Basic Crisis Pack 1995 E. Michael Smith Packing it: Large Hip Bag or Fanny Pack Directions: Flash cards or Small booklet (purchased from local bookstore) (Tom Brown's books of Survival are good, though too big for this smallest of the kits.). Environmental Protection : Space blanket Hand warmer packs Water : Stored - 1 or 2 Qt. canteen. You can buy retorts of water (like juice boxes) if desired. I like the canteen, since it lets me use the water as needed for non emergencies, and that trains me to keep it in the car... Carried/found - Baggies 1Qt. size Purified - Iodide Tablets Food : Stored - Soup Packets or bullion cubes (Herb Ox brand is best!) Coffee Packets with sugar packets. A salt and pepper packet is nice too. Gathered - Folding can opener Small fish kit {Handline, 2 swivles, 2 sinkers, 2 hooks} Snare wire Preparing - Sierra Club stainless steel cup, fork, spoon Fire Making : "Bic" lighter Fresnell Lens Waterproof matches Hexamine tablets and maybe a stove . Light : AA Flashlight w/ spare bulb - Maglight or Candle - Large Birthday Health and First Aid : Minor Kit (purchase) {Bandaids, aspirin, smelling salts, ?} Bug repellent Lip balm - find some that doesn't melt Sunscreen Signaling : Mirror Wistle (see also: Fire making and Light) Navigation : Compass - small keyring type Local Map Social Survival : Coins and Bills ($1 coins/ $20 bills) Pen and paper, waterproof Swiss Army Knife { for sissors and corkscrew} Cleaning Up and Sanitation: Toothbrush Small hotel type soap Condoms +/or Tampons Entertainment : Miniature Bible or cards General Tools : Swiss Army Knife (Captains) Cordage: Dental floss String - Use fish line Cord - 20 ft. 1/8" nylon Wire - small spool Sewing kit - hotel type Screwdriver disk Aluminum foil 1ft/sq Hacksaw blade - short Bobby Pins Safty pins Fingernail clippers Red hanky rubber bands nails cup hooks small file super glue +/or epoxy, small tape Carry Also : Clothes, lots of them Money Water Food Cell Phone, CB radio and/or Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) Duct tape Flares and/or strobe Larger flashlight Any personal medications & glasses Auxilliary Crisis Pack 1987 E. Michael Smith Packing it: Day Pack or small duffle with small stuff bags inside. Directions : Air Force Survival Manual or Outdoor Survival Skills by Larry Dean Olsen Water : Stored - 1 or 2 quart jug or canteen Purified - Filter straw, coffee filters, Iodine tablets and baggies Food : Stored - 4 MRE's, 4 LRP's Soup & Cocoa Packets Coffee Packets Food bars Vitamin pills Salt & pepper Gathered - Medium fish kit, Snare/trap wire and twine Preparing - Sierra Cup Tea Ball Pot Lifter Environmental Protection : Space blanket type survival suit or Space blanket bag or second Space Blanket. Poncho Medium and large garbage bags Hammock Tube tent or Lean-to tarp Signaling : Orange cloth (or tube tent) Smoke bombs Flares - hiway and signal (see also: Fire making and Light) Navigation : A real good compass Altimeter Star chart and contour map Fire Making : Fire sticks (Swedish match) Bic Lighter Sterno Stove Metal Match - magnesium Hexamine tablets Magnifying Glass - Min. 3 in. Light : Spare flashlight batteries Second flashlight Candle lamp +/or candles Calume stick Health and First Aid : Sport Kit (see attached list) Triangle bandage Snake bite kit (see attached list) Jungle juice Allerest, bufferin, senocot, dramamine, kaopectate General Tools : Hunting knife Sharpening stone String - 162' 150lb break twine Cord - 100' 1/8" parachute cord. Wire - Fish netting Mosquito netting small pullys Screwdriver, multi bit Aluminum foil 10 ft/sq Combo saw - wood, metal nails crow bar file +/or rasp Leather work gloves super glue, epoxy, silicone, +/or wood glue Duct tape Windshield ice scraper "funny" wrench watch Thermometer Monocular Vice Grip pliers vasaline wire ties clothes pins Social Survival : Folding sissors Cork screw Soap Shampoo Disposable razor Door lock sunglasses Entertainment : AM/FM Radio Playing cards Carry Also : Clothes, lots of them Money Water Food CB radio +/or ELT Flares +/or strobe Tent Sleeping bag and pad Vehicle tool kit (see attached) Small firearm and ammunition Advanced Crisis Pack 1987 E. Michael Smith Packing it: Standard Backpack Directions : Tom Brown guide to Urban and Wilderness Survival Water : Stored - Gallon jug Carried/found - Canteen Purified - Pump filter Solar Still Food : Stored - Soup Packets Coffee Packets Food bars Vitamin pills Salt & pepper Freeze dried meals Gathered - Small firearm and ammunition Large fish kit and gill net (see attached list) Preparing - Serving