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The Record Heat Waves

With the record heat waves and drought across the nation, the American Preppers Network hopes that you have been prepared.  Disasters of any type can and do happen anywhere, at anytime, and without warning.  We are now witnessing and will continue to witness a prime example of how one disaster can cause a chain reaction leading to other disasters.  Here are some potential disasters to be aware of as a result of the drought and heat waves.


1) Water shortages.  Water is the number 1 most important necessity to survival.  The average human can only survive 3 days without water, and even less in a heat wave.  I hope you've stored some.  If the water system shuts down or does not have enough, you could turn on the tap only to have a few drips.  If you run into a situation where there is not enough municipal water supply to your home, start looking for other sources of stored water.

• Your hot water tank may have 30 - 50 gallons of water stored. 
• The top supply tank to your toilette is typically clean water that you can use.
• Your plumbing in your house could have a few gallons.  Open a higher faucet in your house as in a shower, sink, or upstairs source to relieve pressure, then open a lower outside faucet to retrieve water from your plumbing system.

Don't short change yourself on water!  Make sure you have plenty for personal consumption.  If you stop sweating, that means you are dehydrated!   

Got Water?

2) Heat.  Heat poses many risks, including but not limited to:

• Heat Stroke.  Watch family members closely, especially the elderly, watch for slurred speech and disorientation.  When in doubt, call for help.  Time lost is brain lost.  Never leave pets or children in a vehicle, and keep them out of the direct sun.  Drink lots of water.
• Fire.  Fires are much more common in the heat.  Things dry out and become more flammable.  Keep dry brush and trash picked up.  Do not store fuel in or around your house, and keep well ventilated in a cool area out of the sun.  Keep grass cut short, especially if your city is rationing water and not allowing watering of lawns.  Do not store any flammables in the direct sun or in your attic.  
• Vehicle breakdowns. Avoid driving unless it's absolutely necessary, or drive at nite. Check your fluid levels and make sure your oil and coolant are topped off.  Bring extra oil and coolant with you in case you need it.  DO NOT top off your fuel tank!  Make sure your tires are property inflated and not over or under inflated.  Bring extra water with you in case you do break down.  Drive with the A/C off when going uphill.  Watch your vehicles tempature when climbing grades.  If your car starts to overheat when going uphill, pull over at a safe location to let it cool.  Check to make sure your thermostat is working before you make your trip.

3) Blackouts.   The nations grids are maxed out.  With everyone using A/C, expect rolling blackouts.  If you are in a blackout, you can wrap sleeping bags around your refrigerator or freezer to help insulate it.  To conserve power, only use what you absolutely need.  Keep lights turned off and keep your A/C set to the warmest temperature that you can safely stand.  Do you have a generator?  Be prepared to use it.  Do you have plenty of non-perishable food stored?  If there is an extended blackout, you may need it.  Stores and gas stations will be shut down in a blackout.  Do you have an emergency battery powered radio and flashlights?

4) Food Prices   Expect food prices to increase.  Especially meat.  Many ranchers are butchering all of there livestock as there is not enough food and water to care for them, this means shortages in the future.  Produce crops are drying up. Prices of corn, wheat and other grains will increase.  Even produce grown in unaffected areas may increase in price as well due to demand.  If the blackouts are too severe, stores, gas stations and truck stops may close down temporarily disrupting the supply chain and preventing food from making it to the stores.

Stay safe during this heat wave and dought.  This is a serious and potentially devastating national disaster.


If you have tips, ideas, news, videos or pictures that you wish to share regarding this heat wave you can submit your article to americanprepper@yahoo.com.  If your article is chosen we will post it on your states preppers network blog.  Top articles will get posted on APN.  The top article of the week will win a free flashlantern valued at $49.95 (made in the USA).  Articles must be submitted before 7/29.

