Kentucky Preppers Network

Creating a Secure Password

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:17:00 +0000

Having secure passwords for your online accounts is very important especially since more and more services are moving to being web based. Your login and password is the only thing protecting some of your most important information including credit card numbers, social security numbers, and other information. You think it can't happen to you but people's accounts get hacked every single day. This is why it's very important to create secure and unique passwords for every account you have.

One way to do this is to use a random password generator. PCtools.com offers a great password generator that will create you very secure passwords that would be very hard to crack. Most people have online access to their credit cards, bank accounts, investment accounts and other important information. These should all have a hard to crack password. The passwords you create need to be saved in a central, secure location so you can access them. The best way to do this is to use KeyPass Password Safe. KeyPass is a desktop program that is encrypted and able to hold all your passwords and logins. I would recommend taking advantage of these free services and protect your online identity.

How Many Magazines do you Own?

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:52:00 +0000

Owning firearms and knowing how to use them is an important part of being a prepper, and as we all know firearms are useless without bullets to shoot out of them. This is why it's so important to have some ammo stocked up, a few hundred rounds (at least) for each caliber of firearm you own. Whether for hunting, self defense, or recreation; storing ammo will help you if shortages occur or if restrictive ammo or firearm legislation is passed. Storing ammo can also be viewed as an investment with how fast the prices are going up on most calibers of ammo.

But along with stored ammo and guns you're going to need magazines to hold the rounds and too often this is overlooked. Most modern firearms use magazines to hold the bullets and load them into the weapon. This works best with semi-automatic and fully automatic handguns, rifles, and even some shotguns. If you are storing ammo for your firearms storing magazines for them is just as important. It's good to have at least one extra magazine for each firearm you own and more if you can afford it or think it's important. If you're ever in a self defense situation having to manually add bullets into the one magazine you own could cost you your life. Keep an extra magazine or 2 (or 3 or 4) loaded at all times and it could save your life.

Merry Christmas!

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 17:27:00 +0000

First Aid: Choking

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:45:00 +0000

via Mayo Clinic

Choking occurs when a foreign object becomes lodged in the throat or windpipe, blocking the flow of air. In adults, a piece of food often is the culprit. Young children often swallow small objects. Because choking cuts off oxygen to the brain, administer first aid as quickly as possible.

The universal sign for choking is hands clutched to the throat. If the person doesn't give the signal, look for these indications:

-Inability to talk
-Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing
-Inability to cough forcefully
-Skin, lips and nails turning blue or dusky
-Loss of consciousness

If choking is occurring, the Red Cross recommends a "five-and-five" approach to delivering first aid:

1. First, deliver five back blows between the person's shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
2. Next, perform five abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver).
3. Alternate between five back blows and five abdominal thrusts until the blockage is dislodged.

To perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) on someone else:

1. Stand behind the person. Wrap your arms around the waist. Tip the person forward slightly.
2. Make a fist with one hand. Position it slightly above the person's navel.
3. Grasp the fist with the other hand. Press hard into the abdomen with a quick, upward thrust — as if trying to lift the person up.
4. Perform a total of five abdominal thrusts, if needed. If the blockage still isn't dislodged, repeat the five-and-five cycle.

If you're the only rescuer, perform back blows and abdominal thrusts before calling 911 or your local emergency number for help. If another person is available, have that person call for help while you perform first aid.

If the person becomes unconscious, perform standard CPR with chest compressions.

If you're alone and choking, you'll be unable to effectively deliver back blows to yourself. However, you can still perform abdominal thrusts to dislodge the item.

To perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) on yourself:

1. Place a fist slightly above your navel.
2. Grasp your fist with the other hand and bend over a hard surface — a countertop or chair will do.
3. Shove your fist inward and upward.

Clearing the airway of a pregnant woman or obese person:

1. Position your hands a little bit higher than with a normal Heimlich maneuver, at the base of the breastbone, just above the joining of the lowest ribs.
2. Proceed as with the Heimlich maneuver, pressing hard into the chest, with a quick thrust.
3. Repeat until the food or other blockage is dislodged or the person becomes unconscious.

Clearing the airway of an unconscious person:

1. Lower the person on his or her back onto the floor.
2. Clear the airway. If there's a visible blockage at the back of the throat or high in the throat, reach a finger into the mouth and sweep out the cause of the blockage. Be careful not to push the food or object deeper into the airway, which can happen easily in young children.
3. Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if the object remains lodged and the person doesn't respond after you take the above measures. The chest compressions used in CPR may dislodge the object. Remember to recheck the mouth periodically.

