“Solar Maximum Alert: U.S. Braces for Potential Disruptions as Sun Peaks in Energy Cycle”

coronal mass ejection, Electro Magnetic Pulse, EMP, Faraday Cage, Natural Disasters

Things are going to get dangerous

A Solar Surge: America’s Dance with Cosmic Forces

As the sun reaches the zenith of its 11-year energy cycle, NASA has announced we are entering a volatile phase. The “solar maximum” promises to unleash powerful solar storms and flares capable of disrupting satellites, causing blackouts, and impacting global communication.

The Awakening of a Solar Giant

“Approximately every 11 years, the sun’s magnetic poles flip, marking a dramatic shift from quiescence to a frenzy of activity,” explains Dr. Kelly Korreck, an astronomer from NASA’s Heliophysics Division. This cycle, known as Solar Cycle 25, has reached its peak, bringing with it an increase in geomagnetic storms and offering spectacular yet daunting displays of the aurora across the United States, even potentially visible from locations as far south as Queensland in Australia.

Beauty and the Beast: The Aurora and Its Risks

Bill Murtagh, a program coordinator at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, warns, “The grandeur of an aurora often belies its inherent danger. These natural light shows, while mesmerizing, signify powerful solar activity that could threaten our critical infrastructures.” This May, the most potent solar storm witnessed in two decades enveloped the Earth, inducing some of the most intense auroras observed in over 500 years.

The Price of Solar Beauty: A $2.6 Trillion Risk

The history of solar storms narrates a series of disruptions that seemed almost otherworldly. In 1972, a mysterious detonation of about 25 sea mines off the coast of Vietnam puzzled the U.S. military until it was attributed to a solar anomaly. The Halloween solar storms of 2003 are another stark reminder, having disrupted over half of Earth’s satellites and costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages, including the destruction of a $640 million U.S. satellite.

When Auroras Burn: The Carrington Event Echoes

The largest recorded solar storm, the Carrington Event of 1859, lit up the tropics with auroras and set telegraph machines ablaze. This historical event serves as a sobering reminder of what could happen today. A modern recurrence could cripple our power grids and rack up to $2.6 trillion in economic damages in America alone, according to a study by Lloyd’s and Atmospheric and Environmental Research Inc.

Our Growing Vulnerability Poses Grave Dangers

Dr. Hannah Schunker, a solar physicist from the University of Newcastle, highlights our increased risk. “As we grow ever more dependent on space-based technologies like GPS, even a minor disturbance could ripple through every aspect of our lives—from banking to emergency services.”

The Sound of Solar Silence: Preparing for the Next Big Flare

Monitoring sunspots, those planet-sized magnetic islands on the sun’s surface, helps scientists predict significant solar events. “These sunspots are the birthplaces of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which, if aligned correctly, could hit Earth within hours,” notes Dr. Schunker. These flares and ejections can intensify radiation exposure at higher altitudes, posing risks to flights over the poles and endangering astronauts with increased radiation.

A Call for Advanced Forecasting

The pursuit to extend geomagnetic storm forecasting from a few days to a week is ongoing. “If we can unravel the physics of sunspots, we can better predict and prepare for solar events,” Dr. Schunker concludes, underscoring the critical need for advanced space weather forecasting.

As we stand on the brink of potential solar-induced chaos, the challenge remains not just to marvel at the sun’s power but to mitigate its threats, ensuring that our technological society can withstand the fiery tempests of our star.

For you as a SurvivalPrepper you need to ensure you are prepared for a serious disruption to all electronic services like GPS, banking, refrigeration, heating – everything that is run and controlled by electronic devices could stop working for extended periods. How will you be able to cope?

Be Aware – Microsoft Now Automatically Checks and Controls Everything You Do on Your Computer

computer safety, EMP

From 1^st of October 2023 rule violations against Microsoft’s Code of Conduct include “hate speech’ and “offensive” language – and Microsoft actively encourages Governments and so called “whistle-blowers’ to alert them to “offensive” language.

If you, as a Microsoft customer, do not adhere to a vague code of conduct when using the quasi-monopolist’s products, your account may soon be blocked – and you will lose access to all paid or free services and the data stored there. Recourse is available – but only at Microsoft’s discretion.

If you’re wondering what this may have to do with you as a survival-prepper – read on, because it will be come quite clear as we dive deeper into what is behind that recent move from Microsoft!

According to Microsoft’s new “Service Agreement”: (paraphrased) “Serious or repeated violations of our policies (…) may result in account suspension. Sometimes a ban can be permanent. If permanently suspended, the owner of the suspended profile will lose all licenses, subscriptions, membership times, and Microsoft account balances.”

You can lodge an objection with Microsoft. Many of the rule violations mentioned are criminal acts, from child pornography to phishing. But there are also terms in the Code of Conduct that we have learned are extremely flexible, such as “hate speech” and “offensive.” Many now describe it as hate speech when the government or a person is simply criticized. It is also relatively easy to come into conflict with copyright protection without being criminally inclined.

Microsoft promises to only impose proportionate penalties for serious and repeat violations. But there is nothing in the set of rules that would offer a halfway credible guarantee that exactly the same thing is not happening as with the social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Co. Namely, that they censor, block and regularly far too much under pressure from governments report on their efforts in this regard. Often, people are censored, blocked and terminated in a completely non-transparent manner because of the smallest or incomprehensible offenses, preferably against critics of the government and international organizations such as the WHO and those who deviate from their narrative.

Invitation to abuse of power

The platforms have even set up special pages for governments to use to express their censorship requests in a privileged manner. Obviously, this was and is often complied with. This is also easily possible and perhaps even expected at Microsoft under this service agreement.

The practical thing for governments: They no longer have to prove criminal wrongdoing to a rebellious artist or author if they want to silence him or her. Suffice it to point out to Microsoft that one of the rubber paragraphs of the “service agreement” has allegedly been violated. This possibility is even explicitly addressed on the website for enforcing the rules:

“We use reports from users, authorities and trusted whistleblowers to alert us to possible policy violations.”

Clearly, a company must react if an authority reports continued criminal behavior using its products. But why should a company specifically invite governments and authorities to point out violations of its own policies that go far beyond this?

This is an open invitation to abuse of power. Why should Microsoft take on a government that abuses its privileged right to propose censorship, why insist on a different assessment in individual cases? A government, especially a powerful one, can cause a lot more trouble for the company than a customer with an unfairly blocked account.

A current example is the social media platform Rumble’s harsh response to the British Parliament, from which it received a letter asking whether and when it would demonetize the content of anti-government entertainer Russell Brand, who was confronted with allegations of sexual misconduct, as the Google subsidiary YouTube did as soon as the allegations became known. Rumble reminded Parliament of the presumption of innocence until convicted in court as a central pillar of the rule of law. (Demonetization means that no advertising can be shown.) Tiktok and other platform operators also received the letter from the British Parliament.

Vague rules open the door to arbitrariness

Even generating nude images is a violation of Microsoft’s code of conduct. Nude painting, nude photography, lovers posing for each other, all of this can lead to account suspension. According to the wording, it is enough to just generate offensive language; you don’t even have to spread it.

Apparently, there is no commitment from Microsoft to justify sanctions. The company can therefore act as has long been common practice with social media platforms and financial service providers such as PayPal. A user account is simply blocked with reference to unspecified rule violations and the customer can guess why and how best to counteract it or lodge an appeal. One automatically thinks of Kafka’s Josef K., who is persecuted and sanctioned by the authorities without being charged, and who constantly comes up empty when he tries to defend himself.

Automated total monitoring

On a page linked from the service contract about the “enforcement processes” you can find out:

“At Microsoft, we use a combination of automated technology and trained human reviewers to find and take action against content or behavior that violates our terms and policies. (…) We use hashes [digital checksums] from known illegal and harmful content. We also use our own technology and classifiers to find harmful content distributed through our Services.”

Machine learning, such as text-based classifiers, is used to detect, for example, hate speech that someone might have generated on their Microsoft word processing program and which was then stored in the Microsoft cloud, as is now almost impossible to avoid. If even German and other public prosecutors are ignorant or arbitrary enough to take action against artists and authors for glorifying Nazis because they critically quote fascism and Nazis, do we really want to trust an artificial intelligence and some underpaid moderators in India to do it right? Or classify correctly whether someone meant a hate speech quote seriously, critically or ironically?

Conclusion

Since Microsoft constantly combs through all user data stored in its cloud in an automated manner, users are exposed to a highly sophisticated, almost all-encompassing surveillance infrastructure that is constantly evolving based on their large amount of data and is becoming increasingly complex and inscrutable. You have no control over what the algorithms are looking for, what patterns they are putting together and storing. Such a surveillance infrastructure is of course a hit for all secret services and authorities, not just here in the US but also in all other countries where Microsoft operates.

What can you do to protect yourself and your family from that daily data collection, snooping and scrutinizing of every single word you write, receive, forward on, share, critique or comment on?

Personally, I have been using a Linux operating system for a long time and avoid using Microsoft products wherever I can. You can do almost everything you want to do on a Windows PC on a Linux computer or laptop. Even the interface has similar icons and it works very similar. It is a very easy to learn the basics and it will also be a great “Plan B” gadget you can have when – not if! – a massive Microsoft hack will render most computers useless or open to malware, viruses and extortion.

If you want to know a little bit more – here are 10 Reasons Why Linux is Better Than MacOS (Apple) and Windows (Mircosoft).

If I knew more about computers, I would give instructions. But with a little asking around and some good YouTube tutorials, almost anyone should be able to find someone who can help say goodbye to Microsoft.

What Are The Dramatic Impacts of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Volcanic Eruption on Global Weather Patterns?

Natural Disasters

Every day our news channels and publications are full of stories telling us that global warming and man-made climate change are causing widespread natural disasters.

We are being bombarded with reports of ‘catastrophic’ heatwaves, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and rampant wildfires in North America, Canada and Northern Europe.

We are being told that we have more severe weather events and resulting disasters.

However, the statistical data shows no dramatic increase in natural disasters around the globe due to human made climate change and fewer people than ever lose their lives in severe weather events.

Far greater than any human caused interference in the world’s climate are naturally occurring disasters like the one you are going to read about. Their consequences are far reaching and will impact our global climate for years to come.

These are the events that we need to prepare for and be vigilant about.

