There are many survival and emergency preparedness resources available on the Internet (including this one, of course). The Librum has a fairly extensive library of documents on their website. Most of the documents are classic (as in old) but are still relevant. The files are all in PDF, so you need Adobe Reader on your PC — Mac users can use the built-in Preview app.
Read the rest of this entry

The US GI P-38 Can Opener is a highly versatile tool that should be in your PSK (personal survival kit) or your key ring. So what can you do with the P-38?
Read the rest of this entry

On this site, we usually put the emphasis on the personal and family aspects of disaster preparedness. If you own or manage a business, you have to think of preparing your business for a disaster as well. In 2005, many companies in New Orleans were caught unprepared when Hurricane Katrina came calling. Even those companies who were not directly damaged by the storm and floods were affected; for many, it wasn’t “business as usual” for a long time.
Read the rest of this entry

Do you have a first aid kit designed for travel? With restrictions for carry-on for air travel, you really need to pick and choose what you want to bring along. Gadling has a good guide on creating your own travel first aid kit. They list 22 items in all. Don’t forget to start with the medications (if any) that you are required to take. No scissors or blades allowed, of course.
Read the rest of this entry

Once each month, we show an interesting set of Every Day Carry (EDC) gear. This time around it’s from WolfGang at BladeForums. Click on the photo for a bigger image.

Read the rest of this entry

Speaking of food, how would you survive in a prolonged emergency situation as a vegetarian? As always, being prepared helps. Vegetarians in Paradise has an article on the Vegetarian Survival Kit. What types of food would you stock? One contributor writes : “My basics for the car and work are canned beans and bean-based soups, tetrapak soup (Imagine), individual packs of soymilk, vegan (Clif) energy bars and crackers. SELECT LOW-SODIUM ITEMS, AS YOUR DIET MAY CONSIST ENTIRELY OF THESE FOODS. Since you may not have access to fresh fruit or vegetables for a while, also keep some vitamins or (my choice) Emergen-C packets on hand. “
Read the rest of this entry

Do you have any cooking gear in your bug out bag? It could be useful to have something set aside for group cooking. For anything longer than a week, you might want to consider something like the Trangia 25-1 Stove & Cookware Set. This set includes an alcohol stove with :
- 2 saucepans in 1.75 litres and 1.5 litres
- 1 8.7″ fry pan
- 1 pair of pot grippers and a binding strap to secure the whole kit
- 1 pair of wind screens
Read the rest of this entry

I hope that 2008 will be all that you want to be. One thing for sure : disasters, natural or otherwise, are happening at an ever increasing rate. Make sure that your family is safe, and don’t forget to check your emergency preparedness supplies. It’s a good time to change the batteries on your EDC (every day carry) flashlights as well as the various lights that you have stashed away. Have a good one!