Survival Gear is the most unused product until a natural disaster happens, then it’s the most desired products, but usually too late to help those that really need the help.

We sell around the World, and pride ourselves on offering a level of customer service that we would want to see ourselves if we were shopping online.
Our product ranges change regularly, so we hope that you come back to our sites to see some of the fantastic offers that we regularly have.

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Free Prepping files

Written by Pat Henry on The Prepper Journal.

The Coronavirus/COVID-19 has caused a lot of chaos in recent weeks. Countries have closed their borders, governments have restricted the movement of their citizens, and in the United States, city mayors have restricted people from gathering in groups of more than 50 (as of this date, March 16, 2020).

In fact, just this afternoon, the mayor of San Francisco ordered a 3-week lockdown of the city. Whether or not you think this was a good move is immaterial, especially if you’re a resident there.

Only God knows what will happen in the coming weeks, but I believe it’s bound to get worse before it gets better.

You have a duty to your family and yourself to be prepared for coming events. Knowledge is power.

We came across this website of PDFs and documents which might be helpful to the prepping community. Whether it’s basic prepping, farming, how to garden, or even make bleach from pool shock, it’s full of free resources.

I’ve looked at a couple of documents here and there, and they seem OK. A lot of old .txt files, some dating back to the 1990s.

We haven’t vetted any of this information other than look it over, as it was passed along to us today, and we’re passing them along to you. The host website is a little out there, but if information is useful, we’ll take it.

Godspeed, and be prepared.

The post Free Prepping files appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

Lessons Learned: After Armageddon (History Channel)

With the world facing the Covid-19 novel Coronavirus global pandemic, I thought it would be a good time to review one of my favorite pandemic shows, After Armageddon. In 2010, History Channel aired After Armageddon, a docudrama about the survivors of a deadly global flu pandemic with actual doctors, self defense experts and emergency preparedness officials weighing in on what could happen in a real pandemic. In my opinion, this is one of the greatest “How to Deal with a Pandemic” shows ever produced with real advice on what could really happen and how to prepare. When the show first aired, it opened a lot of people’s eyes (including mine) to just how fragile our society really is when it comes to our “Just In Time” supply chain system of food, fuel and supplies. While we are still a long ways from a civil unrest, this show has a lot of good takeaways. After Armageddon is worth a watch and hopefully you can pick out some lessons from these experts and the best part is that it is free (see below). Stay positive, help your neighbors and we will all get through this together. Remember, you never want to panic but you also never want to be the last person who panics.

Contributed by By Mark, Former Marine Reconnaissance Team Leader, Marine Infantry Officer, Cross Fit Coach, and Survivalist.

Key Lessons From After Armageddon

-Liquid fuels are “The Mother of All Dominoes” – Rookies are running around trying to buy toilet paper, Pros are stocking up on fuel.

-We are 9 meals away from anarchy. After a person goes without food for 3 days, all bets are off.

-Keep in mind, New Orleans descended into anarchy in just 4 days after Katrina.

-People will form gangs to get the resources they need.

-Better to not be seen than to try to fight. Stay invisible. (Grey Man)

-It takes dense populations to have a pandemics, cities will be the most vulnerable.

-Medical supplies will be in short supply. (Handling Emergencies)

-The world has changed and it is not going to go back to the way it was before.

-You will need some kind of security (knife, gun, bat, etc.)

-Avoid roads, a secondary event of a pandemic will be gridlock on major highways & freeways.

-You will need a Bug Out Bag – pack light to move fast.

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The post Lessons Learned: After Armageddon (History Channel) appeared first on Survival Cache.

“They Know Nothing” (Again): Jim Cramer Calls For Government To Suspend Taxes, Print Way Out Of COVID-19

This article was originally published by Tyler Durden at ZeroHedge. 

Jim Cramer on Thursday called for the federal government to immediately print $500 billion to address the coronavirus outbreak, and suspend all taxation during the crisis.

Everyone owes the government at all time. Everyone in this country, individuals, corporations. That has to be suspended right now so they have more money,” he said.

Are these radical actions? You bet they are,” Cramer added. “This is the time for radical action and the action can be done by the federal government.

“They know nothing,” the CNBC host began to rant, referring to the government’s response to the crisis, ” there are no signs anyone in government understands the problem.”

“We know more than they do, and that’s not acceptable either,” he added.

Cramer also recommended that companies tap their credit revolvers and that there should be no stigma attached to it when they do so.

His comments come on the heels of President Trump’s prime-time Wednesday address in which he announced that travel would be suspended to most of Europe for 30 days in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus. He said he will also ask Congress to provide payroll tax relief for Americans – and would instruct the Small Business Administration to “provide capital and liquidity” to small businesses.

Cramer’s Thursday comments were reminiscent of his infamous “They know nothing!” rant in 2007.

‘They have no idea how bad it is out there… NO IDEA. They know NOTHING!’

Of course in 2008: ‘Bear Stearns is fine.

Investor Peter Schiff disagrees with Cramer, big time:

The feeling was largely mutual across Twitter, though some agree:

 

 

10 Best Camping Tents On The Market Today [With Video Reviews]

Camping TentsIf you’re looking for the best camping tent FOR YOU, you’re in the right place.

Because, nowadays, there are so many different types of tents to choose from, such as:

Survival TentsCanvas TentsWinter TentsHammock Tents / Etc.

And within each category, there are hundreds of brands and models.

So how do you shift through all the overwhelming options to find the ideal one for you?

It’s NOT easy, and it can be very frustrating unless you have someone who knows all about survival gear and camping gear in your corner.

That’s why today I’m going to help you find the best camping tent for you by covering the following topics in detail:

Note: Feel free to skip ahead to any section by clicking the links above – or click here to check out our top 10 (with video reviews).

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Camping Essentials Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

tent stove from far away

Why Choosing The Right Type Of Tent Matters


One thing I know about camping is your tent choice matters and can “make or break” your trip.

Pick a high quality, well-designed camping tent, and you’ll sleep well and thoroughly enjoy your camping trip.

Choose a leaky, discount tent, and you’re asking for a nightmare camping experience.

Not only is quality essential, but there are SO many design options on the market today. Too many!

So how can you find the right tent with so many camping tent options on the market today?

For example, earlier this summer, I was able to get off work a little early for a last-minute weekend camping getaway.

Luckily, our camping gear is well organized, so packing the car was fast – until I had to choose which tent to take along!

You can call me a camping enthusiast because I have way too many tents!

I’ve got an

Name any activity where having a shelter is crucial, and I’ve got a tent for it!

