Whatever the type of disaster, whether it be a hurricane, earthquake, tsunami or economic collapse, those who have lived through catastrophic events know that certain items become scarce real quick leading up to and following a major disaster.  Below is a list of the first 60 items that typically vanish first (in no particular order of importance).  Is there anything on this list that’s missing in your preps?

#1. Generators
#2. Water Filters/Purifiers (Shipping delays increasing.)
#3. Canned Foods – Fruits, Veggies, Soups, Tuna, etc.
#4. Seasoned Firewood
#5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
#6. Coleman Fuel
#7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots
#8. Hand-Can openers (Life savers!)
#9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugars
#10. Rice – Beans – Wheat (White rice – 50# bag. Sam’s Club, stock depleted often.)
#11. Vegetable oil (for cooking) (Without it food burns/must be boiled, etc.)
#12. Charcoal & Lighter fluid (Will become scarce suddenly.)
#13. Water containers
#14. Mini Heater head (Without this item, propane won’t heat a room.)
#15. Coffee/Tea
#16. Propane Cylinders
#17. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
#18. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula/ointments/wipes, etc
#19. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
#20. Vitamins
#21. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
#22. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products
#23. Thermal underwear (Tops and bottoms)
#24. Bow saws, axes and hatchets & Wedges (also, honing oil)
#25. Aluminum foil Reg. & Hvy. Duty (Great Cooking & Barter item)
#26. Gasoline containers (Plastic or Metal)
#27. Garbage bags (Impossible to have too many.)
#28. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, paper towels, paper plates
#29. Milk – Powdered & Condensed (Shake liquid every 3 to 4 months.)
#30. Garden seeds (Non-hybrid) (A MUST)
#31. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
#32. Cold Weather/Rain Gear, rubberized boots, etc.
#33. First aid kits
#34. Batteries (all sizes… buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
#35. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
#36. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc.)
#37. Flour, yeast & salt
#38. Matches (“Strike Anywhere” preferred. Boxed, wooden matches will go first.)
#39. Writing paper/pads/pencils/solar calculators
#40. Insulated ice chests
#41. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
#42. Flashlights/LIGIITSTICKS & torches
#43. Garbage cans (Plastic – great for storage, water transporting – if with wheels)
#44. Men’s Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
#45. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
#46. Fishing supplies/tools
#47. Insect repellent
#48. Duct tape
#49. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
#50. Candles
#51. Laundry detergent
#52. Backpacks & Duffle bags
#53. Garden tools & supplies
#54. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
#55. Portable Toilets (Increasing in price every two months.)
#56. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
#57. Canning supplies (Jars/lids/wax)
#58. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
#59. Bicycles… Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc.
#60. Sleeping bags & blankets/pillows/mats

On this installment of Survival and Beyond, I talk about Agenda 21 tyranny and the multi-pronged effort to abolish private property in America. I also had the pleasure of interviewing MIT engineer and author of “When Disaster Strikes” – Mat Stein. Mat discusses the under-reported threat of large-scale nuclear power plant disaster as a result of a grid collapse, and he exposes the lies put forth by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) about the stability of our grid infrastructure. He also uncovers the corporate control of our energy grid, and the unwillingness of the government to invest s single dime into

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

One of the most important, but probably one of the most overlooked aspects of survival preparedness is hygiene. In a disaster or collapse situation in which the services which most of us take for granted – such as water sanitation and trash removal – stop running, you will see large outbreaks of sickness and disease that come as result of living in our own waste in densely populated areas.

In medieval times, much of the massive death and disease that swept across Europe came as result of more and more people living closer together, with no understanding of how poor sanitation affects health. People simply disposed of their garbage and offal out in the streets (a practice that continued in cities well until the late 19th century) and with no knowledge of bacteria, viruses and how diseases spread, their homes and very bodies were breeding grounds for illness. When the black plague swept across the landscape, there often wasn’t enough man-power to adequately bury the massive numbers of dead bodies, which lead to even more disease.

Not to put too fine of a point on it, but in the event of a large-scale disaster or general TEOTWAWKI situation where the electrical grid and/or municipal services are shut down for an extended period of time (if not permanently), we could find ourselves in exactly the same situation.

Hygiene can be one of the most important things to focus on during a disaster. It can mean the difference between comfort and suffering. In addition, hygiene preparation can also affect the quality of life of the survivors once the disaster recovery is recovered. Preparing and executing doesn’t have to be an intense process. You just need to uphold simple habits that will maintain adequate levels of health and hygiene. The following steps are not necessarily in chronological order.

