PREPARE Magazine May 2014

Encouraging, Empowering and Enriching Your Journey

Survival Rifles Developing Your Survival Attitude

The Common Man’s Gear

Knife Fishing

Firearms for the Home May 2014

Letter from the Editor We posed a question on the PREPARE Magazine Facebook Page which asked: “Is the preparedness movement too focused on guns?” We enlisted the help of other well known, outspoken Preparedness trainers, authors and leaders to help us gather feedback from their Facebook friends as well. The conclusions we have come to are, that this is topic with deep dividing lines, strong convictions and differing opinions. Not that these was a surprising conclusions, but two of the threads that ran through both sides were surprising. Both those who felt that the emphasis on guns was too prevalent and those who saw a high emphasis as necessary, were the two common threads of ‘balance’ and ‘skill trumps stuff.’

It is with these underlying common threads of balance and skill that we have approached this potentially hot theme of Weaponry. If you have been with us over the growth of PREPARE Magazine the last two years, you know this is actually the first time that we have focused on this topic. To be sure, we are not a publication with a defensive posture, but we felt the time was right to introduce a portion of this lifestyle that had not graced our pages prior. So as long as there is a Second Amendment, regardless of how much focus others may place upon it, there is the right to discuss, educate and encourage responsible skills in the area of guns, knives and other forms of weaponry. Of course, we emphatically remind all of our readers, no matter which side of the line your convictions fall that you keep all weapons out of reach of unskilled children and under lock and key.

Developing Your Survival Attitude is an article that will help lay down some groundwork for an attitude that will learn, practice and be responsible with the skills to survive. If you are thinking of purchasing Firearms for the Home and/or Survival Rifles be sure to not only educate yourself, but also become properly trained and practice the skills to care for and use any style of firearm. The Apache Battle Tactic of The Marked Apache and the Rattlesnake is an example of how the skill for the fight and use of a weapon are deeply engrained in the training of the warriors by the detailed account of the story. The Common Man’s Gear often consists of knives in addition to or instead of a firearm. Yet there is still planning and skill involved in wielding it properly both for utilitarian or safety purposes. In fact, one such skill that could save a person from starving involves the knife not as a weapon of aggression or defense, but one of sustenance by Knife Fishing.

Although the theme this issue has focused on weapons, it is but a portion of the full picture to preparedness.

Financial preparedness may mean that you are thinking of Investing in Silver and Gold. If you are banking on being able to survive come what may then Health and Fitness should be a Part of the Plan as well. You may think that you Can’t Grow Vegetables Because Your Yard Is Too Small? Think Again! – Sustainable gardening in small spaces is possible. And because Natural disasters know no time table or boundaries, learn what we can do to help after Typhoon Haiyan and what lessons we can take away from those who are rebuilding.

With all around us seeming chaotic and weapons often being misused, it’s no wonder many people struggle with the thought of Why Make Plans if God Controls my Future? The preparedness lifestyle does not have to be an exercise in futility. With Faith and Hope along with Skill and Community Connections we can be encouraged, empowered, equipped and optimistic about the changes ahead!

Best Blessings and enJOY the Journey, Donna L. Miller Managing Editor of PREPARE Magazine http://www.PREPAREMag.com

Table of Contents 1 - Letter from the Editor PREPARE Magazine www.preparemag.com Publishing Mainline Marketing Group, LLC Advertising 800-361-1797, Ext 8 advertising@preparemag.com Subscriptions www.preparemag.com/subscribe subscription@preparemag.com Support Services www.preparemag.com/support support@preparemag.com Community Connections contributors@preparemag.com Chief Vision Officer Joseph Miller Managing Editor Donna Miller

2 – Developing Your Survival Attitude""

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3 – Can’t Grow Vegetables Because Your Yard is Too Small" " 4 – The Common Man’s Gear" " 5 – Firearms For The Home 6 – Knife Fishing" " 7 – Investing in Silver and Gold (Part 3)" 8 – Health and Fitness should be part of the plan"

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9 – Survival Rifles 10 – The Marked Apache and the Rattlesnake 11 – Typhoon Haiyan 12 - Special Thank You 13 - Why Make Plans if God Controls my Future (Devotional)

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Developing Your Survival Attitude

By Mike Douglas from Maine Primitive Skills School

Survival. The very idea of being placed in a survival situation evokes deep feelings. The reaction it stirs in you indicates a great deal about how you would react to an unexpected situation where lives may be on the line. Could you accurately assess your ability to survive in a real survival situation? Do you have “What it takes”?

And what is, “what it takes” anyway?

Biologically, or genetically, there is little more we can do beyond physical training and learning in a contrived environment. Worse, we could “read up” on survival skills and theory and give ourselves the illusion of understanding. This would allow us the dangerous assumption that, because we read it in a book, or saw a few videos on the internet, we have “what it takes”. This elusive internal quality has little to do with book learning. Even folks trained in survival skills perish in the same conditions that untrained individuals find themselves surviving.

So, where are you in this spectrum?

Beyond our genetics we become who we are based on only two variables. The first is the environment we immerse ourselves in. The second is what we

choose to focus on in that environment. Here are two examples to illustrate how profound these two simple components can be in creating different results for members of the same species.

Since he was young, Brad was an avid outdoorsman. His father and Uncles would take him fishing and hunting. His family was involved in Scouting. When Brad shot his first deer at thirteen, the community rallied in celebration. As a young man, Brad took up Rock Climbing, Hiking, Backpacking, and Snow Shoeing. He loved knives, rifles, archery, and camouflage. Brad learned gardening from his grandparents. As a middle aged man, Brad often reflects on his exploits, especially those times where he had to spend a few unplanned days and nights in the forest due to poor judgment, weather, or unforeseen circumstances. These memories came to him with a sense of fondness. All of this gives Brad little comfort now, at 2am. Strange groups of people stare as he walks by. Towering apartment buildings and confusing, dark streets make him feel like an alien as he tries to locate the building he was

supposed to meet a friend at. They all look the same to him. Brad struggles to keep the welling panic at bay as he realizes the enormity of South Philly.

Mark, a product of Chicago, would have felt more at ease in this neighborhood. He yearns for the familiar hum and rhythm of the city. A steam shrouded sidewalk grate would indicate warmth.

A church steeple might mean a shelter nearby. A fast food joint would almost guarantee a dumpster full of food. Mark’s sense of order, his ability to read street signs as well as subtle body language cues, all of his finely honed urban survival strategies are failing to serve him in this alien northern woodland environment.

Brad, with all of his woodsman skills is just as lost in the city as streetwise Mark is in the natural world.

Provided they are not injured and can breath, both men require five basic elements to ensure their survival. Four of these are physical needs. The fifth, the most important element, determines how they and, more importantly, you would react in a similar situation. The first four priorities are a need to find shelter from the elements, clean drinking water, a source of light and heat (fire), and last on the list; food.

The fifth element; that which will compel them into action or cripple them into complacency, is “Attitude”. Attitude is nothing less than how you view yourself in the context of your “reality”. How you view your commute, your job, your relationships, even the power and the will you believe you have to change a situation…or not. It is the reason some walk away from an event while others perish, frozen in their uncertainty and fear. It is the amount of ignorance and fear that we focus on that is our greatest undoing in the end. It is the opportunities and actions we seize that is our saving grace as well.

None of this takes place without the initial choice.

In fact, it could be said that choice is one of the two “Parents” of a healthy survival attitude. But let’s

explore this concept within the context of your own reality. In the second paragraph of this article there was a statement, “Beyond YOUR genetics you become “who you are” based on the environment you immerse yourself in and what you choose to focus on in that environment.(“) With that in mind, let’s first focus on your environment and how it shapes you. How much of your effort, intellect, and problem solving skills go directly into providing you with adequate and safe shelter against the elements as well as protecting you from the threats in your environment? Does your landscape demand that your awareness is developed around these things, or is having a roof, climate control, and a warm bed an assumed component of your reality?

At the Maine Primitive Skills School we have a saying, “Convenience kills”. In the environment you find yourself in, if you are not actively problem solving to address your survival needs you will lack the ability to do so in a real situation. Since most of us lack the means or the will to modify our surroundings, we are left with the second component of what shapes us; what we choose to focus on in that environment. This piece makes increasing your survivability easy and fun.

During your daily routine, envision different “call to action” scenarios where you have to come up with your own shelter, water, fire, and food. On the commute, where would you acquire these things if you were snowed in, or you were stranded on a specific section of roadway with no help available?

At work, you are hit with a natural disaster that knocks out power and isolates your people from the rest of the world. What materials would you utilize and how long would they last? How would you plug in different personalities to create an optimal chance for all to make it through?

Developing these questions as part of your overall routine shifts you from being the victim of someone else’s story to becoming the hero of your own journey.

Think You Can’t Grow Vegetables Because Your Yard Is Too Small? Think Again!