But for this quick trip, we weren’t doing anything special.

We were heading to a mountain campground for two nights, setting up the tent a few feet from our car.

All I needed was something dependable and comfortable.

A tent with enough space for two adults and the dog. A place to sleep soundly and headroom to make changes in and out clothes hassle-free.

So which category of affordable tents would work best for this sort of relaxed camping?

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Camping Essentials Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

campsite with a dome tent

What Features To Look For In Good Camping Tents


When it comes to camping in a typical campground; I like to think of the tent like a bedroom.

So look for a design and features that are like what you’d find at home.

Space for a comfortable bed or air mattress. Enough room to change clothes. A bedside table and lamp. A spot for the dog to curl up at your feet.

If you think I’m kidding, let’s look at the key features common to all high-quality tents!

Floorplan

Most of them have a large floor plan. This leaves plenty of space for camping cots, luxury air mattresses, or even inflatable beds.

Since you’re not carrying weight very far, you can afford to have several rooms for more privacy.

This is an essential luxury if you have the whole family along.

Kids in one bedroom, parents in the other? Easy.

Put the baby down for a nap while you relax in a camping hammock. Sure thing.

Ceiling Height

While we’re on the topic of space, another feature a quality camping tent has is a tall ceiling.

Changing clothes is so much easier when you DON’T have to squirm into your pants while lying down on your back.

Many have a dome shape. This means the highest point is in the center.

Others have vertical walls providing extra headroom from edge to edge.

The vertical wall tents are the best bet if you want to be able to stand up in your tent with ease.

Storage Space

Sadly, we’re all familiar with the annoyance of losing something in the corner of the tent or under the sleeping bag.

Such as a missing tactical watch, the lost cell phone, EDC knife, or worst yet – car keys.

All those everyday carry items that end up on a nightstand at home.

The best tent manufacturers know this, so they include a lot of pockets. The best ones have many along the walls of the tent-sized just right for these small items.

In the middle of the night, these pockets can save you from rummaging around in the dark.

This is important when searching for a small flashlight or headlamp to visit the bathroom in the dark.

Quality & Warranty

Of course, we’re talking about a tent here – a portable shelter to protect you from the elements.

Who cares if the tent has the latest fancy survival gadgets if it leaks or can’t stand up to windy storms.

So buy a tent built with clean stitches, durable zippers, and high-quality materials.

And it’s also smart if you can find one with a longterm warranty.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Camping Essentials Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

small tent in a campground

How To Find The Perfect Camping Tent For You 


When it comes down to it, the right tent for you depends on how you use it, where you’ll camp, and who’s coming along.

Searching for “best tents” online will provide thousands of results.

So to help narrow down the results, you need a way to filter down the results and narrow your search.

First, start with a headcount of everyone who will be sleeping in your tent. Don’t forget to add the family dog to the tally if you take your pet camping – as I do.

Once you have your headcount, you must decide on the type of tent that makes the most sense for you – dome/cabin/vehicle.

Finally, move on to narrowing down to just a few reputable brands and a price range you can afford.

Once you’ve done this, you’ll be down to only a few to choose from, and then you can focus on the unique features.

The key features that help set one tent apart from another.

Note: If you’ve got a large family camping with you, it might make sense to invest in more than one tent. Or a tent with more than one room.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Camping Essentials Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

Camping Tent At Night In Mountains

10 Best Camping Tents On The Market Today


Let’s get this out of the way – there is no such thing as the “Best” camping tent.

Why? Because what’s best for me might not be best for you.

So let’s go over the main types of camping tents, and we’ll share a few of the best ones within each category.

Dome Shape

Dome tents are the most traditional style of tent you’ll see across most campgrounds.

And most of us have spent at least a few nights in a dome tent.

They’re simple to set up, stable in winds, and provide a lot of floor space for a given weight.

1 – Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Dome

The Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Dome Tent

The Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Dome

The Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Dome Tent has a 10ft by 9ft floor plan.

It also has a screened front porch (10ft by 5ft) to keep the bugs away while you’re lounging in camp chairs.

If you grew up anywhere with black flies and mosquitoes, you know how important that feature can be!

If it happens to rain, the Steel Creek Tent has you covered with its rain protection fly.

It also has awnings over the side windows for better ventilation when the rain fly is on.

The “Fast Pitch” system features pre-attached, color coded poles making it very easy to set up. That way there’s no confusion over which pole goes where during set up.

As with all dome-shaped tents, the listed height of 70″ is only at the very center and slopes down quickly at the sides.

Check Out Today’s Price


2 – CORE 9 Person Extended Dome

CORE 9 Person Extended Dome Tent

CORE 9 Person Extended Dome

This CORE Extended Dome Tent fits up to 9 people. So it can fit three queen-sized mattresses!

Plus, there’s a center height of 6 feet so that most people can stand up straight in the middle.

The CORE is lightweight but durable due to the use of fiberglass poles.

And you’ll stay dry even in torrential downpours with its H20 Block Technology. All CORE tents are equipped with water-resistant PU coated fabric and taped seams to help keep moisture out.

This large family dome tent features a gear loft with a lantern hook to keep your gear organized and an electrical cord access port.

This allows you to run a tent ac unit cord outside or any other electrical device.

Check Out Today’s Price


3 – Coleman Sundome

Coleman Sundome Tent

Coleman Sundome

The Colman Sundome Tent is a sturdy camping tent with factory sealed main and floor seams.

Plus, it uses only a heavy-duty fabric (1000D polyethylene), which helps to prevent rips and tears.

On top of all this, the Colman Sundome also comes with a coated polyester fly.

Finally, access is a breeze with the massive ‘D’ style front entry door.

Check Out Today’s Price


Cabin Style

These days, the cabin tent is the king of the campground. And for a good reason, they feature nearly vertical walls.

This means having high ceilings across the entire footprint. A feeling of extra space no dome option can rival.

4 – Eureka Copper Canyon Cabin

Eureka Copper Canyon Cabin Tent

Eureka Copper Canyon Cabin

The Eureka Copper Canyon Cabin Tent uses a 6-pole design to provide an 8ft by 8ft floor and almost 7ft of headroom.

The full mesh roof, protected by a rainfly, allows excellent air circulation.

Plus, it also reduces the clammy feeling that many tents get overnight.

It also features a large door and windows all around to let the breeze through.

Check Out Today’s Price


5 – Coleman Tenaya Lake Cabin

Coleman Tenaya Lake Cabin Tent

Coleman Tenaya Lake Cabin

The Coleman Tenaya Lake Cabin Tent comes with even more family-friendly features.

