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News for the week 2023-12-18
The Prepared Support - December 27, 2023 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreNews for the Week 2023-12-25
The Prepared Support - December 26, 2023 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreHow to develop realistic scenarios to prep for?
Nice_badger - December 18, 2023 The approach of this site ist generally to focus on broad categories of emergencies, not highly specific scenarios. This is generally sound, I beleive. However: One broad scenario is bugging out. What a good bug out bag looks like is highly dependent on the reason *why* you bug out. As Eric Bunny pointed out in the thread on wildfires, a vehicle bug out can turn into a bug out on foot quickly. In this specific situation a fairly light bob is crucial, a level 1 bob will be better than a level 3!
This is just an example to show that there is value to think through the possible *whys* of bugging in and out and tweak ones preps accordingly: Develop a plan to work from, obtain specific gear and skills for that. How do you think through possible scenarios?
The only approach that comes to my mind is listing possible scenarios (urgent trip to the hospital, house fire, in my specific location: unexploded WW2 ordnance, pandemic, brown out or other grid down event …), guesstimate the likelyhood and possible effect and then decide how to prep, or tweak ones preps.
An other angel that is, IMO, harder to think through logically is broad tendencies that will affect our lives and make some disasters more likely or severe: Climate change => More extreme weather events & heat waves, worse quality of public services including health
So what do you do to think through scenarios? How do you avoid traps like biases (you can probably deduce something about me, from that crime and terror don’t feature big on my list …)?
Read MoreNews for the Week 2023-12-11
The Prepared Support - December 16, 2023 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreAntibiotics banned?
Old Guy - December 15, 2023 For those who put these away in your preps, here are some emails I have recently received from my “fish” site. The first one said there would be a shortage of fish antibiotics as they would be unable to get new items from their supplier.
Then got an email saying Midland Vet has stopped manufacturing fish antibiotics. Midland I think is the one who makes the Aqua brand.
In the news (Dec 14th), the FDA is going after 9 suppliers of fish antibiotics who must stop manufacturing or face legal action.
So the way I see and understand this, there will be no more manufactured for fish, birds etc that can be sold OTC. You may want to stock up a bit if you need these for your sick fish.
Read MorePersonal first aid kits for families
Bma - December 13, 2023 Hi, new here. Trying to put together go bags for my family. Thoughts on specific items to put into first aid kits for kids bags. Would prefer to do this so everyone has one in the event we were to get sperated. Kids are 10-14. Also, ideas on how not to spend a fortune doing this.
Read MoreNews for the week of 2024-12-04
The Prepared Support - December 10, 2023 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read Moresuture-free wound closure kit
karlaW - December 7, 2023 As a family doc, I’d recommend having your home first aid kit well-stocked. It comes in handy for dealing with minor injuries or unexpected situations, especially with active boys around. Consider tossing in some suture-free emergency wound closure devices. They’re a gamechanger – no stitching required, super simple to use. Perfect for kids who aren’t big fans of needles!
Read MorePrepping Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals 2021
Gideon ParkerStaff - December 7, 2023 This forum thread is going to be updated throughout the next week with various Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other holiday deals related to prepping. Keep checking back often and share this list with others to get the best deals on your preps. Add whatever deals you find in the comments below!
Olight – Up to 50% off plus freebies. The more you spend the better the freebie.Dates: 11/24-11/29
Valley Food Storage – 10% off with code BFCM10. (our review of best food buckets)
Emergency Essentials – various items (our review of best food buckets)
Readywise – Up to 50% off select products (our review of best food buckets)
Thrive Food Storage – 15-30% off select items with code BLACKFRIDAY. (our review of best food buckets)
myfoodstorage.com – 30% off sitewide until 11/28. (our review of best food buckets)
Harvestright – $300 off home freeze dryer.
Silence Co – Buy one get one free suppressors
Jackery solar generators – $36-$405 off. Dates: 11/26-11/29 (our review of a Jackery solar generator)
Solo Stoves – Buy one get one free camp stoves
Klymit – 30% off site wide until 11/29. (they have sleeping pads, bags, pillows, blankets, lights, and more)
Darn Tough Socks – 25% off with code HIKETOUGH Dates: Now-11/30 (our review of best socks)
Smartwool socks – Buy 3 get 1 free Dates: Now-12/5 (our review of best socks)
Stego Socks – 25% off Dates: Now-11/29 (our review of best socks)
Mymedic.com – 25% OFF Sitewide & Up to 80% OFF Doorbusters + FREE SuperSkin Assorted 12 Pack & Neck Buff with any purchase over $100.