By Margaret Park – Center Square Gardens ground space, maximizing vertical space and increasing the length of the growing season. By spacing plants densely, using vertical trellising wherever possible and growing throughout the year, food production from each square foot of the vegetable garden is increased. Such intensive cultivation also requires excellent soil fertility. All of these aims can successfully be achieved in a small space with a little know how and some inexpensive resources.

Spacing Plants

When I lived on an eighteen-acre property in rural North Carolina, I grew food in a large vegetable garden with spacious walking paths and plenty of room to sow seeds in neat rows of widely spaced plants. Not only was there ample space, there was ample rain as well, giving me little reason to conserve space in the garden. Upon moving to my new home in a city, however, with my smallest backyard ever, I knew I had to trade in these spacious gardening habits for more intensive growing methods. After experimentation on many fronts, I’m happy to say, small space growing strategies yield very satisfying results whether applied in urban or rural settings.

A large percentage of Americans do live in urban locations for many reasons, perhaps the biggest one being the greater employment opportunities found in urban areas. Having only a small yard doesn’t have to be an obstacle to big vegetable yields. My own 8 X 24 foot plot yields plenty of vegetables for year round produce from the backyard and greater food security for my family in these insecure times.

Small space growing is a matter of pushing the boundaries on several fronts, namely maximizing

By minimizing the space for walking and working in the garden and also spacing plants as closely as their natures allow, we can easily increase yields per area. Plants always crowd together in nature’s fields, why not in the backyard vegetable garden?

When plants are spaced closely, there are always individual plants that are ready to be harvested sooner than others. As we collect these from the garden to bring to the table, conditions are improved for the remaining plants. In this way, a kind of phased harvest is set up from one initial sowing.

The design of cultivation beds can be maximized as well. When we have plenty of space, we can afford to have comfortable walking/working paths around beds. However, we can get 30% more planting beds in a given area if we use the Center Square plan. This plan incorporates a two-foot square central work area in the middle of an eightfoot square area. All parts of the cultivation beds can be tended from either this central area or from the outside perimeter of the garden plot, though some people may need a bigger central square or a more rectangular central work area in order to reach all spots in their beds.

Feeding the Soil To succeed with such intensive gardening, deep, fertile soil is a must. If we think of the vegetable garden as a food chain with the gardener at the top, we see that each level depends on the nourishment of the level below. We can add the microorganisms that the plants eat and the minerals that the microorganisms eat.

There are naturally-occurring crushed rock products available as consumer products, such as Azomite and Greensand and humic shale that are loaded with the minerals and trace minerals that microorganisms consume and turn into more bio-available forms for the plants. Microorganisms can be added to the soil via compost tea and other composting methods. For those with little space, the bokashi composting method is a great way to add friendly microbes by recycling kitchen and yard waste into great compost fast, inexpensively and tidily without the need for bins or drums or space-hogging, vermin-haunting piles.

Vertical Growing Plants with a vining nature can be trained to grow higher on trellises and other supports instead of bushier ground-level growth. Supports can be made from various materials, such as wood or metal or plastic. PVC pipes and their connectors are excellent materials for constructing simple, snap-together trellis structures that are inexpensive, sturdy, durable, lightweight and space-saving. PVC structures can also be taken apart easily for storage or for reconfiguring for another use. Crop rotation is a must for all vegetable growing, so in the small garden, the flexibility and portability of PVC structures provide tremendous advantages.

Extending the Growing Season We can get the most out of time as well as space by using methods that lengthen the growing season.

Successive planting will keep the garden productive throughout most of the year. Building a simple and portable PVC pipe greenhouse or hoop house enables harvesting all year long. Various cooling strategies in hot weather and warming strategies in cold weather can also extend the harvest.

There are so many reasons to grow vegetables at home.

We can assure the purity and mineral content of our food, pick our vegetables at peak flavor and ripeness and save money, as well. We can choose heirloom seed varieties and harvest seeds for the next crop to save even more expense. With the newer methods, small spaces are no longer a disadvantage. In fact, less space means less wasted water on walkways and paths and less time spent weeding a large garden area.

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The Common Man’s Gear

By Jason Hunt – Frontier Christian University The subject of equipment is often one of the more prominent when discussing any survival or preparedness concept.

Without the proper tools, certain tasks just become more difficult, if not improbable. That said; we’re all familiar with the vast quantity and quality of gear that’s available for each specific task. If we’re talking knives, we know to stay away from those coming from China which are often made of cheaper materials; but when we talk to the experts in the community, we’re often pointed to their brand of knives or gear or one that sponsors them which are often high quality and US made, but much of this gear is priced outside of the common man’s pay scale… or is it?

The issue with the theory of common man prices and gear is that it is supposed to be affordable, endure years of hard use and something the user is not likely to have to purchase again for many years. However, we quickly find a dilemma; one person’s affordable is another’s expensive. When it comes to selecting gear, we all obviously want the best we can afford, but because of the consumer society we’ve been raised in we’re trained to perceive affordability as something we can pay for with the next pay check, since much of the nation lives pay check to pay check. With this mentality, our definition of what is common man is drastically reduced and we end up finding that the best we can afford is that production knife from Wally-world (Wal-Mart to you city folk) which comes from where? You guessed it, China. Are there good products available at Wally-world, suitable for long term survival or outdoors use? No! I bet you expected me to say yes didn’t you? The fact is that outdoor products carried by most big box retailers are designed to last a season at best which forces the user to repeat purchase. Even though we may find “trusted” names such as Coleman, SOG, Gerber and others, the products are produced for those specific retailers to fit within the repeat purchase model. This is true for most products nowadays as we’re all aware, thus the old adage “they don’t make em’ like they used to”.

Now there may be products you have that have lasted you a couple or few years with occasional use, but I’m talking long term survivability and off grid use here. I spend roughly 1/3rd of my year (approx. 100 days) camping out, teaching classes or training myself. I need something that’s suited for long hours, hard use and consistent abuse and big box toys simply don’t cut it. Tents, sleeping bags and even tent stakes included! We have to remove ourselves from this impoverished mentality and make a concerted effort to buy gear that we know will last us a lifetime. We should look for heirloom quality gear, things we could pass on to our children. This is the essence of what is truly common man as the common made had to make or barter for his quality gear

and it was often passed down the family line (some of you may still have Grandpa’s shotgun).

Broken Knife from Wal-Mart. Photo Courtesy Reviews.Walmart.com

We must realize and remember the pros get their gear given

! to them by sponsors, the common man does not! The pros are paid in gear and sponsorship dollars to peddle certain items to maintain their lifestyles. Nothing against any of them, we’d all do it if we were in the same position! The problem is that lower quality production gear is considered the gold standard by novices and those new to the survival/ preparedness community when it’s actually the tin standard.

Okay, let’s get real here. An heirloom quality piece of equipment is an item you will cry about buying, but you’ll only buy it once, so you will get a return on investment over time assuming you don’t have to bet your life on that item right away. For a good quality knife, one thick enough to endure extended abuse, shaped in a way that makes it easy to process game, chop down a sapling or process kindling and still throw sparks when struck with a piece of flint is going to run you between $150 and $300 on average. I ended up designing my own knife after years of abusing others. I have spent thousands of dollars on knives alone over the years and with a relatively small investment with a custom maker, I was able to get everything I wanted in one tool for general use.

This knife design allows me to cut, carve, baton, chop, scrape, drive, and use as a bow drill bearing and draw knife.

1095 Carbon Steel, micarta handles, kydex sheath: all a recipe for a lifetime of use. This is a $200 knife because we work directly with the forge. I also have a smaller knife for fine carving tasks, which is made in a more simplistic design of the same type materials. Obviously, this may not be a single paycheck purchase, you will need to save a little, but again you only need to buy once on heirloom quality gear.

There are obviously many options and types available, just look for items using quality material with superior craftsmanship. Now, let’s talk bags…

!

Author's Photo: CSK1- The Campcraft Survival Knife available at http://www.campcraft.us

With the standard daypack we need to look for quality materials such as oilskin, waxed canvas (18oz), cordura (1000 denier) and leather. Names to look for in canvas goods are Frost River, Duluth, Mule Team, and in cordura products I recommend a small business based in Massachusetts called The Hidden Woodsman which produces hand crafted haversacks and backpacks for survival and bushcraft.

Leather crafts are as varied as their makers; there are many benefits to leather but some draw backs as well, especially for long term use. Leather must be maintained and if not properly built, stitches will rot, leather with degrade and deform and can possibly turn to a raw hide like substance.

So again, look for leather goods that are made for the outdoors, places like Red Barn Forge (Georgia), Deep Woods Leather (Alaska) and Positive Made Leather Craft (Indiana) are a few that offer excellent products well worth the

Author's Photo: Campsack, made of Kodiak Leather available at http://www.campcraft.us

investment. Once again, you can expect to spend anywhere from $50 for a Cordura Haversack to $300 for a Leather bag, ! so select one that will fit your needs, your environment and your style the first time.

