18 Dollar Tree Prepper Items | Dollar Tree Survival Items for your 72 Hour Emergency Kit

Running low on survival gear and even lower on your budget? Never turn down the Dollar Tree prepper items and you might be surprised at the amazing items you’ll find! There’s no denying that prepping for and stocking up on your survival supplies can quickly become costly. But never fear! That’s why we’re here. You can […]

What Should I Stockpile for Economic Collapse

A lot of people ask themselves, “What should I stockpile for economic collapse?” Here are 9 must-have items you should always have with you as you prepare for what will happen if the economy collapses. RELATED: Survival Economic Collapse: 16 Practical Ways to Survive an Economic Crisis What Should I Stockpile for Economic Collapse | […]

Hit the Preparedness Trifecta With Power, Food & Water

You’ve heard us talk a lot about how essential it is to have backup power available. Nearly every crisis includes power outages. You need ways to keep lights on and electronic devices working.

We’ve also communicated to you regularly about how important survival food is to your family’s future safety. When emergencies strike, food gets hoarded and store shelves empty.

And you’ve also read our emails regarding how crucial it is to have clean drinking water. Disasters having a nasty habit of contaminating the water supply. So you need a way to purify it.

Well, today you’ve hit the trifecta because I’m going to let you know how you can meet your power, food and water purification preparedness needs in one bundle.

Big-time bonuses

For a very limited time, when you purchase a Patriot Power Generator 1800 from 4Patriots, you also get a couple of phenomenal freebies.

These two main bonuses are a free 4-Week Survival Food Kit and a free Patriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System.

Other bonuses with this deal include a Digital Blackout Survival Library and a $25 Shopping Certificate. Plus free shipping and handling.

And when I mentioned “very limited time,” I meant it. This incredible offer will expire at midnight CST tomorrow night.

Power to the people

As a reminder, let’s take a quick look at the power-food-water combination we’re offering in this deal.

The Patriot Power Generator 1800 is designed to provide electricity for important devices and equipment during a power outage. This portable, solar-powered generator can produce more than 3,000 peak watts of clean, quiet, renewable power.

It comes with an integrated 1,800-watt inverter / 768Wh lithium-iron battery. Plus a 100-watt, commercial grade folding solar panel. It weighs only 40 pounds, so it’s small enough to take anywhere and store discreetly.

And you can daisy-chain additional solar panels for even more power and faster charging. Operating quietly and producing no emissions, it holds a full battery charge for up to a year. And it can be charged by the solar panel or by plugging into a normal 120V AC wall outlet.

Food for thought

The 4-Week Survival Food Kit has more food and variety than ever before. It features 196 total servings and 38,000 total calories.

As you’ve come to expect with 4Patriots survival food, it’s designed to last for 25 years under proper storage conditions. And it comes in disaster-resistant packaging.

To whet your appetite, let me mention a few of the goodies you’ll enjoy in this kit. They include Buttermilk Pancake and Grammy’s Sweet Oatmeal for breakfast. Plus America’s Finest Mac & Cheese and Fireside Stew for lunch.

For dinner, we offer Frank’s Favorite Alfredo and Creamy Rice & Vegetable Dinner. Sweetly Coated Banana Chips make a great snack and Old-Fashioned Vanilla Pudding provides a wonderful dessert. And those are just some of the items.

Stand up to water contamination

The Patriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System will give your family a nearly endless supply of clean, great-tasting, healthy water from practically any freshwater source.

That’s because it removes up to 99.9% of dangerous contaminants. Including bacteria, viruses, toxic chemicals, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals and more.

Featuring a stainless-steel reservoir and a filter, it’s powered by gravity. So, no electricity required.

This countertop purification powerhouse holds over two gallons of water. Your filter should last for more than 5,000 gallons.

That’s the ticket

If you’ve ever hit the trifecta at the racetrack, you know they don’t rush up to you and hand you your winnings. You have to cash in your ticket.

Well, it’s the same for this trifecta. You have to act and act quickly to take advantage of it. This special offer expires at midnight CST tomorrow night.

Expires 2/28 at midnight: Claim your Power, Food, and Water here

Preparedness checklist

It’s been a while since I’ve provided you with a preparedness checklist. But while we’re on the topic, here’s a list of items you should always have ready. At home, in bug-out bags and in your vehicle.

