Florida Survival

thanks for showing...

2011-03-30T02:54:00.000-07:00

I want to thank all that showed for the hike. It was great to see old friends and new faces. Our base camp as always was a fun time , thanks for being there. The hike went well. We covered the 12+ miles in just under 5 hours with a 1 hour lunch break on trail. This avg. out to just above a 2.5 mph pace. Not bad for a group as large as we had.
The weather was nice. A bit warm for this year, but if anything it gave some a new outlook on warmer weather backpacking.
I wanna thank the group of base campers and hikers from GA that showed up. Was good to see you all again. Also great job to the females, those that hiked and held down base camp. You all did awesome. Glad to see you all made this your second hike, and were already talking about "next time...".

Hope to see everyone again at the next one.

Survival hike

2011-02-10T03:14:00.000-08:00

Southeast survival forum hike

Ok folks here we go again.

Location-
Central Florida, Ocala national Forest. Florida trail

Dates- Mid March. dates are the 18-20th. hike dates are 19-20th ( sat -sunday)

Distance- total 10-24

Terrain- Sand scrub,pine flats,oak hammocks

Weather- Right Now expect anything from 90f to 30f avg for that time is 50-72f.

about-

The hike will start at juniper springs and continue on the FT. There are several camping areas we will be able to use during the trip, the majority with water sources near by. Base camp is normally at the midway point and manned by a team of folks that know the AO , and are like minded. This also allows for people to stop by and meet/greet others from their AO, or to day hike in or out to the main hiking group as they wish. In other words people can come and go as they want, or camp as they want ( car camp/hike).

Base camp location will be posted once the exact trail plan is laid out.

There is no other requirements. Just make sure you have your gear squared away and are ready to walk! These hikes are very easy, there is no set pace, no speed, nothing crazy. We have a wide variety of folks that attend these gatherings. From teenagers to senior citizens to wives/girl friends.

Here is some FAQ that seems to come up a lot-

Is this an XYZ.com event- No. There is no forum affiliation with this hike. It is a multi- forum hike and always has been. The goal being to get folks to network and push their limits and get beyond single forum tunnel vision.

is there a water source- Yes. Bring a filter or tablets, as on trail its in the form of lakes,rivers,marsh

Where can we park ,is it secured- Yes parking at juniper is secured but will cost a day use fee. This will be posted once i update(it has changed 3 times since last years) but avgs between 5-10$ per car.

Can i bring my kids- yes, but remember we will be walking close to 5-10 miles the 1st day. Be considerate of the other hikers , this is why there is the base camp, and shorter day hike options.

do you know the way-
Yes. I have been hosting survival hikes twice a year in the ONF since 2003, most of the base campers know the AO very well, as do several of the core hikers.If we get lost its because we got sucked into a worm hole or black hole and spit out in la la land.

What kind of gear should i have-
food,water and shelter. A water filter and tablets is a must(if all you have is tablets im sure someone will loan a filter if need be), decent sleep gear, plan on 40f and hotter . Good,broke in shoes,and socks. Food, of your choice. Backpack of your choice.

Are firearms allowed-
This is my take on it and how i will conduct this camp. Follow all state,local and federal laws for the AO that this hike is being done at. No gun play. Again, follow the law. But use commonsense to ensure your safety. Not to sound harsh, but waving around your new desert eagle and being unsafe may lend you to be hiking alone real fast ! I dont tolerate stupidity with firearms at my events. If you want range time there is a range on FR88, your welcome to use it. To be short, KNOW the law,follow it and remember this IS NOT a full battle rattle type of event!

If anyone has any other questions please post them up or contact me via IM/email @ flasurvival@hotmail.com

I will update base camp info and dates once they are set in stone.

Back

2011-01-26T09:56:00.000-08:00

All of our email issues are taken care of. Sorry for the delay in any replies.
Delta

email issues

2010-12-12T10:34:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to tell everyone that we are having issues with hotmail on our end replying to all of the questions we are emailed.