The following Post tells you about the impact the underwater eruption of the Hunga Tonga underwater volcano in Tonga had on global climate – and event that had nothing to do with human intervention.

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in the South Pacific in January 2022 sent shockwaves not only through the region but also around the world. While the immediate devastation was felt in Tonga and neighboring countries, the far-reaching consequences of this volcanic eruption extended to impact weather patterns across the southern hemisphere.

The eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai has triggered widespread torrential rains and flooding disasters in regions as distant as Brazil, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Eruption:

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption was a significant geological event that occurred on January 15, 2022. It created a massive plume of volcanic ash, gases, and aerosols that rose high into the stratosphere. The eruption was particularly noteworthy due to its intensity and the significant amount of material ejected into the atmosphere. The volcanic ash and sulfur dioxide released during the eruption played a crucial role in altering weather patterns across the southern hemisphere.

Impact on Global Weather Patterns:

Brazil:

One of the most unexpected consequences of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption was its impact on Brazil’s weather. The volcanic ash and aerosols released into the stratosphere scattered sunlight and reduced the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. This phenomenon led to a cooling effect known as “volcanic winter.”

As a result, Brazil experienced uncharacteristic shifts in its weather patterns. The country faced an increase in rainfall and cooler temperatures. Torrential rains occurred across many regions, leading to severe flooding and landslides. Major cities such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo were particularly affected, with infrastructure damage and loss of life.

Australia:

Australia, too, felt the reverberations of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption. The volcanic aerosols in the atmosphere disrupted the normal circulation patterns in the Southern Hemisphere, which contributed to an increase in rainfall across several Australian states. Queensland and New South Wales were hit particularly hard by heavy rainfall, leading to widespread flooding.

The flooding had a devastating impact on communities, agriculture, and infrastructure. Thousands of people were displaced from their homes, and the economic consequences were significant. In addition to the immediate flooding, there were concerns about waterborne diseases and long-term environmental impacts.

South Africa:

Further south in Africa, South Africa experienced unusual weather patterns as well. The volcanic eruption disrupted the Indian Ocean Dipole, a climate phenomenon that affects rainfall patterns in the region. This led to an increase in rainfall and flooding events in various parts of the country.

The torrential rains overwhelmed local drainage systems and riverbanks, causing severe urban flooding. Rural areas faced challenges such as crop damage and soil erosion. South Africa’s vulnerability to such extreme weather events was further exposed, emphasizing the need for robust disaster preparedness and response mechanisms.

New Zealand:

Closer to the eruption’s origin, New Zealand experienced not only increased rainfall but also unique atmospheric effects. The volcanic aerosols in the stratosphere caused spectacular sunsets and sunrises, earning the country the moniker of the “red sky nation.” While visually stunning, these phenomena were a stark reminder of the eruption’s global reach.

The increased rainfall in New Zealand led to flooding in various regions, affecting communities, infrastructure, and agriculture. Rivers burst their banks, and many areas struggled with the aftermath of the deluge. These events highlighted the interconnectedness of global weather systems and the potential for distant volcanic eruptions to influence weather patterns.

Conclusion:

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in Tonga had far-reaching consequences on global weather patterns, particularly in the southern hemisphere. Regions as distant as Brazil, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand experienced increased rainfall, torrential rains, and subsequent flooding disasters. The volcanic aerosols disrupted normal climate patterns, leading to uncharacteristic weather events.

These events underscore the interconnectedness of the Earth’s climate systems and serve as a stark reminder of the planet’s vulnerability to natural disasters. The impacts of such eruptions extend far beyond the immediate vicinity, affecting our communities, economies, and ecosystems on a global scale. As we continue to grapple with the aftermath of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption, it is imperative that we prepare for and respond to future natural disasters.

Tonga disaster highlights the hidden dangers of underwater volcanoes

The following article is from the New Zealand newspaper STUFF, full link to article at the end. Photographs: credit to Matthew Abbott from The Washington Post

First came the burnt-match smell of hot sulphur. Then a roar from below the water.

The towering undersea volcano known as Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai had awakened, and on a balmy afternoon in January 2022 it began blasting its insides into the sky above this Pacific island chain with a force unmatched in recent history.

People thousands of miles away heard the explosions. The plume of ash and gas blotted out the sun. Tsunamis hurtled outward, engulfing villages in Tonga’s low-lying islands and crashing into shorelines as far away as Peru.

It was one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions ever recorded. And it was a wake-up call.

Scientists say the event underscored the dangers posed by submarine volcanoes, which are found by the thousands in every ocean on Earth, some of them perilously close to coastlines.

But more than 18 months after the historic eruption, even the most vulnerable nations are struggling to keep closer watch over these underwater behemoths.

Experts estimate there are dozens of active seamounts around the globe that could, under the right circumstances, erupt like Hunga, with the potential to claim hundreds of thousands of lives and reshape coastlines.

Roughly a million other submarine volcanoes exist globally, most of them millions of years old and extinct.

These are some of the world’s least-monitored natural hazards. Only a handful of the most accessible submarine volcanoes have ever been mapped in detail. Even veteran volcanologists say they know little about what goes on inside these magma-filled structures between eruptions.

Matthew Abbott/For The Washington Post

Most of the homes and buildings in Nomuka township that were close to the waterfront were destroyed by a tsunami.

The challenge in studying them involves both cost and logistics. The specialised equipment used for monitoring is expensive – often too much of a financial burden for well-heeled research institutions, let alone small developing nations such as Tonga.

Many of these volcanoes span long stretches of the ocean. Deploying the instruments is arduous, even in shallow waters, requiring skilled crews and a network of vessels and communication devices to provide real-time data.

“It is difficult to say which one will be next,” said Kenna Harmony Rubin, a professor of geochemistry and volcanology at the University of Hawaii, “and when.”

Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai formed in early 2015 after a moderate volcanic eruption fused two uninhabited islands into a single landmass. The volcanic cone was visible above the waves.

The volcano extends about 1981m down to the ocean floor.

Its caldera, the craterlike depression at the summit, dipped roughly 150m below sea level prior to the 2022 eruption.

Like other volcanoes, Hunga’s interior contains vents and magma reservoirs that make up a volcanic plumbing system extending deep into the rock.

As the magma churns through this system, gases can build up, increasing the pressure inside. Eruptions can happen when the internal pressure becomes too strong for the rock to hold back.

Matthew Abbott/For The Washington Post

More than 18 months after the eruption, there is no sign of rebuilding at the Vakaloa Beach Resort, a tourist destination on Tonga’s main island.

‘An impending doom’

Volcanic activity is a fact of life in Tonga. Residents are well attuned to the risks posed by falling ash and ocean swells that can result from shallow-water eruptions – though nobody could have predicted the events of January 2022.

The kingdom, formerly a British protectorate, is made up of about 170 tiny, mostly flat islands, only about a quarter of which are inhabited. Scattered throughout the archipelago are 12 active underwater peaks, including Hunga. All are part of the Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone, where one tectonic plate dives beneath another.

This seismically active region of the Pacific stretches from New Zealand’s North Island to the northwestern tip of the Tonga island chain.

Most of the country’s roughly 106,000 residents live on the main island of Tongatapu, a 259-square-kilometre atoll about the size of Sacramento.

The economy is driven mainly by agriculture, along with tourism and fishing. Many Tongans rely on small plantation farming for a living, harvesting cash crops such as coconuts, squash and root vegetables. Many also depend on remittances sent from family members who work abroad.

Hunga had been mostly inactive for seven years when a series of small eruptions began in December 2021. An ash plume became visible from Tonga’s capital city, Nukualofa, about 65km away on Tongatapu’s north coast.

Matthew Abbott/For The Washington Post

Atata island was almost entirely submerged with seawater after the Hunga eruption.

Sulphur dioxide drifted across Tonga’s other island groups, while bursts of steam and ash spilled over the volcano’s edge.

On Tongatapu, people would sometimes gather for drinks and watch the volcano bubble. Virginie Dourlet, a French teacher who until recently lived in Nukualofa, said she remembers wondering, “Is the baby island going to survive?”

By early January 2022, the activity seemed to have subsided. The Tonga Geological Services declared the volcano dormant on January 11.

But a few days later, the sulphuric odour wafted over the Tongan capital. The sky turned an otherworldly blue and purple, the result of fine ash particles scattering the sun’s light. “It was gorgeous,” Dourlet said, “but in an impending doom kind of way.”

Soon, the water along the Nukualofa waterfront began to retreat, creating whirlpools. Locals instantly recognised this as a sign of a coming tsunami.

“People completely freaked out,” Dourlet said.

Sela Faitangane, a 30-year-old teacher and mother of two, was walking through a wooded part of Tonga’s Nomuka island when she heard a thunderous boom. The ground beneath her shook.

Matthew Abbott/For The Washington Post

Sela Faitangane holds her daughter Nunia outside Nomuka’s only hospital, which was destroyed by the tsunami.

She emerged from the tree line and saw friends and neighbours running inland. People were shouting frantically, some of them carrying children in their arms. Ocean water was rushing over the landscape.

A boy called out to her, “You can’t go there!”

“He meant you can’t go near the road,” Faitangane recalled, “because it was already flooded with the sea.”

Faitangane scrambled into her car with her husband, her newborn baby and 4-year-old son, and headed for high ground. More booms came, so loud that they left a ringing in Faitangane’s ears. Speeding away, they watched in terror as a wall of water inundated their neighbourhood, toppling houses.

The sky darkened. Ash rained down. Faitangane and other Nomuka residents sheltered on a hillside. When they ran out of clean water for making baby formula, Faitangane had to hand her infant daughter to another mother to breastfeed.

“On that day,” Faitangane said, “we thought it was the end of the world for us.”

A global team of researchers led by Shane Cronin, of the University of Auckland, and the Tonga Geological Services spent months investigating what made the Hunga eruption so violent.

Matthew Abbott/For The Washington Post

Tonga’s geological survey team discusses tsunami-mapping at the country’s Geological Services office in Nukualofa.

The Hunga eruption appears to have started with a mixing of different types of magma inside the volcano, which may have caused a rapid buildup of gas, Cronin’s team found.

The pressurisation initiated the eruption and expelled molten rock with such force that it caused a downward collapse of the caldera.

The surrounding ocean rushed in over the hot molten rock rising through the structure.

