Using mylar bags and oxygen absorbers inside a 5-gallon pail is one of the most effective ways to preserve dried foods for the long run.

Sun, Firewood, Rice and the Declining Dollar

What do you need more, $100 in your pocket or 200 meals of 580 calories? Pete looks at the math behind do-it-yourself food storage.
Grocery store shelf picked clean. Photo by Isaiah Villar on Unsplash.

Waiting Until the Last Minute to Prep Could Doom Your Family

As we saw in the recent ice storm and six years ago with COVID, thinking you can prep at the last minutes doesn't always work as expected.
Our new Starlink Mini getting its "exercise" so it stays connected to the Starlink satellites above and doesn't get bricked.

Why Your Starlink Might Fail When the Grid Goes Dark

Don't let your backup communications fail! Maintain your Starlink antenna and use Standby Mode for reliable emergency comms.
This is my Kimber CDS9, a very compact double-stack 1911-style firearm. After the break-in period, it will become my EDC gun, replacing my Glock 48.

I Trade my Glock for a New EDC Gun

After carrying a Glock since the 1990s, Pete upgrades to a double-stack mini-1911 with a better trigger and an optic.
These are seven-gallon (blue) and five-gallon containers we use to store water. The taps on top allow you to turn the container on its side and turn on the faucet to access the water. That is much easier than trying to pour water our of it.

Water for Preppers: Why One Gallon a Day is a Survival...

Think a gallon a day is enough? Think again. Learn why your water preps need to scale and how to source water when the taps run dry.
Ah, the whimsical nature of AI combining snow falling in the mountains with the price of gold. The dog looks quite a bit like mine.

Frozen Pipes and Falling Silver: A Week of Winter Reality

When the temperature hits 2°F, even off-grid systems fail. That's why we were glad to have backups for our backups.
U.S. aircraft carriers in the Pacific will be a tempting target if China goes to war with the U.S.

The War Within the War: 2027 is Coming Fast

As the U.S. targets Iran’s oil and nuclear sites, the "Quiet War" with China is heating up. Are you prepped for what comes next?
This is how Gemini, my AI, imagines I must look based on the post.

The Storm was Only Half the Battle

After the storm passes, power surges, windchill dangers, and cold weather CCW show that there is more to survival than the event itself.
This is our road. The gravel seems to have trapped the sleet, which has turned into slush. I'd rather drive on five inches of snow than this icy mess. It may not look bad, but it's a sea of ice with an occasional gravel island sticking up. Its difficult to even walk on.

Winter Storm Fails to Meet Expectations

Pete live blogs the 2026 winter storm, giving multiple updates per day, Hold down the Alt key and hit the refresh button to clear the cache and load the latest update.
The snow storm we expected is now going to be an ice storm, which is a more dangerous scenario.

Now We’re Facing a Severe Ice Storm as the Snow Heads...

Widespread power outages are headed our way and all we can do is prep. We're seeing some panic buying as people get ready
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