Another great benefit of purchasing heirloom quality gear is that it can be repaired in the field or sent back to the maker to be refurbished! So if something drastic does occur, it’s able to be repaired. We could truly go on and on covering each piece of gear and the importance of buying true common man items- those things you only buy once, but we could fill a book with such comparisons. By allowing our minds to be transformed from a consumer mentality to a common man that is striving to be self reliant we’re not only helping like-minded business owners, but teaching our families the importance of craftsmanship, quality and work; all of which are severely lacking in today’s society.

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Firearms for the Home, Homestead and on the Move A Practical Guide for Selection and Use.

By Charles Daugherty – Patriot Crime Defense Talk about striking a cord! This issue resonates deep within me. I have been an avid firearms nut for the last 40 plus years. My father handed me my first 22 rifle at the age of 5 and I have been smitten by the bug ever since. I mean, as soon as my hands touched the walnut stock and

politicization, I am certainly not aware of it. The media’s full court press to demonize firearms and the people who embrace their God given right to defend themselves, is sickening. That being said, I will deal with the misinformation and not the political aspects of our nanny

he showed me how to work the controls of the beautiful bolt action, blued-steel perfection, I lost my mind. To hear the bang, to feel Sir Isaac Newton’s theory in action, to see the fire and watch the coke can dance around, wow. And let’s not even talk about the smell, oh the glorious smell of GSR (gunshot residue) and burnt powder. Let’s just say, if women’s perfume was based on GSR or Hoppe’s #9 I would do nothing except smell my wife’s neck all day!

How could anyone not fall in love with firearms? But enough of the rabbit trail. I am sure that you get it by now; I am a certifiable nut when it comes to all things firearms.

political system.

If there has ever been a subject that has been more vilified or is surrounded by more misinformation based on fear or

First, I have to assume that you have chosen to secure for yourself and family some type of firearm or that you want to expand your “assets”. Fantastic! Remember, FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION. The use and/ or uses of the firearm will dictate the type: pistol, rifle and or shotgun.

Just like a car, truck or minivan, you are dealing with specific types of capabilities with some crossover. For this article, the actual brand or model is irrelevant.

The pistol can range in size and purpose. A good analogy could be how an airplane ranges from the Piper Cub all the way to the F-16. Pistols are small, nimble and easy to conceal. Most pistols are easy to manipulate and can be taken apart easily for cleaning and care. There are single or double action pistols, both in revolvers with multiple cylinders or semi-autos with high capacity magazines.

The effective range for pistols will vary from just a few yards all the way out to around 75 yards plus in the hands of a professional with appropriate ammunition and caliper size. Most pistols are effective within the desired range and distance of 7 to 15 yards or 21 to 45 feet.

Having shot my entire life, I can tell you that, once you get out to around the 35 to 40 foot range, your accuracy will drop drastically due to the short site radius inherent of pistols. Not to mention the fact that the front site post will cover the entire target at that range. The sweet spot for most pistols will be within the 3 to 7 yard range. There is a reason why our law enforcement is allowed to use

deadly force within a 21 foot (or 7 yard) zone. At that distance, an attacker can be on you in less than 2 seconds.

That’s barely enough time to clear the holster and fire off a round or two. All pistol calipers, from the small .22 all the way to the .50 cal have the ability to kill and do substantial damage. FBI statistics prove out that caliper does not matter as much as the type of projectile and the placement of the shot. Regardless of the caliber used, to actually stop a man will usually take more than one shot.

Taking this into consideration, we need to focus on how easily we can make a follow up shot, where can we place it, what type ammo (Full Metal Jacket or Hollow Point), what is the maximum capacity of the firearm and how quickly can you reload back to maximum capacity. There is no one-size-fits-all, nor is there such a thing as the perfect pistol. I suggest that everyone go to a gun range and rent several types of them to get a feel for what is comfortable and what they can shoot well. This may be a small semi auto or it could be a revolver. If your goal is concealed carry, you need to consider how you will carry it. Will you carry inside the waist band or outside, in a carry bag, purse or ankle holster? The choice goes on from there. The size, shape, weight and type of pistol will also need to be considered in your decision on how to carry.

For instance, I have a G19, G17 and a G34, each of which

is easy to carry in an outside-the-waistband holster or drop leg holster. The G19 and G17 fit nicely into one of my everyday carry bags but none of them are small enough or comfortable enough to carry inside the waistband. For that, you need something like the G42 or LCR9. Each is small enough and thin enough to carry inside the waist band and still tuck in your shirt. I personally only carry outside the waistband during the winter when my jacket will cover my firearm. I am a concealed carry proponent for certain, if for no other reason than to keep the element of surprise on my side. I use a pistol for personal protection outside the home, carrying everywhere I go. I have now successfully carried every single day for the last 365 days straight, which is a new personal record. I have carried totally different pistols at different times, depending upon my location and what I was wearing. Sometimes I may have to lock it in the car in a case when we go to a government building, school or church but I have it close at hand. So in a nutshell, pistols are mainly for close range and for protection outside the home. I would never strap on a rifle or shotgun to travel around. Not only is it impractical but it will quickly lead to a conversation with law enforcement officers who are our friends not our enemies.

Yes, I have a legal right to do so but again I am not

looking to draw attention to myself or my family. I only wish to be the sheepdog, blending in until the wolf shows his ugly head…then it is game on.

Second, we have the rifle, and we are not just talking about your granddaddy’s old rifle. Rifles come in all shapes, sizes and calibers, as well. They can be plain Jane and ugly like the A-10 Warthog or totally dressed to impress like the F22 Raptors. Either way, they can deliver precision firepower down range at substantial distances.

A person could spend years trying to learn all the different types of rifles along with the calibers and accessories and it would not be wasted time. But you will probably never know it all. Remember, form follows function. If you are looking to hunt large game you might want to invest in a good semi-auto or pump action rifle with a small box or tubular magazine. Two of my favorite hunting rifles for deer are my old Winchester lever action 30-30 and my Remington Wood Master 30-06 (my grandfather’s old gun). I know what you are thinking, “a 30-06, why not a .308 or .270 or .300 win mag?” Well, remember the greatest rifle ever created (M-1 Garand) was chambered in the 30-06 caliber and, if it was good enough for the greatest generation, then it is good enough for me. That being said, I would not shoot mine at distances beyond 400 yards. If this is what you want to do, you will need to invest in a different platform with a flatter shooting round and spend more on the optics than the gun itself. If small game is of concern, there again bolt, breach, pump or semi are all available in a plethora of calibers to handle small game running around the farm. If personal defense is on your mind, then you are in luck because there are hundreds of manufacturers producing all kinds of bells and whistles for tactical rifles. From lights to lasers, to grenade launchers, straps and even SWAG, you can be certain there is no shortage of opportunity to dial in and dress out your custom rifle.

Again, I am not here to direct you to a certain manufacturer, only to challenge you to do some homework and shoot many before you buy. Ask lots of

questions! If there is one thing a gun nut like me likes to talk about, it is their Warhammer. In my humble opinion, you will not find a finer tool for protection than an AR-15/M4 platform. It offers unmatched customization and I have yet to see anything else that can engage multiple targets at distance so quickly and efficiently. All I really need now is a rifle scabbard for the saddle, 4 wheeler and truck. It is perhaps one of my favorite home defense firearms when loaded with good hollow points or frangible ammo.

Last but not least, we will look at the shotgun. Think about the B-29 Super Fortress all the way to the B-2 currently in operation, shotguns come in all flavors. They come in breach, bolt, pump, semi-auto and even lever action. Just like pistols and rifles, there are tons of attachments that you can get to improve the functionality, comfort and performance of them. The shotgun has to be the most versatile of the three. You can easily change the type of shell from bird shot to buck shot to slugs. You can shoot doves or ducks flying overhead and three seconds later, with a quick slug change over, you can shoot a deer at 100 yards or more. When used appropriately it can be the most devastating of the three categories. The shotgun is like a transformer in that one minute it is setup to handle one application and then a few seconds later, just by changing out the choke and the type of shot shell you are using, it is ready for another application all together. If I could only have one type of firearm it would be a 12 gauge shotgun!

One of the biggest misconceptions around the shotgun is that people are going to run away if you rack the shotgun to chamber a round. I would not be willing to bet my life or the life of my family that this will happen, ever.

Another misconception is that everyone seems to believe that a shotgun (scatter gun) will spray the shot in a large pattern, all the time. Using bird shot, a typical shotgun with an improved cylinder choke will deliver around 60 plus percent of the pellets within a 30” radius circle at 40 yards. This would not typically be a “kill” shot on a human, but it will give you an idea of the size pattern at distance. So, 120 feet down range, it will be a large spray, but within that 21 foot zone, it is only going to be around 5 to 7 inches. You can see that accuracy is actually still important with a shotgun. In other words, you cannot just point in the direction and expect to hit your target, especially when you and your target are moving. Another misconception is that if you shot someone with a shotgun it will blow them off their feet, just like in all the Hollywood movies. Well, Sir Isaac Newton said that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, so unless the laws of physics simply don’t hold true in your home then you will not blow the criminal off his feet unless you yourself are blown off your feet. As far as the

“kick like a mule” references...again we are talking about modern shotguns with recoil pads and internal inertia driven systems that soften the recoil to the point that everyone can shoot them without fear of pain. Almost all modern semi-auto shotguns, if given the correct shells, are just as reliable as the double guns and pump actions. So, try out as many different types as you can and make your decision on what you are most comfortable with, what you feel you shoot the best and what you can afford.

