Survival 101

[Crappingbear]

Damn, but alot of old names are gone who could teach this class in their sleep. I will proceed since there seems to be alot of folks who are ready to curl up and die if the Wal Mart closes. First, this thread is aborgininal and not urban, we can go urban later. 1) Get a dog. They will be your best alarm and personal protection if they trust you. 2) Have a good knife and know how to sharpen it. Its essetial to survival. 3) Know how to create fire from primitive ways. I use a minimum of 3 cheaters since I aint playing. 4) Know water gathering and purifying tecniques. 5) know map reading and star gazinging telegraphy. A lot to learn , but no big deal.

[fartpants]

6 ) learn how to feed yourself from nature cos the canned goods aint gonna last forever

[Crappingbear]

In a zom world, knowing how to safely and systematically "clear" a house/building would be life saving knowledge. Its a technique law enforcment use and you can even find some gun course tapes on doing it. When you talk of scavaging for food and gear, you are most at risk in the confined space of a house/building. Clearing the area safely is no small task. You sure don't want to get taken out while rooting in the pantry because you didn't look behind the couch for a zom. And when scavaging, don't forget to look for a multivitamens since you won't be getting everything you need in a food deficient world. I'd also grab all the Pepto Bismol tablets I could find because a case of the drizzles could likewise kill you and eating scavenged food will surely turn some bad stuff up. A hand pump and extra length of tubing would be handy for syphoning gas from cars and gas stations. As we learned here during the hurricanes, without power you can't pump gas but with a hand pump you could pull from the underground tanks. Brush up on first aid as thats also essential. I'd recommend books on "Ditch medicine" which is basically field treatments and more realistic than a generic medical first aid book. Every first aid kit should include superglue and duct tape for sealing cuts. Benedryl tabs for stings/bites is also good stuff.

[FoodFight]

You mean that the government won't provide for me? Seriously though, the siphon is a great idea. A second unit for dedicated water siphoning would be a must-have as well. Here's an interesting article on modern-day homeless survival. A lot of it could be adapted to a zom infested world as well. http://www.donrearic.com/homeless.htm

[Crappingbear]

You mean that the government won't provide for me? Seriously though, the siphon is a great idea. A second unit for dedicated water siphoning would be a must-have as well. Here's an interesting article on modern-day homeless survival. A lot of it could be adapted to a zom infested world as well. http://www.donrearic.com/homeless.htm Good to see you from the old days. Im actually having to remember old stuff for here just to stay current. Fire, water, crapping, shelter, evasion, and offense are the norms in a zom society. No big deal when you have survived the nasty hurricanes on the gulf coast.

[Wooley]

