Seriously, guys, how cool is this?

We’ve teamed up with our friends over at MyFoodStorage.com to give away something awesome – a Free 2 Week Deluxe Food Survival Kit!

Enter below – its easy – and the more entries you have, the more chances you have to win. Come back and get more entries every day for the full 18 days that this contest is going on!

Not only do they have the best prices and service, but MyFoodStorage.com is donating a FREE 2 Week Deluxe Food Kit for whoever wins on November 19th – so hurry up and enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2 Week Deluxe Food Survival Kit from MyFoodStorage.com – valued at over $239 bucks!

The survival raffle rules are simple:

1. The more entries you have, the more likely will are to win!
2. You can come back each day to receive more entries for certain tasks.
3. You can choose to do only one task – or all of them! Up to you!

Good luck!

Take a look at what’s inside this awesome free 2 week survival food kit!

Our deluxe survival kits are filled with all the emergency gear you’ll need and enough food to feed 1 adult for 2 weeks. Food will last 2 adults 1 week. Packed into a grab-and-go duffle bag with wheels for easy transportation, this kit is the perfect emergency preparedness kit option. This kit comes prepackaged and organized efficiently. Store it in a safe place and it will be ready when you need it.

Weight- 27 lbs

Your 2 Week Deluxe Food Survival kit includes the following:

• 1 Emergency Duffle Bag on Wheels
• Aqua Block Water 8.5 oz (9)
• Swiss Army Knife (1)
• Compact Multi-Function Shovel (1)
• 5-in-1 Survival Whistle (1)
• Emergency Ponchos (2)
• Deluxe Hygiene Kits (2)
• NIOSH N95 Dust Masks (2)
• Hand and Body Warmers (2)
• 2 Person Tube Tent (1)
• Deluxe First Aid Kit (1)
• 12 Hour Bright Stick (1)
• 30 Hour Emergency Candle (1)
• Packages of Pocket Tissue (6)
• 4-in-1 Dynamo Flashlight (1)
• Deck of Playing Cards (1)
• Water Proof Matches (50)
• Waste Bags (2)
• 50 ft. Nylon Rope (1)
• Note Pad (1)
• Golf Pencil (1)
• Mylar Sleeping Bags (2)
• Leather Palm Work Gloves (1)
• 36 Piece Bandage Kit (1)
• Water Filtration Bottle (1)
• Water Purification Tablets (20)
• Portable Stove (1)
• Stove Fuel Tablets (16)
• Metal Fork (1)
• Knife and Spoon (1)
• Sierra Cup (1)

Wise Emergency Food Supply (44 Servings) including:

• Savory Stroganoff
• Chili Macaroni
• Creamy a la King and Rice
• Pasta Alfredo
• Creamy Pasta and Veg Rotini
• Teriyaki and Rice
• Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
• Hearty Tortilla Soup
• Apple Cinnamon Cereal
• Brown Sugar and Maple Cereal
• Crunchy Granola

Enter the raffle now!

Original article here.

SAN DIEGO (AP) – Move over vampires, goblins and haunted houses, this kind of Halloween terror aims to shake up even the toughest warriors: An untold number of so-called zombies are coming to a counterterrorism summit attended by hundreds of Marines, Navy special ops, soldiers, police, firefighters and others to prepare them for their worst nightmares.

“This is a very real exercise, this is not some type of big costume party,” said Brad Barker, president of Halo Corp, a security firm hosting the Oct. 31 training demonstration during the summit at a 44-acre Paradise Point Resort island on a San Diego bay. “Everything that will be simulated at this event has already happened, it just hasn’t happened all at once on the same night. But the training is very real, it just happens to be the bad guys we’re having a little fun with.”

Hundreds of military, law enforcement and medical personnel will observe the Hollywood-style production of a zombie attack as part of their emergency response training.

In the scenario, a VIP and his personal detail are trapped in a village, surrounded by zombies when a bomb explodes. The VIP is wounded and his team must move through the town while dodging bullets and shooting back at the invading zombies. At one point, some members of the team are bit by zombies and must be taken to a field medical facility for decontamination and treatment.

