If you’re searching for the best bulletproof backpacks, you’ve come to the right place.

In recent years, the desire to upgrade to a bulletproof backpack has exploded in popularity. And it’s not hard to understand why.

It’s due to the increase in school, office, and event shootings happening all over the world.

Unfortunately, mass shootings have become a part of everyday life.

For example, in 2019 there were more mass shootings in the U.S. than days of the year. By the end of 2019, there were 417 mass shootings in the U.S.

These horrible tragedies injure and kill thousands of innocent men, women, and children annually.

Now, I believe the best defense against an active shooter is a good guy with a gun. But it’s not always a feasible solution due to the location OR whose targeted.

Gun-Free Zones are locations where concealed carry is not legally possible. And children are potential victims not allowed to conceal carry legally.

Worst yet, schools and campuses are places where those two restrictions come together. They are both “gun-free” and primarily filled with young children or youths.

That’s why schools are easy targets for a sick, demented human.

Now, I’m not here today to deep dive into your 2nd amendment rights. That’s NOT what this article is about.

Instead, today, I want to discuss a simple way to add some protection to YOU or YOUR LOVED ONES. I want to go over active shooting protection by investing in a bulletproof backpack.

Now whether your a gun enthusiast or hate guns doesn’t matter. We can ALL agree; any device that adds a layer of protection from bullets it a good idea.

So with that disclaimer out of the way, here are the following topics I will be covering today:

• What Exactly Is A Bulletproof Backpack Anyway?
• Why You Should Invest In a Bulletproof Backpack
• Do Bulletproof Backpacks Work? How?
• What to Look For In A Quality Bulletproof Backpack
• 6 Best Bulletproof Backpacks on The Market Today (with video reviews)

**Note: If you just want our top recommendations, feel free to SKIP AHEAD HERE.

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.

WHAT EXACTLY IS A BULLETPROOF BACKPACK ANYWAY?

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A bulletproof backpack is a backpack that includes an armor plate. That’s it.

Now some readers might not be familiar with armor plates. These are plates designed to stop firearm bullets from deadly penetration.

These are the exact same plates inside bulletproof vests.

A plate is a mobile, portable ballistic shield that ANYONE can add to their backpack.

Let’s move on to a more important question – WHY?

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

WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST IN A BULLETPROOF BACKPACK?

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Easy answer – to stop bullets.

School shootings, and mass shootings, are the primary concern here. And in today’s modern world, shootings are more frequent – especially in “gun-free zones.”

Unfortunately, “gun-free zones” attract mass shooters. Why? Because these locations have a limited ability to put up any immediate resistance.

If an area is deemed a “gun-free zone,” a shooter assumes they’ll be the only person nearby with a gun. At least until law enforcement arrives (but that can often take several minutes or longer).

So kids become sitting ducks to such horrendous acts of senseless violence.

I recently heard some gun enthusiasts rename “gun-free zone” to “start shooting here zones.”

That’s why you must equip yourself (or your kids) with some bulletproof protection.

AND just think – IF THIS SMALL BACKPACK INVESTMENT PAYS OFF – it will be the BEST investment you could make. And it’s not even close.

It could save your life or the life of a loved one.

How much would you pay to protect a loved one during an active shooter situation? I know I’d give up ALL my wealth to save my kiddos. My guess is you’d do the same.

So what’s a few hundred dollars compared to that?

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.

DO BULLETPROOF BACKPACKS WORK? HOW?

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Yes, they do work (to a point).

However, how well they work depends on several factors. Factors such as the type of firearm used, the caliber of the ammo, and the type of plate inserted.

But in general, most backpack plates will protect against the most handgun calibers.

A few backpack plates can even protect against high powered rifles. Great! But why not all plates?

Because the plates that can stop a high powered rifle are usually too heavy for most people to carry. These thicker armor plates are upwards of 10+ lbs.

And that’s a weight you must carry before adding any textbooks or survival gear a backpack.

So there is a tradeoff between the amount of protection you get and how much weight you must carry.

How Bulletproof Backpacks Are Used

Now let’s talk about HOW bulletproof backpacks work in a real-world situation.

Note: the following is mostly my opinion – I don’t have any data/evidence to support – I tried to find some but could not…

Most people assume a bulletproof backpack will prevent a surprise shot from behind. But this scenario is not likely.

For a shot to be a surprise, you’d need to be an active shooter’s first target. Possible? Yes. Likely? I have my doubts.

Why? Because I think it’s more likely the person wearing the backpack will hear a few shots before they become a target.

And the first reaction is to flee away from the sounds of gunfire to escape the danger. OR if you become cornered, you’re next instinct is to hunker down.

If escape is possible, wearing a bulletproof backpack provides some layer of protection. If an active shooter sees a fleeing target, they may unload a few rounds in that direction.

But this added protection comes with a high cost. Heavy bulletproof backpacks will slow down your escape. Everyone knows you cannot run as fast or be as agile while wearing a heavy backpack.

So wearing a backpack, as opposed to not wear one, could make you a more attractive target (slower) for a shooter.

Which is correct? To ditch the backpack or leave it one? It’s a tough one…

That’s why I think a bulletproof backpack is more useful in a “hunker down” situation.

When cornered with a shooter, our natural reaction is to get small and hide behind something (a desk, a table, etc.)

Well, if you have a bulletproof backpack, you could take it off and use it as an incognito bulletproof shield.

The hope being, the shooter, will unload the rounds into the backpack and move on. Hopefully, the panel stops the bullets from penetrating saving the life of the one behind it.

