The Importance of Preparedness and What it Can Teach You

Every family across the globe should be prepared for natural disaster or any other potentially life threatening situation that could put them and their family in a true fight for survival. As we are closely approaching 2017, the importance of preparedness is becoming more and more necessary.

Floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, wildfires, a volcanic eruption, a possible economic collapse, collapse of the power grid, or a terrorist attack can each bring devastation of epic proportions. In so many of these emergency situations, families are forced to evacuate their homes. Some families, unfortunately, will not have homes to come home to when it’s all over. The process to rebuild your home…your life…can takes months or even years.

While you can’t prevent a natural disaster or an emergency situation from happening, you can cushion a potential blow by preparing yourself and your loved ones for whatever disaster comes your way.

The reasons why being prepared is so important are virtually limitless. When it comes down to it, each reason is a direct result of the previous reason… and so on.

The main reason I remain prepared is plain and simple: I want to survive! I want my loved ones to survive! Is there a lesson to be learned from each survival situation? I say yes, absolutely. For each survival situation, the lessons will be different.

Here are just a few lessons you can learn in the event of a natural disaster or an emergency situation:

• You learn what your strengths are
• You recognize the true meaning of unity
• You’ll have a renewed sense of self
• Your neighborhood and your community become your family

Discovering Your Strengths

In the event of a disaster or an emergency situation, you learn rather quickly what your strengths are. Mine is organization, which is pretty darn important in any survival situation

With disaster comes chaos followed by panic, so having someone in your family that can provide a sense of “Hey! We got this! This is what we’re going to do!” is probably one of the most important first steps in an any emergency type situation. Going in calm and clear headed will provide a great sense of security for everyone involved. Remember, survival is 90% mental.

You will each discover your personal strengths — possibly a strength you didn’t know you had. Believe me when I say, don’t worry about trying to develop a strength beforehand. It will come to you. I can promise you that.

Unity

As you learn about preparedness, you should conduct family meetings often in which you’ll discuss everything from assembling bug out bags to where to meet if you all were to be separated for any reason.

An important thing to remember, though, is that there is strength in numbers. Sticking together as a unit will provide more success of rescue than if you were alone.

If you live alone, then please consider a neighbor or a trusted friend as part of your unit. Go over a plan of action with these individuals as you would if it was your own family. When it’s all said and done, these individuals will most likely become your family. No matter who is in your unit, have each other’s backs no matter what.

A Renewed Sense of Self

After surviving a disaster, you will have a renewed sense of self; meaning that you become a stronger person for overcoming one of the biggest obstacles in life — mental and physical survival in a true emergency situation.

Your Neighborhood and Community Become Your Family

In the aftermath of any major disaster, you will meet some of your neighbors for the first time. You will give out hugs of condolences, a helping hand, and share your supplies. You will help pick up the pieces of what’s left… together.

At the end of the day, you have all been through the same situation and lending a hand is rebuilding life one day at a time — as a community, as a family.

Check out our other National Preparedness Month articles:

Louisiana Floods of 2016: The Fight Isn’t Over

Pearl Harbor: Through the Eyes of a Hero

Hurricane Katrina: Unity in the Midst of Devastation

from SurvivalLife http://survivallife.com/the-importance-of-preparedness/

FEMA’s Emergency Alert System Hacked: Warns of Hazardous Materials Disaster On Trains

Utica, New York, Television viewers started seeing weird messages pop up on their screen warning of a pending Hazardous Materials disaster somewhere in the United States. [...]

The post FEMA’s Emergency Alert System Hacked: Warns of Hazardous Materials Disaster On Trains appeared first on Off Grid Survival - Wilderness & Urban Survival Skills.

from Off Grid Survival – Wilderness & Urban Survival Skills http://offgridsurvival.com/femas-emergency-alert-system-hacked-warns-hazardous-materials-disaster-mention-trains/

Quest for Fire: LifeLaces from Stone Mountain

If you’re like me, the best part of camping is building a fire. The quest for wood and tinder, building it up, and turning a small flame into a roaring fire. There’s no greater sense of accomplishment than getting a fire going, particularly if the weather is bad. But sometimes it can be almost impossible — your matches are wet, you’ve misplaced your lighter, or maybe you’re lost in the wilderness without any gear at all.

In times like these, it’s always good to have a backup plan. LifeLaces Survival Laces from Stone Mountain are the perfect way to always be prepared in nature.

I recently got a pair of LifeLaces to try out, and was very impressed. These paracord laces come tipped with Ferro rods and a striker plate, allowing you to start a fire anywhere.

The tips of each lace are 1-inch Ferro rods, perfect for igniting tinder in even the most extreme conditions. I tested them out in the rain and they worked just fine. With a little practice it’s easy to create a ton of sparks with each strike. These are not one-time use, either; each of the four Ferro rods can be used repeatedly and still function as your boot laces.

The laces themselves are made of paracord, with seven strands of nylon in each lace. Not only are the laces super strong and durable, they can also be used in a variety of survival situations — setting traps to catch a meal, building a shelter that won’t blow away in a storm, securing a bandage to a wound, or just tying your gear together for easier travel. In a pinch, you can even remove all the nylon strands to give you up to 28 feet of additional line from each lace.

