West Coast Survival Strategies: How To Get Out Alive

 

The most difficult aspect of getting out of dodge when SHTF, is know when to go, where to go, and how to get there. This is where many survivalists drop the ball because it is a real challenge to figure this part of the survival planning out. There are many obstacles to overcome, and it requires a high level of understanding about the inherent difficulties; as well as meticulous attention to a myriad of details.

Given the fact that California has a population density of 37,253,956 people, this should indicate the severity of Bugging Out, and what it means to those trying to flee the large cities. Whereas Oregon has a population of 3,831,074. What's the difference between 37.2 million people, and 3.8 million people? The answer is Movement...

It's already clear that California's highway and interstate system are overcrowded; imagine trying to get across LA when a very large percentage of the population is hitting the streets in utter panic. If you have never experience the Santa Monica Freeway at rush hour on a three day weekend--then you cannot begin to imagine that chaos.

 

The very first thing that must be considered when working out an escape plan, is to know your area within your own neighborhood, and also the area leading out of it.

Step Number 1:

1. Get a detailed city map that shows all the streets and major highways.
2. Locate your home on the map and draw a green square around the location.
3. Find the quickest way out of the area using major roads and highways--Mark These in RED MARKER.
4. Identify every street leading out of the area on city streets, but NOT major highways or 4-land streets. In order words, look for neighborhood streets that will take you across town. Mark these with a GREEN MARKER.

Step Number 2:

Take a drive on at least three or four of the streets that you have marked in GREEN. This will be the most important part of the survival plan. The intent is to become familiar with the route, and the resources that you will encounter. bring the map with you, as well as a writing pad and pens.

Here is what you will need to look for:

• Bridges; whether you drive over it, or under it.
• Culverts and large drainage pipes.
• Overhead walkways.

Mark the exact location of each bridge with a RED SQUARE

Mark the exact location of each culvert with a GREEN CIRCLE

Mark the exact location of walkways with a RED SQUARE

The purpose of this is to have the ability to quickly re-route yourself if the primary route is blocked. Knowing where all the bridges and culverts are located will make this a much easier job. This will prevent you from wasting time, and wasting precious gasoline to get to safety. You will need to know every route out of the area, as well as every obstruction that could fall down in an earthquake, or flood-out during a severe storm. Knowing where all of these obstructions and choke points are located; gives you an advantage that the unprepared people won't have. Culverts can also be useful as emergency temporary shelters, as long as there is no standing water inside the culvert.

Step Number Three:

As you do the initial drive through of the various routes, keep a sharp eye out for the following locations:

• Multi-level Parking Garages
• Underground Parking Garages
• Public Storage Lots
• Fuel Distribution Companies
• Hardware Stores
• Medical Supply Distributors
• Propane Tanks
• Chemical Tanks

These locations will be called "Resources". They could provide you with much needed fuel, another vehicle in case yours breaks-down, or additional supplies that you can grab in case you have to leave home with just the clothes on your back.

Mark each of these locations with a BLACK DIAMOND, and make a small side-note indicating what the location offers you.

NOTE: be very careful; you might get yourself shot when trying to forage/steal somebody’s property. If you can’t get in and out with what you need in less than three minutes, then you might already have a problem. It helps when you have friends watching your back in this case.

Getting Your Car Ready:

In addition to your Bug Out Bag; Your car should be stocked with the following gear and supplies:

• Spare Tire and Jack.
• Extra Gasoline
• Radiator Stop-Leak
• Canned Air
• Anti-Freeze
• Transmission Fluid
• Heavy Duty Bolt Cutters (For Cutting Pad Locks)
• Logging Chain with Hooked Ends (For Pulling Gates Down)
• Crowbar (For Opening Doors)
• Ratcheting Chain Winch or Come-A-Long (Multi-Purpose)
• Highway Safety Flares
• Basic Automotive Tool Kit
• Towing Cable or Rope
• Roofing Nails (For dropping behind you to disable tires)

These are the things that will help you to acquire resources if you are forced to, or have to abandon your car to get another one. But let's not stop there; it's time to think about Plan-B…

Plan-B:

What if you are bugging out, and suddenly find yourself confronted with a gridlocked traffic jam, or the roads become impassible?

You will either have to walk out, or reach into the back of the car and grab the bicycles that are waiting for you. The kind of bikes that have panniers and bags attached to it will do the trick very well.

