Playing it safe by being prepared.

Being prepared is a form of insurance, and much like insurance, you hope you never need it.

Work and hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Has your home ever been robbed – mine was. Have you ever been threatened or attacked on the street – I have. Have you ever been afraid because you live, work or do business in a ‘bad’ neighborhood? Do you worry about the current state of affairs in our country; worry about rising crime rates, natural disasters, or even the breakdown of basic services – well, I do too. Face it, one bad storm could knock out your electricity for weeks – would you be prepared for it? I made this page in order to share a few of my ideas with you and hopefully hear some of yours. I hope you’ll take the time to share your ideas, tips, and techniques with others.

Note: It is your primary responsibility to protect yourself and your family.

Home Security

The first rule of Home Security is to make your home an uninviting target – make it look like a harder target than your neighbors’. Levels of home security will obviously vary from area to area, however some basic elements of protection are applicable in most if not all areas. Note: never forget the old adage of “when hunting deer, go where he deer are.” In other words, just because you live in a ‘safe’ neighborhood doesn’t mean you’re safe - criminals often target ‘soft’ areas where they expect less resistance!

Dead Bolts on all exterior doors – if they have windows use keyed deadbolts. If you must employ keyed deadbolts keep the keys close enough for your family to make a quick escape, but out of reach of the door. I recommend all locks be installed with reinforced strike plates secured with 3 inch screws. Note: no matter how strong the doors and locks, this will only slow the bad guys down not necessarily deter them.

Windows - Make sure all ground level windows are locked – windows are easy access as it is, don’t make it easy for the bad guys. I hate to even say this, but never leave a ladder outside your home! Duh!

Lights, lights and more lights – light up your property at night – criminals hate being seen. Lights should be installed out of reach if possible and positioned to cover all areas surrounding your home. If you will be gone at night, set up a few inside lights on timers to mimic activity.

Landscaping. Cut back overgrown bushes or hedges that might provide cover for intruders (dependent on area). Keep lawn well groomed so home always appears occupied.

Firearms. Have access to a firearm regardless of where you are in the house and know how to use it! What good is a gun if you can’t get to it? A gun in the bedroom doesn’t do you much good when you are in the laundry room!

Note: a firearm is only an effective defense if you are confident and proficient in its use. Never raise a gun you are unwilling or unable to use.

For more info on firearms see my gun page…

Security camera – some may find this extreme or even paranoid but again it really all depends on where you live. In remote areas a driveway alarm is absolutely essential. The few extra minutes of preparation that these tools can give you could be the difference between deterrence and confrontation.

‘Beware the Dog’ sign – put one up even if you don’t have a dog.

Dog – get one; even a small dog can be a great burglar alarm and make enough noise to discourage a potential intruder.

Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers – bad people aren’t the only thing that can kill you in your sleep.

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A good flashlight or spotlight should be kept in the bedroom in case of an incident at night.

Leave a radio or TV on when you go out.

Don’t flaunt your expensive toys – keep them out of sight when possible.

Keep your garage door closed and locked when not in use. An open garage is an open invitation.

Add your tip to the list!

Personal Protection

The biggest part of personal protection is easy – exercise some common sense - use the brain the good Lord gave you! Keep your head up, keep you eyes moving, be confident and aware of your surroundings, and never ever look like you are lost or out of place. Confidence is strength and strength makes you a much less desirable target.

A cell phone is a must today, period. Make sure each family member has one.

Self Defense classes sound great and in some situations might come in handy, but a few kick boxing lessons will do little to fend off an experienced armed assailant. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not totally downplaying the idea, but such a defense requires you get up close and personal with your attacker- something I prefer to avoid.

Mace (pepper spray), although illegal in some cities, states, and municipalities (as ridiculous as that sounds), can be a great tool for personal defense. Mace is a relatively inexpensive weapon, is easy to conceal, requires little skill to use, has decent range, and can provide you with enough time to escape an attacker without having to face a jury as a result. Every woman should carry Mace, period.

Stun Guns sound good and they do pack a big punch, but they have a few major drawbacks. Aside from the fact that they require a full charge to be effective, their biggest drawback is range. For a stun gun to be effective you must come in direct contact with your assailant – no thanks, I’ll pass.

Knife

Lot’s of folks think a knife is an essential weapon of self defense, while there is some truth to this to problem again is the requirement to make direct contact with your assailant. A small pocket knife can come in handy in lots of situations, but unless you are a real ninja with a combat knife I do not recommend this as your primary weapon of defense.

Handgun – now we’re getting somewhere!

Let me first say that I have a permit for open or concealed carry in my State (concealed is best) – please check your local laws and understand the legal ramifications before deciding to carry a gun.