“No one knows what the zombies will do in our scenario, but quite frankly no one knows what a terrorist will do,” Barker said. “If a law enforcement officer sees a zombie and says, `Freeze, get your hands in the air!’ What’s the zombie going to do? He’s going to moan at you. If someone on PCP or some other psychotic drug is told that, the truth is he’s not going to react to you.”

The keynote speaker beforehand will be a retired top spook _ former CIA Director Michael Hayden.

“No doubt when a zombie apocalypse occurs, it’s going to be a federal incident, so we’re making it happen,” Barker said. Since word got out about the exercise, they’ve had calls from “every whack job in the world” about whether the U.S. government is really preparing for a zombie event.

Called “Zombie Apocalypse,” the exercise follows the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s campaign launched last year that urged Americans to get ready for a zombie apocalypse, as part of a catchy, public health message about the importance of emergency preparedness.

The Homeland Security Department jumped on board last month, telling citizens if they’re prepared for a zombie attack, they’ll be ready for real-life disasters like a hurricane, pandemic, earthquake or terrorist attack. A few suggestions were similar to a few of the 33 rules for dealing with zombies popularized in the 2009 movie “Zombieland,” which included “always carry a change of underwear” and “when in doubt, know your way out.”

San Diego-based Halo Corp. founded by former military special ops and intelligence personnel has been hosting the annual counterterrorism summit since 2006.

The five-day Halo counterterrorism summit is an approved training event by the Homeland Security Grant Program and the Urban Areas Security Initiative, which provide funds to pay for the coursework on everything from the battleground tactics to combat wounds to cybersecurity. The summit has a $1,000 registration fee and runs Oct. 29-Nov 2.

Conferences attended by government officials have come under heightened scrutiny following an inspector general’s report on waste and abuse at a lavish 2010 Las Vegas conference that led to the resignation of General Services Administrator Martha Johnson. The Las Vegas conference featured a clown, a mind-reader and a rap video by an employee who made fun of the spending.

Joe Newman, spokesman of the watchdog organization Project on Government Oversight, said he does not see the zombie exercise as frivolous.

“We obviously are concerned about any expenditure that might seem frivolous or a waste of money but if they tie things together, there is a lesson there,” Newman said. “Obviously we’re not expecting a zombie apocalypse in the near future, but the effects of what might happen in a zombie apocalypse are probably similar to the type of things that happen in natural disasters and manmade disasters. They’re just having fun with it. We don’t have any problems with it as a teaching point.”

Defense analyst Loren Thompson agreed.

“The defining characteristics of zombies are that they’re unpredictable and resilient. That may be a good way to prepare for what the Pentagon calls asymmetric warfare,” Thompson said.

Organizers can also avoid the pitfalls of using a mock enemy who could be identified by nationality, race or culture _ something that could potentially be seen as offensive.

“I can think of a couple of countries where the local leaders are somewhat zombie-like,” he joked. “But nobody is going to take this personally.”

Today I just spent about $60 on Amazon.com – but I got a ton of great things for my bug out bag!

I’m also an NRA Certified Concealed Carry Instructor, so these items will also come in handy during my courses – I hope I never need them!

Here’s what I ordered.

New Israeli Battle Dressing, 6-inch Compression Bandage

New Israeli Battle Dressing, 6-inch Compression Bandage

From what I understand, these battle dressings are included as standard issue in the US Military’s IFAK (individual first air kit). It is primarily used for the treatment of bullet wounds, deep lacerations, or other traumatic injuries. You never know when you might need one of these babies around.

Other uses for this bandage:

• Improvised sling
• Bind a strain/sprain
• Secure a splint
• Improvised tourniquet

It doesn’t require any pins or clips, so its completely self contained. I hope I never need it, but if I do, I’m ready!

Quikclot Sport Brand Advanced Clotting Sponge ,Stop Bleeding Fast, 50 Gram Package

I’ve read some great reviews about QuikClot – so I decided to read some more.  This bandage basically draws out the liquid portion of the blood and leaves platelets behind to induce clotting.

Here’s a video on how it works – but go to YouTube and look up “QuikClot.” There are some pretty graphic videos on how it works – too graphic to show here – but very informative videos none-the-less.