Having an alternative mode of transportation will be an added benefit. It might not be as fast as a car, but bicycles can go places that cars can’t and the added bonus is that they don’t require fuel, and don’t make loud noises. Motorcycles and dirt-bikes work equally favorable under these conditions; as do All-Terrain-Vehicles. (ATV’s)

 

Pack you gear light, and make it easy on yourself. All the tools in the car, as listed above, can be left for whoever finds it. It just might allow somebody else another day of life. Either way, if you are on foot or riding a bike, these things will only hamper you with additional weight.

If you have done the initial survival planning as I have detailed in several different articles over the years, you should keep the following in mind:

• Have a place already picked out to where you will be bugging out to.
• Pre-position emergency survival supplies in those areas, and (when possible) along the evacuation route.
• Have your Bug Out Bag and Ready Bag in the vehicles at all times—no matter what.

Many people have asked me over the years how it’s possible for them to bury emergency supplies when out in public without letting anyone know what they are doing; and the answer is pretty obvious—(look at the picture below)

 

Not only are these “Privacy Shelters” a definite plus when camping in crowded areas; they can also be used to hide the fact that you are busy burying supplies in your camping area. Position the shelter in an areas that has some trees, or hills out of view, and get busy insuring your survival.

TIP: Lay a tarp on the ground first, and then pile all of the excavated dirt onto the tarp. After dropping your supplies into the hole, put the dirt back where it was found. This will prevent those tell-tale bare earth spot from giving away that something is buried underneath.

[ NOTE: a camping tent that doesn’t have a built-in floor will also work for this sneaky maneuver… ]

 

Where To Go:

This is one of the most common questions that survivalists ask. Many do not have a “Retreat” or Safe Area to call their own. I suppose the state parks and national forest will become crowded in just a matter of days after SHTF--That is an unacceptable situation in itself. You must avoid these areas like the plague if at all possible.

 

In my next book titled “Survival Planning” I will share with you some extremely beneficial spots to be aware of. It will probably surprise you, but I’ve been holding back telling anyone of these areas for a very long time, just in case I ever had to use one of these spots myself.

If you are interested in knowing when this book hits the shelves, click HERE

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E-Mail: frankeschein@hotmail.com

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Getting Ready For The End: Save Your Life First

 

With all of the predictions surrounding the events of 2012 Doomsday Prophecies, it's easy to forget that there are other cataclysmic scenarios that are equally devastating.

Our world, and our society have become increasingly reliant on modern conveniences such as electricity, sewage, drinking water, telecommunications, and instant gratification.

What would happen to society if these conveniences were suddenly and inexplicitly removed without warning...

For the average family out there that has fallen into this "consumerism" based trap--the end result would be devastating in both the short term, and long term.

No matter what event one is prepping for; the basic survival plan begins with having and adequate food and water supply at home. It has been suggested to maintain a 72-hour kit, but I personally think that steps should be taken to increase this to a minimum of 3-months. Based on historical facts concerning other disasters, and how FEMA coped with these events; three months worth of food and water, as well as other supplies, will provide a much better window of survivability.

The Basics:

• Powdered Eggs
• Powdered Milk
• Instant Soup
• Instant Coffee
• Tea Bags
• Rice
• Cornmeal
• Dried Beans
• Oatmeal
• Cream Of Wheat
• Salt
• Sugar
• Flour
• Dried Fruit
• Cup-O-Soup
• Ramine Noodles
• Pasta Noodles

These food items are relatively easy to find, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. The fact that they are DRY, makes them easier to store--no matter what the weather conditions happen to be. There are many microwaveable food packs on the shelves of the grocery stores. These items are already cooked, as they only need to be heated. Boiling the pack in hot water will work just fine—remember to cut a small slit in the top of the bag FIRST.

Canned food is great; but they are subjected to weather, and weigh considerably more. The first thing to remember that even though the expiration date has expired, the food is probably still palatable. The only exception might be prepared foods such as beef stew, chili, spaghetti sauce, or those foods that have a higher acidity. Fresh vegetables will be needed when SHTF. A steady diet of rice and beans will get old real fast. Mixing up the canned food with dried food will be a significant factor during a crisis.

Freeze Dried food and Military rations are probably the best way to start out in this endeavor. The cost is a little higher, but offset by the long-term shelf life, and the portability because of the small size and reduced weight factors.