Either way, carrying a bulletproof backpack gives you some level of added protection. More security and options than NOT having one – that’s for sure!

And while it’s far from “perfect”, it’s way better than having nothing at all.

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.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A QUALITY BULLETPROOF BACKPACK

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First off, the backpack should be of high quality. It doesn’t matter if its a survival backpack, office backpack, bug out bag, tactical backpack, or school backpack. In general, you want your backpack to have the following key features:

High-Quality Fabrics

There are many different fabrics a backpack manufacturer could choose. For example, there are cotton, nylon, polyester, or eve unique blends of each.

And fabrics have comparison metrics such as stretch, abrasion resistance, tear resistance, etc.

So you’ll want to choose a backpack that won’t rip or tear easily. You’ll want one that can withstand the daily toils of use (whether it’s at school, work, or outdoors).

Strategic Use Of Double Stitching

Backpacks are designed to carry loads on your back. And backpacks are not made from a single piece of fabric.

Backpacks are stitched together using separate swaths of fabric.

These stitches are always the weakest point on a backpack. We’ve all seen packs where seams have popped.

That’s what happens when the load on the joint/seam exceeds what the stitching can handle.

That’s why a bulletproof backpack must have DOUBLE STITCHING at the high load points.

High load points are where the back and should straps meet or where the haul handle meets the pack.

Why not just use double stitching everywhere? Because that requires more materials and more time than necessary. This strategy makes such a backpack unnecessarily more expensive.

So look for quality double stitching at the high load points.

Lots Of Compartments (for better organization)

I prefer my backpacks to have lots of separate compartments. This separation helps stay organized. I can keep any books or survival gear, or spare clothes, in their own compartments.

I also prefer to have a special compartment near the top of my backpack for a pair of sunglasses.

The total number of compartments is a personal preference. But I recommend staying away from cheaper single-compartment backpacks.

These packs leave you without any organization options, and all your stuff sits in a jumbled mess. No Thanks.

Quality Zippers And Zipper Tabs

The zippers and zipper tabs are an often overlooked aspect of a quality backpack. And it’s a shame.

Because if the zippers fail, the entire pack becomes completely worthless.

So look for thick chunky zippers.

Zippers that can take some abuse and are not prone to separation issues under the intense weight.

Quality Armor Plates (not too thick or too thin)

There are lots of armor plates on the market today. Heck, I wrote an entire post of plate carriers, and I went into some details about different armor plates.

But in general, the thicker the plates, the more protection they offer. But, the trade-off is, the thicker the plate, the heavier it becomes.

So you’ll want to settle on armor plates strong enough to stop the penetration of all common calibers. Yet, still, keep the weight of the armor plates in a reasonable range.

Now, this extra weight depends on the age and health of the person who intends to carry the backpack.

For example, little kids can only take so much weight.

So it’s a delicate balance between protection and weight. It’s a tradeoff you’ll have to decide for yourself.

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.

6 BEST BULLETPROOF BACKPACKS (and DIY Options) ON THE MARKET TODAY

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Finding the best bulletproof backpack solution for YOU can be tricky.

• It depends on if your searching for your small child, your teenager.
• Or perhaps you’re a college student looking for more protection.
• Or maybe you want something you can take with you to the office.

Each of these scenarios presents different needs. Different pack designs and different weight requirements also come into play.

DIY BulletProof Backpacks – Adding An Armor Panel For Backpacks

So let’s start with a few DIY bulletproof backpack solutions. Why? Because you can DIY MOST packs into a bulletproof backpack by merely adding an armor plate.

That way, you can buy the plates and then add them to whatever backpack you’d like.

This strategy works exceptionally well for kid’s bulletproof backpacks. Because they can quickly grow out of their smaller Paw Patrol backpack or Dora backpack by next year.

So by getting the plates separate you can future proof your investment.

1 – AR500 LEVEL III BACKPACK ARMOR – 9.5 X 13

The AR500 Armor Level III Backpack Armor is designed to slip into any backpack. It will fit in nearly any backpack on the market.

So it can fit easily into school bags and laptop pockets capable of accepting 15.1″ laptops. Many times with the laptop in the pocket as well.

It not only stops all handgun rounds, but it also is designed to stop rifle calibers up to 2,780fps! But this extra level of protection comes at a price – it weighs 8 lbs!

If you’re an adult and can handle the excess weight, then perhaps this is right for you. But for most small kids, carrying an 8 lbs. panel on top of books and school supplies starts to get unreasonable.

Here’s a good video testing and reviewing all AR500 plates – if you want to know more about different armor options:

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2 – Premier Body Armor Panels

Maybe you’d like even more choice in selecting the “ideal” body armor panel for your backpack. Then look no further than Premier Body Armor Panels.

Each of their panels is unique in their size, shape, weight, and protection level. Yet they ALL have one thing in common – they are all designed to fit into most backpacks.

First off, they have a small/medium/large “Universal” sized panels option.

But many premier panels are specifically sized for the best backpacks on the market. For example, they feature plates for packs from brands such as:

Eberlestock, Vertx, Haley, 5.11, Under Armour, The North Face, Maxpedition, Nike, L.L. Bean, GoRuck, Adidas, etc.

They even have bundles where you can purchase BOTH the panel and the backpack together!

So feel free to browse any of Premier Body Armor’s Bulletproof Backpack Inserts OR Bundles!

Shop until you find the one that offers the perfect combination of weight and protection.

Here’s an excellent video discussing how Premier Body Armor Panels work:

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Full-Featured Bulletproof Backpacks

Next up are full-featured bulletproof backpacks that come with plates.

