survivalist times issue 1
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SurvivalistTimes|Edition1|Page1
Survivalist Times
You may NOT copy or use any of the articles in this magazine without express permission
from the Survivalist Times Magazine.
All Rights Reserved 2014
© Empowered Life Network, LLC
Contact: support@survivalisttimes.com
Website: survivalisttimes.com
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4 From the Editor’s Desk
5 The Right Kind Of Survival Knife
Could Save Your Life
9 Protect Your Homestead
With Well Trained Dogs
Top Tips for Great Results
15 How To Survive
When The Grid Goes Down
19 Top 10 Items
Every Survival Kit Needs
23 The Real
Zombie Apocalypse
27 7 Great Ways To
Prep For Survival Now
31 All American Shelters
Contents
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We understand that not everyone lives in a rural
environment, in fact 70% of the U.S. population
lives in or near large urban areas. Survivalist Times
is helping to prepare our readers to become self
reliant, protected and safe from problems that may
arise from living in urban/suburban areas.
For the majority of people having the ability to
escape into the wilderness is not realistic or even
affordable these days. However you still need to be
prepared to survive in your neighborhood and
that’s where we come in to help. Our articles will
be filled with tips, suggestions and easy ways to
make your survival life a little easier. As much as
possible we will try and bring to you affordable
solutions that won’t break the bank.
There is a lot of information in the internet that
instructs people to buy that and make sure you
have this and we know how overwhelming this can
be for anyone.
Searching for good information is time consuming
and this is why we have started the Survival Times
magazine. We will take the confusion out of
searching for good information and help you check
off your survival list of much needed things right
here.
If you would like to see some information on a
particular product, let us know and we will include
that in our magazine for you.
Send us some feedback or if you have a question,
just E‐Mail us. We have provided our address in the
front of the magazine. So that’s about it from my
desk for this month!
Best Wishes
From The
The information found inside each issue will empower
you and your loved ones to become more self‐reliant
instead of fearful of the unknown. Of course we hope
none of us will experience a complete financial
collapse or major disaster but I am sure most of you
are not blind to the financial and political problems we
face worldwide either.
Our aim is to provide you with information about
surviving in an urban ‐ suburban environment as
opposed to living in a rural environment. But even if
you are ina rural area the information you find
throughout these pages will help educate you and
prepare you for the uncertain times ahead.
We want to provide you with valuable, practical
information which will help our readers keep your
families safe and healthy in the event of a financial
collapse, major disaster or crisis.
Welcome everyone to our very first edition of the Survival Times Magazine.
Editor’s Desk ‘CJ’ Jackson
The Right Kind of Survival
Knife
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Could Save Your Life
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How does a person decide which survival
knife is right for them? The knife you choose
must be comfortable to handle, easy to use
and protect you in a life‐threatening
situation.
Most good‐quality blades are ¼” thick or more and have
been heat‐treated to make them strong and robust.
The Becker BK2: The fixed blade is 5 inches long and ¼
inch thick. It has been rated to take several hundred
pounds pressure which makes it perfect for fending off
predators or hunting game. The handle is made from
Givory which is easy to grip and comfortable in your hand.
The knife comes with a full sheaf and belt strap so it can
be carried on your person at all times.
KA‐BAR 7” Utility Knife: The KA‐BAR brand has been
around for a long time and is a favorite for survivalists,
woodsman and hunters. The company that makes these
knives will only use a stainless steel carbon mix for the
blade. This makes them durable and will hold a razor sharp
edge for a very long time. The handle is made from Kraton
G (super tough rubber) which is waterproof. The KA‐BAR
7” has been used by the United States Marine Corps for
years and is a standard issue in all of their kits.
Buck Special: The Buck 119 special survival knife is loved
by outdoors –men all over the world. The blade is made
from stainless steel and his very robust. It requires very
little maintenance and comes with a 100% lifetime
guarantee from the company. The handle is made from
leather which is very comfortable and fits nicely into the
palm of your hand. The Buck special is perfect for anyone
who is looking for a top quality knife at a reasonable price.
Below are three things you should consider
when looking for a survival knife:
A Fixed Blade: Fixed blade knives are much
stronger than folding blades. These blades
also come with a full tang which extends
from the butt of the handle all the way to the
tip of the blade. This allows you to plunge the
whole blade into a predator without breaking
or buckling under pressure.
Folding Blade Knives: how often you will
be using the knife is the real question? These
knives are great for campsites and the
occasional rabbit, but do not have the same
strength and durability of a fixed blade knife.
For hunting purposes a folding blade will not
work for larger game like deer or skinning.
Top Quality Steel: The best survival knives
will be made from stainless steel, carbon
steel or a mixture of both. These types of
steel have been rated to withstand hundreds
of pounds of pressure and are rust proof.
