Stephen P. Samaha's Blog

The post I Choose appeared first on Lazy Survivalist.

Contemporary survivalist literature typically offers their readers the advice to head for the hills during a crisis event.  This strategy is often coupled with the idea of holing up in a bunker far away from civilization.  In reality most crisis events are not the end of the world as we know it situations and avoiding other humans is next to impossible.  When a natural or manmade disaster occurs, the infrastructure we depend on such as water treatment, sewage, or garbage collection could be down for sometime.  In third world countries this lack of critical infrastructure is commonly followed by disease.  In the United States we have redundant backup systems to our utilities and a very robust healthcare system that can tackle minor outbreaks.  However, during a long-term crisis this would not be the case.  Take for example Hurricane Katrina.  In the city of New Orleans, hardest hit from the aftermath of the hurricane, the public health system was essentially non-existent.  Between 60%-80% of the population was flooded out of their homes. Virtually no water or power existed in the city or an effective way to deal with human waste and trash. Health care officials began to see an outbreak of rashes, flu like symptoms, and acute respiratory infections in hundreds of residents. In addition there were infections to wounds and general gastrointestinal problems associated with the toxic environment of the flood waters and unsanitary conditions.  These same conditions were worse in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti or the tsunami in Indonesia some years back.

Telling citizens to simply avoid human contact is not by itself a completely effective strategy. One should consider a proactive set of vaccinations to the most common diseases that may occur during a long-term crisis event.  Vaccinations are always a controversial topic and will be a personal decision for each family member.  It is important to talk to your physician to determine if you are healthy enough to receive a vaccination for certain diseases and to make sure that you do not have an allergy to any vaccination.  Bring your current shot records to your doctor’s appointment to determine what you have already been immunized against.  If you have had the privilege of serving in the military overseas, you have probably been given a lot of shots for tropical diseases.  If you do not have your military shot records a free copy can be obtained from the Veterans Administration.  If you do not have any shot records then your physician can draw titers from your blood and determine what antibodies already exist so as to figure out what you have already been immunized against.  Once you have determined what you have already had shots for then you can decide what additional vaccinations you want to receive.

Most Americans have been vaccinated for the common diseases as it is a requirement to have these immunizations to enter the public school system. Shots for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, chicken-pox, TB and polio are a few. Sometimes the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) shot is needed again in your older years as your immunization can wear thin. Additionally a tetanus shot is required ever ten years.  An annual flu shot is also not a bad idea. 

If you are a health care worker then you are also required to have a Hepatitis B vaccine.  Many health care workers and servicemen and woman serving the global war on terror have received the small pox vaccine and potentially an anthrax vaccine.

A little research as to the most common disease outbreaks after a crisis event reveals the following:

Many of these diseases are found in third world countries where the health care system is not as sophisticated.  However, Americans throughout our nation’s history have also suffered from these diseases.  During a long-term crisis event in which the health care system was overburdened these diseases could make a comeback.  Minor outbreaks occur often in the southern part of the U.S. with an influx of people immigrating into the country illegally.  Again our healthcare system has been able to handle these cases effectively but during a crisis event pandemics are possible.  Therefore, it would be prudent to consider immunizations against these diseases now before a disaster scenario.  You need to discuss with your physician any potential side effects from the vaccinations. Also some vaccinations cannot be given to children under a particular age. Shop around for the best price as your health insurance may not cover all of these shots.  The local health department is the most common source for such vaccinations.

Finally, during a crisis event you and every member of your group should wear the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) such as non-latex gloves, N-95 masks, and eye protection when ever in contact with other people.  The risk of infection is always present.  Consider setting up a quarantine protocol as other members of your group or family begin to reunite after a long-term crisis.

In short stockpiling years of food and ammo for a potential crisis only to be taken out by a microbe does not make a lot of sense.  To assume that you will not fall prey to such diseases  is to some extent falling prey to normalcy bias. Even if you do plan on heading to your bunker, consider a proactive approach to your health and research the necessary vaccinations for yourself and your family.