It truly does boil down to personal preference when it comes to firearms. We will each have our own opinions and they will differ from others. The main thing is that our opinions should be based on personal experience and guidance from those who don’t have an axe to grind or a product to sell. I personally own a lot of firearms and I cannot imagine having to do without any of them. They are like golf clubs in that you select the right club for the right shot. I might need a 2 iron based upon my skill and experience while others may need to use a 3 wood. Buy the best equipment you can afford and get training and then get some more training. At the very least, you should have everyone in the house participate in a basic firearms class for safety alone. Shooting is a perishable skill and you will only be able to perform to the level you are trained to.

On a personal note, I now find myself more concerned about continuity of platform, wanting to add more of the

same so that parts can be swapped when they wear out and break…and they will if you are working on that skill set I was referring to. To share personal preference, I have 12 gauge shotguns, 9mm pistols and 5.56 rifles. Now certainly I have many others, but these are the ones that I focus on the most. With the 12 gauge, I have setups for personal defense alternating #4 shot and #4 buckshot.

This will give me both an energy dump and a stronger penetrating round. The # 4 will have almost an assured hit at 21’ with a pattern around 8-10” wide and the #4 buck shot has 21 pellets that are heavy enough to do lots of damage. In recent years, there have been several manufacturers develop specific rounds for personal defense that are excellent. Read, review, shoot and then make a decision based on your situation. In my home all the bedrooms are in one area so we can shelter together and operate from a defensive position without worry of shooting through walls and hurting loved ones. The same goes for pistol and rifle ammunition, it is easy to experiment with brand and type and find the best ones for your needs. For local training, log onto the NRA Website and seek out NRA Certified trainers who have the attitude, education and skills to provide the best training opportunities. You get what you pay for. And then train, train, and train some more. Share what you know.

Knife Fishing

By Ken Youngquist - Survivaltek

Knives are considered by some to be a weapon and by others a tool. As a weapon they can be used offensively or defensively, and as a tool, constructively or destructively. It all depends on the purpose and goal of its use.

As a weapon, a knife can be used for hunting or fishing.

Generally it is used for final termination and butchering. But sometimes, it can be used for acquiring. I like to share my experience of using a knife in an unconventional way for fishing (or would you say “hunting” fish… you decide).

When I was in my early teens my Grandparents invited my family to join them for a vacation at Borde Du Lac Resort on Lake Benedict, Minnesota. My Grandfather was well known for catching his limit of Northern Pike which he accomplished by trolling around the lake in the early morning or late evening. However, I looked for ways to fill the day in between these outings.

It happened to be the time of year when Mayflies were emerging and the screens that covered the windows and doors of each cabin were loaded with these amazing insects. I decided to grab some as they perched with their wings folded up, which provided ready handles for the plucking. I walked down to the dock and would throw them onto the

water with great force so that they would stick to the surface.

In short order, the fish beneath the dock would venture out and snatch the offering of bait. I continued to collect more Mayflies and the fish population increased, becoming more aggressive and competitive in feeding.

Eventually, using one hand, I just held a Mayfly on the water’s surface and let it struggle. With the other hand I held my pocket knife. The fish couldn’t resist this morsel, and as it surfaced to take the bait, I struck it with my knife, and voilà!, my first fish meal without a reel.

You may not have considered this method of fishing but it goes to show that a knife is very versatile and can be used in unconventional ways. In this case it replaced a conventional rod and reel for acquisition and then conventionally used to prepare it for the evening meal, both a weapon and a culinary tool.

Should you want to try this fishing method, please use caution when handling and striking with the knife. In all honesty, a rod and reel is much easier, but in their absence, it’s always good to have an alternative back-up plan.

Investing in Silver and Gold: Part 3

By Keith Iton of Addai Investments Precious Metals

I have read countless stories about Nazi soldiers that accepted bribes from people to let a Jewish family escape into hiding or turn a blind eye during a security checkpoint. Many soldiers and local police would facilitate bribes with people looking to escape Hitler’s occupied areas. The medium of exchange always seemed to be gold. It was common for a Jewish father to break his gold chain into pieces to pay any bribe necessary to help his loved ones get to freedom.

People have been investing in gold and silver for thousands of years. Gold and silver have been used as a means of exchange for the trade of goods, but have we ever thought about precious metals being used to save someone’s life? Before the naysayers like Ben Bernanke decide to engage me in a spirited discussion of economics, I will kindly suggest that you hear my entire argument.

Have you ever heard of colloidal silver? It is the medical industries arch enemy in the world of antibiotics.

Amazingly simply to produce, many Americans are learning to make it within the confines of their own home. By simply using a pure ounce of silver and some easy to find equipment, you can have one of nature’s strongest antibiotics at your disposal within hours. This is my reason for investing in one ounce silver rounds: Protection from inflation and protection from bacteria.

During World War II, Adolf Hitler ordered his army to round up Jewish people, gypsies, and any other person he deemed undesirable. Many of these people were forced into labor camps or exterminated. However, not every one of Hitler’s soldiers was willing to kill an innocent human being. Some resisted out of a sense of conscience but others denied the killing orders because of one word: greed.

That is a nice story you may say, but could it happen here? Can you imagine a tyrannical form of government coming into power because of a false flag event leading to the persecution of a religious group like Christians?

Can you imagine Christians, supporters of the constitution, and supporters of capitalism bribing United Nations soldiers with pieces of gold or silver just to let you sneak through their checkpoints or avoid the re-education facility? A wise man once said, “Those who do not learn from history are often doomed to repeat it”.

Health and fitness should be a part of your homesteading, preparedness and prepping plan

By Tammy Trayer - Trayer Wilderness becoming more common it can tend to give you the impression you will need to run.

You may not need to run, but you may need to dig in and use some elbow grease. So imagine that you are not in very good shape and then suddenly you are forced into a situation that requires some back breaking labor or the need for extreme endurance whether it is walking, running, etc. It is really not healthy to go from one to the other and if you are not in good shape and are suddenly expected to endure a demanding physical situation that may be life threatening the outcome would be grime.

Being fit could not be more important when you are preparing, prepping or homesteading. Homesteading is a lifestyle of preparedness and prepping which entails a traditional approach to living with more laborious days.

We don't go to the gym, we live. Our day to day keeps us more fit than the average. Our ancestors took this approach to life and they were very fit, healthy and truly ready for anything.

With all three, you are basically preparing for the future.

Our future days are not looking the brightest and with the words EDC (Every Day Carry) or BOB (Bug Out Bag)

So while you are creating your prepping lists and you are checking them twice you should also consider penciling in some walks, stretching, hiking, chopping firewood, stacking firewood, jogging, etc. Being in good shape could save your life in many ways and also that of others.

Our family is in pretty good shape, but it is also something that we choose to be very conscious of and continue to work at. We work hard daily and our down time is hikes and outdoor activities which are constantly improving the shape we are in. My son and I recently decided to train for a 5k run. Partly because it is on my “To Be Lived List�(bucket list), but also so that we have practice in running long distances with ease and proper form.

If anything were to ever happen that required us to push ourselves to the limit, whether it would be stuck in the

wilderness for an extended period, our truck broken down in a remote location or whatever the case may be, I want to be in good enough shape that I can keep up with the rest of my family so as not to be the one that would slow us all down.

I've written before about working and homesteading as a team and I feel it is just as important to stay in good shape as a team. We want to be able to help one another if we are ever pushed to the limits and be strong and healthy enough to endure whatever may come our way.

Not only is physical activity important, but so is a healthy diet; one which includes more whole foods and less processed foods.

Getting in shape does not require a gym membership and fancy work out clothes. As I mentioned hiking, biking, walking, jogging are just a few simple outdoor activities, but remember all those things that you learned in gym class and moaned and groaned about such as pushups, pullups, situps, and stretching? Those are the things that will continue to limber you up and build upon your core strengths. Being an armchair athlete is not going to get you in the shape you need, it is going to require effort and discipline. Spring has sprung and there is no better time than now to start incorporating some sort of physical activity into your schedule.

Survival Rifles

By Craig L. Johnson There are many survival rifles to choose from. I will break them down into 5 categories: AR, AK, Surplus, Pistol Carbines and Hunting. I will explain their advantages and disadvantages.

After reading my article you should be able to find out which one from the above categories fits you best.

Let’s start with AR. Contrary to popular belief the AR does not stand for Assault Rifle. It stands for Armalite rifle, !

AR15 in action! which was the company that first developed the rifle platform in the 1950s before it was sold to Colt which developed it into the M16 used in the military today. The AR15 is a highly popular civilian version available in semi-automatic only, as opposed to the military version which is fully automatic. The AR 15 went on the market to civilians in the early 1960s and has been popular ever since.

