Few human initiatives are as ancient and respectable as home fortification.

We separated ourselves from the animal kingdom by the strength of our wits and our knack for self-defense.

So to defend our family from others, we need to become home fortification experts.

Especially if the world we know collapses and desperate people want to take what’s ours.

Now good home fortification doesn’t require a full castle moat and a mangled barbed-wire fence ringing your lawn.

Creating a secure home can be done by adding many simple tactics.

It all depends on how far you want to take it.

So first, you must ask yourself:

• Do you want a secure house that looks as normal as possible?
• Or are you trying to remodel your structure to resemble a bunker with maximum defense capabilities?

The bottom line is this: The more difficult your home is to penetrate, the more likely a criminal will choose an easier target.

That’s the ultimate goal. Make it an absolute pain in the ass for the enemy, and he’ll move on to easier targets. (a.k.a your neighbors).

So with that said, I will share my best tips to help you put your personal home fortification plan in place.

Home Fortifications for SHTF, Home Invasion and Burglary prevention

HOME HARDENING | Fortifying a Place of Residence

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1. Start With the Obvious – Security Cameras

A simple Google search will provide many home security and surveillance options. Systems you can purchase and have installed directly into your home.

Usually, these security services allow you to “arm” your home when you are not there or after you have gone to sleep. Once the system is armed, any windows breaking or doors being forced open will trigger an alarm that notifies local authorities.

They basically call 911 for you when someone breaks in. However, this constant monitoring is not cheap.

Basic DIY surveillance systems are cheaper and can be set up relatively easily. However, you can’t personally watch them 24/7.

So you have to decide which home fortification option is right for you…

The good news is that a potential intruder doesn’t know if that security camera is tied to a monitoring system (or not). They see cameras and will likely just move on to an easier target.

However, if you’re not willing to take that gamble and have the dollars to spend, there are quite a few home security and surveillance systems you could look into. Just do your homework before signing a long-term monitoring contract.

NOTE: Since this article was written, DIY surveillance systems, home security systems, and even doorbell cameras have dramatically improved. Most can alert you with a notification on your phone when they detect motion and allow you to talk and listen through the devices.

But honestly, this is just one security measure you can take to fortify your home. So if money is tight, then worry about the following options first. 

7 Common Security Camera Installation FAILS and How to Avoid Them

 

Simple Ideas That Can Compound Your Home Fortification Efforts

Home defense must not be complex booby traps and unaffordable technology to work effectively. How about some simple solutions?

Like these:

2. Protect Your Windows

Once all your standard entry points are protected with an alarm system, you should focus on your windows.

I will assume all your windows have locks – make sure you use them. But I’m not a big fan of window alarms. Why? Because a burglar can shatter and break a window out WITHOUT having to slide the window.

If the window doesn’t slide – traditional window alarms are useless.

Instead, you have two better options…

First is burglar bars. They are a great deterrent, but they’re not the best-looking option.

So if you want extra security and want it to look good, research security window film.

It’s a transparent film you can add to your windows, strengthening them. This means they’re much harder to break or shatter.

The film will also slow intruders down and force them to make more noise.

5 Easy Ways to Fortify Your Windows – Downtown Tactical

2. Motion Triggered Lights

These handy motion-sensing illuminators are a cheap, simple way of detecting when intruders are intruding.

Fair warning, though: you will doubtlessly catch some unsuspecting wildlife by surprise occasionally.

3. Bells or Chimes

Hang a doorknob chime on your door or some chimes just inside your door. Your mind will become accustomed to the jingling sound of your doors opening and closing.

If you are asleep and wake in the middle of the night to jingling and jangling … you know something unusual is afoot.

4. Dogs

Whether you like them or not, these furry companions are one of the most effective home protectors.

Big dogs are better, for obvious reasons, but even little dogs can serve as an alarm or perhaps even a deterrent.

Military Canine Handler’s Top 5 Home Protection Dogs

5. Other Pets

While a dog can be a good option, sometimes more exotic pets can offer an extra level of intimidation.

If someone breaks into a house and comes face-to-face with a Bengal tiger living in it, there is no way they will follow through with their villainous intentions.

But proceed with your own caution. Wild animals don’t always understand the difference between “good guys” and “bad guys.”

6. Fences

The age-old technology of the fence is one of mankind’s greatest accomplishments. They keep people out of places you don’t want them to be.

Install one if you’re concerned with home fortification. Just be smart about it.

They can create a false sense of security and even make you a target.

It’s just one tool you can use to make it harder for someone to snoop on your property. Most home fences can be easily scaled.

Use fencing to create choke points, visual deterrents, and psychological effects.

How to Defend Your Property from THE PURGE!

Natural View Blocking Solutions

Big flamboyant houses with exuberant features and huge fences make for excellent targets.

It shouts, “We have lots of expensive stuff. So expensive we put up a huge fence.”

NOTE: Click here to see why you should avoid a tall fence around your home. 

Not all fences are bad, but most fences are mere child’s play for an experienced criminal or a desperate mob. But there are ways to help conceal your house, protect your privacy, and provide security.

Mother nature has got you covered. Criminals won’t be able to scope your property out and develop a solid game plan if they can’t see in your windows from the street.

7. Trees and Shrubs

If you are lucky enough to live in a house with a lawn or acreage…use it. Planting a lot of trees and shrubs around your home is not just good for property values; it is also effective at concealing your privacy.

They can also help block windows and driveways, front doors, patios, or backyards from view.

And the fewer prying eyes roam your home, the better.

Shrubs can be planted strategically to funnel invaders into defined areas that are easy to watch. Many thorny bushes like blackberry and raspberry vines can act as physical barriers against threats.