These laces come with a striker plate, perfect for creating the maximum amount of sparks from each strike. One side of the striker is razor sharp, and you can use this to scrape away the black coating and expose the silver rod underneath. Either side can be used to make sparks, but I found that flipping it around to the blunt side worked the best. With each strike I was able to create a shower of sparks and I started a fire in no time.

If you know you’re going to need to start a fire, I recommend bringing your own kindling. My personal favorite is dryer lint stuffed into a plastic bag to keep it dry. Its super easy to ignite and produces a substantial amount of heat to get your fire going.

The best part about LifeLaces is, once you replace your old boot laces with them, you never have worry about starting a fire again.

The only downside I found was that unlike some survival laces on the market, LifeLaces do not contain additional accessories in the paracord. However, the Ferro rods are firmly secured and seem like they’re made to last. There’s also no annoying caps to fall off while you’re hiking.

Overall I really like LifeLaces from Stone Mountain and would recommend them to anyone who enjoys starting a good fire.

But, Don’t just take my word for it… Check them out for yourself.

Click here now to get your own pair of LifeLaces absolutely free! (Just take care of shipping and they’re yours!)

from SurvivalLife http://survivallife.com/lifelaces-from-stone-mountain/

Indoor Gardening: Making Year Round Gardening Possible

There are so many benefits of gardening. One of the best benefits is putting fresh food on the table and, for me, there’s just isn’t a better feeling than that!

A lot of folks think that when the summer and early fall gardening season ends, so does the gardening. That’s just not true.

What if I told you that you can grow a plentiful garden INDOORS…all year round?

Gardeners who garden indoors do so for a number of reasons. Here are the most common reasons:

• Gardeners who live in northern climates that have shorter summer months love indoor gardens. It provides them with more options to have the most productive, plentiful garden.
• Gardeners without a good gardening area in the yard may find growing indoors especially useful. Indoor gardening is perfect for city dwellers especially those who live in an apartment or town home.
• Plants also help cleanse your household air and improve the aesthetics of any indoor space.

Sounds pretty awesome, doesn’t it? Let’s go even further and get you started on the road to indoor gardening. What I’ll be covering in this article:

• Space – The best spaces in your home for indoor gardening
• Light – The best lighting options for indoor gardening
• Temperature – What temperatures are necessary for an indoor garden
• Humidity – Watching for signs that plants are being affected
• Soil – Which soil is best for indoor gardening
• Plants – Choosing the right plants for indoor gardening
• Maintenance – Watering and Fertilizing your indoor garden

Space

You can utilize as much space as you need for your indoor garden. You can grow plants of all kinds. Most indoor gardeners use a windowsill or a table for their indoor gardening areas. The table should be on a tile or linoleum floor to catch any water. A tarp under the table can be used as well.

Another great idea is shelving which will provide lots of planting room while taking up little space. If using shelves, make sure that adequate light reaches every plant. This may require a separate grow light for each shelf.

Light

Plants need light to photosynthesize, and they need to photosynthesize to survive. Without adequate light, a plant will not grow to its full potential, and in some cases the plant may not produce fruit. A grow light may be required.

If you are new to indoor gardening, purchasing a grow light can be confusing, as there are different grow lights to choose from. Here are the choices for grow lights and the results they produce.

Incandescent Lamps are inexpensive and can be bought at a hardware store or nursery. While they work OK for growing houseplants, they are not ideal for an indoor garden.

An incandescent light bulb. (Image via)

Fluorescent Lights work best for growing herbs and other plants that don’t require a lot of light. They are not good for plants that are budding or flowering because they don’t put off enough light. Inexpensive, they can be purchased at your local hardware or garden supply store.

An indoor garden using a fluorescent grow light. (Image via)

The new Compact Fluorescent Systems, however, are quite bright and efficient, and in some cases might even be better than the fancier high intensity discharge (HID) lights. Compact fluorescents are smaller and more efficient than older forms of fluorescent lighting so they can be used for all plants. They also produce less heat than incandescent and HID lights and consequently can be placed much closer to the plant.

High Intensity Discharge (HID) Bulbs are the brightest and most efficient lights available but, they can be expensive. One 1,000 watt grow light bulb can produce the same amount of light as 50 40-watt fluorescent lights. Keep in mind that there are different types of HID Bulbs to choose from. The High Pressure Sodium and Metal Halide bulbs are the only ones indoor gardeners will need.

A high-end HID bulb. (Image via)

• High Pressure Sodium (HPS) Bulbs produce a red-orange light that benefits flowering. With an average lifespan 2X that of metal halides, high pressure sodium lamps are economical. This isn’t a great light if you are only going to use one, as it doesn’t produce light in the blue spectrum needed for leafy growth.

An HPS grow bulb. (Image via)

• Metal Halide (MH) Bulbs produce a blue-white color that is conducive to encouraging leafy growth and keeps plants compact. A bulb will last about 10,000 hours and produce up to 125 lumens per watt compared to 39 lumens per watt for standard fluorescent lights and 18 lumens per watt for standard incandescent bulbs. This is a good light to start plants out with. When it comes time to flower, switch to a High Pressure Sodium bulb.

An indoor garden using metal halide grow lights. (Image via)

Note: There is more to a grow light than just the bulb. You can purchase the reflector, cord, ballast, bulb and other parts separately, or buy a whole system that just needs to be plugged in.