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AK47

The AK, also known as the Avtomat Kalashnikova was developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov for a design contest for a new rifle for use by Soviet Forces after WWII. It was first introduced for use in 1947 by select Soviet Army Units, hence the AK47 designation. A few years later in 1949 it was accepted for use by all Soviet Forces and its allies. It is estimated that 100 million AK rifles have been produced worldwide making it the most popular Assault Rifle. Even 6 decades after being first fielded it still remains in service.

AK advantages •simple to operate •widely available •easy to field strip and clean by almost anyone

AR 15 advantages •simple to operate •ammo is widely available •highly customizable •very lightweight •very accurate right off the shelf or out of the box

•inexpensive to own compared to an AR ($400-1000) •tough and long lasting to abuse LINKS AK disadvantages •not as accurate at long distances as an AR •7.62 X 39 ammo not as common as .223/5.56mm •known in movies and other media as a “bad guy” gun

AR 15 disadvantages •must be maintained regularly •many small parts when field stripping •can be expensive to purchase compared to other guns ($750-1500+)

Surplus rifles are also quite popular as “survival rifles” too. Many good choices exist, but a common one is the Russian Mosin Nagant. It was originally developed by Russian Sergei Ivanovich Mosin and Belgian Leon Nagant. It was adopted into a final design in 1891 and served Russia, Soviet Forces, and allies until adoption of the AK47. Some Mosin Nagant rifles still are in service today in places like Afghanistan and SE Asia. The design of the rifle feeds from a magazine that holds 5 rounds and

is bolt action, allowing for one shot to be fired at a time.

Many variants exist and they can be acquired cheaply.

easy portability and storage. The longer barrel insures longer range and accuracy than just using a pistol.

Pistol Carbine advantages •greater accuracy and stopping power than a pistol •interchangeability between rifle and sidearm (depending on models) •less kick than a pistol •more compact than standard rifles (especially if it folds up) •can easily hit man-sized target at 100+ yards

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Mosin Nagant, a typical surplus rifle

•cheaper than AK or AR ($250-750)

Mosin Nagant advantages

Pistol Carbine disadvantages

•VERY inexpensive...(a rifle and nearly 500 rounds can be acquired for less than $200)

•range shorter than most rifles

•accurate powerful round capable of knocking down any man or beast on this continent

•to insure interchangeability must purchase correct models •difficult to hunt small game at long ranges

•easy to operate •can hit targets at very long ranges Mosin Nagant disadvantages •heavy, long barrel and bulky •not capable of rapid fire •powerful kick might be too much for some

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Authors Keltec Sub2000 Pistol Carbine

Pistol Carbines have become very popular lately as “survival rifles.” Several manufacturers have put out carbine models including Keltec, Hi-Point, Beretta, and others. I personally own a Keltec Sub2000 pistol carbine chambered in .40 S&W. The Sub2000, like many other pistol carbines, shoots the same ammo and most of the time uses the same magazine as its pistol counterparts.

This allows for interchangeability between rifle and sidearm easily. Additionally, the Sub2000 folds in half for

Typical Hunting Rifle, the 30-30

Hunting rifles naturally fall into “survival rifle” territory by the nature of their design. Hunting rifles are available in wide variety of calibers, actions, and magazine capacities. As an example, one I have used for a number of years mostly for deer hunting is a Winchester Lever Action .30-30. Most hunters should be familiar with this rifle. It is very accurate to at least a couple hundred yards and fires a powerful round. Its internal magazine holds 5-6 rounds depending on if a round is chambered and you can hunt just about any medium to large game with this round. Also it is a decent self defense round with its blunt nose and slow trajectory. Of course this is only an example and we don't have the time or space to go into all of the hunting rifle choices available out there!

Hunting rifle advantages •good stopping power (of course depending on caliber) •many actions, caliber, and round capacity choices out there •most are easy to learn and use

Hunting rifle disadvantages •gun itself and ammo can be quite expensive ($200-2000) •most have low capacity magazines (1-5 shots at time) •some may have a learning curve to fire accurately

•again, depending on rifle can be difficult for some to handle In conclusion there are many choices out there and of course you can only fire one gun at a time. Think closely about what situation(s) you could be in should SHTF happen and choose wisely. Also take into consideration stronger gun control restrictions may be on the way in the near future! I welcome your comments and suggestions.

Happy Prepping and be safe out there!

The Marked Apache and the Rattlesnake Apache Knife Fighting & Battle Tactic 7

By Snake Blocker, Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas tired was too slow. As the boy laughed, Young Rattlesnake sprang at the boy’s hip from the large rock.

Young Rattlesnake sunk its fangs into the Apache boy’s hip at a forty-five degree angle and released all its poison into the boy. The boy screamed in pain and ran to Medicine Man. Young Rattlesnake was still attached to the boy’s hip and would not release its fangs. Medicine Man cut away Young Rattlesnake from the boy’s body, but could not release the fangs. The boy became deathly ill, as the poison entered his body from inside. The fangs stayed in the boy’s hip.

Medicine Man tried every herb, song, and prayer but the boy was getting worse. Medicine Man told the elders, “You must take the boy to Great Medicine Man, who lives at the top of Green Mountain.”

The Apaches would teach their young to respect all life. The Apache elders would say “Respect all that our One Creator has made. Respect all people, respect the trees, the rivers, the rocks, all land creatures, and all sky creatures.” Most of the Apaches would follow this command, but there was a young Apache boy who would not respect nature, and he would hunt without blessings or giving thanks to the One Creator. The boy would kill wild life without using all the parts of the animals. He would only take the best meat and leave the carcass on the ground. The Apaches would often reprimand the boy, but he would continue to disrespect his elders and One day, Old Rattlesnake came near the Apache camp. The Apache elders said, “Leave the snake alone, for it is merely passing by.”

The Apache boy ignored the elders and kicked Old Rattlesnake with a powerful kick.

Old Rattlesnake struck at the boy, but was too late, as it flew back in the air from the kick and landed in the bushes.

Young Rattlesnake saw what had happened and came closer to the scene. Old Rattlesnake began moving away, but the boy ran over to it and kicked it again as hard as he could.

Old Rattlesnake struck at the boy, but again it was too late, as it became airborne from the kick and landed near a large rock. Young Rattlesnake crawled on the large rock to watch.

Old Rattlesnake coiled up and began rattling at the boy, but the boy came near and kicked the snake once more. Old Rattlesnake struck at the boy, but being bruised, old, and

The elders took the boy with them and journeyed four days to Green Mountain. Great Medicine Man examined the boy and said, “The boy will die unless I remove all the poison from his body, which has now spread from head to feet.”

Great Medicine Man took some sinew, and string from his bow, and used it to cut the boy in half, vertically down the middle. The boy was cut from his head to below the hip.

The boy was split in half and the white poison from Young Rattlesnake gushed out of the boy. Great Medicine Man quickly sewed the boy back with horizontal patterns that ran up and down the boy’s body from below the hip to the top of his skull.

Great Medicine Man treated the boy with herbs, songs, and prayer for four months. The boy recovered and returned back to his tribal camp. He had learned his lesson and respected all creation from then on. The boy would never forget the lesson, for Young Rattlesnake’s fangs remained in the hip of the Apache the rest of his life. His face and body was marked so badly that the tribe called the boy, Marked Down with Zigzags. The zigzag patterns of the boy are reflected in Apache pottery, clothes, blankets and battle tactics.

When an Apache Warrior strikes their enemy in a zigzag pattern from high line to low line or low line to high line in a horizontal angle (Crosswind) across the body, it is called the Marked Down with Zigzag tactic. The Apache Warrior carries their knives on an angle at the side of their hip to emulate the fangs of Young Rattlesnake that stayed in the hips of Marked Down with Zigzag.

Typhoon Haiyan – Responding to the storm of the century

By Chris Knight

“At 6:37am the water started to come in. It was around our feet.

By 6:42am it had already gone over our heads. We had to go to the roof .” - Aida Bantiles

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Satellite imagery of Typhoon Haiyan as it approached The Philippines.

So speaks Aida Bantiles a resident of Palo, Leyte of how she and some of her family survived Typhoon Haiyan (known locally as Yolanda). Although Aida, her son and sister survived Haiyan, eleven members of her immediate family did not. Evacuated to a modest two story municipal hall prior to the approaching storm she openly admits to not expecting to live once she realized that the storm surge had engulfed the evacuation centre and she would have to venture out onto the roof. Many thousands did not survive.

The bodies of those who died are spread over a wide area.

Now skeletal, families have difficulty in identifying their lost loved ones. Four months after the storm many bodies remain unattended and unclaimed.

Typhoon Haiyan was an immensely destructive storm: A combination of extremely powerful natural forces and the effects of man made climate change in an increasingly vulnerable area. It was a catastrophe for The Philippines, which is no stranger to powerful typhoons. Yet, questions remain as to why responders were taken by surprise by the severity of the storm. What other factors influenced both the domestic and international response and how can such a disaster be prevented in the future?

