection from heat as you tend the campfire.
–Keep your hands clean and lower the risk of infection

In the aftermath of a natural disaster or emergency, such as a hurricane or earthquake, you may have to pick up fallen branches, gather firewood, sift through broken glass and other heavy duty chores that will require protection from your hands.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a couple of sets for each member of the family. You can keep one pair with the emergency supplies and one in the bug out bag.

Here are a couple of good ones:

For men: Custom Leathercraft P3214L Workright Flex Grip Work Gloves, Large, 3-Pair

For ladies: Wells Lamont 1124S Work Gloves, Grain/Split Palomino Cowhide

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Let’s Talk Trash

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Thinking about trash disposal is not the most glamorous side of emergency preparedness, but is worth some consideration and planning.   With literally tons of trash being generated daily, what would happen if garbage collection in your area were to be interrupted for a period of time?  Or if there were an economic collapse and cities could no longer afford to pay for scheduled trash pickup?  It was getting bad after Hurricane Ike, when it took about a week to 10 days for trash pickup to resume in many areas. It was such a relief when the trucks started coming around again.

If trash collection were to stop for an indefinite period of time, accumulating garbage in the streets will attract flies, rats, cockroaches and other pests.  These pests carry disease, and it will only be a matter of time before an epidemic starts to spread.

It only takes a couple of days between pickups for those apartment bins to fill up to overflowing.   Stock up on short term waste disposal supplies such as:

  • large heavy duty trash bags – lawn and leaf bags, or construction bags
  • an extra garbage can or two
  • bleach for sanitizing
  • gloves you can use for handling trash
  • insecticide for pest control

Longer Term Options

Burn it.  Burning trash is not be a good option in the city due to the danger of fire.  It would be even worse in a grid down situation, if there is no fire department available.

Bury It.  You may have to find an empty lot to bury the trash.

Composting.  You can deal with organic wastes such as food scraps, by composting.  This can be done outside if you have a yard or in a bucket.

Recycling and Repurposing.  People will find new uses for all sorts of items if the shops were closed or if they have no money to buy things.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to form new habits and minimize our garbage output.

  1. Start being conscious of how much is getting thrown out in your household.  Are you overly dependent on packaged goods such as frozen entrees?  Try cooking from scratch and you will notice how much less waste and trash it generates.
  2. Think about how you recycle or re-purpose certain items.  I save 2-liter soda bottles and 64 ounce juice bottles for water storage.  I also keep spray bottles with the plastic nozzles so I can make homemade cleaners.
  3. Minimize food trash by using up leftover food instead of throwing it out.
  4. Get into the habit of consolidating and tearing up large pieces of garbage into smaller more manageable pieces.  As a bonus benefit, you will save money by using less  garbage bags.

 

ReadyMade Resources is a trusted source for your preparedness supplies:

 

Help your College Student Prepare for Emergencies

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Back to school season is in full swing, and these last few weeks were spent preparing kids for the first day of school.

We have a couple of nieces and nephews who are going away to college in a few weeks.  This got me thinking what can be done to at least get them prepared for emergencies.   I’ve listed a three layered approach, with the third choice is the most extensive but also the most encompassing.  It all depends on your relationship with the teen, the extent of their involvement with prepping, what you want to prepare for and how much you wish to spend.

I.  Give a prepping themed “going off to college” gift that will be useful in an emergency or at least get them started to think about being prepared:

  • solar cell phone charger
  • multi-tool or Swiss Army Knife
  • paracord bracelet

II.  Assemble a Power Outage/Earthquake/Hurricane Emergency Kit

Include in a small decorative box or basket, items that they will be able to use for a variety of emergencies such as power outage, earthquake or hurricane.  Include the following:  at least three days worth of water bottles, water purifier, easy to prepare foods (canned foods with can opener) or food bars such as Mainstay Energy Bar, high energy snacks such as peanuts, flashlight/radio/charger and batteries, and pocket sized First Aid kit.  Remember most dorm rooms or off campus apartments are small:  everything has to be reasonably sized and efficiently packed. The items have to be simple to use and do not require special preparations.  They may be in a panic when the emergency happens, so include a note with some instructions.

III.  Assemble a Get Home Bag

In the movie Zombieland, the beginning scene showed one of the main characters getting attacked by a zombie in his dorm room.  After this horrible experience, his first instinct initially was to just get home.  This is fiction, but in a real emergency, anyone would want to get home as quickly as possible.  I think the most efficient way to prepare in a dorm would be to assemble a Get Home bag.

In a backpack, include the following items:

  • personal water filter or set of Hydropacks
  • food bars
  • cash (to be used for transportation)
  • First Aid kit
  • a change of clothes and underwear (weather appropriate)
  • good wool socks
  • comfortable shoes
  • rain gear (umbrella and rain poncho)
  • flashlight/weather radio
  • solar charger
  • utility knife (check campus guidelines) or multi-tool
  • signal mirror
  • whistle
  • lighter or matches
  • tarp
  • self protection such as pepper spray
  • small hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, floss, toilet paper (with cardboard removed), liquid hand sanitizer or wipes, contact lens solution etc.

Adjust the items according to the student’s needs and situation. Have a conversation about what is included in the backpack and situations where it may come in handy.  Include them in your texting tree and explain how it works as well as plans where the family can meet in case of extreme emergency.  As with any emergency preparations, we hope to never have to use them, but  good to have just in case.

 

 

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Take Care of Health Issues before SHTF

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At this week’s Monday Musings I mentioned I was taking care of an elective, pre-emptive health issue.  I had been putting this off for several months now, and finally decided now is the time to do it.  I guess announcing it helped me move it along.