They also remain sharper for longer and will
not suffer from pitting. These types of blades
are also easier to keep clean.
Blade Thickness: Survival knives should be
able to hack through thick brush, chop wood
and easily slice the skin of a predator. A good
blade like this will save your life.
Cold Steel SRK: Cold steel make their knives
from grade 8 high tensile steel which is super
tough, durable and will remain sharp for longer
periods of time.
The handle is made from durable rubber which
gives you a stronger grip and his waterproof. The
blade is 3/16” thick and will withstand a lot of
hacking and slashing before you need to sharpen
it.
From some of the above knife recommendations
we feel it’s also good advice to encourage people
to have at least two survival knives in your kit. If
for any reason one gets broken or lost you will
always have a backup.
Now you have a good idea of what you may need
in the way of great survival knives.
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Protect Your Homestead
With Well Trained Dogs
TOP TIPS
To ensure great results!
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Without a doubt, one of the best home
security systems you can have is a dog. Good guard
dogs are intelligent, willing to learn, respect pack
structure and only bark if there is a reason to do so.
Dog’s can also be a very valuable asset to your home.
They provide protection, companionship and loyalty
in return for food, a warm place to sleep and some
affection. It is important to know, not all dogs are
suitable for guard dog training. They need to have
the right temperament and be willing to follow
directions.
We have a list of things people should consider when
choosing a dog for property protection:
Breed Selection: Some of the best breeds for
protecting are seen as aggressive and dangerous.
These include: Japanese Akita’s, German Shepherds,
Doberman Pinschers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers,
Rottweiler’s, Pit Bulls, Siberian huskies, chows and
Alaskan Malamutes.
All of these types of dogs have often been depicted in
the media and entertainment industry as being
dangerous and unpredictable. Yet, they are among
the most intelligent and highly trainable dogs on the
planet.
You need a dog that will listen to your commands and
be big enough to give a burglar a reason to give your
property a wide berth. The dog needs to be confident
enough to stand their ground, but not dominant
enough to challenge you or your decisions.
Overly dominant dogs do not make good pets or
good guard dogs. These kinds of dogs are best suited
to specialty jobs like police or military service. They
are very intelligent and need to be worked for hours
every day to keep them happy. There are many great
dogs that end up in shelters because their owners
don’t train them or spend any time with them. You
can find a great pedigree dog from a rescue
organization or shelter that you will be able to train.
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Many dogs that come from shelters and rescue
organizations are extremely grateful to have a new
home and become very protective of it.
Building The Right Relationship: Even guard
dogs need to know that they have a purpose and a
place in your pack. In wild dog packs, every
member knows their place. There is an alpha male
and female who take responsibility for the whole
pack. They are smart and strong and will use their
body language to communicate effectively. The
alpha male or female will only resort to a physical
reprimand if they have no choice.
This means the dog challenging them has ignored
their body language, personal body space and
guttural growls. Even then they may make a lot of
snapping sounds with strong body language
without making physical contact.
It sounds and looks aggressive; however it is the
only way for them to show their pack that they are
strong. The subordinate dog often backs down
when the alpha dog proves that they can still run
the pack.
The only time that pack leadership will change is
when the Alpha dog is no longer up to the job. As
humans we can’t snap at our dogs and wouldn’t
want to put our face near a dog that is challenging
us. We can use strong body language, the right kind
of timing and deep guttural tones to make them
understand they are making a mistake.
Once you prove that you are the pack leader and
have established the right relationship, you can
never back down. You must be consistent. You can’t
tolerate a behavior one day and get upset over it
the next. If you put a rule in place, you must follow
through; otherwise your dog/s will see you as weak
and continue to challenge you.
Any dog that is being used to protect a property
must have total respect for you. If they don’t you
might find that they become more of a liability
than an asset.
Basic Training: All dogs need some form of basic
training. Your dog also needs to be able to sit, lie
down, come when called and stay when you tell
them to. If you don't have this basis level of control,
then you won't be able to teach them how to be
effective guard dogs. Basic commands are the
building blocks for more advanced training
techniques.
Property Boundary Lines: Dogs need to be
taught to respect the boundary lines of the
property. If something is outside the boundary line
they need to leave it alone.
If a person comes onto the property uninvited, then
the dog has the right to chase them off the property.
There is no need to teach a guard dog to attack. Dogs
will naturally protect their property, family members
and themselves if they feel threatened. Some of the
best guard dogs will take a watch and wait attitude.
While may get onto the property you won’t be
leaving until they say you can.
You will also need to decide if you want your dogs to
run the boundary line at night. Many owners bring
their dogs closer to the house in the evening hours. If
a stranger enters the property the owners can hear
the dog barking and react faster.
Respect Your Judgment: When you invite
someone to come onto your property, your dog must
accept your judgment. There are two ways to ensure
that no harm comes to people you have invited onto
your property.
