There are all kinds of cherished survival myths out there. I grew up hearing them, and the guys that taught them to me probably grew up hearing them. Suck the poison out of a snake bite. two trees about 4-6 feet apart You can eat anything that animals eat. Drinking from white water is safer. The sad thing is none of these are true, or good ideas! If there’s one good thing you can say about the internet, it is that it has made it remarkably easy-to-crush myths. Let’s look at another one, and put it to the true or false test. Does moss only grow on the north side of trees? No, moss does not only ..read more

Whether you are bugging out, evacuating from a disaster, practicing your escape and evasion routes, or just heading out on a road trip, sometimes you get tired behind the wheel and need to pull over for some shut-eye. But one thing to consider, and something most people don’t, is whether or not sleeping in your car is illegal. In the wrong circumstances, this could be a really big deal! So what’s the word? Is it legal or illegal to sleep in your vehicle? It’s generally legal to sleep in your car at the federal and state levels, but some states do have laws on the books that make it illegal to ..read more

With vehicles being such a fixture in most folks’ bug-out plans, the idea of the true vehicular bug-out, where you sleep in your car if needed or are forced to evacuate from a disaster, is gaining in popularity. Plus, sometimes, you’re just tired and need to pull over to get a nap in. dog looking at pick-up truck across flooded road The issue is that some people assert that cars generate dangerous carbon monoxide gas, and it might affect you if you’re inside it while it’s parked. Is that the truth? Do cars make carbon monoxide gas? Yes, cars do generate carbon monoxide gas as a byproduct of co ..read more

One of the biggest and scariest mega-disasters that can potentially occur in our era is an EMP. An EMP, or electromagnetic pulse, is a massive surge of energy that can overload electrical grids and disable, damage, or destroy electronic components and many of the things we use every day and rely on. several Motorola walkie-talkies But EMPs of the magnitude we’re worried about are poorly understood. What we need to know is whether or not the gear we depend on as preppers will work in the aftermath. How about something like walkie-talkies? Will they work post EMP blast? Possibly. Walkie-talkies ..read more

The looming threat of a massive EMP has been hanging over the heads of our society, and indeed the world, for some time now. A 1967 Ford F100 Ranger. This should hold quite nicely against even a powerful EMP! Caused by unstoppable solar phenomena, nuclear warheads, and specialized weapons, an EMP that’s strong enough could completely disable our society, frying the electrical grid, everything attached to it, and nearly anything that relies on electronic components. Since pretty much all cars these days depend on computers and other electronics in one way or another, and without them, they just ..read more

If you’re a prepper, you are smart to focus on the fundamentals when it comes to survival. That way, no matter what you’re facing, you’ll have the most important bases covered: food, water, shelter, self-defense. We’ve all heard those before, but there’s another survival fundamental that you’ve got to account for: Communications. communication devices inside bug out bag: a Baofeng HAM radio, walkie-talkies, flashlight and two chemlights When you are in trouble and need help, need a status update on the situation, or just need to reach the people you care about and check on them or let them kno ..read more

Today, both World War I and World War II are ancient history. Time moves on fast. But it’s impossible to overstate how deadly and devastating both of those conflicts were, and how much they changed the trajectory of nations and entire cultures ever after. The T-37 tank monument in the town of Balti, republic of Moldova, to honor the Soviet soldiers fighting in WW2. After a long post-war period of nominal peace, one punctuated by intermittent smaller-scale warfare, most folks alive have discarded the idea that a true globe-spanning conflict could occur again. But, it seems, many are coming arou ..read more

Anywhere you go in the world, especially in forests and other wooded areas, moss is going to be a feature. Growing in a carpet-like fashion over the ground, tree trunks, fallen logs, rocks, and more, it is usually found in moist, shady areas without much foot traffic. photo: Bob via Flickr Come to think of it, that sounds a lot like the growth pattern of different kinds of fungi. Is moss actually a fungus? No, moss is not a fungus. Mosses are plants, belonging to the Bryophyta division, where fungi and similar organisms are eukaryotes. Though they sometimes look similar, they are completely di ..read more

One of the biggest threats preppers have been forced to acknowledge in recent decades is that of a major EMP, or electromagnetic pulse. Created by man-made weapon systems and natural solar activity, EMPs will completely knock out our power grid, and likely damage most, if not all, electronic systems and components. the Jackery Explorer 10000 solar saga solar panel There are said to be some things, though, that are more resistant to this high-energy bombardment. How about solar panels? Will they continue to work post-EMP? Probably, though they may be damaged and work at reduced efficiency. Sola ..read more

For folks who don’t have pets, it’s easy to emphasize focusing on your human family alone in times of trouble. But for those of us who include our furry friends among our genuine family, the idea of neglecting or leaving them behind when it’s time to bug out is utterly unthinkable. blue heeler herd dog, Jovie That said, it’s true that bringing a dog along when you bug out or evacuate complicates things. Our pets have needs of their own that must be met, and they require special supplies and gear to support them. If you haven’t planned to bring gear for your dog, it’s time to change that. Below ..read more