The post Vaccinations for the Survivalist appeared first on Lazy Survivalist.

My preparedness plans include standard life cycle maintenance of my bug out gear. Each month we do prepper day.  This is typically a Saturday where we will charge up chargeable batteries, rotate bottled water, and similar activities.  Once a quarter we have prepper weekend. We try and coordinate prepper weekend with a family camping trip so as to test gear, replace stored water, and inventory all of our equipment.  However, twice a year around daylight savings time we prep for the coming winter or summer.  It is particularly important to winterize the bug out gear in fall with adequate equipment. Since we live in Florida we can get away with waiting on this task until November. If you live in a part of the country where the weather changes much earlier, then obviously this task needs to happen sooner in the season.

Winterizing the bug out gear essentially means replacing key items with more climate appropriate equipment.This sounds like obvious advice but it is amazing how many people pack their gear, place it in the car, and then forget about it. This is particularly true for those who live in warmer climates and they do not experience harsh winters.  However, even a short term cold snap can kill you if you are exposed to the elements over night. Therefore, we need to plan at least twice a year to swap out climate appropriate gear. For example, the light rain jacket you normally carry will need to be swapped  out for a heavier winter coat.  Perhaps a knit stocking cap is included instead of the traditional ball cap.  A good pair of winter gloves is essential and maybe a heavier wool or fleece shirt.  Heavier warm socks, winter boots, and other key items are needed for your winter bug out bag.  If you live in the great white north you might consider a pair of snow shoes.  For my kit I typically use a gortex bivy sack as a sleeping bag in the summer but winter requires a full sleeping bag such as the Wigglies brand.  In winter time bottled water will freeze so we typically store water in GI issue canteens and leave plenty of room in the canteen for expansion due to water freezing.  Food that normally cannot be kept in your vehicle in summer can be stored in winter.  We will throw a few MREs in the car during winter months as extra food is always important for maintaining core body temperature.  Shelter is also very important in cold weather.  In summer months a hammock and rain fly is all we carry.  Depending on where you live or travel you might want to carry a two person tent or extra mylar survival blankets to make a survival shelter.  Hand and feet warmers are also a nice luxury item for hiking.

Instead of one end all-be all kit we customize multiple kits for the particular activity planned.  Additionally, we pack our preparedness bags based on a time frame contingency plan.  For example, if the planned activity is hiking or hunting, then the goal is to provide enough gear for a 24 hour stay with the intention of getting back to the vehicle.  Once back at the car we have 72 hours of supplies stored inside with a full change of clothing and all other relevant equipment.  Specialized gear can be added or subtracted to the bag based on the particular activity.

Perhaps you keep a bug out bag in your vehicle and store all of the winter items year round.  However, if space is more limited in your vehicle then at least a twice annual review of your gear to make sure it is climate appropriate is in order.

The post Winterize Your Bug Out Gear appeared first on Lazy Survivalist.

Regardless of what outdoor activity you are involved in camping, hiking, hunting, or fishing undoubtedly some piece of equipment eventually breaks.  Usually it breaks at the least opportune time.  Imagine in a crisis event how something as simple as a broken pack strap or zipper could make what was a difficult situation potentially unbearable.  This is where the Possibles Kit comes into play.  The possibles kit as we like to call it is a simple repair kit specifically designed for your gear and the most likely equipment failures.  The kit is designed to be small, light weight and cover a wide range of options. Some of its contents are improvised fixes and other contents are specific items that are likely to break or become damaged in the field.

First, we keep the entire kit in a colored zippered bag so it is organized and easy to find in our bug-out-bag.  Zip lock bags keep small items together and weatherproof those items you do not want to get wet.  The first few items are standard such as rubber bands, zip ties, super glue, safety pins, wire, and cut up tire inner tubes also to act as rubber bands.  Of course we also have duct tape but we also include two large squares of duct tape about 12” x 12” for tarp repair.  We have included a tent repair kit to patch up holes and tears with the standard seam seal adhesive. A tent pole sleeve to repair a broken pole is also included.  Additionally, put in standard clip buckles, shock cords, and cotter pins for pack straps. These simple devices can easily break and cause real havoc trying to hike out your gear.  A small sewing kit with a stitching awl, needles, thread, and a few spare buttons are also on the list.  Finally, a zipper repair kit is included, which is an absolute must for any serious outdoor adventure.