Firstly, let your guests know that there are dogs that
patrol the property. Tell them not to get out of their
vehicle until you have made your dog understand
that they are not a threat.
Secondly, train your dog to come to you when you
call them. You are effectively calling your dogs off
and making them understand that you are in control
of the situation. Ask your dog to sit and stay while
you greet your guests. Your dogs must not move
until you give them permission to do so.
Invite your guests to get out of the car and walk
with them to the house. Your dog will understand
that these people are not a threat. Training your dog
in this way will help them understand the difference
between invited and uninvited guests.
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A dog that barks at any movement, vehicles going
past the property, birds in the trees and wildlife IS
NOT a good watch dog.
That is nuisance barking and you will become
desensitized to it over time. Alert barking is when
there is a threat or a problem. This can be someone
jumping a fence, a car coming up the driveway, a fire
on the property or livestock being attacked.
These are some of the traits which turn an ordinary
dog into a great guard dog. Training your dog to be an
asset to you and your property is not that hard to do.
If you have the right dog and establish yourself as the
pack leader from the start you will have a loyal friend
and great guard dog all in one.
Guard Dog Versus Domestic Pets:
Many farms and homesteads have a
mixture of dogs. Some are working dogs
that do a job and some are domestic pets.
It is very important that your guards dogs
understand that your domestic pets are
part of the pack. If you have established
yourself as the pack leader, then there
shouldn’t be any problems.
Your pet dogs also need to respect your
guard dogs and not start any trouble. It
can get ugly if your guard dogs and
domestic pets have no respect for each
other. It’s your job as pack leader to make
sure that doesn’t happen.
Alert Barking Versus Nuisance
Barking: A dog that barks to let you
know that something isn’t right is
different to one that barks when a leaf
drops off the tree.
Your trained guard dog will not hesitate to do their
job and they are the most reliable security system
you could ever invest in.
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Rottweiler, German Shepherd & Akita
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HowToSurviveWhenTheGridGoesDown
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America as a nation is extremely dependent
on electrical power but were you aware the
electricity grid hasn’t been upgraded in years?
It could easily be shut down by a circuit overload
or attack. If just nine power stations were
destroyed in the USA, the whole grid will collapse.
Life as we know it would cease to exist. Grocery
stores, financial institutions, telecommunications
devices and transportation will no longer function.
As panic begins to set in, people will rush the
grocery stores and fight over a few scraps of food.
A power outage which lasts longer than two to
three days will be a major catastrophe.
There will be no water for drinking, bathing or other
sanitation needs. The city infrastructure will
collapse and make it very hard for people to
survive.
A power outage that lasts for more than a year will
severely devastate the population. Up to 90% of
people in the city will die. 50% of people in
suburban areas will not survive and more than 40%
of people in rural areas will not have a way to
support themselves.
With this in mind what can you do to increase your
chances of survival should the grid go down in
your state? We have a few steps you can
implement today:
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Invest In A Generator: A generator is one of
the best investments you can make. Try to find a
generator which uses very little fuel or runs on
solar power. The quieter the generator the harder
it will be for people to hearing it running from
outside the house. If the generator is loud you can
build a soundproof box and put it in an internal
room in the home. This way no one else will know
that you have a way to cook food, boil water and
stay clean.
Reduce Your Dependence On Modern
Conveniences: Don't upgrade phones, electrical
equipment or household appliances. Instead visit
second‐hand stores and start buying household
appliances which require no electricity. You may
also want to buy second‐hand camping equipment
which can be used in the basement of a home or as
a temporary shelter should you need to leave your
current location.
Purchase Kerosene Heaters And Oil Lamps:
Kerosene heaters are a great alternative to wood
burning stoves and will keep a small room very
warm. Having a kerosene heater will also conserve
the fuel you are using in the generator. Buy a few oil
lamps as an alternative source of lighting. Oil lamps
will burn for a very long and give you enough light to
cook food and illuminate a small room.
Learn To Grow Your Own Food: You don’t need
a big garden to grow food. An indoor aquaponics
system can provide fresh vegetables to supplement
your diet. Solar pumps can keep the aquaponics
system running without electricity. There is a great
online community you can join to learn more about
growing food with aquaponics. It can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/AquaponicsSurvivalCom
munities
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Start Storing Water And Canned Foods:
Purchase a few 50 gallon plastic barrels or food
grade IBC containers and begin filling them with
water now. Storing water this way is much cheaper
than purchasing water bottles and takes up less
room. You can add a very small amount of bleach
into the water to prevent any bacteria build‐up.
Make a list of supplies and items you will need to
survive for at least a year. Check off your items as
you collect them. Before you know it the basement
will be full.
Start adding an extra ten to twenty cans of
vegetables and meats to your shopping cart each
week. It will cost you about $20.00 a week to start a
small stockpile and could be the difference between
eating and going hungry when the power goes out.