Temperature

Temperatures of 65-75°F are best for most plants. A variance of 10°F either way will probably be OK. Plants that are too hot will be small and weak. Plants grown at too-cold temperatures may have yellow leaves that fall off.

Humidity

A lack of humidity in the house can be a challenge for indoor gardeners. Winter tends to be drier than summer, and if you run the heat in your house the problem is further compounded.

You know you have a low humidity problem if:

• The tips of your leaves are turning brown
• Plants look withered or puckered
• Plants lose their leaves
• You’ve researched how much humidity your particular plant needs and it isn’t getting it.

To increase humidity:

• Mist plants daily, or more often as needed. (Do not do this with hairy-leaved plants since the water hangs around longer and could cause disease.)
• Place a tray of water near your garden (don’t put plants in the tray; this can lead to other problems.) Fill the tray with lava rocks to increase surface area for evaporation.
• Place plants close together to create a microenvironment with a higher relative humidity.
• Run a humidifier (this will also benefit your skin as well.)
• Purchase an environmental controller, which can humidify or dehumidify depending on your needs.

Soil

Indoor gardens benefit from a good planting medium. Soil found outside is not appropriate, since it’s often too heavy and may contain weed seeds and insect pests. Instead, look for a mix that is specific to indoor plants. A good growing medium should remain loose and drain well, yet contain enough organic matter to hold nutrients and moisture.

Plants

Almost anything can be grown indoors — as long as it eventually doesn’t get too big. However, do consider growing plants with similar light, humidity and watering needs together.

Here is a list of great plants to grow indoors:

Vegetables

• Peppers
• Salad Greens
• Kale
• Chard
• Carrots
• Onions
• Tomatoes, especially cherry types
• Beans, Bush

Herbs

• Basil
• Parsley
• Oregano
• Lavender
• Cilantro
• Rosemary
• Chives
• Catmint

Fruits

• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Apples, dwarf varieties
• Citrus

Flowers

• Geranium
• Pansy
• Zinnia
• Roses
• Candytuft
• Alyssum
• Marigold
• Petunia
• Begonia
• Shasta Daisy

Maintenance

Watering

Plants grown in containers dry out more quickly than their soil-grown counterparts and require frequent watering. Always use room-temperature water and add enough water that it runs through the drain holes of your pot or container. Do not let water collect under the plant (the saucer area) as this can lead to rot and disease.

Fertilizing

Organic fertilizing for indoor plants is the best recommendation. In fact, If you compost at home, you can make a compost tea to water your indoor plants.

Here’s how:

• Fill a bucket about 1/3 full with finished compost
• Add water until the bucket is full
• Let the bucket sit for a few hours, if not three or four days (don’t let it freeze!)
• Using cheesecloth or a fine screen, strain the mixture into another container. (Anything leftover can be thrown into the garden or back into the compost bin)
• Add water to the liquid until it is the color of weak tea
• Apply the compost tea to the soil around your plants

Stay tuned for my next article on indoor gardening in which we talk about the awesome process of Hydroponic Gardening!

Check out these other gardening articles:

5 Uses for Epsom Salt in Your Garden

Gardening 101: The Three Sisters

DIY Raised Garden Beds

from SurvivalLife http://survivallife.com/indoor-gardening-year-round/

Any great survivalist knows that starting a fire is a key survival skill – but what happens when disaster strikes and you find yourself without matches?

How to Start a Fire Without Matches

This DIY firestarter is a great backup plan for starting a fire in a hurry, and it requires only a few household items. Check out the video below to see how it’s done, and follow these simple steps to create an instant fire without matches.

What you’ll need to make a firestarter without matches:

• 3 medium pieces of firewood
• Extra fine steel wool, grade #000
• Flint and steel striker
• Cotton ball
• Bundle of kindling
• Cotton ball

How to make a firestarter without matches:

Step 1: Place pad of steel wool on a flat surface.

Step 2: Surround the steel wool with two pieces of firewood.

Check out our tips on how to identify dry firewood here.

Step 3: Place a cotton ball on top of the steel wool, then surround the cotton ball with kindling.

Add more kindling to the top so that the cotton ball is completely unclosed.

Step 4: Use your flint and steel to strike sparks against the edges of the steel wool.

Continue this motion around the edge of the steel wool, blowing on the sparks to ignite flames.

Step 5: Add a third piece of firewood so that the fire is fully contained.

Check out the video below, and leave your own firestarting tips in the comments!

Want more DIY firestarter ideas? Check out the posts below!

How to Start a Fire with Flint

10 Fire Starting Materials You Probably Have at Home

DIY Fire Starter: The Cotton Ball

Making Simple Tools From Flint

from SurvivalLife http://survivallife.com/start-a-fire-without-matches/

3 Quick Tips to Safely Drink Dirty Water

What happens when you find yourself without access to clean water? Check out these tips on how to safely drink dirty water in an emergency situation.

3 Quick Tips to Safely Drink Dirty Water

Access to clean water could be the difference between life and death in a survival situation. Whether you find yourself in the aftermath of a natural disaster or out in the wilderness, make sure you’re prepared for the worst. Keep this list handy so you’re always ready – these methods are excellent backup plans for when you find yourself without access to clean water.

1. Cloth Filter

Good for: Getting rid of dirt and debris.
You will need: Strip of washcloth and two empty containers.
Directions: Run a strip of washcloth from a container of dirty water to an empty container. Eventually the water will migrate from one to the other, but it will still need to be boiled to eliminate contaminants. (Important note: boiling water does NOT filter out any heavy metal or chemical contaminants.)