These plates part of the design of the backpack. So these panels fit perfectly and won’t shift around when you’re running.

Making these bulletproof backpacks are ideal for older youths, college students, and adults.

Some of them are more focused on a casual office setting. But others are geared towards tactical features such as camo and MOLLE.

3 – Phoenix 2.0 Armored Backpack

The Phoenix 2.0 Armored Backpack is built to stop bullets used in 95% of gun-related homicides.

This lightweight backpack is suitable for either kids or adults.

The backpack is always well designed for the office or school. Because it’s a generously sized primary compartment that features a laptop sleeve.

The backpack also features durable zippers, padded backing and padded fully adjustable straps.

Finally, you have several customizable options to choose from, including

• Color (Blue, Gray, Mauve)
• Threat Protection (Pistol 3 lbs. / Rifle 13 lbs.)
• Armor Size (10″ x 12″ OR 11″ by 15″)
• Add Trauma Pad? (Yes / No)

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4 – The Firebird Armored Backpack

The Firebird Armored Backpack has many similar features to the Pheonix.

But it comes with a few more technical design features such as additional pockets and an 11″ x 15″ armor system.

This backpack only has one color option, Black. But you have a choice between Pistol Rated Soft Armor (sub 3lbs.)

OR Rifle Rated III” LW Steel Armor (10 lbs.).

You can also add a trauma pad or an Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) if you’d like.

And here’s an excellent video showing both the Phoenix and the Firebird bulletproof backpacks from AR500:

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5 – Spartan Armor Systems AR650 Backpack Level III

This Spartan Armor System Ballistic Backpack offers excellent protection at a great price.

It combines the popular condor assault backpack with a 10″ x13 AR650 Level III+ Plate Insert.

The backpack is of very high quality. It includes lots of compartments, padded adjustable straps, and double stitching throughout.

The panel is rated to stop 7.62 M80 Ball, as well as Special Threat Rated to stop 5.56. This bulletproof backpack weighs 9.5 lbs and carries a single 10″ by 10″ panel.

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6 – Spartan Six Backpack Body Armor Carrier

The Spartan SIX Backpack offers discrete ballistic protection. It comes with a Level IIIA Flex Fused Core panel.

Now, instead of sewing in the panel into the backpack, the Spartan SIX uses a Velcro pouch to hold the panel in place.

This setup allows you the flexibility to wash your pack or replace your ballistic panel.

Backpack features:

• 420 Denier nylon
• YKK Zippers
• Adjustable Sternum strap
• Padded and lined laptop pocket
• Haul handle

Panel features:

• Rated to stop .44 MAG SJHP, as well as Special Threat Rated to stop.357 SIG FMJ
• 35″
• Weight 1lb 9.4 oz.

Here’s a helpful video explaining the different protection levels in Spartan Bulletproof Backpacks:

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FINAL THOUGHTS

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Do you (or your kids) plan to wear a backpack to work or school ANYWAY? Then why in the world wouldn’t you upgrade that tool to make it better?

Why not add an extra layer of protection – just in case.

To me, it’s a no brainer. It’s safety with minimal sacrifice. It’s taking a tool you already use and turning it into a legit defense mechanism.

The risk/reward analysis says – you risk a few dollars and a few ounces in weight to save a life. That’s why this is NOT a hard decision – do it now.

“Just In Case” Jack

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 here to see the Closest Natural Nuclear Bunker to Your Home?

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

The post 6 Best Bulletproof Backpacks (and DIY Options) On The Market Today appeared first on Skilled Survival.

More than a million Americans were not supposed to be losing their jobs every week by the time we got to the middle of August.  By now, vast hordes of unemployed Americans were supposed to be returning to their old jobs and economic activity was supposed to be returning to normal levels.  But it hasn’t happened that way.  Instead, the U.S. economy continues to unravel at a steady pace.  Every week more businesses go under, more layoffs are announced and more people get behind on their bills.  What we have already been through has been far worse than anything that we experienced during the last recession, and it appears that this new economic downturn is entering yet another new phase.  On Thursday, we learned that another 1.106 million Americans filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week…

The number of people filing for unemployment benefits last week was greater than expected, raising concern about the state of the economy as lawmakers struggle to move forward on a new pandemic stimulus package.

The Labor Department said Thursday that initial jobless claims for the week ended Aug. 15 came in at 1.106 million. Economists polled by Dow Jones expected a total of 923,000. Initial claims for the previous week were also revised higher by 8,000 to 971,000.

Instead of going down as most analysts were anticipating, the number of initial claims shot way back above a million.

And this means that we have now gotten a number that is above a million for 21 of the last 22 weeks.

Prior to 2020, the worst weekly number in all of U.S. history was 695,000.  To absolutely dwarf that old record for 22 weeks in a row should be almost theoretically impossible.  If you would have asked me last year what it would take to have the kind of unemployment numbers that we are seeing now, I would have probably suggested that it would take something like a world war or a major asteroid strike to produce such figures.  The numbers that we keep getting week after week are simply absurd, but they just keep coming.

After all this time, the number of Americans filing for unemployment should be falling back below record levels, but instead last week we got a number that was more than twice as high as anything that we witnessed during the last recession…

“However, the number of individuals claiming benefits remains extraordinarily high – more than twice the peak of the great recession – underscoring that the labor market is a long way from being healthy,” economist Nancy Vanden Houten wrote in a note to clients.

It would be difficult to overstate the scale of the economic devastation that we are witnessing.