Just like everything else in survival and preparedness, a good hygiene plan requires… Well… Planning. The following article on “Instructables” outlines good hygiene planning and practices for disaster situations. With the exception of their advice on vaccinations, it’s a pretty good starting point in building your “hygiene kit” and mapping your own survival sanitation plan.

CLICK HERE to read the article.

It can be difficult to maintain good hygiene and cleanliness following a disaster, but is essential for your survival. These steps will help you serve safe foods and beverages:

In order to prevent the spread of infection, always wash your hands with plenty of soap and water before handling or preparing food or eating. Make sure children do the same. Use plastic or rubber gloves if you have any kind of skin cut, burn or infection on your hands.

■ Wash hands, work surfaces and utensils in hot, soapy water after each step in food preparation. Do not put cooked meat, poultry or fish in the same container that held the raw product. The cooked food may become contaminated with bacteria from the raw juices.

■ Keep cloths washed and dish towels clean. Bacteria can linger or remain in towels and cloths, so wash kitchen linen often.

■ Wash dishes and utensils only in water that is safe to drink. Boil unsafe water for five minutes or add eight drops of laundry bleach to each gallon of water, mix thoroughly and allow to stand 30 minutes before using it.

■ Use sanitary disposable eating utensils when there is a shortage of safe drinking water.

Disease outbreaks may occur after disasters. In the event illness occurs, report symptoms to a physician or nurse. Persons with diarrhea or vomiting, and those living in temporary group housing who develop fever, sore throat, cough or other symptoms (except for the common cold) should notify a physician or health nurse.

Persons who are sick should not help prepare meals.

Because children sometimes have intestinal infections without showing symptoms, and then often have inadequate hygienic practices, adults should check that children (especially young children) thoroughly wash hands after using the toilet. This reduces the risk of disease transmission. Dispose of used diapers in a plastic bag or other container that can be closed tightly to prevent contact by others.

Food Spoilage vs. Food Poisoning

It is important to know the organisms that cause food to spoil are different from the organisms that cause food poisoning and make you sick. When spoilage organisms — some bacteria, molds and yeasts — affect the look, smell or taste of the food, throw the food away. Unfortunately, the bacteria that commonly cause foodborne illness — mild to severe symptoms of vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and sometimes fever — are not so obvious. These organisms rarely affect smell, taste and appearance of food to indicate that it is unsafe to eat. Following these simple rules will help
prevent foodborne illness:

■ Cook foods thoroughly, especially meats, poultry and pork. Use a meat roasting thermometer in the thickest portion of the meat. Cook chicken to 180 degrees F, pork to 160 degrees F and beef to 160 degrees F.

■ Refrigerate leftovers immediately after the meal. If there are large volumes of food to cool (more than one or two pounds, or 1/2 gallon of liquid), divide the food into several shallow containers or smaller pieces to cool it faster. This prevents bacteria from multiplying rapidly in the warm food.

■ Do not thaw frozen food at room temperature. Either cook it frozen or thaw it in the refrigerator
or in a place where the temperature is lower than 41 degrees F.

■ Wash your hands thoroughly before handling food, especially after handling raw meats or
poultry and after using the bathroom.

■ Do not leave high-protein foods (raw or cooked) sitting out at room temperature. Keep them hot (over 145 degrees F) or keep them cold (under 41 degrees F). Examine Canned Goods Carefully examine canned goods that have been submerged in flood waters, frozen, in a fire or crushed. Some cans may be safe to use after a good cleaning and some may not.

Follow these guidelines:

■ Containers with cork-lined lids or caps, screw tops or pop tops are nearly impossible to clean thoroughly around the opening after being underwater or in a fire. If there have been any major temperature changes, contaminants may actually have been sucked into the container. Discard these containers.

■ Tin cans are usually safe if they appear undamaged. Wash these cans in bleach water (1/4-cup bleach in one gallon of water) for one minute, then dry to prevent rusting.

■ If cans have pitted rust spots that cannot be buffed off with a soft cloth, corrosion may allow contamination to enter through holes in the walls of the can. Discard these cans.

■ Cans with ends that bulge or spring in and out when pressed, should be discarded immediately. This usually means bacteria are growing inside and producing gas and expanding the can. Do not taste
the contents of such cans.