spoon and fork Small frying pan, teflon coated Mess kit Nut cracker Steamer basket Thermos cup Wire rack grill Environmental Protection : Pancho Tent Sleeping bag Ground cloth Heavy duty space blanket towel Boot grease Signaling : CB, Aviation radio, or ELT Signal strobe Flare gun and extra flares (see also: Fire making and Light) Navigation : Sextant Star chart Fire Making : Camp stove w/ fuel bottle and fuel Spark lighter Light : Large flashlight w/ spare bulb Spare flashlight batteries Solar battery charger and nicads Gas light Health and First Aid : Major Kit Triangle bandage Splint kit Toilet Paper and paper towels Personal medical supplies Personal hygene items: birth control, etc. General Tools : Machete Camp shovel and ax Rock hammer Sharpening stone Rope Medium pulleys Carabiners bucket Sven saw Vehicle tool kit Aluminum foil roll Tire patch kit Rubber/nylon/canvass patch kit Water proofing spray and grease Binoculars 2 ft. of 'coat hanger' 2 yds sq. cheese cloth straping tape, duct tape Calculator Social Survival : Money ($100), 12 oz. silver, 1 oz gold, credit card Entertainment : Chess or backgammon game AM/FM/SW radio with antenna Carry Also : Clothes, lots of them Water Food Major Vehicle tool kit Second Firearm and ammunition Propane torch kit Camping Checklist 1995 E. Michael Smith This is a list of what we take camping. It's sort of a hybrid of car camping and backpacking, so feel free to down size or upsize as your needs dictate. Packing it: Pack the lights on top! - Food on the bottom or in the back. Backpack or Day pack - Include Map, compass, whistle, etc. if hiking. Bags - Tent bag, sleeping bag stuff bag, grocery bags, etc. Boxes - Anything left over goes in a cardboard box. Ice Chest - All the cold food goes on ice. Use a second ice chest (sans Ice) for heat sensitive things (fuel, candles, film, batteries..) 5 Gallon plastic can. - A nice water proof container. Good potty alternative too. Lighting Maglight - 2 Cell AA Minimum. 3 x D or 4 Cell C better, per person. Gas Lantern - Primus single mantle, or Coleman Unleaded double. BIC lighter - And those butane fireplace lighters are real nice too! Spare batteries and bulbs Spare lantern fuel and mantles Bedding & Shelter : Sleeping Bag - Space blanket emergency aid as well. Ground Cloth - Big space blanket works well for individuals. Tarp for big tents. Mattress or pad - High volume, low pressure, inflator for air mattress... Pillow Tent ( & camp axe or hammer to pound tent stakes) Water Water jug or bottle, at least 1/2 gallon per person/day. 2 gal is better. Water Filter! Cooking Stove with fuel - Primus single burner for one. Coleman unleaded 2 burner. Charcoal or wood & Grill for BBQ. Frying Pan - Non-Stick is nice. PLASTIC SPATULA! Pot or sauce pan - Big enough to cook noodles for all. With lid. Can opener - If you have canned goods while car camping. Thermos - ersatz slow cooker? Tongs Coffee maker & Filters Lighter Pot Lifter grabber &/or pot holders Wine cork puller & Tablecloth for those tres yup trips. Dishes Reusable Plate - Partition tray/plate is nice. Mug/cup - Sierra Club Cup or Coleman Mountain Mug style Kitchen knife - Nice to have. In general, carry a pocket knife. Bowl Knife, Fork, Spoon, Spatula Scrub Pad Dish Pan Consumables Paper towels & knapkins, trash bags Paper plates, cups, bowls, etc. Plastic Knives, forks, spoons, Ziplock Bags Aluminum Foil Dish soap Clothing Hat - Broad brimmed sun/rain. Sleeping Cap. Bandana Jacket - As weather dictates. Eskimo style, MacIntosh, Windbreaker, etc. Poncho - Doubles as emergency tent/lean-to. Overalls - Painter Pants style work well. Or traditional Pants with Belt. Underpants 2 shirt - 2 or 3 (one light, one flannel) shoes & shower shoes or 'flip flops' - & Hiking boots, if so inclined. socks - 2 pair (wash socks & underpants daily). Work Gloves Warm Gloves Swim suit Personal & Cleaning Bar soap - With washcloth, if desired. Shampoo Toothpaste & Toothbrush Comb or hair brush Razor Towel Toilet Paper - And perhaps a shovel to build a latrine. Trash bags Wisk broom to clean table and tent site And any cameras, books, radio, cards, games, toys, etc. that you want. Medicine & Misc. Sun Screen Bug Repellent - Yard spray, personal spray, Citronella Candle, etc. Poison Oak remedies - Special soap. Antihistamine creams Allerest Tylenol, Advil, Aspirin Alkaseltzer, Malox, Tums Antibiotics - Whatever you need. Micatin for fungus, for example. Tweezers for splinters & ticks. Antiseptic, bandaids and bandages for big owies. Food & Drink Pancake Mix - Krusteaze, 1/2 cup per person per day Cooking Oil - About 1 oz per person per day seems to work. Syrup - About 2 oz per person per day. Butter - 1/2 stick per person per day. Malt-o-meal - Or Cream of {wheat, rice, mush...