Feel free to copy and repost this article in it's entirety.  Credit source as AmericanPreppersNetwork.com

Here are some free helpful pdf files to download

Fire and Heat Waves
- ARC - Are You Ready - Fire

- ARC - Are You Ready - Heat Wave

- ARC - Are You Ready - Wildfires

- Fact Sheet: Fires

- Fact Sheet: Fire Safe

- WildFires

Water
- ARC - Food and Water in Emergency

- Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water 

- How To Make A Solar Still (Plastic Cover)

- Purification Of Water On A Small Scale 

- Simple Solar Still For The Production Of Distilled Water

- Slow Sand Filters

- Water Purification

- Water Treatment

Fire Safety 

- Fighting Fire 

- Fire Safety

Get More Free Downloads here:
http://preppers.info/Free_Downloads.html

Natural water around Georgia

Natural water around Georgia

By: Dizastrous
 
Rather than go into a long, drawn out story about why I decided to search for locations in Georgia that had natural springs - I will just share what I have found. Perhaps others know of some better sites and can share on here. Just good information for folks to know about where water may be found if needed. Granted, these are not secret locations by any means - but they may also not be widely publiscized either...Just something to print off for your binders at home.

Please add more links/locations if you know of them. Thanks!!

http://www.swimmingholes.org/ga.html
- General information and fairly up to date
http://www.findaspring.com/category/usa/georgia/
- not very robust, but more locations
http://www.hotspringsenthusiast.com/GA.asp
- GA hot springs
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesprings.html
- USGS education on springs


To add to this list go here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=284&t=9708


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Are you paying attention?

Are you paying attention?
By: genxdawg

I hope everyone is paying attention to what is going on in Japan in the aftermath of the devastating 8.9 earthquake and tsunami on Friday. The images and stories coming out of Japan are shocking and heartbreaking. CNN has done a very good job of covering the events and has really attempted to bring the viewer first person accounts of events and has gotten reporters in the areas impacted that are giving up to the minute details of how this tragedy is unfolding.

I tell you all of this to share with you what I've noticed. Everything that we think of when we think of preparedness is happening right now in Japan. Every situation that you may have considered that has motivated you to get ready for when a disaster strikes is playing out in front of our eyes right now.

No electricity. No drinking water. No communications. No sanitation. Food shortages. Shortage of medical supplies. No gasoline. No public transportation. Being stranded away from home with miles of destruction between you and your destination. All of the local stores are empty or destroyed. Mass movements of people away from the devastated and impacted areas.

If that isn't enough to get your attention, this thought ought to drive the point home to you. Japan is a preparedness culture that spends BILLIONS of dollars annually on infrastructure and disaster response in which the population has a very strong help yourself/help thy neighbor spirit and a real sense of social harmony. Still, this country and its people find themselves crippled by this natural disaster.

I would like to mention that I have been overwhelmingly impressed by how the Japanese people have responded to these events. There have been no instances of civil unrest, looting or increased violence or crime reported in the days since the disaster. This speaks to the honor and community of the Japanese people. They understand that actions like those benefit no one in such desperate times.

Unfortunately, our country does not share these preparedness qualities with Japan. For years, the United States just has not made preparedness and strength of infrastructure a priority. Because of this, America is at even greater risk if/when a major calamity strikes.

Simply because you are reading this message, you should count yourself fortunate that you are among the 10 percent (I'm being generous) of the US population that is aware that bad things can and do happen from time to time and because of that fact have chosen to begin to take steps towards readiness for you and your families. I am glad you are here. You are already a step ahead.

The situation in Japan is awful and we all wish everyone over there only the very best as they try to recover from this devastating event. I only urge you to not let their peril and strife pass without you using it to help you gain some understanding of the struggles that can become very real all too quickly.

Take care out there.

To respond to this post please go here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=284&t=9558

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Georgia Preppers Roll Call - All Preppers Please Check In

The American Preppers Network is conducting a network-wide roll call.  Whether you are a member or not please check in and let us know what you are doing to prepare.

This is a good opportunity to network with other preppers near you.

Georgia Preppers, to respond to the roll call please follow this link:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=283&t=9215

• Reply to the Roll Call and let us know what you have been doing to prepare.

If you are not yet a member of the forum you can register here for free:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register

Thomasville Georgia Thrives in Hard Times

Success story in Thomasville Georgia.



