Prepper Skills and Tools

With the increasing uncertainty of today’s world—whether due to environmental disasters, global health scares, or conflicts—the importance of disaster preparedness has never been more critical. Being proactive and ready can make the difference between life and death in emergency situations. Below, we’ll break down the essential strategies and tools you need to stay prepared for whatever 2024 throws your way.

1. Environmental Disasters: Securing Shelter and Resources

Natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, and floods are occurring more frequently due to climate change. The damage they can cause to both property and life is severe, but with the right preparation, you can increase your odds of survival.

Key Actions for Natural Disaster Preparedness:

• Identify Safe Locations: Know the best places to shelter in your home or in your area. For instance, basements or interior rooms are ideal for tornadoes, while higher ground is safer during floods.
• Strengthen Your Home: Reinforce doors, windows, and roofs if you live in areas prone to extreme weather. Storm shutters and sandbags are simple but effective ways to protect your property from wind and water damage​Survive the Doomsday.
• Have an Evacuation Plan: Plan evacuation routes and ensure everyone in your family knows them. Practice these routes, and remember that your route may change based on the type of disaster.
• Prepare for Power Outages: Store emergency lighting, like lanterns and candles, and invest in a portable generator for extended power cuts.

For long-term preparedness, focus on sustainable resources. Store water barrels and stock up on water purification tablets or portable filters, ensuring that you can access clean drinking water even if local supplies are compromised​

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Survive the Doomsday.

2. Preparing for Epidemics: Protect Your Health

As we’ve seen from recent global health events, epidemics can spread quickly, putting strain on healthcare systems and causing widespread panic. Preparation is key in maintaining your health and safety during such times.

Steps to Prepare for an Epidemic:

• Stock Up on Essentials: Keep a 3-month supply of critical items like food, water, and medications. Include fever reducers, cough suppressants, and extra prescription medications​Detailed.
• Maintain Good Hygiene: Ensure you have a robust stock of soap, hand sanitizers, and disinfectants. Regular cleaning of commonly touched surfaces can greatly reduce the spread of viruses.
• Follow Official Guidelines: Stay informed by following reliable sources like the CDC or WHO. Timely and accurate information is crucial when managing epidemic threats.

Having a well-rounded first aid kit will also be indispensable during an epidemic. It should include essentials like bandages, antiseptics, pain relievers, and basic medical tools to handle minor injuries or illnesses at home​

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3. Bug-Out Bags: Your Lifeline in an Emergency

When disaster strikes and you need to leave your home quickly, a bug-out bag (BOB) can be your ticket to survival. A well-packed bug-out bag should contain enough supplies to last you and your family at least 72 hours.

What to Pack in Your Bug-Out Bag:

• Water and Filtration: At least 1 gallon of water per person per day, along with portable water filters or purification tablets.
• Non-Perishable Food: Stock up on energy-dense food like protein bars, canned goods, and freeze-dried meals that don’t require cooking​Detailed.
• Multi-Tool and Basic Tools: A good multi-tool can help with cutting, prying, and even starting fires. Include essentials like a sturdy knife, a fire starter, and duct tape​Survive the Doomsday.
• First Aid Kit: Don’t forget a comprehensive first aid kit with items like bandages, antiseptics, painkillers, and any personal medication you may need.
• Clothing and Shelter: Extra clothing, a lightweight tent, a tarp, or an emergency blanket will provide protection against the elements.

4. Home Security and Self-Defense

In a prolonged crisis, particularly in situations involving conflicts or societal breakdown, defending your home becomes a top priority. Ensuring your home is secure and your family is protected will give you peace of mind during uncertain times.

Home Security Tips:

• Reinforce Doors and Windows: Strong locks, window bars, and security film can help protect your home from break-ins during emergencies​Survive the Doomsday.
• Set Up a Communication Plan: Keep in touch with family and neighbors. A reliable emergency communication plan is essential if normal services are disrupted. Consider walkie-talkies or even CB radios if phone lines are down.
• Self-Defense Tools: Know your local laws and be prepared with non-lethal self-defense tools like pepper spray, or if legal, firearms for protection​Detailed.

