Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Making Nature Home: Four Home Security Ideas for Camping



Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vixl/4939117481/


When packing for camping, many would prefer to think about rations, campground supplies, and tent poles than ways that we might be able to defend ourselves. While it’s true that crime rates at campgrounds are significantly lower than in the city, a reduced likelihood is not very solid grounds to forget the importance of your group’s safety. When camping, it’s wise to heed home security measures like you would if you were home if you want to create a safe environment.

While advanced monitoring and alarm systems clearly aren’t feasible in most outdoors situations, taking some basic principles of home security systems and applying them on your next camping outing can increase your chances of deterring crime and give your campers a greater peace of mind. However, I’d like to make one reservation; whereas crimes in residential properties occur more often in well-traveled areas, the ideal camping grounds are more popular areas where there is a moderate presence of other campers. When it comes to the wilderness, isolation is a key ingredient for disaster.

Without further ado, here are just three ways that we can boost our security while camping to make sure that keep everyone in our party safe, no matter where we are:

1. Maintain a secure presence

The first aspect to keep in mind is adequate lighting, especially during night. Some might choose to avoid light to gain security through stealth, but this is a far greater disadvantage when potential predators lurk. It isn’t advisable to leave a campfire unattended while sleeping, so the better option of maintaining some light at all times is to either use a lantern or a few floodlights with a moderately sized generator. Solar panels are a natural fit if your camping plans go on for longer than your generator can manage.

2. Keep watch

One of the best deterrents in reducing the rates of crime in suburban and urban areas is a solid neighborhood watch. In fact, the FBI’s statistics project that these programs have an efficiency of up to 43%. Likewise, keeping a sense of watch over your campgrounds can make a great difference in keeping criminals away. This doesn't necessarily entail staying up and taking turns maintaining post; rather, simply being aware of sights and sounds of your environment and having a protocol to respond to emergency situations can save the day.

I always take a whistle when I go camping, which I use for an “alarm” in case I detect something suspicious. Others might use lights, signals, or even walkie-talkies to maintain communications about potential dangers.

3. Keep a tight ship

When you buy a new television, you wouldn’t simply leave the box next to your trash can; it would be a blatant advertisement to crooks that you have a shiny new HDTV for the taking. Similarly, it’s always wise (and courteous!) to pick up after yourself when camping. Leaving garbage around can attract potentially dangerous wildlife, pose an environmental hazard to your group or other campers, and leave a trail that criminals could use to determine your resources and tail your group.

When it comes to demonstrating your resources, whether you’re at home or outside, the best policy is discretion.

4. Have a backup plan for worst case situations

No matter how thorough you are in establishing a safe campgrounds and maintaining safe practices, it’s impossible to guarantee that someone (or a wild animal) won’t target you or others with you while camping. Just as you might keep a firearm at home in the case of a home invasion, it’s a good idea to carry some kind of firearm to defend your camp from criminals or dangerous wildlife should your camp fail to deter a dangerous element.

While it’s always preferable to make sure you never have to use it in the first place, keeping a firearm with you is a valuable last resort in keeping the peace while camping.

This guest post was provided by Naomi Broderick.


Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.

Riverwalker



Thursday, September 19, 2013

Attention DFW Area Preppers - Close Out Gear Specials at PrepareNOW Outfitters Retail Outlet

Looking for a great bargain? Need to replace some gear or just pick up a couple of needed survival gear items? PrepareNOW Outfitters has a one time opportunity to get survival gear at some really great prices.

My friend, Brian Howard, is closing out his retail outlet in Fort Worth on Saturday, September 21st, and is offering some great close-out specials on survival gear. This is going to be a one day only sale and his retail outlet will be officially closed after this Saturday. For those of you in the DFW area this will be a great chance to find some real bargains.

Brian’s retail outlet is located at 707 N. Freeway in Fort Worth, Texas. This is going to be an “everything must go” one day only blow-out sale at his retail location. Brian’s online survival store will continue to offer some great survival gear items for preppers.

If you live in the DFW area, mark your calendars for September 21st and check out the bargains on survival gear at PrepareNOW Outfitters retail outlet. After September 21st the retail store will be officially closed but his online store will continue to offer some great survival gear and supplies afterwards.


Be aware, Be informed. Be prepared.

