Book Review – Lights Out by Halffast

Like One Second After, the earlier Lights Out by David Crawford a.k.a. Halffast, is about he aftermath of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack on the United States and comes with my highest recommendation. EMP affects modern electronic devices but not older electronics using tubes.

This story play out on the outskirts of a medium-sized town in Texas in the vicinity of San Antonio. The main characters are caught completely off guard – they are not survivalists or preppers, but they are intelligent and self-sufficient types. Any regular reader of this or other survivalist blogs likely is better prepared.

The main characters slowly end up becoming leaders in their subdivision, and a key element in this book is that it takes a group working together to provide community security. Those trying to go it alone come to untimely ends. The situation for the main characters is less dire than in One Second After, but the need to form a community and populate it with persons with the right skills is highlighted.

Many basic needs are covered, including repairing some care to function after an EMP, farming, weapons and security, travel on post-apocalyptic roads, community security and patrols, etc.

Lights Out has been posted on the net as a free eBook for several years. In my opinion, it is excellent and has my highest recommendation. While it offers less of a how-to approach than Patriots, the characters and dialogue are much more natural. The full Adobe file is just over 600 pages, and while the first 200 pages or so are slow, it’s a real page turner after that.

The first twenty chapters are currently available for download at Frugal Squirrels, but the author apparently has a movie deal in the works so the full version of the eBook is scarce. If you can’t find one, contact me and I’ll send you a link.

Update: A published book is now available via Amazon or at the author’s site.

It is important to be clear on one point; whether or not the effects of an EMP attack on electronic devices are exaggerated or not is largely irrelevant – the consequences for the collapse of our society would still likely be the nearly same since it very likely would take down the networks needed for modern life in the U.S. We would have the benefit of power, communications, and transportation for a bit longer, but when supply chains disintegrate, so does the rest.

Locus of Control and Survivalism

If you ever took a psychology course you’re probably familiar with the concept of “Locus of Control,” which refers to how individual’s perceive the underlying causes of events in their life; Do you believe that your destiny is controlled by yourself or by external forces?

In very basic terms, the two sides of this coin are internal (life guided by personal decisions and efforts – no fate but what we make) and external (life guided by fate, luck, other external circumstances). Having learned the term in my youth, it was often interesting to apply the concept as I observed the behavior of others and made my own decisions. Awareness of the concept probably drove me a bit, since I considered (still do) those with an external locus of control to be akin to sheeple.

Survivalists and preppers might assume they have an internal locus of control – and they’d be correct. Someone with an external locus of control might believe they were not vulnerable, that the government would take care of them, etc. Survivalists would believe the exact opposite, or at least consider anything possible and know help is not guaranteed. There are online tests available to find where you stand, at least according to a free 13 question test.

But there needs to be some balance in what one believes they can affect in their life. Goals must be both a) actually achievable and b) something you personally can accomplish. The key is to know yourself and set realistic goals;

Overly internal people who lack competence, efficacy and opportunity can become neurotic, anxious and depressed. In other words, internals need to have a realistic sense of their circle of influence in order to experience ‘success’.

For survivalists and preppers, I think this message is an important one. Know the unexpected can happen, know personal limits, and operate within those limits to achieve as much as possible. This applies to physical, financial, mental, etc. limitations or boundaries.

Update: Along the lines of concepts survivalists should know, Total Survivalist Libertarian Rantfest has a post on “single point of failure.”

The Day the Dollar Died Series – Unrealistic

The Day the Dollar Died series has ended with the 25th installment. It started off with an excellent description of what a fast economic collapse might look like, but unfortunately quickly degenerated into a New World Order (NWO) conspiracy fantasy. The military and service members were at every turn depicted as complete stooges for an Obama administration, setting up a Gestapo or East German type police state, bent on turning the U.S. into a NWO component. Even more unbelievable was the speed at which the government setup vast new organizations, rationing systems, etc. – mere days. The story simply does not pass the reality test. The series got a lot of attention, but in retrospect is not worth the time it took to read.

