On Thursday, June 25, 2015 at 8:36:29 AM UTC-4, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 6/25/2015 3:18 AM, Gunner Asch wrote:
On Wed, 24 Jun 2015 22:41:19 -0600, D-FENS wrote:

On 06/24/2015 09:19 PM, Gunner Asch wrote:

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/...strip-7m-black

Planning For Survival

By C.E. Teal

In light of recent events, such as the Persian Gulf War,
terrorism, and economic instability, many individuals and
families are taking a fresh look at the dreaded "S-word,"
survivalism.

As with any beginners, these people need some sort of plan
for these uncharted waters. I hope that this article can
give some useful guidance to those new to the field, and
perhaps some new insights to others who have been left to
their own devices in coming to grips with this virtually
all-inclusive field.

This plan consists of nine major points:
1. Determination;
2.Becoming/staying healthy;
3. Allocating your Budget;
4. Developing plans of action;
5. Have a "bug-out" kit;
6. Plan for duration;
7. Get training;
8. Practice;
9. Don't advertise.

The first requirement to insuring your (and your family's)
longevity is DETERMINATION. You must want to survive.
Contact others upon whom you might rely (and whom may
likewise rely upon you) in a crisis. This is not a game,
although games can play a part in the training aspect. If
we are to survive as individuals, as families, as a society,
we cannot approach this as a one-person show. It will take
cooperation of the highest order. The stakes are literally
life and death.

Many people take the attitude that "If it happens, I
wouldn't want to live anyway, " This is an attitude which
almost guarantees defeat or death. A husband, father, or
single mother with this attitude is virtually condemning
his or her family to a similar fate.

BECOME/STAY HEALTHY. Every-one in the family or group should
get a complete medical, dental and vision checkup. Find your
weaknesses and limitations so you may cope with them, before
they take you by surprise Get caught up on immunizations such
as tetanus, hepatitis, and measles. If eyeglasses or contacts
are needed, get at least one spare pair, or save old ones.

Stock up on cleaning solution if you wear contacts. Work to
bring your teeth up to the healthiest level possible. A
toothache can be a major problem even in normal times when
a dentist is available. Imagine trying to make critical
decisions while suffering with a toothache when there may
be few, if any, dentists in operation.

Make sure your feet are in good condition. They may someday
be your only mode of transportation. Begin and maintain an
exercise program which balances strength with endurance and
flexibility. Running, swimming, and stair climbing are all
excellent conditioners.

ALLOCATE PART OF YOUR BUDGET. Acquire supplies as your budget
allows. Be practical; set priorities. For example: set aside
$10 per month for weaponry (including ammunition and cleaning
supplies, ($10 per month for clothing (if you don't have the
proper clothing already on hand. Three-piece suits or tennis
outfits have very limited survival applications), another
$10 a month for reserve food and medical supplies, and so on.
If money is tight, you can alternate purchases from month to
month.

The important thing is to make some sort of survival-based
acquisition regularly, or at every opportunity. In making
survival investments, you should consider the following
points:

a) Might you actually need it (Does it serve a legitimate
survival need, such as food) ? b) Do you have the skill to
use it properly, and would you be able to repair it when it
inevitably breaks down? c) Will it need something else, such
as electricity, gas, heat, or water to operate? d) How many/
much will you need, and how long do you expect it to last
(see Plan For Duration) : e) Is it practical for the
conditions you anticipate, such as proper clothing for the
climate?

DEVELOP PLANS OF ACTION. You should discuss with your family
or group the conditions under which you would run (Where?)
or stay; whether to hide (For how long?) or fight (Whom?
How?) . Every member of the group must be in agreement with
the final plan. One dissident could destroy all your
intentions; for instance by "setting-out" the group to an
adversary.

You should also develop "backup" plans to cover various
contingencies such as those mentioned. Plan for the
worst-case scenario and work down from there.