If you follow these easy steps your chances of surviving a grid shutdown will increase.
Now is the time to become more self‐reliant and learn how to live a simpler lifestyle.
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TOP 10 ITEMS
EVERY
SURVIVAL KIT NEEDS
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In a survival situation the items you have in
your kit can be the difference between life
and death. A bottle of water, a couple of
protein bars and some extra clothing may
help you survive for a few hours, but in reality
you are going to need much more than that.
Below is a list of the top 10 items every
survival Kit needs:
Hunting Knife Or Machete: These types
of knives can be used for self defense against
large predators. You can also use your knife to
building a temporary shelter, chop firewood,
dig in the ground to find water and forage for
food.
Small First Aid Kit: A first aid kit is one of
the most essential items to have in your bag.
Something as simple as an infected cut can
lead to a life threatening illness and blood
poisoning. To ensure this doesn’t happen to
you, make a first aid kit from the following
items: Band aids, bandages latex gloves to
stop the spread of infection, needle, thread,
butterfly sutures, a small surgical knife,
disinfectant and hydrogen peroxide.
A Way To Purify Water: Drinking water
with parasites can lead to diarrhea and
vomiting. This will dehydrate you and could
make you extremely sick.
Add two packets of water purification tablets
or keep a Lifestraw® in your pack. The
Lifestraw® has become a popular item for
survivalists to carry over the last few years.
The straw can purify up to 260 gallons of
water and takes up very little space in a kit.
You can drink from rivers, lakes, streams and
without getting sick or the need to boil the
water first.
A Small Pot: Having a container to
carry water and cook food is a great
item to add to your survival kit. The
pot can also be used to keep hot coals,
so you can transport your fire from
one campsite to another.
Fire: Don’t forget to pack a way to
make fire! Lighters, matches and
magnesium fire starters will work.
These items will ensure you can make
a much needed fire. A fire will keep
you warm, boil water, cook food and if
need be, become a signal for rescue.
Lighters can also be used to sterilize
and cauterize large gashes or wounds.
Clothing: Most of the clothing in your survival Kit
should be underwear and socks. Clean underwear
and socks help keep the moist areas of your body
dry and stop bacterial infections from forming.
Carry at least four extra pairs of underwear and
socks in your pack.
Other essential items include: a lightweight
waterproof jacket, waterproof pants and one full
change of clothing.
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A compass and a map will reduce the fear and help
you navigate your way to safety. It is a good idea to
practice with these items on a regular basis. Every
couple of weeks, choose a new location to hike in
and use your compass to guide you through the
woods.
If you do live in a city and decide it’s time to leave,
make sure you have alternative escape routes
planned out. The highways will be congested with
other people; be smart and escape by using older
less travelled roads.
A Plastic Tarpaulin and Twine: Mike Forti, a
former United States Air Force graduate believes
that plastic tarpaulins are one of the best items to
carry in a survival kit. They are lightweight, take up
very little room and make an excellent temporary
shelter. The tarpaulin can also be used as a ground
cover or extra bedding if the weather is warm.
Food and Water: Protein bars, nuts and dried
fruits make great survival foods. They don’t take
up a lot of room and are packed with nutrition.
You can live for several days on a protein bar and a
handful of nuts. These items are also much
cheaper than dehydrated foods and can be
purchased from the supermarket shelf.
Compass and a Map: In a survival situation it is
easy to become disorientated as fear and anxiety
take over.
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Mylar Survival Blanket: Mylar
blankets are lightweight and easy to
carry. They are made from materials
which are designed to reflect your own
body heat and keep you warm. The
blanket will protect you from
hypothermia and can be used as a
waterproof wrap to keep you warm
throughout the day.
Other items we would like to
suggest:
Good walking shoes! A good pair of
durable shoes or hiking boots will keep
your feet protected and give you the
ability to walk to a safer location if need
be.
Keeping a well stocked bug out bag, in
your car is a necessary addition for
escape. If you are caught in a serious
situation, the bag will become a life saver
in an emergency.
If you have children make sure they have
a backpack ready to grab in an emergency
too. Teach them the importance of
regular family drills.
Have a good plan set in place so
everyone knows what to take and where
to meet in an emergency. We can’t
emphasis this step enough to reduce the
panic and stress on children.
All this items on the list are basic, easy to
purchase and will save your life in case of
emergency. Good luck with your survival
preparation plans!
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The Real
Zombie Apocalypse
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Modern day zombies are not the
walking dead but people who refuse to
believe that anything bad could happen to
them. These individuals will not prepare
themselves mentally or physically for any
type of disaster.
Should an economic collapse or civil war
break out, these types of people will be
totally unprepared to deal with the reality of
the situation. Fear, anxiety and a sudden
realization that life as they know it has
changed, may bring out killer instincts and
make them very dangerous to be around.