Steam and magma blasted through the volcano’s narrow fissures, while also tearing open new cracks and allowing more magma to froth upward.

The result was a chain reaction of explosions as the water drained into the volcano and encountered fresh magma. Volcanic material shot up at hypersonic speed, forming a plume that stretched 36 miles into the sky.

The eruption generated two types of tsunamis. One was most likely caused by the caldera collapse displacing a huge volume of seawater. The other may have been caused by atmospheric shock waves from the eruption.

Tsunami waves – some of them topping 15m – crashed into Tonga’s islands within an hour of the eruption. Hours later, smaller waves reached other coastlines around the world.

Southwest, on the island of Atata, Lisala Folau was out walking when the waves struck. He grabbed hold of a mangrove tree as the waters tossed his body. At one point, he could hear his son calling out to him, but he didn’t answer because he didn’t want his son to risk his life trying to rescue him.

Folau held on like that for 27 hours, he said, thinking the whole time, “I can’t lose the tree.”

Matthew Abbott/For The Washington Post

Lisala Folau sits near the mangrove tree he clung to for 27 hours to survive the tsunami.

On another part of the island, Elisiva Tu’ivai and her grandmother also clung to mangroves for hours as the sea rocked them. They struggled to keep their heads above water.

“I was scared I would die,” Tu’ivai said, as “the water washed me in and out.”

In the brief respite between wave swells, they managed to wade back to land. They clambered to the island’s highest point, the path strewn with broken trees and rubble that had been her neighbours’ homes.

As the night went on, other survivors emerged from the water. The next day, they caught a boat to Tongatapu, beginning what would be a nearly year-long period without homes of their own.

In total, the Hunga eruption spanned from the afternoon of January 15 to the next morning. The shock wave propagated around the planet, felt more than 11,200km away in India.

The tsunamis ravaged Atata, as well as Tonga’s smaller Mango Island, about 95km away. Four people died. Some 84% of the country’s population was affected by the blast, either by being displaced or suffering damage to their properties and plantations.

Tonga went dark for days. Cables that supplied the island nation with phone and internet connectivity were severed. The volcanic plume was the biggest and highest ever viewed by satellite, rendering the country unobservable from the sky and leaving people around the world worried about the severity of the damage.

“We couldn’t see the impacts on the ground. Was the island just gone? Had the entire population died? Even when the ash cloud disappeared, we still didn’t know because the undersea cables were severed,” said volcanologist Sam Mitchell of the University of Bristol.

“The satellite images were coming out and we still hadn’t heard from them. It was traumatising.”

Faitangane spent a day on the hill on Nomuka with her family and others waiting for the waters to recede.

“When we came down, there was nothing left for us,” she said. “Not even our house, our clothes, no food.”

Rescue boats arrived and provided some relief, she said. The family initially lived in a tent, then moved into an old house that withstood the tsunami. “As long as we feel shelter over our head,” she said, “that’s OK with us.”

‘We will never forget’

The devastation in Tonga has renewed focus on the dangers of underwater volcanoes around the world and has sparked questions about which one might be next to blow. But experts caution that even comparatively wealthy nations will struggle to keep tabs on threats lurking offshore.

“The current state of monitoring is simply that almost none are monitored at all,” said David Clague, a volcanologist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California.

“This lack of monitoring is not neglect, but simply that there are many such potentially active submarine volcanoes, and even a single seismometer is expensive to install and to maintain.”

The Western Pacific is now the prime area of concern, said Bill Chadwick, a research professor at Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Centre. Explosive activity is common in subduction zones. A 2800km stretch starting near Japan and extending south in the Western Pacific is a particular danger point.

The same is true for the subduction zone that links Samoa, Fiji and Tonga, as well as for the one near the Aleutian Islands, a chain of large volcanic islands in Alaska that are geologically similar to Hunga.

Matthew Abbott/For The Washington Post

Displaced by the tsunami, former residents of Atata gather for a church service.

Some of the known submarine volcanoes could pose a significant hazard to nearby populations. Marsili, a 2.9km-tall volcano beneath the Tyrrhenian Sea, sits a mere 175km south of Naples. Recent models have shown that activity there could trigger a tsunami with potential waves of almost 30.5m, swallowing the Sicilian and Calabrian coasts.

The challenge is that “submarine volcano monitoring is in its nascency,” said Rubin, of the University of Hawaii, “well behind the state-of-the-art for volcanoes on land.”

Scientists must constantly monitor for rapid changes at the surface that can indicate accumulation of magma below, as well as the buildup of toxic gases and increased seismic shaking that can indicate an increase in pressure.

Real-time monitoring requires telecommunications between instruments deployed on the seafloor and a laboratory, with either a cable connecting the instrument to the lab, or a buoy wired to a device capable of transmitting acoustic data via satellite.

Research operations to volcanic sites can cost an estimated US$36,000 (NZ$61,220) per day, while installing cables nearby to pick up activity runs into the millions.

“For the several hundred known submarine volcanoes, such a network is simply too expensive to contemplate,” Clague said.

In the long term, Rubin says more affordable solutions for monitoring submarine volcanoes may be on the horizon, such as swarms of inexpensive next-generation sensors that could collectively send data back to shore for computers to analyse.

“We aren’t there yet as a global scientific community,” Rubin said, “but hopefully the next decade of technology advances allow this to occur.”

On Tonga, the 2022 epic blast has heightened the urgency of all kinds of volcanic monitoring, and geologists are now working to install new instruments to monitor the land-based volcanoes along the main island chain.

Thermal infrared detectors will help experts watch for temperature changes at vents and fissures that can signal eruptive activity. Sulphur gas monitors will track the release of dangerous volcanic fumes. Tonga is also being outfitted with synthetic aperture radar, which scientists can use to identify whether there have been changes such as ground swelling due to magma rising closer to the surface.

Half of eight planned new seismographs are currently running, though Cronin, of the University of Auckland, noted there is a “lack of long-term seismic records in the area to provide a background of what is normal and what is heightened activity”.

“Volcano monitoring for eruption prediction in general is a difficult business,” Rubin said. Even with lots of monitoring equipment installed, sometimes warnings come just days or even hours before a blast. And advanced warning can’t always prevent the long-term repercussions of a major eruption.

In the aftermath of the Hunga eruption, Tu’ivai’s family had to relocate to the kingdom’s main island.

Matthew Abbott/For The Washington Post

Elisiva Tu’ivai relocated to a two-bedroom unit with her family after leaving her home on Atata island. Here she prepares a meal to welcome her son-in-law, who lives in Australia.

Ten of them now live together in Masilamea, in one of 22 units on a newly built plot funded by the government. That includes her mother, Elisiva Taimikovi. Their jobs at a local resort were wiped away, too, leaving the family unsure what the future holds.

“We have only been given the houses. This is not a home. Our plantation and routines have gone,” Taimikovi said. The unit is sparse; the family sits cross-legged on the floor, a small tent outside their front door where much-needed extra rooms should be.

“We knew we couldn’t rebuild” what was lost last year, she said. But this new reality is hard to accept. “We’ll never forget. This will stay with us forever.”

Original article published here: https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/300966586/tonga-disaster-highlights-the-hidden-dangers-of-underwater-volcanoes on the 9th of September 2023

The Key to Survival Prepping Success Lies in Consistency

Prepper

When it comes to Survival Prepping, you might be wondering, “What’s the secret to success?”

Well, let me tell you, it’s all about consistency. Achieving preparedness for emergencies and unforeseen situations relies on one simple principle – staying consistent. In this article, I’ll explore the crucial role of consistency in survival prepping, and we’re going to do it with a friendly touch. So, grab your favorite beverage and let’s dive in.

1. The Power of Your Consistent Progress

Now, picture this: survival prepping is like a journey, and every step you take is as important as reaching your destination. We’ve all seen preppers who get frustrated because they start and stop their preparations, only to regret it later. You know, the ones who think, “If only I’d stuck to my plans consistently, things would be so much better now.”

2. Consistency in Developing Your Skills

Example 1: Fire Starting: In the world of survival, mastering fire-starting techniques is a must. But here’s the thing – you don’t become a fire-starting pro overnight. It’s all about consistently practicing various methods, like using flint and steel or the friction-based approach. When you put in that consistent effort, you ensure that you can confidently start a life-saving fire under challenging conditions.

Example 2: Shelter Building: Building a shelter in the wild is another vital survival skill. Here’s the secret: consistent practice is your best friend. Keep honing your shelter construction skills using natural materials or tarps. This practice will refine your ability to create safe havens in different environments. Imagine how invaluable that knowledge becomes during crises when you need to protect yourself and your family from the elements.

3. Consistency in Managing Your Supplies

Example 1: Food Supplies: Now, let’s talk about food supplies. Survival preppers often stockpile food with limited shelf lives. It’s not just about buying and forgetting – it’s about consistent inventory checks and rotation. This simple habit ensures you always have a fresh and edible food stash when you need it. By sticking to a strict rotation schedule and being consistent with it, you minimize waste and ensure your family stays well-fed during a disaster.

Example 2: Medical Supplies: Effective medical preparedness requires consistent inventory management. Here’s the deal: you should regularly inspect your first-aid kit, replace expired items, and ensure your medications are up-to-date. This consistency means you’re always well-equipped for medical emergencies. It’s the difference between having life-saving treatment and inadequate care when it matters most.

4. Consistency in Emergency Planning and Drills

Example 1: Evacuation Plans: Consistency is your best friend when it comes to reviewing and updating evacuation plans. Regularly conduct drills with your family or survival group to get everyone familiar with escape routes and designated meeting points. When a crisis hits, your well-practiced plan reduces confusion and enhances safety – that’s the power of consistency.

Example 2: Communication Protocols: Establishing consistent communication protocols among group members is vital. Regularly testing communication devices like two-way radios or signal flares ensures they remain operational during emergencies. This means always having spare batteries and checking your devices if replacement batteries need to swapped out or older batteries have leaked. Maintaining consistency in communication practices prevents isolation and fosters effective coordination. It’s about staying connected when it matters most.

5. Consistency in Managing Your Resources

Example 1: Water Purification: As a Survival Prepper you must consistently manage your water purification resources. Regularly inspecting and maintaining filters, tablets, or boiling equipment ensures you always have a reliable water source. Consistency in water management is critical for preventing dehydration during prolonged survival situations.

