Free Republic

Do you think the end of the world could happen and you'll be ready when it does? Are you ready for anything from an earthquake, tsunami, nuclear war to zombie apocolypse? Are you a survivalist or prepper? If you think you have the guts, skills, and quick thinking to survive in any situation, then we want to hear from you! Please submit the following: Name: Age: Occupation: Marital Status: List of your survival skills and events you're prepared for.

The problem with approaching neighbors (with whom you have varying levels of familiarity) and/or total strangers nearby, is that the likelihood that you will actually convince these people to make serious efforts to prep is, unfortunately, small. The unemployment rate may be awful and European economies may teetering be on the verge of a collapse that will start a domino effect, but the average American is more interested in keeping track of who is ahead on “Dancing with the Stars.” These types are sometimes referred to as ”sheeple,” and they comprise the great mass of the American population. So what...

US Shock Jock Glenn Beck’s Internet-only network is launching a series aimed at showing people how to move off-grid. GBTV, which the conservative firebrand launched as he was exiting Fox News this past spring, is prepping Independence U.S.A.The series follows the Belcastro family as they try to live “off the grid” in a post-apocalyptic America. That’s near identical to the History Channel’s Apocalypse, PA, in which the same heavily-mustachioed lead character Frank Belcastro introduced himself by declaring: “My name is Frank and I’m not crazy. I know the world’s not ending anytime soon. But just in case, I want to...

When Senator Rand Paul recently stated from the well of the Senate that those who store more than a 7-day supply of food in their homes may be considered a terrorist threat by our own government and subject to detention at Gitmo, a few eyebrows went up. On the surface, the statement appeared to be a hat-tip to what liberals derisively call the "lunatic fringe." However, what was formerly the stuff of conspiracy theories is now moving into the mainstream, bolstered by the frightening and undeniable fact that government agencies on the federal, state and local level are, in fact,...

1. FEMA: The cost for local, state and Federal agencies to plan, equip and staff for every disaster that might happen is cost-prohibitive. When disasters strike, government is quick to talk and quick to “ramp up,” but government help is slow to come and inefficient when it arrives. The irony is how often highly qualified and motivated front-line first responders are prevented from doing as much as they could by top-heavy bureaucracies. Survivalists and preppers, on the other hand, are able to act quickly and efficiently to take care of their own houses and provide stability, structure and assistance for...

Freepers: Due to last night's storms in Central Arkansas, our family found out the HARD WAY just how important communications (commo) is when the power goes out, telephone lines get blown down, the cell towers are destroyed, and we are left in the dark with multiple tornados inbound.Anyways, I wanted to solicit Freepers help on unconventional communications with family such as Citizen Band (CB), FRS, GMRS, etc. I am going to attend our Central Arkansas Ham Radio meeting next month and see about going "one step further" to get my ham radio license. Please read below for my situational needs.

In the survival/emergency preparedness community, there is an inordinate amount of discussion devoted to exactly what kind of gear and how much each would-be survivor needs to live through whichever approaching cataclysm they foresee. While the nuts and bolts of survival gear are certainly important, it is the intangible aspects of attitude, knowledge and skill that truly separate the survivor from the person who just bought a bunch of stuff. Before you start throwing money into a survival kit, you need to start thinking like a survivor.

Back to Costco. On sale for $149.99 is the Food for Health Extreme Emergency Preparedness Kit, which includes, among dozens of other items: 25 servings of Western Stew 25 servings of Potato Soup 20 servings of Oatmeal Water Filtration System Crank Flashlight/Radio/Cellphone Charger Survival Knife Emergency Blankets Compass/Whistle/Thermometer 4 N95 Safety Masks 1 Roll Duct Tape Toilet Paper "Especially developed for Costco members," the megastore assures

A recent Department of Justice guide for investigators of criminal and extremist groups lists “constitutionalists” and “survivalists” alongside organizations like Al-Qaeda and the Aryan Brotherhood. The 120-page, “Law Enforcement Sensitive” guide to “Investigating Terrorism and Criminal Extremism – Terms and Concepts” describes itself as “a glossary designed primarily as a tool for criminal justice professionals to enhance their understanding of words relating to extremist terminology, phrases, activities, symbols, organizations, and selected names that they may encounter while conducting criminal investigations or prosecutions of members of extremist organizations.” Constitutionalist, defined by Random House’s 2010 Dictionary as an “adherent or advocate of...

