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A Suggested Survival List
By Chuck Baldwin
December 15, 2009
One does not have to be a prophet to know that we are on the precipice of
> some potentially catastrophic--or at the very least, challenging--days.
> In
> fact, most of us are already in challenging days, and some are already
> enduring catastrophic events. That is, if one would call being out of
> work,
> losing one's home, facing life-threatening medical conditions without any
> prospect of medical insurance, several families being forced to live in
> one
> house due to homes being foreclosed, etc., catastrophic.
>
> The potential for an escalation of cataclysmic events, however, is very
> real. Only a "blooming idiot" would call someone who attempts to prepare
> for
> "the day of adversity" a Chicken Little now. Anyone who does not see the
> storm clouds on the horizon isn't paying attention.
>
> For example, can one imagine what would happen if terrorists nuked a major
> American city or cities? (Once again, I encourage readers to go get the
> videos of the CBS TV series "Jericho" to get an idea of how quickly life,
> and even civilization, could change.) Imagine if there was another
> 9/11-type
> event. What would happen if some form of Zimbabwe-style inflation hit the
> US? What would happen if anything disrupted the distribution of Welfare
> checks, or food to local grocers? Imagine a Hurricane Katrina-style
> natural
> disaster in your town. I think people everywhere are beginning to awaken
> to
> just how vulnerable we all really are.
>
> As a result, people from virtually every walk of life have recently been
> asking my thoughts on how they should prepare. Therefore, I will attempt
> to
> share with my readers some of the counsel I have given these folks.
>
> First, a disclaimer. I am not an economist; I am not a survival expert; I
> am
> not a firearms expert; I am not an attorney; I am not a physician. In
> fact,
> I am not an expert in anything! For several years, however, I have tried
> to
> learn from others. I am an avid reader. My work has allowed me to travel
> extensively. I have had the privilege of sitting at the feet of--and
> learning from--many of America's most learned, most trained, and most
> qualified "experts" in a variety of fields. What I write today, I have
> learned from others. I've formed my own opinions and priorities, of
> course,
> but everything I'm sharing has been said, or written about, before. But if
> I
> can share something in today's column that will help someone be better
> prepared for the days to come, then my goal will have been achieved.
>
> Location:
>
> First, analyze your living conditions. Where do you live? Do you live in
> an
> urban or rural environment? Is it a big city or small town? Do you live in
> an apartment or condominium? How close are your neighbors? Do you even
> know
> your neighbors? Would you trust them if the electricity was off and they
> were hungry? Could you grow your own food, if you had to? How easily could
> you secure your home? If you live in a cold weather environment, how long
> could you stay warm without electricity? These are the kinds of questions
> you need to ask yourself now.
>
> Over the past several decades, masses of people have migrated into large
> metropolitan areas. More people live in urban areas than at any time in
> American history. While this may be well and good for times of prosperity,
> it is an absolute nightmare in any kind of disaster. Does anyone remember
> what New Orleans looked like after Hurricane Katrina came through? Can
> anyone recall what happened in downtown Los Angeles during the 1992 riots?
> Needless to say, any inner-city environment could become a powder keg
> almost
> instantaneously, given the right (or wrong) circumstances. And the bigger
> the city, the bigger the potential problems.
>
> If you live in the inner city, I suggest you consider moving to a more
> rural
> location. Obviously, now is a very good time to buy property (especially
> rural property), but the downside is, selling property is not as
> favorable.
> If you can afford it, now is a great time to buy a "safe house" outside
> the
> city. If you are fortunate enough to have family or some true friends
> nearby, you might want to put your heads--and some resources--together in
> preparation for serious upheaval. Obviously, a team of prepared people is
> much better than being alone.
>
> If you must stay in your urban location, have some commonsense plans in
> hand
> in the event of a major disaster. Get to know your neighbors: find out
> whom
> you can trust and whom you can't. Keep some extra gasoline on hand, in
> case
> you need to get in your car quickly and leave. Have several exit routes
> planned ahead of time, in case roads are blocked. Have a "bug-out" bag
> containing essential ingredients to live on for 3 or 4 days. If leaving is
> not an option, have a plan to secure your home as best you can. You'll
> need
> to think about things such as food, water, medicine, warmth, self-defense,
> etc. But at this point, to do nothing is absolute lunacy!