At least one gallon of water per person per day
At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
Flashlights and extra batteries
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
First-aid kit, including prescription medications
Cellphones and a portable, back-up power source
Tools, including wrench and pliers to turn off utilities, and a multi-tool
Whistles, to call for help
Fire starters
Dust masks
Pet food and other supplies
Important family documents
Local maps
Sleeping bags and blankets
Personal hygiene and sanitation items
Mess kit, including plates, bowls, cups and utensils
Paper products, including toilet paper and paper towels
Cash
Fire extinguisher
Games, puzzles and books, for children and adults

Camping Near Valentine NE | Valentine Nebraska

Are you looking for fun activities to engage in when camping near Valentine NE? This ultimate guide lets you in on all the exciting activities available in winter and summer. This way, you can prepare in advance for an exceptional experience. RELATED: Best Campgrounds In Nebraska An Ultimate Guide for Camping near Valentine NE Fun Winter […]

My Ultralight Get-Home Bag – Part 1, by St. Funogas

Three cheers to J.M. for his recent excellent, award-winning article on Get Home Bags (GHBs). Finally, a GHB article with advice that’s sensible, logical, and doable for anyone wanting to put together a GHB. I know how long it takes to write an article for SurvivalBlog so I know it took J.M. months to put […]

Priceless in a Crisis… Household Items Useful for Survival

We all look for value in life. Whether it’s in a product, a program or a partner. Or even a pastor or priest.

We want to get a good “return” on anything we invest in. Regardless of whether that investment involves our time, money, or emotional or spiritual energy.

When it comes to preparedness, this can mean acquiring as many low-cost items as possible that will provide value during a survival situation.

Yes, there are a number of pricier products worth getting to help you and your family. But there are also some common, inexpensive household items you should include in your stockpile.

They could end up being priceless in a crisis. Even if you don’t end up needing everything you gather, you can use some items for bartering. After all, there are bound to be some products or services you will need too.

TP, sanitizer, alcohol and cigarettes

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit America, toilet paper was difficult to find for many people. The same thing is bound to happen after a societal collapse. Stock up on plenty now while it’s available and relatively inexpensive.

There’s a good reason hand sanitizer disappeared from store shelves as quickly as toilet paper did at the start of the pandemic. It will be a valuable commodity in the future as well.

Alcohol and cigarettes are probably not “survival” items for most people. At least I hope they’re not. But I can guarantee there will be a huge demand for these products after the stuff hits the fan.

Remember, prices for common objects will skyrocket during a crisis. So get ‘em while the gettin’s good.

Other common items

Among other items you can acquire cheaply now, in no particular order, are:

Plastic sheeting. Breakage will be common in a survival situation. Sheeting can help cover broken windows and leaky roofs.

Seeds. Stockpile as many heirloom seeds as you can. You and others may need to grow much of your food.

Cordage. This can be everything from thin wire to thick rope. Binding and pulling are two of its uses.

Medications. A survival situation is one big headache. Aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen will help relieve it.

Duct tape. There are countless uses for duct tape. Including shelter building and as a fix-it for just about everything.

Cigarette lighters and matches. Folks will be looking for them. You could have a bunch to sell or trade.

Superglue. Repairing a wide variety of items will be important and this can do the job.

Batteries. They will be worth much more than they cost now during an extended power outage.

Paper towels/plates/bowls/cups. All paper products will be in high demand.

Socks. Being able to change into a dry pair of socks anytime you want will help you stay healthy.

Aluminum foil. It can be used for cleaning, cooking, fire making and a whole lot more.

Fishing line. You may have to fish for some meals. Others will as well. Fishing line can also be used for hanging items to dry and making traps.

Oral hygiene. Stock up on toothpaste and toothbrushes. Add a dental kit while you’re at it.

Bandages. There will be many scrapes, cuts and other minor wounds in a survival situation.

Sunscreen & lip balm. We’ll be spending more time outdoors than normal when trying to survive. Protecting skin and lips will be important.

Ponchos. It will be essential to stay warm and dry in a crisis. Ponchos have other uses as well.

Zip ties & zip-top bags. Keeping small items organized and dry will be crucial. Especially small electronic devices.

Hand lotion. Hands will get a workout in a crisis. People will want a way to soothe theirs.

Candy. Many people will crave sweets – for themselves and their children – in an emergency.

Baking soda. It’s useful for teeth brushing, deodorizing and cleaning. Plus unclogging drains, stain removal and melting ice.

Vitamins. Nothing depletes the body of key nutrients more than stress does. Vitamins will help make up the difference.

Glow sticks. Useful as signals, trail makers and night lights, they’ll be popular but difficult to acquire items.

