Crisis Prep – Page 9 – Patriot Caller

16 Brick Rocket Stove

While much of the US is covered in forests, that doesn’t mean that you can count on readily available firewood during a crisis. Hoarding, over-harvesting, and simple supply and demand will make firewood hard to come by in many local areas (as it is in many third world nations). One way to safeguard your own supply is to set aside a cord of wood… But even then, you can’t afford to waste this precious resource. How can you stretch your cooking and heating fuel? Perhaps the best way is to build a “rocket stove,” a simple stove design that will allow […]

Hobo Signs May Come in Handy in a SHTF Crisis

The Patriot Caller 0

The beloved American hobo (you know, with the stick over his shoulder carrying all of his belonging in a bandana), is actually a member of a non-verbal communication network… one that was developed in the Great Depression and lives on today. Hobo pictograms are very real. They also contain useful, if not even life-saving information in a crisis. Drifters and the homeless use these symbols to communicate important ideas about law enforcement, water quality, aggressive dogs, and where it’s safe to camp. Learning this language provides a couple of critical advantages to you: 1.) Of course, you may use these […]

10 Self-Reliance Skills EVERYONE Should Learn

The Patriot Caller 3

There are a number of skills that, no matter who you are, you MUST have a working knowledge of in order to be self-sufficient in a SHTF scenario. It’s essential that you know at least how to perform these tasks theoretically… even if you can’t boast any true, hands-on experience just yet. These aren’t necessarily difficult tasks. Some of them are as simple as knowing the proper way to cut down a tree. Others are simple overviews, common sense guides for how to perform fundamental tasks like the Heimlich maneuver. The key factor is that they’re all fact-checked and accurate. They […]

How to Treat Drinking Water With a Common Household Item [TABLE]

The Patriot Caller 5

Water storage is a cornerstone of any preparedness plan, but it’s not as simple as pumping water into a tank and screwing on the cap. In fact, many homemade water treatment systems actually make water quality worse than it was before it was treated… hard to believe but true. One reason for this is that water treatment and filtration systems can create a false sense of security. Then, when it comes time to drink the stored water, it’s easy to ignore the need for testing, especially since you “treated and filtered” it prior to storage. The longer your water sits […]

Know Your Venomous North American Snakes

The Patriot Caller 11

When the weather gets nice, it’s time for the hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts to come out of hiding… which happens to correlate with an uptick in snake activity (including venomous ones). First things first, I’ll say that I’m not one of those people who believes all snakes should be killed on sight. If a snake is non-venomous, I’ll let it slither on it’s way every time. If it’s venomous, and too close to my house or yard, that’s when a decision has to be made. In order to make that decision, I first need to identify the species of snake […]

How To Survive a Bear Attack

The Patriot Caller 6

There are several natural events that, for whatever reason, engage our survival instincts at a primal level. Tornadoes, poisonous snakes, and, yes, bear attacks all just seem to get something going in our prepper brains. I don’t know about you, but I have dreams about dealing with these things… I wouldn’t really call them nightmares, because they’re so fascinating and primal. To put things into perspective, you’ll most likely never have to deal with an angry bear in your lifetime. Even if you live in “bear country,” the chances that you’ll be attacked are slim to none… RELATED: Will a […]

Cash is ESSENTIAL

Oli Fischer 26

A lot of highly opinionated survivalists will tell you that US dollars are nothing but “worthless paper” in a survival situation… that the only things that will have value are bullets, food, and medical supplies. Chances are they’re using hyperbole. If not, they’re highly misinformed… That’s because almost all of the most likely SHTF scenarios are relatively short-term and/or regional. In these cases, paper currencies will be used as the most desirable mediums of exchange… not cigarettes, bullets, or even gold coins. Think of it this way: If a disaster shut down major infrastructure tomorrow, what would you be most […]

8 Items You MUST Keep in Your Vehicle

The Patriot Caller 1

Bug Out Basics: Your Bug-Out Vehicle Checklist In my first “Outsmarting the Gridlock” post, I discussed the importance of building a comprehensive bug-out bag for each member of your family. Timing is crucial and there’s no time to pack. But that article left out one critical piece of information: How will you actually get out of dodge? You’re not planning to hike out to that remote cabin in the woods are you? For most of us, our bug-out location (whether it’s a family farm or a relative’s house) is simply beyond a reasonable walking distance, WAY outside… More than likely, […]

Outsmart the “Bug-Out Gridlock” [Part One]

The Patriot Caller 5

In a crisis situation, panic is the only given… If you intend to “bug-out,” then you must hit the roads before they become gridlocked, or even shut down by authorities. All experts agree that the first 72 hours of a crisis are the most critical. This is the time after the disaster strikes, but before aid arrives to quell the panic. What they often leave out is that: If you intend to escape to a remote location, a cabin in the woods perhaps, you’re going to need to leave within an hour of the crisis event… within the first 20 […]

Selecting the Right Rain Barrel

The Patriot Caller 28

It’s springtime and the rain is coming down in buckets across many regions of the country. Aside from the farmers, however, few are capitalizing on the precious resource that’s falling out of the sky. Some are taking advantage of it though. And if you’re not among them, you sure as heck should be… Saying that water is essential to surviving a crisis is cliché. So I’m going at it from a different angle. If your goal is to become truly self-reliant, then you must have a way to provide your own water. In the movies, you’ll see folks collecting dew […]