>
> Provisions:
>
> During a major disaster, food will quickly disappear. Living for over 3
> decades on the Gulf Coast, I can tell you with absolute certainty that
> whenever disaster strikes (usually an approaching hurricane, for us), food
> and provisions at the store sell completely out in a matter of a few
> hours.
> People panic, and within hours, you cannot find food, bottled water, ice,
> generators, batteries, candles, etc. In a matter of hours, every gas
> station
> in the area will be completely out of gas. Not days. Hours!
>
> Furthermore, almost all disasters include a complete loss of electricity.
> The water supply is compromised. Bottled water becomes more valuable than
> bank accounts. Dehydration becomes a very real and present danger. I
> remember witnessing a man offer an ice vendor $100 for an extra bag of ice
> during Hurricane Ivan. My wife and I went 2 weeks (14 days) without
> electricity in the aftermath of that hurricane. Believe me, I got a taste
> of
> just how precious bottled water, ice, batteries, generators, fuel, etc.,
> can
> become.
>
> I suggest you have a supply of food and water to last at least 2 weeks. A
> month would be even better. Personally, I can live a long time on tuna
> fish
> or peanut butter. You can purchase MREs from a variety of sources, as well
> as "camp-style" packaged food from stores such as Academy Sports &
> Outdoors.
> Of course, bottled water is available everywhere during normal times.
> Stock
> up! Plus, I suggest you have some water purification tablets or a Katadyn
> water filter on hand. And, if you are able, prepare to grow your own food.
> Canning food is another very helpful hedge against deprivation. If your
> parents were like mine, this was standard operating procedure.
>
> Get a generator. Keep a supply of fuel on hand. Stay stocked up on
> batteries, candles, portable lights, first aid supplies, and personal
> hygiene items--especially toilet paper. Trust me, during times of intense
> and prolonged disaster, toilet paper could become more valuable than
> money.
> I also suggest you never run out of lighters or matches. You never know
> when
> you'll need to build a fire, and during a prolonged survival situation,
> fire
> could save your life. If you live in a cold weather climate, you probably
> already have some sort of wood stove or fireplace.
>
> Obviously, you need to take stock of your clothing. Do you have clothes
> suitable for extended outdoor activity? What about boots? During a
> disaster,
> you would trade your best suit from Neiman Marcus for a good pair of
> boots.
> Do you have gloves? Insulated underwear? What about camouflage clothing?
> These could become essential outerwear in the right conditions. Plus, any
> "bug-out" bag will need to include spare clothing.
>
> And one more suggestion, while we're on this subject: the best resources
> in
> the world are of little use if one is physically incapable of making good
> use of them. In other words, GET IN SHAPE. During any kind of emergency
> situation, physical exertion and stamina become immensely important.
>
> Commodities:
>
> I suggest you have at least some cash on hand. Just about any and all
> disasters will result in banks being closed for extended periods of time.
> That also means credit card purchases being suspended. You need to have
> enough cash to be able to purchase essential goods (if they are even
> available) for an undetermined amount of time.
>
> Of course, some survival gurus insist that during any cataclysmic climate,
> precious metals will become the only reliable currency. But when most of
> us
> are trying to feed our families and pay our bills, it is difficult to get
> excited about buying gold and silver. Obviously, I would never recommend
> that anyone jeopardize the present on the altar of the future. My parents
> made it through the Great Depression with canned goods and garden
> vegetables; gold and silver were certainly not a priority with them. And
> maybe it should not be with you, either?
>
> In fact, in a disaster, what is considered a valuable commodity can change
> rather quickly, as the barter system takes a life of its own. What is
> valuable is determined by what you need and how badly you need it. In a
> prolonged disaster, simple things such as toilet paper, canned goods,
> ammunition, and clothing could become extremely valuable; while cars,
> video
> games, televisions, etc., could be reduced to junk status. In antiquity,
> wars were fought over things such as salt.
