Survivalist Times Issue 1

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Survivalist Times

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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


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

Mike

Typewritten Text

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The Right Kind of Survival

Knife


Could Save Your Life


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!


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.


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.



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.


Rottweiler, German Shepherd & Akita


HowToSurviveWhenTheGridGoesDown


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:


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.


TOP 10 ITEMS

EVERY

SURVIVAL KIT NEEDS


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.


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.


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!


The Real

Zombie Apocalypse


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?


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.



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.


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.


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?


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.


All American Shelters


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.


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.


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.


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?


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.

http://allamericanshelters.com/

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