First off let me apologize to those who read the blog, if any, for not posting on a regular basis. I'm in the process of moving into the new house and don't have a dedicated internet connection at the moment. So for right now my smart phone is what I have to work with.
Fortunately Black Friday has come and gone for us on Guam without any incidents to report about. But for those in the mainland it was a different story. This article in the PDN gives examples of what people looking for bargains can do to eachother. One story received more attention then most, even though it wasn't the worst of them. A lady in a LA Wal-Mart apparently pepper sprayed other shoppers to get an advantage over other shoppers. The stories that got my attention were those of shoppers getting robbed at gun point and even shot for their purchases in the parking lot.
A search on Google for "Black Friday Mayhem" will give you millions of examples of what people have done just to shop for items on sale. Just imagine when SHTF and simple items such as food and toilet paper start becoming scarce, what your average citizen will do to get it. Now keep that in mind and think about your current situation. Right now, if SHTF are you prepared? Or would you have to go out and risk meeting these people? A think even further down the road, when stores have been long out of supplies and people are starving. Is your home safe and secure? Do you have means of protecting you and your family? I'm not trying to scare anyone, that is not my goal. My goal is to get anyone I can reach to into a preparedness mindset, even if it's just one person. So use Black Friday as a wake up call or a reminder of how bad things will get when the Shit Hits The Fan. Take care everyone. Prepare. Survive. Live.
I am constantly thinking about ways that I can make my house harder to get into. I've joked about getting a moat installed around my house, and if money wasn't a problem, I would seriously look into it. Unfortunately money is a problem, so I have to find ways to make my house more secure that are affordable. I wanted to share a few things that I've done that are cheap and easy to do. Keep in mind that i'm not a handy man either, so if I can do it anyone can.
Visibility: If you can see inside your house, that means criminals can too. So they can easily spot something they want just by strolling by. An easy way of fixing this would be by putting up some curtains. Not only does it block visibility, it also blocks out heat and sunlight, which will help save you money on power. Another option is tinting your windows, but costs a bit more. Don't leave valuables outside. If you have hedges or bushes, trim them to cut down on hiding places.
Locks: They won't help if you don't actually use them. I know a guy that complains about getting his stuff stolen, but he also leaves his stuff laying around and his car unlocked with the windows down. For your doors you can install a tougher deadbolt, and one that you can rekey. You will also want to strengthen the doorjamb, because its the jamb that fails when the door is kicked in. You can purchase these kick plates that have 3 inch screws instead of a 3/4 inch screw. Here is an example of a larger plate with the longer screws.
You can add some security to your windows too. The most common one is placing a wooden or metal bar in the inner window sliding track. This is effective, but does not secure the outer window. To address this you can drill through both the inner and outer window and place a nail or screw through them. If you want a more polished look your can purchase a patio door pin at your local hardware store. Here is an example of a few i've installed.
Another measure to add to your window is to place some screws on the upper tracks of both windows. These prevent the windows from being pried up and out.
Some additional tips that will make your house a harder target:
-Motion sensored lights.
-Dogs. It does not have to be a large breed, but a large breed will not only be a good deterent, but will be also protect your family if it needed to. Most criminals are deterred just by the sound a dog present.
-Timers. Timers for lights are a great way to prevent your house from appearing empty. You also also put tv's and radios on timers, to give the allusion of activity.
Guam Prepper Network Videos
If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share, they would be greatly appreciated. Take care everyone. Prepare. Survive. Live.
Visibility: If you can see inside your house, that means criminals can too. So they can easily spot something they want just by strolling by. An easy way of fixing this would be by putting up some curtains. Not only does it block visibility, it also blocks out heat and sunlight, which will help save you money on power. Another option is tinting your windows, but costs a bit more. Don't leave valuables outside. If you have hedges or bushes, trim them to cut down on hiding places.
Locks: They won't help if you don't actually use them. I know a guy that complains about getting his stuff stolen, but he also leaves his stuff laying around and his car unlocked with the windows down. For your doors you can install a tougher deadbolt, and one that you can rekey. You will also want to strengthen the doorjamb, because its the jamb that fails when the door is kicked in. You can purchase these kick plates that have 3 inch screws instead of a 3/4 inch screw. Here is an example of a larger plate with the longer screws.
You can add some security to your windows too. The most common one is placing a wooden or metal bar in the inner window sliding track. This is effective, but does not secure the outer window. To address this you can drill through both the inner and outer window and place a nail or screw through them. If you want a more polished look your can purchase a patio door pin at your local hardware store. Here is an example of a few i've installed.
Another measure to add to your window is to place some screws on the upper tracks of both windows. These prevent the windows from being pried up and out.
Some additional tips that will make your house a harder target:
-Motion sensored lights.
-Dogs. It does not have to be a large breed, but a large breed will not only be a good deterent, but will be also protect your family if it needed to. Most criminals are deterred just by the sound a dog present.
-Timers. Timers for lights are a great way to prevent your house from appearing empty. You also also put tv's and radios on timers, to give the allusion of activity.
Guam Prepper Network Videos
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| From Guam Prepper Network |
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| From Guam Prepper Network |
If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share, they would be greatly appreciated. Take care everyone. Prepare. Survive. Live.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
I recently came across a video about preppers on youtube. A lot of people disagree on how the people in it were potrayed. They feel like they made them look like paranoid, extremist hoarders. Putting aside how it was edited and what they were made to look like. I felt it was a good look at how others are doing in their journey to become prepared. It also made me aware of just how far behind I am in my own preparedness. I know that I'll never have an underground bunker, but i'll strive to have enough food, water and the means to protect my family.
National Geographic: Doomsday Preppers
National Geographic: Doomsday Preppers
Thursday, November 3, 2011
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