Background Prior to hitting The Philippines it was widely reported that Typhoon Haiyan was strengthening to become one of the strongest storms recorded in world history. Haiyan had

Aida ! Bantiles and her son Airos holding a photograph of the 11 family members who died in Typhoon Haiyan.

estimated maximum sustained winds of 195 mph with gusts above 220 mph, which put the storm in extraordinarily rare territory. Since 1969, only three storms have sustained winds close to this magnitude - Hurricane Camille in 1969, Super Typhoon Tip in 1979, and Hurricane Allen in 1980.

When Typhoon Haiyan did eventually make landfall it caused catastrophic damage in much of The Philippines, but particularly in Leyte and Samar provinces. There was widespread devastation over a large area with many of the human casualties coming from the storm surge in Leyte.

The low-lying areas and the coastal communities were hardest hit, with some areas completely washed away.

Flooding extended for 1km (0.62mi) inland on the east coast of the province. Much of the physical infrastructure was affected. Many schools were ruined, and the schools that weren’t ruined by the storm were used as evacuation centres. Hospitals and municipal buildings were damaged. Many businesses and homes, especially in the hardest hit areas such as Tacloban, were destroyed.

Agriculture was decimated with more than 33 million coconut trees in seven provinces damaged and 15 million trees totally destroyed. Arsenio Balisacan, the Economic Planning Secretary, has said the cost of rebuilding in the swathe of the Philippines devastated by typhoon Haiyan could reach US$5.8bn.

Immediate government response Condemnations of slow government action in the typhoon relief effort were quick to arise. The ruling Aquino administration was criticized for the apparent lack of preparation and coordination among government agencies in the aid operation. Faced with numerous challenges, survivors struggled without basic necessities and some remote barangays in Leyte and Samar did not receive any assistance until long after the critical time period had passed. For many critics, the state fell short of fulfilling its most fundamental responsibilities. Subsequently, the state bore the brunt of local and international criticism.

Aquino's central argument was that the national government did the best that it could, but the sheer strength of the typhoon was just too overwhelming. Yet the country is no stranger to natural calamities, so the government should have undertaken more decisive measures ahead of Haiyan's landfall, knowing how powerful, unpredictable, and disastrous it could get. Local officials who headed the evacuation efforts were reluctant to physically force people from their homes for fear it could trigger violence. That they failed to implement mandatory evacuation among the most vulnerable areas can be explained by the absense of a compulsory evacuation law in the face of impending natural disasters.

In Tacloban, the only area where detailed records of evacuation prior to the storm were recorded, only 15,300 people out of the city's more than 220,000 residents left their houses for city shelters. The fact that the evacuation

centres for those fleeing the storm were too close to the coast, constructed of poor building materials and not able to withstand the ferocity of such a storm was also a critical factor.

Both prior and post Haiyan, Manila was dependent on a certain amount of international goodwill from international aid donors, for there was significant underinvestment not only in its armed forces (often the first responders for any national emergency) but also in its disaster preparedness operations. This explains in part the startling lack of foresight from government agencies as the storm approached.

Despite some progress in putting disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction on the national agenda it did not translate to many local governments. Local governments' capacity to assess disaster risks and vulnerabilities are still extremely limited, and were prior to Haiyan even more so. The IIRR (International Institute for Rural Reconstruction) argue that: “A comprehensive risk assessment in all communities especially in areas where people are exposed to hazards on a daily basis is lacking.”

Most damningly however was the fact that communication with national authorities when telephone cables and electricity lines were struck down was not maintained. The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) reported recently that officials were sent into the disaster zone with no satellite phones, leaving them unable to communicate with officials in the capital once regular phone lines and mobile networks were downed. In a recent parliamentary debate it was revealed that the agency not only lacked satellite phones, but also emergency tents and generators. Not to equip senior officials in the NDRRMC (the very agency whose job it is to respond to national emergencies) with basic equipment needed to respond to a catastrophe such as Haiyan was a critical error and unfathomable, considering the intensity of the storm, its predicted path and the probable consequences.

A lack of preparedness – failure of crisis communication A host of factors combine to mean that those living on the Leyte coast are particularly vulnerable to tsunamis, typhoons and storm surges. The wide expanse of Pacific Ocean is where typhoons develop and Leyte and Samar

are often the first landforms that these typhoons hit. On average The Philippines receive about 8-9 typhoons annually and studies show that storm intensity in the region is increasing with seven of the ten most destructive typhoons occurring within the last six years. Low lying, densely populated and poorly defended coastal areas such as the large areas of the Leyte coast are particularly susceptible. Thus storm surges too are an increasing threat to those communities on the coast.

The fact that no major tsunami activity has been reported off the Leyte coast over the last 100 or so years should not make policy makers indifferent to the threat that tsunamis pose. The Japanese use a system of ocean buoys that sit on the ocean floor and detect any tsunami movement. An alert is then issued to the relevant authorities and is automatically transferred via mobile phone networks and loudspeakers. In the Philippines no early warning system exists. In the Philippines prior to the typhoon and the resultant storm surge the government relied almost exclusively on television bulletins to warn of the danger of the incoming storm surge. The simple reality was that this was(,) above all else(,) a spectacular failure of crisis communication.

Studies have shown that the critical processes for effective crisis communication are identified as who (source) says what (message) via what medium (channel) to whom (receiver) with what kind of ultimate aim (effect). In the critical days preceding Haiyan none of these factors were given due importance. Warnings, when they came, were piecemeal and fragmented, coming through a variety of media outlets, by a variety of individuals who often did not fully understand the natural processes at work and did not themselves take as seriously as they should the warnings that they were giving. Most crucially, residents reported that they did not understand what a storm surge was and did not believe that they were under as grave a threat as they were. This explains in part the almost benign reaction to these warnings.

Evacuation during a major threat, be it natural or man made, is adjudged to be one the most important measures to mitigate against human loss of life and such locations that are threatened should invest in early warning systems and be clear on evacuation practices. This lack of dependable disaster preparedness certainly cost thousands of lives during Typhoon Haiyan. An early warning tsunami system could and should have been utilized to inform local residents of not only the approaching typhoon but also the impending storm

surges. It is hoped that Typhoon Haiyan was a watershed moment. Perhaps it was the beginning of the realization that super typhoons are becoming more and more frequent and the problems that they pose are becoming more and more pertinent to ever increasing numbers. If this is the case, disaster preparedness will be undertaken with greater urgency with all aspects being fully funded and utilized prior to a major event. If not the adage, “those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it� will unfortunately ring true.

NGO involvement The size of Typhoon Haiyan and the scale of the relief effort also gave NGO's enormous challenges. The role of an NGO in a crisis is to provide material relief to affected persons and, if necessary, rescue operations and medical relief. This is often followed by a longer period of reconstruction of the physical infrastructure. Most major NGOs have disaster prevention plans as well as response plans. Although NGOs had the same information concerning the severity of the approaching storm as the Government, many failed to act decisively prior to Haitian’s landfall and became bogged down under the weight of the logistical problems of the disaster thereafter.

After landfall when increasingly desperate stories started to trickle out of Tacloban and the surrounding areas, the relief effort was hindered by clogged supply routes, a lack of co-ordination of the major relief donors and an absence of hard information regarding which towns and areas had been the worst hit. Much international aid reached the affected areas reasonably early yet was not distributed evenly or quickly enough amongst the worst hit communities. The fact was that in some instances disaster relief strategies were poorly planned and badly implemented.

Ten days after the storm had hit, The Philippine Red Cross, perhaps the biggest aid donor had their relief operations severely hindered by security concerns, bad weather, and their failure to utilize updated post storm satellite maps. Some humanitarian aid convoys withdrew from entering the affected area altogether. The Red Cross is a signatory to the international charter on emergency information exchange so information such as GIS mapping and post disaster satellite photography should have been available to them. The fact that it wasn't, or wasn't utilized, is a startlingly damning indictment of their post disaster operations.

Many of the problems faced by NGOs were not exclusive to the Red Cross. Very few NGOs had any idea of what other NGOs were doing in the area. Many very badly hit areas outside of Tacloban received disproportionate amounts of aid to their needs. In the initial days after the storm, practically every organization fought to be seen as representing the affected people of the disaster. Yet 3 months after Haiyan, the focus on Tacloban and the surrounding areas is fading fast out of sight. Many NGOs have withdrawn personnel and even the major organizations are using only a skeleton staff. Many organizations seem to be content to allow the Philippine national government and the Leyte local government to continue unsupervised with long term reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in the area. Many observers also point out that major donors should make central government more accountable for their inaction, lack of preparedness prior to the typhoon and transparency for spending allocated disaster relief funds after the typhoon.

It seems incompatible with the basic needs of the people or the founding principles of many of the said organizations that they are so keen to withdraw from an area which so evidently continues to need long term assistance.

the tragedy have been met with widespread derision from local people affected by Haiyan.