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How to Use Freshwater Fish for Saltwater Bait

If you live on the east coast anywhere from Massachusetts to Georgia, chances are you have a saltwater summer flounder season. There are your old stand-by baits like squid and spearing, but if you freshwater fish as well, you can switch up your saltwater fishing bait repertoire with some freshwater bait for some awesome results!

1)Catch some crappies or bluegills

2)Scale the fish using a scaler (see link for example below):



I prefer the type shown in the link, but have not found cheaper one yet. When I find a cheaper one, I will post it for you guys.

3)Once the skin of both sides of the fish is smooth and free of scales, fillet the fish with a 5 to 8 inch stainless steel knife. If you already know how to fillet a fish, fillet it as if you were preparing it for a two fillet meal. DO NOT SKIN THE FILLETS! A filleting example is posted below.



4) Take a fillet, meat part up, and situate it with the thick, upper part (stomach region) of the fillet furthest from you. The thin tail region should be closest towards you. Cut the fillet into long horizontal strips starting from the upper part of the fillet downwards. Do this with both fillets and you will end up with some beautiful looking strip baits as seen in the link below.



5) Hook a crappie or bluegill strip once through the top of the strip onto an English style hook fluke rig. You can add some squid strips and some spearing to make a bait sandwich a summer flounder won't be able to resist!

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Food Storage Prompts Week 4

This weeks’ preparation suggestion is to assess your basic first aid needs. Band-aids, gauze, calamine lotion, Neosporin, aspirin, Tylenol, cold and cough medicines or your home made substitutes. Gather up unused Ace bandages from long ago sprains, wash them, roll them and put them on a shelf or in a drawer specifically set aside for illness or first aid needs. Old 100% cotton sheets or pillowcases can be washed and cut into homemade bandages and stored in Zip-lock bags to keep them clean. Gather hand splints, foot splints any medical equipment used in the past for injuries and just gathering dust. Having things all in one place will make finding them so much easier!

Below I have shared a first aid kit that contains more than just the basic items to help us be better prepared; use this as a jumping off point and research online to make your home pharmacy and supplies as survival ready as you can.

The information was gleaned from this website:
http://www.equipped.com/survlkit.htm#COMPMEDKIT

Comprehensive Medical Kit
Qty.
Medical Equipment & Supplies
(NOTE: THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT PRIORITIZED)
Bandages and Dressings

20 Adhesive Bandages, elastic knit, 1" x 3"

20 Adhesive Bandages, elastic knit, 3/4" x 3"

4 Adhesive Bandages, foam tape, 2" x 3 1/2"

4 Adhesive Pads, 2" x 3 1/2"

4-3M "Tagaderm" transparent dressings, 2 3/8" x 2 3/4"

