Survival Advice

Whats in a plan?

No mater what you are planing for all plans contain the same basic things.

1. Number of people
2. Location
3. Rally Point
4. Plan B

Is the plan just for yourself? Your family? a group? This determines how much you need in ways of supplies.

Where are you at? Work? Home? The store? You might need a plan for each or a simple plan to get to your Rally Point.

Why a Rally Point? A meeting place for everyone in your plan, or if you are alone, where you are going to stash your supplies.

When your plans fall apart, what are you going to do. This gives you an idea of what to do. Alternate stash, location, rally point.

After these things are determined the only thing left is what are you planning for? A natural disaster, civil unrest, economic collapse, war, or just a general plan.

Here is mine:

Primary plan - Shelter in place and get more information via internet, TV, radio, and any other means that are available including scouting and recon sorties.

At work, store or anywhere with my vehicle. I keep a small 1 day pace of food, water, tools, and weapons (knife) in the car in case of an emergency. If I can get to my car, I am good to go to get to my rally point.

No access to my vehicle, I find what I need as fast as I can to get to my rally point or vehicle. I usually at least have a knife on me.

Basic supplies for every plan.

Here as some basic supplies you should always have. Most households already contain them.

1. Mechanical can opener (to open food)
2. Knifes (can never have to many)(Defense and tool)
3. Toiletries (Tooth brush at the very least)
4. Cordage (rope, twine, heavy string)(many reasons)
5. First aid kit (in case you get a boo boo)
6. Fork and spoon or spork (to eat with)
7. Medication (duh)
8. Extra eyeglasses (if needed your current set is likely to get lost or broken)
9. Fire Starter or lighter (cooking and staying warm)
10. Food and water (duh)

With these 10 items your chances of survival go up dramatically. They are easy to carry in a small bag or even in your pockets.

Additional suggested items:

1. More Knifes (can never have to many)
2. Hatchet or small ax (protection and tool)
3. 50' of Rope (I suggest Nylon it is lighter)
4. Entertainment (books, crossword puzzle, something to occupy your time when you are resting)
5. Candy (quick energy I use peppermints)
6. Water purification (Filter or tabs)
7. Multi-tool (Leatherman)
8. Good shoes (work boots or running shoes)
9. Extra clothing (fresh cloths are always nice)
10. Toilet paper or baby wipes (hygiene and better than leaves)
11. Cup or metal container (for drinking)
12. Pot or pan (for cooking)
13. Towel (Multiple uses)
14. Small Shovel (tool and other uses)
15. Extra Socks (dry feet are very important)
16. Duct Tape (the silver god!)

These 16 items increase your comfort level and make survival much easier. The usually will fit into a small back pack.

Feel free to add.

Last Edited by Lazy_Dog on 09/29/2013 09:10 PM

Plan for after the disaster.

For other than natural disaster (except the mega variety) you need to have an idea of what you are going to do for survival.

Even if you have an old missile silo that has been converted for long term survival. You will need to resupply.

In short, this is done by trade. Even if you are an expert hunter or trapper you will likely need to resupply. Even if you are growing your own food.

Good basic trade items.

1. Alcohol
2. Food
3. Water
4. Medical supplies
5. Ammunition
6. Knifes (here they are again)
7. gold or silver
8. Spices (salt, pepper and the like)
9. Clothing
10. Shoes
11. Book and games
12. Candy
13. Tools (shoves, axes, hammers, rope)
14. Toiletries
15. Baking soda
16. Vinegar
17. Containers
18. Toilet paper or baby wipes!
19. Bleach
20. Sugar
21. Power (batteries or charge their phone if you have a solar charger)

These items will become very valuable. They can help get you what you need for your situation. Just remember do not trade what you need. Trade what you can find or what you have extra of.

Many people will question ammunition I know. But a box of .22 LR can go a very long way and would be worth more than your gold coin.

plan c, my plan. bend over, grab your ankles and kiss it goodbye

Nice thread!

Thanks, Most of these thread have good advice, but are all over the place. I left out a lot of items but I will get to them.

Sorry I am new. What would be a popular round then? .22?

Maybe some Bear Spray for backup defense also?

Thanks!

The two types of plans. I am going to go with the Grab N Go first.

With the above items you can get most anywhere. There are things you can add to it depending on your budget. I listed the very basic items that really should not cost you more than $50 to get (food not included).