This one measures 13ft by 9ft. It has almost 7ft of headroom!

Plus, it includes a built-in closet with shelves and a hanger bar to help keep your clothes and camping gear organized.

I know how my duffel bag looks after a couple of days in camp, and this would be a welcome addition!

If you’re camping where there’s electricity, the Tenaya Lake has a unique electrical port. This allows you to route a cord inside without allowing bugs or leaving a door partly open.

When it’s time for bed, the 8-person layout has an interior divider that splits the space into two rooms for privacy.

Check Out Today’s Price


6 – CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin

CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent

CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin

The CORE Instant Cabin Tent claims to have a 60-second setup! So, if speed is your need, this might be the right tent for you!

It can sleep up to 9 people, and it can fit two queen air mattresses.

The center peak height is an incredible 6 1/2 feet – so even the tallest campers can change clothes standing up!

The CORE Instant Cabin also features H20 Block Technology for superior dry even in high winds and heavy rains.

It also features a room divider, and lots of wall storage pockets keep items neat and off the floor.

Check Out Today’s Price


7 – The Big Agnes Big House Deluxe

The Big Agnes Big House Deluxe

The Big Agnes Big House Deluxe

The Big Agnes Big House Deluxe is a sturdy cabin tent with great modern features.

With an 8ft by 9.5ft footprint and 6.5ft of headroom, it’s not the most enormous option on the market, but it’s well laid out for up to 6 people.

There are a dozen side pockets, including some large enough for electronics like a solar phone charger or small tablet.

The other pockets include a pair of “bedside tables.” These stash pockets keep the unzipped door from flapping in the breeze.

The front door also features a welcome mat. This is a perfect landing zone for all those muddy or sandy shoes before coming inside.

Check Out Today’s Price


Kodiak's Flex Bow Tent

Kodiak’s Flex Bow

8 – Kodiak’s Flex Bow

If you want the longevity and benefits of investing in a canvas tent, then look no further than Kodiak’s FlexBow Tents.

Their cabin style canvas tents are one of the best on the market. Sure, they cost a bit more than nylon ones, and they also weigh more as well.

However, they are made to last you a lifetime.

They also help dampen campground noise, and stay cooler in the sun and warmer in the cold due to the insulating nature of canvas.

The Kodiak “flex bow” design comes in 4 person, 6 person, or 8 person size options.

Check Out Today’s Price


Vehicle / Car Camping Tents

Sometimes it’s easier to turn your vehicle into your tent.

It’s nice to access the items in your vehicle without having to get up, get dressed, and walk across your campsite.

Napier Outdoor Sportz SUV

Napier Outdoor Sportz SUV

9 – Napier Outdoor Sportz SUV

The Napier Outdoor Sportz SUV is a roomy vehicle tent. It adds a massive 10ft by 10ft cabin style and 7ft by 6ft screen porch to the tailgate of your vehicle.

The universal sleeve helps keep the packed size compact and will easily fit in the back of most small SUVs. And makes reaching the cooler for a midnight snack or packing up during a storm that much easier.

Also, it allows you to use the cargo area of your SUV as a sleeping space.

If you decide to camp without the vehicle or plan to drive during the day, you can quickly detach it.

Just remove it from the back and close the opening. This leaves the shelter protected from all kinds of adverse weather conditions.

It’s a vehicle camping solution that adds a lot of flexibility. These setups are an ideal solution for music festivals or remote camping areas.

Check Out Today’s Price


10 – Tepui Kukenam Sky

Tepui Kukenam Sky Tent

Tepui Kukenam Sky

Of course, we can’t talk about vehicle tents without touching on the modern camping tent craze I see in the Pacific Northwest – car-top shelters like The Tepui Kukenam Sky.

Now, it doesn’t boast the same size or sleep as many people as a cabin tent.

Instead, this is a 3-person, 4-season design that unfolds from the roof rack of your car.

I wouldn’t call this style a camping essential, but it’s a new modern tent that might be the perfect solution for some.

But if you’re in an area where sleeping on the ground isn’t a good option, this allows you to sleep on a stable, flat surface.

Check Out Today’s Price


Kodiak Truck Bed Canvas Tent

Kodiak Truck Bed Canvas

# 11 – Kodiak Truck Bed Canvas [EXTRA BONUS]

Kodiak Tents makes a truck bed version of its popular canvas tent.

This allows you to use the bed of a pickup truck to sleep comfortably off the ground ANYWHERE.

This is an excellent option for those who not only enjoy camping in a traditional campground but also in remote terrain.

So if you go on hunting or fishing trips, this is the solution you need.

Check Out Today’s Price


Final Thoughts


We’ve given a few examples of good tents for each category, but we’d love to hear your favorites. Share with everyone in the comments below your favorite type, style, and brand.

I like each style and that’s why I own several. Oh, and by the way, in case you’re wondering, I went with a dome tent for my trip.

But I’m looking to add a modern vehicle tent soon – I guess you can never have too many choices…

Jason K.

P.s. Do you know where the closest nuclear bunker is from your home?

There are a lot of natural nuclear shelters in the US that are absolutely free. And one of them is near your home.

Click on the image above to find out where you need to take shelter.

The post 10 Best Camping Tents On The Market Today [With Video Reviews] appeared first on Skilled Survival.

The U.S. Response To This Coronavirus Outbreak Has Been Horrifyingly Bad

What recourse do we have when our public health officials completely and utterly fail us?  I don’t know if we could have prevented COVID-19 from spreading widely in the United States even if everything had been done perfectly, but the truth is that we will never know.  When this outbreak first started, visitors from the affected areas were allowed to fly into the United States without being properly screened, and as you will see below this is still happening in many instances.  And once the virus started spreading on U.S. soil, we needed to immediately test any suspected cases so that we could isolate them as rapidly as possible.  But even though South Korea has managed to test more than 140,000 of their citizensless than 9,000 Americans have been tested so far…

The CDC revealed on Tuesday that 8,554 Americans have been tested for coronavirus, but the agency’s director says state and local health labs are understaffed and ill-equipped to keep up with crisis.

According to figures published on the CDC’s website on Tuesday, 3,698 tests had been done in its lab, and another 4,856 had been done in public health labs.

Can anyone out there explain why we can’t do at least as good as South Korea is doing?

So far, I haven’t found a single person that can explain this to me.

Even after everything that has transpired, victims at the very epicenter of the outbreak in the Seattle area that are “showing symptoms of the respiratory illness” are still not being tested

The Seattle-area nursing home at the epicenter of one of the biggest coronavirus outbreaks in the United States said on Monday it had no kits to test 65 employees showing symptoms of the respiratory illness that has killed at least 13 patients at the long-term care center.