Can't find fault with a single idea Cb. The suggestion on law enforcement clearing tactics is especially good military urban tactics seem to all hinge on having teams and heavy weapons while police seem to operate alone or with limited backup and small arms. I'd also suggest building a library of useful books, magazines, instructional DVDs, websites, etc, and then begin to learn those skills as best as practicable, because when the boat starts sinking, it's too late to learn to swim. Some suggestions include The 99 Cent a Meal Cookbook and Eat Well For 99 Cents a Meal by Bill and Ruth Kaysing. The meals revolve around cheap, nutrition staples like wheat, corn, rice, beans, potatoes, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables. Nuclear War Survival Skills, by Cresson H Kearney. You can survive a nuclear war and the man who did research into low cost, expedient gear and skills for the Federal government shows you how. The Fifty Dollar and Up Underground House Book b Mike Oehler, along with The Hippie Survival Guide to Y2K and The Earth Sheltered Solar Greenhouse Book, also by Oehler. Man built a house in the 70s that stays reasonable warm in winter, cool in summer with no AC and a wood stove. It'd also protect you against small arms fire if it came down to that. The man's greenhouses carry vegetables like lettuce into December and he lives in Idaho. The Hippie Survival Guide, while dated, does have some useful advice, mostly, his description of a pit or trench house that he says can be built in a week with a shovel, axe, polyethelyne sheeting and logs. It looks similar to the dugouts that have sheltered people for years, if you put a plastic sheet on the roof and added a half foot of earth to it. The Ultimate Sniper by John Plaster and The Illustrated Manual of Sniper Skills by Mark Spicer. No, you're not going to be DevilDog, but in a world where ammo is limited, medical care is primitive, and the opportunity to train and field large numbers of defense forces is probably not likely, you'll need something to keep the Khardis types from killing you for your food. Both books cover camo, marksmanship, tactics, and more that'd be useful of a ad-hoc civilian defense force. Of particular note is far ambushes, stay behinds, and initiating explosives like civilian dynamite with bullets, snipers in the defense and offense, and more. Tracking: A Blueprint For Learning How by Jack Kearney. Former Border Patrolman who is one of the nation's top man trackers goes through how to learn to spot sign, and follow it. Tactical Tracking Operations by David Scott Donelan. Former tracker with the Rhodesian armed forces, and deals with tracking people who aren't likely to want you to find them, or be peaceful when you do. Websites: http://www.ahco.army.mil/site/index.jsp Collection of old US military manuals. Useful in low tech situations. http://www.cd3wd.com/CD3WD_40/CD3WD/index.htm Huge listing of appropriate tech work. What's appropriate tech? Stuff that's simple and designed to work in an area with minimal support, kinda like the world after zombies. http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=2467 The defensive arrangements made by Rhodesian farmers during the communist backed terrorist insurgency. http://www.archive.org/details/Rifle...1_Rifle_Part_1 Ammo doesn't grow on trees, so you'd better make them count. Learn how to judge wind, and adjust for it, steady up with your sling, etc. http://www.archive.org/details/Rifle...h_the_M1_Rifle Part 2 of above. http://www.archive.org/details/Training_vid German sniper training movie from WW2. These techniques wreaked a terrible price on Russian, US, and British soldiers. How well would they work on Khardis types? http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglib...ibwelcome.html I found a neat book on making alcohol using solar power, for running engines on, as well as one on producer gas, which ran much of Europe and Asia when gasoline was gut off during WW2. And on and on and on.

[FoodFight]

I want Wooley on my team. Trying to clear a building, even a one-storey alone is truly risky business. That makes team effort truly desirable (i.e. training before an event forces your hand). I'm all for self-suffiency, but if things get to the point where the only interaction between people is the exchange of gunfire then we really don't stand a chance as a species. Skills that can be traded for goods would be invaluable. Hunting, farming, metalworking, shade-tree mechanic (I believe you mentioned that one in the distant past) and many others can keep you fed if you're more useful as an asset to a community. My present condition limits my ability to travel, so I plan on staying put unless I am really in dire straights. Here's a weird, outside-the-box resource that has a some (little) value to preparedness. Note, no cats were harmed in the making of this sweater. http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=66063

[Wooley]

I want Wooley on my team. Thanks man!

[Yojimbo]