In my humble opinion, in the hands of a trained, competent shooter, a good quality handgun is the single most effective weapon of self defense. A hand gun can neutralize a threat quickly, negate the size of the offender, improve your odds against multiple offenders, and allow you to maintain a ‘safe’ distance from your assailant. Note: often times an offender will flee at the sight of a gun, however, never pull a gun you are unwilling or unable to fire, never. A firearm is useless, and may even be used against you, if you lack confidence in your ability to use it. If you are going to carry a gun purchase the right gun, take a safety class, and practice practice practice.!

When and if you make the decision to purchase a firearm, I first recommend you take a NRA or State endorsed safety class – even experienced shooters will find some value in attending one. Purchase a gun that is comfortable in your hand, small enough to conceal, with firepower appropriate for your size. “The most effective handgun is the one you will carry.”

Note: purchasing a gun doesn’t suddenly make you Rambo, nor should it ever – it is for self defense not rounding up bad guys!

For more information see my gun page….

Survival kind of stuff

First of all, I am not an end of the world survival kind of guy, but I do think a small amount of preparation can go a long way. In today’s world of civil unrest, rising inflation, increased crime rates, rolling blackouts, and of course the random natural disaster – preparing for a period of ‘interrupted services’ is just basic common sense.

I do not encourage any of you to rush out and spend 2 grand on MREs, I do however think that each of us needs to improve our level of preparedness and have some extra supplies on hand. History tells us that the first thing many disaster survivors want is a warm blanket, a hot cup of coffee, a cool bottle of clean water or an ice cold Coca Cola – use that as your starting point. Note:  Regardless of what a caring and generous person you might be, your primary responsibility is to protect and care for yourself and your family FIRST!

Water.

For every person in your home, you will technically need one gallon of clean water per day. If you live in a hot, arid climate you may need to plan for more, particularly in the summer months. I would suggest a bare minimum of two 24 bottle cases for each member of the household.

Don’t forget water you might need to wash up, or flush the toilet.

Ice is always in high demand in almost all disasters; keeping a couple of bags of ice as well as a few 2 liters of frozen water in your freezer can be a great comfort.

Food.

The average person needs a minimum of 1,200 calories a day to perform regular tasks. Note: focus on storing only those food items that you use on a weekly or monthly basis – items that you can easily rotate to maintain freshness. Example: if you eat 2 cans of fruit cocktail every week, then have 10 cans in storage (you can up the amount as you go) and purchase 2 cans each time you shop – rotate your supply. Note: most canned fruits and veggies have a shelf life of about 2 years while crackers, cereals and pasta typically range from 6-8 months– make a note of each item so not to let anything expire.

Some suggestions include: ready-to-eat canned meats (yuck), fruits, vegetables; protein (such as vegetarian beans or chili), fruit, energy bars; dry cereal, granola, peanut butter, dried fruits, trail mix, nuts (Planters Mixed Nuts are best), crackers and canned juice.

Don’t forget to pack such necessities as: a can opener, utensils, napkins, paper cups, and paper plates.

Comfort foods such as: coffee, tea, soda, honey, hard candies, jellies, etc can make a huge difference – what’s best in your house?

Gee, let me think; oh yeah – toilet paper people!

Smokers better have at least a full carton in reserve – a disaster doesn’t mix well with nicotine withdrawal! Yes it’s better to quit, but let’s be realistic – a power outage might not be the best time to give up the habit.

Keep your cars fueled up. Gas stations need power to operate too, if the electricity is out – you can’t buy gas!

A bottle or 2 of Jack Daniels isn’t a bad idea either.

First aid supplies. It’s very important to stock your first aid kit with enough supplies for every member of your family. Be sure to include: gauze, bandages, scissors, soap, iodine, antibiotic ointment, burn ointment, a thermometer, Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever, rubbing alcohol, peroxide, baking soda – add your own according to preference or situation.

Don’t forget your pets – Rex and Fluffy will need food and water too!

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Cash and change on hand – I recommend a months salary in cash, your needs may vary.

Guns and ammo (lots of ammo) and know how to use them (remember the Korean store keepers during the Rodney king riots?). See my gun page.

A good generator with a minimum of 4000 watts, adequate fuel ( I recommend at least 20 gallons), good quality extension cords, and an electric heater of some kind. Note: always use a fuel stabilizer in any stored fuel.

Bleach, Bath Soap, Dish soap and vinegar.

Flashlights, rechargeable batteries, candles (lots of candles), matches or lighters.

A crank or battery operated radio is an absolute must!

A couple of small lamps with high efficiency bulbs are extremely helpful when using a generator for power.

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