2. Boil in a Kettle

Good for: Killing bacteria and disease.
You will need: Teapot or kettlecharge and open flame.
Directions: Pour water into a pot or kettle over an open flame. Bring to a boil. Allow the water to boil for at least 10 minutes to make sure all microorganism are killed. (Note: like method above, boiling water does NOT filter out any heavy metal or chemical contaminants.)

3. Aquastiq

Good for: Filtering out all contaminants.
You will need: Aquastiq and body of water.
Directions: When proper supplies are available, Aquastiq can be a literal lifesaver. The Aquastiq allows you to safely drink directly from rivers and lakes.

Check out the video below to see these tips in action:

Want more water tips? Check out the posts below!

Purifying Water in a Survival Situation

Make Water Drinkable

Do Chemical Water Purification Methods Really Work?

How to Survive Without Running Water

from SurvivalLife http://survivallife.com/quick-tips-safely-drink-dirty-water/

FEMA holds National Test of the IPAWS Emergency Alert System (EAS)

FEMA conducted a nationwide test of their Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) today, the first national test since things went wrong back in 2011. [...]

The post FEMA holds National Test of the IPAWS Emergency Alert System (EAS) appeared first on Off Grid Survival - Wilderness & Urban Survival Skills.

from Off Grid Survival – Wilderness & Urban Survival Skills http://offgridsurvival.com/fema-national-ipaws-eas/

Louisiana Floods of 2016: The Fight Isn’t Over

Louisiana and her beloved citizens are, unfortunately, no stranger to natural disasters. Just to give you an idea of what the The Pelican State has been through, let’s revisit some of her most devastating moments in history including her most recent devastation, the Louisiana Floods of 2016.

• The Great Flood of 1927 – The controversial bombing of the levees at Caernarvon, LA, caused hundreds of thousands of people to be displaced and a massive amount of damage to properties, livestock, and crops.

• 1965 – Hurricane Betsy – Hurricane Betsy struck New Orleans, Louisiana on September 9, 1965, causing levee breeches throughout the city and flooding more than 160,000 homes.

• The Flood of 1995 – A massive storm with more than 20 inches of rain caused a huge flood throughout the city of New Orleans and surrounding areas. Estimates put the damage at close to $3 billion.

• 2005 (August) – Hurricane Katrina – Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana on August 29, 2005, a day that will live in infamy for years to come. It continues to be the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, costing more than $108 billion and taking more than 1,800 lives. Some areas of Louisiana have yet to completely recover.

• 2005 (September) – Hurricane Rita – This was the fourth most intense hurricane ever recorded, and it cost more than $12 million in damage throughout southwestern Louisiana and Texas. Lake Charles and surrounding areas suffered from devastating floods.

• 2016 Louisiana Floods – In August 2016, prolonged rainfall in southern parts of the US state of Louisiana resulted in catastrophic flooding that submerged thousands of houses and businesses. Louisiana’s governor, John Bel Edwards, called the disaster a “historic, unprecedented flooding event” and declared a state of emergency. Many rivers and waterways, particularly the Amite and Comite rivers, reached record levels, and rainfall exceeded 20 inches (510 mm) in multiple parishes.

One Volunteer’s Plea For Help…

Survival Life reader and flood relief volunteer Anna Fontenot recently reached out to us in regards to the Louisiana Floods of 2016, the current conditions that still exist for many families, and the daily struggles that continue for these families into week 6.

Here is what Anna told us:

PLEASE DO A STORY ON THE RECENT FLOODING IN LOUISIANA! People are still homeless, living in tents, cars, and even just in their yard. It’s like a 3rd world country they’re living in. They’re so many pages on facebook about it, please check it out. We need volunteers bad to help gut these homes. If u like tearing stuff up, we need you! There’s hardly any media coverage anymore about it and of course the government is nowhere to be found! Please help us!

When I personally reached out to Anna, we talked in more detail about the different organizations she volunteers for and the work that still needs to be done for thousands of homes and families in need. These amazing groups are in desperate need for more volunteers! There’s so much more work to be done.

I would like to share with you all a quote I found on one of the volunteer’s Facebook pages: 

One person can’t do everything, but everyone can do something, no matter how big or small. – The Cajun Green Cross

This quote, along with my conversation with Anna Fontenot, touched my heart and I consider it a privilege to be a voice and getting the word out in any way I can!

I would like to introduce to you four amazing volunteer groups- three of which Anna Fontenot feels blessed to be a part of.

The Cajun Army

(Image via)

 

From The Cajun Army’s Facebook page:

Many of you have heard of the Cajun Navy. This is for “boots on the ground” – folks without boats. They are ready to do the work on the ground.

The Cajun Army’s mission is to connect the needs of the community with those willing to serve and provide a trusted place where information can be shared and acquired.

Visit the Cajun Army website to sign up as a volunteer or join the Cajun Army Facebook Group Page to acquire information on more ways you can be involved.

A post on the Cajun Army Facebook group page with important information on becoming a volunteer:

• If you need help or would like to help the Cajun Army, please fill out a form on our website. Without this form in our system, we can’t track you and your request may go unheard.
• If you need help, click “Request Help”
• If you want to help demo homes, click “Join a Demolition Group”
• If you want to help on the admin side, click “Volunteer”
• If you’re willing to host a volunteer in your home, click “Host”
• Someone from our organization will be in touch within two business days.

