Poor Man Survival
Self Reliance tools
for independent minded people…
ISSN 2161-5543
A Digest of Urban Survival Resources
CNN:
Americans Can't Rely on Federal Help
Self-sufficiency is
the only way to live.
We’ve all witnessed newscasts during natural disasters when
Americans wait until the very last minute to flock to the supermarket to clean
off every item on the shelf…stripping them bare of batteries, flashlights,
water, candles and canned goods. It
seems many folks NEVER prepare in advance and instead rely on the government
for everything. Big Mistake as we learn again and again.
Poor
Solution Getting Poorer
Why is FEMA broke? And why is the system broken?
For one thing, it was never that great to begin with. There were
always many flaws with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
But at the very least, they would usually provide an indoor
place to go when weather conditions were deadly outdoors.
That place might be crowded. It might smell bad. It might have
too many unstable people in it. But if you kept your wits about you, you could
probably survive in there until the outdoors became livable again.
Hurricanes,
Wildfires Take Their Toll
Second, the number of major disasters in 2017 pretty much wiped
FEMA out.
From Hurricane Harvey to Hurricane Irma to wildfires in numerous
Western states, the toll was heavy.
Since Labor Day, nearly 5 million Americans have applied for
federal aid. That's more than the number of victims of Superstorm Sandy and
hurricanes Katrina and Wilma combined.
Even if the Trump administration increases funding for FEMA,
will it ever be enough to keep the average citizen safe when nature wreaks its
havoc? It's doubtful.
Billions
of Dollars in Waste
The third reason FEMA is broke is waste. We're talking billions
of dollars here.
Back in 2011, FEMA's inspector general published a report
instructing the agency to implement a system to track insurance information.
But according to a recent Semiannual Report to the Congress from
the Department of Homeland Security Office, FEMA failed to follow those
recommendations.
This failure has led to potentially billions of wasted taxpayer
dollars, according to a recent
article
in Newsweek.
This
Waste Is Against the Law
Here's a small portion of the report:
"FEMA did not implement our prior report recommendations...
and suspended improvements on existing IT systems. Without a reliable system to
track insurance information, FEMA risks providing duplicate assistance in
violation of the (law)."
One investigator with the Project on Government Oversight, an
independent watchdog, said he wasn't surprised.
"The money goes out the door and they're not really
tracking it as well as they should," he said.
Another report revealed that FEMA disbursed $322.1 million from
2013–17 without a reliable tracking system. A significant amount of that money
went to people who had already received or would receive sufficient funds from
their insurance companies.
Not only is that a huge waste of money. It's a violation of the
law.
Do
You Feel Self-Reliant?
What does all this mean for us?
While the FEMA mess is complicated, the solution is actually
pretty simple.
It means those who become self-reliant will be able to handle a
disaster and its aftermath. And it means those who don't become self-sufficient
will have to depend on FEMA... a broke organization operating on a broken
system. Are you operating on a broken
system?
Here’s a summary of
what you need:
- Bottled water and water purification items: You
need enough to last you a solid three days, so that’s roughly
three gallons of water per person. Ensure that your water is safe to drink
by also adding water purification items like a purifying filter or water
purification tablets. If you can’t find either of these, then substitute
with an eyedropper and a bottle of unscented liquid household bleach.
- Food: Opt for non-perishables that don’t
require too much cooking or water. Avoid pop-top cans since these can
easily leak or break open. You should choose foods like protein or granola
bars, trail
mix,
crackers, cereals, and canned goods such as canned tuna, beef, and/or
Vienna sausages.
- Cookware: On top of the
ever-essential can opener, you should stock up on other cooking utensils
and kitchen accessories. These include disposable plates, bowls, flatware,
and napkins or paper towels. Go for a small, multi-fuel stove too to make
it easier to prepare food.
- First aid kit: In addition to the
usual items found in a basic first aid kit (e.g. bandages and medical
tape), be sure to pack any prescription medications and supplements.
- Toiletries and cleaning supplies: Toilet paper,
travel-sized toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, soap, and dental floss
are must-haves; as are feminine supplies if they apply to you. For
sanitation purposes, go for large, heavy-duty plastic bags and a plastic
bucket.
- Clothing and bedding: When it comes to
clothing, pack an extra change for each season, undergarments and footwear
included. Similarly, make sure that your sleeping bags and blankets fit
your location and climate. Plastic sheets and cloth sheets should be
considered as well.
- Fuel and lighting: Just to be sure, make
it a point to stock up on waterproof matches, a battery-powered lantern,
and a good-quality flashlight. Replacement batteries for the lantern and
flashlight are musts. If you’re looking for a decent alternative to battery-powered
flashlights, then a crank flashlight is a good one.
- Personal equipment: Of the multitude of
personal tools out there, the basics that should be in your three-day
survival kit are a utility knife, rope (100 feet of 550-pound paracord is
best), a whistle, dust masks, a radio (choose one that’s portable and
battery powered), and duct tape. If you want to go the extra mile, then
add in a multi-tool, an adjustable wrench, a staple gun, a roll of
stovepipe or single-conductor electrical wire, and heavy-duty work gloves.
(Related: Five
must-have communications devices for any emergency)
- Personal documents and money: Legal documents (e.g.
birth certificates, passports, and wills) are important, as are your
insurance policies and photocopies of your credit cards, if you have them.
Photos of your family members, friends, and pets should be in your
three-day survival kit too, just in case you become separated from them.
For emergency cash, $200 in small denominations is ideal. For added
protection, keep all of this in a waterproof container.
Don’t forget to update your three-day survival kit every six months or
so. Water and medication won’t keep for too long, some batteries need to be
charged, and your clothing may not fit you after some time. So, make it a point
to update your kit for your own sake.
The thought of
preparing for a disaster can be overwhelming to many Americans. But the fact of
the matter is that you just have to start somewhere and build your supplies
from there. A visit to your local Red
Cross [online or physical site] can help you to prepare.
Special Offer for
our Readers
Every 72-hour kit that's being offered contains 16 total
servings of such delicious meals as Blue Ribbon Creamy Chicken Rice, the
always-loved Granny's Homestyle Potato Soup and the stick-to-your-ribs
breakfast favorite Maple Grove Oatmeal.
This kit normally sells for $27, plus shipping and handling and
is rated 4½ out of five stars by customers.
While supplies last, these kits are available for only $21.95
and that includes Priority Shipping [we were force to increase prices due to
another round of USPS price hikes]. Go here for this deal:
Yours for
smarter living,
Bruce ‘the
Poor Man’
Additional FREE Resources
14 of the best reports I’ve assembled on protecting your freedom…Here is the download link.
http://1drv.ms/1d9kfiU
The Poor Man’s
Essential Survival Package
--The Doctors Protocol: Secrets of Survival
--How to Survive the Coming Economic Collapse
--Guide to Self Reliant Living
--Becoming Self Sufficient for Six Months
--How I Found Freedom in an Un-free World
http://1drv.ms/1d9kfiU
Food Storage Inventory Spreadsheets You Can Download For Freehttp://prepared-housewives.com/food-storage-inventory-sheets-lists/
8 Reasons
Why You Don't Have an Emergency Fund
Are any of them reasonable?
Are any of them reasonable?
14
Frugal Food-Rescuing Tips from Grandma
These depression-era frugal tips still work today!
These depression-era frugal tips still work today!
8 Simple Ways to Put More Money in Your Pocket
Have more money without working harder!
Have more money without working harder!
Find survival related books here!
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