Shelter and Fire - the next 2 Pillars of Prepping

 

Following on from my last blog post – which concentrated on the first 2 Pillars of Prepping – water and food, I was at a meeting recently listening to an ex US Marine Sergeant who organizes a community group ready for the coming collapse...of the economy and of our current way of life.

Their group are encouraged to put away a 2 year food supply of shelf stable foods to be sure that they not only survive what is coming, but thrive.

A 2 year food pantry is a great goal to have and although it sounds daunting, is possible to achieve.

The best time to have begun your food supply store is probably 5 years or more ago. The next best time to begin is today....much better than tomorrow or next week, next month. Start today, even if it's only a few tins here, a bag of rice there. What ever you can afford. Every little helps, to get you started on your way to building up a 3 day supply....then 3 weeks....3 months and so on.

OK...on to the next 2 Pillars of Prepping - Shelter and Fire.

Preppers always try to have all their bases covered in multiple ways, so that if something is lost, broken or used, they have replacements to hand. The phrase - “2 is 1, 1 is none” - is one that you'll hear preppers refer to, meaning that if you have 2 things and you lose 1 of them – you still have 1. If you have only 1 thing and lose it, break it or use it – you have nothing. Always try to include a back up or failsafe into your preps.

And so to the subject of shelter. 

Your home is your primary shelter, but what do you have if it burns down, is destroyed in an earthquake, damaged in a storm? Do you have the skills and the materials to repair it? If not, do you have something else that you can set up to protect yourself and your family from the elements? 

Have you thought of a back up for your backup plan?

For example....if something happens to your home, do you have a garage or other shedding that could shelter you (or the ability and gear to quickly build a temporary cabin)....next option would be a caravan perhaps or a campervan....next would be a tent....even a tarp or two is better than nothing. You need to have a place where you can shelter from the elements and sleep in a degree of comfort and safety.

A few dollars spent at Bunnings, Mitre10, or any hardware store will buy you a couple of tarps and a length of rope with which you can construct a basic shelter. The picture below shows several ways of erecting a tarp shelter.



And this link will take you to a YouTube video demonstrating 15+ ways of erecting a tarp shelter

https://youtu.be/ZV92xni5q8w

There are many other examples of shelter making to check out if you search the videos on YouTube.

But don't just watch the video. Buy a tarp and a rope and try it yourself in the back yard - now - while you're under no pressure. Practice until it becomes second nature, so that in a real SHTF event you know exactly what you have to do.


The next thing is fire. 

The ability to build and light a fire – for warmth, to cook and to boil water to make it safe to drink. A fire could be used for a number of other purposes too...light, protection, signaling, medical/surgical (for sterilizing equipment or for cauterizing wounds), forging metals etc.

Some people will say that they don't need to learn this because they have a camping stove and a lighter. But in an extended SHTF event, how long will it be before your camp stove and your lighter have used up all their fuel? What then?

Here are links to four videos on camp fires and how to light them.....including how to build a stealth fire using a Dakota Fire Hole (produces less smoke and because it is below ground the flame will not be visible from a distance). That video - the 4th one listed below - has some language in it that may not be for the politically correct/sensitive types. Be warned...and otherwise...enjoy!

https://youtu.be/iu_MxwISe00

https://youtu.be/X3-Tpf1KPSs

https://youtu.be/Lodpf5SRjDw

https://youtu.be/RlPSEfcz718

That's all for this post. Please keep checking back from time to time for new posts and updates.

Good luck. Keep prepping....or start prepping today.


The next articles coming up will most likely be on bug out bags/emergency go bags and the 5th Pillar of Prepping – Security.


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