The staff in question, representing more than a third of the Life Care Center’s 180 employees, are out sick with symptoms consistent with coronavirus, and a federal strike team of nurses and doctors is helping to care for 53 patients remaining in the center.

Are you kidding me?

This is the biggest public health crisis that any of us have ever seen, and the virus has already killed a bunch of residents at that particular nursing home, but we still don’t have enough kits to get those employees tested?

I don’t know if there are words that are strong enough to describe how badly our health officials have dropped the ball.

Do we have to wait until this crisis is over to fire every decision maker at the CDC and completely rebuild it from scratch?

To say that their performance has been “horrifyingly bad” is actually a tremendous understatement.

Of course the CDC is blaming their problems on a lack of funding

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield said state and local public health labs are underequipped and understaffed.

“The truth is we’ve not invested, we’ve underinvested in the public health labs,” Redfield said at a House Appropriations hearing for the 2021 CDC budget.

“There’s not enough equipment, there’s not enough people, there’s not enough internal capacity, there’s no surge capacity,” Redfield added.

Actually, the CDC receives more than 6 billion dollars in federal funding every year, and much of that goes into paying their salaries.

There are “168 key employees at CDC who earn more than $200,000” a year, and those very highly paid experts were supposed to make sure that our country was ready for a pandemic like this.

Now we are at a tipping point.  The number of confirmed cases in the U.S. has more than doubled over the past 48 hours, and an expert that used to work in the White House is telling us that we are “10 days from our hospitals getting creamed”.

10 days.

And thanks to the devastating impact that this outbreak has had on the Chinese economy, there are 30 different drugs that are already in short supply, and that list will grow with each passing week.

At this juncture, it is going to be nearly impossible to get this virus under control in the United States.  In an article that he just posted, Mike Adams outlined the steps that would need to be taken if we were really serious about ending this outbreak…

  • Block all international flights into the USA from all countries
  • Close all borders and stop cross-border traffic
  • Shut down all domestic commercial air travel
  • Order all public schools, universities, government offices and churches to close
  • Cancel all public events, including concerts, conferences, etc.
  • Quarantine all US cities, block all highways in and out
  • Shut down all public transportation, including subways, buses, taxis and rail
  • Enact nationwide medical martial law and prevent people from leaving their homes or gathering in groups of any kind

Needless to say, the American people are not about to accept such measures, and Mike Adams acknowledges that it would be “a month of hell”

These efforts might achieve a 90% suppression factor, which would break the cycle of the coronavirus within 3-4 weeks.

In other words, America would have to endure a month of hell to stop the virus in its tracks.

So this virus will just keep spreading, and the number of confirmed cases will just keep on doubling.

Meanwhile, as I mentioned above, many travelers that are coming into the U.S. from countries where this outbreak is completely out of control are still not being properly screened

U.S. travelers arriving into John F. Kennedy International Airport from locked-down Italy revealed that many passengers are not having their temperatures taken, despite a widespread coronavirus outbreak in the European country.

In exclusive interviews with DailyMail.com on Tuesday afternoon, American travelers arriving back in the country from Rome said Italians remain ‘unfazed’ by the deadly outbreak and ‘are still out having fun’.

Considering the fact that the entire nation of Italy is now locked down, why are we still allowing flights from Italy to land here in the first place?

There are now more than 1,000 confirmed cases in the United States even though we have done such minimal testing.

As testing expands, the number of confirmed cases will rise rapidly, and that will cause the level of fear to dramatically escalate.

Already, Costco stores all over the country are being raided by desperate consumers when they open each day.  Just check out what happened at one Costco store in southern California on Monday morning

Shoppers were pictured lining up outside a Costco store in Burbank, California, on Monday morning, with a queue of people and their empty shopping karts snaking through the parking lot, waiting to rush in and emergency stockpile goods the second the doors opened.

One eager customer, Jeffrey Schaefer, 45, said the line of shoppers continued all along the side of the huge wholesale store building, through the parking lot and back up the sidewalk.

If our health officials had been on top of things from the very beginning, the outlook for the months ahead could have been very different.

But now we are being told that we are past the “containment” phase and that officials will simply try to do their best to “mitigate” the damage that this outbreak will do from this point forward.

This is a complete and utter nightmare, and it looks like we are still only in the very early chapters of it.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse BlogEnd Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The EndGet Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.

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7 Best Cold Weather Tents On The Market Today [With Video Reviews]

Cold Weather TentsThere are only two reasons why anyone would sleep outside in the dead of winter.

You’re either a hard-core adventurist or a survivalist (or both).

And when the winter months come along camping changes for the colder.

For every inch of snow and for every degree colder it gets, sleeping outside becomes more dangerous.

That’s why winter camping requires special gear.

And the most critical piece of winter equipment to invest in is a high-quality cold weather tent.

Because your super-lightweight summer camping tent won’t cut it.

Of course, there are ways to secure shelter and stay warm even if you don’t have a cold weather tent (we’ll get to a few of those later).

But you never want to solely rely on your improvisation skills with something as critical as shelter. Because in the worst climates, cold weather tents become the only layer between warmth and death.

That’s why today I’m going to cover the following winter tent topics:

Note: Feel free to skip ahead to any section by clicking the links above…

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Camping Essentials Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

Cold Weather Tent With Man Sitting Outside

CHOOSING THE RIGHT WINTER TENT FOR YOU


It was the dead of winter, and I was working with a filmmaker in the far Alaskan north on an arctic nature documentary.

And let me tell you – it was freaking FRIGID out there.

Colder than I knew nature could get.

Well, the plan was to stay out there for a couple of weeks. A prospect I was altogether reluctant to get excited about.

That was until I saw his cold weather tent. The thing was huge. It had a massive vestibule, a thick waterproof shell, and a wood-burning stove complete chimney.

His tent was big enough for five plus the massive amount of film gear we were lugging.

It became our home-base and was always a welcome sight after a long day in the cold.

I tell this story for two reasons: 1) to illustrate how effective these tents can be. The Arctic Oven Tent that we were using out on that freezing tundra kept us cozy as koozies.

And 2) not every tent is right for every situation.

We needed a super-warm form of shelter big enough to house us and all our equipment. We knew we weren’t going to be moving it, and we had a bush plane to carry the tent/stove apparatus.

But I wouldn’t want that tent for most situations. It would be way too warm, way too big, and way too heavy for most situations. Sure, it worked for the arctic tundra, but it’s overkill for one night in Rocky Mountain National Park.