The Cajun Army also has an Amazon Wish List in which much needed supplies for the volunteers can be ordered and sent directly to them.

The Cajun Navy

 

(Image via)

From The Cajun Navy’s Facebook page:

Captains, men, and women, all strangers, with the power of social media, came together on Saturday 8/13/16, upon hearing about the historic flood and the possible threat of claiming thousands of lives. By using social media and Apps like Glympse and Zello for communication, many lives were spared through the efforts of volunteers associated with The Cajun Navy.

Visit the Cajun Navy Facebook Group Page for more information on how you can become a volunteer.

Be Someone’s Miracle – SWLA

 

(Image via)

From the Be Someone’s Miracle – SWLA Facebook page:

This movement started with an idea of helping our neighbors to the east. We will continue to bless as many people as we can. Help us Help them!

Visit the Be Someone’s Miracle – SWLA Facebook Page for more information on how you can become someone’s miracle and change a family’s life during this crucial time of need.

I encourage you to also please check out their reviews. Here is one review that caught my attention:

God working miracles through amazing people. Be Someone’s Miracle has worked non-stop for weeks to help those in need. Thank you. – Heather D. Rowe 8/21/2016

The Cajun Green Cross

 

(Image via)

From the Cajun Green Cross Facebook page:

Cajun Green Cross began when a few volunteers who were rescuing people by boat decided that they needed to help these people get back home and rebuild their lives. The Cajun Green Cross sets up every Saturday in an affected community and feed them, hand out donations, and do demolition work in the community.

The following video is from the Cajun Green Cross Facebook page. It’s a wonderful testimony of a gentleman from Seattle, Washington who drove 5 days to help this wonderful family in need!

The Cajun Green Cross can be contacted via their Facebook page or by phone 337-502-8592. Become a volunteer for this amazing organization today!

I want to thank Anna Fontenot for reaching out to us. May God Bless and protect you and every volunteer!

I encourage everyone to share this article with your friends and family. Let’s make a difference for these families in need! Become a much needed volunteer today!

For information on flood survival, check out the links below:

Flood Survival Tips: How to Survive Natural Disasters

What is the Real Cost of Flooding?

from SurvivalLife http://survivallife.com/louisiana-floods-of-2016/

11 Guns You Need for When SHTF

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to self defense weapons, and different guns are better suited for different situations.

The gun that’s best for close-quarters self defense will be different from the gun that’s best suited for perimeter protection. Handguns are more convenient, can fit in a purse or waist holster and are much easier to conceal. On the other hand, rifles might be the better choice for defending your home, when you may need to shoot an attacker from a distance. And even within these two categories, there are hundreds of different calibers, brands and types of guns to choose from.

Choosing a survival weapon is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. But with all the options available to you, making that choice can seem overwhelming.

Our friends at Outdoor Warrior have put together a list of 11 Types of Guns That Will Keep You Alive Come Doomsday. They’ve broken down some of the best guns for survival and why you should consider adding them to your arsenal. Here are the guns they’ve chosen:

1. AK-47

One of the most popular and reliable military-grade firearms on the market.

2. Ruger 10/22

If you plan on hunting small and medium-sized game, you can’t go wrong with the Ruger 10/22.

3. Bushmaster Carbon 15 M4 Carbine

The Bushmaster Carbon 15 M4 Carbine is small, light, and very durable. The M4 Carbine is made in the tradition of AR-15 rifles combined with modern features like the space-age Carbon 15 composite molded receivers.

4. Henry Arms AR-7

This rifle may not pack the same punch as some of the others, but what it lacks in power it makes up for in convenience.

5. Glock 36

The slim and sleek Glock 36 is a perfect concealed carry weapon.

6. Glock 17

The Glock 17 is a popular handgun among law enforcement officers. It’s a little heavy, but when handled correctly it shoots with great accuracy.

7. Sig Sauer P226

The Sig Sauer P226 is a compact, lightweight handgun, but it still has plenty of power. And at such an affordable price, you truly get some bang for your buck.

8. Taurus Judge

If you prefer a revolver, the Taurus Judge is a solid choice. This gun is ideal for close-quarter combat and self defense.

9. Mossberg 590 Mariner

The 590 Mariner is a 12-gauge shotgun capable of carrying 9 shots. And at only $500 retail, this gun is a steal.

10. Remington 870

Whether you need a weapon for hunting or for tactical operations, the Remington 870 is a solid choice.

11. Benelli Nova Pump Tactical

The Benelli Nova Pump is a reliable and powerful weapon. It only carries 5 shells, but with a gun this powerful, 5 is all you need!

Click here for an in-depth look of the top 11 SHTF firearms.

from SurvivalLife http://survivallife.com/11-guns-you-need-for-when-shtf/

Third Attack in Last Ten Days: Shooter wounds Nine in Houston

Nine people were shot and wounded in Houston when a shooter opened fire at a Strip Mall Monday morning. [...]