BCB Commando & Survival Wire Saw

This wire saw is issued to the British Special Forces (SAS) and can cut wood, bone, or aluminum. It can also be used in a pinch to create a makeshift snare! This might come in handy for TEOTWAWKI.

EMT EMS Surgical Skin Stapler w/35 {wide} Staples and Remover Kit, Sterile

I’m not a doctor, but I’ll take a look! Hehe, juuuuust kidding. These next two products were mostly for my animals. My wife and I live on a 28 acre farm here in Florida, and we never know if our dogs will be tangling with a wild boar or if our horses might get caught up in something sharp. I’ll be more than prepared!

Silk Suture 4-0 NFS-1 12/bx Veterinary Use Only

Like I said, you never know when our dogs or horses are going to need medical attention – better to be prepared than unprepared!

In case you need to brush up on your suturing skills, here’s a great video on how to suture from Doom and Bloom!

Also, remember to be both clean and sterile! Read more here.

This is untrue, however.

Here are some facts about the Brown Recluse spider that you will need to know if you are to properly treat the Brown Recluse spider bite during TEOTWAWKI:

• When the Brown Recluse spider bites you, it injects a bacteria that reproduces in your skin and literally eats away at your skin
• A Brown Recluse spider bite is more dangerous than a Black Widow spider bite – however, both spider bites should be treated in the same fashion
• A Black Widow spider bite is less serious – you will simply feel like you have a very bad flu for 3 or 4 days, and then you will be back to normal. Your skin will not be eaten away by a run away bacteria. If you get bitten by a Brown Recluse spider, you’ll wish it was a Black Widow.

Treat a Brown Recluse Spider Bite Step 1: Materials

The most effective way to treat a Brown Recluse spider bite is to draw the venom out of your skin via absorption – not by squeezing, sucking, cutting, or bleeding out.

So what is the most absorbing material you can think of?

Carbon!

Here are the materials to gather to follow my spider bite treatment tips:

• Activated carbon (charcoal)
• Baggies
• Cutting board
• Bread roller
• Large square/rectangle band aids

Get Prepared for TEOTWAWKI – Brown Recluse Spider Bite Treatment 101

Treat a Brown Recluse Spider Bite Step 2: Shave. Definitely Shave.

I didn’t shave my arm the first time – which means it hurt re-dressing the bandage.

Completely shave the area that was hurt – and the entire area around it.

Here’s a picture of me shaving. Like my arm? I think its sexy.

Shave The Entire Area Around Your Brown Recluse Bite Before Adding a Bandage!

Treat a Brown Recluse Spider Bite Step 3: Get Your Activated Carbon

Getting activated carbon is easy – burn some wood and save the coals. In a hurry to save your skin from flesh eating bacteria produced by a scary Brown Recluse? Run to Walmart and go to the fish tank section – there’s where you’ll find your activated carbon.

Activated Carbon – Get It At Walmart BEFORE TEOTWAWKI!

 

Treat a Brown Recluse Spider Bite Step 4: Make Some Powder

Double bag your carbon (charcoal) and put it on your cutting board. From there, take your rolling pin, and roll the crap outta’ that bag.

Make it into a nice Brown-Recluse-venom-sucking-powder. Yeah, that’s the stuff.

Making Activated Carbon Powder

Treat a Brown Recluse Spider Bite Step 5: Put the Powder On Ya Skin!!!

Put a Piece of Wet Paper Towel (Soaked) On the Carbon – It will Draw Venom Better!

 

This was a direct threat to our survival.

This is a direct threat to our existance. Who do you think the buyers would have been?

• al-Qaeda?
• Jihad?
• Other Muslim extremist groups?

I’d be willing to bet they were going to sell this two tons of uranium to make a few dirty bombs that would make their way to US cities.

Anyway, if you’d like to read the entire article, here’s the original source.

Let’s look at the timeline of what the government is buying and when:

The government is buying ammo in preparation – shouldn’t you be?

Here’s the cheapest ammo website I’ve found online.

Are you ready?

Here’s what happens when the grid fails. A lot of this is based on what happened directly after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, and the human reaction to the situation.

What to expect when the grid has been down 7 days.