Even those projects funded centrally and with a view to lessening the impact of future disasters came under increased scrutiny. Tacloban's mayor initiated a re-zoning scheme, whereupon local residents were encouraged to buy a stake in a basic housing project located in a safe area and not rebuild their homes in an area that is within 40 metres of the sea. Yet local critics point out the relative high cost of such a stake and ask, perhaps not unfairly, why the 70 000 peso scheme is so expensive, especially in regard to the cost of basic housing before the disaster. For Guillermo Ramirez ,an elderly local resident of Tacloban whose house was destroyed by the storm surge and is being encouraged to leave, his response is simple. “We've been here 50 years. We're staying” he says. Such a view locks the mayor and his administration in an informal battle with many of the settlers of the coastal barangays.

With feeling already running high, it is difficult to see how the mayor will successfully enforce such a re-zoning scheme.

Politics in The Philippines A disaster zone provides some of an unscrupulous nature to manipulate events for their own personal gain.

Typhoon Haiyan was no different. The accusation of misappropriated funds was made in the months after the disaster as many, using the confusion of the typhoon as cover, filed false damage assessment reports and contracted firms and businesses to help reconstruction of shattered communities, often at inflated prices. Some barangays only received aid due to political affiliations whilst others received none. A local politician Lucy Torres, lamented in The Philippine Enquirer that some people had complained to her saying they were denied relief goods and turned away because “hindi tayo magkapayong” (in English - we do not share the umbrella).

The political divisions in The Philippines became more apparent in the days directly after the disaster. Tacloban's mayor Alfred Romualdez is the son of Ferdinand Marcos who ruled the Philippines in the 1980s. The current president Benigno Aquino III's father was assassinated under Marcos's rule in 1983. When the current President attempted to remove the incumbent mayor from his post it was judged as an unwise and profoundly unpopular move with local residents. The slow response to the typhoon from the ruling administration and a series of baffling policy decisions and public statements concerning

! 40 metre from the seashore building restriction zone has A been implemented in Leyte.

One of the more baffling public statements came from the President concerning the casualty figures of the disaster.

To date there are 6201 confirmed human casualties. In the days directly after the disaster, the President told CNN the initial death toll projection of 10,000 was "too much”.

He estimated without relying on credible information that the final accounting would more likely “be around 2,000 to 2,500”. The local official who estimated that 10,000 people may have died during super-typhoon Haiyan was fired.

Elmer Soria, the chief superintendent for the central province Leyte, was “relieved from his post” after

publicizing the estimate, according to the Philippines News Agency. Soria was admonished because “a police official should base his statements from correct figures.”

Many suspect that the true casualty figure of Typhoon Haiyan is being kept artificially low. Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon estimated some time ago that the true figure of the disaster was expected to exceed the much quoted figure of 10,000 casualties. Mass graves far exceed the number of reported fatalities. In some cases newly found skeletal remains do not join any list of confirmed fatalities. The destruction of Leyte was so complete and the nature of the storm surge was such that not only bodies were washed away but in many cases records of the affected victims. Without these records it becomes impossible to declare an individual missing or dead.

Failure to correctly log, photograph or attend to the dead by authorities is widely noted. Failure to count them properly, less so.

When a local Mayor (name withheld) of (name withheld) in Palawan, issued an internet appeal for her municipality, offers of help, financial assistance and disaster expertise flooded in. On a Facebook page she talked of 'bodies in the street' and a video she posted (now removed) insinuated that her municipality, like Tacloban, had been hit by a tidal surge. Experts flocked to the area only to find both of these claims were wildly untrue. Assessment reports greatly exaggerated the damage, as domestic and international aid kept coming in. Eventually those very same experts who were exasperated by the Mayor’s exaggerations left.

Although she vowed to help 'her people', many in the area were given nothing. An appeal to her from the Mayor in a neighboring township for aid assistance was refused.

Politics often influences disaster relief on both the international stage as well as the domestic one. The governments of two of The Philippines' closest neighbors, China and Taiwan both received criticism for meagre donations after Haiyan's devastation. Political disputes concerning overlapping claims and fishing rights in the South China Sea seem to have influenced the decision to respond frugally to the disaster. In the instances of both nations personal donations from the public soon outstripped that of their governments.

Conclusion Developing countries such as The Philippines are too often on the frontline of major disasters such as Typhoon Haiyan. Their focus is often on stockpiling supplies before an imminent event or securing international relief in the

immediate aftermath. Longterm thinking about risk reduction, through better land use or addressing the clear links between poverty and vulnerability to disasters is pushed into the background. Weak government and poor understanding of the natural forces at work coupled with lack of resources and complicated levels of bureaucracy often make vast numbers of their populations (particularly poorer sections of society) vulnerable to increasingly turbulent natural hazards. For Aida Bantiles, that her government was so woefully underprepared for a storm of Haiyan's intensity underscores the need for greater community resilience. She says “It is not enough to simply rely on the government to give you information and to provide for you after a disaster like this. They won't do it. They can't do it. We have to look after ourselves.”

Without a coordinated approach involving local residents, local government, central government and overseas N.G.O.s however whatever is done will not be enough.

With clear links between man made global warming and storm intensity being established, it is a race against time whether or not nations such as The Philippines will learn from the mistakes of Typhoon Haiyan or be buried by them.

As of the publication of this writing the author is still trying to raise funds to rebuild Aida's home. Building has commenced (see below) but she is still short of funding for completion. A paypal account has been established under the author’s e-mail address (with his name as a beneficiary). All donations should be made to 'Friends and Family' as Paypal deduct money for anything else. All donations go straight to Aida and then on to other affected families in the area. All inquiries will be responded to directly.

Many thanks, Chris Knight chrisknightie@gmail.co.uk

THANK YOU! The Launch of PREPARE Magazine has been a labor of love, sharing of helpful training and ideas, and a partnership with some wonderful people. We are so thankful for the support and kindness of so many people who have joined with us in the journey and contributed to the creation and growth of PREPARE Magazine. We want to share our sincere and humble gratitude for everyone who has shared their support and encouragement. We simply could not have launched PREPARE without you!

On behalf of our readers, subscribers, advertisers, and staff, we wish to extend our heart-felt appreciation to all of you. We believe there is a very special mission for PREPARE Magazine, and are so pleased to be yoked with wonderful people who wish to sow encouragement and help to others in the Preparedness Journey.

Again… To all of you who have contributed and shared financial resources, preparedness training, advertising, testimonials, and encouragement, please know that we greatly appreciate you – and look forward to serving on your behalf.

Joseph and Donna Miller

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Raymond Freeman Heather Balentine Frank Gregg Joy walker Leslie Moore Peter Sedlak III Mark Firehammer S. Ryerson John Fairchild Bryan Van Hook Kathleen Roberts Bobbie Nelson Bill Liebsch Gail LaCroix Vaunell Temple Velda Solomon Jared Novotny Seth Johnson Vickilynn Haycraft Benjamin Geleynse Steven Jones Brandon Rains Rebecca Sanchez Teri Roberts Jeff Rowland Dr. Kaly Sellers Jim Kennard

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Trent Powers Ken Youngquist Jason A. Hunt Vickilynn Haycraft Rick Austin Evan Folds Bryan Miller Bill & Janet Liebsch Pierce Jacobson Vina8 Eric Waters Charles Belitz Lynette Frye Kelly Thomas Nigel Jones Dale W.Montgomery Kim Lippy Steve Mistretta Aaron Berwick Valarie Brown Scott Angell Caryn lee Wayne Spencer N. Campbell Judith Hooley Founding Subscribers

Why make plans if God Controls my future?

By Joseph Miller, CVO of PREPARE Magazine The more I walk through this preparation process, the more I find that God seems to be preparing me rather than me preparing for some other outcome. He continually teaches me that many will not be prepared for some difficult struggles ahead, and they will panic when the waves come crashing against their vessel. They will look at the waves rather than staying focused on the Savior.

So, the “Preparation Call” seems to be as much an exercise in faith and obedience, as it is truly getting ready for a future calamity. I find that through the difficulties of preparation, I now spend more time looking to God for guidance – and less time wondering if I have stocked enough ammo or pinto beans.

This is a paradox that I have pondered many times. I plan for the future, yet my plans are often altered (and even hindered) because of past fears and selfish comforts.

I sometime find it frustrating when the baggage of the past weighs on my whole concept of preparedness planning. How can I adequately prepare, if I am manipulated by fears? How can I wisely get ready for potential discomforts, when my weak and selfish flesh always presses me to go after comforts?

I know that God is sovereign, and I also know by Faith that my future is in His hands. That, however; is another area where I sometimes run into a paradox in my thinking - If God has ultimate control of the outcome of my future, why should I bother planning anyway? Why would God call me to prepare if He already knows what the future holds – and already has a plan and outcome set for my life?

I have asked the Lord this question often in my daily quiet time with Him. Early-on, I often struggled with the thought that preparation may be nothing more than a manifestation of my fear of things that I discern are coming. Why would I be called to prepare, if I am also called to live by Faith? If I am preparing, does that mean I am no longer living in Faith? After all, Faith is often a matter of releasing our own need to control and going where we are uncomfortable - and perhaps confronting giants with little more than a rock and a sling.