The post Third Attack in Last Ten Days: Shooter wounds Nine in Houston appeared first on Off Grid Survival - Wilderness & Urban Survival Skills.

from Off Grid Survival – Wilderness & Urban Survival Skills http://offgridsurvival.com/third-mall-attack-last-ten-days-shooter-wounds-nine-houston/

Pearl Harbor: Through the Eyes of a Hero

 

As part of Disaster Preparedness Month, we’ll be taking a close-up look at some of the most devastating disasters in recent history. The following article is part of our Disaster Preparedness Month series.

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The United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked by the Japanese on the morning of December 7, 1941. The Japanese had planned and executed the surprise attack in order to dishearten the American people and keep the United States out of World War II. Instead, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor had the opposite effect which led to the United States’ entry into World War 2.

US flags at the Pearl Harbor memorial.

Facts About the Attack on Pearl Harbor:

• The attack on Pearl Harbor lasted 110 minutes, from 7:55 am to 9:45 am.
• A total of 2,335 United States servicemen were killed and 1,143 were wounded. 68 civilians were also killed and 35 were wounded.
• Plans for a surprise attack against the United States began as early as January of 1941.
• The Japanese used the codename “Operation Hawaii” for the attack on Pearl Harbor. This later changed to “Operation Z.”
• The Japanese specifically chose to attack on a Sunday because they believed Americans would be more relaxed and therefore less alert on a weekend.
• The Japanese attack force stationed itself approximately 230 miles north of the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

• The Japanese launched their airplanes in two waves, approximately 45 minutes apart.
• The first wave of Japanese planes struck Pearl Harbor at 7:55 a.m. The second wave reached Pearl Harbor around 8:40 a.m.
• When Japanese Commander Mitsuo Fuchida called out, “Tora! Tora! Tora!” (“Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!”) upon flying over Pearl Harbor, it was a message to the entire Japanese navy telling them they had caught the Americans totally by surprise.
• When the Japanese left Pearl Harbor at 9:45 a.m., the Americans didn’t realize the attack was actually over. They expected another wave to hit.
• The day following the attack on Pearl Harbor, United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared that December 7, 1941 would be “a date that will live in infamy.”
• The United States declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941, the day following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
• “Remember Pearl Harbor!” became a rallying cry for the U.S. during World War II.

Through the Eyes of a Hero: Doris “Dorie” Miller

Thanks to the wonders of the internet I came across several eyewitness accounts, but this particular eyewitness account really stood out.

Meet Doris “Dorie” Miller. Famous for firing a 50 caliber Browning anti-aircraft machine gun for 15 minutes during the attack until he ran out of ammo. (Ordinarily this is not unusual — except that Dorie was the Ship’s cook!) He was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions beyond the call of duty.

These are the events that unfolded for Mr. Doris Miller on December 7, 1941 and his brave actions that soon followed…

On December 7, 1941, Doris Miller had arisen at 6 a.m., and was collecting laundry when the alarm for general quarters sounded. He headed for his battle station, the antiaircraft battery magazine amidship, only to discover that torpedo damage had wrecked it, so he went on deck. Because of his physical prowess, he was assigned to carry wounded fellow Sailors to places of greater safety.

Then an officer ordered him to the bridge to aid the mortally wounded Captain of the ship.

He subsequently manned a 50 caliber Browning anti-aircraft machine gun until he ran out of ammunition and was ordered to abandon ship.

Miller described firing the machine gun during the battle, a weapon which he had not been trained to operate: 

It wasn’t hard. I just pulled the trigger and she worked fine. I had watched the others with these guns. I guess I fired her for about fifteen minutes. I think I got one of those Jap planes. They were diving pretty close to us.”

Miller was commended by the Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox on April 1, 1942. On May 27, 1942 he received the Navy Cross, which Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet personally presented to Miller on board aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) for his extraordinary courage in battle. Speaking of Miller, Nimitz remarked:

This marks the first time in this conflict that such high tribute has been made in the Pacific Fleet to a member of his race and I’m sure that the future will see others similarly honored for brave acts.

Doris Miller was killed on November 24, 1943 in the line of duty while serving in action on board the USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) during Operation Galvanic.

In 1973, the USS Miller (FF-1091), a Knox-class frigate, was named in honor of Doris Miller.

Click here to read the full story of Doris Miller.

An inscription of part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s famous speech on the wall of the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C.

The Importance of Mental Preparedness

The story of Mr. Doris Miller and his heroic acts on December 7, 1941 is a perfect example of preparedness, and here’s why…

I’ve always stated that survival is 90% mental. By that, I mean you can have all the gear and skill set needed to survive or to help your fellow man survive, BUT, if you are not mentally prepared for a potentially life threatening situation (of any kind), then you and everyone around you are in immediate danger.

Without giving it a second thought, Doris Miller reacted to help save his countrymen. No hesitation — just a split second reaction! He was mentally prepared, and with that he did the only thing that came naturally. The next 15 minutes he fought for his country against the Japanese war planes until the ammo ran out. A cook on a naval ship turned into a hero in a matter of seconds because he was mentally prepared to do whatever was necessary to help save the lives of his fellow man, while sacrificing his own well being.

The USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor.

Granted, despite Mr. Miller’s heroic efforts that morning, 2,400 people were killed. But, what if Doris Miller hadn’t reacted? Could we have lost even more people that morning?

We will never truly know the answer to that question. What I do know is this: Doris Miller, one hero among many, fought for this country in World War II, and when I came across the story of Doris Miller, I knew his story had to be told once more. A story of dedication to one’s country and to one’s fellow man… a true hero in every sense of the word.

