By Tim Gamble
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Given the current state of world affairs, and the fact that we are fast approaching another Presidential election in the US, here are some specific items that you should be checking off you "To Do List" now.
Preparing for civil unrest and political turmoil:
- Learn to practice situational awareness and the OODA Loop (it is about a lot more than just paying attention.)
- Don't be where the trouble is likely to start. If at all possible, avoid large crowds, demonstrations and protests, large cities and urban centers, Washington, DC, and university and college campuses across the country.
- Review my article Four Strategies To Survive a Riot.
- If you do plan on being politically active, attend campaign events and rallies, or be part of any survival or political group, please review my article Spotting Federal Agents and Other Infiltrators.
- Communications is key. Have an emergency radio or three (home, bug out bag, work). Have a family communications plan. Read my article Do you have a Family Communications Plan?
- Please know first aid, or learn it if you don't. A good first aid handbook is the ACEP First Aid Manual, 5th Edition. Now is a good time to take a refresher course. Make sure you have first aid kits in your home, office, and vehicles. Refuge Medical has the best kits and training (made in America!). You'll get 10% off at checkout using this link: https://www.refugemedical.com/?sca_ref=3918033.4ftvoHMdig.
- I normally don't talk guns out of OPSEC considerations, but I will say this: If it is legal to carry where you are, please seriously consider doing so. Know and obey the laws, get all the proper licenses and permits, get well-trained, and practice gun safety, of course. But carry if you can.
Preparing for food shortages and high inflation:
- "Stack food to the rafters." (Most foods last much longer than the freshness date stamped on them).
- I honestly don't think it is possible to store too much food considering world circumstances. Again, stack it to the rafters.
- Plant a garden, even if you only have a small amount of space, or even just containers on the patio or balcony. (See my article: Small Plot Gardening Tips.)
- If you have room for chickens, you might want to seriously consider doing so.
Preparing for possible cyberattacks or EMP attacks:
- Make sure you have / print hard copies of recent bank and other financial statements.
- Make sure you have / print hard copies of important insurance papers, including account numbers and contact info.
- Make sure you have / print hard copies of your contacts (names, addresses, phone numbers).
- Make sure you have physical maps of your area, also your possible bug out locations.
- Make sure you have cash on hand (ATM machines, credit cards, debit cards, even paper checks may not work, and banks be open for business - cash may be the only way to transact business for a few hours to several weeks depending on the severity of the situation).
- Make sure you have / print hard copies of important prepper/survival information (example: print instructions from the CDC on how to use Potassium Iodine to treat radiation sickness since you will NOT be able to look it up after a nuclear or EMP attack).
Preparing for possible nuclear war:
- Get or print a hard copy of Cresson H. Kearny's Nuclear War Survival Skills at the link given in that article. (Get a free .pdf at http://www.oism.org/nwss/ and buy a paperback copy at Amazon.)
- Watch the videos on nuclear preparedness that SouthernPrepper1 has uploaded to his You Tube channel. David Kobler (aka SouthernPrepper1) also has book you might want to read: Nuclear War Survival: A One Hour Crash Course - Learn the basics fast, just in case. It is a short book that is exactly what it says it is - a crash course covering the basics for nuclear war survival.
- Make sure you have extra plastic sheeting, tarps, and gorilla tape to use as dust barriers from potential nuclear fallout. Dust kicked up by nuclear explosions can travel great distances, but the good news is that the fallout dust is contaminated by gamma radiation which degrades very rapidly. You will need to protect your homes/shelter, and especially your skin, eyes, and lungs, for the first 48 to 72 hours after a nuclear event.
- N95 masks and even those ear loop facemasks we all have now are actually good for protecting against fallout dust (dust being considerably larger than viruses). Long pants, long sleeves, shoes, safety glasses, ski masks, and gloves also work. Reduce the amount of exposed skin as much as possible. You don't have to have really expensive gear. If you do want to go the extra step, check out protective suits and N 95 masks on Amazon.
- In case you don't know, Potassium Iodide (KI) is used for radiation poisoning. They are not expensive, and are available without prescription. Click here to find them at Refuge Medical. According to the CDC "People should take KI (potassium iodide) only on the advice of public health or emergency management officials. There are health risks associated with taking KI." Learn more on the CDC website by clicking here.
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