So there are a few considerations you need to take into account:

What will you be using your cold weather tent for?

If you plan on staying a month out in the coldest regions of the Yukon, you’re gonna need a big ol’ tent. However, if you’re planning a backpacking trip for a day of ice fishing, you’ll want something far smaller.

Will you be carrying or driving your tent around?

I’ll go back to the big Arctic Oven we used in Alaska – that cold weather tent required heavy equipment to move it around. There’s no conceivable way we could have carried something that heavy over any distance.

So if you intend to use your cold weather tent for vehicle camping only, you’ll have no issues going BIG. But if you’re winter backpacking, keep it light and packable.

How many people and how much gear do you plan on housing in your tent?

If you’re taking your entire family, or have a ton of gear and supplies, you’ll need a big tent. If you’re by yourself and practicing minimalist camping, go light because you won’t need a large one.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Camping Essentials Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

Multiple Cold Weather Tents In Snow 1

7 BEST COLD WEATHER TENTS ON THE MARKET TODAY


4 season winter tents come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate anyone, no matter the budget or circumstance. The variety is vast. So many choices that deciding becomes overwhelming.

That’s why I compiled the following list of excellent winter camping tents. Tents that will keep your butt cozy in the coldest temperatures imaginable.

Some are high tech, a few are more basic, but they all serve the same general purpose: warmth and shelter.

1 – Arctic Oven 12’x18′ With Vestibule [~ 5 – 10 Person Tent]

Artic Oven Cold Weather Tent

Arctic Oven 12’x18′ With Vestibule

I had to start with this tent because The Arctic Oven was one of the coolest warmest tents I’ve ever been inside.

There was so much space inside. And the tent trapped SO MUCH heat we started sweating even when it was -7 degrees outside.

That’s crazy good.

The tent comes in a variety of options and several sizes – and the prices vary from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.

  • PROS

This one’s extremely warm includes futuristic technology and is HUGE (226 square feet). It’s a four-season tent and can fit ten to eleven people inside during the summer. It includes an oven, has a vestibule, and is very durable and wind-resistant.

  • CONS

This beast weighs 110 pounds (don’t plan on carrying it anywhere). It only sleeps five to six people during winter (w/ cots and stove) and takes a while to set up. It’s also a bit of an investment.

Check Out Today’s Price

Also, take a few minutes to watch this setup video of this massive winter tent:


2 –  ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3[3 Person Tent]

ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3

ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3

This is a lightweight winter tent, but The ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 3 is still fairly heavy if you’re carrying it solo.

The small dome-shaped 3 person tent is warm, and its shape makes it nice and spacious.

  • PROS

This one is cost-effective, small, and packable. It’s spacious inside, includes a large and high vestibule. It offers 14 square feet of space for cooking and storage.

  • CONS

Not the most durable tent in the world (could have benefited from ripstop technology).

Unfortunately, it’s relatively heavy at 9 lbs 2 oz. Heavy enough to be a pain in the back on a long trip. This option is best for people with sleds or cars. Also, the tall sidewalls make it more susceptible to wind.

Check Out Today’s Price

Note: Here’s the 2 person version of this tent. It’s a more compact tent, weighs a bit less, and costs less too.


3 – Snugpak Scorpion 2 Camping Tent – [2 Person Tent]

Snugpak Scorpion 2 Camping Tent

Snugpak Scorpion 2 Camping Tent

Another smaller cold weather tent that’s perfect for people who won’t be lugging along tons of gear or lots of people.

The Snugpack Scorpion 2 will keep snow and rain out with it’s RipStop waterproof Fly Sheet. This is combined with a heavy-duty, waterproof  Ground Sheet that provides you with a durable design that can withstand prolonged exposure to the elements.

It’s also equipped with DAC Featherlite aluminum poles with press-fit connectors.

  • PROS

One word, lightweight! (only 5 lbs 8 oz) making it ideal for winter backpackers. This is the one you want if you’re bugging out in the winter months.

  • CONS

A few people mentioned the zippers and the plastic snap-buckles feel a bit cheap.

Check Out Today’s Price


4 – GEERTOP Winter Backpacking Tent [2 Person Tent]

GEERTOP Winter Backpacking Tent

GEERTOP Winter Backpacking Tent

Geertop is a newer arrival to the winter tent marketplace, but that doesn’t mean they don’t make a quality product.

This tent features 210T anti-tear checkered polyester, which is also coated with a 3000mm water-resistant finish. This gives the Geertop superior durability and an impenetrable shell from snow or snowmelt.

  • PROS

This tent utilizes a 2 layer design with anti-tear, water-resistant polyester.

  • CONS

Zippers are not top-notch.

Check Out Today’s Price


5 – Nemo Chogori 2P Mountaineering Tent – [2 Person]

Nemo Chogori 2P Mountaineering Tent

Nemo Chogori 2P Mountaineering Tent

The Chogori 2 Person Mountaineering Tent is designed with an integrated fly and external pole structure. This helps to reduce setup time – which is crucial in extreme weather.

This external pole innovation also trims overall weight by 25% – this heavy-duty mountaineering tent only weighs 8.42 lbs!

The Chogori uses a silicone-treated 20D Nylon Ripstop fabric. This fabric is significantly stronger than most other types and doesn’t require seam tape.

  • PROS

This is an innovative design that keeps you safe in the worst of extreme weather conditions. Plus, it has a very cool bonus feature that allows 2 of these tents to be connected together. This turns 2 smaller tents into 1 larger tent. 

  • CONS

You get what you pay for, but you have to invest a bit more for this extreme winter tent.

Check Out Today’s Price


6 – MoKo Waterproof 4 Season Camping Tent – [3 Person]

MoKo Waterproof 4 Season Camping Tent

MoKo Waterproof 4 Season Camping Tent

The MoKo Waterproof 4 Season Tent is one heavy-duty cold weather tent – but that comes at a bit of a weight cost. This tent is listed at 10.6 lbs, which is brutal to carry on your back.

But if you’re only using it for car camping –then this is a great option.

It features a durable & high-quality flysheet that’s 2500mm+ waterproof. And it uses a 5000mm (1000D polyethylene) for the floor.

  • PROS

This is a very spacious, sturdy, and waterproof winter tent at a very affordable price point.

  • CONS

Heavy – you won’t want to carry it very far from your vehicle.

Check Out Today’s Price


7 – Big Agnes Battle Mountain Mountaineering Tent

Big Agnes Battle Mountain Mountaineering Tent

Big Agnes Battle Mountain Mountaineering Tent

The Big Agnes Battle Mountain Mountaineering Tent is built with bomber materials. The kind of material that can withstand the most rugged of high-alpine adventures.