Clearing the airway of a choking infant younger than age 1:

1. Assume a seated position and hold the infant facedown on your forearm, which is resting on your thigh.
2. Thump the infant gently but firmly five times on the middle of the back using the heel of your hand. The combination of gravity and the back blows should release the blocking object.
3. Hold the infant faceup on your forearm with the head lower than the trunk if the above doesn't work. Using two fingers placed at the center of the infant's breastbone, give five quick chest compressions.
4. Repeat the back blows and chest thrusts if breathing doesn't resume. Call for emergency medical help.
5. Begin infant CPR if one of these techniques opens the airway but the infant doesn't resume breathing.

If the child is older than age 1, give abdominal thrusts only.

**To prepare yourself for these situations, learn the Heimlich maneuver and CPR in a certified first-aid training course.

Gear Review: Gerber Profile Knife

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:55:00 +0000

If you're looking for a quality, inexpensive fixed blade knife this is what you need. The Gerber Profile knife features a full tang, fine edge 4" titanium nitride coated surgical stainless steel blade. It has a textured rubberized handle that provides a nice comfortable grip, and includes a nylon belt sheath. You can purchase this knife from Wal-Mart for around $20. Don't let the price fool you this knife is worth every penny.

It is very well made and I have put it through a pretty good test and it held up very well. I was able to cut down a number of saplings and small trees to make a small shelter. The knife is very sharp and has held it's edge well. I purchased this for camping trips and also to keep in my get home bag/bug out bag and it's been a lifesaver. I would recommend this knife to anyone needing a good knife and not looking to pay a ton of money. It's held up for me so far and should last a long time.

**It also has great reviews on Wal-Mart.com

Food Storage Tip - Using Mylar Bags

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:57:00 +0000

If you're working on building up a food storage one of the things you need to be thinking about is how to make the foods your storing last the longest while sitting in the pantry. Rice, beans, sugar, pasta, and anything else you store is going to last only so long in it's original packaging. You need to have a way to store these foods so that they will last longer and there are a couple different ways to do this.

One way is to vacuum seal them. I've talked about the importance of a vacuum sealer in a previous post, so here I'd like to discuss a different method. Using mylar bags to store food in might be one of the most popular ways to increase the shelf life of items in your food storage. You can store just about anything in mylar bags from rice to sugar to your dehydrated vegetables. Mylar is widely used in the food storage crowd because it reduces the light that can enter, doesn't absorb moisture or oxygen, and doesn't absorb smells.

Mylar bags can be purchased in a variety of sizes, from bags that will line a 5 gallon bucket to smaller bags that would fit in a #10 can. Mylar bags are usually used in conjunction with oxygen absorbers. You fill the bag with your food storage item (rice, beans, sugar, wheat) add in the right size oxygen absorber for the bag size that you have, and then seal the bag. Overnight the oxygen absorbers will create a vacuum inside the bag that will prohibit bacteria and parasites from growing and ruining the food.

Here is a chart that's posted on USAEmergencySupply.com that shows how many oxygen absorbers and what size to use with what size mylar bag you are using and also based on what you're storing.



Container Type	Wheat/Flour/Grains/Rice (More Dense/Less Air)	Pasta/Beans (Less Dense/More Air)
Mylar Food Storage Bag 20in. x 30in. (5 and 6 gallon)	100cc: 10-20 500cc: 2-4	100cc: 20-40 500cc: 4-8
Mylar Food Storage Bag with Ziplock 18in. x 28in. (5 and 6 gallon)	100cc: 10-20 500cc: 2-4	100cc: 20-40 500cc: 4-8
Mylar Food Storage Bag 12.5in. x 18in. (1.5 gallon)	100cc: 5 500cc: 1	100cc: 5-10 500cc: 1-2
Mylar Food Storage Bag 10in. x 14in. (1 gallon)	100cc: 4 500cc: 1	100cc: 4 500cc: 1
Mylar Food Storage Bag with Ziplock 8in. x 12in. (1/2 gallon)	100cc: 2-4 500cc: 1	100cc: 2-4 500cc: 1
Mylar Food Storage Bag with Ziplock 11in. x 16.2in x 5.75in. (1.25 gallon)	100cc: 5 500cc: 1	100cc: 5 500cc: 1

Note, these are average amounts. You may need more or less depending on your individual conditions and the remaining residual volume of air. There is no danger in adding too many. Oxygen represents 20% of the total volume of air and the number in cc's above represents the amount of oxygen that would be absorbed. Conversions: 1cc = 1ml. 1000ml = 1 Liter. 3.78 Liters = 1 gallon.