The secret to remember; don't put all of your emergency food in one place. Spread it out across several different "Supply Cache's" in the area. The last thing that you want is to rush home during a crisis, and suddenly find all of your food buried under fifty tons of wrecked house.

A supply cache could be something as simple as a 5-gallon bucket of survival food that is stored in the back of your car, or buried beside the doghouse. There are many places in your area where these buckets can be hidden, or buried.

The best option is to fill each bucket with enough food to last every member of your family for at least two weeks. Careful selection of the food, and carefully packing it into the bucket, will go a long way in insuring that that you have a insurance policy when SHTF. Boxes containing food-bags should be broken down. he box is just for getting your attention, the real food is inside of the bag-getting rid of the box reduces the overall weight and size, making it easier to store or pack.

My own plan uses these same principals. Several buckets of food are buried here and there, as well as a much larger “Base Camp” cache that is designed for long term sustainability AFTER the crisis has passed. In addition, it would also be wise to bury or maintain some caches containing clothing, tools, ammunition, and basic survival gear. Even the best plans have a tendency to fail, so having “extras” spread out across the area will insure that even if you are forced to flee with only the clothes on your back—there is something waiting on you at one of the supply caches.

All too many times I have been amazed at the sheer magnitude of the preparations that some survival families have undertaken. Alternative energy system, several years worth of food supplies, thousands of gallons of fuels, as well as chicken, cows, pigs, and everything that will sustain their family during a crisis.

BUT: What happens if these families have to suddenly flee their home in order to save their lives?

They are screwed !

Even though lots of time, effort, and money went into their planning; they didn't start at the basic plan of saving their own life first...

[ Photo: Internet ]

More information can be found at the link below

Getting Ready For The End

 

 

 

E-Mail: frankeschein@hotmail.com

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Crisis Thinking: Critical Perceptions

 

[ Warning: Graphic Content ]

NOTICE: All pictures are used under presumptive use, and downloaded from their respective internet sites and/or forums for non-commercial use. Copyrights retained by the original submitter / owner.

 

SYNOPSIS:

The world has just ended for the people in your neighborhood. Everything around you has collapsed,,,, and modern utilities are a thing of the past.

Early that morning a massive under-sea earthquake comes to life without any warning. The shock waves create a tsunami wave approaching heights of 2000 feet--travelling at an astounding speed of 600 MPH. It's bigger than the Empire State Building.

The Warning Alerts were transmitted at 10:45am while you are at work. The first thing that you thought of, was to call your wife on the cell-phone. The line is busy--you cannot get through.

You don't hesitate, and quickly jump into your car heading for home, and planning on stopping at the school to pick up your two children. It only takes you three minutes to realize that everybody else in the city is doing exactly the same thing, and the roads are already gridlocked--traffic is at a standstill.

Panicked you try the cell-phone again for the thousand time, but it's still busy. You cannot reach your wife. It's then that you notice the fuel gauge is hovering near a quarter of a tank. You were running late for work this morning, and intending to top-off the gas tank after work.

The skies are filled with many helicopters as the elites and rich flee the city into the high mountains. You wished that you could commandeer one of those birds, and bring your family to safety. But you are stuck in standstill traffic.

Ten minutes later you abandon the car and start running towards the head of the line--hoping to convince somebody to help you get home. In your mind you are formulating a sneaky plan to steal a car from whoever is still mobile. There's nothing in the world that will stop you from getting to your kids and home--even if you have to hurt somebody in the process.

FAST FORWARD:

It's been 48-hours since the massive tsunami wave swept through the area. Every building that you knew, has now been knocked down and carried away by the wave. Blotted dead bodies float with the rippling currents. You watch in amazement as your own car floats by, bobbing against a mini-van full of small children--all of whom are drowned. The sight brings instant fear to your mind, as you try to imagine what has become of your own kids. Quickly you push that thought way back into the furthest recesses of your mind. It's not something that you can deal with right now; you have only one single purpose; to get home and take care of your family, and get them all into a safe area.

But first--you have to, somehow, get off this concrete parking garage that has saved you from the tsunami wave. Looking down eight stores into the swirling black waters, you understand the force that nature sent against you, and realize that like the other thirty people sharing the roof with you, there's not one single thing that you can do for yourself, much less your own family. You are stuck here until the waters recede, or the government can rescue you from the only standing structure in the area. For a moment you consider jumping into the water and swimming from building to building until you reach dry ground...