Thinking Through Bug Out Vehicles (BoV)

Basically, if you don’t have a Hummer H1 Alpha with a Duramax Diesel and 5-speed Allison transmission, magnesium-aluminum alloy or rubber inserts tires, and chemical warfare resistant paint, your bug out vehicle (BoV) is inadequate and will not save you. Just kidding.

I live in the DC Metro area. I’m planning on moving west, but it’s not exactly the best time for job hunting. If TSHTF before I’m able to move my family far from the east coast, we’ll have to Get Out Of Dodge (G.O.O.D.) in a BoV.

If you also live in an urban or suburban area, you should consider the types of vehicles that will best suit your evacuation. How far do you need to go? What sort of terrain? What seasonal variations need to be considered? Will it all be paved? Or will you need to go off road? How many passengers and how much cargo will you need to carry? These are all primary considerations.

Even if you live at a rural retreat you should have a backup plan that includes a BoV.

My scenario remains the same; leave the DC area – northern Virginia – for my parent’s farm in Nebraska, which will serve as a retreat for my brothers and I, and potentially other family members as well.

My wife, two toddlers, and I will need to travel about 1,300-1,400 miles, depending on the route. I’m not overly optimistic about the odds of survival, especially if our departure is delayed, but the only alternative is to plan to die – unacceptable. So this is a topic I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about.

An article from the Survivalist Site on Bug Out Vehicle Basics nicely sums up the three “schools of thought” when it comes to BoVs;

1. A pre-1980s, electromagnetic pulse (EMP)-proof truck or SUV – less electronics, more rugged, can stand the test of time
2. A late model SUV or truck – no evidence older vehicles are EMP-proof, newer vehicles get better mileage and are more comfortable
3. Whatever you have – not everyone can afford a BoV, so plan to go in the vehicle you have

Option 1 – pre-1980s. My brothers and I are considering purchasing such a vehicle for our retreat, especially a 4×4 diesel. These trucks are generally only a few thousand dollars – a bit more if/when restored – and a just plain classy to boot. I would opt for this if I had only a short distance to travel. But I have ruled such a BoV out for my potential 1,300+ mile evacuation for several reasons.

First, if there is an EMP and my vehicle is operational, I’ve just made myself a primary target for both bad guys and the authorities. In the 2005 version of War of the Worlds, Tom Cruise has his family in an operational car, and attempts to drive through crowds with it. The result is predictable – it is violently taken from him and puts his family in danger. Second, in the book One Second After, local authorities confiscated working vehicles, at gunpoint if they needed to. Third, these older vehicle usually get worse mileage than modern vehicles, which is very important if you plan on carrying your fuel supply as I do.

It just seems obvious that traveling a great distance in a scarce resource – a working vehicle in a post-EMP scenario – is a very bad idea. It draws attention and makes you a target by both the bad guys and the good guys. On the other hand, if your vehicle is at your retreat, it’s highly advisable to have a one likely capable of withstanding an EMP attack.

Option 2 – a modern SUV or truck. This is my choice for a long-distance evacuation. Modern vehicles are safer (airbags, etc.), generally get better mileage, and are much more comfortable. A truck or SUV will depend on your specific circumstances – how many people, what sort of cargo, etc.

Personally, I prefer a quad-cab 4×4 truck with a V8 engine. I need the internal space for the family and gear, while the bed can be loaded with a lot more gear and is preferable for carrying fuel. This is the sort of vehicle I have, on purpose. It’s a mid-2000s model purchased used and very well maintained since then.

I happen to have a sturdy cardboard tri-wall container that fits in the back of my truck and will assist in getting more loaded securely. You might also consider a bed cover to get more in. I also recommend a hitch mount cargo carrier for either a truck or SUV, but it’s pretty much essential for an SUV for carrying fuel outside the passenger compartment.

There are two other features I find important; sitting high enough to see over other vehicles, and being able to accelerate. Having a large truck can be inconvenient in a suburban or urban environment for parking, but on the road it’s nice to be able to see over other vehicles and anticipate what you need to do.

While a V8 is less fuel efficient, being able to accelerate and outrun other vehicles could be essential in a bug out situation – running away is better than fighting when your kids are along for the ride. As always, it depends on your specific circumstances.