Please visit www.survivalandpreparedness.com

there you will be able to contact both PAW productions staff and flasurvivals staff.

Sorry for the delay. We will try and answer all emails asap.

Delta69

Come check us out....

2010-09-23T04:54:00.000-07:00

Head on over to www.survivalandpreparedness.com for a visit.
There you will find a no nonsense, laid back forum dedicated to survival and preparedness. Hosted/owned by RH of survival report blog you will find movies from him and many other prep minded folks from across the US made specificaly for S and P.com.
Make sure you join up for a chance to win monthly prizes in the "best thread" contest and recive great discounts on products offered by the sites sponsors.
Folks this is a forum run by survivalist for survivalist!!!
See yall there-
delta69alpha-PAW productions.

Hurricanes- getting ready pt2

2010-06-08T03:15:00.000-07:00

So far we have hit on the very basics a plan,water and food. There is much more to getting ready for a hurricane, even if you are leaving town.

Shelter.
I always say that there is 3 core basic items you need to stay alive no matter what. Food,water and shelter. You can only live 3 days with out water,3 weeks with out food and 3 hours exposed to the elements. During a hurricane you may run into all 3 of those. Shelter is basically what clothing you have on you or plan to wear during/after the storm, and of course your home . If you chose to leave your home a secondary shelter is a must. At minimum a cheap blue tarp!

Speaking of blue tarps.
If you decide to stay the storm through, it would be wise to not only have a secondary shelter in hand- aka a tent. But also a few large poly tarps. These will help protect not only your home but also yourself if they need to be improvised as a shelter. They have a hundred different uses. Outdoor cooking area? sheltered the from the sun/rain. If your using your tent you can help protect the tent with the tarp. Worse case you use the tarp to cover damaged areas in your home or cover furniture and valuables.

If you decide to leave, make sure you have your shelter means covered. While you may plan on staying at the La Quinta Inn off I-95 2 states away, you never know what will happen. It is better to have it with you than to not have it. Make sure you pack your clothing wisely. Not only for space reasons, but also for the changes in climate. You may take that 13 hour ride to the mountains,only to find those flip flops, cargo shorts and button up cotton shirt are not enough for the cool nights and early AM's. Think of it as a "camping" trip or mini vacation. Pack like you would for that. Making the right shelter choices will keep your "vacation" from turning into a wet,damp,cold nightmare that no one in your family or group of friends will forget!

Basic preperations to make.
While we have already gone over some very basic subjects on being ready for a hurricane there is so much more to keep track of and do.
With your plan you should have a check list. A hurricane checklist can be had from most stores/news papers in the southeast now that hurricane season is upon us. They will range from tracking maps with helpful hints to full blown supply check list.
Once you have your plan made up, sit down and make a list of all the items that you will need for those 3-14 days. If you are new to all of this and are buying these items for the first time. It will be helpful and keep you from forgetting what you need. In other words, you get side tracked by the 20 function am/fm weather band super radio and forget your 5 gallons of bottled water! Hey it happens...shiny stuff attracts us right !
A good basic list to start with is the one below-( remember tailor everything to your needs- this list is not complete and only an example of what one may look like)

__ Plan
__ Contact list and contact info and emergency contact numbers ( ems/local police,fire rescue)
__ important documents
__ water- 1 gallon per person per day.
__ food- 3 days
__ shelter
__ cooking source
__ fuel for cooking
__ light source
__ backup light source
__ radio
__ entertainment
__ tools
__ spare batteries for all electronics
__ spare gas for car
__ first aid kit

Again this is an example list. To show how you can make your own.
There are items on this list that we have not talked about yet.Most I feel are commonsense, but during a stressful event may be forgotten. Like grabbing the flash light but no spare batteries! It happens.

Important documents. This is an item that if you leave your home you will have to take with you. I would recommend all paper work be in a water proof bag and at the minimum be in double bagged zip locks. Make sure that it is kept in a safe spot during your travels! If you decide to stay , make sure you protect them as well. A cheap water proof/fireproof safe will do. I still recommend that the paper work be zip locked at least.