Sealing the mylar bags after you've put in your food and oxygen absorbers requires heat. You can purchase expensive mylar bag sealers or you can improvise and seal the bag with what you might already have around the house. You can use a regular hair straightener to seal the mylar bags, and you can also use your standard iron. Using the hair straightener to seal the bags is pretty straightforward, just clamp it down to create the seal. When using an iron you will need a surface and an aluminum level works great, just as the man shows in the video below.

Why You Should Carry a Gun

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:09:00 +0000

The defining feature of a prepper is the fact that preppers are attempting to be ready for anything. This would include being ready for any danger or threat that might occur. As times get tougher you have to expect the rate of crime and violence to increase. This is why it's important for preppers to be prepared to defend themselves if the time ever came and someone threatened you or someone you love, and firearms are the best way to achieve this.

Firearms are probably the best form of defense. Shotguns for home defense, handguns for personal defense, and rifles for battles that hopefully you are never in the middle of. I never leave home without my handgun just because you never know what might happen. It gives me peace of mind knowing that if someone where to try to mug me or rob me I would be able to defend myself.

It's important to have some form of defense even if it's a non-lethal form (such as a tazer, or pepper spray) and know how to effectively use it. A handgun does no good if you don't know how to use it properly and handle it safely. If you plan on using a handgun as a form of defense make sure you are familiar with your firearm, how it works, and how to be safe with it. Go to your local shooting range and get some regular practice in. Make sure your sights are accurate and the gun is always in good working order. Remember, it's okay to bring your firearm not have to use it, but you don't want to get caught wishing you had one.

Celente Predicts Survivalism Will Go Mainstream in 2010

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:52:00 +0000

Gerald Celente is the founder of The Trends Research Institute and has been able to accurately forecast pretty much everything that has happened in the last 3-4 years. Hal F. recently posted on JWR's SurvivalBlog.com an article from the 4th quarter edition of The Trends Journal. In that edition Celente is predicting that survivalism will go mainstream next year as a result of the continuing economic downturn. Below is the text of that article:

"Back in the Cold War days, survivalism meant building a bomb shelter and stocking it with enough food to outlast nuclear fallout. In the late 1970’s, with inflation soaring, Iran raging, and gold and oil prices skyrocketing, survival meant cashing out of paper money and heading for the hills with enough ammunition and pork & beans to wait out the economic and political storms.

In 2000, the Y2K crowd – the most recent breed of survivalists – expecting computer clocks to crash, infrastructure to break down and the world to go dark, were armed and barricaded with enough food to feed an army and enough ammunition to hold one off.

In 2010, survivalism will go mainstream. Unemployed or fearing it, foreclosed or nearing it, pensions lost and savings gone, all sorts of folk who once believed in the system, having witnessed its battering, have lost their faith. The realities of failing financial institutions, degrading infrastructure, manipulated marketplaces, soaring energy costs, widening wars, and terror consequences have created a new breed of survivalist (preppers). Motivated not by worst-case scenario fears but by do-or-die necessity, the new non-believers, unwilling to go under or live on the streets, will devise ingenious stratagems to beat the system, get off the grid (as much as possible), and stay under the radar."

I added in the term preppers because that's exactly what he's talking about. Preppers are the new breed of survivalists spawned by fears of economic downturn. Preppers are the ones getting prepared for the possibility of job loss, currency devaluation, and a weakening infrastructure. Preppers are the ones who are willing to take their future into their own hands by storing up food, water, and all other supplies to go with it. It's because of our resilience and will to live that we're getting prepared for this type of scenario. Just as Celente points out, these new survivalists (preppers) are not motivated by 2012 scares or nuclear war, but feel we must do this out of necessity. I hope more and more people will heed the warning and start getting prepared.

Staying Warm in the Winter Off Grid

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:18:00 +0000

Winter has set in for us and with it brings a whole new set of disasters that we should get prepared for. There are lots of things that can happen in the winter, namely ice storms, snow storms, and wind storms. All of these can and have (recently) knocked out power and other utilities for lots of Kentuckians. For this reason it's important to be prepared to deal with the said disasters especially in the cold temperatures of the winter.