10 Adhesive Bandages, Fingertip, elastic knit

10 Adhesive Bandages, Knuckle, elastic knit

8 Adhesive Bandages, spot

2 Eye Pads

20 Gauze Pads, 2" x 2"

8 Gauze Pads, 3" x 3"

8 Gauze Pads, 4" x 4"

6 Non-adherent Pads, 3" x 4"

4 Burn Dressing, 2" x 3"

2 Burn Dressing, 4" x 4"

1 Adhesive Tape, waterproof, 2" x 10 yds.

1 Compress Bandage, 4"

4 Compress Bandages, 2"

2 Gauze Roll Bandages, 2"

2 Triangular Bandage, sterile, 40"

1 Moleskin, 3" x 4"

1 3" Elastic Bandage

Wound Treatment and Infection Management

7 pair Latex Examination Gloves

1-20 cc Irrigation Syringe w/ plastic catheter tip

2 Povidone Iodine Solution 10%, 2 oz. foil packs (to make wound irrigation solution - antiseptic)

1 Betadine (povidone iodine solution - antiseptic), 2 oz. plastic bottle

8 Betadine Swabs, .6 ml ampules (povidone iodine solution - antiseptic)

1 Mastisol (adhesive), 1/2 oz. plastic bottle

10 Cotton Tip Applicators

6 Alcohol towelettes, individual foil pouches

24 Wound Closure Strips, 1/4" x 2"

40 Wound Closure Strips, 1/4" x 4"

1 Super Glue, 2g in applicator

Medical Instruments and Equipment

1 EMT Shears, stainless steel

1 Splinter Forceps

1 Hemostat, curved

1 Tick Forceps

1 Fresnel Lens Magnifier, 1" x 4"

1 Thermometer, standard

1 Thermometer, hypothermia

3 Sutures, assorted

1 Sawyer "Extractor" Venom Pump Kit (removed from plastic case and packed in medical kit pouch) includes:
1 - Venom Pump
4 - Pump Adapter Cups
1 - Disposable Razor
1 - Instruction Pamphlet

Medications

1 Triple Antibiotic Ointment, 1 oz. tube

1 "Martin's BurnAway Plus," 2 oz. bottle (burns, stings, bites, minor wounds)

1 Aloe Vera Gel, 1 oz. tube

24 "Tylenol" (acetaminophen 500 mg.) (analgesic)

24 Bufferred Aspirin Tablets, 350 mg. (analgesic)

24 Vicodin ES Tabs (7.5 mg hydrocodone bitartrate and 750 mg. acetaminophen) (analgesic) #

24 Ibuprofen, 800 mg. (analgesic) #

12 Zithromax, 250mg Caps (antibiotic) #

12 "Malox Plus" Tabs (antiacid/antigas)

12 "Imodium-AD" (loperamide 2 mg) Caplets (antidiarrheal)

24 Pseudoephedrine, 60 mg. time release (decongestant)

24 Benadryl (diphenhydramine hydrochloride 25 mg.) (antihistamine)

24 Chlorpheniramine 12 mg. time release (antihistamine)

1 "Afrin" Nasal Spray, 1/3 oz. spray bottle (nasal decongestant)

1 "Sting-EZE" Insect Bite Treatment, 1/2 oz. plastic bottle (topical anesthetic)

2 Triamcenolone Cream .5%, 15 gm tube (topical treatment for contact dermatitis (poison ivy, etc), minor burns, skin irritations, etc.) #

2 packages Oral Rehydration Salts (dehydration)

Miscellaneous Items

3 Needles (sewing), assorted sizes

2 Single Edge Razor Blades

10 Safety Pins, assorted sizes

1 Tekna "Splash-Lite" Lithium Battery Flashlight

4 Paper Cups

1 Emergency Medical Guide - "A Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness & Travel Medicine"

1 Outdoor Research "Advanced First Aid Kit" pouch (6 x 11 x 4 inch fitted nylon soft case):
# = Prescription required.
All medications and many medical supplies also have a limited useful life. Keep track of expiration dates and replace as required.


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Food Storage Prompts Week 3

Stock up on laundry detergent, bleach, cleansers or baking soda, ammonia, disinfectant cleaners and wipes. Use your coupons, watch for sales and shop the store that gives you the best prices.
While you are thinking about these types of products…how would you do laundry if you had no electricity?
Many Preppers have a 5 gallon bucket with a plunger type device to help with doing laundry. I have a small hand washer and there is always the old fashioned galvanized tub and rub board.
Bleach is dually useful for cleaning and water purification purposes. If you dislike commercial cleansers then stock large quantities of baking soda for scrubbing items. Disinfectant cleaners and wipes are important to store for keeping areas as clean as possible and for sick room uses. This would be a good time to assess your supply of cleaning cloths, sponges, Brillo pads or whatever your favorite cleaning tools are. It makes the job so much easier if you have your preferred tools to assist you with cleaning.

A few quotes you should all remember

Some very important quotes we should all remember:

"If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law." - Henry David Thoreau

"The only way to deal with an unfree world, is to become absolutely free, that your very existence is an act of rebellion." - Albert Camus

"There is no Left or Right -- there is only freedom or tyranny. Everything else is an illusion, an obfuscation to keep you confused and silent as the world burns around you." - Philip Brennan

"The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws." - Cornelius Tacitus (55 - 117 A.D.)

To read the more of these quotes follow the link below to A few quotes......
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewforum.php?f=284&sid=21fa272fd43b3f9989814

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