HAVE A "BUG-OUT" KIT. Keep a short-term (up to one week)
survival kit handy in case you must leave NOW. Remember
the priorities: shelter, water, food, medical supplies,
weapons, communications. Ideally, you should have
several kits; one for each member of the family and
group, another one in each vehicle in case a crisis
occurs at an unexpected moment (as they usually do).

And a large cache of supplies away from the home, in a
place safe from discovery or disaster; in the event
you must evacuate your home quickly, as in the case of
fire, earthquake or war. Each of these kits or caches
should be planned to supplement and extend the
capabilities of the next smallest kit.

Avoid making your personal bug-out kit too heavy to
run with; you may have to carry it long distances,
quickly.

PLAN FOR DURATION. Try to realistically anticipate how
long you expect your scenario may last, and add a little
more to the estimate as a buffer against shortsightedness.

Do you expect your disaster scenario to last for days
(such as waiting for disaster relief after a major
storm, fire, or earthquake), months (i.e., a major
strike by unions; rebuilding after a disaster), or
years (such as being caught in the clutches of a
dictatorship, foreign invasion, or persecution) ?

Try to be realistic in your preparations. Plan for
the consumption of food (calories per person per day,
plus other essential nutrients), water (gallons per
person per day, for drinking, cooking and sanitation),
ammunition (as much as can be obtained, with a suggested
minimum of 500 rounds per weapon), air quality (while
in shelter, or masks for outside), medical supplies
(including prescription medicines), and so on.

Some of your scenarios may look unlikely in the context
of present conditions, but it only takes an open-eyed
look at the world, the nation, or the neighborhood, to
see the potential for frightening situations to rapidly
develop which would not allow time for preparation
after the fact.

For instance, note that many people reacting to a disaster
often converge on all the nearest stores for provisions
such as food, candles, bottled water, batteries, and so
on. Frequently, the crowd gets impatient, not wanting
or waiting to be left without essentials for themselves
or their families. Occasionally, rioting and looting
begin, feeding upon itself as the unprepared start to panic.

Your aim must be to store adequate supplies for all
intended members of your group for the longest time
that you will likely be on your own, with self-
sufficiency being your goal. The federal government
recommends having at least three to five days supplies
on hand, to sustain you until relief agencies can get
into action. The more serious the crisis, the longer
you may have to wait for outside help.

If you are able, lay in extra supplies for a few
additional persons who will, most likely, show up
either on their own, or with members of the group
("My mother was visiting at the time; I couldn't
just leave her") . As pragmatic as you must be,
you must also not surrender your humanity
completely. Otherwise, you are no better than
the predators you may be fleeing. Of course, there
is a practical limit to how much you can be
expected to cope with. Examine your own conscience
on this issue.

A plan must also be drawn up to deal with waste
management. Essential "luxuries" such as toilet
paper, soap, and proper means of disposing of
human waste and garbage with become major issues
during a survival situation. Goods and services
we have always taken for granted may no longer
be available.

You must also plan to cope with your people's
emotional survival. The abrupt change in life
style, the day to day fight to stay alive, will
take its toll psychologically if not treated
quickly and continuously. Find things to
alleviate boredom, such as games or projects.

Give every able person in the group a job they
will be responsible for. Even children can be
instructed to secure trash, act as lookouts, or
help with food preparation or gathering supplies.

Also attempt to continue with their education,
albeit with a different emphasis. Find duties
which require a person to study the situation
and come up with a solution. Hold meetings
to keep everyone current on what's happening,
and conduct frequent and regular classes for
everyone in survival arts. Keep your people,
and yourself, busy. Despair may be your worst
enemy.

GET TRAINING.

Your group should learn how to use weapons
effectively. Safety, maintenance, handling
malfunctions, and marksmanship are all of
equal importance in a survival context.

Because this is an area where mistakes can be
fatal, instruction should be sought from
qualified professionals, such as the National
Rifle Association.

You are a SHILL, Stormin'.