The fly uses polyester ripstop. This ripstop uses high tenacity yarns, which increase tear strength by 20-25% over standard nylon or polyester ripstop fabrics.

  • PROS

This isn’t just any cold-weather tent – it’s made specifically to withstand high-alpine adventures.

  • CONS

Expensive – overkill for anyone who’s not using it for high alpine camping.

Check Out Today’s Price


Note:  You should also consider getting a tent heater to pair with your winter tent to make it even more comfortable!

Canvas Cold Weather Tents

So far, we focus only on the best nylon and polyester tents; however, another fantastic cold weather tent option you might want to look into is a high-quality, durable, and warm canvas tents.

Check out our 3,000-word post called Canvas Tents – How To Find The Best One For You

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Camping Essentials Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

Old School Tent

FROM ANIMAL HIDE TO NYLON – A BRIEF HISTORY OF TENTS


Shelter is necessary for survival.

Our human ancestors sought shelter in forests and caves. And eventually in huts, homes, and tents. In fact, portable, packable shelters were extensively used by nomadic cultures throughout history.

The very first recorded ruins of tents were discovered in Russia. Hunter-gatherers of this region used mammoth hides to create warm, wind-resistant shelters. In this way, they protected themselves from the intense Siberian weather.

Later in history, teepees and yurts became popular. They enabled people to set up camp to hunt and gather until resources became scarce, and they needed to move on.

Mobile sheltering was a lifestyle for Mongolians and Native Americans. Yurts are still a trendy design today. For example, you can find them in use throughout the Rocky Mountains.

The Romans were also big into tents. Not because they moved their civilization from place to place (after all, they built Rome). But their armies conquered most of Europe, parts of Africa and the Middle East. So they needed portable transportation.

They used tents everywhere. Big tents, little tents, fancy tents, whatever kind of old-school tent you can imagine. Most of their tents were fashioned from calf or goat skins.

In fact, tents have been an essential survival tool for every single war since ancient times. The French Revolution, the American Revolution, the American Civil War, WWI, WWII, and beyond.

Tents are such a useful mechanism for portable shelter they’ll likely be popular well into the future.

Today, after all those thousands of years using and refining tent technology, we’ve come a long way. And cold weather tents are a perfect example: durable, warm, water-resistant, and windproof.

The bottom line is tents have come a long way since the days of hunkering down under mammoth hides.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Camping Essentials Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

NO TENT? NO PROBLEM! 3 MAKESHIFT WINTER SURVIVAL SHELTERS


Actually, that isn’t precisely accurate. If you get stuck outside in winter without a cold weather tent to take shelter inside of, you DO have a problem. One that threatens your life, in fact. But there are lots of ways to improvise in such a situation.

1 – Build An Igloo

Tried and tested, the igloo is one of the best cold weather shelters in history. Carve a bunch of bricks of snow and start stacking.

The tough part about building an igloo is the fact that it takes a long time. If you know you’re stranded outside for the night and have all day to prepare, go for an igloo.

The snow and ice walls work very well as insulation against harsh temperatures and winds.

Here’s a comprehensive video on igloo building:


2 – Dig a Snow Cave

Similar to an igloo, this concept uses snow as an insulator to keep you warm. Snow caves are nice because they are faster to dig out, and they don’t have to be very big.

Just large enough for you to crawl inside of, curl up, and suffer through the harsh night.

Snow caves have saved countless lives over the years. So if you ever need a quick, warm shelter in a pinch, start digging. You need to scoop out enough snow to fit inside, and then jimmy-rig a door.

(Using a large snowball, a chunk of ice, a winter jacket, rain jacket, piece of plywood, etc. works very well). The trick with the door is to make it as airtight as possible. Otherwise, all the heat you build up inside escapes and you freeze to death.

(But be careful, making your snow cave too airtight can result in suffocation. Find that balance…)

Here’s a time-lapse video of an elaborate snow cave being built.


3 – Insulate a Summer Tent With Snow

There have been times I’ve been backpacking in the spring, totally confident it would stay warm and sunny, only to get caught in a freak blizzard.

What can you do? If you’re carrying a tent (even if it is not a cold-weather tent), you can add insulation – as long as there’s snow. When you pack a couple of inches of snow onto the outside of your tent, you increase that tent’s ability to hold heat.

Unfortunately, if the snow melts and your tent isn’t waterproof, chances are you’re getting soaked. But if the snow is melting, then it’s not all that cold out anymore.

Yeah, you survived.

FINAL THOUGHTS


Hypothermia is a deadly killer – responsible for thousands of deaths a year. The cold weather is dangerous. (This hopefully isn’t news to you).

Sadly, that fact can get in the way of outdoor activities during the winter. But that doesn’t mean you have to let it stop you from enjoying the outdoors! You only need to make sure you’re prepared. And the first step towards preparing yourself for winter camping/survival is to get your hands on a cold weather tent.

Yes, everyone is going to need something different. But I assure you, there’s a winter tent out there with your name on it.

But be careful and do your research before you buy – not all cold weather tents are created equal. Do your research and know your needs.

Owning a cold weather tent is like owning a portable hunting lodge, cross-country skiing yurt, or warming hut. Surviving in winter weather gets a lot more difficult without a cold weather tent.

If you consider yourself self-reliant, someone who’s ready for any survival situation, you need a high-quality cold weather tent.

Will Brendza

P.s. Do you know where the closest nuclear bunker is from your home?

There are a lot of natural nuclear shelters in the US that are absolutely free. And one of them is near your home.

Click on the image above to find out where you need to take shelter.

The post 7 Best Cold Weather Tents On The Market Today [With Video Reviews] appeared first on Skilled Survival.

Out Of Time: U.S. Cases Explode As The Coronavirus Pandemic Reaches A Tipping Point

If you thought that we had more time before this coronavirus pandemic exploded out of control in the United States, I am sorry to say that you are out of luck.  In all of the major nations in the western world, the number of confirmed cases escalated dramatically over the past few days.  Here in the U.S., COVID-19 has now reached 33 states, and the number of confirmed cases seems to literally be changing every few minutes as more announcements are made.  Over the weekend, we witnessed another wild round of panic buying as people feverishly stocked up for an extended pandemic, but at least Americans are not throwing punches at each other over toilet paper like we are witnessing elsewhere in the world.  Needless to say, all of this insanity is badly rattling Wall Street.  The markets are going absolutely nuts, and it looks like this could be a truly historic week.  Much more importantly, it looks like any hope of containing this virus is now completely dead.  In fact, Dr. Scott Gottlieb of the Food and Drug Administration just told the entire nation that we are “past the point of containment” now.