■ If a can is crushed, dented or creased, closely examine it to see if it is safe to use. A dent may weaken the seam and allow contamination. If a dent or crease is very sharp, the contents may be contaminated.
Discard these cans. Do not taste.

What To Do When Your Freezer Fails

When the electricity is off, a fully stocked freezer will keep food frozen two days if the door remains closed. A half-full freezer can keep foods frozen about one day. What can you do if electric service will not be re-connected within one or two days?

■ Keep the freezer door closed.

■ Divide up your frozen foods among friends’ freezers if they have electricity.

■ Seek freezer space in a store, church, school or a commercial meat locker or freezer that has electrical service.

■ Know where you can buy dry and block ice.

■ Put dry ice in your freezer. Never touch dry ice with bare hands! It freezes everything it touches. 25 pounds of dry ice will keep a 10-cubic-foot freezer below freezing for three to four days. Do not stick your head into a freezer that contains dry ice. Dry ice gives off carbon dioxide, which replaces oxygen, so leave the door open a short time before examining your food.

■ If you are not sure how long the electricity has been off, discard any food that smells bad, is slimy, has an unusual color or is room temperature.

■ If food is still “cold-to-thetouch,” it may be cooked and eaten immediately, or refrozen.

What To Do When Your Refrigerator Fails

When power goes off in the refrigerator, you can normally expect food inside to stay safely cold for four to six hours, depending on how warm your kitchen is.

■ High-protein foods (dairy products, meat, fish, poultry) should be consumed as soon as possible if power is not restored immediately. They cannot be stored safely at room temperature.

■ Fruits and vegetables can be kept at room temperature safely until there are obvious signs of spoilage (mold, slime, wilt). With good ventilation, vegetables last longer at room temperature. Remove them from the refrigerator if electrical service may not resume soon.

Preppers are by definition people of action and one of the ideas that I always try to get across to people who may not understand what “prepping” is all about, or how it benefits communities, is that preppers don’t just prep for themselves, they prep for everyone in their immediate area as well.  Does this mean that preppers store enough food to feed their entire neighborhood when a crisis or disaster strikes?  No.  While many preppers do store a surplus of food and supplies in order to share with others who may be in need, not many among us have the resources or the wear-withal to accomplish such an enormous feat.  However, by and large preppers learn the skills that are necessary in these situations and are more capable of helping others should the services that we take for granted no longer exist.

The first responders to a community in disaster should be the community itself, and the more people that are capable of helping others, the stronger any community is.  Makes sense…  right?  Unfortunately, due to much of the attention preppers have been getting in the media, a lot of people view us as not much more than eccentric curiosities if not outright kooks.  While the prepper movement – if it can even be called that – is growing all the time (up to 4 million estimated) we still live in a culture where most folks think looking after the well being of those around them is someone else’s job.  Like the cartoon on their Facebook page;  I’ve seen people step over a person lying face down on the pavement (on more than a couple of occasions).

Does this mean that these evil or uncaring people?  No.  It’s a social phenomenon called “The Bystander Effect”.  When there’s a lot of people around, there’s more of a tendency to think that  someone else is surely going to take care of it.  People also tend to gauge the reactions or responses of others before deciding how to respond themselves.  More often than not, the rationale that’s arrived at is; if no one else is getting concerned about the man lying on the sidewalk, then it must not be that big of a deal.

Well,  I got hip to this group that really gave me hope for humanity called: “I Will Act”.  I learned about it from a video that I came across by Dan “The Urbivalist”.  It’s not a charity or even an organization.  They’re not looking for any donations or have any kind of “program”.  I think of  ”I Will Act” as being in the same spirit as the “Oath Keepers”, only for civilians. Their only agenda is to raise awareness to the fact that we don’t live in a moral vacuum and it’s ultimately up to us to help others if the need is evident.  Especially if it’s urgent.

From their Facebook page:

I will act. I take personal responsibility for the well-being of my fellow man. I will act when I see crime, a fire or an injury. I will prepare ahead of time so I can act appropriately when the moment comes. I will act to my own level of skill, so that I don’t recklessly endanger myself or others. I will ensure all my actions are lawful.

I will act despite doubt or prejudice. I will rather offer help needlessly than to walk away needed. ‘I will act’ is a pact I make with myself, it is a part of my own humanity.

I understand that as a citizen, I am the first line of defense, I am the first responder. I will NOT be a passive witness. I will act, and I will inspire others to do the same.

A sentiment that I’m sure all preppers honor and appreciate.