Example 2: Ammunition and Firearms: You should definitely include firearms in your survival preparations, therefore consistency in ammunition storage and maintenance is paramount for you. Regularly check your firearms, clean them, and rotate ammunition. This simple consistency ensures your weapons are reliable for hunting or self-defense when you need them most.

6. Embrace a Progress Over Perfection Mindset

Here’s a friendly reminder: don’t let perfectionism hold you back. We’ve all been there, thinking we have to get everything just right. But the truth is, progress beats perfection every time. It’s okay to make mistakes; they’re part of the learning process. Being resilient against criticism and self-doubt is what truly matters.

7. Overcoming Your Roadblocks

We get it – there are roadblocks in your preparedness journey. Sometimes motivation wanes, or you feel overwhelmed by your goals. Guess what? That’s perfectly normal. Instead of trying to avoid these challenges, acknowledge them and have a plan to work through them. Setbacks and obstacles are part of the journey; they shouldn’t stop you from reaching your goals.

8. Lifestyle Habits for Consistency

Consistency in survival prepping isn’t just about supplies and drills. It can also be influenced by your daily habits. Effective time management, prioritization, and finding a balance between rest and action play crucial roles. Creating a consistent daily routine, especially during mornings, afternoons, and nights, helps you allocate time for prepping without stress.

In conclusion, your success in survival prepping hinges greatly on your consistency. Whether you’re developing essential skills, managing supplies, reviewing emergency plans, or overseeing and regularly check your resources, a consistent approach is your foundation of preparedness. So, remember the importance of consistency in your survival prepping journey. It’s not just a goal; it’s a way of life if you seek to be truly prepared for whatever the future may hold.

What Are The Most Important Elements of Your Bug Out Strategy?

Bug out

The Most Important Parts of Your Bug Out Plans

One of the most popular forms of survival planning is the bug out plan. When most people think of bugging out, they believe it revolves solely around having a bag full of all the gear you need so that, in the event of an emergency, you can simply pick up and go from wherever you are.

Some preppers go so far as to keep one bug out bag in their car, and one at home. That way, if an emergency starts when they’re at work, they don’t have to drive all the way back home first before making their escape.

Many people go to great lengths to research what the best products are to put into the bug out bag itself, but there’s much more to it than that. Supplies are critical, but they’re equally as important as knowing what you’re actually going to do once the emergency starts.

Below, you’ll get a better idea of what we well-rounded bug out strategy entails and what you need to consider in addition to the supplies. That way, you and your loved ones will have the peace of mind and capability it takes to weather any major survival event.

Make Sure You Pack the Best Supplies for Your Escape

Naturally, what you pack in your bag is going to make a big difference in how comfortably you’ll be able to survive immediately after a major emergency. You want to find a good balance of creature comforts as well as the items needed for your survival.

First, you’ll want to address the “big three” aspects of survival: food, water, and shelter. This can be accomplished fairly easily in a bug out bag. To start with, you should focus on water, since you can’t last nearly as long without it.

You should pack at least one form of water purification, whether it be iodine tablets or a filter straw. This will allow you to keep getting access to clean drinking water wherever you are, as long as you have the ability to find something like a river or a pond.

In addition, it’s worth having a large water bottle on hand that you can store that water in. You want to make sure it’s durable and can be roughly handled on your journey, so don’t go for something like a disposable water bottle.

Food is fairly easy to plan as well. Since your bug out bag will be sitting for awhile, you want to have some non-perishable foods in there, like MREs. These will keep for a long time and can supply you with plenty of nutrients.

For shelter, you should be able to strap a tent and sleeping bag to the outside of your bug out bag. These can be a bit bulky, but if they’re rolled up correctly, you shouldn’t run into any major issues.

Finally, pack items like first aid kits as well as things that can keep you occupied. It’s easy to get bogged down and stressed out after an emergency, and something simple like a small book or magazines can help you relax a bit.

Once you have the basics, you can start adding on to the supplies found in your bag, including anything that will fit and that you’ll have the strength to carry. If you’re putting one in your car, try to select items that will easily survive extreme heat and cold conditions so the supplies don’t ruin while being left in the vehicle.

Ensure That You Become Mentally Prepared for a Bug Out Survival Situation

One of the most commonly overlooked parts of survival is the mental aspect. In fact, some survivalist pros have noted that the most dangerous thing you can possibly do in any survival situation is panic.

If you’re mentally prepared to deal with the dangers and hardships associated with bugging out, you’ll be able to keep a level head and make better decisions. In certain situations, making the right decision can affect the outcome of your survival.

There are a few different things you can do to make yourself feel more comfortable in a survival situation. One of the most important things you can have ahead of time is experience.

If you can get experience using each part of your kit and putting it to use in a practical way, it will all feel more familiar to you and become second nature to you. Whether it be starting a fire with a fire starter or building your tent, you need to have practice.

Imagine that you’re in a bug out situation. You grabbed your bag, and headed out into nature away from the emergency. As night falls, you need to get a fire going and get your shelter ready, but this is your first time using your tools.

You might be using the fire starter wrong, unable to produce any sparks to get a fire going. Additionally, you might not know how the tent poles connect together, and are unable to sleep comfortably at all that night since you don’t have a proper shelter.

Situations like this can be avoided if you take the time sooner rather than later to learn about each item in your kit. Some groups even offer classes for survivalists, teaching you how to do anything you’ll need to know in a bug out situation.

However, a class is not necessary. You can get it through trial and error if you work at it, as long as you have the tools on hand. You can even use online resources like videos and step-by-step tutorials to ensure you’re doing things correctly.

Having experience working with your tools will give you much more confidence and make you much less likely to panic. You’ll also increase your chances of survival just by having that knowledge to begin with.

It’s also important to have something to keep you occupied while you’re out in the wilderness. You won’t have to be doing something at every waking moment, and you’ll quickly become bored, which might send your mind racing into a state of panic and worry.

By having things to keep yourself entertained, you can at least have some relaxation and down time – even without electricity. This can also help keep your kids from panicking, since too much down time without doing anything can make them feel stir crazy.

Have a Destination in Mind That You Can Reach

In the event of a bug out scenario, many people have the contents of their bags memorized and all, but you might not know where you even plan to go. Instead of heading in any random direction, plan in advance what place would be best.

This will vary from person to person and location to location, of course, but the ideal destination should be somewhere that you can reach on foot in a reasonable amount of time that can also supply things like food and water.

You’re going to generally want to find some place in the wilderness that you can go to, especially somewhere where you’ll be able to camp out and live somewhat comfortably out of a tent.

Try to avoid rocky or unstable areas, or those prone to flooding. While you might not want to set up camp on a river bank, you shouldn’t set up too far from a fresh water source.

Otherwise, you’ll be needing to go on long hikes to get yourself water, which you might need to do daily. Try going a few camping trips around your area in different places to figure out which area suits you best.

It doesn’t have to be an exact spot, but just a general area that you know will be livable. Once you’ve decided on a good spot, you ought to try to make semi-regular trips out there to camp and get a feel for the area.

The more familiar it is, the less alien it will feel when you’re there for survival. It will also be much easier for you to navigate the area. You won’t constantly have to check your compass to see which way you should go to get to the river, for example.

It also helps lower the chances of you getting lost. It’s also worth having a few different maps with that area marked, so that you and your loved ones know where to go. If you can find or make a local map of your secluded area, that’s even better.

Having a common spot for your friends or family to meet you at is very helpful for a bug out scenario. Chances are you aren’t all going to be in the same place at the same time, so you’ll have to figure out how to meet up.

There’s no guarantee that there will be available phone lines or cell service in a major emergency, so you should try to find a way for them to have a map as well that they can use to meet up with you.

Another thing to consider about your destination is the different seasons. It might be fine when you visit in autumn, but in spring and summer, it might be crawling with too many insects, and in winter it may be too cold.

Staying Physically Fit Helps When Bugging Out

An often overlooked aspect of bug out survival is how physically difficult it is to accomplish. It’s not as simple as just driving out somewhere and camping out for a few days, and instead it’s a very demanding physical task.

First, there’s the matter of actually getting to your ideal bug out location. If you live near a major city, the best out of the way camping spot might be many miles away. Just the act of walking that distance would be very demanding for most people.

Since many adults are sedentary today, they lack the necessary stamina and cardio to be able to walk long distances, especially a distance of 10 miles or more. Additionally, in a bug out situation, you would probably want to go at a faster pace than a walk.

The reason you have to be prepared to go on foot is that there’s no guarantee that you can use your car. The roads would be clogged, but certain scenarios may also prevent you from using your car, or you could be out of gas at the moment.

You have to be prepared to at least walk as far as your destination when you’re preparing for bug out survival. As you train for this, you might focus on walking on different terrain as well, since the roads won’t be as nice as a treadmill.

There’s also the matter of carrying all of your gear. When you have all of your food, water, shelter, and tools packed in a large backpack, it can be very heavy. Often times, the large packs that soldiers carry around are well over 50 pounds.

All of that added weight that you have to carry will make your long journey that much more difficult. It can put a serious strain on your body to carry such a large amount of extra weight for such a long distance.

For similar reasons, it would also be wise to get in as good of shape as you can. Losing weight and gaining muscle will make it much easier for you to take on the long trek ahead of you.

It’s also better for you to get accustomed to eating less food. This can help immensely for losing weight, but you’ll also be more used to eating the very small amounts that you’ll have to when you’re surviving in the wilderness.

Being physically fit is very important for outdoors survival for things like gathering resources. For example, you might have to climb up some trees or rocks to get to food, and will have to be strong to carry things like logs around for more permanent shelter.

By starting now, you can get ahead of the curve and be ready for any bug out scenario. There are many different ways to get in shape, but practicing long walks and runs are going to be crucial for preparation.

Have Multiple Backup Bug Out Plans

There’s no guarantee that the area you want to bug out to will be ideal for every single bug out situation. There are many different disasters that might cause you to pack up and run, and some of them might require different plans.

For example, in a natural disaster like a blizzard, you probably wouldn’t want to run out into the woods, because it will be freezing cold and full of snow. Instead, you’d want to try and follow some kind of evacuation procedure to somewhere warm or safe.