If you are mobile in a true dooms day like environment you will want to stay away from large metropolitan areas. These places will be filled with useless idiots that will assume to kill you as to help you. Stay to the rural areas. These are the people that will survive and organize first. Although, you will likely need to be able to offer them something to join them.

Some additional items you may want if you intend to travel.

1. Sleeping bag
2. Glow sticks
3. Flashlight (and extra batteries)
4. Bungee cords
5. Tent Stakes
6. Tarp
7. Firearm or two or three or more
8. Transportation (could be a vehicle, horse, or a cart that you pull)
9. Advanced medical kit (if you know what you are doing)
10. Solar charger for phone or laptop
11. more tools
12. more ammunition

The list goes on and on, but to be honest, I consider it extra. Nice to have, but not a must.

I tend to stay away from tents personally. They take to long to set up and take down.

The main thing to remember if you go mobile, it weight. Weight can kill you. Keep it light.

Also, by now if you did not realize it, you really should have a map and compass. It does help if you know where you are going.

The .22 LR (long rifle) is one of the most common firearms out there. Almost every household in America has one. It is good for small game for food and can also kill at 300 yards with the right type of ammunition.

I would go with Sabre Red before bear spray. It is much more powerful. They also make it in large canisters so it has better range (like the bear spray). Bear spray works though.

Shelter in Place!

How much food and water do I need to prepare?

The answer to that is very very simple. How long are you planning to stay there? That's it. There is your answer.

Things you need:

1. Food
2. Water
3. A way to protect it.
4. What ever else you want.

Why, because you are not moving. Thus, if you want to stay for 3 months, you need 3 months worth of food and water. For 6 months, you would need 6 months of food and water.

If you are planning to remain there indefinitely then you need a renewable food source and water source. I would also suggest land mines, a .50 cal M2 BMG or two and about 20 armed people to help you protect it.

If you are hoping that civilization will be restored by a hero or the government, then you need about two weeks worth of supplies.

What to get, anything you can find and afford. Here is a good web site for supplies.

[link to www.thereadystore.com]

They are good people and will help answer questions as well.

Also, if you plan to shelter in place long term, read and study survival, gardening, water purification, and the like.

You will also need to be prepared for NBC for shelter in place. I will get to that later.

Good information OP. I would add that in case of EMP or just clogged highways it might be good to have either a motorcycle, bike or pack animal to help make your getaway.

Another consideration is having each family member carry a 2 way radio with them in their vehicle in case the SHTF while away from home. Not much range depending on conditions but if there's no cell service at least you have some way to communicate.

Other considerations would be extra eyeglasses, contacts, medications and getting any minor surgeries or dental work done before SHTF. You don't want to be dealing with a toothache while trying to bug out.

Just want to add that the new pellet guns are excellent game-getters and very quiet. Ideal in a SHTF situation but not so great as primary armament but a great tool for those who may bug-in.

I mentioned eye glasses on the initial post. I am a 4 eyes myself. Also, medication was included on the initial post.

You are correct about the dental work and minor surgery though. Dental hygiene is very important.

in the case of bad dental hygiene I would suggest adding Oragel or something to your med kit (or a good pair of pliers). Most med kits (first aid kits) come with basic antiseptics and pain killers. Having more is always a plus though.

As for transportation, I did mention it in later post. I would not count on having it though. Maybe a little red wagon or something. Gas would be very hard to find in a long term survival environment as gasoline spoils after about 6 months if I remember correctly.

If you have family or a group then yes you do need communication. Two way radios are great if you have a way to recharge them (solar or batteries). I do suggest them though. You will want programmable ones, in case of interference, so you can alternate channels for securities and the like.

This is true, I have never tried it though, but I wonder if a small pebble could work as ammo.

Thanks, I did not think of that.

so for people that take 12 different prescription meds and insulin too, what would your advice be. they can't stockpile that many meds.

One thing I have not covered yet. What to expect.

In natural disasters not much, just have about 2 weeks of food and water. The government is there to help :)

Most natural disasters are local, thus local doom. You don't need much prep there. Personally, my grab n go works just find for this. (I do live in tornado alley)

These kinds of doom are also the most common.