We could probably fit a lot more items depending on the mission profile.  For example, we do not have our gun repair kit in this bag as it is stored in another location with our gear.  Likewise, any electronics repair would be stored with our radios.  The possibles kit is just for the basics such as packs, tents, and clothing.  Let us know what items you keep in your repair kit.

The post THE POSSIBLES KIT appeared first on Lazy Survivalist.

This is the second book in the Lazy Survivalist Guide series. Book two covers What to Do When the Grid Goes Down.  More specifically emergency power sources during a long-term power failure. We discuss batteries, chargers, generators, protecting your home and appliances from power surges, home illumination, as well as cooking and refrigeration.  Additionally, we will walk you through the develpment of an emergency power management plan for your disaster preparedness strategy.

The post Our New Book is Out! appeared first on Lazy Survivalist.

It has been a long time folks since we posted anything new on the lazy survivalist blog.  A lot of life changes have occurred and it has reminded me that as preppers we need to think about the emotional side of preparedness.  Preppers spend a lot of time stockpiling supplies and learning skills, but these are more focused on the material or physical aspect of preparedness.  One thinks about all of the natural disasters or apocalyptic events that could happen but rarely do we think about the emotional impact of these events. During any crisis you are going to potentially experience loneliness and isolation. You will endure stress and potentially depression. Whether you are lost in the mountains, holed up in a house during a hurricane, or going through a divorce the emotional impact can be severe.  These events will wear on you over time. Crisis events can also either bring you and your significant other closer together or tear you apart.  If there is any conflict going on in your relationship, it can be exacerbated by a crisis.  Additionally, you will learn very quickly who your friends are when a crisis comes.  Most will disappear at the first sign of trouble.  What about your children, how will they handle the crisis emotionally? These are issues that need to be dealt with now.

The first step is some preventative maintenance.  We take our cars in for an oil change every 4,000 miles or a tune up periodically but do we conduct any preventative maintenance on ourselves?  Any individual or relationship is going to have issues.  No matter how solid your connection, a crisis event will test everyone’s resolve.  Therefore, conduct some emotional preventative maintenance now. Go to couples therapy and make sure you fine tune the relationship before the crisis occurs. If your significant other does not want to go to counseling then that should be a red flag that something is wrong.  Better to deal with these issues today than during a serious event.  As an individual you need to understand your fears, hang ups, and emotional health.  Self-knowledge is perhaps the greatest gift you can provide yourself. This preventative maintenance should be done at least annually if not more often.  No matter how happy you feel or how great your relationship is – it can always be better.

The second step is forming deeper connections with the people around you. During hard times you will realize how few friends you actually have.  Most will not be there for you when you need them.  Some will avoid you as they are uncomfortable with the situation. Others just bury their heads in the sand and pretend nothing has happened.  Most people are not interested in the truth of the situation.  They go through life with blinders on and hope for the best. They are so consumed with their own lives and are not fully aware of what is really going on around them.  You need to figure out now who you can rely on when the crisis hits.  By forming deeper connections with people you will engage them more authentically and you will know if they are individuals you can count on or if they are going to fold like a tent.  Having a few really good friends is better than lots of acquaintances you can’t rely on.  Furthermore, cutting people out of your life that simply take up space and provide no uplifting support is a good idea.  It is relationship pruning in a manner of speaking.  As preppers finding new friends that have skills sets you lack is a great way to build a network of survivors that can be mutually supportive during a crisis.