ONE WEEK LATER:

You try to eat the MRE that the soldier has handed you, but the appetite just isn't there. The noise inside the church is almost deafening, as other survivors are informed of the loss of their loved-ones. It's a scene that has been played-out many times over the past week. Nobody has told you anything, you're in the dark, but deep down inside of you, the thought that your entire family has perished is something that you have to force out of your thought patterns.

Reports of wide spread destruction flood in; entire communities and towns have been obliterated--wiped off the map. The people in the affected areas no longer exist--among them your parents, and most of your family have went missing. Your mind replays the events about the last time that you spoke with your mother, the firm handshake of your father as he walked you and the family to the car. Your brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, and close friends are all gone. Some might have survived, but you don't know that for sure.

Millions of people have been drowned or crushed. FEMA and the Red Cross are the only thing keeping you alive. Help has flooded-in from the mid-western areas, but it doesn't belay the fact that most of your immediate family is dead--and deep down you fear that you family will be among those listed as dead.

****

Think this is fantasy? Look at the pictures below to be reminded of the events during the 2011 Earthquake and Tsunamis that struck Japan.

  

  

If you think, for one minute that this couldn't happen in the USA; then look at the picture below and see for yourself exactly where the tectonic plates bump-up against Americas coastline.

 

Even those people living thousands of miles away from these plates, or the coast, will feel the results of an event such as this. The tsunami might not reach very far inland, but the long-term ramifications are almost as severe.

• Ground transportation comes to a screeching halt.
• Domestic oil production wiped out.
• Massive ecological disaster due to oil and chemical spills.
• Ground water contamination.
• Fuel prices immediately skyrocket.
• Fresh vegetable production disrupted, or stopped altogether.
• Meat animal production stopped or disrupted.
• Maritime transportation systems destroyed.
• Fishing industry wiped out.
• Consumer Commodities see immediate price spike.
• Global stock indexes plunge to record lows.
• Unemployment skyrockets.
• Martial Law declared within disaster zones.
• Wireless Telephone & Internet Services affected.
• Dams and Reservoirs destroyed or affected.
• Rivers and streams expand flooding further inland.
• Stench of death in affected areas.
• Massive numbers of people perish during the event.

Then again; you might have friends or family living in the affected areas…

 

 

Survival Keys:

• Establish and practice a Family Communications Plan.
• Know every route in and out of your area, like the back of your hand.
• Keep and maintain a “Ready Bag” in the family cars.
• Don’t stockpile all of your emergency food at home—spread it out.
• Keep batteries fully charged (and in the cars) for Hand-Held radios, and teach every family member how to use it.
• Provide you school-age children with a small “Go Bag” to be stored in the school lockers.
• Know before-hand who will get the kids from school—maintain radio communications with the spouse.
• Understand that it might be necessary to save your own life FIRST, before you can help anyone else.
• Don’t rely upon cell-phones during an emergency—they will FAIL YOU when you need it the most.
• Don’t count on getting Advance Warning from the Emergency Broadcast System—it has failed before!

Even if you are the sole surviving member of your entire family, it must be stressed that during events such as this; your inner-strength will be severely tested. There is now way for anybody on this planet to know what they will do, or be able to do, when faced with the loss of family members.

But it certainly helps to have a plan, and that leads to attaining the right survival mindset. I promise that if you practice these things enough times; during an emergency, your body's instinct will guide you through the steps that will be required.

You may not always make the right choices, but in the finality of things, your decisions will be based on the survival plans that you have established and practiced. Your ass will follow your mind when the time comes…

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Follow Up: Survival Planning Before You Die!

In a previous article that I wrote yesterday titled “Startling Facts About Survivalists: You Are Going To Die!” I outlined what I personally believe to be some serious misconceptions about the current survival trends.

Many of the readers that have found the article interesting, asked how it was possible to overcome these issues, and proceed forward utilizing a reality based survival plan.

 

In another book that I had planned to publish early in 2012; I outline what I believe to be the nexus of survival planning. That doesn’t mean that I am the ultimate authority, or that my plans will work for everyone; but it does mean that these plans will work for me personally, and consequently those people within the rank and file of The Alaska Watchmen Group that have come to rely upon my judgment, and critical thinking in these area.

When I “engage the brain” in these areas, I first set to pen and paper every conceivable threat that I and the group will face. Even the most ludicrous things are written down, at least for the moment.