Survival Frog – Various deals
Traeger – Free ultimate accessory bundle ($165 value) with purchase of select grills.
32 Degrees clothing – 70-80% off Cyber Monday
Toshiba 1TB external hard drive – $50 + $10 off with promo code BFFRDY45 (our article on Digital security and privacy 101)
PowerBlock Personal Trainer Adjustable Dumbbell Set – 42% off. Usually $500 down to $290 (our guide on Physical fitness for preppers)
Self Reliance Outfitters – 20% off store wide and free tri-fold cookbook with every order
Smartwool liner gloves – Price dropped from $24 to $18
Renogy Solar – 15-20% off sitewide. Dates: 11/22-11/30
Kidde Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Detector w/ Battery Backup – Price dropped from $30 to $13
Gigaparts.com (radio and other cool gadets) – various holiday deals
Sportsmans Warehouse – Various deals on ammo, socks, fishing gear, clothing, camping, and more
Ecoflow solar generators – Save up to $700
WALMART:
18,000 BTU Big Buddy Propane Heater – $109. ($223 on Amazon, so that’s a great deal) (our review best portable space heater)
Instant Pot 8 Quart – $59 Dates: 11/22-11/28 (Good for cooking those beans in your food storage)
HOME DEPOT:
Milwaukee M18 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit (7-Tool) – Price dropped 44% from $900 to $499.
AMAZON:
Up to 25% off Kidde fire safety products
Up to 15% off APEC under counter water purification systems
45% off Energizer LED headlamps (our review of best headlamps)
Up to 15% off 3M powered air respirator systems
Up to 22% off Streamlight products
Up to 26% off Sentry safe products
Up to 15% off 3M and Peltor hearing protection
Up to 51% off Crimson Trace and LaserLyte sights
Eveready 360 LED camping lantern 4 pack – 20% off. Price dropped from $35 to $28
KN95 Face Mask 25 Pack – Price dropped from $30 to $16
Coleman Dome 4 person Tent – 25% off. Price dropped from $200 to $150 (our review on Best survival tents)
2 pack of 160W LED adjustable garage lights – 35% off. Price dropped from $65 to $42
Samodra bidet attachment – 35% off. Price dropped from $40 to $26 (our review of bidets when there is no toilet paper)
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter 2 pack – 42% off. Price dropped from $40 to $23
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter 1 pack – 57% off. Price dropped from $30 to $13
Trailbuddy collapsible hiking poles – 33% off. Price dropped from $40 to $27
Luci inflatable solar light – 44% off. Price dropped from $25 to $14
215 piece first aid kit + 43 piece mini first aid kit – 18% off. Price dropped from $40 to $33. (Great gift for a neighbor or relative for Christmas to help them be more prepared)
REI:
Garmin inReach Mini satellite messenger – Price dropped from $350 to $300
ENO DoubleNest Hammock – 25% off. Price dropped from $70 to $52
IN PERSON TRAINING:
Sigma III Survival School in Missouri, is having a 35% off and one kid comes for free sale on their courses.
July 2022 Pathfinder Gathering in McArthur, Ohio – 25% off. Price dropped from $100 to $75. Children under 13 are free.
Read MoreNon-toxic stuff
Chris Cox - December 1, 2023 Hello all!
I’m in the process of looking for front seat and trunk organizers for my vehicle. As a reader of Shanna Swan’s Countdown (I found it here first!) I’m looking for non-PVC stuff that won’t off-gas in a hot vehicle in summer, and make me sick in the long term. Of course, nylon does this, but I understand that PVC is much worse.
Lo and behold, it doesn’t seem that I can find any of these nylon car organizers that aren’t PVC lined. For that matter, basically all potential BOBs seem to have PVC lining, too.