I recommend checking out their page and “liking” them on Facebook.  I don’t know how long they’ve been around, by my “like” was only #99, so spread the word around if you agree with their message.  ”I Will Act” may be little more than idea or concept, but ideas are powerful things when enough people “get it”.  CLICK HERE to visit their page:

And check out Dan’s video:

One of the greatest dangers after a disaster or a collapse situation is the spread of infectious diseases.  When the clean water stops running and sanitation services such as sewage treatment and trash removal stop operating, health experts expect an explosion of infections and bacteria caused illness.  Adding to that, the greater likelihood of  injury (and lack of proper medical care), cramped living conditions, malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies will all cause an exponential increase the propagation of disease.

Even now, due to overuse of antibiotics many “super bugs” such as Staphylococcus Aureus (commonly referred to as “Staph”) are a problem. Staph  manifests itself in a number of ways, but is probably most infamously known as the “flesh-eating bacteria”.  Medical studies claim that about 25% to 30% of the general population is colonized with Staph in their nose or on the surface of their skin, but if it penetrates past the skin barrier, it can cause a multitude of infections, ranging from minor skin infections, (acne or boils) to potentially fatal infections that can lead to pneumonia or sepsis (blood and organ infection).

For many years, penicillin and methicillin were the “go-to” treatments for Staph infections. Strains of Staph that are resistant to methicillin were first observed in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. However, in recent years, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) has become more prevalent. According to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2005, MRSA infected nearly 9,000 Americans, in whom 1 in 5 infections were deadly.

There are two different kinds of MRSA:

Health Care Associated (HA-MRSA) which is contracted in hospitals, long-term health care facilities and nursing homes.  Patients who have recently had surgery or use (or have used) a catheter are the greatest at risk, and Community Associated (CA-MRSA) which occurs in healthy people who contract it through social contact.

What are the symptoms of MRSA?

From The Apartment Preppers Blog

• The injured area becomes red, swollen and painful.  The area may become filled with pus and drainage may occur.
• Other symptoms include headache, muscle aches, fever, and chest pain.
• Worsening symptoms may include high fever, chills, difficulty breathing, joint pain, low blood pressure, severe headache and extreme fatigue
• The infection can enter the bloodstream and cause blood poisoning, other organs getting infected and pneumonia.

How to protect yourself:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.  Also teach children proper hand washing technique.  Hand washing should last long enough to be able to sing “Happy Birthday,” or recite the alphabet.  If unable to wash your hands, wiping with an alcohol bases sanitizer will suffice.
• Do not share towels or razors.  You may not do this yourself, but again, teach your kids, as a lot of teenagers in locker rooms may do so.
• Treat any cuts, burns or insect bites or puncture wounds, even minor ones, with an antiseptic and cover them with a band-aid.
• Avoid touching anyone else’s wounds or use sterile gloves if you are helping dress a wound with gauze or bandage.
• Restrict usage of antibiotics, as widespread antibiotic use causes bacteria to become more resistant.
• Wipe down any surfaces when using machines at the gym.

Other diseases that we haven’t had to worry about here in the 1st world for some time, but are expected to be a major concern after SHTF include:

Tuberculosis, Hepatitus A, Cholera, Typhoid, and All Upper Respiratory Infections.

The Patriot Nurse has a great video about these diseases and how to treat them entitled: “5 Diseases That Will Explode WSHTF”.  You can watch that video HERE and to read more about MRSA, check out the in-depth article on the Apartment Prepper’s Blog.

As many people are becoming aware, we’re living in remarkably unstable times, and the potential for any given event that could cause “sea change” to the  U.S. economy over the next 12 months is greater than ever.  But there lies the potential for several potentially massive threats that could easily push the U.S. over the edge in what some call a “confluence of catastrophe”, where either two or more events occur at the same time, or one event triggers another, setting off a domino effect.

Financial disaster in the EU, conflict between Iran and Israel, or devastating natural disasters (which have already started wreaking havoc in the U.S.) could all change our economic situation very rapidly.  Considering how bad the economy is already doing, all it really takes is just a single horrific event to accelerate another crash, but what if two or more events occurred simultaneously?   

Let’s say there were a massive solar storm, creating an EMP event that took out the grid on a broad scale just before or after a major disaster? Or if a major bank collapse occurred at the same time oil is cut off in the Middle East? The U.S. economy would be thrown into a state of chaos. 