Finally, you need to take an emotional inventory of yourself.  What are your strengths and weaknesses?  Build upon the strengths and compensate for the weaknesses.  Some deep introspection is necessary to determine how you will perform under stress.  Men tend to not do as well in this category as it is more difficult for them to talk about their feelings.  However, it is absolutely critical that you understand yourself before a crisis hits.  What do you need to do to lower stress?  What survival strategies do you do in order to get through difficult events?  It is a good idea to have these strategies in your back pocket for day to day existence as well as crisis scenarios.  Do you have a good friend that you can talk to?  Do you have a hobby or pastime that lowers your stress levels?  Would you be able to conduct these strategies during a crisis and if not what are your alternatives?  Everyone can use an emotional inventory from time to time.  Remember that which does not kill you makes you stronger.

The post Emotional Preparedness appeared first on Lazy Survivalist.

We wanted to share a post about our little trick for creating useful fire starters.  These fire starters are portable, compact, and use recycled materials right from your home.  First you will need to collect the following: A stapler, card board tubes from toilet paper rolls or paper towels.  Next collect as much dryer lent as you can find.  Finally, you will need either Vaseline or some similar product.  Another option is to use leftover fat from your daily cooking, bacon grease works great.   I personally use Vaseline for my fire starters as it is easier.

Step one:  Take the recycled toilet paper roll and cut it in half. This gives you about a 2.5” to 3” cylinder.

Step two: Next fold one side of the toilet paper roll flat and staple the ends.

Step three: grab a small amount of dryer lint and completely cover it with Vaseline or animal fat.  The dryer lint does a great job at taking a spark.  Adding Vaseline as a propellant will add to the heat and flame of the fire starter and provide greater fuel for your fire.  The Vaseline also wicks away moisture from the lint.  If for some reason condensation gets on your fire starter the Vaseline will still ignite. Stuff the dryer lint/Vaseline combination into the open end of the toilet paper cylinder.

Step four: Next fold the open end flat and staple.  You now have a small biscuit like fire starter that is self-contained.

Step five: To start a fire simply open one end of the fire starter biscuit.  Direct your spark from a flint and steel striker into the open end.  The card board will act as a wind break for your spark. It will also consume itself as fuel by the fire once the fire starter ignites.  You can store these little biscuits in a zip lock bag for your next camping trip or emergency situation.  If you use animal fat as the ignition source then we recommend storing the zip lock bag of fire starters in your freezer.  This will preserve the fat for a longer period of time.  We only do this if we are planning a camping trip and the animal fat will be used in a relatively short time period.  Grab a bag out of the freezer and by the time you show up at the campsite they will be thawed out and ready to use.

A family of four will collect a lot of toilet paper tubes and paper towel tubes in no time.  Likewise you can get a bag of dryer lint in just a few weeks.  All of this material should not go to waste.  Instead put it to good use for your next campfire.

The post Fire Starter Trick appeared first on Lazy Survivalist.

Hurricane season officially started June 1st and will continue until November.  There are many in the Gulf coast region that lived through numerous storms over the course of their lives.  This tends to lead to a phenomenon known as normalcy bias.  This is essentially where one believes everything will be fine because up to this point in their lives everything has been.  Many people tend not to prepare for disasters because of normalcy bias as they rationalize it will never happen to them.  Others lack preparedness due to apathy in which they think there is nothing they can do to prepare.  The following is an excerpt from my book, which discusses a survey conducted by FEMA describing statistics on preparedness in the U.S.

In 2009, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducted a national survey. The results were assembled in the following statistics:

Thirty percent of Americans have not prepared because they think that emergency responders will help them and over 60 percent expect to rely on emergency responders in the first 72 hours following a disaster .

Seven percent of individuals surveyed felt that nothing they did would help them handle a natural disaster, whereas 35 percent felt nothing they did would help them face an act of terrorism, such as a biological, chemical, radiological, or explosive attack.

Additionally, the survey found that many people – even those who claimed to be prepared — had failed to completed important preparedness activities or lacked a sound understanding of community plans:

Of those who perceived themselves to be prepared, 36 percent did not have a household plan, 78 percent had not conducted a home evacuation drill, and 58 percent did not know their community’s evacuation routes. 

Fewer than half of the surveyed individuals (41%) had practiced a workplace evacuation drill. Only 14 percent had participated in a home evacuation drill, and of those in school or with children in school, only 23 percent had participated in a school evacuation drill.