>
> Speaking of cars, remember that during a prolonged "national emergency"
> that
> might involve some sort of nuclear attack or widespread civil unrest, an
> Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) might be employed; in which case, most every
> late model vehicle would be completely inoperable. Accordingly, if one can
> keep an older, pre-computer-age vehicle in good working order, he or she
> might be driving the only non-government vehicle capable of going
> anywhere.
>
> Self-Defense:
>
> Needless to say, during any kind of disaster, your safety and protection
> will be completely up to you. If you really think that the police are
> going
> to be able to protect you during an upheaval, you are living in a
> dreamworld.
>
> In both the New Orleans and Los Angeles disasters, police protection was
> non-existent. Lawless gangs quickly took control of the streets, and
> people
> were left to either defend themselves or swiftly become the helpless prey
> of
> violent marauders. In fact, in New Orleans, some of the policemen actually
> abandoned their oaths to uphold the law and joined with the criminals,
> turning their weapons upon the public.
>
> Face it, folks: in any kind of disaster, you must be able to defend
> yourself, or you and your family will be meat for these animals of society
> that will quickly descend without mercy upon the unprepared, unsuspecting
> souls around them. This requires that you be armed! It also requires that
> you be skilled enough to be able to efficiently use your arms.
>
> Therefore, I strongly suggest that you purchase firearms sufficient to
> keep
> you and your family safe, and also that you practice sufficiently to know
> how to proficiently use them.
>
> Now, when it comes to a discussion of which firearms are preferable for
> self-defense, the suggestions are as varied as the people who proffer
> them.
> These are my suggestions:
>
> I believe every man (along with his wife and children of adequate age)
> should be proficient with the following weapons: a handgun in .38 caliber
> or
> above, a .22 rifle, a center-fire hunting rifle, a semi-automatic battle
> rifle, and a shotgun.
>
> My personal preference for a self-defense handgun is either a .45 ACP 1911
> (either Colt or Kimber) or a .40 S&W. In the .40 caliber, my favorite is a
> Glock 23. In the 1911, I like the Commander size configuration. I also
> like
> the Glock 30 and 36 in .45 caliber. My wife prefers to carry a Smith &
> Wesson .38 caliber revolver in the snub-nose, J-frame configuration. But
> this is primarily due to the reduced weight of these weapons for carry
> purposes. If needed, she could make a good accounting of herself with a
> Glock 19 in 9mm. If you are someone who has never owned and seldom fired a
> handgun, I recommend you buy a Glock. They are as simple as revolvers to
> operate, reliable, and almost indestructible. Plus, they provide increased
> magazine capacity, and are safe. They are also very easy to disassemble
> and
> clean.
>
> For a .22 rifle, I really like the Ruger 10/22. For a hunting rifle, my
> suggestion is either a .270 or .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle. (If I had
> to pick one, I'd pick the .30-06.) I prefer the Remington Model 700 BDL,
> but
> there are several fine weapons in this configuration and caliber by
> numerous
> manufacturers. For a battle rifle, I suggest an AR-15-style weapon in .223
> caliber. Here I prefer a Bushmaster. (Please, I don't need to hear from
> all
> you .308 lovers out there. I love the Springfield M1A, too.) For a
> shotgun,
> I suggest a 12-gauge pump. Here I prefer a Winchester Model 1300, which is
> not made anymore. So, you'll probably have to choose between Mossberg and
> Remington.
>
> Whatever you choose, practice with it to the point that you are able to
> use
> it proficiently. And be sure you stock up on ammunition. A gun without
> ammo
> is reduced to being either an expensive club or a cumbersome paperweight.
>
> Spiritual Power:
>
> I firmly believe that man is created to have fellowship with his
> Creator-God. I really don't know how people can face the uncertain future
> that we currently face without the spiritual knowledge, wisdom, comfort,
> and
> power that is made available through Jesus Christ. I believe the maxim is
> true: "Wise men still seek Him." I strongly suggest that you seek to
> possess
> a personal relationship with God's only begotten Son.
>
> That we are facing challenging days is a certainty. Exactly what that
> means
> is yet to be determined. I trust that some of my suggestions will help you
> be better prepared for what lies before us.