In some bug out scenarios, you might have access to your car, and be able to get away much further than you would on foot. This might also warrant a backup plan, since you’ll be dealing with a different destination.

You might also get to your first choice destination and find that it’s already occupied. Since you might not want to risk camping out so close to another group of individuals, you should have a location in mind that you can fall back on.

It’s very important to have backup plans so that you don’t stress when something goes wrong. Instead of making a bad decision out of panic, you’ll be able to swap over to another plan quickly and efficiently.

You should also have backup plans for alternative methods of getting food, water, and shelter. There’s no guarantee that your food and water supplies will last, and premade shelters like tents can fail.

When it comes to food, you should be ready and knowledgeable when it comes to scavenging and even hunting. You can only pack so many MREs or canned foods into one backpack before it becomes too heavy, and they won’t last you too long.

While you can pack a decent supply of water in the form of a few bottles, that too will run out quickly. You’re going to need plenty of water for things like cleaning yourself and cooking as well as normal drinking water, and you need a way of getting clean water.

Any kind of transportable filter or purification tablets should help you with this, as well as a large water bottle for transporting it. This is essential for any good bug out bag, as it’s likely that the emergency you’re in will outlast your water supply.

While there’s not much you can pack to be prepared for the failure of your shelter, you can be knowledgeable with woodworking and bush craft, which can enable you to build your own shelter using the supplies you have access to in the wild.

Be sure to have all the tools you might need to assemble a shelter out of supplies you find in the wild. This might require things like a hatchet, para-cord, and other common survivalist supplies.

Just remember that a big out plan is more than just “supplies that go in a backpack.”

It’s an entire strategy based around getting out of a dangerous situation and having the mental and physical ability to handle harsh conditions that will test your ability to survive.

Could Solar Storms Destroy our Civilization?

CME, coronal mass ejection, Prepper

A massive eruption of solar material, known as a coronal mass ejection or CME, was detected escaping from the sun at 11:36 p.m. EDT on March 12, 2023.

Check out the devastating effects of a CMR from minute 3:10 onward in the video above

Sightings of polar lights far into the middle latitudes, for example in Arizona in the USA or in Germany, show that the sun is sending electrically charged particles and radiation towards the earth more frequently again.

These images from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory show the difference between the last sunspot minimum (left, 2019) and the last sunspot maximum (right, 2014).

Dark spots on the star’s surface are signs of its activity—they emanate the solar storms that produce the auroras. Since the last spot minimum in December 2019, solar activity has increased much faster than most scientists expected.

What can happen if you underestimate this development was shown last year when the American aerospace company SpaceX lost 40 satellites in one fell swoop: The earth’s atmosphere had expanded due to a solar storm – as a result, the air resistance for the satellites became so great that they crashed.

A weak solar cycle has been predicted – but they got it wrong!

The sun reaches its peak number of spots approximately every eleven years. But the duration of the cycles fluctuates, as does the maximum activity achieved.

A large research group has sought and found a consensus for the joint prognosis: According to this consensus prognosis – prepared in the USA by the space agency Nasa and the climate agency NOAA – the 25th solar cycle should be as weak as the 24th cycle, which is the weakest in a hundred years was. Some scientists even spoke of a possible repetition of the so-called Dalton Minimum, which was a phase of reduced activity between 1790 and 1830.

But nothing will come of it. Images of the sun reveal: it is already behaving as wildly as it should, according to the forecast, only during the maximum in about two years.

But a few researchers got it pretty much right so far. A team led by astrophysicists Scott McIntosh from the National Center for Atmospheric Research and Robert Leamon from NASA has predicted the sharp rise in solar activity.

Unfortunately – how the sun’s dynamo works is unclear

Predicting the solar cycle is still a challenging task for scientists. “We don’t understand the sun well enough,” admits astronomer Sami Solanki from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Göttingen, Germany.

The sun is made up of electrically charged gases called plasma. By rotating, these gases create a magnetic field, similar to a dynamo on a bicycle. According to Solanki, scientists are not yet in agreement on exactly how the solar dynamo works. “There is no generally accepted model,” he says. But you would have to have that to predict the sunspot cycle. Because the cycle is related to changes in the magnetic field – the spots are areas where the magnetic field is particularly strong.

The sun’s magnetic field could be the key

McIntosh and Leamon use different information for their prediction. According to these researchers, the behavior of the solar magnetic field at the sun’s equator can be used to predict what the next cycle will be like.
Basically, the sunspots form in two strip-like areas with a strong magnetic field. These areas appear in both hemispheres at the 50th degree of latitude. At first they seem quite inconspicuous and slowly migrate towards the solar equator. In the further course, the sunspots then appear on the strips.

The CME that was captured by STEREO in July 2012 was comparable in strength to the one that is believed to have struck Earth during the 1859 Carrington Event. — The release is quite dramatic – the research suggests a “solar tsunami” of plasma is let loose, travelling back away from the equator at around 300 metres (or 984 feet) per second

The whole migration of such an area takes 22 years on average. Because the lifetimes of two consecutive stripes overlap by 11 years, four exist at the same time – two on each side of the equator.

According to McIntosh, the decisive factor is what happens when two magnetic field strips reach the equator and disappear at the end of their lifetime. That triggers a kind of tsunami on the sun, he says. The first sunspots then begin to sprout in the two younger strips, which are at around the 25th parallel at the time.

McIntosh calls this point in time – when two stripes are extinguished and two become active – “Terminator“. The exact dating provides the crucial information for his prognosis: the less time has elapsed between the last two “Terminator” events, the stronger the next sunspot cycle should be.

The peak is expected to occur in 2024 or 2025

The last two “Terminator” events were observed in 2011 and 2021. The gap was therefore 10 years, one year less than the average. On this basis, the team around McIntosh and Leamon calculated that the 25th solar cycle will reach a maximum number of spots of about 184. According to the NASA/NOAA consensus forecast, there should have been only about 115 spots, but that level has long since been reached.
McIntosh and Leamon also predict that the current solar cycle will peak in 2024 or 2025. Then there would be even more solar storms than during the initial phase. Accordingly, all solar researchers are now following the further development of the activity with great interest.

This image shows the Sun’s activity on October 1, 2015, towards the end of the last maximum activity. The next maximum, 2024 or 2025, could massively stronger.

We’re in for a bumpy ride!

The 25th solar cycle is not only a test of how well scientists can predict the behavior of the central star. It could also become an involuntary test of the robustness of human civilization.

The weak solar activity in recent years has given humanity a little reassurance. The last really strong cycle happened more than 30 years ago. No one can say for sure how the infrastructure that has since been created will react to violent solar storms. In addition to satellites, power supply and telecommunications are among the endangered areas of technology.

The sun is expected to reach its solar maximum as part of its regular 11-year cycle in 2025. The next termination event is expected to occur when Solar Cycle 25 gives way to Solar Cycle 26 in around 2030.

«2024 and 2024 could be a bumpy ride …” says McIntosh.

All the more reason to prepare and get your Faraday Cage ready to protect essential electronic equipment and communication devices like mobile phones, ham radios, solar battery packs, spare laptops and charging devices. To rely on any Government wherever you live to have robust protection measures in place is to leave things to bureaucrats in their ivory towers.

You owe it to yourself and your family to take responsibility for this yourself and ensure your vital communication devices continue to function after a Solar Flare or CME.

The Next Devastating Solar Storm Is Sure To Come !

CME, coronal mass ejection

Solar flares can have much more serious consequences than our technological world has experienced so far.

Because the threat of a CME is very real and can have devastating effects on humanity, I’m going to get a bit geeky here and di deeper into the science of it for you, so you have a better understanding why this occurs and why as Preppers we need to put measures in place to protect our electronic equipment from the effects of a CME.

This video shows the Sept. 10, 2017, X8.2-class solar flare as observed by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. The video shows a blend of light from the 171- and 304-angstrom wavelengths.

In early September 2017, residents of the Caribbean began to recover from Hurricane Irma. Then there was a serious incident: solar storms triggered radio interference and thus hampered the rescue work. Luckily, the strongest solar particle showers shot past Earth, otherwise it would have otherwise been a much bigger catastrophic damage.

The Caribbean episode is a cautionary tale about an often-underestimated natural hazard – CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejection) and solar flares. Wherever you look and whatever latest studies you research – our civilization is inadequately prepared for the particularly devastating consequences of solar flares. At least scientists can assess the danger: in recent years they have determined more and more precisely how often solar flares occur and how strong they can be at most.

How do Solar Flares occur?

Outbreaks of the sun occur when the field lines of the solar magnetic field emanating from sunspots suddenly shift. Then the central star throws huge amounts of plasma into space. After such coronal mass ejections, high-energy radiation and particle clouds occasionally reach the earth. They can cause powerful auroras in the ionosphere. After particularly strong outbreaks, the colored glow can be admired not only in high latitudes, but even in the tropics.

Solar Flares Threaten Our Electronics

However, the northern lights are just a harmless side effect. Powerful solar flares can cause enormous damage on and above the earth. The danger comes not only from the high-energy particles, but also from the deformation of the earth’s magnetic field: In extreme cases, solar storms disable our satellites and paralyze electronic communication and navigation systems. In addition, currents induced by the shifting magnetic field can burn out transformers, causing power grids to collapse.

Estimates put the global cost potentially into the trillions of dollars.

In recent decades, solar flares have been tracked with telescopes and sensors on Earth, as well as instruments onboard satellites. In 1956 the most intense solar storm that could be directly observed occurred. The most powerful event in the scientific age is the so-called Carrington Event in 1859, named after the British astronomer Richard Carrington. The induced current was so strong that in some places, telegraphs continued to run without batteries. However, scientists doubt that the maximum possible intensity for solar storms was reached at that time. The strongest storms are yet to come.

The number of solar flares varies with the 11-year sunspot cycle. When the number of sunspots is at its maximum, about 20 times as many eruptions are observed as during a minimum of activity. However, the historical record of fluctuating solar activity does not provide quantifiable information about how powerful past solar flares were. How can we measure this? Isotope analysis can help.

We find Isotope traces in ice, trees and corals

When the high-energy particles from the sun reach the earth, changes occur in the characteristic isotopes: If scientists later find an increased concentration of carbon-14, beryllium-10 and chlorine-36 in ice cores, tree rings and corals, these are indications of former solar flares. Historical reports of low-latitude aurorae, particularly from European and East Asian sources, can be used for confirmation. However, their usefulness is limited. Aurora visibility depends on many factors unrelated to solar activity, such as the weather and regional shifts in the Earth’s magnetic field.