Can't find fault with a single idea Cb. The suggestion on law enforcement clearing tactics is especially good military urban tactics seem to all hinge on having teams and heavy weapons while police seem to operate alone or with limited backup and small arms. I'd also suggest building a library of useful books, magazines, instructional DVDs, websites, etc, and then begin to learn those skills as best as practicable, because when the boat starts sinking, it's too late to learn to swim. Some suggestions include The 99 Cent a Meal Cookbook and Eat Well For 99 Cents a Meal by Bill and Ruth Kaysing. The meals revolve around cheap, nutrition staples like wheat, corn, rice, beans, potatoes, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables. Nuclear War Survival Skills, by Cresson H Kearney. You can survive a nuclear war and the man who did research into low cost, expedient gear and skills for the Federal government shows you how. The Fifty Dollar and Up Underground House Book b Mike Oehler, along with The Hippie Survival Guide to Y2K and The Earth Sheltered Solar Greenhouse Book, also by Oehler. Man built a house in the 70s that stays reasonable warm in winter, cool in summer with no AC and a wood stove. It'd also protect you against small arms fire if it came down to that. The man's greenhouses carry vegetables like lettuce into December and he lives in Idaho. The Hippie Survival Guide, while dated, does have some useful advice, mostly, his description of a pit or trench house that he says can be built in a week with a shovel, axe, polyethelyne sheeting and logs. It looks similar to the dugouts that have sheltered people for years, if you put a plastic sheet on the roof and added a half foot of earth to it. The Ultimate Sniper by John Plaster and The Illustrated Manual of Sniper Skills by Mark Spicer. No, you're not going to be DevilDog, but in a world where ammo is limited, medical care is primitive, and the opportunity to train and field large numbers of defense forces is probably not likely, you'll need something to keep the Khardis types from killing you for your food. Both books cover camo, marksmanship, tactics, and more that'd be useful of a ad-hoc civilian defense force. Of particular note is far ambushes, stay behinds, and initiating explosives like civilian dynamite with bullets, snipers in the defense and offense, and more. Tracking: A Blueprint For Learning How by Jack Kearney. Former Border Patrolman who is one of the nation's top man trackers goes through how to learn to spot sign, and follow it. Tactical Tracking Operations by David Scott Donelan. Former tracker with the Rhodesian armed forces, and deals with tracking people who aren't likely to want you to find them, or be peaceful when you do. Websites: http://www.ahco.army.mil/site/index.jsp Collection of old US military manuals. Useful in low tech situations. http://www.cd3wd.com/CD3WD_40/CD3WD/index.htm Huge listing of appropriate tech work. What's appropriate tech? Stuff that's simple and designed to work in an area with minimal support, kinda like the world after zombies. http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=2467 The defensive arrangements made by Rhodesian farmers during the communist backed terrorist insurgency. http://www.archive.org/details/Rifle...1_Rifle_Part_1 Ammo doesn't grow on trees, so you'd better make them count. Learn how to judge wind, and adjust for it, steady up with your sling, etc. http://www.archive.org/details/Rifle...h_the_M1_Rifle Part 2 of above. http://www.archive.org/details/Training_vid German sniper training movie from WW2. These techniques wreaked a terrible price on Russian, US, and British soldiers. How well would they work on Khardis types? http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglib...ibwelcome.html I found a neat book on making alcohol using solar power, for running engines on, as well as one on producer gas, which ran much of Europe and Asia when gasoline was gut off during WW2. And on and on and on. Nice post, Wooley, well thought out. You da man, and I too would consider a brother like you to be a great asset on any shtf team.

[MaximusIncredulous]

How well would they work on Khardis types? You give that guy too much credit. When the shit hits the fan, people like him are going to be food. I guarantee it. Since I'm here, may as well throw in one more resource: http://www.churchofeuthanasia.org/e-...s/butcher.html Could be the only meat a person gets to eat once the canned stuff runs out.

[Yojimbo]

You give that guy too much credit. When the shit hits the fan, people like him are going to be food. I guarantee it. Since I'm here, may as well throw in one more resource: http://www.churchofeuthanasia.org/e-...s/butcher.html Could be the only meat a person gets to eat once the canned stuff runs out. Whoa. Good info to have, but I think I'd rather go out and forage for berries or poach squirrels, possums, cats and rats, maybe even dogs, before I break that taboo.

[Wooley]

You give that guy too much credit. When the shit hits the fan, people like him are going to be food. I guarantee it. Since I'm here, may as well throw in one more resource: http://www.churchofeuthanasia.org/e-...s/butcher.html Could be the only meat a person gets to eat once the canned stuff runs out. Khardis is gonna be someone's bitch 10 minutes after the lights go out, yeah. He talked a lot of shit, but I think he'll be standing around with everyone else, waiting for the lights to go back on, or lacking that, ice and MREs from the National Guard. There was a guy like him on a survival board, well known troll, who was a convicted felon. Guy talked a lot of shit about how he'd never go back to prison, how he'd wage a one man insurgency that'd bring the country to it's knees, like fly over the western states in a stolen plane and drop flares to start massive brush fires, stuff like that So what do you know? He swipes his wife's guns, gold, and ammo and splits one day, and like the saying goes, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. She narcs him out to the ATF, who, since he's a felon now in possession of firearms, go after him. They find him at the home of the woman he'd shacked up with, and take him in without raising their voices, it sounded like. He's a 3 time Federal loser now, and I think, if the doom and gloomers are right and things do take a turn for the worst, he may very well find himself in a Lloyd Henried situation. Thing is, for every type out there like him and Khardis, who are full of shit and will end up with a .30-30 soft point in the stomach on Z day plus 3 from some 60 year old farmer while they are stealing chickens, there are those who aren't, those who do intend to prey on others, and who do have enough cunning and do have the lack of morality to do it. Our prisons and mental institutions are full of them, and there's many, many more who haven't been caught, or who are on parole, etc. And they're going to hurt a lot of people before things stabilize if civilization takes a downturn and before things stabilize, probably when the remnants of recognized authority and civilian defense groups hunt them all down and kill them. It was that retard and his rantings that inspired me to start looking ways a lone family can take on and hold out against a group of such vermin, or how a hastily formed group of civilian volunteers, with a variety of arms, little if any training, nonexistent resupply, and leaders of varying quality could provide security for their communities against the criminal hordes. Improvised land mines, snipers, improvised mortars, and community defense forces based on the Boer Commandos or US Colonial Militia are some of what I've come up with. Funny thing-the dork from the other board was big on cannibalism too.