Once this virus gets into an area, it can spread like wildfire.  If you doubt this, just look at what is happening in New York.  Just a few days ago there was one confirmed case, and now there is 105.  The following comes from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo

UPDATE: There are 16 additional confirmed cases of #Coronavirus in NYS, bringing total to 105.

Westchester: 82

NYC: 12

Nassau: 5

Rockland: 2

Saratoga: 2

Suffolk: 1

Ulster: 1

We’re testing aggressively & we are seeing the number of confirmed cases go up as expected.

Cuomo also shocked many members of the media when he absolutely lambasted the CDC.  The guidelines that the CDC imposed upon the states greatly suppressed the amount of testing up to this point, and Cuomo seems to be among those that believe that this was a huge mistake

The governor said that officials are working hard to identify new cases but have been greatly hindered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), saying it is ‘outrageous and ludicrous’ that the agency has not authorized private labs to conduct automated tests.

‘CDC, wake up. Let the states test. Let private labs test. Let’s increase as quickly possible our testing capacity so we identify the positive people, so we can isolate them,’ he said.

It would be difficult to overstate the anger that many Americans are feeling toward the CDC right now.  So far, South Korea has been able to test more than 140,000 of their citizens for COVID-19, but as of Saturday the CDC had tested fewer than 1,600

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has tested 1,583 people for the coronavirus since the first cases were identified in the U.S. in January, health officials said Saturday.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn told reporters at the White House that figure would increase as more tests are shipped nationwide to address demand. But officials made clear that an individual could be tested only if it was approved by a doctor or public health official, contradicting President Trump’s pervious claims about test availability.

If the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. is rising so rapidly with such limited testing, what will happen to the numbers now that testing will really be ramping up?

I think that we all know that answer.

Originally, U.S. officials had hoped to keep any outbreaks inside the United States strictly contained, but now that plan is out the window.

On Sunday, Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams openly admitted that we have now shifted to the mitigation phase

The US response to coronavirus has now shifted from containment to mitigation, Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.

“Initially, we had a posture of containment so that we could give people time to prepare for where we are right now. We’re shifting into a mitigation phase, which means that we’re helping communities understand you’re going to see more cases,” Adams said.

So how many more cases will we ultimately see?

Chillingly, some experts believe that it will be in the millions.

If that turns out to be accurate, can you imagine what that will do to our economy?

Things are really starting to get crazy out there.  On Sunday, we learned that even U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has gone into “self-quarantine” because he came into contact with someone that was infected by the virus.

For the moment, our healthcare system will be able to handle the number of cases, but that could soon change.

In fact, it is being estimated that all available hospital beds could be completely filled by May 8th

A sobering analysis of how coronavirus is likely to impact the US healthcare system suggests that hospitals will be quickly overwhelmed with patients, and that all available beds will be filled by around May 8th if the virus tracks with Italy’s figures and 10% of patients require an ICU.

Of note, the Straits Times reported last week that thousands of people were waiting for hospital beds in South Korea as the disease surges.

Liz Specht, a PhD in biology and the associate director of Science and Technology for the Good Food Institute laid out her concerns in a lengthy Twitter thread on Friday, which you can see here on Twitter, or continue reading below.

So if you get sick after that, you may be out of luck.

Over in Italy, this pandemic has already progressed to an extremely dangerous stage.  The Italians now have the highest death toll of anywhere outside of China, and the number of confirmed cases has been escalating at a pace that is difficult to believe.

In a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding, the Italian government has locked down “more than a quarter of its population”

The Italian government is locking down 17 million people—more than a quarter of its population—including in Milan, the surrounding Lombardy region and 14 neighboring provinces, in the most sweeping steps any European country has prepared to take against the coronavirus epidemic.

A decree from the Italian Prime Minister’s office says people living in Lombardy, where Milan is the capital, and the named provinces in Lombardy’s nearby regions must “absolutely avoid any movement into and out of the areas.”

Will that work?

We better hope so, because the progression of this outbreak in Italy has been truly frightening

#Coronavirus in Italy:

1st Feburary: 2 cases

20th February: 3 cases

22nd Feburary: 62 cases, 2 deaths

28th February: 528 cases, 12 deaths

1st March: 1694 cases, 34 deaths

4th March: 3089 cases, 107 deaths

8th March: 7375 cases, 366 deaths & counting

Terrible.

Of course we will see similar numbers in country after country pretty soon.

In the UK, they appear to be on a very similar track

Confirmed coronavirus cases, UK:

March 8: 273 people

March 5: 115 people

March 2: 39 people

February 28: 20 people

February 25: 12 people

February 22: 8 people

Fighting this virus has been compared to trying to fight the air, because COVID-19 spreads from person to person really easily.

In fact, one team of scientists is now telling us that it looks like it may “spread through air-conditioning units”

Traces of the coronavirus found in a hospital air duct has led scientists to believe the disease could be spread through air-conditioning units, making it more contagious than initially thought.

Swab analysis of rooms used by three coronavirus patients by experts at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases in Singapore suggest that the respiratory illness spreads easier than previously thought.

Where will this end?

Is it inevitable that there will be a raging pandemic in every nation on Earth?

If millions die from this virus, global financial markets will utterly collapse, economic conditions will be unimaginable, great civil unrest will erupt all over the planet and our society will be unrecognizable.

So far, this virus has a higher death rate than the Spanish Flu, and the Spanish Flu pandemic killed between 50 million and 100 million people.

This is not a drill.  This pandemic is out of control and the dead bodies are really starting to pile up.  The months ahead are going to be really challenging, but with God’s help we will find a way to get through this.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse BlogEnd Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The EndGet Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.

The post Out Of Time: U.S. Cases Explode As The Coronavirus Pandemic Reaches A Tipping Point appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

Corona Virus Mapping

Written by Pat Henry on The Prepper Journal.

The Corona virus (COVID-19) is all over the news, with plenty of fear-mongering spread among the analysis and good information. Because of that, I don’t think there’s a lot for me to write about this without spending a ton of time digging into it or coming up with conspiracy theories.

That said, I do think the tendency of some I know to dismiss the seriousness of the threat is misguided. It seems COVID-19 has a longer symptom-free period where the carrier is contagious, can last longer on solid surfaces, and may or may not have a higher mortality rate than the ‘normal’ flu. There is a lot of contradictory information out there.