The strongest solar outburst effecting earth happened in 774

The strongest outlier of the characteristic isotopes can be found in the year 774. According to different estimates, this event was 5 to 50 times stronger than the solar storm of 1956. No more violent solar particle showers have been found for the last 11 000 years. Space physicist Ilya Usoskin of the University of Oulu in Finland considers the event of 774 to be a worst-case scenario in the Holocene and estimates the average return time at 6500 years. However, the uncertainty is great: the actual value is probably between 4,000 and 15,000 years. In order to be able to determine the frequency of the worst case more precisely, it would be good to know other events in the more distant past. However, what is currently missing are high-precision measurements of the isotope carbon-14 in natural archives with annual resolution.

A solar storm as extreme as 774 would not only pose a threat to space travel, power supplies, communications, navigation and traffic. It would also potentially weaken the ozone layer for a year – and thereby change the weather. This was reported by a team led by Usoskin and Timofei Sukhodolov from the Davos Physical Meteorological Observatory. According to this study, that solar storm in January 775 reduced the temperature in Europe by up to three degrees Celsius.

What about recent speculations about «SUPERFLARES»?

In recent years there have been speculations that the sun is capable of even more violent eruptions than 774. The triggers were observations with NASA’s “Kepler” space telescope. Astrophysicists observed so-called superflares in sun-like stars. These flares are several times more powerful than the 774 event. Assuming that the Sun can indeed produce superflares, Harvard University’s Manasvi Lingam and Abraham Loeb recently played through possible consequences . Accordingly, the world economy would then collapse; in extreme cases, the costs of the disaster could exceed global gross domestic product.

The sun’s activity cycle is currently approaching its next minimum. Some researchers speculate that the sunspots could take a longer break. However, it is more likely that solar activity will increase again in a few years – and with it the risk of solar storms.

How Can We Protect Our Vulnerable Civilization?

We are not at the mercy of these dangers from space. Short-term warnings can be issued thanks to space probes near the sun. But that doesn’t save a lot of time. Concrete predictions of how a solar storm will affect the earth can often only be made hours or minutes before it arrives. Part of our vital infrastructure can be switched off in good time. But it is better to make the infrastructure more resistant to solar particle showers. Because unlike in earlier centuries, today’s civilization with its numerous electrical and electronic devices is extremely vulnerable to solar storms.

The “National Space Weather Strategy” has been researching this for years and is planning measures. Several European countries are also preparing for extreme solar storms. In addition, international cooperation was strengthened. The latest knowledge about the frequency and intensity of solar flares suggests that the time until the next solar maximum should not be wasted. The probability of something like the Carrington event repeating itself in the next ten years is estimated at around ten percent .

Whether the region you currently live in would also be affected depends on the temporal and spatial characteristics of the solar storm.

So now that you know more about how these events occur and how potentially devastating they can be for our electronic infrastructure, let’s look at when we might face such an event next.

You will be shocked to find out there is very little time to prepare! Click below where I investigate:

Could Solar Storms Destroy our Civilization?

What Are 10 Of The Best Military Surplus Items You Should Get?

army surplus, Prepper

In many situations, military equipment can be a first-rate option for preparedness and survival, and in many cases, it is not that costly. Despite the fact that Army Surplus shops are becoming more uncommon, many still exist.

Because we’re Survivalists and Preppers and we know the value of good military gear, we should make a point of using these shops before they vanish into thin air.

I’ve compiled a list of 10 items plus a bonus that you may find at an army surplus store for less than $20. These are all products I’ve previously bought.

Shemagh

Shemaghs, also known as keffiyeh, are essential gear for most hunters, hikers, and survivalists. These head coverings are easy to find, both in new and secondhand condition, in a variety of colors. Military supply stores are great locations to purchase such goods.

You should always look for a Shemagh that is made of 100% pure cotton fabric. Avoid buying imitations or cheap knock-offs that are made from synthetic materials.

The uses for a simple Shemagh, also known as a headscarf, are worth an entire article on their own, however, I can attest to the fact that mine was used to bandage up my kid with a broken limb while we were out camping.

Watch Cap

When I served as a young enlisted man, I refused to wear the woolen watch cap issued by my unit. My decision was based on the belief that a thinner, more fashionable-looking balaclava mask would make me appear cooler Needless to say, I looked more tactical and cooler but my balaclava was neither warm nor comfortable.

Now with a few more years on the clock and a bit of maturity (ones hopes!) I prefer the watch cap. Woolen hats with thick, long, straight, or no brims are available. As long as they are made of wool, they will keep you toasty. Each winter season, I put on my old military watch hat to keep me warm and protected while I work on my farm, get supplies from the nearest town or venture out into the woods.

Poncho

Military surplus stores frequently sell used, out-of-date, or damaged goods. Ponchos, in particular, may be purchased for a low price. However, before purchasing a secondhand poncho, inspect it for rips, tears, or other flaws like rot.

Ponchos will not only protect you from the rain, but they can also be used as an emergency shelter, a stretcher, a body bag, or a sleeping mat when used with a poncho lining.

If you spot some good quality ponchos at a fair price I recommend buying a few, because you will find you have many uses for them.

Snipers Veil

I frequently use a snipers mask as an ornamental headscarf when out hunting for food or exploring the outdoors. They are good for similar uses like a Shemagh. However, since the veil is made of a fine cotton fabric, it can be used in a variety of situations.

The sniper mask also functions as a superb disguise. They function as a camouflage veil – you can wear it around your head and still look through it without being seen.

Can openers

The “P-38” can-opener was introduced in 1942, along with “K-ration” and “C-ration” meals, and it was in use until the late-1980s. While the military demand for the “P” series has vanished, “P-11” is still manufactured and sold.

These are simple openers made entirely of thin, flat steel. The blades on these gadgets flip out at a right angle. They are inexpensive, so adding a few to your canned goods storage is simple.

The only one I use is the P – 5 -1. I’m sure there’s one in my kitchen utensils. In fact, when I open a tin of canned cream, I can do it faster than most hand-operated openers you buy in fancy kitchen stores.

Field Manuals

Military field manuals seem to be filled with information about everything. They’re a great resource for survivalists and preppers alike, and they’d make a great addition to your prepper’s library. The information contained in these books ranges from weapons and navigation techniques to first aid, so there’ll surely be something of interest for everyone.

Please note – the field manuals noted below relate to the United States Army.

Here are a few important guidebooks to keep an eye out for:

• SH-1276 US Army Rangers handbook

· FM 20-3 Camouflage

· FM 3-25.26 Land Navigation

· FM 4-25.11 First Aid For Soldiers

· FM 5-31 Boobytraps

· FM 21-76 Survival

Trioxane Fuel Tabs

The tiny gasoline tablets are a frequently overlooked prepper item that you may still be able to locate at your local military surplus shop. While the troops have now switched to utilizing smokeless rations, I recall fondly igniting a few of these pills to make a beverage, as well as warming a package of almost inedible odd meat.

The tiny tablets are also excellent for starting a fire, making them ideal for keeping in a survival kit. I keep one in each bug out bag so everyone in my family can start a fire quickly.

Pouches

I am a firm believer in being organized. Using small pouches, bags and packs to hold equipment is a great way to keep things organized. The army has a large supply of bags and pockets that you may reuse to keep your stuff in order, whether they’re in your backpack or just lying around.

Sleeping Pad

The wonderful thing about a foam camping mattress is that they will never wear out, become leaky, or go flat. Airbeds are becoming increasingly popular, and many campers carry a patch kit with them in case their inflatable bed gets punctured.

The issue is if your mattress deflates at 3am that will still disrupt your sleep uncomfortably and it’s very annoying trying to find and fix a hole in the middle of the night. I’ve slept on a foam mattress since I was eighteen and I’m not gonna change it for a air mattress.

Sandbags

Having a lot of sandbags on hand is a fantastic idea. They don’t require a lot of room when they’re not in use. You can utilize them to direct the flow of water or to provide protection against bullets. You can also use them as weights, counters, or even as a storage space for your equipment.

In most situations, it is impractical to maintain a sufficient number of these items to safeguard a house from a flood. However, having a few dozens of them around will most certainly be beneficial in the event of a power failure.

Ammo Cans

Ammunition storage containers are so valuable that it’s a good idea to keep several of them around. They come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, making them suitable for a variety of applications. They are ideal for storing all kinds of gear that is loose. They’re also small enough that they can fit into a lot of places.

A few years ago, I converted a 7.62mm ammunition box into a tiny tool box that fit nicely behind the seat in my Chevrolet S – 10. I also have an aluminum foil lined container that I use as a Faraday Cage to store some of my amateur radios and electronic equipment.

Some friends of mine have used ammunition boxes to make wood stoves and power banks, as well as a variety of other do-it-yourself tasks.

While some military equipment isn’t worth having, there is a wide range of useful clothing and other equipment available at a reasonable price. These items are often modestly priced, however they frequently provide the greatest value.

I encourage you to check out the army surplus stores for these items. You’ll be glad you did when you take home some great tools and survival gear.

Why Preppers Should Know About These 8 Common Myths about Faraday Cages

CME, coronal mass ejection, Electro Magnetic Pulse, EMP, Faraday Cage

Here are eight common myths that you should know about Faraday cages.

In recent times, the Faraday Cage has gained popularity among Preppers and Survivalists who want to guarantee that their electronic devices survive in the event of an electromagnetic pulse or a coronal mass ejection. The issue is that the growing popularity of a Faraday Cage has given rise to a slew of myths and misconceptions.

What Is A Faraday Cage And What Does It Do?

In the event of a large-scale power loss, having a set of fundamental communication and survival gadgets on hand is critical. The following are some examples of equipment that you should have accessible.

Consider the complicated electronic gadgets you’d want to have available in the event of a major disruption. Hand-cranked radios, amateur radios solar powered generator, computer, back-up battery packs, flashlight, and so on, are examples of such equipment. These electronics may all be destroyed after a major electromagnetic pulse.

Putting these items into a Faraday Cage will protect them from the devastation of the shock-wave, allowing you to have more functioning equipment to enhance your survival capacity after collapse.