As one can see there is a lot of normalcy bias and apathy going on even within those who consider themselves prepared.  Human beings are the only animal species that do not listen to their fear instinct.  Most animals when faced with danger will run away, hide, or prepare for the worst by demonstrating growling, fangs etc.  Humans will instead convince themselves there is nothing to worry about.  They will walk down the dark alley, jog in the park by themselves, and demonstrate general apathy about preparedness.  Often these same individuals will make fun of those who do prepare, considering them tin foil hat types.  Understanding your natural instincts does not mean you live in fear.  It means you are following natural biological processes that have kept the species alive for thousands of years.  To deny these instincts is to potentially set your self up for a hard life lesson.  You do not have to live in hurricane country to understand basic preparedness principles.  A natural or man-made disaster can happen anywhere, at anytime.  You owe it to your self and your family to research the subject of disaster preparedness.  Make a plan, work your plan, and stay alive.

The post Do not fall prey to normalcy bias appeared first on Lazy Survivalist.

Hurricane season starts June 1st, which is only ten days away.  This is typically a time when those of us who live on the gulf coast go through our annual preparedness checklist.  However, as I write this blog post there are wild fires burning in San Diego county California, serious drought throughout the South West region of the country, tornadoes touching down in the Midwest, and flooding in the South East.  Therefore, it is a good time for everyone to revisit their preparedness checklist no matter where you live.  Our checklist typically consists of firing up the generator to make sure it still works.  If you left gas in the generator and did not add a fuel stabilizer you might find it difficult to start.  Any other mechanical devices such as chain saws also need to be fired up. We check all of our flash lights to make sure they work and recharge any batteries on a monthly basis.  We have a stockpile of rechargeable batteries that need to be charged up periodically as they slowly loose power over time.  A monthly routine of rotating these batteries through a charger keeps them constantly topped off. Other electronic equipment such as radios also needs to be tested and recharged monthly.

An inventory of your food supplies is in order.  We recommend having at least 30 days of food on hand.  Any items that need to be rotated now would be a good time to buy their replacements.  Water is also rotated this week.  We keep enough stored water to last 30 days.  This equates to one gallon per person per day.  For a family of four that is 120 gallons and not an insignificant amount.  Old water is used in the garden so it does not go to waste.  This water needs to be treated so adding a capful of bleach is required to prevent algae in your water containers.

If the power goes out you will need a means of cooking your food so we make sure that our propane grill and propane camp stove have plenty of fuel containers.  A supply of charcoal and/or fire wood is a good idea as well for a backup.

We go through all of our preparedness kits and conduct an inventory to make sure everything is in place and replenished.  An inventory sheet is a nice idea to quickly check off items as you review them.  Each kit has a digital set of our critical documents so these need to be reviewed and updated as well.  Any changes to insurance, home inventory, financial records or other pertinent items must be gone through on a regular basis.

The disaster plan is also reviewed at this time of year.  We have a family sit down so as to inform every one of the plans contents.  Subjects such as how we would communicate with each other, evacuation routes and other critical subjects are discussed.

As you can clearly see preparedness is not a casual task.  Disaster preparedness takes planning.  We have a few free resources on our blog you can download to help.  If you want to go through our entire preparedness process, then your can refer to our book The Lazy Survivalist Guide: To Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to learn more.  Just click on the link below.

Let us know what steps you take to prepare.  Leave a reply and give us any tips so as to spread the word to all our readers.

The Lazy Survivalist Guide: To Emergency and Disaster Preparedness (The Lazy Survivalist Guide Series)

The post Hurricane Preparedness Week Starts Sunday appeared first on Lazy Survivalist.

Today our first book has been published.

This is the first in a series of books we are working on.  You can obtain a copy at Amazon kindle or click on the ad in our side bar.

If you order the book Lets us know what you think by filling out a review.

The Lazy Survivalist Guide: To Emergency and Disaster Preparedness (The Lazy Survivalist Guide Series)

The post Our first book has been published! appeared first on Lazy Survivalist.