Many people heat their homes with electricity and when the grid goes down you must be prepared to stay warm on even the coldest winter nights. Hopefully most homes have a number of blankets, and everyone living in the home has some warm clothes (including fleece sweaters and pants, thermal underwear, along with some wool socks, gloves and beanies.) If everyone in the household is not equipped with these, this should be first priority.

One important part of prepping is having gear and supplies that are dual use. A winter sleeping bag works great for just this. You can use it for camping when it's cold outside, and also for when the heater goes out you can sleep in comfort. Mummy sleeping bags that are rated down to 0 degrees and less can be purchased for very cheap (compared to what you would pay at Cabelas). I purchased a High Peak Summit sleeping bag that's rated down to 0 degrees for $50.

Unfortunately that seller on eBay doesn't offer them at that price but Amazon sells the same brand of sleeping bags for around that same price. Don't let the price fool you the sleeping bag is very well made and extremely warm. I've camped with it down to around 20 degrees and never got the least bit cold. A mummy sleeping bag is great for camping but would also be great for those cold nights if the power were to go out for whatever reason.

The 12 Days of Prepper Christmas

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:56:00 +0000

Day 12

We're finally at Day 12 of the 12 Days of Prepper Christmas and Christmas is nearly upon us. Hopefully you've got most of your shopping done but if not, now is the time to get your last minute orders in. I've talked about a lot of potentially great holiday gifts over the past couple weeks and today is going to be no different. Having a bug out bag or get home bag is a pretty important part of your preparedness gear. Not only that but it's a great way to get started on the path to preparedness.

One great gift you can give is the gift of a get home bag. Not getting your friends or family the whole kit but a few items to go into their kit along with a full list of bug out bag items would hopefully motivate them to complete the bag. One important item for a bug out bag that would be cheap enough to purchase is some 550 paracord. Amazon sells 100' of 550 paracord which is very strong cordage with a strength of up to 550 lbs for around $10 shipped.

Paracord is a great addition to your get home bag but you also need something to eat and drink. Emergency food bars are great to keep in your bug out bag. They are high in calories and nutrients, and make grabbing a quick meal on the go very easy. Amazon sells 3600 calorie bars for less than $5 and a few of these you would have all your food covered for the 72 hour kit. A good water bottle is also important and my favorite is the Nalgene bottles. Amazon also sells the 1 liter Nalgene for around $10 and a must for any bug out bag.

For the bug out bag list make sure you check out my post on the same subject for a pretty complete 72+ hour kit. Make this holiday the one to remember by getting friends and family on the path to preparedness. The more prepared everyone is the better off we all will be in the event of any disaster.

The 12 Days of Prepper Christmas

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:06:00 +0000

Day 11

We're almost ready to wrap up the 12 Days of Prepper Christmas and Day 11 brings us to vehicle emergency items. Everyone needs an emergency kit in the automobile. Lots can happen out on the road and if your car breaks down you want to have the proper equipment with you to make it easy when waiting for help to arrive. You can give your friends or family members a few items that would be important to keep in a car emergency kit, along with a complete list of items they might need. This would hopefully motivate them to finish the list and get a good car emergency kit together.

One thing you can get that's important for all to have available is jumper cables. Jumper cables can save you from a pickle and also allow you to help someone else out in need. If you leave a light on in your car or somehow end up with a dead battery you can jump start your car and make it home or to a location where the issue can be fixed. Jumper cables can be purchased from any supermarket or auto part store. They are pretty inexpensive and when in need they're worth their weight in gold.

For a good list of what items you might need in your car emergency kit you can check out my post on that exact subject. If jumper cables aren't enough an emergency blanket is something inexpensive that can also be purchased to go with the cables. The goal is to show that you are concerned about your friends and family and want them to be on the path to getting prepared. Hopefully by getting them items that relate to prepping it will jump start (no pun intended) them onto the prepping scene.

The 12 Days of Prepper Christmas

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:08:00 +0000

Day 10

In an emergency or disaster there are some things you need to handle right away. This includes shutting off the gas and water to your house. This was true for me when a tornado destroyed our neighborhood, getting the gas lines shut off was one of the first priorities. Knowing this everyone should have a gas and water shutoff tool handy in case something like that where to happen. The emergency tools are made just for shutting off gas and water and makes it easier than trying to find the right wrench.

This makes a great gift for any prepper or non-prepper, and every home needs to be equipped with one of these tools. Amazon sells a variety of these tools that are made for shutting off gas valves and water mains. They fit standard and Texas Gas valves. Orbit makes a quality emergency tool that features a glow in the dark grip for easy access. Amazon sells this tool for around $10. A great stocking stuffer or secret santa gift. This tool would also make a great conversation piece about prepping for disasters.