5. Building Long-Term Resilience: Sustainability and Skills

Being truly prepared is about more than just having the right gear—it’s also about developing essential survival skills that can help you sustain yourself and your family over the long term.

Essential Survival Skills to Master:

• Water Sourcing and Purification: Learning how to find and purify water in the wild is crucial. Whether it’s filtering water from a stream or creating your own water collection system, this skill can be a lifesaver​Survive the Doomsday.
• Foraging and Hunting: In extreme situations, being able to hunt or forage for food can supplement your supplies. Learn to identify local edible plants and how to catch small game.
• Basic First Aid and Medical Training: Knowing how to treat common injuries or illnesses could save lives if professional medical help isn’t available.

Conclusion: The Future of Survival in 2024

The unpredictability of 2024 demands a renewed focus on survival preparedness. Whether it’s the looming threat of a natural disaster, a sudden epidemic, or a societal breakdown, being prepared is your best defense. Equip yourself with the knowledge, tools, and mindset to handle any crisis. Stock up on supplies, create a solid bug-out plan, and learn essential survival skills to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Remember, it’s always better to be over-prepared than to find yourself scrambling when disaster strikes. So, take the time today to review your plans, bolster your supplies, and stay vigilant for what tomorrow may bring.

Let me tell y’all a story about one of the wildest days I’ve ever had out in the backcountry. It’s a tale of confusion, panic, and some good ol’ Southern stubbornness, all topped off with a mighty fine lesson on why you should never, and I mean never, stray from your map.

It was a brisk autumn morning, crisp as an apple and just as inviting. The woods were calling my name, and I wasn’t about to leave them waiting. I packed up my gear, made sure my boots were nice and snug, and grabbed the map of the area—a trusty companion I’d gotten a little too comfortable with, if I’m being honest. You see, I fancied myself a bit of a seasoned wilderness man by then, which is a dangerous mindset when Mother Nature gets a mind to humble you.

My goal was simple: take a day hike out to Black Bear Ridge, enjoy the views, and be back by nightfall. Now, ol’ Black Bear Ridge ain’t no easy walk in the park, but I was confident. I mean, how hard could it be? The sun was shining, birds were chirping, and the trail was right there in front of me, plain as day.

Well, plain as day, right up until it wasn’t.

A Fork in the Road, A Fool in the Woods
About two hours in, I hit a fork in the trail that wasn’t marked on my map. One path looked worn, trampled by plenty of feet before me. The other, well, it was less traveled—barely a hint of a trail at all. Now, common sense should’ve kicked in, but when you’re feeling like the king of the wilderness, that common sense can slip right outta your head like a greased hog.

I stood there for a minute, staring at my map, then at the two paths. I could almost hear my grandpappy’s voice in my head saying, “Son, always trust your map.” But the more I looked at that map, the more convinced I became that it had to be wrong. I mean, the trail I needed had to be that beaten-down one, right? Why else would so many people walk that way? And so, against better judgment, I left the map behind and took the well-worn path.

About 45 minutes later, I found myself knee-deep in some brambles, cursing under my breath as I realized something wasn’t right. The trail had vanished, and so had my confidence.

Bootless and Clueless
Now, here’s where things got dicey. You ever been in such a hurry to fix a mistake that you end up making it worse? Yeah, that was me. In my panic to turn back, I cut across a stream bed, thinking I could shortcut my way to the right trail. That’s when I hit the mud—thick, gooey, and greedy. Before I knew it, my left boot got sucked clean off my foot.

I scrambled to dig it out, but that mud wasn’t letting go easy. There I was, on all fours, wrestling with Mother Nature herself, and she was winning. I remember thinking, “If I lose this boot, it’s gonna be a long, cold walk back.” And trust me, walking back through the woods in just your socks is no good way to end a hike.

The Moral of the Story
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, I yanked that boot free, but not without learning a hard truth. All the gear in the world doesn’t mean squat if you don’t know how to use it—or if you think you’re smarter than your map.

See, the moral of this little adventure is simple: Stick to your map. It’s tempting to think you know better, especially when things seem straightforward, but that’s exactly when you’ll find yourself in trouble. Maps, compasses, and GPS systems—they’re there for a reason. Had I trusted mine from the start, I would’ve saved myself a boot full of mud and a whole lotta frustration.