Landscaping with Home Security in Mind

8. Cacti

These are nature’s barbed wire fences. During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, Spaniards would plant Mesquite around the perimeters of their homes.

This gangly, wild-looking cactus would grow to well over 8 feet tall. It can serve as a perfect means of protection against unwelcome intruders.

Don’t underestimate a well-placed thorn bush or Cacti beneath your first-floor windows. I don’t care how motivated you are to break in; nobody wants to get stuck with a bunch of thorns trying.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our #78 Item Complete Prepper Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

Image Source

9. Blend In – Don’t Stick Out

Eye-catching, expensive-looking houses are more likely to become targets. So do your best to keep your home flying under the radar.

You do not have to paint the house with a camouflage green to achieve this (actually, that would stick out worse in most neighborhoods). Just avoid bright colors and stick to more natural hues. Park your vehicles in garages, around the back, or hide them under tarps.

Also, use window blinds or curtains to keep outsiders from seeing valuables or expensive items you might have.

Train Your Family

No sane individual would knowingly break into a house full of highly trained, sharp-shooting badasses.

Not only does a well-trained clan deter potential intruders, but it also ensures that every family member is capable of self-defense.

This alone will grant you some semblance of peace of mind. But before you ship your relatives off to an army boot camp, do everything you can to prepare them with simpler means first.

10. Take Your Family Shooting

It can be survival air rifles, .22s, .357s, or AK-47s, or even a survival bow. You’ve done your job as long as you get your loved ones to understand how guns work, how to use them, and how to stay safe with them.

Shooting is a great skill everyone should learn. It is useful for hunting and imperative for effective self-defense.

11. Martial Arts

Enrolling in a martial arts school is one of the best things you can do to prepare yourself for a home invasion.

I’d rather have a firearm than not, but I won’t be a sitting duck if I end up unarmed.

Picking a specific style can be difficult. Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Mui Thai, and Jiu-Jitsu are all decent options to get started.

12. Melee Weapons

A simple kitchen knife, baseball bat, or golf club can become an effective self-defense weapon. But only if it’s in the hands of someone who knows how to use it effectively.

Bottom line: Your entire family should be both physically and mentally prepared to keep intruders at bay.

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Home Fortification Focus On The High Risk and Weak Points First

It might seem intuitive to you, but you’d be surprised how many people are shocked when burglars gain access to their homes. Normally it’s through an unlocked window or a fragile sliding glass door!

Let’s break it down statistically and take a look. Here are the top seven common points of access criminals use to invade homes:

• 34% – Through the front door
• 23% – Through the first-floor windows
• 22% – Through a back door
•   9% – Through the garage
•   6% – Though unlocked storage areas
•   4% – Through basement or window
•   2% – Through the second-floor window

Obviously, the most important places to fortify are the front and back doors. Next are all the first-floor windows.

But don’t stop there; you should reinforce all possible entry points for maximum security.

13. Reinforcing Front/Back Doors

Since most break-ins occur through doors or windows – that’s where you should spend most of your efforts!

Armor Concepts Door Armor

Armor Concepts sells door armor! Door Armor is a patented door security device that reinforces your existing doors’ weak points.

So you should always reinforce those points of entry as best as you can. These products help you do just that!

And the cost of these products is very reasonable if you ask me – especially for what you get –> “insane peace of mind.”

Watch the following video on how well this door reinforcement device works.

Door Armor Independent Security Testing

Window Security Film

First, if you’re serious about protecting your windows – you should read our article about Security Window Film. It covers many details we don’t have time to discuss here…

In general, there are several types of film and other window solutions, such as burglar bars, riot glass, or security screens.

But for most people who want a quick, good-looking window security upgrade, window security film is your best bet.

15. Securing Your Walls

Usually, walls do not present a problem … unless the hulk is trying to break into your home (in which case: GOOD LUCK). But if someone decides to start shooting at the exterior of your home, drywall and wooden studs will not save you.

Brick or stone walls are the best for mitigating this threat. But leave yourself “loopholes.” These are small openings from which you can see and shoot without being seen or shot at.

16. Block Up Those Chimneys

Who knows, right? Maybe someone is so intent on breaking into your home that they decide to take the ash-tunnel route.

If you are in extreme danger and must fortify to the greatest extent possible, block up your chimney. You don’t want any bad Santas coming down the pipes.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our #78 Item Complete Prepper Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

17. The Best Defense is a Good Offense

Ensure you are well-armed and equipped to manage a home invasion situation. Planting trees, painting the house, and getting a German Shepard is great, but it is not always enough on their own.

You need to outfit your home fortification with as much firepower and ammunition as is necessary.

If you are serious about home defense (and you should be), set some booby traps on your property. Simple things like tripwires with bells attached can be enough to alert you to intruders. But please, do not set up any lethal traps inside your house.

First off, they are highly illegal. People have died at their own hands because they set off a booby trap they themselves set. Be careful when you set traps. If you are not vigilant, you might catch yourself.

DIY Perimeter Defense – Area Dential Devices

Home Fortification – A Final Warning

Here is the rub: if someone is 100% determined to enter your home and rob you (or cause bodily harm), they probably can.

That is unless you have a well-defended, best-prepared bulletproof home, it can be broken into if a large enough group coordinates an attack. So you have 2 choices.

1. Work towards making your home bulletproof.
2. Have a backup plan if you cannot get it up to bulletproof standards. Specify a “bug-out-location” with your family or roommates so you can regroup should your defenses fall.

Which leads to the next dark truth. You may be unable to stay in your house forever if you’re unprepared. This is especially true if you find yourself in an urban city during an End Of The World As We Know It scenario.

Areas with higher populations are more susceptible to violent riots and high crime levels. So if you live in a big city or around many people, developing a backup plan is certainly in your best interest.