Do you remember Hurricane Katrina?  It was the worst natural disaster in the history of Louisiana, but in 2020 the state has lost twice as many jobs as it did after Hurricane Katrina.

Just think about how crazy that is.

Overall, 57.3 million Americans have filed new claims for unemployment benefits over the past 22 weeks.

57 million.

We’ve never seen anything like this in our history.  For a while, our unemployed workers were being kept afloat by a 600 dollar a week federal supplement, but now those extra benefits have expired…

Those recipients who are receiving unemployment on an ongoing basis are now getting far less aid because a $600-a-week federal benefit has expired, which means the unemployed must now get by solely on much smaller aid from their states.

The loss of the federal benefit has deepened the struggles for many, including a higher risk of eviction from their homes.

President Trump has signed an executive order that would provide payments of 300 dollars a week to unemployed workers, but many states have chosen not to participate in that program.

So we should expect the level of economic suffering in this country to go up even more.  At this point, tens of millions of Americans are unable to pay their bills, and that number will almost certainly increase in the months ahead.

Meanwhile, we are seeing businesses fail at a rate that is absolutely unprecedented.  For example, the hotel industry is warning that close to a quarter of all hotels in the United States “are at risk of foreclosure”…

In a desperate plea for help, the hotel industry said it faces a default disaster, in which 25% of hotels are at risk of foreclosure.

The report, sent to Congress this week and compiled by Trepp, shows that the percentage of hotel loans 30 or more days delinquent is 23.4% as of last month — the highest percentage on record. By comparison, the percentage of hotel loans that were 30 or more days delinquent at the end of 2019 was just 1.3%.

The hotel industry wants a federal bailout, but of course just about every other major industry wants one as well.

In the end, Congress is going to decide where the money goes, and not everyone will come out a winner.

The overall global economy is deeply struggling as well.  In fact, the level of merchandise trade around the world just fell to the lowest level on record…

“This reading – the lowest on record in data going back to 2007, and on par with the nadir of the 2008-09 financial crisis – is broadly consistent with WTO statistics issued in June, which estimated an 18.5% decline in merchandise trade in the second quarter of 2020 as compared to the same period last year,” the WTO said.

This is what an economic collapse looks like, and the entire planet is being hit extremely hard.

But at least the U.S. stock market is doing well.  Stock prices have been absolutely soaring in recent weeks, and according to Forbes the market is now “about 77.0% overvalued”…

According to the popular market cap to GDP ratio, the U.S. stock market, collectively, is about 77.0% overvalued. Despite the worst economic backdrop since the Great Depression, stocks have held up reasonably well since the March 23 bottom. While it’s true that the stock market has disconnected from the underlying economy, it has also done so in the past. With such an extreme level of overvaluation, it does beg the question, “Are we witnessing the formation of another bubble?”

So for the moment, America’s financial idol is safe.

Unfortunately, this stock market bubble is going to be a whole lot shorter than the last one.

Thanks to unprecedented intervention by the Federal Reserve, stock prices have been pumped up to record levels, but we are only in the early chapters of this economic storm.

Much worse is coming, and without a doubt the Fed will try to keep asset prices inflated, but in the end it will be a losing battle.

As we keep getting hit by one crisis after another, eventually investors are going to figure out that the future ahead of us is not a positive one, and when confidence about the future disappears so will the bubble.

***Michael’s new book entitled “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.***

About the Author: My name is Michael Snyder and my brand new book entitled “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America” is now available on Amazon.com.  By purchasing the book you help to support the work that my wife and I are doing, and by giving it to others you help to multiply the impact that we are having on people all over the globe.  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.  In addition to my new book, I have written four others that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned)  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 a great help.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.

The post 2020 Is An Economic Nightmare – And Things Just Got Even Worse appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

Did you know that an asteroid just flew by our planet at an extremely close distance?  The good news is that it was only about the size of a car, but the bad news is that NASA had absolutely no idea that it was coming.  In fact, NASA only discovered it about six hours after it had passed us.  If NASA could not see that asteroid coming straight at us, what else is heading toward us that they cannot see? It has been estimated that “about 17,000 big near-Earth asteroids remain undetected”, but the truth is that we don’t really know how many giant space rocks are floating around out there.  Of course scientists all around the world are doing their best to catalog new potential threats all the time, but what most people don’t realize is that this is an area where our technology is still very limited.

The asteroid that almost entered our atmosphere on August 15th was hurtling toward us at 27,600 miles per hour.

In other words, it was traveling at almost 8 miles per second.

That is fast.

And according to the official NASA website, it came within just 1,830 miles of our planet…

Near Earth Asteroids, or NEAs, pass by our home planet all the time. But an SUV-size asteroid set the record this past weekend for coming closer to Earth than any other known NEA: It passed 1,830 miles (2,950 kilometers) above the southern Indian Ocean on Sunday, Aug. 16 at 12:08 a.m. EDT (Saturday, Aug. 15 at 9:08 p.m. PDT).

In astronomical terms, that is an extremely close shave, and NASA is openly admitting that “we didn’t see it coming”…

The flyby wasn’t expected and took many by surprise. In fact, the Palomar Observatory didn’t detect the zooming asteroid until about six hours after the object’s closest approach. “The asteroid approached undetected from the direction of the sun,” Paul Chodas, the director of NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies, told Business Insider. “We didn’t see it coming.”

This admission surprised many Americans, because most people assume that NASA would give us plenty of advance notice if a civilization-killing asteroid really was heading our way.