Each threat is then dissected into it’s inherent sub-threat which may pose a danger or risk.

 

EXAMPLE:

PRIMARY EFFECT	SECONDARY EFFECT	RISK ANALYSIS	THREAT OCCURRENCE	MITIGATION
Volcanic Eruption
	Pyroclastic Flow	Danger Radius	Widespread Fires	Distance
	Immediate Blast Effect	Blast Radius	Buildings Toppled	Distance
	Ash Cloud Dispersion	Time To Arrival	Air Quality Affected	Air Filters
	Earthquake Swarm	Risk Mitigation Effects	SEE EARTHQUAKE EFFECT	EAP Protocols
	Increased Tsunami Event	Risk Mitigation Effects	SEE TSUNAMI EFFECT	EAP Protocols

EAP is defined as Emergency Action Plans. These plans are designed to mitigate risk or exposure regarding one particular effect. It details the immediate and long-term strategic or tactical plans developed for a certain event. How myself, or the group will respond to that event alone.

Some of these events included the following scenarios:

• Volcanic Eruption
• Tsunami
• Earthquake
• Civil Unrest
• Economic Collapse
• Supply Chain Disruption
• Power Grid Failure
• Communications Failure
• Terrorist Attack
• War Declaration
• Martial Law Declaration
• Medical Pandemic
• Radiological Event
• Biological Event
• Chemical Event
• Meteor Strike
• Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)

Each of the above events results in focusing upon reducing our risk to the event, countering the inherent immediate and long term threats, and developing strategies in dealing with the event with little or no advance warning. As part of the overall strategy; there are four main areas that are taken into consideration when developing the survival plan:

1. Planning
2. Execution
3. Survivability
4. Sustainability

Planning Phase:

Planning is defined as determining what the threat is, how it could affect us, and what the event probability is. After having noted all of the sub-effects that we could encounter, each facet of the threat is analyzed for a predicated response on our part. In this area we expand the critical think a little further:

• Historically, in similar such events; has there been advance warning capability that allowed for a timely dissemination of emergency alerts?
• How many times in history has this event occurred?
• What is the probability that this event will occur in the near future?
• What was the single most factor evident that created this event?
• What was the single most factor evident which helped to offset the risk or damage during the event?
• If this event were to occur today, how would we alert the members of its probability, or occurrence?
• Would the members have adequate means to transition into a full-blown evacuation to the Rally Point?
• What factors would contribute to the delay of our evacuation to the Rally Point?
• Are there alternate routes available that would not delay our evacuation to the Rally Point?
• What are the likely risk associated with evacuating to the Rally Point?
• How do we individually, and collectively overcome these risk while moving to the Rally Point.
• Is it possible to Shelter In Place during this event, and under what circumstances is this possible?
• How will ill, or elderly members be evacuated from the affected areas, and who is responsible for their evacuation?

 

Execution Phase:

Execution comes about after all of these question, and other question involving the threats, have been analysis in much detail. During the execution phase, the group is trained to respond, thus executing the plan in its entirety:

• Notification / Alert Phase; Tactical Alert Call Tree System (TACTS) Initiated.
• Wide Area Communications Network Implemented.
• Advance Elements move towards critical over-watch areas.
• Security Group moves toward Rally Point to secure it, and await arrival of group members.
• Team Leaders insure that group members are moving towards the Rally Point. Communicates with Command Group.
• Over-Watch elements communicate route delays, obstructions, and other critical information as team members move through their respective positions. Communicates continuous updates with Command Group.
• Over-Watch position moves to Rally Point when all members have moved through the check-point / over-watch area.
• Command Group and Members conduct roll-call, determine missing member’s status; and weigh the risk involved in sending a rescue team to extract/evacuate missing members.
• Entire Group maintains defensive perimeter to secure Rally Point.

 

Phase Two Of Execution:

• Scout deployed forward of team prior to departure from Rally Point.
• Stay-Behind Guard maintains perimeter after group departs the Rally Point, then deploys as Rear Guard during movement to Safe Area.
• Movement/Departure from Rally Point to Safe Area initiated.
• security Protocols established and executed while in route to Safe Area.
• Command Group receives continuous updates from scouts and rear guard, as well as Shelter-In-Place elements within the affected areas.
• Advance group arrives at Safe Area’ conducts reconnaissance, and communicates same with Command Group; then secures the Safe Area for our arrival.