“All the best heroes are ordinary people who make themselves extraordinary.” – Gerard Way

Check out the previous articles in our Disaster Preparedness Month series:

Hurricane Katrina: Unity in the Midst of Devastation

September 11, 2001: The Day Our Nation Changed Forever

7 Deadliest Disasters in American History

from SurvivalLife http://survivallife.com/pearl-harbor-through-the-eyes-of-a-hero/

How to Raise Honey Bees

 

Raising honeybees can be a fun and rewarding pastime that provides you with all the fresh honey you can eat. Maintaining just one hive can even provide you with a side source of income, but many people are intimidated by the prospect of keeping a few thousand bees in their yard. However, honey bees are surprisingly docile, and modern beekeeping methods make the process extremely non-invasive and bee friendly.

To help you decide, let’s weigh the pros and cons.

The Pros:

• Honey is probably the obvious answer. Who wouldn’t love their own fresh batch of honey to use in recipes. A single bee can produce 1/12 teaspoon of honey in her lifetime (about 6 weeks), and with a colony consisting of thousands of bees, that can add up quickly.
• Wax is another popular product of bees. Bees convert their food and make it into the wax comb. Wax is used in many ways, including candles and cosmetics. Many creams and lipsticks contain beeswax.
• Pollination is a key component of bee life. If you want healthy plants, bees can help. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, bee pollination is responsible for $15 billion in added crop value, particularly for specialty crops such as almonds and other nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables. About one mouthful in three in the diet directly or indirectly benefits from honeybee pollination.
• Diligent workers. There’s a reason we say “busy as a bee.” Bees are constant workers. The nice thing is that it doesn’t take a lot of work on your part to raise bees. Once you get past the initial startup costs, you now have a free labor force that will produce honey and wax that you can later sell. Bees are independent, so there is not a lot of time commitment on your part. Plan for about a half hour each week and for honey collecting twice a year. As long as you are collecting when you should be, not over or under doing it, than you will have a happy relationship with your little honey-makers for years to come.

Could honey bees go extinct? How would it affect us if they did? Find out here: https://t.co/vQ2xlXh0uj pic.twitter.com/Nj48UTy8Kb

— Survival Life (@SurvivalLF) July 29, 2016

The Cons:

• Stings can happen with honeybees. Check with your doctor first to determine if you are one of the unlucky people who are allergic to bee stings. Even if you are not allergic, stings can still be slightly painful. Luckily, though, most beekeepers develop immunity to the poison over time.
• Cost of supplies. The initial cost of beekeeping is relatively cheap. You will, however, need to invest in supplies such as a hive, proper clothing, a smoker, extracting equipment, and hive supplies. As of this writing, a single new hive may cost about $110, clothing and gear may cost about $160, and a package of new bees may run $75 to $100. Often you can find starter kits with bees, boxes, and gear for a better combined price.
• The first year can be a tough one. On top of learning the ins and outs of beekeeping, you may not get a large amount of honey. Learn to be patient with yourself and your bees.

 

 Let’s talk about the process in more detail. I’ll go over these important steps on how you can be a successful beekeeper:

• How to get started
• Different methods of getting bees
• How to place the bees in their new home
• How to work your bees

 

 

Your garden can double as pest control. These 9 plants will keep the bugs at bay. https://t.co/8aOHvxJKzr pic.twitter.com/bS8EXV2bM0

— Survival Life (@SurvivalLF) July 18, 2016

Let’s get started!

How to Get Started

Buy a home for your bees.

While honey bees can create hives in all sorts of spaces, most naturally occurring hives don’t respond well to having honey harvested from them. Store-bought hives are designed to allow you to collect the honey with minimal effect on the honey bees.

Langstroth Hives are the most commonly used in the beekeeping industry because they provide movable frames that won’t interfere with the bees inside when removed.

Langstroth Hives will not stick together because they were designed to provide passage for the bees in the gaps between the movable pieces.

A Langstroth bee hive. (Image via)

Top Bar Hives are designed to be more shallow and sit higher for people who have trouble bending over and may be a good choice for people with back issues.

A Top Bar bee hive. (Image via)

Warre Hives are shaped a bit like a house and can be difficult to manage large colonies in, but are great for small hives.

A Warre hive. (Image via)

Find a place for the hive.

You can keep one colony in most typical-sized housing lots. While many people think that means their backyard may be big enough to house a hive of honey bees, there are some other things you will need to consider before placing your hive.

• Find out if there are any zoning requirements for keeping a bee colony in your local area.
• Make sure no one in your family has a bee allergy.
• Let your neighbors know about your hive to see what concerns they may have about their families or health.

Make or purchase a hive stand.

(Image via)

You will want to keep your honey bee hive off of the ground to make it easier to access and prevent the wood from rotting. A good hive stand will stand about eighteen inches off the ground to protect the hives from wild animals as well.

• A typical hive stand is made of treated 2×4 pieces of lumber laid across stacked cement or concrete blocks.
• Consider putting down mulch, gravel, or stones under your hive stands to limit the mud you will have to deal with.

Purchase protective gear.

Honey bees are not the most aggressive species of bee, but their sting can still be quite painful. You will need to purchase honey bee keeping protective equipment to prevent them from stinging you as you check on them and harvest the honey.