} Oatmeal - Instant Quaker Oats single serving packs are nice Potatoes - 2 per person per day. Freeze dried if packing. Bacon - 4 slices per person per day Eggs - 2 per person per day. Fresh or powdered. Noodles - Angel Hair, Ramen, Flat egg ribbons, elbows or shells Sauce - Marinara, Cream or Alfredo? (In jars or dehydrated if packing) Bouillon cubes - Chicken & Vegetable Herb Ox brand Rice packages - Pilaf, Saffron. Use ÔinstantÕ or ÔminuteÕ if packing. Soup mix - Split Pea, Bean & Bacon, etc. Tuna - 3 0z. pop top cans for single service. 6 Oz for groups. Bread - Roman Meal, 16 oz round top Condiments - Salt, Pepper, spices, Sugar, Coffee Mate, Catsup, Mustard Mayo - Smallest size jars you can find. Salami - Dry. Can substitute for ham or bacon if no ice chest is used. Cheese - Mild Cheddar Fruit - Small fruit cups or fresh market fruit Carrots - enough for carrot sticks daily Taco Stuff - (Meat. Seasoning package. Olives, Lettuce, tortillas) Kippers Cocoa, Coffee, & teas (don't forget the SUGAR!) Marshmallows & Graham Crackers & Hershey Bars (Oh My!) Peanut Butter & Jelly (of course) Ham slices Hot Dogs & Buns Milk, Soy Milk (Special Milk), Juice boxes, jug of juice, Cokes, rum, beer, tequila, etc.. Firearms 1995 E. Michael Smith There are few topics as contentious or emotional as firearms and guns. Not just the political crap either. If you want to see a Holy War break out, just ask bunch of gun enthusiasts what is the "one best gun" to use for survival... Several hundred answers later you will wish you never brought up the topic. At the risk of being sucked into the fray, I'm going to present the most centrist of the viewpoints here. First off, what are you going to shoot? You MUST answer this question if you are to have a hope of answering the 'best gun' (or ANY gun) question. Easily 3/4 of the arguments revolve around different ideas of what is to be shot (and thus different ideas of what is the 'best gun' for it. If you do not know how to shoot, don't pack a gun. (This may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how many folks don't know this...) You would be much better off packing plant identification and animal trapping guide books. If you are squeamish about shooting, killing, and skinning animals, don't plan on hunting. If you think you could not shoot a human predator to save yourself, don't plan on going armed. Plan on hiding better and pack more camo gear. OK, from this point on, it is assumed that: A) you know how to shoot or are willing to take safety and shooting classes and practice regularly. B) You intend to shoot people in self defense or C) you intend to hunt some kind of animals for food or safety. People: A nice high capacity magazine .223 Remington, like the Ruger Mini-14, is fine. Use a Beretta 9mm or .40 S&W, or get a CZ-75 in 9mm for a sidearm. Animals: Get a bolt 30-'06 or .308 Nato and you'll be well served. With scope, please. If all you want to do is put rabbits and squirrels in the pot, then a .22 Long Rifle (Ruger 10/22) is fine. General Comments: Ammo: There are a bazillion choices of caliber and load. You can ignore almost all of them. You want to choose from a short list that is entirely composed of rifle rounds used by the armies of the world since these are the most common in stores and do anything you would ever want to do. Special exception to this rule is for the .22 Long Rifle that has become the single most widely used round of all time and is especially well suited to small critter shooting. So, get a 30-'06, .308 Winchester/Nato, .223 Remington, or 7.62 x 39 Russian. In shotguns, it's 12 Gauge (or 20 Gauge if you want lighter kick and lighter ammo.) Manufacturers: The big names are all pretty good. In rifles: Winchester, Remington, Browning, Colt, Ruger, and Marlin. In shotguns: Winchester, Remington, Browning, Beretta and Mossberg. In handguns: Beretta, CZ (the Czech maker), Colt, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Glock. The lists could go on and on. I've left a lot of great makes off just because they tend to be expensive (Walther, H&K, Sigg/Saur, etc.) though worth what you pay for them. The Russians manufacture very competent guns (both the Makarov semi-auto pistol and the SKS Carbine) that sell for low prices but work very well. Action Type: Bolt action rifle, with scope, for hunting. Semi-auto with scope for hunting and rural self