Myths and Misinformation

Because we’ve never been subjected to an EMP strike, we don’t have firsthand knowledge of shielding electronic devices from one. However, a lot of research and testing has been done, so we can design a Faraday Cage based on that information. The lack of real-life instances of individuals creating and building Faraday Cages to successfully protect electronic equipment during a power surge has resulted in a lot of misconceptions. While there are numerous false beliefs about Faraday cages, I’ve compiled a list of eight of the most common ones floating around the internet.

Myth #1: You Only Need A Metal Box

I’ve seen several articles on the internet that claim all you need to construct a practical Faraday Cage is a metallic container or a garbage can. While this is an excellent start, constructing a functional Faraday Cage takes more effort. The key point is that the outside surface must not have any gaps.

This implies that the top and the canister should be electrically connected. There must be a bridge at the juncture of the top and the body where the power can pass. Bare steel may suffice in some circumstances, however, I find using electrically conductive adhesive to seal up the seam is much better. In addition, the equipment within the enclosure must also be isolated from the casing. This may be as simple as a layer of cardboard, plastic, or timber. The key is that the objects you put inside the case will not be connected to the electrical field of the box or garbage can.

Myth #2: Faraday Cages Absolutely Need to be Grounded

Whether or not a Faraday Cage needs to be grounded is a matter of contention among Survivalists and Preppers. The fact is that it does not necessarily need grounding. Even so, I recommend that you still consider grounding one. The benefit of doing so is that you’ll be able to channel the energy that the metal of the cage absorbs into the ground. If it is not grounded, an electromagnetic pulse might strike, and the cage may accumulate a substantial electric charge, posing the danger of electric shock to you when you try and open the container. If the Faraday Cage cannot be grounded in your location, your equipment will be unharmed. You’ll, however, need to figure out a way to remove any built-up charges from the outside of the box.

Myth #3: Microwaves Make Excellent Faraday Cages

A microwave oven is designed to protect you from the radiation it generates.

Therefore, it is logical to conclude that an appliance will protect whatever it contains from outside electromagnetic energy. Microwaves do provide some shielding, but they were never meant to be full Faraday Cages.

The gap between the door and the actual microwave oven allows a pulse of electromagnetic energy to pass through. Microwaves are therefore no safe and surefire way of protecting your electronic essential survival gear.

Myth #4: Batteries Should Always be Stored in a Faraday Cage

It may seem reasonable to assume that a battery will be affected by a electromagnetic pulse, but this is incorrect.

I suggest that you store the battery chargers for your battery in a Faraday Cage, however, the batteries do not need to be stored inside.

Myth #5: Protect Against CME With A Faraday Cage

An electromagnetic pulse is not the same thing as a coronal mass ejection. The sun emits a solar flare, which is a large burst of radiation. The flare releases massive amounts of energy, some of which reaches the earth.

The charged particles interact with the Earth’s atmosphere, generating an electric current on Earth. Because the grid is essentially a huge radio receiver, it will accumulate the current, causing the transformers of the grid to melt.

If your electronic devices are not connected to an electrical power grid or a conductive structure such as a tower or an antenna or aerial, they will not be affected by a magnetic storm. However, using a Faraday Cage to protect your electronic devices will not cause any harm.

Myth #6: The Truth About Making A Faraday Cage Out Of Chicken Wire

You may use a chicken-wire cage as a Faraday Cage theoretically, but I would not advice it..

The holes in the wires will be smaller than electromagnetic waves expected wavelength during an electro-magnetic pulse assault.

However, in all my years as a Survivalist I have not come across any compelling scientific evidence that or proof that a chicken-wire cage would function as well as a steel-box cage against electromagnetic pulses.

Using a steel box made of strong, non-conductive materials such as ammunition cans, garbage cans with electrically conductive tapes as explained above is far preferable to spending time and money to construct one out of wood and wire.

Myth #7: Storage Of Solar Panels In A Faraday Cage Is Unnecessary

A Faraday Cage should always be used to protect your devices.

Solar Panels use sunlight to produce energy and are not affected by electromagnetic pulses. They do not need to be stored in any protective container.

However, if you solar panels have built-in charge controllers that allow you to connect gadgets directly to the panels, the circuitry will be affected by the electromagnetic pulse.

Solar panels do not require the use of a Faraday Cage, although solar batteries, chargers, and power converters are likely to be affected by an electromagnetic pulse.

Myth #8: Your Cellphone Can Be Used to Test a Faraday Cage

If my Faraday Cage can shield mobile phones from signals that should be enough proof that it should provide significant protection against electromagnetic pulses.

Regrettably, this is not accurate. Mobile phones use a particular frequency that may or may not be the same as the one used by an electromagnetic pulse.

It is preferable to test the efficacy of your cage with a variety of gadgets that operate across a broad spectrum of frequencies. An FM radio, an amateur radio, a WiFi router, and a GPS receiver, as well as a cell phone, are examples of such devices. This will give you a far more accurate picture of how well your Faraday Cage works.

The threat of an electromagnetic pulse is real. Whether a rogue state or terrorists launch and detonate it, they are a cheap way to paralyze a nation for years, if not months.

Don’t fall for the falsehoods, misconceptions, misinformation and other BS that are prevalent on the internet.

Conduct independent research, learn everything there is to know about a solar storm, educate yourself properly about what electromagnetic pulses can and cannot do, and don’t skimp on the materials you use to build your Faraday Cage.

Your communication devices are essential vital survival items you cannot afford to lose due to information that was based on myths.

The health and well-being of your family depends on your technical gear surviving an EMP attack.

Prepare in the best possible way so your survival is guaranteed.

What Is Absolutely Necessary In Your Bug Out Bag?

Self-Defense

Each Emergency Bug Out Bag Should Have Self-defense Items

While being locked down in the safety of your home, you can pretty much relax because you know those windows and doors are securely closed. However, if you find yourself bugging out in the wild, you’re a lot more vulnerable.

There are all types of dangerous people or events that can put you or your family in danger, so you’ll want to have some self-defense tactics you can use while out and about to keep you safe.

The best self-defense is to avoid a fight. If you can go around the problem, do it. You don’t want to have so much self-confidence that you do something foolish.

A self-defense course that includes elements of martial arts is an invisible type of weapon that everyone in your team, even children, should take. It will help you avoid injury if someone or something tries to hurt you.

But for your bug-out-bag, be sure to include some self-defense items. After all, you may need to fend off both animals and humans when you’re bugging out, and running away isn’t always an option.

If you’re comfortable with it, this could possibly be your best option. You can bring a high-powered rifle or a small, pocket-sized gun. Not only can these be used to defend yourself, but they can also be used to hunt for food if you are ever starving.

Of course, you’ll need to buy ammo for your firearms, as well as anything you need to clean and maintain them. It’s also a good idea to put a few safety precautions in place so that youngsters aren’t able to hurt themselves unintentionally. And it’s a good idea to teach kids about gun safety, too, because even if it’s not locked away somewhere, it might still pose a threat.

If you’re hiking or backpacking, you want to bring along some bear spray or regular pepper spray. This stuff can usually help to slow down any kind of attack and will give you the chance to make a fast getaway. Just make sure everyone knows how to use it, especially how to be careful not to get any of it in their eyes.

Don’t underestimate the power a good blade can have when it comes to self-defense. You can either carry a small pocket knife or a slightly bigger one. There are also special straps that keep it hidden from everyone. This way, nobody will even know you’re armed.

A pocket-sized device that delivers an electric shock? Sounds like something out of a science fiction movie! But, it’s absolutely real! It’s a type of gun that, when fired, emits a high-voltage shock. It might be useful to have in your “bug out” kit. It’s so tiny and affordable, and it can be used on animals or humans. However, I wouldn’t recommend using it on anything large like a bear. Because it’s so tiny, you’ll have to get closer to it.

Which essential food and water gear should you pack in your bug out bag?

When preparing for a survival situation, two necessities come to mind: food and water. It’s not only about making sure you have everything you need to survive right now, but also about how you can acquire more later on. Try to pack lightweight items that can be refilled easily. If you run out of water, you can collect rainwater, melt snow, or boil and purify water from natural sources. Water purification tablets are another useful tool.

Food in your emergency backpack should be nutritionally dense enough to meet your basic calorie requirements and provide you with the energy you need to hike, construct your campsite, and more.

It has to be lightweight enough to transport in a backpack or bug out bag. Dried foods are a good option because they weigh less, don’t take up much space, and all you have to do is add water.

You also want to pack some yummy stuff! Peanut butter in a pouch, not a big jar, for example. Chicken and tuna in pouches! Rice, because I’m sure you want those carbs. Also, nuts can be a good option. They’re really high in calories!

As you’re packing, don’t include any perishable goods, and stick to low-sodium foods that don’t make you thirsty. Pack items to help you hunt for fish and animals, or hire a local guide for assistance in identifying edible indigenous plants and fruits.

When it comes to choosing between filtered and purified water, you have to decide between taking enough with you to last until you can access another clean source. While you can carry around large amounts of filtered water with you, it gets pretty heavy.

Nowadays, you can find great survival kits with a built-in water reservoir. This helps you to carry enough water for your emergency needs without having to take up too much of the space in your kit. It’s essential to have a map of the local terrain, so you know exactly where the freshwater sources are located. The compass will let you know which direction you need to go.

So, you’ve managed to find some water. Now what? It’s time to purify it. It’s crucial to remove toxins that could make you and your pets sick. There are filters available for water bottles that will filter up to one thousand to ten thousand gallons of water. They’re also pretty lightweight and light to carry. So, why not bring a few with you?

Did you know you could bring a water jug with you when you’re traveling? You should look for one that has a straw, or even better, a bottle that filters out all the gross stuff in the water. These are very helpful when traveling in unfamiliar places. Filtration systems are a great choice too! You can bring your own purification tablets, too. Let’s examine them in more detail:

One way to purify water is by using water purification tablets. These tablets are inexpensive and easy to carry with you, making them a great option for emergencies. To use a water purification tablet, simply drop it into the water and wait a few minutes. The tablet will kill any bacteria or parasites in the water, making it safe for drinking. Be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging, as some tablets require a longer wait time than others. If you’re ever in a situation where you need to purify water, a water purification tablet is a good option. They are affordable and easy to carry, and they can be used in a variety of situations. Just be sure to read the instructions before using them, and always have a backup water source just in case.