The 12 Days of Prepper Christmas

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:53:00 +0000

Day 9

Water storage is something that is often overlooked in a lot of preparedness plans. Most people who are getting started with prepping can get their food stored up but don't store up enough water to go with the food storage. Water is more important than food because you can go for weeks without food but only days without clean water to drink. You could say water is the backbone of any preparedness plan.

This is why giving the gift of water storage is a great way to show friends and family you would like to see them get prepared. There are lots of different options for storing water and lots of vendors who sell jugs. Some of the best jugs you can buy are made by Reliance. Reliance calls them Aqua-Tainers and you can look at Amazon and see all the different models of water jugs they make from small 1 gallon jugs up to 8 gallon and larger. The best deal you can get is on the 7 gallon Aqua-Tainer.

Wal-Mart sells the Reliance 7 gallon Aqua-Tainer for around $12. Without having to pay shipping this is a great deal. These are durable, and made from food grade BPA free plastic. They're blue in color, come with an on/off spigot for easy access and will safely hold water for years. These are a great deal and I have quite a few of these stored up. Tap water comes out of the faucet treated and ready for long term storage. No need for bleach or other additives. If you want to give the gift of preparedness this holiday season these water jugs are a great way to do just that.

The 12 Days of Prepper Christmas

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:17:00 +0000

Day 8

Day 8 of the 12 Days of Prepper Christmas is already here. One gift that would go over well with a prepper or avid shooter is a box of ammo. Ammo is a great gift and also a great stocking stuffer. For a prepper or firearm enthusiast you can't have enough ammo. Ammo can be a great gift because it has a lot of different uses not just for shooting.

Ammo (if stored properly) won't ever go bad. You can store it up for future bartering, or store ammo as an investment. We all know how much ammo prices have went up in the last couple years, imagine if you had a large stockpile from 5 or 10 years ago and were able to sell it today at a very hansom profit. I think that in tough times ahead ammo prices are going to continue to rise and one would be able to make a return on their investment of ammo.

If you know what type of firearms your friend or family member owns get a box of ammo for it as a gift. I'm sure they would appreciate the gift. Like I said you can never have too much ammo lying around. This series is about getting practical gifts for your friends and family, gifts that they can use not something that they won't use or already have. Ammo is something thoughtful and something that myself along with most preppers would enjoy.

The 12 Days of Prepper Christmas

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:52:00 +0000

Day 7

This post falls right inline with the 12 Days of Prepper Christmas series and also goes along with the Dealing with Waste in an Emergency series of posts. Phil801 from Utah Preppers has arranged a group buy for waterless GottaGoToilets. Here's the excerpt from Utah Preppers:

Their system is called the GottaGo Toilet system. It’s basically a cardboard disposable (after about 100 uses) emergency toilet that uses biodegradable bags and a microbial sand. Once you’ve filled up a bag you can dig a hole and bury the bag – yes, bury it – within 30 – 90 days it will be completely broken down. You can also burn your toilet once you’re done with it. Basically you can go on a family campout and have everyone use this toilet system and not have to carry any of it home to dispose of it.

These toilets are great for any prepper needing some off the grid sanitation options. The group buy is for 25% off all GottaGoToilet's products with the coupon code: prepxmas. This is a great deal and not only would be good for a prepper but a great gift to give for the holidays. Every prepper needs some way to deal with their waste off the grid and this is a great option. Phil801 has used these products and can vouch for them. If you're needing a waste disposal method this is something to consider.

coupon code: prepxmas

The 12 Days of Prepper Christmas

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:04:00 +0000

Day 7

General safety is an important part of being a prepper, and there are many gifts that would be great to give related to home and general safety. One thing that a lot of people including some preppers might not have is a good first aid kit. First Aid Kits might be the most overlooked prep. Guns, ammo, food, and water are usually at the top of the list, but often times first aid supplies are left out. First aid supplies are important to anyone whether they are a prepper or non-prepper which makes it a great gift to give.

There are a lot of different kits out there from family size kits to small personal kits. There are two kits that I personally own and would recommend and one is the 326 piece First Aid Center. This kit features a rugged hard case, and enough first aid supplies for a whole family, a small business or office. This kit also includes some instructions on what to do with different issues and comes with the supplies to handle most minor issues. Coming in at around $30 is really a great price for the amount of supplies you get. (I personally have two of these kits in my preps.)