Evacuation doesn’t have to be bad; change can be overcome if you plan on it.

With luck, you’ll never have to defend your home from anyone or anything. That’s the hope.

But if things go south and you must defend your home, you can ensure you are prepared to the highest degree.

Will Brendza

P.s. Are you ready for the tough times ahead?

Find out now by taking my short Readiness Score Quiz – it’s absolutely free.
Once complete, you’ll know exactly where you stand on the “fragile” vs.” resilient” spectrum.

So click here to start the Quiz….And don’t worry; the questions are so easy a 3rd grader could answer them.

Click on the image to begin the Quiz and find out once and for all if you’re part of “The Fragile Masses” or “The Resilient Few.”

Top Image Source

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Russia is encircling the strategically important Artyomovsk, and Kyiv’s forces are weighing their options, says Alexander Rodnyansky, a war adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.  Ukraine is considering a retreat from the city.

In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Alexander Rodnyansky stated that Russia is attempting to encircle Artyomovsk (called Bakhmut in Ukraine) by using the best troops from the Wagner private military company. Rodnyansky told CNN’s Isa Soares that Kyiv’s forces would retreat or “strategically give up” the city “if they believed the costs of holding it outweigh the benefits.” Rodnyansky added that the Ukrainian military “is obviously going to weigh all the options.”

“So far, they’ve held the city, but, if need be, they will strategically pull back – because we’re not going to sacrifice all of our people just for nothing,” the presidential adviser claimed, arguing that it was ultimately up to the military to decide if and when a withdrawal was required.

CNN also spoke to a Ukrainian soldier who wished to remain anonymous, and who described the situation in Artyomovsk as “much worse than officially reported.” “We should add another 100% difficulty to the official reports. In all directions. Especially in the northern direction where the [Russians] have made the biggest advance,” he said, according to a report by RT. 

Mass Drone Attack Unleashes Chaos, Air Raid Sirens Inside Russia

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar stated on Tuesday that more reinforcements are being sent to the strategically vital city. This was confirmed on Wednesday by the head of Wagner, Evgeny Prigozhin, who said Kiev had sent tens of thousands of its best fighters to Artyomovsk. “They are putting up fierce resistance. The bloodshed of the battles is increasing every day,” Prigozhin noted. –RT

U.S. Rulers: China To Suffer “Real Costs” If It Provides Lethal Aid To Russia

This war is consistently ramping up to all new levels. Be prepared for anything and use your discernment.

I’ve always found primitive weapons to be fascinating. In part, because they are a part of our history but also as simple as they appear, they are much more effective than they are given credit for. In my experience, most people don’t seem too interested in them. I think because the word primitive is attached…

The post 13 Primitive Weapons Explained appeared first on Survival Cache.

Have you heard about what is going on in Cambodia?  If officials confirm that the H5N1 strain of the bird flu really is spreading from human to human there, it is likely to set off a wave of panic all over the globe.  And if human to human transmission were to start happening in multiple countries, we would have a real nightmare on our hands.  We just went through a pandemic that had a very low death rate, but it still paralyzed much of the world for an extended period of time.  So how would global authorities react if a disease that has a death rate of more than 50 percent in humans starts spreading like wildfire?

According to the World Health Organization, more than 50 percent of the humans that have tested positive for H5N1 over the past two decades have died.

The good news is that it has been very difficult for humans to become infected.  During the past 20 years, there have been less than a thousand confirmed cases.

So even though H5N1 has resulted in the deaths of about 200 million birds worldwide since December 2021, health authorities just kept assuring us that the risk to humans was low.

But now everything may be changing.

In recent weeks, we have seen H5N1 mutate and start to spread among various types of mammals, and that has deeply alarmed many experts.  For example, the following comes from an article posted by Johns Hopkins University…

In particular, the jump from birds to mammals—including foxes, bears, mink, whales, and seals—is “significant and something to pay attention to,” says Davis, an associate professor in environmental health and engineering at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. “What people may not remember from high school biology is that there are larger differences between birds and mammals than there are among mammals, so finding the virus in mammals indicates an expanded host range.”

Earlier this month, I posted an article which discussed many of the mammal deaths that we have been seeing all over the planet.

In particular, the fact that H5N1 is spreading among minks is especially noteworthy, because minks have respiratory systems that are very similar to humans.

So that brings us to what is happening in Cambodia.

It is being reported that an 11-year-old girl has died after contracting H5N1…

Health officials in Prey Veng province have confirmed the death of an 11-year-old girl from H5N1, Cambodia’s first known human “bird flu” infection since 2014.

Panharith Seng, director of the Prey Veng provincial health department, told VOA Khmer on Thursday that many chickens and ducks in the area where the girl lived had died of H5N1.

We are being told that she was first diagnosed on February 16th and that she died shortly thereafter…

She became ill on February 16 and was sent to be treated at a hospital in the capital

She was diagnosed last-Wednesday after suffering a fever up to 39C (102F) with coughing and throat pain. She died shortly after her diagnosis, the Health Ministry said in a statement Wednesday night.

Needless to say, one case and one death is not anything to get frightened about.

But now it is being reported that 12 more people from the same Cambodian province “are suspected of having been infected with the H5N1 bird flu”…

A dozen people in Cambodia are suspected of having been infected with the H5N1 bird flu strain tearing through the world’s avian population – sparking global panic about a spillover of the deadly virus to humans.

The 12 suspected cases are located in the same province as an 11-year-old girl who died from the infection Wednesday, raising fears the virus may be spreading from human to human – not just from birds to people.

If these cases are confirmed, this will create quite a stir in that part of the world.