What was it?

I finally went ahead and had my last wisdom tooth pulled out.  I had three impacted wisdom teeth taken out back in my twenties, but the last one was healthy so it was left alone.

A couple of years ago a dentist recommended it should come out.  Wisdom teeth, being hard to reach for brushing and flossing, are known to cause problems later in life:

-gum disease

-hard to fill cavities resulting in infection

I made the appointment but later cancelled.  I reasoned that it was not that bad and the tooth was healthy.  I was in denial as it was actually causing problems.  The gums around it were sore.  At my last dental visit, the dentist said the only way to alleviate the problem is to extract the tooth.

The procedure

For anyone who has never done this, or is planning to, here is how mine went.  (Please note I have no background in dentistry, just sharing info.  See a dentist for advise; your own experience may vary)

There are two ways to go:  using a local anesthesia, where only the area is numbed, or a general anesthesia so you can be asleep during the procedure.  The general anesthesia option would have to be done by a dental surgeon who can administer that type of anesthesia.  General anesthesia is not covered by my insurance.  I opted for the local anesthesia, which my regular dentist can perform.

The first thing the dental assistant did was take a couple of x-rays so the dentist can see the root of the tooth clearly. The dentist then injected the anesthesia in the area of the tooth.  We waited around 15 minutes for it to take effect.  He came back and placed some shots in surrounding areas.  I didn’t get that puffy, drooling numbness that I expected but the dentist assured me I would not feel any pain, just pressure.

He took forceps and started loosening the tooth.  He said it would be a back and forth sensation and it was.  Just like he said, I did not feel any pain, just a lot of pressure.  I imagined he was jiggling the tooth around.  I was praying the whole time that the tooth would come loose as whole quickly as breakage would not be good news.  I started to get a cracking sensation at which time the entire tooth came out, root and all.  He asked if I wanted to see it and of course I did.

I had to bite down on a piece of gauze for several minutes until the bleeding stopped.  I got a prescription for pain, in case it gets bad, but I have not had to use it.  I drove home and took it easy the rest of the day.   I was instructed to drink only cold liquids and eat very soft foods like yogurt for the next three days, and no exercise or strenuous activity.

The whole procedure took about 45 minutes at the most. It seemed relatively easy to get a tooth extracted during “normal” times.   But in a disaster situation, something simple like this would be such an ordeal:

  • Without anesthesia, getting a tooth extracted would be extremely painful, maybe unbearable.
  • It may be difficult to reach a dentist while a disaster is happening.
  • Lack of hygiene will cause infections.
  • Lack of antibiotics would be an issue if you get an infection
  • Even if things stay “normal”  you could lose dental insurance for a period of time.  Without adequate coverage, it would be expensive to cover the cost.
  • A good resource for dental emergencies in a disaster is “When There is No Dentist” available as a free download from Hesperian.org

All in all, it’s just common sense to take care of these issues ahead of time, before things get worse.   What have you been putting off?

 

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Monday Musings 6/25/2012: It’s Good to be Back Edition

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After a couple of skipped weeks due to work schedules, welcome to our latest Monday Musings where we cover blog updates and interesting stuff found here and there.  Thank you for your patience.  Things have settled down somewhat at work so I should be around more.

First the blog updates.  I’m happy to mention our sponsors GotPepperSpray.com and Survival Backpacks decided to renew with Apartment Prepper.  We only have a few sponsor spaces available and have been careful about choosing our partners.  Thanks to everyone who have paid them a visit-they help keep Apartment Prepper a free site.

Guest posting guidelines have been revised.  As most regular readers know,  I occasionally run guest posts that make a good fit to the overall blog content.  Lately I started to receive multiple requests but many are not pertinent to site.  Due to the volume of requests, I am not able to respond to every single one.  While I appreciate the interest, I have to uphold  the consistency and quality of posts.  Therefore I have reworked the posting guidelines to avoid any confusion.

Preserving eggs update.  There was a lot of interest when I posted Self Sufficient Project:  Preserving Eggs back in the beginning of May.  It is now nearly the end of June so I checked the egg progress by testing for freshness.   The eggs show no changes or unpleasant odors.  I placed one of the eggs in a cup of water and the egg continues to show freshness by sinking to the bottom of the cup.  If it floats then I’ll know it’s gone bad.  So far so good!

Avoid wasting produce by storing them properly.  Frequent blog readers know I am always on the quest to avoid wasting food and have tried a few tips.  I learned a few things from this article:  Produce Info.  Click on Storing Fruits and Vegetables for a Better Taste.  Who knew peppers and cucumbers shouldn’t be refrigerated?

Free Family Emergency Planning Tools.  Check out these helpful emergency planning tools over a ReThink Survival.com.  You will a lot of great content, and subscribers get access to a variety of free content including several eBooks, an Excel-based set of family emergency planning tools, an Excel-based food storage recipes database, as well as online tools to design bug out, home, and vehicle emergency kits quickly.  Subscribing is 100% free.  I’ve added ReThinkSurvival.com to my Recommended Sites page.  Go check them out.

Other Uses for a Broken Cell Phone.  Interesting tips in this article on using parts of cell phone for survival.  How to Use a [BUSTED] Cell Phone to Meet 5 Basic Survival Needs

Take care everyone and have a great week!

 

Get the real deal. Whether bugging out or sheltering in place, you can never have enough clean water for survival: For your water purifier needs, please visit:

An inexpensive but helpful tool to keep track of supplies (Iphone or Ipad users)