And that brings me to my survival tip for y’all: when you’re out there in the wild, always trust your navigation tools. The moment you think you can “eyeball it,” you’re setting yourself up for a world of trouble. Learn how to read a map and compass properly, and don’t get lazy with your planning. Always double-check your bearings, and if something looks off, trust the tools over your gut feeling. Nature has a funny way of playing tricks on you.

Oh, and one more thing—make sure your boots are laced up real tight. You never know when a patch of mud is waiting to claim ’em.

Final Thoughts
That day might’ve ended with me tired, muddy, and a little embarrassed, but it taught me a valuable lesson that I carry with me on every hike, camping trip, or wilderness adventure I take now. And maybe next time, I’ll listen to that little voice in my head (or my grandpappy’s, whichever one speaks up first).

So if you’re planning to hit the trail soon, remember this story, and keep that map close. And for the love of boots, don’t stray too far off the beaten path—unless you want to lose a shoe and a whole lotta dignity.

How to make a fire.

The most versatile survival tool is FIRE! If you are ever in a survival situation you will need a water purification system, a cooking system, some light, a means to craft, and heat. All of these things come in the form of fire! So you had better carry at least two ways to make a fire if possible and know a few ways to make one without a lighter.

First let’s look at some of the easier ways to make a fire and they are easy because you will use tools that may not otherwise be available. The first way is of course with a lighter and as simple as that seems there is a technique to it.

Start off by gathering some very fine straw or dried grass, even paper if you have it. Then gather some twigs and start placing quite a few of them together in a pyramid shape. Then some larger twigs stacked in the same way. Followed by some larger pieces of wood. Strike the lighter and let the flame catch the grass on fire. I know that one is pretty easy, but it gets a bit harder as we go along.

The next technique will be with a battery and a small piece of steel wool. If you have steel wool with you, then you likely also took a battery (a 9volt is best)for starting a fire. But, for arguements sake let’s say you didn’t. Well thanks to the ubiquitous cell phone you may have a back up plan with you. Yep you can use your cell phone battery. Much like any other method you want to gather dried up grass, twigs, larger pieces of wood first. Then take the grass or other fine material that will easily burn with a small flame and shape it sort of like a bird’s nest. Now take the steel wool and place it in the center of the birds nest.

You won’t need a very large piece of steel wool. I usually take one piece and rip it in half then spread it out a little bit. Touch the battery terminals(if you don’t know what they are they are the copper colored metal strips on the battery) to the steel wool and rub them around a little. You will see the steel wool catch fire. Simply blow on it a little bit so that the embers catch the dried grass on fire. Now quickly place this under the twigs and continue to blow it gently to allow the heat to spread and force the flames to grow. Once this catches the twigs on fire you should be good with a little care.

Another trick to start a fire with a battery is a gum wrapper and an AA battery. Take the gum wrapper and cut or rip it in half. The next bit will require some origami skills. You will need to fold each piece of wrapper so that you have two pieces that are foiled on all sides, except for a small bit on the end, which can be foiled on one side and dull on the other.

Place the two peices together with the two sides that have both foil and paper showign touching eachother, fold them together so that each side is touching both the metal foil and the paper of the other piece. Now hold one side to the top of the battery, and then the other to the bottom. The folded paper/foil pieces will combust and nearly instantly produce a flame. The trick is having your tinder ready to catch fire once the flame starts because it doesn’t last long.

If you happen to have a flashlight with you then you can easily make a fire with that as well. Just take the flashlight apart and get to the reflecting mirror inside the flashlight.The downside is this only works during the day and only when it’s clear and sunny. This works best if you have some char cloth, we’ll talk about that in a moment. Take the char cloth or dried grass and stuff a small amount in the flashlight’s reflective mirror at the bottom where the bulb was previously. Then angle the mirror to catch the sun’s reflection.

Once you have the rays in the right spot you will see smoke from the grass/char cloth. Gently blow on the smoking material untill you see embers. Take the material and place it in the middle of some dried grass and gently blow on it until you have fire. Once you do add it to the rest of your kindling and fan the flames till it catches.