How Long Can You Tread Water? Or, Why an EMP burst or super solar flare may only give us 6 months to live? NOAH may have questioned God about why he should build such a big boat. God might have asked “How long can you tread water?” (Bill Cosby) In the event of an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) burst 250 miles above Kansas or a super solar flare, the permanent loss of the electrical grid would stop almost all food production and importation in the USA. Some estimate there is, at any given time, more than 1,000 pounds per capita of...

Being ready for a major disaster is no longer the realm solely of Montana militiamen hidden in the mountains. The shaky economy and recent catastrophes are fueling a growing movement of soft-core survivalists, who could just be your next-door neighbors. If there were ever a disaster of any type in Frederick, Colo., the Douglas home is probably where you'd want to be. "From the outside looking in, nobody could really know," said Ron Douglas. Ron and Heather Douglas and their six children are new members of a growing online network getting ready for the worst, the Colorado Preppers Network. Is...

As I told you a few weeks ago, this November the voters of California will decide whether or not marijuana should be legalized or not. In the article, Legalizing Marijuana, So Politicians Can Spend More Money, I gave my reasons for being against the initiative. After all, the last thing we need to do in California is feed the drug habit of politicians by giving them another product to tax millions of dollars on for their already failed programs. That's right, tax dollars is just as addictive to politicians as crack cocaine is to those caught in it's web...

* This list isn't extensive by any means, so please add more items/tips as they come to mind. Guns & ammo are a given the "list" failed to mention. I guess in order not to cause panic... Today, millions of Americans say that they believe that the United States is on the verge of a major economic collapse and will soon be entering another Great Depression. But only a small percentage of those same people are prepared for that to happen. The sad truth is that the vast majority of Americans would last little more than a month on what...

There is renewed alarm about the possibility of an EMP attack – electromagnetic pulse – on the United States because of Iran's work on a multi-stage Space Launch Vehicle, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin. And experts forecast if such an attack were a success, it effectively could throw the U.S. back into an age of agriculture. "Within a year of that attack, nine out of 10 Americans would be dead, because we can't support a population of the present size in urban centers and the like without electricity," said Frank Gaffney, president of the Center for...

If there was ever a major disaster in northern Virginia, Chuck Izzo's house is Greenville is where you would want to be. Tucked away in his pantry are enough tinned food and water to last for two months. In the basement an inverter hums quietly, charging batteries that could easily power most of his three-storey home's lights and appliances for nine hours. And for when that runs out, he has a wood-burning stove with a two-month supply of fuel pellets so he can cook and heat the whole house. Mr Izzo is a "prepper", one of a growing number of...

Things could go bad like Iran sinking boats in the Strait of Hormuz and oils goes up to 200 dollars a barrel. A severe storm sweeps across the Country bringing us to our knees. The Government has to implement Martial Law. The more we can take care of ourselves the less we need outside help.

The truck approached Chicago in the early morning light much like any of the thousands of big rigs that travel Interstate 80 on a daily basis. Hauling food, materials and life’s necessities and luxuries, it went unnoticed as it, and its load of potentially deadly chlorine, slowly headed into rush hour traffic. The driver had his credentials in check when he picked up the load – he had gone through the hazardous materials training offered by the small company for which he drove. With no criminal record, he easily passed the Transportation Safety Administration’s background check to get the treasured...

I found this link posted on another group and thought I would pass it along. Some good information here on everything from basic first aid, to gardening, off grid living, useful military manuels.....

I want people to store food not only for their sake, but for mine as well. I don’t want to decide which of my kids have to go hungry when you and your unprepared kin come knocking on my door. Contrary to progressive-collectivist thinking, every individual who takes care of themselves and their families benefits society by not becoming a burden. So take responsibility now and start today. Don’t expect the Feds to come by to hand you your ration of government-rationed cheese. You could be in for a long wait. Wait too long, and you may end up with...

Amid concerns about future shortages of fuel and food, so-called survivalists are learning how to live without the trappings that modern society currently provides. John Niven wants to make one thing absolutely clear. He is not, he assures me, "one of those nutters". I have not actually questioned John's sanity - he certainly appears to have his marbles intact.