Survivability Phase:

Each person within the group has several duties. They are expected to perform their primary duty such as Medic, Construction, Cooks, etc.; and then also serve as rotating guard throughout the deployment at the Safe Area. They may also be called upon to conduct security patrols within the areas around the Safe Area; or execute foraging or reconnaissance operations when necessary.

Sustainability Phase:

Once the crisis or event has progressed to more reasonable levels of accepted risk; then all efforts are turned towards Long Term sustainment of the group and its members. This could included establishing alternative power, sanitation, water filtration, communications, and other factors necessary for the continuity of the group.

Primitive survival skills, agricultural skills, and other skills and duties that provide for the groups ability to sustain ourselves are then implemented.

 

The Survival Star is a easy tool that almost anyone can use in order to make their own survival plans. Each point of the star represent a critical area that cannot be discounted or overcome. All six points of the star work together in order to insure that the plan works.

Consider each point of the star, and what it means to your own survival plan, as well as the execution of the plan.

The Survival Star can be used for both the Evacuation (Bug Out) Phase, or upon arrival at the Safe Area when some of the risk has diminished to acceptable levels.

 

I will not give away our operational plans and strategies, but what you are seeing is a condensed version of “one of many” of our tactical plans. These plans have been rehearsed over and over until it becomes an automatic and conditioned response.

I formulated these plans, worked out the details, and then approach the group with these plans. Each detail was discussed and argued, until we ALL reached the consensus that we were comfortable with our plans. It’s not based on what I want, or what I demand—it’s based on the simple premise that everyone within our group has a part to play in these plans, and thus; a say in how they go down when SHTF. Anything less would be tyrannical and dictatorial—and that just doesn’t work for me…

Startling Facts About Survivalists: You Are Going To Die!

Having been involved in survivalism for the last thirty years; I can honestly say without any trepidation that a vast majority of survivalist are not ready to meet the challenges of disaster preparedness in 2012, or beyond. I can say this with complete truthfulness based on both the time I have been involved in this field, and the thousands upon thousands of people, articles, and videos that I have experienced over the years.

That is not to say that all survivalist aren't ready, just a large percentage of those that I have encountered.

Financial Abilities:  Though many claim to be preparing for SHTF, the fact remains that our economy sucks; and therefore not many families can allocate a portion of their income towards Long Term food supplies, or emergency gear.

 

Lack Of Planning: Sadly this is the most abused element when it comes to survival planning. The lack of reality based survival planning will lead many people to their doom. There is absolutely no way that anyone can head to hills with a jar of peanut butter, and then try to feed his family by living off the land. It might work for awhile, but it won't work for ever. Guarantee they will die. These types of people also fall into the "Lonewolf Survivalist" category-They almost go hand-in-hand.

 

Lack Of Resources: Not having the requisite food and water supply will at some point force the ill-prepared survivalist out into the open. Let's face the very simple facts; if one heads out into the woods without enough food or water, their time is limited, and they must at some point return to civilization in order to resupply themselves. Simple things such as toilet paper, water filters, antibiotics, powdered milks, and other necessary and life-saving items cannot be built, manufactured, or harvested from the wilds of nature.

I've spent months and months in the Arizona and Texas deserts. Water is out there, but knowing where to look, and how to purify it is another matter altogether. Coupled with the simple fact that everybody else will also be looking for water, creates an immediate danger to anyone skulking around out in the desert. Waterholes and wells will be highly defended by well armed survival groups.

I've travelled the deserts at night using the moonlight for navigation. Finding water at night is almost impossible. Rattle snakes like to curl up around the rocks near water. The rocks stay warm throughout the night, and the snakes love to keep warm, and then fill-up with life saving water in the early morning hours, before they slither away into their cool burrows to wait out the hot sun.

Let's not forget about the drug cartels currently operating out in the desert either...

 

 

Dependence Upon Technologies: Global Positioning Devices, Cell-Phones, Night Vision Capability, Wireless Alarms; all of these things require batteries. They are cool to have around, and they can be charged with a solar charger, but ask yourself one question: "Who are you gonna call"? You are bugging out to get away from society. Those people that are important to you will either be accompanying you, or left to fend for themselves in the city.

The GPS is a waste of space: if you have done your survival planning, the need for a GPS is null. You should already know where you are going, and where you are at.