And a number of prominent health experts here in the western world are already expressing concern about what this might mean…

Dr Arturo Casadevall, an immunologist at Johns Hopkins, wrote on Twitter: ‘Key information is whether the 12 infected people obtained it from a bird source or from human-to-human transmission, which would be very worrisome.’

Dr Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist and Chief of COVID Task Force at the New England Complex Systems Institute, tweeted: ‘Hope this wasn’t human to human, but I’m now getting to be worried,’

Hopefully this will turn out to be nothing.

But what if it does turn out to be something?

I believe that we have entered an era of great pandemics, and right now we are perfectly primed for the next one because there are countless people all over the globe with deeply compromised immune systems.

And I think that it is important to note that health authorities all over the world are acting as if this could end up being a really big deal.

For instance, health authorities in the UK are now studying what “a worst-case scenario bird flu outbreak” would look like…

Scientists are modelling how a worst-case scenario bird flu outbreak could sweep the UK if the virus spread to humans.

Officials at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said they are developing ‘scenarios of early human transmission’ to help with preparedness, planning and improvements to surveillance.

And the head of the WHO recently publicly announced that we “must prepare” for the possibility of an H5N1 pandemic.

NEW – WHO’s Tedros says we “must prepare” for a potential H5N1 human bird flu pandemic. pic.twitter.com/4Y3asCMN9S

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 9, 2023

There is one more thing that I wanted to mention.

Most people don’t realize this, but more than a decade ago scientists conducted gain-of-function experiments on H5N1.  As a result of those experiments, they were able to get H5N1 to spread easily among ferrets…

In fact, back in 2011, two scientists separately undertook just this sort of research, adapting H5N1 to spread among ferrets, whose respiratory tract closely resembles our own. The research demonstrated that bird flu could not only spill over into mammalian hosts but, under the proper circumstances, pass between mammalian hosts—just as it now seems to be doing—and perhaps even human ones.

This sort of research should be banned globally, but it isn’t.

Let us hope that we don’t see an H5N1 pandemic any time soon.

Because the panic that we would witness would be off the charts.

There would be more lockdowns, more restrictions and more attacks on personal liberty.

And it is likely that millions upon millions of people would die.

So I will be watching this story very closely, and I will definitely be hoping that this new outbreak in Cambodia quickly fizzles out.

***It is finally here! Michael’s new book entitled “End Times” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.***

About the Author: My name is Michael and my brand new book entitled “End Times” is now available on Amazon.com.  In addition to my new book I have written six other books that are available on Amazon.com including “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  When you purchase any of these books you help to support the work that I am doing, and one way that you can really help is by sending copies as gifts to family and friends.  Time is short, and I need help getting these warnings into the hands of as many people as possible.  I have published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End 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 always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  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.  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 definitely a great help.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, I strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

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Bryce of CRKT knives – interesting knives feature

This article %16 Most Interesting Knives from SHOT Show 2023% appeared first on %SHTF Blog – Modern Survival%.

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What a coincidence. Another explosion has occurred in Ohio at a metal factory, and it has scattered molten debris. The smoke and toxins from this fire will be driven directly to East Palestine too.

This explosion happened in Bedford, Ohio, and looking at the wind direction, the “molten debris” from this explosion will be carried right over the same area that just experienced a trail derailment that resulted in toxic fume intentionally being released into the atmosphere.

Although original reports called this a “mass casualty event,” only one person has been reportedly killed but a dozen or so more were injured according to a report by Reuters.

Good thing East Palestine has their MyID biometric IDs provided by the ruling class…or is that just another coincidence?

East Palestine Launched Biometric IDs Weeks Before The Train Derailment

Oakwood Fire Captain Brian DiRocco told reporters that 13 people were injured in the metal factory explosion. They were transferred to several area hospitals and another was still being examined. According to DiRocco, one person was pulled from the debris and was being treated while being taken to a medical helicopter.

“The bulk of the fire is out, and responding firefighters are just working on a couple of hot spots,” DiRocco said, according to a report by Yahoo News. 

Matt Barkett, chief client officer for I. Schumann & Co., released a statement Monday evening saying the origin of the explosion is still unknown. He confirmed employees were injured and that the facility sustained significant damage.

“Our efforts now are focused on supporting the first responders who came on scene quickly to help our employees,” Barkett said. “The safety and health of our employees is our top priority and we commit to ensuring they receive the medical care they need.”

Jeff Huhn, who works across the street, heard the explosion. “We were just loading up a truck, getting ready to leave, and it was the loudest noise we ever heard,” Huhn said. “Everything was shaking, things were falling off the shelves here. We looked out and saw a huge plume of smoke. About 40 feet down from the entrance, it blew up half the building. It blew debris and shrapnel, there were cars on fire. We just saw pandemonium after the explosion.”

It’s just another one of those coincidences, right? And East Palestine just happens to be in its path? And the residents of East Palestine just happen to have biometric ID issues so the masters can track and trace them?

So you want to bug out but you’re not keen on walking.

I get it…why walk with a heavy bug out bag when you can ride in a badass bug out vehicle?

You can carry more stuff and get to your location faster.

If you’re going to bug out via motor transportation then you better choose one that’s ready for SHTF.

In my opinion, there are two kinds of bug out vehicles.

• The ones that 99.9% of us CAN’T afford
• The ones we CAN afford

So in this article, I want to cover both.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our #78 Item Complete Prepper Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

We’ll start off by checking out a few of the insanely expensive bug out vehicles…you know, just for fun.

However, even tho we cannot afford these bug out trucks…they can still provide some good modification ideas and inspiration for our own garages.

Then, once we’re done wiping the drool off our faces; we’ll talk about the capabilities that we should be looking for in a solid (affordable) bug out vehicle.