For something smaller to use as a stocking stuffer or an individual there is the Johnson & Johnson 170 piece first aid kit. I've seen these kits on sale at Wal-Mart or Target for less than $8.00. These are great to keep in your automobile, keep in a school locker, in your bug out bag, or keep in the desk at work. A first aid kit can really come in handy if you get a cut, scrape or burn yourself. These make great gifts to give so consider giving the gift of safety this holiday season.

The 12 Days of Prepper Christmas

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:59:00 +0000

Day 6

Breaking away from gadgets for a change one great prepper gift is simply giving canned goods. Any prepper or wannabee prepper is going to appreciate canned goods to add to their stock. There is no better gift than the gift of food. Without food we would starve, and the base of any good preparedness plan is a food storage. Food might seem like an unlikely gift but to a prepper it's one of the best gifts you can give. To the non-prepper the gift of food shows that you want them to get prepared and consider building up a storage for emergency's and disasters.

What type of canned goods is going to be variable. Hopefully you know what the person you're giving the food to likes. If not there are things that are pretty much universal, such as canned vegetables, fruits, beans and even rice. The cans of Veg-All are a great gift and a great thing to store. They contain a number of different vegetables all in one can. Great for soups, casseroles, or just eating with a main course dish. Cans of mixed fruit are also great to give. Everyone loves mixed fruit and is great for a desert after dinner or a between meal snack. Fruit is healthy and good for you and one of the best types of sweets to be eating.

Bags of rice and beans are also great to give as gifts. As unconventional as these things may seem think about how much this would help someone as opposed to getting them a sweater or a pair of socks. Getting your friends or family something that they're truly going to be able to use and something that could potentially save their life is a gift you can't put a price on. At the time it might seem like a drag, to get a bag of white rice or black beans for Christmas but if the time came and they needed those items to stay alive they would be glad you gave them.

KPN Forum Update

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:47:00 +0000

Sorry to keep taking breaks from the Prepper Christmas Countdown but I wanted to mention the upgrades to the Kentucky Preppers Network forum. The biggest upgrade you will notice is the cosmetic upgrade. The new style of the forum makes it easier to navigate and more visually appealing. Also you will notice the absence of any ads. The ads were not from Kentucky Preppers Network but from the forum hosting website. Fortunately for a small fee the ads were removed. The forum also now has a dedicated domain name which is http://www.kentuckypreppersnetworkforum.com. The old link will redirect you to the right place if you don't feel like updating.

I also added more forum categories to help organize things. There are some new features I would like to point out. The biggest one being the chat room. There is now a chat room featured in the forum for registered users to chat with each other. I think it would be a good idea to schedule a regular chat we could all meet at the same time. I'll try to be in the chat in the evenings if anyone wants to stop by. Maybe Sunday night we could have a scheduled group chat? Let me know what you think. Also you can give other users reputation if you think they made a good post you can give them reputation.

Any suggestions or comments are welcome. If you would like more forum topics let me know and they can be added. Hopefully the upgrades will provide you with a better experience and overall attract more members!

The 12 Days of Prepper Christmas

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:16:00 +0000

Day 5

A weather radio is something that everyone should have whether you're a prepper or not. Weather radios that are made for the NOAA alert system will sound an alarm when a storm watch or warning is issued. These radios can and have saved lives before by alerting people to danger and giving them time to take shelter. There are a number of different radios out there. From desktop style radios to hand held radios.

The desktop radios usually require electricity from a wall socket, or batteries. Some of the hand held models come with a dynamo crank motor so you're able to crank it to build electricity, or even a solar panel. If you're wanting to get a radio you can use on the grid, or off during a power outage it would be best to go with one of the hand held radios such as the Midland ER102 Emergency Radio.

The Midland ER102 radio is an emergency radio with all 10 NOAA weather channels and an alert function. This radio has a big advantage over a simple desktop weather radio because it has more features. It also features AM/FM reception, a clock with an alarm function, along with a built in flashlight. It has a USB port for charging a cell phone, and a rechargeable battery with a dynamo hand crank for emergency power. This can not only serve you at home, but can be taken on road trips, camping trips or anywhere else that knowing the weather might be important. This radio is budget friendly coming in at around $30.00, and a weather radio is something that every home should have.