• A simple hat and veil is often enough protection for most beekeeping activities.
• A light jacket offers additional protection and is often enough for regular beekeeping needs.
• A full suit with gloves is advised for times when the weather is rather windy or the bees seem aggressive.

Get a smoker.

A smoker is a cylinder with bellows attached that houses a slow burning fire. As the fire burns, you squeeze the bellows so smoke comes out the nozzle. This smoke is an excellent way to calm bees down as you work around their hive.

• Burning pine needles, old burlap, wood, or purchased smoker fuel are all effective methods of calming bees down.
• Smoke tricks bees into thinking they need to escape a fire and interferes with the pheromones they use to communicate within the hive.

Different Methods of Getting Bees

Catch a wild spring swarm.

A wild spring swarm is a cluster of bees that have left their hive. You can usually find them temporarily hanging from a tree or bush during the springtime. During that time of year, the swarms will be relatively docile while they prepare to establish a new hive. This is the least expensive, but most dangerous method.

• With beekeeping gear on, you can gather the bees and their queen into an empty hive.
• Place a box below the branch of a tree or bush the bees are currently swarming on. You may be able to shake the branch, causing the majority of the bees to fall in the box but this could anger the bees. Instead, simply cut the branch they are swarming on off the tree and place it in the box for transport.
• This method is not recommended without support from an experienced beekeeper.

Purchase an established hive locally.

You may be able to purchase an established hive from a local beekeeper. This can be the easiest way to get started as well as a great way to provide you with a contact that has beekeeping experience.

• These hives usually only cost between $50 and $100.
• Make sure the hive you purchase has been formally inspected by an apiarist or the state department of agriculture. Either test is free to have conducted and can prevent you from having to destroy colonies with communicable diseases.

Order bees by mail.

The easiest and most common way to make sure you can establish a hive of healthy honey bees is to order your bees through the mail. The U.S. Postal Service will actually deliver your bees right to your door. A beginner order would usually cost about $30 and entail the following.

• A 3-pound box with 10,000 worker honey bees
• One mated queen that is ready to start laying eggs
• Sugar water to feed the colony during shipment

How to Place Bees in Their New Home

It’s surprisingly easy and safe to transfer your bees from the package they came into their new hive that you purchased for them. This process is detailed in instructions that often come with the bees as well.

• Simply place the separately caged queen into the empty hive
• Pour the bees out of the box onto the queen
• The bees do not currently have a hive to defend and will be disoriented so there is very little risk of being stung during this process.
• These colonies will take the first year to build up the number of bees inside and will not yield honey until the second year you have the hive.

How to Work with Your Bees

Start with a friend that has experience.

It’s important that you learn the proper way to behave around a beehive from someone with experience. An experienced beekeeper can provide you with wisdom and guidance that may be difficult to find online.

• A seasoned beekeeper’s poise will show you how to remain calm if you get nervous around the hive.
• Having support can make the situation less frightening until you are accustomed to working with bees.

Check on your bees.

You will need to check on the status of your hives more often than you will be harvesting honey. When checking on your hive, simply wearing a hat with a veil is often considered enough protection, but you may also choose to wear a jacket.

• Visit the bees on a sunny day when flowers are in bloom so the majority of the bees will be out and working.
• Wash any clothing bees may have stung previously when visiting, the residual pheromones could incite another attack.
• Use a smoker to fill the hive with smoke and keep the bees docile when opening it to inspect.

Inspect their honey making progress.

Once you have approached the hive, you’ll need to open it and remove some of the interior framing to check on your bees progress in developing the hive and making honey. Remember to liberally use your smoker throughout this process to pacify the remaining bees.

• Use your hive tool (a small crowbar) to pry up the corner of one of the interior frame walls, then slide it up slowly.
• In different frames you slide out you will find honey or even frames filled with the queen’s larvae.
• Frames that are capped in beeswax are full of honey and ready to be harvested.

Harvest your honey.

It’s finally time to reap the reward of beekeeping, a harvest of fresh honey! You may choose to wear your full beekeeping suit to protect yourself during this process, though if you’re careful, it may not be necessary.

• You can purchase a “bee escape” which is a bee trap that allows the bees to enter a container but not leave. As you smoke the hive, most bees will enter the bee escape, allowing you to harvest the honey safely with most bees temporarily displaced.
• Use a pocket knife or small blade to cut the honey combs out of the frames. The beeswax honey making up the hexagons is also edible.
• A centrifuge specially designed to separate the honey from the honeycombs can also be purchased at specialty stores if you would prefer only the pure honey.

Treat bee stings.

It’s inevitable that you will get stung at some point while working with bees. Most experienced beekeepers have been stung many times, but eventually learn to avoid most situations that may result in getting stung. If you are stung, treating a bee sting is fairly easy:

• Remove the stinger as quickly as you can and wash the area with soap and water.
• Apply a cold compress and keep an eye out for signs of an allergic reaction.
• If signs of a moderate allergic reaction arise, take an antihistamine and apply a cortisone cream to the site of the sting.
• If a more severe reaction seems evident, use an epinephrine pen if available and seek medical treatment immediately.

Information sources courtesy of almanac.com and wikihow.com.

If you have had success raising honeybees, we would love to hear from you! Tell us your story in the comment section below.

from SurvivalLife http://survivallife.com/how-to-raise-honey-bees/