Of course that is not necessarily true at all.  There are many giant space rocks floating around out there that are exceedingly difficult to detect, and that is especially true if they are coming at us from the direction of the sun…

There’s not much we can do about detecting inbound asteroids coming from the sunward direction, as asteroids are detected using optical telescopes only (like ZTF), and we can only search for them in the night sky. The idea is that we discover them on one of their prior passages by our planet, and then make predictions years and decades in advance to see whether they have any possibility of impacting.

NASA has a plan to improve our ability to detect incoming asteroids, and that will be welcome news for those that are concerned that a civilization-killing asteroid may be heading our way.

But the bad news is that the space telescope at the heart of NASA’s plan will not be launched until 2025…

NASA has a plan to address these gaps in its asteroid-hunting program. The agency is in the early stages of developing a space telescope that could detect asteroids and comets coming from the sun’s direction.

NASA’s 2020 budget allotted nearly $36 million for that telescope, called the Near-Earth Object Surveillance Mission.

If funding continues, it could launch as early as 2025.

We have about five years to wait before this plan is implemented, and so let us hope that a giant space rock is not headed our way before then.

But we do know that a fairly sizable asteroid will be making a very close approach to our planet next month.  On September 1st, a 150 foot rock known as “asteroid 2011 ES4” will fly past us at more than 18,000 miles per hour, and it will do so “at a far closer distance than the Moon”…

Asteroid 2011 ES4, which measures approximately 150ft (50m) across, is expected to hurtle past the Earth at staggering speeds of 18,253mph (29,375kmh) next month. And although the size and speed of the asteroid is not that unusual, this space rock will fly past Earth at a far closer distance than the Moon.

I want to stress that scientists do not expect this asteroid to hit us, and I do not expect it to hit us either.

But the fact that it is flying by us at just “0.00048 AU” is definitely alarming…

The CNEOS database reveals the asteroid will pass by the Earth on September 1 at 3.49pm BST (10.49am ET).

Asteroid 2011 ES4 will fly by at 0.00048 AU (Astronomical Units) away – approximately 44,618 miles).

This distance is far closer to Earth than the Moon, which usually orbits at a distance of 238,855 miles (384,399km) distant.

But just because this one won’t hit us doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be concerned.

Earlier this month, I wrote an article about what scientists have discovered would happen if a very large asteroid hit the Atlantic Ocean.  It is estimated that the resulting tsunami would send waves that are hundreds of feet high toward the east coast of the United States, and millions of people would perish.  Of course most Americans that live on the east coast never even imagine that such a thing could happen, but the truth is that we have been repeatedly warned about such a potential disaster.

I truly hope that NASA will be able to give us as much advance warning as possible when that day finally arrives.

But NASA didn’t see the asteroid that almost entered our atmosphere a few days ago.

And there have been countless other asteroids over the years that NASA didn’t see until they were past us.

This is an area of research that I am particularly interested in, and at this point I don’t have a whole lot of faith in NASA’s ability to see what is coming.

In addition, even if they do see a giant space rock heading directly toward our planet, that doesn’t mean that they will actually tell us.

Rather than alarming the general public, they would probably start implementing plans behind the scenes to save those that are deemed to be “essential”.

Of course they might finally inform the rest of us just before it hit, but by then it would be far too late to do much about it.

***Michael’s new book entitled “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.***

About the Author: My name is Michael Snyder and my brand new book entitled “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America” is now available on Amazon.com.  By purchasing the book you help to support the work that my wife and I are doing, and by giving it to others you help to multiply the impact that we are having on people all over the globe.  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.  In addition to my new book, I have written four others that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned)  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 a great help.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.

For whatever reason, you may one day find yourself in an outdoor survival situation. Maybe you are on an outing with family or friends, one …

Read moreLost in The Woods Survival: 13 Do’s and Dont’s

The post Lost in The Woods Survival: 13 Do’s and Dont’s appeared first on Survival Cache.

I am a huge fan of Vortex Optical Scopes.  Lots of questions come my way about what scope I use and why.  Almost without fail, …

Read moreVortex Diamondback vs Crossfire Rifle Scopes: Head-to-Head Comparison

The post Vortex Diamondback vs Crossfire Rifle Scopes: Head-to-Head Comparison appeared first on Survival Cache.

Every summer is hot, and every summer there are heatwaves, but what we are witnessing in 2020 is rewriting all of the rules.  It has been blistering hot across the Southwest, and record after record is being broken.  In a year when we have had a seemingly endless series of things go wrong, we definitely didn’t need a historic heatwave to hit us, and it is causing all sorts of problems.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we will be getting any relief for at least a few more days, because it is being reported that record-setting heat is “expected to last throughout the week”…

As many as 52 million people remain under heat alerts in the West on Monday, where some could see temperatures between 110 and 130 degrees. The heat is expected to last throughout the week, possibly setting more than 100 new daily record highs.

A high temperature of 100 degrees is really hot, a high temperature of 110 degrees is dangerously hot, a high temperature of 120 degrees is catastrophically hot, and a high temperature of 130 degrees is not supposed to happen.

But it just did.

On Sunday, the high temperature in Death Valley reached 130 degrees…

A temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54.4 degrees Celsius) recorded in California’s Death Valley on Sunday by the US National Weather Service could be the hottest ever measured with modern instruments, officials say.

The reading was registered at 3:41 pm at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center in the Death Valley national park by an automated observation system — an electronic thermometer encased inside a box in the shade.

Prior to Sunday, modern instruments had never measured a temperature that high anywhere in the world.