First aid kit. No matter what choice you make,if your staying or leaving. You should have a good first aid kit on hand. These can be purchased through stores or self made from self bought components. My advice, have someone in your family or your complete family take a basic CPR/FA course from local fire rescue or the Red cross. Training is key on first aid and even a basic course may be useful if someone gets injured.
Even your own home or car can hurt you. Hurricanes and damage they cause can be dangerous and lethal. So keep a watchful eye out for safety issues. Make sure your loved ones do as well. An example of what your basic first aid kit should have is ( this is not a complete list, please build/purchase a kit suited to your needs. This is not a complete list)

first aid guide
emergency phone numbers- ems.rescue,fire,leo
Assorted bandages- band aides, 2x2's, 4x4's
medical water proof tape
ACE wrap
4 yards of rolled or compressed gauze
triangle bandage
safety pins
medical shears
tweezers
4-6 sets of sterile exam gloves( check for latex allergies)
tongue depressors( useful as finger/toe splints)
assorted medications- pain meds,antihistamines, eye wash,electrolyte mixes,triple antibiotic
iodine/90% rubbing alcohol/peroxide one of the 3 at least.

Again this is just a basic list of items. Most kits you can buy from the store contain these and more.Kits you make yourself can be endless to what they contain and should be tailored to your skill level. Make sure you have a kit big enough for the time you have planed for ( 3 days,20 days) and the amount of people in your group.

stay tuned part 3

Hurricanes- getting ready . pt.1

2010-06-07T04:02:00.000-07:00

Being in the southeast means that we have a few little problems with mother nature from time to time. Hurricanes being a yearly event for most of us that live in that area of our country. Since there is ALWAYS plenty of warning there really is no excuse for a full time resident or a seasonal one to not be ready.To help those that have never been through a hurricane or for those wanting to finally be prepared for one I will go through some common issues,preps and ways to plan for one. that have worked for me over the years.

Plan.
This is the 1st thing you will need to get laid out. Having one made before your area gets a warning activated or a hurricane watch in place will save you time and frustration.Your plan will not be the same as mine. They should always be tailored to your needs. So the warnings are flashed across the TV and radio. What do you do.
I would advise sitting down with your loved ones/family, roommate etc. and decide what course of action should you take if a hurricane is heading your way. Should you stay or should you go? This is the most important one, as it may save your life.
While Cat. 1 hurricanes are not as strong as a Cat. 5, they will produce tornadoes,flooding, and power outages. Let alone the housing damages,road closures and damage to local infrastructure.You may be ordered by local authorities to evacuate as well. So you need a plan in place that involves vacating your home.

To be honest, the best plan is to vacate your area prior to the hurricanes landfall. Part of this plan is to make sure that you have "time" off from work to leave town. This may not be practical for everyone,considering today's economical climate, but try to have at least 2 days worth if you can. If not make sure you have a safe place for your family to go to.

Where are we going to go? Well that is up to you. I advise that you head north. That sounds funny, but the state of Florida is not that wide. We have all seen the sat images of our state completely engulfed in a hurricanes bands. I live near the coast and have family that lives up to 60 miles inland.They have experienced all of the same problems that those on the coast have. If you chose a location, do so ahead of time. Trying to get a hotel room when the hurricane is 100 miles off shore is going to be like finding a needle in a hay stack. You may not find an open hotel room outside of a 6 hour drive! During hurricane charlie i had friends that did not find a hotel room till they were on the west side of Atlanta!! That is over 7 hours away and took them 12 hours to get there!! This is why you need those few extra days off from work and a plan already in place.

Make sure you have your plan written down and your family knows about it. Make sure you have a list of contact's, and their contact information. Make sure a few friends or family know where and what your plans are. This way your mom in Idaho isn't sitting in front of the TV watching the news to find out why you haven't called in 5 days and pulling her hair out!