That said, it seems as if medical professionals are expanding their screening for potential carriers. I went to the urgent care because I had the flu that turned into bronchitis, and one of the screening questions was “have you traveled outside the country within the past 30 days?”

I answered ‘no’ since I haven’t, but I wonder if they have any follow up questions if someone answers yes. I think I’ll ask some medical field friends about that.

In the meantime, I’ve come across two good websites where you can track the disease’s spread and infection and mortality rates.

The first one is from Worldometers.com/coronavirus. It gives the number of cases, active cases, deaths, recovered, and much more. It breaks the information down by country and gives ages of the infected where it can. Worldometer.com was voted as one of the best free reference websites by the American Library Association.

The second tracking site is from John Hopkins via the geolocation and mapping company, ESRI. This one shows the sources where its data comes from,  and allows you to click on the location indicators to get specific data about the area. I don’t believe it’s live, but seems to be regularly updated.

For some background on the Corona Virus, the World Health Organization has a Q&A section on it that might be helpful.

Stay safe.

The post Corona Virus Mapping appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

Coronavirus Facts: 8 Things Doctors Are Actually Saying About COVID-19

There’s a lot of misinformation hitting the Internet about the coronavirus. So we’re here to bring you the coronavirus facts so you stay informed and, more importantly, stay healthy.

Did you hear the one about 38 percent of Americans won’t drink Corona beer because of the coronavirus? Two misnomers there: Firstly, the coronavirus has nothing to do with Corona beer. Drink on. Secondly, that was a misleading stat picked up by almost every major news outlet in America because some journalists don’t do research anymore. As The Atlantic points out, “the original press release from 5WPR notes that in a survey of 737 beer-drinking Americans, 38 percent said they ‘would not buy Corona under any circumstances now.’”

That has nothing to do with the coronavirus. People just might not like the beer. This is the exact misinformation we’re trying to avoid here. So we spoke with several doctors and are the coronavirus facts they gave us in private.

Coronavirus Facts

Doctors are very worried COVID-19 and not only as a public health crisis. Like you should be, they are concerned for their safety. Here’s why and what you can plan for:

1. It’s Deadly

Want some coronavirus facts? How about this? COVID-19 currently has an average lethality rate from 1 to 2 percent. Children have the highest survival rate, while 10 percent of infected people over 80 years old would be expected to die. By comparison, SARS and MERS were much deadlier with kill rates about three times higher. However, the SARS and MERS viruses weren’t particularly contagious while COVID-19 is as easy to catch as ordinary flu, but more than 20 times as deadly. The virus can spread through the air in the tiny invisible droplets of moisture in the outward breathing of the infected and can survive for hours on surfaces. If COVID-19 got into major urban areas, tens of millions could be infected. If 30 million people were infected, at a 1 percent lethality rate, 300,000 would be expected to die.

2. It Could Overwhelm Our Healthcare System

As if that wasn’t bad enough, COVID-19 is a heavy hitter and 15 percent of infected patients will require hospitalization and ICU treatment to recover. Without it, they are likely to die too. With 30 million people infected, 4.5 million will need ICU care. If the number of seriously ill patients exceeds ICU beds, COVID-19’s lethality rate is going to go up.

3. Tailor Made For a Pandemic

The thing that worries doctors most about COVID-19 is they don’t know who has it and they can’t see it coming. Unlike previous deadly viral outbreaks, COVID-19 is contagious while asymptomatic. An infected person without symptoms goes about their normal activities unknowingly spreading the virus to others for days before they realize they are sick. In fact, a certain number of infected will never show symptoms at all.

Obviously, those thermal scanners in use at airports won’t detect infected people in the asymptomatic stage. What’s worse is that, at present, most doctors and hospitals can’t even determine if an obviously sick person has COVID-19 in a timely manner. The grim fact is the test facilities and materials for detecting it are in critically short supply. If massive improvements in test capabilities aren’t made immediately, by the time a COVID-19 outbreak is detected here, it may already be at epidemic proportions.

4. Expect Isolation

Plan for at least two weeks of forced isolation. Reduce your chance of infection by minimizing your exposure to people. Avoid close contact (within six feet) and confined spaces, which are ideal for transmission of the virus. During a serious outbreak, expect schools, churches, and businesses to close. If you don’t have what you need when an epidemic hits your community, you might not be able to get it.

5. Nourish Your Body

For sustenance in insolation, stock up to the extent you can on non-perishable food, water, your prescription medicines, and multi-vitamins (to make up for any deficiencies in your diet).

6. Have a Strategy To Avoid Infection

Protect yourself from infection and check the spread of the virus. Have plenty of soap (anti-bacterial is slightly better than ordinary soap), hand sanitizer (at least 60 percent alcohol for use where washing is impossible), face masks or respirators (R95 rated), disinfectants to kill the virus on hard surfaces (alcohol, bleach, Lysol spray and wipes), extra laundry detergent, rubber gloves, paper towels, toilet paper, and tissues. The main prophylactic against any virus is not touching the face and eyes. Also, maintaining excellent hygiene is important, particularly frequent handwashing with soap (for at least 20 seconds in warm or hot water).

7. Masks Are Important, Despite What You’re Being Told

COVID-19 enters the body most easily through the lungs, followed to a much lesser degree by ingestion and lesser still by absorption through the eyes. To protect your lungs when you expect exposure to COVID-19, have masks to filter out the virus from the air. Better than that would be a reusable, commercial or medical respirator, rated P95, R95, N95, or better. Ordinary surgical-type masks, or improvised ones, also need to be on hand for anyone in the household showing signs of illness. By immediately donning a mask, the ill person reduces the danger of virus transmission.

Anyone sick should go to the hospital immediately for testing and isolation. Others sharing the same living space, but not showing symptoms, must remain isolated at their residence. They should mask up until they are determined to be heathy or ill. For those known infected with COVID-19, home isolation is risky and problematic. Most private residences don’t have negative-pressure isolation wards to effectively contain airborne viruses.

8. Zinc Lozenges

To treat normal flu and colds at home have Ibuprofen (for fever), Gatorade and Pedialyte (for restoring fluids), Saltine crackers (an easy-to-digest carbohydrate to keep your strength up) and zinc lozenges. Unlike vitamin C or prescription Tamiflu, over-the-counter zinc lozenges (ex. Cold-eze) might actually reduce the likelihood of catching COVID-19 in the same manner they reduce the chances of catching a cold. My doctor said six months of prophylactic use was tolerable for me without negative health effects. Consult your doctor to see if extended use of zinc lozenges is safe for you.