They will fight to survive at all costs despite
the fact they ignored all warning signs and
did nothing to ensure their own survival.
These are the types of people who are
totally distracted by their cell phones,
Hollywood stars, laptops and their suburban
lifestyles.
Then there is another sector of people: a
large cross‐section of the population who
rely on pharmaceutical drugs to help them
cope with day to day life. Anti‐depressants
and psychotropic drugs have been linked to
many deaths and suicides in the last few
years.
With this in mind, can you imagine the kind
of panic and mayhem that will occur for
these people when the brain chemistry
becomes completely imbalanced?
It’s not pleasant to discuss these situations
but necessary, so you understand the
ramifications of a society in absolute turmoil.
People Call You Crazy, Yet Once In The USA Keeping A
Cold Cellar Full Of Food Was Called Prudent Planning.
Most People Are Too Busy Playing Video Games,
Watching TV, Involved In Mindless Entertainment &
Will Not Believe Anything Bad Could Ever Happen
If you live in a city, think about every aspect
of your home’s security before the shift
occurs. Set up alarms and reinforce areas
that people can break into.
People will not have the ability to think straight, reason or
find a way out of the situation without becoming violent. If
you add in the fluoride and other toxins which are already
in the water, the threat of a zombie like apocalypse
becomes very real.
There are also a growing number of children who have been
placed on pharmaceutical drugs to control behavior, anxiety
and depression. These children have no coping mechanisms
and will be the first to suffer when disaster strikes.
What about the millions of people who are addicted to hard
drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin? When
people can’t get their fix they will become violent and take
their rage out on anyone who is within striking distance.
You will need to be careful about making
noise, cooking food or burning fuel as there
will be hundreds of people on the street
who have NO shelter, food or water.
You might even want to think about bunker
to live in. We have added a great article in
this month’s magazine about a company in
Texas making bunkers. We have included
the costs and what this company will do for
people.
It’s absolutely imperative to have a
stockpile of food, water, and a very secure
location which you can defend.
In three days a complete breakdown in the
city will occur. People will start living in
desperate circumstances and roaming
around like wild animals.
This is the real zombie apocalypse and not
the half dead flesh eating humanoids which
you see glorified in the media today.
Methamphetamine is the biggest threat of all. Have you ever
noticed how somebody on methamphetamine behaves?
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They pace, can't sit still, are easily angered and have no
coping skills. This drug has become one of the biggest
problems in modern day society because it is made from
cleaning agents and other toxic substances which eats away
at the brain and causes permanent damage.
Some people will form gangs in an effort to survive, but
won’t last longer than a few days, without guidance from
others who know how to survive.
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Awareness Health and Fitness
Survival Skills First Aid Training
Off The Grid Supplies
Grow Your Own Food
Communicating With Others
7
Great Ways To Prep
For Survival Now
There has never been a better time to
start prepping than right now, today!
It has become virtually impossible to watch
any media sources and not see problems
occurring both in the USA and abroad. It just
makes good sense to prepare for not only
natural disasters but any other problem that
may occur in the near future.
The vast majority of preppers are ordinary
people just like you who want to survive the
uncertain times ahead. It doesn’t take a lot
of money or specialized skills to put a few
simple strategies in place. We thought we
would introduce 7 important ways to begin
prepping today and stay ahead of the curve!
Begin With The Right Mindset
Developing the right mindset is crucial if you
are going to survive a disaster. Becoming
more self‐sufficient and taking personal
responsibility for your own life is the first
step before applying the other things in
becoming prepared.
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Understand that people will change
dramatically in a crisis situation. You will
see both the best and worse in human
behavior. How you deal with this is very
important for you.
Recent disasters like hurricane Katrina are
very good reminder of what happens when
people are unprepared for tragedy. Many of
those residents chose to stay in the city,
even though they had been warned that
disaster was about to strike.
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Citizens couldn’t wrap their minds around the fact that
life as they knew it was about to change. Panic and
mayhem ensued when people realized they should
have evacuated the city days ago. It didn’t take long for
the situation to deteriorate and become a living
nightmare.
Disease spread quickly due to unsanitary conditions
and many lost their lives. Lack of food and water
started riots, looting was rampant and martial law was
declared to bring the situation under control. This is
just one example of what happens when people ignore
the warning signs. Even now most people refuse to
believe that one of these scenarios could actually
happen to them.
Stockpiling: The average person needs one gallon of
water a day to survive. Two quarts of water will be
used for drinking and the rest can be used for cooking
and personal hygiene. You should be storing foods that
are high in nutrition, cheap and have a shelf life of
three to six months. These include: beans, rice, canned
vegetables, canned fruit, protein bars, pasta, peanut
butter, nuts, cooking oils herbs and spices. Don’t wait
to stockpile; instead every time you go to the store buy
an extra $10.00 to $20.00 in canned, packet foods and
water.