Michael Snyder from BlaclistedNews.com has compiled a list of 15 “sudden change” or “black swan” events that could instantly collapse the economy in one fell swoop:

#1 War With Syria – U.S. Senator John McCain is now publicly calling for U.S. airstrikes against Syria.  A military conflict with Syria becomes more likely with each passing day.

#2 War With Iran – A war in the Middle East involving Iran could literally erupt at any time.  The following is from a Reuters news report that was issued on Monday…. 

#3 A Disorderly Greek Debt Default – Many reporters in Europe seem to think that this is becoming increasingly likely.  So what would a disorderly Greek debt default mean for the global financial system?  A leaked report that was authored by the Institute of International Finance says that a disorderly Greek debt default would have some very serious consequences.  You can read the full text of that leaked report right here. 

#4 An Economic Collapse In Spain – Spain has one of the largest economies in Europe and it is rapidly becoming a basket case.  As I have written about previously, the unemployment rate in Spain has hit 19.9 percent, and the unemployment rate for workers under the age of 25 is up to 49.9 percent.  Unfortunately, the situation in Spain continues to deteriorate.  The following is from a recent article by Marc Chandler….

#5 The Price Of Gasoline – The average price of a gallon of gasoline in the United States has risen for 27 days in a row and is now up to $3.77.  Virtually all forms of economic activity are affected by the price of gasoline, and if the price of gas keeps going up it is eventually going to have dramatic consequences for the U.S. economy. 

#6 The Student Loan Debt Bubble – Just like we saw with the housing bubble, the student loan debt bubble just continues to grow and grow and grow.  At some point the nearly 1 trillion dollar bubble is going to burst.  What effect will it have on our financial system when that finally happens? 

#7 State And Local Government Debt Crisis – It is being reported that California is running out of cash again and there are cities all over the country that are on the verge of bankruptcy.  Could we see a significant municipal bond crisis in the next 12 months? 

#8 The Collapse Of A Major U.S. Bank – A number of top U.S. banks are looking increasingly shaky.  In a recent article, David Trainer explained why he has such serious concerns about Bank of America right now….

#9 A Derivatives Crisis – The International Swaps and Derivatives Association recently ruled that the Greek debt deal will not trigger payouts on credit default swaps.  This is seriously shaking confidence in the global market for derivatives.  But the global financial system simply cannot afford a major derivatives crisis. 

Estimates of the notional value of the worldwide derivatives market range from $600 trillion all the way up to $1.5 quadrillion.  The notional value of all derivatives held by Bank of America is approximately $75 trillion.  JPMorgan Chase is holding derivatives with a notional value of approximately $79 trillion. 

When the derivatives bubble finally bursts it is going to be a financial horror show unlike anything we have ever seen.

#10 The Fall Of The Japanese Economy – The Japanese economy shrank at a 2.3 percent rate during the fourth quarter of 2011.  Japan has a debt to GDP ratio of over 200 percent and a major debt crisis involving Japan could erupt at any time. 

#11 A “Solar Megastorm” – Scientists tell us that there is a “1 in 8 chance” that a “solar megastorm” will hit the earth by 2014.  A recent Daily Mail article detailed what some of the consequences of such an event would be….

#12 A Major West Coast Earthquake Or Volcanic Eruption – On Monday, there was a 4.0 earthquake in San Francisco and a 6.1 earthquake in Argentina.  Is the “Ring of Fire” waking up again? 

#13 Tornado Damage To Major U.S. Cities – Last year, the U.S. experienced one of the worst tornado seasons of all time.  This year, we have already seen the worst tornado outbreak ever recorded in the United States in the month of March.  A couple of towns in Indiana were completely wiped outby that outbreak.  So what should we expect when we get to the heart of tornado season this year? 

#14 Severe Drought In The United States – Last summer was one of the driest summers on record in the United States, and in many areas there is simply not enough water available for farmers this year.  Some are even projecting that we could see “dust bowl conditions” return to some areas of the country eventually. 

#15 An Asteroid Strike In 2013 – Although scientists tell us that the probability is extremely low, the truth is that there is a slight chance that a sizeable asteroid could hit the earth in February 2013.  The asteroid is estimated to be between 60 and 100 meters wide, and it is projected to pass by our planet “at a distance of under 27,000 km“.  If it did hit us (and scientists say that the odds of that happening are very low) it would potentially be as serious an event as the Tunguska Event in Siberia in 1908.  Mac Slavo of shtfplan.com recently described how awesome the Tunguska Event really was….

To read the full, original post, CLICK HERE