The Survival Weekly Dispatch - Volume 11, Issue 25

Hey everyone, thanks for checking out the newsletter this week. Our stormy spring continues. On Saturday, we had several tornadoes hit our area. One of them was on the ground just a couple of miles from our home. Another dropped down maybe a mile from our son’s place. We had storm damage all through the area, but thankfully it was pretty minimal in our neighborhood.

At one point, the sky turned a vibrant pink/purple. There are no filters on this photo I snapped.

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Prepper Tip -- Here’s the basic game plan I follow when bad storms are on the way.

BEFORE THE STORM

--Check and clear all gutter downspouts. We have a couple that get clogged easily, so we try to remember to check them before the rain starts. That said, more than once we’ve ended up drenched because we forgot, or didn’t get a chance to clear them ahead of time and had to do it in the middle of the storm. That’s always fun.

--Put on shoes. This time of year, I habitually run around barefoot unless we’re going somewhere or I’m working outside. But if a storm is coming, I’ll make sure to put on socks and shoes. If we end up getting some damage to the home, I don’t want to be navigating it barefoot.

--Charge devices and power banks. We don’t lose power often, but I want to be ready for it, just in case. Every few months, I also drag out our Jackery solar generator and make sure it’s topped off.

--Check in with all three of our sons, each of whom lives in our general area. I make sure they’re aware of the forecast and that they’re taking the standard precautions.

DURING THE STORM

--Monitor news as well as online sources for weather updates. One of those sources is our local “scanner page” on Facebook. This usually provides pretty good boots on the ground information, though you sometimes need to cut through the nonsense to get to the real info.

--Keep an eye on the skies. I’m a Midwesterner, so that means I’m standing on the porch as I listen to the tornado siren blare. Sorry not sorry.

--Depending on the weather severity, we might corral the cats into our laundry room, which is on our lower level. The dogs aren’t usually a problem. One of them hates storms so tends to be underfoot and the other will come when I call her.

AFTER THE STORM

--Look for damage around the exterior and in the yard.

--Check in with neighbors and family members to see how they fared or if they need help.

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Living on Less was a special edition magazine that came out five years ago. It didn't do well, which was very disappointing. It remains one of my favorite issues we've ever done.

I mentioned this on Facebook the other day and several people expressed interest in seeing a new edition of it. I might have to talk to our publisher and see if they’d be interested.

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I came across this news story about a missing hiker who was rescued after being lost for ten days.

While the details are a little weird, like he supposedly took what was planned to be a three-hour hike on his way to work but he had no shirt, the takeaway here is that even a short trip on the trail can go awry. Plan ahead:

--Always carry at least a minimal amount of gear with you.

--Make sure someone back home knows where you’re going and when you plan to return.

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Many of us keep a range of supplies and equipment in the trunk of our vehicle, from emergency kits to small toolboxes and more. The problem is trying to keep it all organized and situated such that it doesn’t all slide around as we drive.

Years ago, I started using a laundry basket for this purpose. I bought it at the dollar store and it’s definitely been worth the price. It’s large enough to hold quite a bit of gear, but easy to slide around inside the trunk to find what I need. Plus, if I need to get at the spare tire that rests under the trunk space, all I need to do is grab the laundry basket to pull out.

For just a buck or so, it’s really a cost-effective solution.

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My wife wanted to see some wildflowers, so we took this week’s hike at a park we knew would be filled with them.

Survival Tip – Party Tricks

When it comes to making fire, there is a seemingly endless array of methods. You have the tried and true, like the disposable lighter and dryer lint or a ferrocerium rod and cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly. A little more difficult are things like a bow drill, which requires some practice to get the hang of building and using.

Then you have the things I call party tricks, like a 9-volt battery and steel wool or AA battery and gum wrapper. Another one that comes a lot is using snack chips (potato, nacho, whatever) for tinder. Potassium Permanganate can be a fun one. But what are the odds that you’re going to find 9-volt battery and steel wool when you need it to make a fire? Sure, you could keep some in your pack, but why wouldn’t you devote that weight and space to more lighters or something else that’s more reliable?

Save the party tricks for the backyard when you want to impress the kids. Stick with purpose-built options for your various kits.

To ensure there aren’t any misunderstandings here, I’m not suggesting that there is no value in knowing some of these more esoteric methods of fire lighting. But don’t count on them when easier solutions are likely available.

Prepper Survival Guide and Backwoods Survival Guide

For those new to my little corner of the Internet, I am the Editor in Chief for both Prepper Survival Guide and Backwoods Survival Guide magazines. Here are the covers for the current issues that are available in stores right now. 

You can find them just about anywhere magazines are sold, including:

• Walmart

• Sam's Club

• Costco

• Publix

• Walgreens

• Rite Aid

• CVS

• Tractor Supply

• Fleet Farm

• Barnes & Noble

Subscriptions to both titles are available here.

Questions, Comments, Complaints, Concerns?

I am always just an email away - jim@survivalweekly.com.