Salt. De-icing in the winter and keeping pests away from your camp are just two of the uses.

Can openers. Manual can openers will be highly sought after in a grid-down scenario.

Soap. Very inexpensive now, but very costly when everyone wants it and there’s little to be had.

Cloth towels. These will be essential for staying dry, covering windows and sealing drafty doors.

Candles. Flashlights are better, but candles will help preserve battery power.

Activated charcoal. It can purify water, relieve gas and bloating, and treat poisonings.

Cotton balls. Ear protection, treating wounds and cleaning are just three of the many uses for this item.

Now, it doesn’t take a genius to realize that lawlessness will be common in a survival situation.

You could have all the necessities you want, and more, but you also need a plan to protect them from thugs. So, do what you need to do about that.

I hope you’ll think seriously about acquiring some of the items listed above. A small investment now could pay huge dividends in the future.

Critters to Watch for This Winter

Sometimes just thinking about how cold it is outside gives us shivers. Even if the furnace is working properly and the indoor temperature is to our liking.

Just think how animals that live outside feel when temperatures plummet into the teens, single digits or even lower.

Most animals are much better suited to living outdoors than we are. But like us, they have survival instincts.

If they can squeeze their way into a shelter – such as your home – until the cold air warms up, they’ll do it. I’m talking about mice, rats, raccoons and squirrels. Not to mention spiders, cockroaches and others.

Put out the “no vacancy” sign

Now, we can’t blame these critters for trying to survive. But we don’t want them doing it at our expense.

Especially considering that some can destroy woodwork and electrical wiring. As well as dig into our survival food stashes. Some can even sting and bite and spread disease.

So, the key is to keep all these critters out. Don’t worry, they’ll find another shelter. Just make sure it isn’t yours.

Today I want to talk about how you can be proactive about this. And become aware of signs that some critters might already be inside your home.

Mice

Some folks who are convinced their home has no entry point for mice wonder how those little guys get into the basement or garage.

Here’s the answer. They can fit into a hole the size of a dime. They love warm, dark places. Such as attics, storage areas and basements.

Mice are especially fond of clutter. It provides plenty of hiding spaces for them. As well as things to chew on.

The best way to try to keep them out is caulking holes in walls and pipes. Keep outdoor firewood at least 20 feet from your home. And reduce clutter as much as possible inside.

Rats

Rats are bigger than mice – and more destructive. Still, they only need a hole the size of a quarter to squeeze into your home.

Because rats’ teeth are stronger than those of mice, they can do more damage. Including chewing through plastic and old pipes.

Like mice, they like to nest in firewood. So keep it away from the outer walls of your home. They also like clutter in attics and basements.

Look for droppings and gnaw marks in your home to see if any have already taken up residence. They have oily fur, so they might also leave grease marks.

Raccoons & squirrels

In addition to getting at your survival food stockpile, raccoons and squirrels can carry diseases. Including rabies.

Their access to your home might come at a higher level. Check your roof for broken vent covers and loose shingles. Make sure windows are secure.

Because both are adept at climbing trees, cut branches extending over your roof. Those branches are like a welcome mat for these critters. And clean out gutters.

Another welcome sign is an overflowing garbage can near your outer walls. Make sure all garbage receptacles are tightly closed.

Birds & bats

Like mice and rats, birds and bats are able to fit through very small openings in your home.

Take a walk around your home and seal any openings you find with caulking, steel wool or foam rubber.

Also, seal chimneys with chimney caps. Even when the weather warms up temporarily, keep windows closed in the winter.

If you do open those windows, make sure screens do not have holes in them. Check them regularly for damage.

Spiders & cockroaches

These guys can be found in homes regardless of the season. But like other living creatures, they prefer the warmth of a home to the cold outdoor air.

Use a broom to destroy cobwebs. Proceed cautiously when accessing old clothes and shoes from your basement. Spiders could be making them their homes. If you see a spider with a violin shape on its thorax, it could be a dangerous brown recluse.

As a general rule, cockroaches don’t bite humans or animals. They can – leaving a nasty welt – but they usually don’t.

But they are still a nuisance and are always looking for something to eat. Make sure all food in your home is secured in airtight containers. If they can’t find food, they’ll go elsewhere.

Other pests

Other pests that can invade your home during the winter include fleas and ticks, moths, and bed bugs.

Make sure to treat your dogs and other pets that venture outside with flea and tick preventative medications. For their benefit and for yours. Otherwise fleas can hitch a ride into your home on those animals. Wash your pets’ bedding frequently.