Wireless perimeter alarms work both ways. When Alaska Watchmen trains out in the woods, one of the things that we look for are signs of alarms. Whether these alarms are of the sticks and stone variety, or the motion detector variety; it tells us that somebody is in the area. Our patrol formation then assumes a "Movement To Contact" scenario utilizing bounding over-watch formations, and if necessary fire and maneuver to defeat a deliberate and near ambush. We have perfected these drills to a near science.

It's better to shuck these devices and use natural camouflage to hide yourself. Remaining quiet and alert will require absolutely no batteries of fuel.

I've been bow-hunting and had other hunters walk close enough to me, that I could reach out and stick my finger in their ear, or jam my Ka-Bar into the back of their neck, and they never knew that I was standing less than two feet from them.

 

Fundamental Misunderstanding Of Survival: There is a harsh difference between survival and primitive survival. The two are twin-sisters, but each have their own time and place in the overall scope of things. Survivalism in today's society means having the ability to get away from, prepared for, or live through a horrific event which imperils life. This can only be accomplished through understanding the threats, mitigating the risk, and planning for the continuity of the person or family attempting to survive the crisis.

Look at this from another aspect: in the Lower-48 states, every square inch of land is owned, or occupied by somebody. There is absolutely no ground in American that doesn't have an ownership title attached to it. There are some areas in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and other High-Plain states that are still devoid of human beings. But-even these remote areas are within striking distance of large cities and human habitations. Maine and the New England state are gorgeous, but the fact remains, that all of the areas in the mountains are deemed "recreational" areas. They have roads leading into them. No matter how hard you try, escaping from other people will be difficult.

The southwestern deserts are slowly being strangled by human encroachment. Rich in fauna and wildlife, when SHTF, there's suddenly going to be lots of armed survivalist out there doing their very best to survive.

No matter where the survivalist plans to go, there is a very good chance of encountering other survivalists out there. Encounters will become more frequent during the first two weeks as these people flood out of the cities and try to get into the back country areas.

 

Let's examine some prime examples:

These 10 cities rank as cities with the highest population densities.

Assuming ONLY ten percent of the population actually Bugs Out when SHTF; consider the immediate number of people that will be heading to the nearest tract of green in the region.

 

Rank In Population	City	State	Population	10% Population
1	New York City	New York	8,175,133	817,513
2	Los Angeles	California	3,792,621	379,262
3	Chicago	Illinois	2, 695,598	269,559
4	Houston	Texas	2,099,451	209,945
5	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	1,526,006	152,600
6	Phoenix	Arizona	1,445,632	144,563
7	San Antonia	Texas	1,327,407	132,740
8	San Diego	California	1,307,402	130,740
9	Dallas	Texas	1, 197, 816	119,781
10	Jacksonville	Florida	821, 784	82, 178

[ Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population ]

 

This means that every state park, every mountain range, every piece of land out in the country, will be inundated with throngs of people leaving the cities---And that’s just the first day!

Another thing to remember, is the fact that many small towns and villages will rapidly become armed camps that will further prevent the mass exodus of people moving out of the cities. Trying to run these road-blocks will likely result in immediate death at the hands of well organized, and well armed townsfolk manning the perimeter.

 

Conspiracy Based Survival Planning: Preparing to Bug Out from societal control might sound advantageous, but in reality, this kind of planning is pure hogwash, and to me personally doesn't even rate a second thought. As I have written in several different survival articles over the years, running away from the law, or fighting the military when SHTF will not occur like many think. It will in fact become a slaughter house.

Both the police and military have technology that will make it almost impossible for the average survivalist to hide out in the woods. Consequently, if you are considered a threat; the likelihood of finding troops stomping through the forest looking for you is slim. Why risk their lives, when it's safer and much more productive to send in a killer drone. They've been doing that for years in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nobody on this planet can change the course of biblical prophecies. You have no say, cannot impact, or attain any level of force or coercion upon the events described in Revelations or other prophecies. Like everyone else on this planet, you are an unwilling victim, and the only thing that you have the capability to accomplish, is to mitigate your own risk and exposure. The rest is up to dumb luck, and GOD. (Period!)

 

Over-Confidence And Reliance On Weaponry: Even though many of these survivalist can barely manage to pay the monthly mortgage, or have the ability to stockpile emergency food supplies, nearly everyone of these people will not hesitate to fork out thousands of dollars for weapons and ammunition.