As a backup, we also have a mid-sized SUV – a mid-2000s Nissan Xterra. The Xterra is comparable to the Ford Escape. Gas mileage is not very good for a six-cylinder, but it is capable off-road or in snow, as we recently saw in the DC area. Unlike quad-cab trucks, the Xterra can turn on a dime.

Most SUVs in this class have cargo racks on top, and can have a two-inch hitch installed – important for the cargo carrier mentioned above. If we cannot take the truck, the Xterra will be tight but acceptable. It will carry less cargo and fuel, but get better mileage.

If you’re buying specifically with bugging out in mind and have a moderate to long distance to travel, consider having a second fuel tank installed.

Option 3 – whatever you have. If TSHTF and you have a Camry, that’s what you’ll have to go in, unless you can go with someone with a more suitable vehicle. Again, if you have a short distance to go and little to carry, this might be ideal due to mileage. For my baseline scenario, it would probably be a disaster, which is why “whatever” I have is a truck and SUV.

If you are concerned about the possibility of having to bug out and you have a significant distance to travel, I strongly suggest looking into a used truck or SUV. With modern vehicles, high miles need not mean it’s on its last legs. Have a mechanic look at if before purchasing, and keep it well maintained; oil changes, tires, tune-ups, etc.

In my experience, the item an urban or suburban vehicle needs most attention paid to is brakes. Stop and go traffic is hell on brakes. Keep spare hoses and belts, but make sure your brakes are up to par.

I’m basically for all three options depending on the situation; an older vehicle for the retreat BoV; a modern vehicle for a long-range BoV, and making sure the “whatever you have” is a truck or SUV.

Consider your situation, what you’ll need, and purchase accordingly. If your budget is tight, consider what your vehicle is capable of carrying and prioritize from there. Good luck!

Survivalist Blogs: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

I started this blog in early 2007 and then let it sit for over two years. In the past couple of months of actual blogging and active (frantic?) prepping, I’ve run across a lot of survivalist / prepper blogs. Those that I return to most regularly are on the sidebar yonder. Though some are seldom updated, most days I try to hit them all to see what’s new, or peek at the archives.

Those I’ve linked to all offer something good or they wouldn’t be there. However, like most things in life, you have to take a lot of what’s there with a grain of salt. Some are very good with consistent need-to-know information for prepping, while others offer only the occasional gem. Many bombard you with Google Ads (ignore these), ask for donations, and plaster ads up and down the side (some are good products).

Egos. Some blog authors seem to imagine themselves the ultimate survivalists guru, with commentors (if comments are allowed) somewhat sycophantic. They can sometimes seem a bit preachy, thinking that their setup is the only way to go, forgetting that folks across the country (and the world) are in different situations. Sometimes they don’t know what they don’t know. This can be annoying, but keep reading because there are still gems to be found – in the posts and comments. And in the guest posts.

Plagiarism. It’s fine to use others text and ideas – as quotes and with credits. Some of the blogs (one in particular comes to mind – sometimes posts just disappear, after certain comments) I link to, how shall we say, “borrow heavily” once in awhile and pass it off as their own, with a few tweaks. Usually the writing style or level of cleverness is a tip off. A case of having to take the bad with the good.

My advice is to take stock of your situation and plans, then mine the survival blogs for ideas and links to other helpful resources of information. Help others by making substantive comments where you can, learn from others by asking questions in those comment threads. Good luck!

Economic Doom News – The U.S. Deficit

Update: The Keiser Report follows this theme. Also see that Soros has been downplaying gold – but buying large amounts of it.

Original Post: Three recent articles in mainstream press are highlighting the precarious nature of the U.S. economic situation and future. First from the Financial Times:

The US must fix its growing debt problems or risk a new financial crisis, Thomas Hoenig, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, warned on Tuesday, adding a mounting deficit could spur inflation.
[...]
“Without pre-emptive action, the US risks its next crisis,” Mr Hoenig said in a speech at the Pew-Peterson Commission on Budget Reform. He was the only Fed member who dissented at last month’s meeting against language indicating that interest rates should remain near zero for an “extended period”.