Riverwalker

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Prepping and Your Level of Awareness


Many times preppers have an increased level of awareness. This is usually due to the fact that they stay informed about current events in order to be ready if something out of the ordinary occurs. Everyday day events are usually quite easy to manage but an unexpected event can cause you a lot of grief if you aren’t prepared. This is why your level of awareness is of vital importance.
                                                                         
Unexpected events complicate things and destroy the routine and familiar parts of our lives that help us maintain a comfortable level of existence. Being aware of our surroundings is a vital part of any daily routine. Your level of awareness will help you see the potential for a bad situation before it develops into a crisis.

Your level of awareness can involve numerous things that can be easily accomplished if you make them a routine part of your life. That strange noise coming from your vehicle could be a sign of a possible breakdown. One that will most likely happen at the worst possible moment. It may be a simple change in the weather and your level of awareness will help you avoid a flash flood or other dangerous weather-related circumstances. With the proper level of awareness you can be in a better position to handle an unexpected event.

It is a simple process of being aware of your surroundings, being informed of possible changes to your environment and making sure you are properly prepared.

Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.

Riverwalker

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

3 Things to Know When Storing Water





There are things people routinely store: clothes, food, exercise equipment, furniture, antique photographs, etc.
But water? Hmmm, an interesting concept. Believe it or not, the average person needs to drink at least one gallon of water per day. And that doesn't include water for important tasks such as bathing or cooking.
So, when an emergency arises, it stands to reason that clean water is one of the most precious commodities around.
Water storage really is a vital part of any disaster preparedness process. But what’s the best way to go about it? Here are three things you must know when storing water:
1.  Choose the right container
If you don’t know what to look for in a container, you’ll be sunk before you even start trying to store water. Key container attributes include:
·                                 Size — Strive for a container that holds 14 gallons per family member.
·                                 UV yes, BPA no — UV coating keeps light out of your water, preventing contaminant growth. And you won’t want your unit to have BPA in the material, because this chemical can seep into the water.
2.   Clean the container
Once you have a water storage container, make sure it’s sufficiently clean before filling it up. Add a teaspoon of unscented household bleach to 1 quart of water, then let it sit for 30 seconds before pouring out the solution. Your container is now clean and ready to store water.
3.   Change it or preserve it
You should only keep your stored water for about six months before swapping it out for fresh stuff. But if that sounds like too much of a hassle, consider using a liquid preserver to boost your water’s shelf life up to several years. You can also purchase water filters or a water filtration device.
If a natural disaster occurs, the absolute last thing you can afford to be without is clean water. Considering how good people are at storing things, why not put this skill to good use for your family and invest in water storage?

This guest post is a courtesy of Food Insurance ™.

Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.

Riverwalker

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

5 Easy Ways to Start Your Food Storage


The amount of man-made occurrences and natural disasters continues to climb. It's during these times that electricity, gas and water supplies aren't functioning. There are also emergency situations where you may be quarantined to your home, or even evacuated from it. Either way, you probably won't have access to groceries because most stores will be closed. So, what will you do? How will you feed your family?

5 Different Ways to Go About Building Your Food Storage

The best way to ensure that you're able to feed your family when a disaster strikes is by being prepared with a food storage plan. Wondering exactly how to get started? Here are five different ways to build your food storage without breaking your bank:

Buy in Bulk
 
As you know, anything you buy in bulk will get you more for your dollar. Buying non-perishables and other foods in bulk allows you to pay the lowest prices possible, per item. If you do choose to go this route, be sure to check the expiration dates of your products. The last thing you want is to have a need for your emergency food storage just to find out everything has spoiled or turned rotten.
 
                   Buy a Little at a Time
 
In today's economy, it may put a dent in your finances to buy large quantities of food at one time. This is especially true with food storage, as these are foods you won't be eating until a future date. If you're on a strict budget, a good way to build up your food storage is to buy a little bit at a time. Each time you go grocery shopping; simply add a few items that will go directly into your emergency food supply. In time, it will build up to include the amount of products needed for you and your family's emergency crisis.
 
                    Sales & Coupons
 
Are you a coupon-clipper or sales-watcher? If so, this is another cost-efficient way to start your food supply. Let's say you see a 2-for-1 coupon or a sale on a food item you generally buy. Simply add one to your pantry, and the other to your food storage. Keep following this procedure on a regular basis and you'll soon have the food supply you need.
 
                    Clean Your Cabinets
 
Many people don't even think of this great idea. You'd be amazed at some of the items in your pantry and kitchen cabinets that would make great additions to your emergency food supply. Go through them today! If you have two containers of salt, add one to your storage. Do you see 12 boxes of mac n' cheese. At least six of those can be stored away for an emergency. Continue this process until you've gone through all of the duplicate food items in your kitchen.
 