Two days after Hurricane Katrina hit, New Orleans descended into a state of utter “anarchy.” TWO DAYS. Here’s what happens during day 1-7:

• Day 1-3 – Supermarkets only stock enough food and water to last about 3 days for their immediate surrounding areas. What supermarkets will even be open? People are not panicking yet – they believe the power will be on soon.
• Day 3-5 – People start to run out of food and water in their homes.
• Day 5-7 – Crime rates skyrocket. People begin leaving their homes in search of food and water at any cost.

Will you survive a grid down situation?

What to expect when the grid has been down for 7-14 days.

14 days after Katrina devastated New Orleans, the area was called an urban warzone. Snipers were shooting at food and relief aid, bodies were laying in the street, and people were being raped, beaten, and murdered all over New Orleans. A lot of times, it was random acts of violent.

When left unchecked by law, order, and consequences, the human heart will prove the depths of its true depravity. Do not underestimate this. Humans are capable of every horror you could imagine.

• Day 7-11 – Gangs start to randomly emerge. Gangs arm themselves with whatever they can find, including your firearms, and begin roaming in search of food and water. Get in their way, and you’ll be killed – and your family likely raped.
• Day 11-14 – Police officers begin to turn in their badges. Some even participate in looting, but some head home to defend their own families and attempt to survive. People begin to realize that no help will be coming.

When SHTF, the true human heart emerges – violent, sinful, hateful, lustful, deprived, and hungry.

What to expect when the grid has been down for 14-30 days.

People are now starting to understand that the power may be out for a long, long time.

• Camps and “refugee” locations begin to emerge and anarchy continues
• Preppers with solar panels, generators, food, and water will begin to be targeted. If you’re prepping for a grid down scenario, its a good idea not to let a whole lot of people know.
• Gangs begin to become stronger and stronger and begin to set up “headquarters” and send systematically send out looting teams to bring back food, water, and anything else they find valuable
• A mass exodus from the cities towards rural areas will begin. People will be looking for farmland, livestock, and other food resources. If you live far from highways, great! If not, prepare now to defend off large amounts of people.
• You may be tempted to feel more relaxed and slip into a routine. Don’t let your guard down – security will be your most valuable investment.

People will leave cities by the millions looking for ways to survive. Do you live near major highways?

What to expect when the grid has been down for 1 to 3 months.

Humanity will naturally begin to form groups and chains of leadership. Some groups will be acting out of moral values, but most will be acting with no conscience or moral rules. Assume everyone is a threat.

There is not a lot of data that will help anticipate what happens next. Leave your comments below with your thoughts.

Without power, you won’t have the ability to:

• Keep perishable items cold
• Cook with anything that requires electricity
• Adjust your household temperature
• Pump water from your well
• Use household lighting fixtures

Do you have a plan for what will happen if this happens to you? Do you have a generator or solar panels?

Leave your plans in the comment section below.

72 Hour MRE Survival Pack for $29 bucks!

View Zombie Apocalypse (SHTF) Map in a larger map

Zombie Apocalypse Map

Bug Out Bag Essentials: Water, Food, Shelter, Fire

First thing is first – most survival blogs and survivalists suggest that your bug out bag contains emergency supplies that will allow you to bug out for a maximum of 72 hours.  What is the single most important element to human survival? Water!

Bug Out Bag Checklist #1: Water Filtration

Clean water is a must. You must have a way to filter water – even if you are planning on boiling your water first, you’ll still want to be able to filter out sand and other nasty impurities.

I suggest getting a nice water filter that is portable and lightweight, and that is capable of producing enough water to survive on for 72 hours. Here’s an example.

Emergency Water Filter- $34.95 Emergency Water Filter Used by the military during Katrina. Makes over 3 Liters of clean drinking water a day for 3 days. Makes virtually any water drinkable – even muddy water.The filter itself has a microscopic pore size of 3 to 5 angstrom; 100 times smaller than the smallest pathogens and 200 times finer filtration than competitive filters. The system this filter uses is forward osmosis. Meet all EPA standards.

This type of water filtration kit is small, lightweight, portable, and inexpensive.

Another possible addition to your bug out bag contents could be a UV pathogen killer, like this one below.

