We all agree that being prepared for an emergency is essential. That's why preparing a "Bug Out Bag" that you can grab and go in an emergency can be a lifesaver. It also opens the door to deeper dives in planning and prepping that can be critical. I began posting information here over 10 years ago, and I regularly update it. I've also gone beyond the traditional products. Because creating "the bag" is just the first step to being prepared, not the final product. We now know we each need at least…
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Send us Fan Mail Smoke in the air changes how you think. We’re watching a major Southern Oregon brush fire grow in real time, and it becomes a blunt lesson in emergency preparedness, wildfire evacuation planning, and the mindset it takes to actually leave when you’re told. We walk through the Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 evacuation system and why “they don’t mean right now” is the most dangerous…
Send us Fan Mail The world can shift in a weekend, and the hard part is not buying gear. The hard part is knowing what you can actually do when you’re tired, scared, and responsible for other people. We take a practical, step-by-step look at emergency preparedness and personal protection training, using the same approach we teach in class: build capability in small pieces, and make choices you can…
Send us Fan Mail Share the takeaways from my live class at SOU this January. Excerpts highlight: A store-bought survival kit full of tiny bandages and cotton puffs is funny until someone’s bleeding. That hard-won moment kicks off a practical tour through modern preparedness: what to pack, what to skip, and how to stay effective when plans collide with reality. We share field-tested upgrades across…
Send us Fan Mail A short outage can be annoying; a long one can upend your life. We open the door to a calmer, more capable approach to preparedness by focusing on the two weak links that fail first after a crisis: water and power. With our upcoming OLLI course as the backdrop, we map a practical path from “I should get ready” to “I can handle thirty days.” We start with water because scarcity and…
Send us Fan Mail Ten days before Christmas is the perfect moment to trade forgettable gadgets for gear that actually helps when plans fall apart. We dive into a no-nonsense holiday guide anchored in field-tested essentials: tiny can openers that never quit, emergency blankets that truly keep you warm, pocket flashlights bright enough to trust, and weatherproof notebooks that safeguard critical…
Send us Fan Mail First frost hit and we took the hint: it’s time to rethink not just jackets and batteries, but the way we prep, train, and carry ourselves through the season. We start with a fall gear audit—simple steps that pay off fast, like checking battery corrosion, rotating food, and pulling forgotten gadgets from the “oh yeah” drawer. From there we get practical about privacy with Faraday…
Send us Fan Mail A decade of emergency preparedness wisdom culminates in this landmark 100th episode that reflects on how much has changed—and how much remains the same—in the world of personal safety and disaster readiness. The preparedness landscape has transformed dramatically since we began. What started with people carrying a few granola bars in backpacks has evolved into comprehensive 30-day…
Send us Fan Mail A critical moment of vulnerability awaits us all. That moment when we—the prepared ones, the designated responders—find ourselves suddenly incapacitated during an emergency. What happens when you can't be the hero in your own story? As we celebrate our 99th episode and over 10,000 downloads, we're tackling this often-overlooked aspect of preparedness. Using the example of someone…
Send us Fan Mail When a car crashed into the loading dock of a restaurant while I was having lunch, it sparked an important realization—I'd forgotten to check the exits when I walked in. This simple oversight highlights how easily we neglect situational awareness in our daily routines. Preparedness isn't just about stockpiling supplies; it's about developing habits that keep you safe in any…
Send us Fan Mail Spring brings a critical transition period for anyone concerned with self-reliance and emergency preparedness. The warming weather signals it's time to reevaluate your supplies, update your plans, and reconsider your approach to personal safety in an increasingly uncertain world. The warning signs at local grocery stores can't be ignored—shelves with growing gaps, eggs priced at…