The old all-time global record of 134 degrees has stood since 1913, but the validity of that old record has been heavily disputed…

In 1913, a weather station half an hour’s walk away recorded what officially remains the world record of 134 degrees Fahrenheit (56.7 degrees Celsius).

But its validity has been disputed for a number of reasons: regional weather stations at the time didn’t report an exceptional heatwave, and there were questions around the researcher’s competence.

In any event, everyone can agree that what happened on Sunday was truly a historic event, and it definitely wasn’t an isolated incident.

Just one day before, we witnessed a new daily record high temperature in Sacramento…

Downtown Sacramento set a new record-high temperature of 111 degrees on Saturday, during what is the biggest heatwave of the year so far in the area.

And that came on the heels of Palm Springs absolutely smashing a daily record on Friday…

Palm Springs shattered the previous record of 117° for today’s date by recording 120° this afternoon! Thermal set a record for the ‘highest minimum’ for the days date with a low temperature of just 92° this morning.

Needless to say, all of this heat is putting an enormous amount of strain on California’s power system as people endlessly stay indoors and try to cool off.  In fact, things have gotten so bad that authorities just announced “the first rolling blackouts in the state since 2001”…

As California struggles to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, wilting heat and wildfires, it’s facing another dangerous crisis: blackouts.

As temperatures broke records across the state, California energy officials announced the first rolling blackouts in the state since 2001 and warned that the state was bracing for what could be the largest power outage it has ever seen, likely on Monday.

Do you remember those crazy days back in 2001?

It seems like it was just yesterday that the Enron scandal erupted, but it really was almost 20 years ago.

Where has the time gone?

Officials are hoping that the rolling blackouts in California will be limited to this week, but they aren’t making any promises.

Meanwhile, record high temperatures are also happening in Nevada.  Las Vegas has been absolutely baking, and new record highs were being anticipated for both Monday and Tuesday…

It’ll be record-hot on Monday and Tuesday in Las Vegas, according to the National Weather Service, as southern Nevada bakes beneath a heat wave that tied a high-temperature mark on Sunday.

The expected high Monday was 114 degrees (45.56 Celsius) at McCarran International Airport, well above the current record temperature of 111 degrees set Aug. 17, 1939, meteorologist Dan Berc said.

And over in Phoenix, there have already been eight days this year with a high temperature of at least 115 degrees, and that breaks the old record that was set in 1974…

According to the National Weather Service in Phoenix, Phoenix reached 115°F during the afternoon hours of August 17, breaking a record set in 2013.

On August 14, Phoenix tied a record for the date with a high of 117 degrees (47 Celsius). Friday was the eighth day in 2020 with a high of at least 115 degrees (46 Celsius), beating the old record of seven days in 1974, the National Weather Service said.

Quite a few years ago I was in Phoenix during a heatwave, and I remember absolutely scorching the bottoms of my feet when I walked along a concrete path without any shoes on.

Dangerous heat is a constant reality this time of the year in Phoenix, but residents have learned how to live with it.

However, the record heat that we are seeing this year combined with extremely dry conditions have created an ideal environment for giant dust storms, and the millions of people living in the area have been warned that some are likely in the days ahead.

Throughout the Southwest, we are starting to see alarming patterns emerge.  If you look at the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map, you will notice that nearly the entire Southwest is already in some stage of drought right now.  In the 1930s, very high temperatures and exceedingly dry conditions for months on end combined to create “the Dust Bowl”, and many are concerned that something similar may now be starting to happen.

Even if you are not yet convinced that a new “Dust Bowl” is coming, everyone should be able to agree that what we are witnessing in the Southwest right now is very, very unusual.

In so many ways, our world seems to be going completely nuts right now, and many believe that this is just the beginning.

The good news is that September is coming, and that means that the weather in the Southwest should begin to cool off a bit.

But throughout this year it has just been one crisis after another, and we shall see what else 2020 has in store for us in the months ahead.

***Michael’s new book entitled “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.***

About the Author: My name is Michael Snyder and my brand new book entitled “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America” is now available on Amazon.com.  By purchasing the book you help to support the work that my wife and I are doing, and by giving it to others you help to multiply the impact that we are having on people all over the globe.  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.  In addition to my new book, I have written four others that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned)  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 a great help.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.

Our homes are sacred, safe places where we raise our families and lay our heads down at night. Most of the time when we are …

Read more10 Tips for Preventing and Dealing With a Home Intruder

The post 10 Tips for Preventing and Dealing With a Home Intruder appeared first on Survival Cache.

According to James Altucher, a best-selling author and former hedge-fund manager, New York City is “dead forever.” The city cannot possibly come back from its government-induced coma as its residents come to grips with the reality of heavy hand of government when it came to the coronavirus scamdemic.

“I love NYC. When I first moved to NYC, it was a dream come true. Every corner was like a theater production happening right in front of me. So much personality, so many stories,” Altucher wrote in a blog post explaining why his temporary relocation might become more permanent.

The New York Times back in June asked the “agonizing” question: “Is New York City worth it anymore?” amid a mass exodus of an estimated 420,000 residents between March and May when the coronavirus rhetoric that turned into tyranny was really blowing up. In July, there were a record 13,117 vacant apartments across Manhattan, according to a report by Douglas Elliman and Miller Samuel Real Estate Appraisers & Consultants. A year ago, that number was a 5,912. Also, new lease signings fell by about 23%, resulting in a drop in rental prices.

