We all love questions and answers. Well I do at least. Over the past few weeks I’ve asked fans on Facebook to email me any questions they had to James@Survivalpunk.com. This is a topic I would like to cover on a weekly basis If I can get enough emails. So don’t be scared to email me your questions and get your question answered on the blog. This week I have some really good ones so lets get down to it.
Tim: What kind of questions? We all know that getting out, if you are in a highly civilized area would be good. Any thoughts as to how? I think cofee or caffiene pills to make the hard initial miles go by…?
Tim first on the getting out, the most important part is having a plan to get out. Knowing when getting out would be best, when it would benefit you over bugging in, which I think for most situations is far better. Secondly you have to have a place to go to that offers a better chance for survivability than where you are. Many of us aren’t luckily enough to have a stocked bug out location but do have places to go. In my plan I have three places I would go to for different reasons. For example a few years ago when Nashville had the huge flood I couldn’t return home for a few days. With my bug out bag and a few extra necessities, I just stayed at a friends house for a week before returning home. Not all situations that require you to bug out really affect very many people so I include friends and family’s houses in my bug out plan. Also you will need to map out multiple routes to get there. For instance during the flood many of my normal routes were unpassable. I recommend three routes to get to your BOL for each of your three locations plus frequent places you visit, i.e directions from work to your BOL’s. To map these I print off Google maps with the route highlighted. As for the caffeine question I keep packs of instant coffee in all my packs. Coffee can make an otherwise miserable even tolerable, give you the boost of energy you need to continue or just keep from suffering caffeine headaches during already stressful times. In addition to the instant coffee I have some jolt bubble gum which gives you minty fresh breath when your not able to brush your teeth right away. If you want a real boost, and one only to use during an emergency to get through it, you can make an ECA stack. ECA a weight loss/ stimulant is made from ephedrine, caffeine, and aspirin. It was very popular during the 90’s and 2000’s and was the major force in the old weight loss pills HydroxyCut. It is a very potent stimulant but has some risks. While not for everyday usage if it means keeping you alive and one the move I think the risk is worth it. Thanks for the questions Tim.
Rick: In light of recent tragic events, The media is making us out to be gun-toting lunatics, making it harder than ever to spread the preparedness message, what do you think we can do to mitigate the damage to the “prepper” image with the average non-prepper?
I think the biggest thing we can do is to not be crazy. Approaching prepping from a rational mindset and showing how it helps benefit our everyday lives spreads the message. The crazy extremest in the movement give us all a bad name. By hoarding and being dicks they damage the whole community. Everyone that knows me and knows I’m a prepper/ survivalist think it’s sane. I have some savings, extra food, flashlights and yes guns. Even a “scary assault weapon” and I’ve taken my liberal friends to the range and laugh when the huge grin spreads across their face when shooting my AR15. People are scared by what they don’t understand. So in short set the bar, be the example of a responsible human and help your fellow man. You can not be portrayed as a crazy gun toting lunatic when you giving water and charging phones for neighbors during a disaster. Saying Fuck you you should have been prepared while cleaning the million PMAGS you horded does no good. Were all in this together.
Sarah: What about this? Given that winter is about here-ish…what sort of stuff do you think a person should always have in their car…lol from me..who basically only has a broken hubcap and I think a spare tire in her car!
I could really geek out on this question. I could quote a list that any good survivalist would agree with. I know your not one though and would get overwhelmed and probably not do anything. So instead we will go at this with a 80/20 rule mindset. What are the 20% of items you can get cheaply that will keep you safe in 80% of situations you will face. Grab some jumper cables. Being broke down and not being able to get a jump because no one has cables sucks. I’d say go with the mid range cables. Not the ten buck pair more like $20~$25 range. Next get a sleeping bag. I would suggest one that is rated for 0° and keep in the back of the car. Since this will live in the car you can save some money by getting a cheap, and much bigger in size, bag. Walmart has them for around $30 and will cover you for the lowest temperatures in your area. Next buy the cheapest case of bottled water you can get. I usually keep on in the car and have never had them freeze. Toss some munchies back there too. Go with ready to eat items that store well. Canned ravioli’s, gummy bears, jerky whatever you like. Being that I know you have a car and I don’t trust storing gas in my car for leaking nor smells buy a cheap little gas can and keep it in there empty. That way if you need to get gas you have a can at least. I usually like to keep enough cash in the car to fill up my gas tank once. So around thirty dollars, hidden of course, as emergency gas cash. Lastily toss in a book or two to read. The best thing to do if you are stranded in a blizzard or something is to stay put. The items I listed are meant to make the wait in your car comfortable. Most people who die from being stranded in winter are from leaving their vehichle. So stay put, read a book and eat some snacks will being snugly in your sleeping bag.
I was worried I didn’t get enough questions this week but this article has gone on pretty long. I highly enjoyed doing a Q&A post and hope to do them on a regular occasion. For that of course I will need questions so get them in to me. The chances of getting your question answered are very high. Thanks to all the readers who submitted questions this week.
Did you enjoy the Q&A format? Have any thoughts on the questions? Let me know in the comments!
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I did enjoy the format very much, thank you. Happy New Year!
Thanks Patrick glad your enjoying the format.
I like the Q&A format. How about a Paleo recipe tab or section?
Sadly, since my question was not published, I’ll post it here ask for responses from the readers…
All things considered such as ease of capture, slaughter and field dressing as well as canning and long-term storage which do you think is the more ideal survival food, an umpa-lumpa or a munchkin?
P.S. Happy New Year everyone!
Ok Hank I thought long and hard about your question. I have to go with oompa loompas. They are obviously high in beta carotene, healthy, and not human. Munchkins I feel are too close to humans might carry mad munchkins disease
Thanks! I’ll sleep better knowing that! O_o
Love the q&a format! What a great way to get your readers to engage.
Nice, and also helpful.
Happy New year and keep your gun ready this my be a wild year.
Thanks for that! I’ll show you when my car kit isdone, though I might add a few extra things!
Awesome. Definitely add more I just gave you the basics now tailor it for you
I heard about your blog on TSP and have just started reading. I really like the Q&A format, you did a great job.
Steve
Just found your site. May I add to your winter car supply. I keep both a flashlight and two of those “headlights” in my car. You know the kind that had the band that goes around your head. This keeps your hands free to work on car, hold book….and best of all both my husband and I each have our own light. A knit cap would be nice and a extra pair of socks will make your day, if your feet get wet and/or cold. Actually, my car supplies grows each month. I will need to buy jumper cables next.
Good stuff Olivia. Especially on the socks cold wet feet suck!
May I add on to my comment I just submitted. My husband smokes….yea, yea, I know, but I am tired of nagging him. However, I always keep a cheap cigar in the car. One of us would kill the other, if we are ever stranded in our car, even if it is just on the interstate behind a wreck. After not smoking for a couple of hours, he gets a crazy look in his eyes like a caged animal.