These are realistic questions to think about because
if the dollar collapses, society as we know it will
quickly erode as people become more desperate for
food and water.
Your long‐term goal should stock enough food to
last between six and twelve months.
Learn New Skills: There are a vast range of skills
that you can learn to become more self‐sufficient.
Preserving your own food is a very valuable skill.
Find a mentor who knows the local area and can
teach you how to find water and forage for food.
Take A Self Defense Course: learn to protect
yourself. Having a skill like this can save your life
and that of your children. I was once asked a very
important question and then given a perfect
example of a scenario that could happen.
If a person hasn’t drunk any water for over 24 hours
and sees you drinking water, what do you think will
happen? Do you believe people will be polite about
asking for your water or do you think they will just
physically take it from you? Do you think they will
care that you need the water for your children?
SurvivalistTimes|Edition1|Page30
Take A First Aid Course: learn how to treat wounds. All of these
skills have enormous value and will improve your chances of
survival. A skill like first aid will become more important if the
financial system collapses. Most people will not be able to afford
any health care. If you know how to bandage a wound or treat your
family with more natural methods, you will be way ahead of the
game.
Work Out And Improve Your Diet: People who are physically
fit have a far greater chance of surviving a disaster. Individuals, who
are fit able to walk greater distances, do more physical labor and
have the strength and stamina to defend themselves. Just one hour
a day of physical activity can reduce stress, regulate blood sugar
and lower blood pressure. Add a healthy diet which is high in
protein, complex carbohydrates and vegetables and your health
will improve quickly. If you are serious about prepping then getting
in shape should be a priority.
Emergency Evacuation Plans: Take the time to map out an
evacuation route. Keep some paper maps or books and take note
of strategic landmarks so you can maneuver your way better. This
way when disaster strikes you will already know which road to
take. There will be NO GPS systems working if there are problems
in cities.
Prepared Bags: Every person in the
household needs a bag equipped with
enough supplies last at the least three
days. This is normally enough until you
can get to a safer location. Water,
lightweight prepackaged foods, a
simple first aid kit and extra clothing are
essential items for your pack.
Connect With Other Preppers:
Choose websites and online forums
which are made up of mainstream
preppers. When you become part of the
forum look for long term members who
are willing to share their knowledge and
skills with you.
Ask people if they have free tutorials
and videos you can watch to learn new
skills. The best survival websites offer
training and are serious about helping
as many people as they can prepare for
disaster.
Hunting and Gathering: One more
thing we might like to add to this list.
Learn how to hunt for food and gather
wild edibles and herbs. If you already
live in the country you have the upper
hand advantage here.
Fishing, hunting and gathering skills can
save your life. They will also provide
your family the much needed proteins
and medicines to maintain a healthy
body. Meats can also be dried out and
kept for a long time as food stores.
Dried meats can be taken in backpacks
and make great snacks for the whole
family.
SurvivalistTimes|Edition1|Page31
All American Shelters
SurvivalistTimes|Edition1|Page32
There is a stretch of highway 41 along the
Northern border of Texas where golden fields fade
away to farm acreage and individual plots of land
cozy up to tree‐lined roads, dipping and twisting
through a magical entanglement of Texas ash
trees, and opening up on a hill ‐‐ a beautiful,
secluded hill ‐‐ that is the home of All American
Shelters, the family endeavor run by husband‐and‐
wife team Jeff and Quitha Gratrix.
Begun in 2013, All America Shelters, with their
made‐to‐order storm & disaster systems, is one of
the premier providers of emergency shelters in
the United States. Having survived a category F4
tornado themselves, the Gratrix's are more than
aware of the need of every American to safeguard
and protect themselves and their families during
catastrophic events. Jeff's experience in
construction and deep sea saturation dive systems
lends to his impeccable skill in creating an
emergency shelter that is not only discreet to
those "above deck," but has proven to be airtight,
waterproof and completely sustainable in every
kind of emergency situation.
In today's uncertain political climate and
wavering economy, many Americans are reaching
out for stability and a sense of control over their
own lives. Not only do we find ourselves
questioning our ability to withstand a natural
disaster, but we're also faced with the question
of "What if?" What if our country has, at last, lost
its grip on the concept of individual freedom?
What if we end up at war again, but this time on
our own soil? What if we experience another 911
event?
Or a grid‐down event? What if another F4
tornado tears through our hometown and our
family is left scrambling for protection? The
possibilities are endless, and so are the options
with an All American Shelter.
We took a field trip to All American Shelters to
meet the brains behind the operation and find
out exactly what makes this business tick. What
we discovered was fascinating. Combining years
of experience in the tried‐and‐true technology of
American deep sea diving saturation "life
support" systems, and the passion of a husband
and father whose priority is protecting his family,
Jeff Gratrix is a stalwart man whose enthusiasm
and knowledge of his business spills over in his
conversation.