Moths love clothing and upholstered furniture. They especially like wool and fur. Store clothes you rarely wear in sealed garment bags after washing them. Vacuum inside storage areas including closets. Use moth balls.

Bed bugs can be a nightmare. They can enter your home in luggage after you’ve traveled. A mattress cover should encase both the mattress and box spring. Vacuum frequently and wash bedding regularly.

Mosquitos will be here soon enough

Winter has its drawbacks, to be sure. But at least most of us are free from annoying and potentially dangerous mosquitos during colder months.

The same cannot be said for spring and summer. And it won’t be long until those warmer months come along.

New Year New Weather

A new year brings hope and optimism. It is also the perfect time to create or reassess your survival preparation. Are you ready for whatever may come at you in 2022?

With harsh winter conditions upon us in much of the country, and as we celebrate “Winter Weather Safety Week,” here’s a great place to start: What will I need to endure 10 days in harsh weather conditions, without power or outside assistance?

INVENTORY AND OP TEST (Operational Test)

For the following categories, take stock in what you currently have on hand and test it to make sure it works. During this inventory make sure you have enough for every individual in your household and note any gaps so corrective measures can be taken.

Food:

Do you have enough for this 10-day period (times the number of individuals in your home)?
Is the food still stable/edible?
Is it still properly stored and free of any rodent infestation?

An obvious and simple solution is 4Patriots Survival Food. It lasts up to 25 years and comes in a secure storage bin. You simply add water, and it tastes GREAT!

Water: The juice of life. A human can survive up to 3 weeks without food, but only about 3 days without water.

Plan to have a minimum of 1 liter of water per person/day.
Ensure that your water will not freeze should you experience a loss of power. Either have a way to insulate it (placing it in a cooler without ice) or purchase larger insulated storage containers.
If you already store water, it is time to change it out.
In a pinch you can always drain water from your hot water heater which will give you 40-50 gallons of potable (drinkable) water.

Power: Last winter during a severe storm, thousands of folks in Texas never would have thought they would be without power for weeks – but they were. If it can happen to them, it can happen to you.

If you don’t have the Patriot Power Generator 1800 – GET ONE! Although not a whole home solution, it is just what you need to get through a life-threatening situation like a prolonged loss of power. We received a ton of messages from those folks in Texas who owned them during their outage and they couldn’t have been happier.
If you do own a Patriot Power Generator 1800 – pull it out, ensure it is fully charged by plugging it into the wall until the indicator displays 100%, then test it. Get your family together and show them how to place and plug in the solar charging panels.
For any other items that require a charge like your Halo XT flashlight or Patriot Power Cell – ensure they are fully charged and test them.
Make sure you have NEW extra batteries on hand for items that use them.

Shelter: Let’s assume you are in your home and still have a functioning roof over your head. There is a good chance that without power it is still going to get very cold.

Extra sleeping bags are ideal but having blankets and winter coats will also work.
Space blankets are small and also very effective.
A large tarp can be worth its weight in gold if you have a hole in your roof or a broken window. Add one to your supplies.
You will also want to move to an interior room of your home and close all other interior doors to maintain as much heat as possible, so come up with your plan should the need arise.

First Aid: When bad things happen, people get hurt. In addition to having an adequate first-aid kit with medical supplies that can address fractures, heavy bleeding, allergic reactions, and cold injuries, I HIGHLY recommend taking a basic first-aid course and getting CPR certified. This basic level of knowledge could save a loved one. You wouldn’t want to live with the alternative.

Have extra required prescription medication available again, assuming 10 days without outside assistance.
Over-the-counter pain and fever reducing meds.
Allergic reaction medication and cough suppressants/decongestants.

Vehicle: We spend a lot of time in our vehicles and the chances of getting into a survival situation dramatically increase when the winter weather rolls in. Just recently there were people stranded in their vehicles throughout the night on I-95 in the Washington D.C. area due to severe weather and accidents. You should go through the list above for home preparation and duplicate it to a lesser degree. Plan for 48 hours stuck in your vehicle in severe winter weather conditions. A Patriot Power Cell is a must in this case, as many of those stranded were forced to turn off their vehicles or run out of gas – you need to keep your cell phone working.

Add road flares and reflective caution signs.
Ensure you know where and how to use the car jack and the spare tire is in working order.
Never let your gas get below ½ a tank.
Keep up on your auto maintenance to include the condition of tires and wiper blades.
Perform a function check on headlights, tail/brake lights, hazard lights.

