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/