Sadly, New York probably isn’t the only city that will be in a permanent coma because of the Federal Reserves’ insistence upon taking over the world and cramming the New World Order down our throats. San Francisco is struggling as well. The mass exodus from places that took tyrannical overreach to a whole new level can be seen in the chart below:

Holy crap. San Francisco exodus: https://t.co/VaoQr5V0nQ pic.twitter.com/rywb8z7Poa

— Kim-Mai Cutler (@kimmaicutler) August 14, 2020

As it turns out, people may not like being told how to live and what to do by politicians. Even Altucher says that New York won’t bounce back this time. The damage has been done and it’s irreparable.  Will it remain the center of the financial universe? “Not this time.” New York has experienced worse? “Not it hasn’t.”

Keep in mind, it wasn’t a virus that caused the destruction of these cities and the economy. It was the order followers that bowed to government commands to stay fearful and shut down the economy over what’s turned out to be a mild flu.

It Wasn’t The “Virus” That Crashed The Economy, It Was The People Who Obeyed

It finally seems like Americans are waking up to the reality of what’s been done to them.  It took losing it all, but now they are beginning to see that the government puppets, who do the bidding of the Federal Reserve bankers are trying to take over the world and enslave them. We need to come together more than ever right now and reject the last form of slavery: slavery of the mind.

Time To Get Off Your Knees: MSM Warns The U.S. Is Looking At A Second Lockdown

This is a psychological battle for your mind and ultimate control.  Those who can see that already know the solution. Stop acquiescing, and stop believing anyone has the right to own you or lead you.  It’s time to lead ourselves and stop allowing guns to be put tot he heads of the innocent who are just trying to feed their families.

David Icke To LEOs & Military: “Look Your Children In The Eye” & Tell Them YOU Enforced Tyranny

Last week’s surprise announcement of a peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates caught just about everyone by surprise.  I hadn’t heard anything about a potential deal in the works, and the mainstream media in the western world was completely blindsided by the deal.  But this has become Israel’s pattern in recent decades.  The Oslo Accords, Israel’s peace deal with Jordan and other agreements were negotiated under a cloak of total secrecy because officials didn’t want public sentiment to potentially destroy negotiations.  And there could potentially be other “peace deals” in the works right now that we don’t know anything about.

President Trump is touting this as a major diplomatic victory, and he is hoping that it will sway some votes in November.  At this juncture, Trump is trailing badly in most polls and he needs another miracle like we witnessed in 2016.

But it was really Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that was the driving force behind this deal.  He has been seeking to build relations with the UAE for many, many years, and this deal is the culmination of those efforts.

In order to get this deal, however, Netanyahu had to agree not to annex any land in the West Bank…

The United Arab Emirates has normalised relations with Israel in a historic US-brokered deal that “suspends” Israeli annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state.

The surprise agreement, initially announced by the US president, Donald Trump, makes the UAE the first Gulf country and only the third Arab nation in the world to have active diplomatic ties with Israel, joining Egypt and Jordan.

This is a very odd development, because to many people it seemed like Netanyahu was dead set on annexing portions of Judea and Samaria.

In fact, he specifically promised to do so during the last election.

Could it be possible that all of that rhetoric was just a negotiating ploy?

If Israel had really gone ahead and annexed those lands, it would have killed any international efforts to create a Palestinian state.

But now that annexation is completely dead, the potential for a “peace deal” that would create a Palestinian state is very much alive.

According to the New York Times, the relationship between Israel and the UAE “had been building quietly for years”, and according to a British news source this peace agreement will also open a door for “deals on direct flights, security, telecommunications, energy, tourism and healthcare”…

A joint statement from the US, the UAE and Israel said delegations will meet in the coming weeks to sign deals on direct flights, security, telecommunications, energy, tourism and healthcare.

They are expected soon to exchange ambassadors and embassies and a signing ceremony is due to be held at the White House.

Ultimately, peace in the Middle East is something that we should all want, but at what cost has it been achieved?

It appears that West Bank annexation will never happen now, and we are being told that Netanyahu “traded it away” for a goal that was even more important to him…

In an ironic twist, that plan became the catalyst that finally gave Mr. Netanyahu the opening he had long sought. With pressure building for him to drop the annexation plan, he traded it away for something he wanted even more.

This may help Netanyahu win some moderate votes in the next election, but there are many conservatives in Israel that feel like they have been played and are not happy with Netanyahu right now at all.

Of course Netanyahu is not going to stop with the UAE.  According to Reuters, Bahrain and Oman could also soon normalize relations with Israel…

Bahrain and Oman could be the next Gulf countries to follow the United Arab Emirates in formalising ties with Israel, Israel’s intelligence minister said on Sunday.

In fact, Netanyahu has actually publicly admitted that he has been speaking with the leaders of Oman and “other countries” in the region…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News on Sunday that he has been speaking with leaders from Arab countries in addition to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the American-mediated peace deal announced last week between the two countries.

He stated that he spoke with political leaders in Oman and “other countries,” and that the key to such discussions is discretion.

In the end, many believe that all of this diplomacy is all about Iran.

In recent years, Netanyahu has relentlessly been attempting to unite as much of the Middle East as possible against Iran.  The Israelis believe that a conflict with Iran is probably inevitable, and so they would like to isolate the Iranians as much as they can.

Of course many Sunni governments in the region have long been hostile toward the radical Shiite regime in Tehran.  In particular, the Saudis would love to see the Iranian “problem” go away, and so they have a strategic interest in working with Israel toward that goal.

As Israel and the various Sunni governments across the Middle East become increasingly cozy, could this create an environment that will eventually lead to an agreement to create a Palestinian state?