defense. Semi-auto with or without scope and with a large magazine for urban self defense. Semi-auto pistol or revolver for personal protection. Pump shotguns. Finish: If you are going to be on a boat, or anywhere wet and damp a lot, get a stainless steel gun or a chrome finished gun. There are some nice chrome finish pump shotguns sold especially for use on boats, and these make great anti-boarding weapons. Stainless is my finish of choice, but I'd not use if for a self defense weapon that might glint or reflect in the night. If in a nice dry area on land, going with a blue finish is OK. Parkerized or enamel might hold up better with marginal cleaning facilities though. Most handguns, and many rifles, are available in military style dark black or camo finishes. These are generally good choices for a survival gun. I wish I could get it over a Stainless Steel gun, though... Food Rations In several commercial kits, there is a 'Food Rations' brick of wheat flour, shortening, sugars, and a collection of vitamins and artificial flavors and colors. This is typically packaged in a plastic/metal foil laminate pouch (sometimes called a 'retort' since things can be cooked in some of them). When I've tasted these, they have been tolerable, but not enjoyable. And rather expensive for what you get... My kids refused to do more than barely nibble it, then rejected it all together. Kids want something familiar to eat, or they wont eat. What I'd rather do is assemble something familiar with a very long shelf life. What? Peanut Butter, Jelly, and crackers. You can get small or large jars of Peanut Butter and Jelly (in your choice of flavors). You can get your choice of crackers; including saltenes, Wheat Thins, Ritz, Graham crackers, etc. You don't need vitamins for several days, but if you feel paranoid about it you can add a bottle of multi-vitamins. Put the cracker packages inside a Zip-Lock baggie and put that inside a Rubbermaid container with a packing of paper towels around the cracker box inside. You now have a physical protective barrier that is also water resistant, a rattle/vibration/shock absorbing paper towel layer that also can be used to clean up the jam & jelly drips, a second crumb and water resistant barrier, and your crackers in their original preservative doped packaging. This will keep a long time, even in adverse weather, and the containers are resealable. Toss in a plastic knife or spoon for serving and you're all set. The PB and J jars can be similarly packed inside Rubbermaid tubs is you want to assure they are protected from accidental breakage. Don't mix them with the crackers in the same tub, though, since the jars are heavy and good at turning crackers to crumbs when impacted... Not as compact as the flour bricks, but alot tastier... I'm quite certain that you, and your kids, will enjoy the PBJ Crackers far more than the wheat/grease/sugar blocks... Yeah, they may not keep for 5 years (in a saltwater air environment); but they ought to keep for at least one year and more likely 2 with no problem. (And cycling your inventory every year is a pleasant experience!) You will get plenty of calories, protein, carbohydrates, etc. from this 'ration' and the flavor is one that just about everyone likes. PBJ Sandwiches are, after all, a classic. And the cost, of course, is near trivial. You can also pack a few candy bars around the crackers in the Rubbermaid tub. Commercial candy bars tend to keep for a year or two... If you don't like Peanut Butter or Jelly (hard to imagine...), you can easily substitute pop top tins of Tuna or Kippers and put in a small jar of Mayonnaise (or those little plastic packages your local fast food restaurant gives you). I've used both of these after storage for a year+ with no problems. (Just remember that, once opened, mayo and fish needs to be eaten the same day or refrigerated.) There is nothing special about 'Emergency Rations' other than their plastic/foil pouch. For millennia our ancestors lived on stored foods during lean times. Canning, including in jars, drying (as in Jerky or dried Prunes), and similar processes were used to 'put food by' for generations. And the traditional stored foods taste much better than flour & grease bricks... Feel free to be a bit creative in customizing your personal 'Emergency Ration', and remember that much of the commercial processed foods are made for a long storage life on the store shelves. This means that things like those plastic lunch packages of cheese spread and crackers will tend to keep for a year or so just as they come from the store.