Talking with his hands, he goes on to explain the
importance of using American‐made materials in
all of their shelters, and discusses the options
available; everything from kitchenettes and
entertainment centers to certified blast hatches
and NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical warfare)
filtration systems can be added to these units. All
American Shelters' approach to customer service
is unflappable; the customer gets what the
customer wants.
SurvivalistTimes|Edition1|Page33
Constructed of corrugated, galvanized steel, each of
the shelters is created according to the client's
individual specifications; right down to the number of
beds needed, and are constructed on‐site.
Ranging from 8 x 10 foot storm shelters, which can
also double as root cellars, armory storage or any
number of temporary‐use facilities, to a year‐round
livable 12 x 45 foot family shelter including under‐
floor storage and multiple escape hatches, every All
American Shelter is sunk 20 feet below ground by a
team of certified experts with experience ranging
from the Great Alaska pipeline to the Gulf of Mexico
and beyond, with the goal of maintaining a proper
depth to accommodate the geothermal cooling
system that is built into each, while still surpassing
required depths to avoid satellite scanning that
might pinpoint the location.
Utilizing the belief that each shelter built should meet
the same specification requirements as his own
families, Jeff is adamant that no detail is left out of
the construction of any of their units, and with that
credo in hand, he carefully seals each of the
bulkheads with epoxy rust inhibitor and "line‐X," an
industrial strength sealant used in marine equipment
and underwater vessels.
As he takes us through the prototype unit in the
company workshop, pointing out each of the
variants in construction, as compared to standard
emergency shelters, we begin to understand that
All American Shelters is not just any standard
producer of storm or disaster shelters; instead,
they've vested their years of experience in
implementing the very best materials and methods
available toward keeping their shelters gas‐proof,
airtight and waterproof, so that the customer is
guaranteed a safe retreat in their moment of
greatest need.
Sitting behind the desk in the office of All American
Shelters, Quitha is manning the computer. A fast‐
talking bundle of energy with an eye on the
company's online exposure, she's also at the helm
of the Gratrix's auxiliary company, G9, which
specializes in green living through aquaponics,
organic gardening, solar and wind energy, and
homesteading. But today, she has her hat on for
All American Shelters. They've just completed their
first commercial, scheduled to air locally within the
next week, and she's more than excited to take us
down into their own shelter.
Opening the blast hatch with one hand, its
hydraulic hinge lifting easily, Quitha starts down a
ladder; a direct descent 20 feet under the ground
to a landing "dock," where she turns and
disappears into the dark. Sure, I follow her, but I'd
be lying if I said it wasn't a little unnerving. Looking
up at the sky through a 48" square in the ground,
it's hard to pretend you aren't aware that you are,
indeed, underneath hundreds of pounds of dirt.
She switches on a light, though, and suddenly
we're in a new world.
SurvivalistTimes|Edition1|Page34
The shelter is a full‐size 10 x 45 foot unit,
extending well beyond the visible outside
entrance and ending conveniently at an
undisclosed point, where one of the two
emergency hatches releases under a pretty
impressive disguise. As she leads me through
each section of the shelter, she points out all the
details we've been talking about, but that I
hadn't seen just yet. The initial landing dock also
serves as an ample space for storage, not to
mention that the first (and main) chamber door
is a double‐hinged Marine door that, when
sealed, makes this shelter impenetrable from
any outside element that we've experienced so
far in America's history.
As we continue into the main chamber, Quitha
demonstrates the "long‐term livability" of the
shelter….by way of solar‐generated power, LED lights,
a working toilet and shower, vented holding tanks and
a macerator pump for disposal, geothermal heating
and cooling system that keeps the shelter a
comfortable 70* temperature at all times, and all the
comforts of home, literally.
A television with DVD player and a shelf of kids' DVDs
belie our pre‐conceived assumption that a storm
shelter would be an uncomfortable and frightening
place to hunker down in. Obviously, this shelter has
been acquainted more than once. Shelves holding
canned goods and books line one wall, and a desk
with working computer and research materials sits on
the opposite wall.
SurvivalistTimes|Edition1|Page35
Further back in the unit, two sets of twin bunk
beds are already dressed and ready for use, and a
These points have to be reinforced not only with
galvanized steel joists but usually with a second layer
smattering of little boys' books lies on one.
Beyond that, we reach the NBC air filtration
system, an optional unit provided by American
Safe Room. It's here that I learn about some of
the "tricks" that come with an All American
Shelter, including emergency escape hatches, air
filtration units in the case of chemical or biological
warfare and the awesome amount of under floor
storage. Never having stood inside one of these
shelters before, I obviously had a list of questions
when we first started, but my focus changed
almost immediately after seeing the setup inside.