From the AP:

For the U.S., the crushing weight of its debt threatens to overwhelm everything the federal government does, even in the short-term, best-case financial scenario — a full recovery and a return to prerecession employment levels.

The government already has made so many promises to so many expanding “mandatory” programs. Just keeping these commitments, without major changes in taxing and spending, will lead to deficits that cannot be sustained.
[...]
Carmen Reinhart, an economics professor at the University of Maryland and a former IMF official, suggested the nation’s fast-growing indebtedness may not have a visible impact at this point on ordinary Americans. But some day it will pounce.

“One thing we can say with a fair amount of certainty,” she said. “We never know when the wolf will be at our door. The wolf is very fickle and markets can turn very quickly. And a high debt level makes us very vulnerable to shifts in sentiment that we cannot predict.”

And from ABC:

[T]he problem of mounting national debt is worse than it ever has been before with — potentially dire consequences for taxpayers, according to a report by the nonpartisan Peterson-Pew Commission on Budget Reform [read the report, PDF].
[...]
Over the past year alone, the amount the U.S. government owes its lenders has grown to more than half the country’s entire economic output, or gross domestic product.
[…]
“Within 12 years…the largest item in the federal budget will be interest payments on the national debt,” said former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker. “[They are] payments for which we get nothing.”

Economic forecasters say future generations of Americans could have a substantially lower standard of living than their predecessors’ for the first time in the country’s history if the debt is not brought under control.
[...]
Most Republicans don’t want to raise taxes; most Democrats don’t want to cut spending. The result is a stalemate on how to put America back in the black.

I have no hope congress will do anything rational on this in the near term, and believe the problem may not be correctable even with radical changes starting now due to looming demographics and energy challenges. A perfect storm is brewing that could see a total collapse of our fairly fragile system. That’s why I’m preparing now. Those that doubt will probably be sorry.

The Age Old Question: AK-47 vs. AR-15?

As someone in a suburban environment planning to potentially evacuate cross-country in a TEOTWAWKI situation (vehicle preferred, will continue on foot if needed), I have put a lot of thought into what sort of rifle I would need to carry – or would prefer to carry – should I need to evacuate my family. Considerations in order of importance are 1) accuracy of the firearm; 2) weight of the firearm; 3) weight of the ammo, and; 4) where I expect to need the weapon.

Since I am far away from my retreat (about 1,300 miles) and may end up hoofing it along with my wife and children (yes, I know it’s a horrible backup plan – but the unacceptable alternatives are staying in the east or giving up), I may need to carry a lot in my Bug out Bag (BoB). So reducing rifle and ammunition weight is extremely important. This also comes into play with accuracy, since I don’t want to waste ammo. I’m not a bad shot, but the most accurate tool is called for.

Notice I did not consider bolt action rifles or the various .308 or .30-06 rifles. See numbers two and three above – ounces rather than pounds count in my planning for the worst. A different story for rifles at the retreat, but that’s for a different post. Looking at consideration number four, I’d expect to need the rifle in urban, wooded, and open country settings, or close to long range.

Also notice I did not mention cost in my three main factors. This was and is a hard factor to ignore. It would be nice to just say a less expensive (and heavier!) AK-47 with a more powerful (and heavier!) round would fit the bill and stop there. But the number one consideration is still there. This video helped make up my mind, especially the demonstration at 200 yards – the AR-15 comes out on top:

I am aware of the issues related to having a clean AR-15, which is why I plan on eventually purchasing a piston operated SIG516 with a 16″ or 20″ barrel. It’s an investment, but I have to have something lighter than the SKS I currently have.

Also see the five part video series (about 20 minutes each) comparing the AK-47 and the AR-15 by Nutnfancy, and the below 30 minute comparison of the two weapons:

The Day the Dollar Died Series

The author of the Shenandoah blog, going by the moniker John Galt (a character in the novel Atlas Shrugged), is writing a series of posts titled, The Day the Dollar Died. The premise is a fast-paced collapse of the U.S. economy and the reaction of the U.S. government. I don’t agree with everything in the series – for example the portrayal of the military in some instances, and the ability of the government to implement anything so quickly and efficiently – but recommend this as a must read. It’s timely, well written, and just flat-out interesting.