Understand that preparation is 90% of surviving any life-threatening situation. If you take a little time to perform the above tasks on an annual basis you will find yourself in a vastly better position to tackle that “worst case scenario” than most folks out there.

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9 Ways You Can Collect Water in a Crisis

We’ve all been taught the importance of storing water for an emergency. It’s kind of a no-brainer, if you think about it.

We know our main water source could be cut off following a disaster. And we know we need water to survive. So, the more drinking water we have stored in a safe place, the better off we’ll be.

But no matter how much water we store, we could run out eventually. That’s why it’s crucial to know both where you can find water and how to collect it. There’s one more key component to this process – filtering that water – and I’ll get to that at the end.

In the meantime, let’s look at ways to find and collect the water we will need to survive if an emergency halts our normal access to water.

Collecting rainwater

First, it’s important to know in advance exactly where water sources near you are located. This could be a stream, river, pond, creek or lake.

But if rain is your only option for collecting water, there are ways to do that. Including developing a homemade system or purchasing a ready-made one.

The most simple DIY way is to cut one of your drainpipes and divert it to a large barrel. Make sure to have several barrels available so you don’t lose out during a heavy or extended rainfall.

An elaborate system features underground rainwater collection tanks. This is costly but does have the advantage of allowing you to collect water covertly.

Underground water still

Another option for collecting water is creating an underground still. First, choose a location that gets plenty of sun during daylight hours. And that is in a low-lying area.

Next, dig about 15 inches down. The sides of the hole should not be straight up and down. Rather, aim for a bowl shape.

Place your collection container in the center and cover the entire hole with plastic sheeting. Including the container.

Place a rock over the container and use other rocks to hold down the sides of the sheeting. Condensation will gather in your container. It might be difficult to collect more than one quart per day, but that’s better than nothing.

Swimming pool & hot water heater

Yes, I know what kids do in pools. But if you have a pool used by your children or grandchildren, you may need to access that water for survival.

Drain water from the pool into your barrels and other containers. Due to chemicals and other impurities that might be in the water, filtering is a must.

Another place from which to collect water is inside your home. You may have as many as 30 to 60 gallons in your hot water heater.

Most hot water heaters have a valve from which you can access the water. But you will need a hose or pump to make the collection easier.

Wells and cacti

If you don’t already have a well on your property, you might consider installing one. This water could become contaminated by whatever problem is affecting the general water supply. But perhaps not as quickly.

Some of you live in Arizona or other states containing cacti. Some types can be a source for water in an emergency. But some are poisonous.

There is an art to gaining water from a cactus. I’d recommend doing an Internet search if this is an option for you.

Whatever you do, don’t just hack away at it with a machete. You may wind up wasting what precious little water it contains.

Dew, transpiration bags & toilets

Early in the morning, tie one clean rag around each of your feet and walk through an area of grass where dew has not yet evaporated. Then squeeze the water from those rags into a bowl.

Another option is a transpiration bag. Tie a clear plastic bag around a branch with plenty of green leaves. Water should collect in it throughout the day.

I was hesitant to mention this ninth and final one because of how gross it is. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

Personally, I wouldn’t touch water in a toilet bowl unless I absolutely had to. But the six or so gallons in a toilet tank are somewhat cleaner.

5 more you can’t do

These next five methods of collecting water are impossible for the average person. I’m only mentioning them because I find them interesting.

One is catching fog. A large vertical mesh made of screen materials can intercept the droplet stream and collect it in a storage system.

A second is cloud seeding. This technology involves dispersing small particles into clouds. This has the potential of increasing the volume of water those clouds drop.

A third is minimizing evaporation. This can be accomplished through a catchment area in a small reservoir of a cultivated area.

A fourth is desalinating seawater. If this were easy and inexpensive to do, no one in the world would ever be thirsty. But they are making strides in this area.

A fifth is iceberg harvesting. Theoretically, it is possible to move an iceberg, although there are countless environmental concerns about it.

The best way to filter your water

Even if you had an iceberg in your backyard, you’d need to purify the water you gain from it. And as we’ve seen, a vast majority of the water available for collecting from more conventional sources will also be contaminated in one way or another.

So, you need a way to filter that water in order to stay healthy after drinking it. And using it for bathing, washing clothes, cleaning surfaces, etc.

My suggestion is the Patriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System. This complete countertop solution delivers clean, delicious drinking water. It removes up to 99.9% of contaminants from your drinking water.

Including heavy metals, arsenic, pharmaceuticals and much more. Easy to set up and use, it will filter more than 5,700 gallons of water.

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