                     Freeze Dried Foods
 
These foods are one of the best investments you can make towards your emergency preparedness plans. Freeze dried food is prepared before being flash frozen. That means that they retain their quality, freshness, look and great taste. The foods also last more than 25 years, giving your family decades of security.
 

Author Bio
This content was prepared by Dirk Puckett. Daily Bread is an industry leader in long-term food storage plans. Ready to begin putting your food storage plan together? Start here and place your order today.

 
Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.

Riverwalker
 

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

5 Essentials for Your 72 Hour Kit


5 Essentials for Your 72 Hour Survival Kit

Catastrophes always strike without warning. When they do, they hinder the services of local government agencies and community emergency crews. Their equipment, communications, buildings, and personnel will all be affected, making them basically immobile. If this happens, there will be no one to respond to your emergency calls in a timely fashion. This could be a very overwhelming situation for you, unless you're prepared.

5 Essentials Every Prepper's 72 Hour Kit Must Have

Experts on emergency preparedness warn that everyone should be prepared for self-sufficient survival for no less than three days after a catastrophe. That means that you need to have the emergency supplies you need to survive for 72 hours. Many recommend that you keep a 72 hour kit in your home, your office and your car. Here are five basic essentials that every prepper should have in a 72 hour survival kit:

1) 3-Day Supply of Water


·         A 1-day supply is 1 gallon of water, per day = 3 gallons for one person for 3 days

·         The human body can only go only so many days without water before suffering from dehydration. During major emergencies, local water services may become contaminated, or simply may not be working at all. It's vital to your survival that you have enough clean drinking water to last until these local services are restored.

·         Experts recommend such a large amount of water per day because you'll also need clean water for more than just drinking. Your water supply will be there when you need to bathes, wash dishes or clothes, brush your teeth, and other hygienic purposes.

2) Food Storage Supply for 3 Days


·         Should contain at least 9 meals per person (3 meals per day)

·         Being prepared with emergency food storage will really help to ease your stress during a crisis situation. Remember that your local stores will have suffered the crisis with you. So, they will probably be closed, along with all your other local businesses. Also, credit card processors and ATM machines may also be down. That means you'll have no way of going out to buy food during your emergency situation. Be sure you have enough food stored to feed yourself until things get back to normal.

·         Your food storage should be made up of mostly non-perishable foods. These types of products have longer shelf lives than fresh or frozen foods. That way, when you it’s time to eat your emergency food, they're still good for consumption. For good ideas for your 72 hour food storage plan, look into buying canned food, dehydrated food and/or freeze-dried food.

3) Basic First Aid Kit


The following items are recommended by the US Department of Health and Human Services to be included in your basic first aid kit:

·         Antibiotic Ointment

·         Hydrogen Peroxide

·         Antiseptic Wipes

·         Gauze and Adhesive Tape

·         Safety Pins

·         Tweezers

·         Instant-activating cold packs (disposable)

·         Sharp Scissors – should have rounded tips

·         Bandages – assorted shapes and sizes

4) Battery-Powered Flashlight


Electrical services will probably be non-operational. So, be sure that your flashlight is battery-operated and pack extra batteries.

5) Battery-Operated Radio


·         There will probably be no power in your local area after the disaster strikes. Make sure your radio is battery-powered and be sure you have extra batteries for your radio.

·         During a man-made or natural disaster, television services may be out. The radio will be your only form of communication with the outside world. You'll need your radio to stay tuned for important emergency updates like more upcoming disasters, emergency shelters, evacuations, etc...

Author Bio

This content was prepared by Dirk Puckett. Daily Bread is an industry leader in long-term food storage plans. Ready to begin putting your food storage plan together? Start here and place your order today.

 

Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.

Riverwalker

Friday, March 22, 2013

RW Attends the Ready, Set, Prep Summit in Irving, Texas




I recently had a chance to attend The Ready, Set, Prep Summit in Irving, Texas on March 20-21, 2013 which was hosted by Food Insurance™. I had a chance to network with a number of people in the preparedness community from around the country. I also had the chance to network with and meet a number of people whom I knew only by their online presence.  It was a very informative preparedness summit.

Here’s the list of attendees at the Summit:


There were a number of very informative speakers with several new ideas for being prepared that I will cover in later posts on TPN or on my main site at Stealth Survival. You may want to check out the sites of the others in attendance. They all have valuable information that will help you be better prepared.

The Summit ended with an appearance by the attendees on the Glen Beck Show as part of his live studio audience. I also like to give a big Texas thanks to our host Food Insurance™.

Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.

Riverwalker