I have been in the prepper mindset for a long time but I would have to say it was hurricane Andrew in '92 that really spurred me on. I was young and the devastation from the storm had a real impact on me. Most preppers have some sort of EDC (Every Day Carry). What items do you carry with you at all times? Of course! LOL. I have a Maxpedition bag that goes everywhere with me. In it is a very high quality PSK that I assembled myself. The kit will cover almost anything I'd need if caught out. The bag also contains my pistol and spare mags, a HAM radio, flashlight and various small tools, Otis cleaning kit, marker panels for signaling, chemlights, and of course some first aid. I have a tourniquet attached to the outside of the bag with rubber bands so I can tear it off if needed. I keep it prepped so it can be applied one handed. I believe if you carry a gun you should have one with you, it's not always the bad guy that get's shot. Additionally I have a large pack I keep in my truck that could sustain myself for weeks if needed.
But for those that plan to do it the biggest thing they can do is to form a group, and it doesn't have to be in the formal sense either. Just staying friendly with the neighbors and knowing who has equipment and the skills to use them for instance. Always be willing to offer a hand because some day it could you needing their help. A single family cannot take care of themselves, they simply cannot provide adequate security and fulfill their daily needs, it takes a tribe, a group. What specifically would you like Backdoor Survival readers to learn from your book? I try really hard to put actual useful info into the books. I want to tell a good story but I want everyone who reads them to take something away, a nugget that you can use. But the overall idea I want people to take away is, it's up to you, the reader to take care of yourself, your family, your community and your nation. No one is going to do it for you, no matter what they say. Along with the next installment of the series I will have a novella coming out on Kindle in May.
I can also supplement these items if I'm going on a trip and I often do. Have you ever lived through a real disaster and therefore had to live on your preps? If so, for how long? What were some of the mistakes you encountered along the way? Live in Florida long enough and you will! We have lived through several hurricanes. In 2010 we had back to back storms but I was ready. We lost power for weeks at time, only to have it restored and taken out by the next storm. My youngest daughter was born the day before the storm hit so I was concerned about her and my wife and took steps to ensure they would ok. At the time I had three generators and powered my entire house short of the hot water heater and central air. For my wife and the baby I put a window shaker AC in the bedroom and ran generators 24/7. It was expensive and took a lot of gas but was worth it. While everyone around us was waiting in line for ice and water, my kids were watching satellite TV and living as though it was normal. It was kind of funny and to this day my oldest daughter looks forward to a big storm knocking the power out.
This is another great book from A. American. Be sure to enter the giveaway to win a copy of your own. Good luck! Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation! Gaye If you enjoyed this article, consider voting for Backdoor Survival daily at Top Prepper Websites! In addition, SUBSCRIBE to email updates and receive a free, downloadable copy of my e-book The Emergency Food Buyer's Guide. Spotlight: Resurrecting Home: A Novel (The Survivalist Series) Against all odds, Morgan Carter and his family have endured despite the deteriorating conditions surrounding them. Armed with survivalist tactics, Morgan's crew, alongside their new friends from the recently-liberated DHS camp, have worked together to build a sustainable community. But not all situations can be prepared for. When a massive wildfire threatens their very existence, they must decide: fight or flight? From the author of the hit Survivalist Series books, Resurrecting Home is an action-packed adventure that depicts the harrowing possibilities of a world gone awry, and the courage it takes to protect what matters most.
The plan worked very well and honestly there isn't anything I would do differently. It was validation for why I do what I do, we made it through with hardly any noticeable inconvenience. If not, what steps have you taken to ensure that your and your family are disaster-proof? While being disaster proof is a lofty goal, I think anyone who feels they are are foolish. You can be as prepared as you want to be and a fire could take it all away or a tornado could wipe it all from the face of the earth. You need to think about what are the emergencies you are most likely to face and prepare for them as best you can. Bugging out poses a major dilemma for many preppers. Family obligations, money, jobs, and health considerations all play a role in the bug-out, bug-in decision. What advice do you have for those that who will be required to bug-in? This is always a topic of conversation among preppers. Personally I'm in the bug in camp but that such a situational issue that you just won't know until you know.
Have you ever noticed the number of fiction authors in the preparedness and survival niche that are able to come back time and again with a new book to grab our attention? It always astounds me that there are so many knowledgeable individuals, who, as preppers or survivalists themselves, are able to continually come back with novels that are both entertaining and educational. With that introduction, today I share the next author interview and book giveaway in the Backdoor Survival Prepper Book Festival 8. A. American is back for his fourth interview and book giveaway, this time with Resurrecting Home: A Novel. This time around, A. American tells the story of Morgan Carter and his efforts to build a sustainable community. As with the entire Survivalist Series, there are a lot of twists and turns along the way, as nothing every happens according to plan. Enjoy the interview and be sure to check out the book giveaway below where you can win a copy of Resurrecting Home by A. American. What one single event (or point in time) did you decide to become a prepper?
For your convenience, here is a list of all of the books in the current Backdoor Survival Prepper Book Festival. Prepper Book Festival 8 – Non-Fiction Handbook – Version 12. 5 The Prepper's Financial Guide Saving Jimani: Life and Death in the Haiti Earthquake The Age of Earthquakes: A Guide to the Extreme Present Practical Prepping: No Apocalypse Required: An Everyday Approach to Disaster PreparednessDoctor Prepper's Making the Best of Basics Family Preparedness Plus: The Preppers Guide to Food Storage No list of books would be complete without my own book, The Prepper's Guide to Food Storage. The eBook print version is available. Help support Backdoor Survival. Purchases earn a small commission and for that I thank you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Prepper's Guide to Whole Food at Half the Price – Now Available
The novella will be set in the Kindle World of Steven Konkoly's The Perseid Collapse, it's been a lot of fun to do and I hope everyone enjoys it. This story is quite the departure from the Going Home series, with entirely different characters and whole new setting. The Giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway The deadline is 6:00 PM Pacific next Tuesday with the winner notified by email and announced on the Rafflecopter in the article. Please note that the winner must claim their book within 48 hours or an alternate will be selected. The Final Word When I first read A. American's Going Home, my foremost thought was that I hope to heck that I am close to home if there is a major disruptive event. The very last thing I want to do is trek home on foot, whether it is 10 miles or 50 miles. That said, through each of the books in the Survivalist series, I have been able to think through the strategies that will ensure my survival if the worst were to happen. Resurrecting Home is perhaps my favorite, if only because I feel so strongly about building a community of like-minded souls that will keep a close watch out for each other.