Finally, I’ll wrap things up by sharing with you what I think are the two best bug out options for the majority of preppers.

So Let’s Suspend Reality For A Few Minutes, Shall We…

Obviously, 99.9% of us cannot afford the following ultimate bug out vehicles (including me).

However, it’s fun to see what is being designed and for us regular joe’s, maybe they can provide a little inspiration.

Plus, they’re just badass.

The Arctic Tacoma

Who knew back in 2010 Toyota built a Polar Expedition truck for arctic conditions.

If your bug out location happens to be in Antarctica (hey…at least the population densities are low there) then this would be your dream bug out vehicle.

This bug out truck was designed and used to make a trip to the South Pole.

What’s even more impressive is that it successfully did just that in record time (under 40 hours).

If you got one, you’d have a 4.0-liter V6 supercharged engine that makes 341 HP. It also has an extended range gas tank that holds up to 330 gallons (so at 15 MPG you’re looking at 4950 miles until your next refill).

It’s outfitted with a set of Mickey T. Icepack tires, a beefy roll cage, and a custom suspension made with military-grade steel.

It only took a mere $400,000 in mods to make this cold weather lover’s dream machine.

The Tactical Armored Beast

Imagine this Tactical Armored Bug Out Vehicle parked in your garage? It’ll be perfect for when the roads are unpassable due to all-out chaos.

This survival bug out vehicle’s curb weight is just shy of 20,000 lbs so you can imagine that it needs something equally as hefty to move it.

It comes equipped with a 6.7 L V8 Diesel that puts out 300 HP and more than 600 lb-ft of torque.

It has a few nice bug out features such as a 6-speed auto tranny, 4 by 4, and a 40-gallon diesel tank.

I’m betting fuel economy is going to be terrible with this one…my guess? Probably about 6 MPG.

The Rhino

Rhino…what an appropriate name for this massive bug out vehicle. As we all know rhinos are tough SOBs and not an animal to be messed with.

It lives up to its badass name by combining a Ford 450’s Super Duty frame (which is made using 18 gauge steel). It’s powered by a 362 HP engine due to its 6.8 L V10 Single Overhead Cam design.

It’s also got all the extras including 38-inch mud tires 20 by 10″ aluminum-alloy wheels, heavy-duty calipers, and vented disc brakes.

I think you’ll make it to your bug out location just fine in this beast.

The Defender

Looking for a bug out truck that includes camper conversion and side storage for your firearms? Then it makes sense that you’d enjoy bugging out in the Land Rover Defender.

The biggest limiting factor with this one is it only has room for 2. What it lacks in the number of people it can transport it makes up for in camping qualities.

It has an outdoor kitchen system, a folding stove, outside lights, and tons of camping gear storage.

Who needs a bug out location if you got this guy to survive in?

Now if only it didn’t run on gas…

The Military Combat Machine

How about this combat vehicle for your bug out transportation? It’s definitely in the running for my ultimate armored badass vehicle award.

The amount of protection you’d have is unprecedented, and it can handle even the most extreme terrains.

This 8-ton beast can plow through water levels up to 1.5 meters deep thanks to its .7 meters of ground clearance. I suppose the 54-inch tires are responsible for that.

It’s designed with a 6.5-liter Cobra diesel power plant under the hood and can carry 1.5 tons of weight through mud, sand or loose gravel. While its four-speed auto tranny allows it to do all that at up to 75 MPH.

Seats are equipped with straps and harnesses, and there’s room for up to 8.

As far as protection goes, it’s designed to be able to deflect ammunition and even land mines.

Even if you did have the money to blow on something as awesome as this…you still couldn’t buy one. Since its military designed, it cannot be purchased by a civilian (I know!  Bummer.)

Oh, and you see that right…it’s a turret poking out the top of this beast.

The Traffic Un-Jammer

Ok, here’s what you need when all the roads out of the city are clogged. Just line em up and clear your own path.

Enough Dreaming…Let’s Get Real

While ogling at those Ultimate Bug Out Vehicle images was admittedly fun, it’s also not realistic.

Maybe we can use a few of the broader concepts for some inspiration, but very few of us can afford the 600k + price tags such machines cost.

What I want to accomplish in the remaining part of this article is to show you some bug out vehicle options that the everyday survivalist might be able to 1) afford or 2) assemble.

Before we jump into a few examples of realistic bug out vehicle examples, let’s go over the aspects that make something worthy of being called a bug out vehicle.

Exclusive Bonus Content – Skilled Survival’s 104 Item Bug Out Bag Checklist – the only bug out checklist worth using. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

How Will Your Bug Out Vehicle Be Used?

The answer to this question will help guide you into making a quality bug out vehicle choice.

• Will you be transporting several people or just yourself?
• How many supplies and gear do you plan to take with you (food, water, guns, emergency blankets, ammo, etc.)?
• What sort of terrain will you be encountering on your way to your bug out location?
• How far is your bug out location?
• Will you need to refuel due to gas mileage issues?
• Do you want to be able to offroad around potential roadblocks?

Plus, you might prefer to have a big enough, beefy enough vehicle to drive through a fence…

How Important Are Off-Road Capabilities?

Personally, I think this is a must for any respectable bug out vehicle. However, I also agree that you don’t need the best of the best here either.

All you really need is for survival is good vehicle clearance and 4 by 4; then you’ll be able to transverse 99% of what you’ll most likely run into.

Without these 2 basic offroad capabilities, you may end up like this.

A good bug out location will be in a remote area, so the odds of you encountering some muddy hills, ruts or offroading is much higher.

While 4×4’s vehicles can also get stuck…if you’re not constantly putting it to the maximum test, then the odds are significantly reduced you’ll get stuck.

However, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.