I've watched as the survival movement did a rapid exit from survival guns, to modern battle rifles. Not just the standard carbine or the shotgun, but rifles equipped with lasers, holographic sights, aim point devices, and too much add-on accessorial "junk" that makes the rifle to heavy to carry, ad to burdensome to use in the woods. Keeping it light doesn't seem to work for most people anymore, because they have never been forced to hump those eleven pound rifles around for weeks at a time.

Flashlight, Laser, Electronic Sight, Fore Grip, and folding stock makes this weapon FRONT HEAVY, and hard to maneuver in the bush. The Reacquisition of target will be much slower; and the fact that it needs batteries, makes this a dumb choice for a survival rifle set-up. Get rid of this useless accessorial junk and get back to the basics.

 

In the Army I was forced to carry the M16/M203 Grenade Launcher, and a vest full of 40mm grenades. That was in addition to my other gear, rations, claymore mines, C-4, M72A2 LAW, and extra PRCC-77 radio batteries. Three days later there wasn't a muscle on my body that wasn't rubbed raw, bleeding, or dead tired. Imagine having to hump half of that weight when other people are chasing you. Small lightweight weapons are the choice for most Special Operations teams; it should also be the choice for survivalists.

The internet is full of the type of survivalist that carries multiple weapons, hundreds of round in ammunition, and next to nothing in terms of food. I've eaten allot of things with hot sauce or ketchup, but .223 caliber bullets would have to be boiled for an eternity before they become palatable for human digestion. Replace the ammo with food. If you've done you survival planning correctly, you will never need the weapons, unless it's because of a chance encounter.

 

Lone-Wolf Syndrome: To me personally, the Lonewolf survivalist is more than likely going to be the first one to either fold, or the first one to die when SHTF. These guys are so used to doing it by themselves, that they rarely have the capacity to integrate into a team oriented structure. Most are Alpha male type personalities, and the kind that absolutely must have their own way. It's hard for these guys to adjust their level of thinking, much less their level of trust and commitment to a survival group.

I have seen my share of these types of survivalist. No matter what anyone else says, no matter what the situation, they will always do what they think is right--even when it's wrong.

Take for example the guy (That I know) that will head to the coast to live in his cabin--even if the threat of death is coming from that direction. It didn't matter one bit what I tried to explain to him; he was going to his cabin on the ocean when SHTF. What he failed to plan for, and continues to not-understand, that radiation contamination, biological attacks, coastal flooding, or straight-out TEOTWAWKI could occur in his area. All of his supplies, gear, and equipment that he plans to survive with, is located in and around that cabin.

The Lone Wolf survivalist is usually the one person that lives in a fantasy world, fancies himself as living out in the wilds, shooting and looting when strangers come by, and existing by his skills, wits, and guns.

For their sake, I hope that they are without a mate or children--because these guys will get everybody in their family killed. I have adopted the approach that I will only try once to get their attention; after that "Adio's Muchacho"!

So what the answer to all of this:

1. Planning
2. Execution
3. Survivability
4. Sustainability

   Mount Redoubt Eruption 2009 (Alaska)

Survival Network

 

One of the most difficult things that survivalists encounter, is trying to convince family and friends that they should undertake preparations for future disasters. Even among my own family , friends, and co-workers; I see that little smirk, or the outright denial, when I bring up the subject.

Nonetheless; it should remain a priority for survivalist to reach-out to others right now, while things are nice out there. After SHTF, it might very well be too late.

On the Alaska Watchmen website, we offer FREE TEXT ALERTS for Alaska Residents only. In case something serious in nature occurs, these "interested parties" will get a text message from me indicating the severity of the crisis. This is my own way of helping those that have an aversion in joining established groups.

Consequently; I have also set-up a web page that attempts to bring survivalists together. It's basically just a map of North America. The intent of the webpage is to allow individuals and groups to reach-out to each other.

It works like this: Simply send me an email with your STATE of residence, and an email address or telephone number. When I get a message from somebody in your area, I will send both of you each other's email address. It's then up to you and the other person to break the ice.

For those of you that are into survivalism, and not caught up in the conspiracies, this would be a great way to open some doors across the country, and in your own state.

I've posted my thoughts on here about trying to face the coming disaster all by yourself. No matter what--the bottom line will always be that small groups have a better chance of surviving ANYTHING that is coming down the pike.

 

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