Remember, you not only need water to drink, but also to cook with, to wash with and more – and you need enough for each member of your family.

Why You Should Include A First-aid Kit In Your Bug-out-bag

When we’re at home, we generally don’t need to use first-aid supplies, such as bandages, antiseptic, or pain reliever. But when we go out in the world, we need these items much more. We may encounter cuts and scrapes, headaches, and muscle pain.

In all of those instances, you were able to find a bandage, go to a doctor, or call an ambulance. However, when we’re away from home, accidents can still happen, and when they do, it’s critical to know how to get the injured individual the necessary help.

When you’re in a crisis and stranded in the wild, you have to be your own hero. Even minor ailments like headaches or more serious issues like serious blood loss have to be handled on your own. Yikes! It’s up to you to keep yourself safe and healthy in extreme situations.

Your bug out bag should have items that will help you the most in a survival scenario. That means, you focus on practical things like a lighter, a flint, and firewood.

But if you’re buggin out and you NEED to have a fire in order to boil your water and stay warm and cook. Therefore, it’s more likely that someone in your group will end up getting burned. So make sure you’ve got some first-aid supplies like a burn salve and bandages to clean the wounds.

First aid kits are a must have! Make sure you have the basics like Band-Aids and ibuprofen. However, you’ll also want to have a tourniquet in case someone with a deep cut starts bleeding uncontrollably. Getting one today means that you’re prepared for anything. Also, make sure you know how to use a tourniquet! You don’t want to be fumbling around when it’s urgent. Practice and learn how to apply it!

When you’re walking through bush, wilderness or a a jungle, you’re bound to get a few nicks and bruises. However, some routes may take you through a city or town, where you may encounter broken bottles, glass, or other obstacles.

When hiking, it’s a good idea to bring a small first aid kit with you. You might get blisters on your feet, and that can make walking or moving a lot more difficult.

When preparing for a bugging out situation, remember to pack plenty of first-aid supplies. Include items that suit the needs of each family member. If someone in your family has a medical condition, consider including any medications that they may need.

Just stocking up on first aid kits and emergency supplies isn’t enough. Everyone in your family needs to know how to use them. Otherwise, they’re just pointless. Make it a habit to practice with these products, and if you don’t understand how to use a specific product, research what it is and how it works. Teach everyone in your household what the product is, when to use it, and how to use it. You never know when you might need it.

One thing you may want to seriously consider is to sign the whole family up for a First Aid Course with the Red Cross or any other emergency organization who runs professional First Aid workshops. They usually happen over a weekend and are inexpensive.

Get everyone in your family involved and excited about it. You want every family member, even the little ones, to get used to using plasters, bandages, gauzes, tourniques and basic First Aid techniques. It will be a useful skill and knowledge not only for a Bug Out event, but for any emergency or accident they may come across.

Having the knowledge to render First Aid will go a long way to make them feel confident and avoid unnecessary anxiety in an emergency situation. This will give them a sense of calm and control.

Why not book a First Aid course next weekend – don’t delay it!

Because you simply never know when disaster strikes!

What Essential Navigation and Communication Gear Do You Need for Your Bug Out Bag?

On a normal day, you can hop in your vehicle and use any variety of navigation programs to help you go from one location to another. Whether it’s built-into your dashboard or on your personal phone, you can use any driving Navigation App to get you from A to B.

Naturally, you’ll also come across helpful street signs to assist you in your escape. However, in a “bug out” scenario, you may need to go off road. You may have to ditch your vehicle, or could find yourself lost in the forest, perhaps searching for a water supply or attempting to get your family to a secure area.

A compass is the number one navigational instrument you should carry in your survival kit. Everyone in your group should know how to utilize one, as well. It would also be useful to have a topographical map, which is waterproofed so that it won’t get damaged by the elements. Waterproofing is best done by laminating it.

You don’t want to find yourself stranded off-grid in the middle of nowhere and no idea where the heck you are. That’s why it’s smart to be knowledgeable about your surroundings.

You can use smartphone navigation in conjunction with traditional maps, but it’s important not to rely exclusively on either method. You won’t know if there’s coverage or Internet in the places you’re traveling through. If it works, though, it is vitally important keep your battery life up.

Solar powered charger is necessary for being able to maintain everyday contact to the outside world. Of course you would want to stay in touch with your friends and family, as well as staying on top of the latest information. In order to keep your communication devices fully charged up you need a so9lar powered charger. This is particularly vital when living off-grid not just for a short bug out situation, but when this turn into a more longer lasting emergency.

A NOAA weather radio that is solar-powered or hand-cranked to working condition is essential because it allows you to receive regular updates on information and news you require. All NOAA Weather Radio stations broadcast on one of seven frequencies in the VHF Public Service band: 162.400 megahertz (MHz), 162.425 MHz, 162.450 MHz, 162.475 MHz, 162.500 MHz, 162.525 MHz, and 162.550 MHz.

Make sure any NOAA radio you purchase can receive on these frequencies. Some cheaper imported emergency radios do not receive on the NOAA frequencies and would be totally useless in a serious emergency. As with all your survival gear – get good quality at a fair price, don’t try to be cheap, you may be gambling with your life because you tried to save a few bucks!

Some higher quality NOAA radios have multiple uses. They may double as a cellphone battery charger and contain a flashlight, which may be handy when it’s dark out. They may help you navigate at night when you bug-out.

While a walkie-talkie is the best for quick, short-range communication, a HAM radio is better for communicating over longer distances. If you’d like to keep in touch with family and friends when they’re far away, get a HAM radio. We have some recommendations here.

A distress signal is used to communicate an emergency or need for rescue, as you cannot always bug out. When you can’t bug out, flares and reflective gear can provide assistance to rescuers.

What You Need to Have In Your Bug-out-bag for Your Shelter and Comfort

While food and water are two of the most important things you can pack in your bug out bag, once the sun sets on Day One, you’ll be focusing on having a safe location to sleep at night.

In the great outdoors, whether the weather is nice or terrible, you don’t want to be snoozing beneath the stars. When you’re in a survival scenario, your backpack should be stocked with ready-made shelter items. However, it’s also a good idea to include anything that can assist you in building a shelter out of natural materials, such as leaves, tree branches, and vines.

To bug out in the wild, you’ll need a tent that is securely attached to your bug out bag using MOLLE fasteners. You’ll also need a sleeping bag to keep you warm in cold conditions.

Carrying a tent big enough to fit everyone in your family might be tough. Instead, you should opt for each person to carry their own lightweight backpacking tent, or you could simply use a camping tarp and sleep in sleeping bags.

There are loads of bags, blankets, and tarps that are super durable and waterproof to some degree. That should help you keep your stuff dry when you need to. These will come in handy if you’re camping in an area where it rains or there’s fog and morning dew.

To ensure you don’t forget anything, make a list and stick to it. Most people forget to bring their pillow! It’s not practical to bring your own, so get one of those blow up ones that you can inflate and deflate when you want to pack it up. Oh, and get yourself a travel eye mask, too.

Another helpful tip is to pack earplugs. While some people love hearing the sounds around them, some of us can’t sleep with all those crickets and creatures buzzing and chirping outside the tent.

You could also choose a sleeping mat to put on the hard surface under your sleeping bag. There are tiny pads that are light, but inflate into a good mattress.

Emergency blankets are really handy. They can keep the heat in and the water out! They’re also great to have on hand if you want to send a distress signal. You’ll find them in all kinds of colors and patterns.

When you’re on the road, you never know what the circumstances will be bugging out and you never know when you’ll run into trouble. That’s why it’s a good idea to pack a bladed weapon such as a machete or a knife which will come in handy for cutting away any overgrown vegetation and building makeshift shelters with materials like branches and leaves.

You’ll also need some solar lights that will charge in the day when you hang them on the outside of your survival pack with MOLLE belts. This way, you’ll have light when the sun goes down and you set up camp.

CONCLUSION

I’ve given you a pretty comprehensive list of essential tools to stock up on, and skills you should learn – like First Aid training for example.

If you are serious about Prepping, protecting and taking care of your family I urge you to begin purchasing the vitally essential items I listed above.

Create a list and work through it according to your budget. Remember that the cheapest product may not serve you well in an emergency situation when you can’t simply go to the store to replace it when it fails.

Spend wisely and buy smartly – good quality survival gear at fair prices will serve you well when SHTF happens.

Your life and the lives of your loved ones will depend on it.

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All Posts

Invitation to abuse of power

Automated total monitoring

Tonga disaster highlights the hidden dangers of underwater volcanoes

A weak solar cycle has been predicted – but they got it wrong!

Unfortunately – how the sun’s dynamo works is unclear

The sun’s magnetic field could be the key

The peak is expected to occur in 2024 or 2025

We’re in for a bumpy ride!

How do Solar Flares occur?

Solar Flares Threaten Our Electronics

Estimates put the global cost potentially into the trillions of dollars.

We find Isotope traces in ice, trees and corals

The strongest solar outburst effecting earth happened in 774

What about recent speculations about «SUPERFLARES»?

How Can We Protect Our Vulnerable Civilization?

Shemagh

Watch Cap

Poncho

Snipers Veil

Can openers

Field Manuals

Trioxane Fuel Tabs

Pouches

Sleeping Pad

Sandbags

Ammo Cans

What Is A Faraday Cage And What Does It Do?

Myths and Misinformation

Myth #1: You Only Need A Metal Box

Myth #2: Faraday Cages Absolutely Need to be Grounded

Myth #3: Microwaves Make Excellent Faraday Cages

Myth #4: Batteries Should Always be Stored in a Faraday Cage

Myth #5: Protect Against CME With A Faraday Cage

Myth #6: The Truth About Making A Faraday Cage Out Of Chicken Wire

Myth #7: Storage Of Solar Panels In A Faraday Cage Is Unnecessary

Myth #8: Your Cellphone Can Be Used to Test a Faraday Cage

Each Emergency Bug Out Bag Should Have Self-defense Items

Which essential food and water gear should you pack in your bug out bag?

Why You Should Include A First-aid Kit In Your Bug-out-bag

What Essential Navigation and Communication Gear Do You Need for Your Bug Out Bag?

What You Need to Have In Your Bug-out-bag for Your Shelter and Comfort

CONCLUSION