If you’re thinking about getting this sort of clearance (see image on the right), then sure, you’ll be able to clear anything, but your vehicle’s center of gravity is too high and rollovers are more likely.

If you look back at all the unaffordable bug out truck examples at the start of this article…you’ll see that none of them have extreme clearances.

They all have good clearances, but not at the sacrifice of good balance.

Or You Could Always Add A Set Of These…

I literally just found these the other day and they look amazing.

They can be used in all sorts of terrain but they really excel in softer terrain such as snow.

The Dominator Track System can turn just about any ordinary 4 by 4 truck into an off-road terrain taming beast.

It’s hard to believe but the company who makes these claims they are easy to install and can be done in less than an hour.

They also suggest that they come off as easy as they are installed, taking your bug out truck (or all-wheel car!) from a super-powered terrain destroyer back to a daily driver in under an hour.

Old Vs New

There’s an ongoing debate over which makes for a better bug out vehicle…old models or newer models. I don’t intend to break down every single angle of this topic today, but let’s hit on some of the highlights.

One major concern for newer model vehicles is how dependent on electronics these vehicles are. In an EMP attack, they may be rendered useless.

However, there are some significant concerns related to older vehicles too.

With really old vehicles it might be a challenge to find replacement parts when SHTF.

They also might require more frequent maintenance than a new vehicle. Sure, the design is much simpler so it tends to be more straightforward to work on, but you’ll probably be doing so more often.

Another aspect of this debate is vehicle abuse.

So which survival vehicle can take more abuse? Older or newer?

If you choose older, then you might want to take a look at this crash test video.

The saying, “they just don’t make ’em the way they used to” might be right in some respects, but newer vehicles are made with better materials and better designed for safety reasons.

Aftermarket Accessories Options

Ideally, you want a vehicle decked out with bolt-on accessories to improve on your stock setup.

Full Spare Tire

Having a full spare tire is essential. If you blow a tire mid bug out are you really going to put confidence in a donut spare? Enough said.

If the vehicle you have doesn’t have a stock full spare then you need to purchase one and find a way to store it.

Here’s an example of a full spare added to the roof of a jeep.

You’ll Need Storage

You’ll want some storage for your survival gear and supplies.

If you have a badass survival trailer or camper you are pulling then you won’t need a ton of vehicle storage. If you are not pulling a trailer or camper then you’ll need some storage space as a part of the vehicle itself.

I like the bed of a pickup truck.

Get a topper to keep your supplies and gear out of adverse weather conditions.

So what are the main things you’ll probably be storing?

Light Rack

Running offroad at night takes good lighting. You need to be able to avoid rocks, cliffs, and wildlife in order to make it from point A to B safely.

So get a high-powered light rack onto your bug out vehicle.

Fuel

If you are going further than one tank of gas can take you, then you’ll have to have some extra fuel. You shouldn’t rely on any gas stations when SHTF.

Even if you are only traveling less than 1 tank of gas…are you sure your tank will be full when SHTF?

Plus, you’ll want to have some fuel when you get to your bug out location.

Emergency Jump Starter

Having a bug out vehicle that won’t start isn’t going to do you any good.

It’s worth carrying around a small (but insanely powerful) emergency jump starter that can get your bug out vehicle running again if the battery dies.

This badass device will pay off today and help you be prepared for the future; win-win.

Guns and Ammo

Take as many survival guns, rifles, and ammo as you have room to spare.

Plus, you should get Keeper Gun Magnet so you can have your survival pistol close by while traveling down the road.

Food

You’ll want to take a bunch of food you’ve stockpiled with you unless your bug out location is fully stocked ahead of time.

Water

It’s always a good idea to have some extra water on hand.

You’ll want your final bug out location to have a natural source of water but if something happens on your way there, you’ll want some water with you.

Just remember, when you’ve found your source of drinking water you’ll definitely want to be able to purify the water before drinking it.

Survival Gear

Don’t forget all the rest of your survival gear.

From fire starters to survival bows; survival knives; solar lanterns; to jerry can water filters and maybe even some survival playing cards to help pass the time.

It will all add up to a decent amount of stuff and will take up room in your vehicle.

Of course, a lot of your gear should already be ready to go in your bug out bag.

Even if you have a bug out vehicle, you should also have a ready-to-go bug out bag. Never know when you have to ditch your vehicle…

Exclusive Bonus Content – Skilled Survival’s 104 Item Bug Out Bag Checklist – the only bug out checklist worth using. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

Hauling Capacity

Are you going to be hauling a camper or a trailer to your bug out location? If so you’ll need enough towing capacity to pull it.

Find out what your hauling capacity needs are and then make certain your bug out vehicle meets the minimum requirement.

Protection

When the SHTF how much civil unrest will there be? Probably best to plan for the worst.

So you’ll want to think of some ways to protect your vehicle from objects being thrown such as bricks.

 Ideally, your vehicle would be bulletproof, but I know of no affordable way to add this to your bug out vehicle.

A Couple Of Realistic Bug Out Vehicles

Here are a couple of videos of realistic bug out vehicles that have most of the capabilities we just covered above,

If I Had To Choose Just One For Survival…

So if I were forced to choose just one realistic but, best bug out vehicle option it would be a toss-up between an off-road equipped pickup truck (with a topper) or a jeep wrangler unlimited (with a trailer). Something along these lines…

Both options meet all the previously discussed bug out vehicle criteria points as well as being reasonability affordable for many survivalists.

To recap

• It should have basic offroad capabilities with clearance and  4×4.
• Ideally, it has some aftermarket accessories to add extra capabilities and protection to your bug out vehicle.
• It needs to have a full spare tire, no donuts allowed!
• You’ll want something with a good amount of storage or the ability to haul a camper or survival trailer so you can store stuff.