Economic doom, well what I would expect is looting and maybe some riots as people panic. I expect this to last for about a month at most before the friendly government is able to get things under control. Think a hyper version of the 1920's. Bad yes, life threatening maybe, panic time, not if you plan.

National level event, this would be a nuke or biological attack going off in the US or country of choice. The government will respond quickly. I would expect more political turmoil than anything else. Doom yes, life threatening only if you are in the area that goes boom. Good idea to have a plan though. Just in case. Think September 11, 2001, just on a larger scale.

WW3, put your head between you legs and kiss your ass good bye. Think Fallout 3 or something. All your preps no matter how minor will make a difference in your survival.

EMP, survival is very real here. Riots and the like more than anything. Be prepared to protect your stuff. No law enforcement. One of the deadliest dooms around and the most likely IMO. Everything you have planned and prep will be very important. I would expect 6 months before order is restored.

Racial wars, civil wars and the like. You are screwed. Pick a side and hold on. Much like WW3.

Solar doom, or world level doom. Again fallout 3. Any plan or preps you have made matter. Ya watch movies, many of them on this.

Zombies! My favorite of them all. Depends, if they are slow, then The Walking Dead, if they can run, we are so fucked World War Z comes to mind or 28 days later. Hope you have good health.

Find an alternate. I know some of the people I served with claimed they were diabetic. They would use sugar water to keep their sugar level regulated. I do not know if this worked as none of them survived basic.

A 30 to 60 day supply would suffice for most situations IMO. For a long term, I would start looking at other methods. Not so much the new age stuff, more the ancient methods.

I am not a doctor so I really do not know. I would suggest to find a friendly doctor that is into prepping. They can guide you much better than I can. FEMA suggest a 30-day supply if memory serves.

[link to www.ready.gov]

Last Edited by Lazy_Dog on 09/29/2013 10:58 PM

Important add-ons: multivitamins, flu/cold medicine capsules and triple anti-biotic ointment - very light to carry and might save your life (or others you love) from malnutrition, disease/illness and infections.

Multi-vitamins can be useful that is true. Most first aid kits carry the rest. Not much of it in them though so extra is always nice.

If my plan is to escape with a sailboat should I just scratch that and just buy a really big emergency raft and start off in that?

Plan for not making it to the boat for a B plan. Also, I hope you have a destination in mind before you set sail.

There are an amazing variety of medicinal plants that grow wild. You'll need to learn which plants help your conditions, where to find them, how to recognize them, prepare and administer them.
Aside from that it may be possible to barter for the meds you need. Just remember you'll need something that other would want.

Sorry to repeat info OP. I just scanned the thread and threw out the things that are often forgotten.

Sorry I can't be more specific than 'away'.

Whats next? You have a plan, basic preps, and an idea of what to expect. So what else do you need?

Mentality, this is the key ingredient to any survival situation. The will to survive.

With this one thing your odds of survival increases 10 fold. Add your plan and supplies and you got a fighting chance no matter what comes at you.

Without it, no matter what you plan or how much you have in supplies, you are dead. Simple as that.

Make sure your blades are sharp.
I had cause to use my axe and machete yesterday.
Both were so dull, they were useless for the job at hand.

They are sharp now.

Oh yes I agree. All your equipment should be in working order. If it is not it is useless.

This is where I get frustrated. Having two young children makes things a bit trickier. Trying to keep things simple, trying to not have to carry that much more in case we are on foot. I dread the though that it will come to us having to be mobile on foot, even with having a plan, a back up plan and keeping in mind that you need to be flexible and adapt to what may come your way. Having children makes it a whole new ball game.

That reminds me I need to sharpen mine. I can't find our sharpener, will need to buy a new one.

I can relate, having four children of my own. I take them hiking and camping as often as I can. While I'm sure it's not the going to be exactly the same if tshtf at least it's not going to be a total shock

I do the same. Both my 5 year old and 9 year old are very familiar with hiking long distances and helping with our camp trips. Just trying to keep their BOB's light enough for them to be able to carry is something I find challenging. I can see my husband and me being the ones carrying their BOBS as well as our own.

I have planned in advance and made Geo Cache spots along different routes, to help lighten our loads, but you still can't expect much from them.


Something I am not prepared for and I am dreading, is if the SHTF during the winter months and we need to be on foot. We get extreme cold weather and shit loads of snow where we are.