Saving Websites for Offline Browsing

There is a lot of information on the Internet what would be handy to have in an energy situation, but what is your connection or power is down? Printing hundreds or thousands of pages isn’t really a practical option for most. If you have an alternate power source or a laptop computer with some battery life left, you can still view that information by saving the website for offline browsing.

I did this today when I found a very good survivalist blog – Everyday Prepper – only to learn that the author is moving on and will be taking the site down tomorrow! I didn’t have time to browse through all the posts and save what I wanted, so I did a quick search and found HTTrack Website Copier 3.43-9, a free offline browsing program certified by CNET as spyware free.

Remember Katrina: Did North Carolina Break Federal Law by Banning Guns?

After reading (and re-reading) the laws, I think they did (but I’m no lawyer). Here’s what happened;

Residents in King were fumed over the weekend after a state of emergency declaration restricted the sale of alcohol and the carrying of firearms in vehicles.
[. . .]
The state of emergency for King was declared by members of the City Council after Stokes County authorities also declared a state of emergency.

Under North Carolina law, May said, when a state of emergency is put into place that includes a ban on driving, the carrying of firearms in vehicles is also banned. The King city curfew banned the sale of alcohol.
[. . .]
“By law, statute 14-288.7 automatically went into effect. And that law which goes into effect when there’s a state of emergency prohibits the transportation, purchase sale and possession of firearms other than on one’s own premises.” [bold mine]

Here is what North Carolina statue 14-288.7 actually says;

§ 14 288.7. Transporting dangerous weapon or substance during emergency; possessing off premises; exceptions.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful for any person to transport or possess off his own premises any dangerous weapon or substance in any area:
(1) In which a declared state of emergency exists; or
(2) Within the immediate vicinity of which a riot is occurring.
(b) This section does not apply to persons exempted from the provisions of G.S. 14 269 with respect to any activities lawfully engaged in while carrying out their duties.
(c) Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (1969, c. 869, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 192; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)

This also happened after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans;

After Hurricane Katrina, many New Orleans residents legally armed themselves to protect their lives and property from civil disorder. With no way to call for help, and police unable to respond, honest citizens were able to defend themselves and their neighbors against looters, arsonists and other criminals.

And Congress responded with the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006 (H.R. 5013 [109th]), which was signed into law in October 2006. The portion of the law to examine;

SEC. 706. FIREARMS POLICIES.

(a) Prohibition on Confiscation of Firearms- No officer or employee of the United States (including any member of the uniformed services), or person operating pursuant to or under color of Federal law, or receiving Federal funds, or under control of any Federal official, or providing services to such an officer, employee, or other person, while acting in support of relief from a major disaster or emergency, may–

(1) temporarily or permanently seize, or authorize seizure of, any firearm the possession of which is not prohibited under Federal, State, or local law, other than for forfeiture in compliance with Federal law or as evidence in a criminal investigation;

(2) require registration of any firearm for which registration is not required by Federal, State, or local law;

(3) prohibit possession of any firearm, or promulgate any rule, regulation, or order prohibiting possession of any firearm, in any place or by any person where such possession is not otherwise prohibited by Federal, State, or local law; or

(4) prohibit the carrying of firearms by any person otherwise authorized to carry firearms under Federal, State, or local law, solely because such person is operating under the direction, control, or supervision of a Federal agency in support of relief from the major disaster or emergency. [bold mine]

My reading is that, if the county that declared an emergency receives federal funds (and they all do), they cannot (jump to number 3) prohibit the possession of firearms unless it’s normally done so under federal, state, or local law. Since in the case of King, N.C., firearms being prohibited is NOT normal operating procedure, the state statue seems to be in violation of federal law.

The hole in this line of logic may be in the type of emergency, but the N.C. statute clearly runs opposite the spirit of the law as seen in the findings section of the federal law.

If I were a bad guy, the middle of a snow storm would be the perfect time to commit any number of crimes, with the authorities either unable to respond or taking care of other situations. But I’m a good guy, so that’s the time I’m most vigilant. Citizens have a right to defend themselves, and a snow storm does not negate that right.