So here it is: can you find anything nylon/tactical/MOLLE/Lord-knows-what that *doesn’t* have PVC? Inquiring minds want to know! 😐
Read MoreNews for the week of 2023-11-27
The Prepared Support - December 1, 2023 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreNews for the Week 2023-11-20
The Prepared Support - November 27, 2023 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreRecommendation for bugging in or out in Taiwan
Patrick - November 25, 2023 I live in Taiwan and prepping for bugging in, I also have bug out options but with two kids I am limited. What do you think I should prioritize? Trying to figure out if I forgot anything obvious…
Read MoreDoes anyone have any experience with the Snakestaff Systems ETQ (Everyday Carry Tourniquet)?
Thumper - November 24, 2023 Does anyone have any experience with the Snakestaff Systems ETQ (Everyday Carry Tourniquet)? I saw a video last night from PrepMedic reviewing it, and was wondering if any of y’all had one.
Link to website:
https://www.snakestaffsystems.com/buy-now/etq-every-day-tourniquet
Read MoreEmergency drills
Ebuleo - November 20, 2023 Hey all,
My wife and I are lucky to have family who are also prepping. We are a group of ~10. None of us have military experience. We are all super isolating so we can spend time together and we would like to run some drills as a group. We currently run fire, and GTFO dills at our individual homes. Do y’all have any ideas of drills we can run to be a better team under stress/attack?
Read MoreFifth National Climate Assessment and Being Prepared
Carolyn - November 20, 2023 This week the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) was released. This report can help people prepare for changes coming to their neighborhood. The report stated that at this point, every region of the United States is experiencing climate change. (https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/#overview)
I’m part of a team working to analyze the studies behind NCA5, and look for sound corroboration (or lack thereof) in its conclusions.
Our ultimate goal is to present the information in regular language to help people and communities get ready for what’s ahead in their part of the country.
Different kinds of disasters will hit different places. The NCA5 not only helps folks understand what kinds of serious events they can expect, but also how frequently those events are likely to take place.
It also presents a longer view. No matter where you live, your climate is actively changing. Here in Colorado, we are still enjoying the lovely blue-sky days of fall. It’s delightful until you look at the Front Range and see almost no snow on the high peaks. And it’s the middle of November.
The USDA reports that Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is changing to look like Virginia does now. (https://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=96088b1c086a4b39b3a75d0fd97a4c40)
So much of the time, prepping is about surviving an immediate catastrophe. Or it’s about some dystopian science fiction world.
As I study the NCA5, it dawns on me that preparation is about anticipating change. The change can be bad, or it might be good; in any case, things are different now, and change is continuing to accelerate. We must be able to grieve our losses and then turn to our different world and figure out what to do next. Preparation is always about flexibility, and sometimes, it’s about rolling with the punches.
Read MoreNews for the Week 2023-11-13
The Prepared Support - November 19, 2023 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreInteresting non-lethal self-defense tool – Self-Defense Whip
Bigwig - November 19, 2023 I was looking for a non-lethal self defense tool to put in the bug out bags for family members. Although some are trained in martial arts, they were more about learning the katas than the actual fighting. I was looking for a self-defense tool that wouldn’t require a lot of training. I settled on of all things a self-defense whip based on the following criteria:
Simple to use/minimum training required. Doesn’t require physical contact (like a knife or stun gun) Not as easily grabbed (like a baton or stick) CompactI know that no weapon checks all the boxes, but this one peaked my interest. Not sure why there isn’t more discussion on these types of weapons. I also watched a video of some martial arts experts trying it out on each other (https://youtu.be/zWvEuK9DDtY). I’ll be packing this along with the pepper spray.
I am not affiliated with any companies who make these products.
Read MoreWhat are your softcore preps?
Kira - November 18, 2023 Even though flashy crises are more fun to talk about, a prepping mindset has a big impact on day to day life. Do you have any creative everyday/non-SHTF prepping that you’re particularly happy about?
For example, I finally got tired of never being able to find new heads for my razor (yay supply chains), and I am not shaving under my arms with my Leatherman, so I started to use a metal razor. It can use any razor blades (which can be resharpened) instead of proprietary ones only, it means I have a pile of spare blades (safely) stored, and I’m not worried about it breaking anytime soon.