After you’ve met these basic criteria, then you can add as many “extra” accessories to it as you want. You can add some SHTF communications devices (like a cell phone booster), navigation devices.

It’s up to you, but getting a solid bug out vehicle doesn’t have to be an impossible task. Just stick to the basic criteria and build from there.

What’s your bug out vehicle of choice? What do you believe are most critical vehicle features when SHTF? Let me know in the comments below.

Remember: Prepare, Adapt and Overcome,

“Just In Case” Jack

P.s. Are you ready for the tough times ahead?

Find out now by taking my short Readiness Score Quiz – it’s absolutely free.
Once complete, you’ll know exactly where you stand on the “fragile” vs.” resilient” spectrum.

So click here to start the Quiz….And don’t worry; the questions are so easy a 3rd grader could answer them.

Click on the image to begin the Quiz and find out once and for all if you’re part of “The Fragile Masses” or “The Resilient Few.”

The post Bug Out Vehicles: Lessons Learned From These Badass Setups appeared first on Skilled Survival.

If you want a perfect example of how corrupt our system of government has become, just look at the massive cover up that is going on in East Palestine, Ohio right now.  Federal, state and local officials are telling the public that everything is just fine when everything is obviously not just fine.  On February 3rd, a 50 car Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine.  5 of the cars were carrying vinyl chloride which is an extremely hazardous substance that has been proven to cause several types of cancer.  Unfortunately, with the approval of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a decision was made on February 6th to conduct a “controlled burn” of the wreckage.  They knew that burning the vinyl chloride would create vast amounts of phosgene gas.  By now, most of you already know that phosgene gas was actually used as a chemical weapon in World War I.  The cloud of toxic chemicals that was created by the “controlled burn” was so large that it could literally be seen from space, and the long-term health problems that are being caused all over the east coast could stretch on for decades.

But Ohio Governor Mike Dewine doesn’t want to be blamed.

He is telling everyone from East Palestine to go back to their homes, and he insists that the water in the area is “safe to drink”…

Ohio Governor Mike Dewine: “The water is safe to drink. We never thought that the municipal water was contaminated. But out of abundance of caution our Ohio EPA took samples which were analyzed and they in fact came back and were shown to be safe.” pic.twitter.com/sGJYZHrG8S

— Real Mac Report (@RealMacReport) February 17, 2023

Do you believe him?

For those that are gullible enough to believe him, I have just one question for you…

Does this water look safe to drink to you?

Even MORE proof that the EPA is LYING to the people of East Palestine.

THIS WATER IS INSANELY CONTAMINATED. pic.twitter.com/rNlNxxBTDd

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 16, 2023

Ohio Senator J.D. Vance wanted to see this for himself.

So he went down to a local creek in East Palestine, and this is what he discovered…

Visited a local creek in East Palestine today. These waterways are still very polluted. It’s time for Norfolk Southern to finish the cleanup. Check this video out: pic.twitter.com/4lsHBmrMJj

— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) February 16, 2023

Sadly, it isn’t just the water in East Palestine that has been polluted.

50 miles away in Pittsburgh, the water is exhibiting similar qualities…

In Pittsburgh, 50 miles east of East Palestine.

The rain is toxic. There is a rainbow film on top of the pools of water. These spots are scattered everywhere in the Bakery Square complex. This is not an oil leak from a car. pic.twitter.com/hfJpri4qR2

— Taylor (@taylorjo86) February 16, 2023

But the head of the Environmental Protection Agency says that there is nothing to be concerned about at all.

In fact, he says that he would actually “allow his own children to drink and bathe in public water” from East Palestine…

The head of the US Environmental Protection Agency has said he would allow his own children to drink and bathe in public water near the site of a train derailment and chemical spill in Ohio, so long as it had been tested and deemed safe by officials.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan visited the site of the East Palestine derailment on Thursday, seeking to reassure skeptical residents that the water is fit for drinking and the air is safe to breathe.

Nobody wants to see your children do that Michael Regan.

But we would love to see you down a tall, cool glass of tap water from a home right in the middle of East Palestine.

Unfortunately, the Biden administration is going to work relentlessly to downplay the severity of this crisis because they know that if they admitted the truth it would make them look bad to the voters.

And there is a presidential election coming up in less than two years.

Incredibly, the White House has even turned down a formal request for disaster relief for East Palestine…

The White House explained why it turned down Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s request for disaster relief this week in the aftermath of a derailment of a train hauling toxic chemicals.

A Biden administration official told Fox News Digital that it has provided extensive assistance to surrounding communities following the chemical release earlier this month in eastern Ohio. However, the official said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the agency that usually provides relief to communities hit by hurricanes and other natural disasters, isn’t best equipped to support the state’s current needs.

I was floored when I saw that.

We have just witnessed one of the greatest environmental disasters in the entire history of our country, and the Biden administration is not even willing to grant a request for disaster relief?

Ultimately, this is all about protecting the asses of the politicians and protecting the asses of the executives and shareholders of Norfolk Southern.

To the elite, it really doesn’t matter if the poor people of East Palestine all get cancer and die.

What matters is controlling the narrative, and up to this point the corporate media is doing a wonderful job of helping them do it.