KPN 12/5/09 Meetup Results

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:11:00 +0000

The Kentucky Preppers Network had a meetup this past Saturday at Denny's in Louisville. The meetup went very well! Including myself and Darby's younger son we had 10 people at the meetup. Darby and Knine, contributors to the network, were in attendance along with other members from the forum. We had a back table at Denny's and were able to discuss a number of different prepper topics. We also had an unannounced show and tell where a lot of people brought different gadgets including radios and flashlights to show the group. I think everybody had a great time getting to meet each other and share ideas. This will be something we need to do more often so if you're in the Louisville area register on the forums and be on the lookout for an upcoming meetup!

Need more Gift Ideas?

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:44:00 +0000

Do you need more prepper gift ideas? In conjunction with our 12 Days of Prepper Christmas Angela from Adventures in Self Reliance is having a Preparedness Stocking Swap where you can compile a stocking full of preps and exchange with another prepper. Head over to her blog for more details, or click on the widget below.

As Angela points out in her post, some of our friends in the blogosphere are also posting some great holiday gift ideas. MD Creekmore at The Survivalist Blog posted a top 22 list of prepper stocking stuffers. Some of the same things we're talking about here at KPN. Nomad at Survive the Worst also posted a top 30 prepper gifts for under $15.00, another great list to find some good gift ideas. Lisa at The Survival Mom also has a great list of stocking stuffers. And don't forget Kellene at Preparedness Pro she has a post detailing some different gadgets and potential prepper gifts.

There's no lack of ideas for good prepper gifts for your friends and family. Stay tuned for more ideas from Kentucky Preppers Network.

The 12 Days of Prepper Christmas

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:53:00 +0000

Day 4

Today makes Day 4 of The 12 Days of Prepper Christmas series and we're going to be switching gears a little bit. There are a lot of great prepper gifts out there and one cheaper gift, yet still very important is a firesteel. A fire steel is something that everyone should have a couple put back. They're great for lighting fires when camping or any other outdoor activity, but also in a survival situation they're worth their weight in gold when trying to get a fire started without matches or a lighter.

Firesteels are very simple. They usually feature a magnesium alloy rod, and an attached metal striker. Rubbing the metal across the magnesium alloy rod will create sparks that can top 3,000°F. They will work in the rain, snow, at high altitudes, and will light any tinder as long as it's dry. These would make a great gift for any friend or family member whether they are a prepper or not.

A quality firesteel can be purchased from a number of vendors. The cheapest I've found has been eBay, getting them shipped straight from Hong Kong. Amazon might be a better route to go, they offer the actual Swedish Firesteel along with generic firesteels for reasonable prices. Amazon's firesteels will run you around $10, but if you're willing to wait a couple extra days and get it from Hong Kong you could get it from eBay for around $5. I do own one of the eBay firesteels and I must say the build quality is just as good as the more expensive ones, and it creates the same spark. Happy shopping!

The 12 Days of Prepper Christmas

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:46:00 +0000

Day 3

Day 1 and Day 2 I discussed how a flashlight or a headlamp would be a great gift or stocking stuffer for the holidays. But as I mentioned in those posts these things do require batteries. Some people might not have flashlights or headlamps let alone the batteries to power them, (and having some put back for an emergency) so batteries themselves would also be a great stocking stuffer. Batteries sold in stores are extremely overpriced. Even at the best deal you find you're going to be paying $.40 per battery and that's just too much.

The internet provides a true free market where people can shop around and find the best deal, which drives the price of goods down. Batteries are a good example. There are lots of websites that sell batteries (in bulk) for $.30 a piece or less. The internet is the only place to buy your batteries because you can get them in bulk for a lot cheaper and just store them until you need them. Most batteries will last for up to 5 years so don't be afraid to build up a good stock of them.

When dealing with batteries there are two main options. Alkaline batteries that are one time use, and NiMH batteries that can be recharged with a charger. It's good to have some alkaline batteries stored for times when you wouldn't be able to wait for rechargeables to charge. But it's also important to have some rechargeables stored because they are cheaper and would last a while. They could also be used off grid with a solar charger and give you batteries for your devices. A pack of alkaline batteries along with a pack of NiMH batteries and a charger would be a great addition to the headlamp or flashlight you purchased.

Meritline sells their brand of batteries and if you're buying them in bulk they can get pretty cheap. I have experience with these batteries and they are just as good as the expensive ones you buy in the store. All-Battery sells some batteries that are even cheaper than Meritline. From what I've read most batteries are the same so I'm sure the batteries on All-Battery are quality. All-Battery also has great deals on NiMH batteries and chargers. Sadly they don't offer any solar chargers but there are lots of other vendors online that sell solar chargers including Amazon. A solar battery charger with a few NiMH batteries would also be a great stocking stuffer. Whatever your preference is batteries are an important part of your preps. Getting some for your friends and family would hopefully help them get on the path to preparedness.