The biggest question I had at that point was: Why
Round??
of roofing material as well. The extra expense and
materials needed simply to fortify pockets of dead
space is not only expensive but unreasonably unsafe.
Why is it unsafe? Well, consider the second
common sense point:
2. Weight distribution across the top of a square or
rectangular shelter is basically indeterminate, but
has been proven to be detrimental to the structure.
Most builders agree that flat‐topped shelters require
(yet again) reinforcements and double‐layered roofs
in order to withstand the pressure of 10 feet of soil
that is literally going nowhere but…down. With a
circular shelter, however, soil is distributed along the
sides of the unit as it's loaded on top of the shelter
after it has been sunk in the ground, and packed in
uniformly until it reaches a "peak" at the top. The
shelter is basically hugged by the earth, rather than
being crushed by it.
Over the last several decades, engineers and
builders have sought to create indestructible
bomb and disaster shelters for individual use,
always keeping in mind the wear and tear of the
natural elements, the threat of attack, the "shelf‐
life" of building materials and the viability of a
human being to survive underground for extended
periods of time. While many shelters have been
created and met all of those requirements, there
has been a reckoning in the viewpoint that a flat‐
topped square or rectangular structure is sufficient
for this type of facility. In fact, a number of
companies are beginning to revert to the circular
structure based on a few common sense points:
Think of it like this: When we were children, we
used to ice skate on a frozen pond outside our
hometown. One rule was told to always
remember: Step lightly and take each step far away
from the last.
The Reason? Weight distribution. If we'd stood in
one place with both feet together and our full body
weight cooperating with gravity, the ice would crack
(and most likely break ‐‐ and it did, more than once).
However, if we walked in a long, gliding manner,
keeping our feet far apart and our weight distributed
over a greater area, the ice absorbed the weight
much easier and there were no disasters.
1. First, the amount of underground space
required in a square shelter far surpasses that of a
circular shelter in terms of area, or if you think
about it from the perspective of a fly on a wall (or
a person unfamiliar with shelter configurations),
the amount of empty and unused space along the
tops of walls and corners.
So why do so many websites knock the idea of
circular shelters?
SurvivalistTimes|Edition1|Page36
The integrity of a corrugated steel pipe is at
"optional" as an underground shelter.
Her answer to me convinced me of the necessity of
question. Many sites have promoted the idea that
a corrugated steel shelter is more apt to rust, or
flood, simply due to the properties in the steel, as
opposed to the "enduring strength" of a concrete
bunker. This is a valid concern, and one that
shouldn't be brushed aside.
efforts like hers and Jeff's:
She told me that when the F4 tornado struck their
home in 2010, they were hiding inside a closet in the
middle of the house. A 20ft travel trailer was picked
up outside, tossed across the yard, and landed
within inches of her and her children, on the other
side of the closet wall.
The Answer? Well, according to Jeff, that
question was addressed early on in the
development of All American Shelters, and was
one of the reasons he chose to start the business
in the first place: his years of experience with
deep sea diving has given him an insight into the
vulnerability of steel housing and the preventive
measures needed to ensure that issues like rust,
water (or other liquid) leakage, and collapse
doesn't occur.
While their family survived, others in their area did
not. She has seen the power of Mother Nature. And
she believes in the power of human nature. Both can
be destructive when they want to be.
The Gratrix's started a business they love, based on
their passion to help other families escape the
destruction they've experienced, whether it be
through natural causes or the hand of human error.
The American drive is strong; we protect our own and
we always come back from the ashes. The Gratrix's
are proof of that.
It is precisely this concern that sets All American
Shelters apart: no other shelter company has
taken the step to seal their units with industrial‐
strength marine sealant. Jeff does, painstakingly
and by hand, to ensure that each seam, hatch and
connecting point is fool‐proof and passes strict
inspection requirements carried over from his
years in dive industry. To be concise, failure is not
an option.
We left our day with All American Shelters full of
information, photos and excitement: excitement over
the entrepreneurial spirit at work, excitement over
the possibilities of what can be done with a little
ingenuity and a whole lot of grit, and most of all,
excitement over the future of a burgeoning American
business that's flourishing 20 feet below the surface
of the earth on a beautiful hill in Northern Texas.
Ironically, during our visit, a business call came in
from a local photographer who'd been referred to
All American Shelters as prospective "People to
Watch" in the Northern Texas region. He was
arriving just as we were leaving. And so his tour
was beginning as ours was ending.
All American Shelters website:
www.allamericanshelters.com
On the walk back to the car, I asked Quitha…why
do you do this? It's a shot‐in‐the‐dark business.
The economy is hurting. People have more on
their plate to worry about than something as
Special thanks to the Aquaponics Survival
Communities Magazine for allowing us to use this
article.
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SurvivalistTimes|Edition1|Page37
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