***It is finally here! Michael’s new book entitled “End Times” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.***

About the Author: My name is Michael and my brand new book entitled “End Times” is now available on Amazon.com.  In addition to my new book I have written six other books that are available on Amazon.com including “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  When you purchase any of these books you help to support the work that I am doing, and one way that you can really help is by sending copies as gifts to family and friends.  Time is short, and I need help getting these warnings into the hands of as many people as possible.  I have published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End 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 always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  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.  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 definitely a great help.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, I strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post A Cover Up Of Epic Proportions Is Happening In East Palestine, Ohio appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

Why are so many train derailments suddenly in the news?  That is a question that a lot of people are asking these days.  Could it be possible that our trains are being targeted on purpose?  Right off the top, I want to acknowledge that train derailments are fairly common.  As the Biden administration has been reminding us, on average we normally see more than 1,000 train derailments each year.  But the vast majority of them are relatively minor incidents that cause no harm.  In fact, prior to this month I can’t remember the last time a train derailment made headline news all over the nation.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration, railroads are typically the safest method for transporting hazardous chemicals…

America’s railroads move a lot of chemicals. Freight trains moved 2.2 million carloads of chemicals in 2021, according to the Association of American Railroads.

This is in large part because railroads are considered the safest mode of transportation to carry large amounts of hazardous materials, including chemicals, for long distances across the country, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.

If something causes a train that is carrying hazardous materials to slip off the tracks, that is not going to cause a disaster.

In order to cause a disaster, something really unusual needs to happen, and unfortunately we have seen several such incidents in recent days.

The following are five major train derailments that we have witnessed in the United States so far this month…

On February 1st, a leak of limestone slurry was detected after a train derailed in Talladega County, Alabama…

On February 1, a train derailed in Talladega County, Alabama, just off Highway 21 in the Sycamore area, WIAT-TV reported. According to the Talladega County Emergency Management Agency, one of the cars was leaking limestone slurry but there was no hazardous material threat, and no injuries were reported.

On February 3rd, one of the worst environmental catastrophes in U.S. history was caused when a train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio…

The train, which derailed on Feb. 3, was carrying hazardous materials, including at least five tanker cars of vinyl chloride, a colorless but hazardous and carcinogenic gas used to produce PVC plastic and vinyl products.

In addition to vinyl chloride, the train was also carrying “butyl acrylate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate and isobutylene”…

In a remedial action work plan that the Norfolk Southern Railway Company submitted to the EPA on Feb. 10, the company said that the train cars that derailed contained several other hazardous materials, including butyl acrylate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate and isobutylene. Two cars also had benzene residue.

On February 13th, “100 gallons of diesel fuel were released” when a train derailed not too far from Houston, Texas…

On February 13, a Union Pacific train collided with an 18-wheeler near Splendora, Texas, killing the driver and derailing 21 rail cars, according to the Splendora Police Department.

Union Pacific spokesperson Robynn Tysver told Houston Public Media that its hazmat crews were on site, as an estimated 100 gallons of diesel fuel were released in the crash.

Also on February 13th, a train derailed in Enoree, South Carolina…

A CSX train derailed Feb. 13 in Spartanburg County, but no one was injured, the railroad company said.

Three cars derailed around 6:15 a.m. on an industrial spur track near U.S. Highway 221 in Enoree, according to a statement from CSX.

On February 16th, a train that had “one car of hazardous materials” derailed near Detroit, Michigan…

A train containing one car of hazardous materials has derailed Thursday in Van Buren Township outside Detroit, Michigan, reports say.

The cause of the derailment was not immediately clear.

Police told Fox2 Detroit that there were no injuries and the area is not a hazmat situation.

Is it possible that these trains are being specifically targeted by someone?

Yes, it is certainly possible.

But it could also be possible that we are taking note of other derailments now because we don’t want to see a repeat of what just happened in Ohio.

According to CBS News, authorities are publicly admitting that thousands of animals have already died in East Palestine…

Thousands of animals have died in East Palestine, Ohio, in the aftermath of the train derailment that sent numerous hazardous substances into the surrounding area. Officials said on Tuesday that in the immediate days following the Feb. 3 incident, there were 3,500 dead fish as local waterways, including the Ohio River, became contaminated.

During the incident, 38 train cars derailed, including several cars that were carrying hazardous materials that each pose a set of their own health risks. On the day of the derailment, there was evidence that one of the train cars was releasing vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen that has been linked to a rare and “exceptionally deadly” form of liver cancer.

When authorities made the choice to burn the vinyl chloride, they knew that it would create lots of phosgene gas.

And as a lawsuit that has just been filed notes, phosgene gas is a chemical weapon that was widely used in World War I…

The suit alleges that burning vinyl chloride creates phosgene gas, a chemical warfare agent used in World War One that has been banned by the Geneva Convention.

“I’m not sure Norfolk Southern could have come up with a worse plan to address this disaster,” said attorney John Morgan. “Residents exposed to vinyl chloride may already be undergoing DNA mutations that could linger for years or even decades before manifesting as terrible and deadly cancers. The lawsuit alleges that Norfolk Southern made it worse by essentially blasting the town with chemicals as they focused on restoring train service and protecting their shareholders.”

So many people that breathed that stuff in are going to get cancer and die.

It is truly a terrible, terrible tragedy.

Of course we have entered a time in history when terrible tragedies will be a common occurrence.

I don’t know if you have noticed, but our world has become less safe in a whole host of different ways.

And the current crop of politicians that is running things is the worst that we have ever had in the entire history of our nation.

So things are not going to be getting better any time soon.

I would encourage you to plan accordingly.

***It is finally here! Michael’s new book entitled “End Times” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.***

About the Author: My name is Michael and my brand new book entitled “End Times” is now available on Amazon.com.  In addition to my new book I have written six other books that are available on Amazon.com including “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  When you purchase any of these books you help to support the work that I am doing, and one way that you can really help is by sending copies as gifts to family and friends.  Time is short, and I need help getting these warnings into the hands of as many people as possible.  I have published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End 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 always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  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.  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 definitely a great help.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, I strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post Why Is This Happening? There Have Been 5 Major Train Derailments In The United States So Far This Month appeared first on End Of The American Dream.