So, I have learned some things as I’ve traveled on this journey of preparation. I can’t say I’m particularly pleased with what I’ve learned about myself, but I can say it has been quite revealing. In many ways it has exposed me to some personal vulnerabilities that needed to be dealt with.

I felt the “call” to prepare over 30 years ago. For the majority of that time I had developed assumptions about what preparation would actually look like; storing water, planting gardens, hunting, developing new survival skills, etc.

The fact is, preparation has been completely different than I ever imagined.

Preparation, is an act of obedience. God called Noah to prepare and build an ark so that he and his family could be saved. I feel pretty sure that Noah wondered why he was called to prepare, especially knowing that he would look pretty foolish building a huge boat on dry land. He probably also felt humiliated as people confronted him daily and ridiculed him for his silly project. He had to have courage, conviction, and accept his “Preparation Call” by faith. He was ultimately rewarded for his obedience.

Here are some of the lessons I have personally learned in this journey: •

Preparation and Prayer should be INTIMATELY related. Seek God’s plan for your life and undertake preparation with His leading.

•

Effective preparation will not be self-focused, but will always include others. Preparation serves the needs of others.

•

Preparation is important, but is also very fragile and should be handled with care.

•

My Preparedness efforts must be carried out with conviction, and not determined by fears, or by comments of others. Preparation is based on Faith.

•

Many people will not understand my preparedness efforts and may want to label or ridicule me. I cannot allow their ridicule to become a seed of bitterness in my heart.

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Preparation does not determine the outcome of the future – but it does direct many actions and likely will alter our lifestyle in the present.

•

Preparation is only partly a rational process.

Discernment, faith, and calling all contribute to the preparation process. That’s why many people will not understand.

•

Preparation motivates us by pointing attention and effort to a hopeful outcome. It helps us shift from problems to find solutions, turn limitations to possibilities, and changes despair to hope.

•

Preparation is often a value-based undertaking. It has altered how I place value on “things”.

Our Contributors...

Charles Daugherty is the owner of Patriot Crime Defense specializing in preventative home security. They have designed and have manufactured The Patriot Door Kit, which when installed will prevent your doors from being kicked in. In addition to his engineering and design background, Charles is an avid outdoorsman, a certified NRA Rifle and Pistol Instructor and Range Safety Officer. His life is simple; he wants to honor God in his work, take care of his family, and help others succeed!

Snake Blocker is a member of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas, is an accomplished martial artists and Apache Historian. He has served in the U.S. Navy since June 2001 and did tours in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the featured instructor in several videos and promotes his signature line of survival products and knives. Snake has been featured on Deadliest Warrior “Apaches versus Gladiators” and Doomsday Preppers “In the Hurt Locker”. He hosts “Snake Blocker Survival” on Preparedness Radio Network.

Christopher L Knight is a graduate from Portsmouth University's (UK) Msc. Crisis and Disaster Management Programme. He specializes in typhoon induced vulnerability and crisis communication. During the relief effort of Typhoon Haiyan he was part of the Archdiocese of Palo's (under the auspices of the Archbishop of Cebu's) early response team where he worked as a disaster assessor in the worst affected areas of Leyte. He has since returned to the affected areas to deliver further humanitarian aid. He lives and works in Taiwan.

Joseph Miller heard the call to PREPARE well before it gained any popularity. For over 25 years, before the current climate of our time, before any evidence pointed to the contrary of an affluent future, Joseph was preparing his family for times such as these. With over 20 years of current experience as a CEO for Non-profit corporations and a sought after consultant for numerous multi-million dollar For-profit entities, Joseph is also the Chief Visionary Officer for PREPARE Magazine.

Craig L. Johnson

works in EMS as an EMT-B in Texas. He attributes his knowledge of the outdoors, survival, prepping, and self-reliance to many years in the Boy Scouts and working for more than a decade for both Arkansas and Texas State Parks and Wildlife as a park ranger. He is an Eagle Scout, a degreed Forester, Wildland Firefighter, and is currently pursuing his paramedic certification. Craig enjoys teaching others about firearms, plants and gardening, survival skills and more. His Blog: http://rangermedicnurd.wordpress.com.

Keith Iton graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelour’s Degree in Political Science.

He is a former employee of the FOX network affiliate WSVN channel 7 in Miami, Florida. Keith has been interviewed on national television on the 700 Club concerning emergency preparedness as well as numerous radio interviews. Keith owns the emergency preparedness website www.foodsurvivalstore.com , the only preparedness company that accepts full barter as payment.

He is also a managing partner of Addai Investments Precious Metals. (828) 371-9018

Dr. Jason Hunt

is the founder of Campcraft Preparedness Ministries and Frontier Christian University. He leads an active life teaching others about Survival and Preparedness from a Biblical perspective. Jason also serves his community as a firefighter and SAR team leader, and is a WildernessEMT and Wilderness First Aid Instructor. He’s also an instructor at Dave Canterbury’s Pathfinder School and is a weekly host on Pathfinder TV. Visit him online at www.campcraft.us

Ken Youngquist

is the creator of Survivaltek, a website dedicated to teaching the ways and means to survive. From his youth, Ken was captivated by primitive living skills, and in his adulthood was intrigued by the television Series MacGyver. The result has been the study and practice of survival skills and the desire to pass on the mantle of preparedness to others. You can visit and learn more at: http://survivaltek.com/

Margaret Park has grown vegetable gardens for more than thirty years in five different climate regions. She is the author of the new book: More Food from Small Spaces: Growing Denser, Deeper, Higher, Longer Gardens. She teaches Small Space gardening in the University of Utah’s Lifelong Learning program. She is also a patent holder and the author of four children’s books. Visit Center Square Gardens for videos and articles featuring inexpensive and successful approaches to growing food at home

Mike Douglas

has taught survival since 1983. He's studied with Paul Rezendes, Tom Brown Jr., Jon Young, and others. After the Marines he began The Maine Primitive Skills School. Mike's run programs for the military, schools, camps, and businesses. He's advised for Discovery Channels’ “Dual Survivor” and was featured on National Geographic’s “Doomsday Preppers”, receiving the highest “Survivability Score” of the shows first season. His programs draw people from around the world to participate in Tracking, Survival, Awareness, and more.

Tammy Trayer

is a freelance writer, soon to be author, radio show host on the Survival Mom Radio Network, web designer specializing in the outdoors, entrepreneur, pioneer, avid hunter, outdoorswoman, homesteader, homeschool mother and wife. She, her husband & Mountain Man of her dreams and family live traditionally off-grid and enjoy educating on autism, gluten free and dairy free cooking, self-reliance, wilderness survival and so much more. She can be found at http:// TammyTrayer.com & http://MountainWomanJournals.com as well as http://YouTube.com/ MountainWomanJournals.

Community Connections These groups have meetings in May & June.

PACIFIC Sacramento Emergency Preparedness Group Disaster Preparedness! Where to Start?

Sunday, May 11, 2014 - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Roseville, CA Orange County Self Reliance and Preparedness Meetup Sanitation Tuesday, May 20, 2014 - 6:30 PM Anaheim, CA

SOUTHWEST Northwest PHX Valley Survival Preparedness Group Total Prep Sunday, May 11, 2014 - 2:00 PM Peoria, AZ Dallas Sustainable Living & Organic Gardening Urban vegetable gardening Tuesday, May 13, 2014 - 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Dallas TX

NORTHWEST Earthship Colorado Mini Cob Cottage - Weekend Session Saturday, May 31, 2014 9:00 AM to Sunday, June 1, 2014, 6:00 PM Golden, CO

MIDWEST Transition Towns Minneapolis/St. Paul Joyful, proactive community redesign for the Post-Peak Oil era Monday, April 28, 2014 - 6:30 PM Minneapolis, MN The Saint Louis Urban Farm & Sustainable Development Group Native Plant Swap and Sale Sunday, May 18, 2014 - 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM Saint Louis, MO

Central Ohio Self-Sufficiency & Sustainablity Wild About Plants Saturday, May 10, 2014 - 1:00 PM Johnstown, OH

SOUTHEAST Northeast Florida Preparedness Appleseed Rifle Marksmanship Clinic Saturday, May 17, 2014 8:00 AM to Sunday, May 18, 2014, 3:00 PM Saint Augustine, FL WNC Preparedness Group Small Livestock Husbandry Saturday, June 7, 2014 - 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Asheville, NC

NORTHEAST N. Central Mass. Disaster Preparedness & Survivalists Group Map, compass and Survival Course Saturday, May 10, 2014 - 8:00 AM Westminster, MA Newtown Emergency Preparedness Meetup Back to the Basics!

Saturday, May 10, 2014 - 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM Newtown, CT Sustainable Skills Society Wild Edibles Walk (and sampling) Saturday, May 10, 2014 10:00 AM Johnston, RI

OUTSIDE USA Toronto Survivalism Group Bug Out Canada Open House Friday, May 9, 2014 5:00 PM to Sunday, May 11, 2014, 2:00 PM Orillia, ON

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