I think that this is a very important question to ask at this point.

Needless to say, most of the rest of the world would greatly rejoice if a peace agreement could be reached that would finally create a Palestinian state, but formally dividing the land of Israel would also set the stage for many of the things that I warn about in my new book.

Many had assumed that a conservative like Netanyahu would never be willing to give up land for an agreement that would guarantee “lasting peace”, but the agreement that he just reached with the UAE may suggest otherwise.

If Netanyahu is willing to permanently sacrifice dreams of annexing portions of Judea and Samaria for a peace agreement with the UAE, what would he be willing to do for a comprehensive peace agreement with all of the Sunni governments in the region?

Peace can be a very seductive mistress, and I have a feeling that we are about to see things happen in the Middle East that many thought would never be possible.

***Michael’s new book entitled “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.***

About the Author: My name is Michael Snyder and my brand new book entitled “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America” is now available on Amazon.com.  By purchasing the book you help to support the work that my wife and I are doing, and by giving it to others you help to multiply the impact that we are having on people all over the globe.  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.  In addition to my new book, I have written four others that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned)  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 a great help.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.

You’ve probably heard of stealth camping and want to learn the art of it. Or, you might be someone who tried it but failed. Today, we’ve got some important stealth camping tips that can help you improve this endeavor.

Stealth Camping Tips to Heed

Stealth Camping takes the “Leave No Trace” principle of regular camping, to the next level: “Be No Trace.”

When you’re stealth camping, you want to become invisible to people and animals around you, as well as leaving little to no trace of ever having been in the area. Stealth camping is a great skill to develop for bugging out and can help you learn how to avoid being followed.

Practicing stealth camping does not have to mean you are doing anything wrong or illegal. But be sure that wherever you are camping is not private property or off-limits.

You can start by practicing stealth camping habits and techniques the next time you visit a trail or campground that you already frequent.

In stealth camping, you’ll want to address your location, shelter, attire, fires & food, as well as how you’re getting to your campsite and the tracks you’re leaving behind you.

All of these will vary from your usual camping setup.

Here are stealth camping tips to get you started:

1. Location

To hide your location, you’ll want to avoid any open fields and stay away from main trails and roadways. You can hide behind the heavy brush, but be sure that the campsite you choose is elevated, has flat areas, and has 2 entry/exit points so that you can leave in a hurry if someone finds you.

Ideally, you will have some areas of light brush that you can peer through to keep watch on your surroundings. Your location should be concealed so that the common person will have no idea it is there.

Another element to your location is the volume. A waterfall or rapids may create too much noise for you to hear someone approaching. A quiet spot in the woods will allow you to listen for footsteps and broken twigs.

2. Shelter

 

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A post shared by Tito (@exploratoraudacter) on Aug 10, 2020 at 8:24am PDT

A normal tent setup is not preferred for stealth camping. You’ll want a low-profile (below the waist) and easy to assemble/disassemble shelter.

Lean-to’s and a-frames work great in these situations, as long as they are not made with bright colors. You will want to prep as many of the elements of your shelter as you can in advance, including any knots you need to tie.

Carving tent stakes out of sticks is also a great idea because they can be abandoned if you leave quickly.

Setting up and breaking down your camp is something you’ll want to practice so that you can minimize the time spent creating and exiting your camp.

To help keep your shelter location private, it is recommended to set up camp at twilight, when you still have light to see, but you may be obscured from others’ vision.

3. Attire

Being camouflaged in the woods means more than just wearing olive drab. In addition to avoiding bright colors, you can consider the 8 S’s and the 3 C’s:

• Shape
• Shine
• Silhouette
• Saturation
• Shadow
• Still
• Silent
• Spacing
• Cover
• Camouflage
• Concealment

Think about the ways in which the human body and our gear differ from plants and animals that are native to the woods. Choose supplies that don’t reflect light or create bright white light. If you use a flashlight or headlamp, choose red or green light.

If you are beginning your stealth camping journey at a popular trailhead or campground, don’t get out of your car in a leaf suit or head-to-toe camouflage.

Blend in with your surroundings so as not to draw attention to yourself. As you get into the woods, you can conceal yourself more.

4. Fires & Food

The smells of fires and food are both dead giveaways to your campsite. Consider eating cold food, or only consuming food away from the campsite.

If you have to make a fire, dig a hole and make an underground or Dakota Fire Pit. If you do use a Dakota Fire Pit, take every precaution to make sure the fire does not spread and is out before you leave the campsite.

Keep the fire below ground level to help with drawing attention to yourself. You will still be able to smell the fire in the vicinity, and the fire pit leaves behind a lot of signs that you were there, but if you ventilate the fire well, there won’t be too much smoke visible from it.

5. Cover Your Tracks

If you drive to a campsite, your car will need to be parked near where you’re trying to stealth camp – not very stealthy. You can ride your bike, but then you have to keep your bike hidden as well.

Consider how you are getting to your campsite, and how you will cover your tracks once you do arrive.

Try to walk on the most durable ground that you can, specifically rocks and dead leaves. Walking on live plants will bend them in a way that can be tracked. When you walk on dirt or sand, dust your footprints out behind you.

Stealth camping requires considerably more preparation and practice than traditional camping. It is recommended to incorporate some of the elements of stealth camping into each trip you make so that you can get comfortable with different techniques.

Do you have any questions about stealth camping? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section!

Up Next:

• 3 Stealthy Concealed Carry Tricks
• 21 Camping Hacks For Beginner Campers
• Tent vs. Hammock Camping: And The Winner Is…