Survival Water Purification via UV Filter – $150 bucks

What a filter like this does is kill water-born pathogens that could make you sick. If you carry one of these in your bug out bag along with a few coffee filters, you can achieve great tasting and safe water during your survival situation.

If you do decide to go with a UV-type water killer, remember that these all require power. Even with a solar charger, batteries have a limited shelf life, and they will be difficult or impossible to recharge during a long term grid-down or TEOTWAWKI situation.

Bug Out Bag Checklist #2: 72 Hours of High Calorie, Long Lasting Food

Your bug out bag contents must contain a minimum of 72 hours of food rations. Most survival blogs and survivalists recommend using MREs (meals-ready-to-eat).

Here are some benefits to MREs:

• MREs are lightweight
• MREs require little preparation
• MREs are relatively inexpensive
• MREs have a great shelf-life
• MREs are a great source of extra calories

72 Hour MRE Survival Pack for $29 bucks!

When deciding on the contents of your bug out bag, make sure you realize that you are going to be in a survival environment - which means you’ll be burning more calories than normal. Most survivalists assume that you will be burning at least 3500 calories each day that you’re bugging out, so make sure you account for those extra calories somehow.

To add extra calories, think about using energy bars that are super high in calories to augment your bug out bag contents. Here’s an example:

Great tasting 3600 Calorie Mayday Energy Bar – $6.95

 

Bug Out Bag Checklist #3: FIRE!

 

You need to make sure your survival bag contains plenty of ways to make fire. Most survival blogs and survivalists suggest having 3 ways of making fire – just in case. I personally like to have a lot more way of making fire.

Fire is an essential for survival. Here are the reasons you need fire in a bug out situation:

• Warmth
• Water purification/sanitization
• Cooking
• Light
• Security

Here are some of my favorite tools for creating fire.

Magnesium Fire Starter

Magnesium fire starter for your bug out bag – $12.25

Here’s how to use a magnesium fire starter:

1. Gather wood, kindling, and tinder for your wood pile
2. Get an area to catch the magnesium fire starter scrapings – a piece of bark or dry wood works
3. Scrape a small pile of magnesium shavings onto your catching area
4. Add some tinder on top of the shavings
5. Spark it up!

Using magnesium fire starters definitely takes practice, but they are much longer lasting than matches or lighters.

Waterproof Matches

Waterproof matches, an essential bug out bag item – $0.60 for 45

No bug out bag is ever complete without water proof matches. Waterproof matches are an absolute must for every bug out bag.

Stormproof/Windproof Matches

Windproof matches – extra large heads that will burn for 10 seconds in the wind  $4.95

You never know what is going to happen during your bugging out – so I always suggest getting waterproof and windproof matches. Although wind-proof matches are more expensive, it would be your last resort. Your magnesium will blow away and your matches will blow out.

 

Bug Out Bag Checklist #4: Lightweight, portable shelter

If you’re a human, then you definitely need shelter to survive. Its absolutely essential.

Shelter protects you from the following:

• Heat/sun
• Cold
• Rain
• Animals
• Insects

There are hundreds of different options you can use for shelter during your bug out situation. Here are the characteristics we look for in a bug out shelter:

• Lightweight
• Portable
• Affordable
• Longevity
• Size

Super cheap & lightweight bug out shelter – survival tube tent – $7 bucks

These super inexpensive survival tents are quick to set up and easy to use. They weigh less than a pound and can fit two people.

However, both ends are open, which provides little protection against the elements, insects, or animals, and could make it a bit colder. Still, I do suggest carrying one of these with you – because you just never know.

This 1 person bivy weighs less than 2.5lbs and is easy to set up. Goes for $99 bucks

This is a one person shelter tent that retails out at around $100 bucks. It may be a bit more expensive than a tube tent, but it sure is a great little tent for bugging out in an emergency. It has plenty of headroom and a side entrance.

This is an essential item for my bug out bag for sure.

This 2 person tent is setup in seconds! Weighs less than 6lbs and retails for about $85 bucks.

This tent is an ideal tent for the survivalist who might be traveling with a girlfriend, wife, friend, or who just wants a bit more space. This tent will sleep up to two people, but you can fit a third person with the three person model.