[Crappingbear]

Khardis is gonna be someone's bitch 10 minutes after the lights go out, yeah. He talked a lot of shit, but I think he'll be standing around with everyone else, waiting for the lights to go back on, or lacking that, ice and MREs from the National Guard. There was a guy like him on a survival board, well known troll, who was a convicted felon. Guy talked a lot of shit about how he'd never go back to prison, how he'd wage a one man insurgency that'd bring the country to it's knees, like fly over the western states in a stolen plane and drop flares to start massive brush fires, stuff like that So what do you know? He swipes his wife's guns, gold, and ammo and splits one day, and like the saying goes, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. She narcs him out to the ATF, who, since he's a felon now in possession of firearms, go after him. They find him at the home of the woman he'd shacked up with, and take him in without raising their voices, it sounded like. He's a 3 time Federal loser now, and I think, if the doom and gloomers are right and things do take a turn for the worst, he may very well find himself in a Lloyd Henried situation. Thing is, for every type out there like him and Khardis, who are full of shit and will end up with a .30-30 soft point in the stomach on Z day plus 3 from some 60 year old farmer while they are stealing chickens, there are those who aren't, those who do intend to prey on others, and who do have enough cunning and do have the lack of morality to do it. Our prisons and mental institutions are full of them, and there's many, many more who haven't been caught, or who are on parole, etc. And they're going to hurt a lot of people before things stabilize if civilization takes a downturn and before things stabilize, probably when the remnants of recognized authority and civilian defense groups hunt them all down and kill them. It was that retard and his rantings that inspired me to start looking ways a lone family can take on and hold out against a group of such vermin, or how a hastily formed group of civilian volunteers, with a variety of arms, little if any training, nonexistent resupply, and leaders of varying quality could provide security for their communities against the criminal hordes. Improvised land mines, snipers, improvised mortars, and community defense forces based on the Boer Commandos or US Colonial Militia are some of what I've come up with. Funny thing-the dork from the other board was big on cannibalism too. I missed the whole troll thing but will tack onto your idea of defending against raiders. My own personal take is that unless they are trained mil or law enforcement types, raiders will be fodder to be picked off and demoralized with each loss. I'm not Davy Crockett or Rambo but I am easily capable of slipping into the weeds and picking off a "gang" of badasses from their flanks. A few well placed .22 rifle slugs leaving their forces wounded will take the wind out of most of their sails. I'd much rather be in the bush with room to move than in a confinement thats a target of raiders. Anyone who lays a perimeter defense of an encampment needs multiple forms of defense. Against the living, a good to cause a bit of pain is to string our tri-tip fish hooks on monofiliment fishing line at eye level all throughout the outer areas of your encampment. Not fun digging that out of their faces. You can use a variant of that with cans with pebbles in them for alarms. No, you won't hear it, but your dog will. You do have your dogs with you, eh?

[SRP76]

Of course, all this survivalist stuff assumes you're going to make it out of your bedroom first. If you're unlucky, the first you'll even hear of the existence of zombies is when a group of them wakes you up when they barge through your back door at 3AM and start eating the cat in the hallway. If that's the case, you're going to have your hands full even getting to the point where any of that stuff will be useful.

[Debbieangel]

Ok, I am zombie meat, will you guys swing by and pick me up! I like your ideas but, dang, I need help all I got is my handy dandy griddle by my side? So, do a nice favor for a lady and pick me up. I CAN COOK!!! I CAN CLEAN!!! I CAN WASH YOUR CLOTHES!!! I have a good remedy for getting blood out of clothes soo please please pick me up!!