Table of Contents
Introduction vii
Part 1 Be Prepared
Where to Start
Getting into the Prepper's Mindset 4
Preparing Your Family for an Emergency 7
The Right Tools 14
Who Needs a Tactical Knife? 16
First-Aid 101 20
Preparing for a Medical Emergency 25
Stocking Up
Water Storage 32
Planning Your Long-Term Storage Pantry 37
The Specifics of Food Storage 43
Have Access to Alternative Energy Sources 51
Home Security and Self-Defense
Survival Retreats 58
Reinforcing Your Home 65
Home Defense Firearms 72
Defending the Home with a Firearm 75
Self-Defense 87
Carrying a Concealed Firearm 91
Part 2 When Disaster Strikes
Immediate Concerns
How to Recognize the Arrival of Day One 106
Managing a Disaster 115
Personal Requirements for Disaster Survival 122
Shutting Off the Utilities 133
Emergency Heating and Cooling 136
When the Power Goes Out 141
Water 144
Communications 148
Medical Assessment System 153
Emergency First-Aid 155
Shelters, Evacuations, and "Bug Out Bags"
Shelter and Evacuation 168
Know When to Go 176
Evacuating 178
Building the Ideal Bug Out Bag 180
Specific Events
Earthquake 194
Fire 200
Hurricane 206
Tornado 211
Winter Storm 213
Flood 215
Thunderstorm & Lightning 219
Chemical Spill 221
Biological Infection or Outbreak 224
Nuclear Event 228
Terrorist Attack 233
Civil Unrest 237
Part 3 Surviving Without Much
Survival Basics
Conditions Affecting Survival 246
Ropes and Knots 251
Basic Knife Skills 266
Shelter 272
Clothing 287
Field Navigation 291
Food and Water
Finding Drinking Water 300
Basic Food Survival Rules 310
Edible and Medicinal Plants 312
Basic Tracking and Stalking Techniques 340
Snaring and Trapping 346
Guide to the Hunting Rifle 354
Fishing 367
Simple Methods for Cleaning and Cooking Fish 371
Field Dressing a Deer 377
Shinning: Six Quick and Easy Steps 381
Preparing Small Game 384
Fire Starting 386
The Primal Gourmet 393
Health and Hygiene
Hygiene in the Field 402
Boots and Foot Care 406
Wilderness First-Aid 410
Specific Environments
Jungle Environment 416
Mountain and Arctic Environment 419
Desert Environment 422
Ocean Environment 426
Part 4 Becoming More Self-Sufficient
Sustainability
Creating a Personal Sustainability Plan 434
Powering Down 443
Water Gathering and Farming
Stills and Wells 456
Green Solar-Powered Water Barrel 463
How Mini-Farming Works for You 467
Planning to Grow 474
Seed Starting 479
Getting the Most Out of Your Vegetables 488
Greenhouse from Old Windows 496
Canning 503
Old-Time Jerky Making 517
Energy Sufficiency
Leaving the Grid: Energy 522
Geothermal Energy 538
How I Built an Electricity-Producing Wind Turbine 545
Build a 60 Watt Solar Panel 557
Contributors and Their Works 567