This tent retails at about $65 bucks and is a great item for bugging out. It weighs out at 6lbs and can be setup in seconds.

 

Bug Out Bag Checklist #5: Firearms for bugging out

Personal protection – the survivalists’ most fun hobby. We sure love our AR15, Glocks, and guns! That said, packing your survival bag with the bare essentials is important – remember, you’re only anticipating a 72 hour bug out period, so you won’t be able to lug around 1000 rounds of ammunition. I wish we could!

That said, I’ll explain what I have in my own bug out bag and why I chose those firearms for bugging out.

Bug Out Firearms: AR15 

Although I’ve never gone camping or have been in a bug out situation with my AR15, my ultimate goal would be to bug out with my AR15 and about 6-10 magazines. Here’s why I would choose an AR15 over any other rifle.

AR-15′s in action

• The AR15 is very reliable – which would be important in an bug out situation
• The AR15 is accurate ( the shooter needs to be too)
• The AR15 has the ability to switch out its bolt and magazine to make it into a .22LR – perfect for small game hunting
• The AR15 has low maintenance – but I would carry some extra springs and such just in case

I could go on and on about the AR15 – but instead, read more about the AR-15 here: How to Choose an AR15 That’s Right for You

Simply pop in this bolt and use this magazine to fire .22LRs from any standard AR15! Costs about $150 bucks.

 

Bug Out Firearms: Smith & Wesson M&P vs. Glock

Smith & Wesson M&P vs. Glock 19

Living in Florida, I never leave home without carrying a firearm, and I recommend that anyone who is legally allowed to carry should carry. Imagine the lives that could be saved! Enough about that, onto the Smith & Wesson M&P vs. the Glock 19.

I’ve been a Glock owner for years, and I stand by their reliability, their accuracy, and their performance. They have a ton of accessories and parts are readily available (and cheap!).

However, I purchesed a Smith & Wesson M&P 9c – and that quickly became my carry pistol.

Which pistol would I bug out with? That’s easy!

Both.

Arguing about Glocks being better or M&Ps being better is like trying to prove that Fords are better than Chevys, or that iPhones are better than Droids. In the end, it all comes down to opinion.

The bottom line on bug out firearms is this – whatever firearm you feel comfortable bugging out with, that’s the best firearm for you.

 

Bug Out Firearms: Tactical Bug Out Accessories

This tactical bug out vest allows for a quick draw and plenty of storage, and runs about $150 bucks.

When choosing their bug out bag contents, keep in mind that you may be in situations where speed and agility could be important. Being able to draw and use your firarms quickly is also very important. All of these factors need to be addressed when deciding what your bug out bag should contain.

If a bug out situation ever faced me, I’d be wearing a tactical vest that contains a chest holster, a holster on my right leg, and plenty of areas to story ammunition and other items.

 

Bug Out Bag Checklist #6: Survival knife

So now you have chosen your most essential items – water, food, fire, shelter, and firarms. Take a sigh of relief – but here’s where the real fun starts.

We’ve dedicated entire blog posts to survival knives, but for the sake of time, we’ll try to go through it fast. Here are the survival knife basics:

• Make sure your knife is one single piece of metal with a handle – these are 100% more reliable than cool looking knives with mechanical parts
• Make sure you have a way to sharpen your survival knife
• Make sure your survival knife will not fall out of its sheath during high movement activities

Here’s a great survival knife with a saw edge made by Glock for about $30 bucks. Make sure your survival knife is one piece of metal from tip to hilt!

 

Bug Out Bag Checklist #7: Compass

During a bug out situation, I plan on keeping moving and avoiding as much human contact as I possibly can. That said, your bug out needs to contain navigation equipment like a compass.

Don’t trust a cheesy compass – spend a but of money and get a nice one.

This compass retails for about $30 bucks and has some great features for bugging out.

 

Bug Out Bag Checklist #8: Pots, plans, and cookware

Cooking equipment needs to be lightweight, strong, and portable. Here’s a few examples.

Here’s a lightweight aluminum pot for about $30 bucks.

You can pick up a set of forks and knives for your bug out bag for about $30 bucks.