I’ve also moved towards wearing more durable and easily repairable materials like leather and using mechanical pencils and refillable pens instead of disposables. This won’t save anyone’s life, but moving away from disposables feels like prepping to me because it increases resilience both materially and financially in the long run. In the short run, they’re just nicer to use.
Even in the more traditional EDC, my bike (hex key) multitool sees more use than my Leatherman or Swiss Army Knife, but that’s probably because I’m still in the Ikea stage of life.
All that said, do y’all have any creative softcore prepping tips?
Read MorePrepping for self-managed abortion post-Roe v. Wade
MariaC - November 13, 2023 In the event that Roe v. Wade is repealed in the U.S., access to abortion will fall to the state level to legislate. Many people with uteruses will very quickly have a much more difficult time accessing healthcare that allows them to end a pregnancy.
Therefore, pro-choice preppers who want to understand self-managed abortion care may be interested in learning how to gather materials, build local community networks of support, and access information about how to perform different kinds of as-safe-as-possible self-managed abortions for people with uteruses in your community.
I’ve been doing a little research about this and wanted to share what I found.
This is obviously a topic that can get super politically charged. I’m not interested in having those conversations. If this prep isn’t something you’re okay with for any reason, you don’t have to do it. I’m sharing information in case somebody else can benefit from it.
Books:
Handbook on a Post-Roe America by Robin Marty Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom by Christiane Northrup M.D. A Cooperative Method of Natural Birth Control by Margaret NofzigerWebsites & articles for information:
An academic journal article (no paywall) detailing how to purchase safe, effective abortion pills online as a U.S. based consumer, including a chemical composition study of what was actually in those pills Women on Waves, providing information about the safety of abortion pills and on how to access self-managed abortion How Activists Can Prepare for a Post-Roe World video lecture on how to spread the word about self-managed abortion within your community Self-Managed Abortion with Pills how-to video lecture & information Investigative journalism article from 2018 on networks of people learning to provide at-home abortion services as a form of civil disobedience — full of great information and search terms to mine in Google Guide to performing a menstrual extraction with a homemade Del-Em device r/Childfree sourcing information about healthcare providers who will provide seterilization services in the U.S. and many parts of the world An overview of abortion laws by U.S. state, to help forecast which states might protect access to abortion if Roe v. Wade was repealedAffordable Plan B and pregnancy tests to add to your prep kits:
My Way Emergency Contraceptive (3 Plan B pills for $15 USD on Amazon) Pregnancy test strips (50 count for $15, $0.30 each, on Amazon) Read MoreNews for the Week 2023-11-06
The Prepared Support - November 13, 2023 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreLead blanket
Judy - November 11, 2023 I am building a tiny shelter along the lines of a trench with a roof and then layered dirt and tarp on top. Would a layer of lead blanket (0.5mmpb lead lined x-ray protection) between the dirt cut down much, if any, on gamma? Thank you!!
Read MoreThe best faraday cages and sleeves
Chris Cox - November 10, 2023 Hello,
There are a number of Faraday cages and bags for sale at a wide variety of price points, but it isn’t clear to me which ones are good. Does anybody know what company makes a quality laptop bag at a fair price, for example?
Read MoreSome chores are better than others
RedneckContributor - November 10, 2023 I’m sure we all have chores we don’t really care for. The thing I dislike the most, which I did Sunday, is cutting the bottom pasture in the heat of the summer. The feel like temp was around 110 and I was out in the full sun sitting on a hot diesel tractor. Being on a homestead, especially when the wife is off caring for her 100 year old mom & 102 year old aunt, well there are plenty of chores & lots of animals to feed.
One chore I love this time of year is taking the dogs out for a final bathroom stop before bedtime. We currently have 8 dogs living with us. This time of year is special around 8:30 at night. The sun has set but it is not yet dark. The sunset has faded to muted colors of normally salmon pink & light blues. It is still warm out but not oppressively hot. Actually, rather nice. And at this time of day, as I sit on the back patio overlooking the back of our property, waiting on & watching the dogs , I get to watch the bats perform their acrobatics as they hunt down mosquitos. They put on quite the show! Kinda like watching the bald eagles… it feeds my soul. With it seems like the whole world going to hell, it is nice to just slow down and appreciate nature. The time of evening I’m talking about:
Anyone else have some chores that you really enjoy?
Read More
GunkBoi