Char cloth is easy to make and you can even make it while you are out in the wilderness. You only need a few pieces of cotten, a tin can like a can of mints for example. Cut or rip the cotten into small squares and place them in the tin can. Cut a small slit in the can for ventilation. Then make sure the can is shut and place it on top of an already existing fire. You will see a fair amount of smoke from the whole that you cut into the can. Once that smoke stops then the char cloth has been made and it’s done. Char cloth looks like little bits tar and catches fire very easily.

Bet you thought I was going to tell you to rub two sticks together eh? Well we will get to that in another post. Survival isn’t always about just using natural resources and you need to use anything you can to get by. Soon I’ll post how to make a fire with water, then we’ll get to the natural method using only what we find in nature.

The Swedish torch originated around 1623 and was used by Swedish soldiers so they could have a source of heat without traveling great distances for wood. It’s a great survival technique for fire because it only uses one piece of wood and takes a small area to get going. It also burns very evenly and has a flat top and base so it is stable and easy to use for a stove as well. That’s why it’s my favorite type of fire to use when camping.

To make one you just need to cut an X into or completely through a log. If you have a saw you can cut a piece of wood about one foot to a foot and a half tall depending on how much of a fire you want and how tall your original cut of wood is. You can use the saw to cut an X in the wood about two thirds of the way down the wood. This creates a gap that you can fill with kindling to light.

If you don’t have a saw that you can use for this then you can split the entire piece of wood in an X shape with a hatchet. Keep the four sides of the wood close you want just enough room between each piece of wood to place kindling in. Pile the kindling inside of the X shape all the way to the top and light it from the bottom.

Once lit it will burn evenly and the flame shoots right up to the top. It’s a good way to get heat with minimal space and low light. You can also take four small twigs and place them on top of the burning log, then place a skillet or pan on top of those twigs and you have an instant stove.

Remember not to place the pan directly on the torch because that will cause the flame to smother a bit and cause more smoke and less heat. The twigs serve to prevent that and allow the air to flow naturally through the wood and the heat will rise right up to the pan.

The Swedish torch isn’t as popular for camping and is used more for garden lights and small gatherings these days. So you can use this same technique at your next barbeque or even in a backyard camping trip with your kids. Because the torch burns vertically and the fire pit is only as big as the circumference of the log so there is very little clean up and the fire is also very easy to contain.

Just like the Swedish torch, a fire log can be used for heat, decoration, and a stove. However, a fire log is used more for decoration because of the tools needed to create one. You can pre-make fire logs and take with you camping, but it isn’t as practical.

To make a fire log you will need a drill with a couple of drill bits the first should be about an inch and a half by about 10-15 inches long. The second bit should be about a half inch and should be long enough to drill from the side of the log to the center. A fire log burns much longer than a Swedish torch and is a little trickier to use as a stove because you will need thicker twigs to set on top of it to prevent the flame from being smothered.

You start with the larger drill bit and drill from the center of the log right down as far as it can reach. Then you use the half inch bit to drill from the side of the log to the center. The trick is to drill just above the lowest part of the first drill hole you want to make a path that leads to just above the bottom 1/4th of the original hole.

Once you have both holes drilled push a wick in from the side of the log until you are sure that a good portion of it rests at the bottom of the center hole that we first created. Next you will need to melt some wax and pour it down the center hole from the top of the log until you see that the wax is even with the side hole.

After the wax dries you light the wick and the fire will start at the bottom of the original hole burning up to the top. This will burn for a very long time and if you want to get creative you can drill additional holes into the log that reach the center hole as well. This will cause light to shoot our from those holes, but it will take away from the burn time. This isn’t very practical for camping and is more suited to a decorative fire at a backyard gathering.

As with any fire make sure you take care to fully extinguish it once you are done and never leave any embers burning before you leave. You should also cover the remaining ash and any left over wood in dirt to ensure it will not catch back up and burn once you leave the area. Remember kids forest fires are dangerous even in the winter, just ask smokey.

How to split a log with a machette the easy way. If you have ever tried to split a log with a long knife or machette.

You probably found yourself beating on the machette with a rock or your hand to drive it through the log.

This seems like the best way to do it, but