The 12 Days of Prepper Christmas

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:36:00 +0000

Day 2

On Day 1 of The 12 Days of Prepper Christmas I talked about LED technology and showed you a couple different flashlights. These would be great gifts to any budding prepper or someone that's on the fence. LED flashlights are great but there is one inherent problem, they require one of your hands to hold it. Flashlights of any kind don't do very well if you plan on needing both of your hands. This is where LED headlamps come into play.

In most cases a LED headlamp would be better than a flashlight. They fit on your head and free up your hands to do whatever it is that you're doing. Some headlamps are made with the same great LED technology that a lot of flashlights are being made with. If you have to choose between a headlamp or a flashlight a headlamp would probably be the way to go. There is one headlamp in particular that I personally own and has worked great for me time and time again.

The 1-Watt LED Compact Headlamp is a great gift for anyone who loves being outdoors or even someone who walks their dog at night. These headlamps can be used for a lot of different situations and can really come in handy. I personally own this headset and it's a great buy for the money. Meritline has this headset on sale for $6.75 (note it is out of stock) and Golden Gadgets has this headset in stock for $9.99. Don't let the price fool you these headlamps are just as good as the ones you can buy for double or triple the price and is brighter also.

This headlamp features a 1 Watt Superbright Luxeon LED with 3 lighting modes; bright, super bright, and flashing. It accepts 3 AAA batteries, will tilt up to 90 degrees, and has a quality elastic headband. I've used this for fishing at night, camping, and many other outdoor activities. The battery life is very long although I'm not sure how long they would last I've never had to replace them. It is very bright and projects a beam of light at least 50 feet. If you're still on the fence about this there are 25 reviews on Meritline and most reviewers gave a 5 star review. This would be a great holiday gift for your friends and family, keep an eye on Meritline to see if they come back in stock for the $6.75 price.

The 12 Days of Prepper Christmas

kentuckypreppersnetwork@gmail.com (matthiasj) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:44:00 +0000

In the spirit of Christmas the Kentucky Preppers Network is going to present a 12 Days of Prepper Christmas series. Each day we will showcase a prepper product that would be a great Christmas gift. Prepper related gifts are a great way to show your family and friends you really care and hopefully spread the idea of preparedness. If you have a hard time talking with friends and family about prepping then getting them started with a prepper gift would be a great way to break the ice.

The series will start today and go on for the next 12 days to make the 12 Days of Prepper Christmas. Outside idea submissions are welcome and if we get a lot of ideas for gifts this series can and will be extended.

Day 1

One of the most important things for a prepper is being able to see at night. Especially off the grid during a storm or localized power outage preppers need to be ready to go without their power grid and still be able to get around at night. This can be accomplished with having plenty of flashlights and off grid lighting solutions. Flashlights are cheap and a great gift for the holidays. A lot of people don't have enough flashlights and the ones they do have might be old and outdated.

Enter in LED technology. It seems that flashlights and lots of other lighting is moving over to LED. There are many advantages to having your flashlights with LED instead of incandescent bulbs. The two main reasons are the life span and energy consumption. Current LED bulbs have a life span of over 100,000 hours. Enough for 11 years of continuous use. LED bulbs also use a fraction of the energy that incandescent bulbs use and will make batteries last, in some cases, twice or three times as long. LED bulbs are available in a variety of colors, emit no UV radiation or heat, are very rugged (as opposed to filament in incandescent bulbs that can be damaged by shock), and are small and simple.

Flashlight makers across the world are switching to the more efficient LED technology and what better gift to give this holiday season than a quality LED flashlight. There are a lot of options to choose from and a lot of different vendors. Golden Gadgets, a website that sells LED flashlights, has a great selection of different models ranging from very bright to all purpose flashlights. Meritline is also a great vendor of a variety of LED flashlights.

For general purpose, and to get your family members started with LED lights I would recommend the 9, 12, or even 21 LED flashlights available from the formentioned vendors. These have a long battery life, and would last the recipient years of use. Most of their flashlights require 3 AAA batteries to power them. The multiple LED flashlights provide a good beam of light and are great for general purpose lighting. The brighter lights do provide a very powerful beam of light but wouldn't be a good for battery life and ultimately not as good for emergency situations. Make sure you get what you think the recipient of the light will like the best, and stay tuned for more great holiday prepper gift ideas.