Be ready to adapt. These storms change direction and cause other issues like tornadoes ,flooding and traffic jams.Make sure you stay updated and ready to change your plan if need be to stay safe. This plan B,should be pre planned and in your main plan. Going seat of the pants ,will cause some issues if you've already passed the plan onto loved ones or friends. If you decide to stay and shelter in place there are some things you need to do.

Getting ready.
Getting ready for a hurricane is no different than any other preperations. You have a plan, your preps, and then you use them. You will want some basic supplies on hand. Again what works for me may not you.
Water. So far i have yet to see an interruption of water services during any of the hurricanes I have been through. This doesn't mean NOT to have a means of water on hand. Water is key to our survival. We can only live three days with out it. The general rule is 1 gallon per person per day. I aim for the 2 gallons of water per person per day. You have to remember that you have to bath,wash,clean dishes,etc as well. If your going to be doing a lot of outdoor work i suggest sticking with the 2-3 gallon a day per person mark.

Some may be asking how to store this water supply. The easiest is 1-2 gallon jugs from the supermarket. Now I'm sure there is some seasoned folks out there wondering why i said that. Well this blog entry isn't for guys like me or you. There is no reason to have to run out and buy 4 ,55 gallon water barrels to make if through a 3 day storm. I would suggest to get a 5-6 gallon "water can"/jerry can of sorts. This makes storing water easier than the 1-2 gallon jugs. Bottled water in flats( 24 to a case) also work well for the grab and go drinking you may be doing. Don't skimp on the water. If your becoming prepared for more than a hurricane then i would suggest a barrel and a main way to filter/treat your water along with redundant means of doing so. Personally I rely on portable backpacking filters,water treatment chemicals,and RO filters.I store my water in several 6 gallon "water cans" and 2 ,15 gallon water barrels.

Food. Yummy ,yummy in my tummy.
Food that is easy to prepare and doesn't require much power or fuel is best.For the most part a well stocked pantry will be enough food for those 2-3 days when the power may be out.But, you need to plan for longer outages. On avg. down here you will be with out power for 3 days, but plan for 14+. How does this affect your food plans? Ever try cooking soup on a stove with no power or gas? The easiest way to cure this issue is to purchase a propane stove/burner. They are easy to use,fuel is always in stock at stores( pre event)and can be very cheap to purchase. There are other methods and means but this options gives you a semi portable way of cooking and even boiling water if need be that is easy to use for the 1st time "outdoor" chef!

Foods that are best to have are shelf stable items. These can range from the numerous can goods in the local super mart, dry goods( rice/pastas for example) or MRE style meals.By far the can goods for the local store will be the cheapest and offer a good shelf life. Something that will help if you are building a "hurricane" specific kit or box. These food items can be stored till next season if they are not used. Remember two things with can goods.
A good can opener and to rotate the can goods into your pantry as the best by/exp. dates near their end.

One thing to do as well is to make sure you eat your food in the freezer /refrigerator 1st . I say this because , well , because i am cheap. I dont want my steaks,fresh veggies or what have you going to waste becuase of no power. Plus to be honest. When the power is out and you can make a nice grilled chicken breast, with grilled veggies with garlic toast in foil on your little propane grill. Then your better half and you may finally get that few minutes of " wow....we made it...." and relax before dealing with the next days powerless adventures!

No matter what fuel/cooking method you use, make sure you have your food preps in place well before the storm arrives. Like your plan, you should have all of what you need ,well before the storm makes landfall. From what I have witnessed over the years is, that once a landfall area is announced you may have 24 hours to find what you need. After that your fighting the masses for supplies. Tempers flare over bare shelfs, guards are let down because of fatigue and stress .There is no need to put your safety in jeopardy in order to get a flat of noodles in a cup or that last can of chili! Have the food items in place as well as your plan when hurricane season starts.

stay tuned for part 2

delta.

Hike AAR

2010-04-17T04:57:00.001-07:00

Well i want to thank all that showed up to the hike and those that helped with the base camp. I'd like to say that it went perfect. But nothing ever does right? Over all it was a great trip, the down fall was Sundays weather. We had a wide mix of people show up from young adults,women, and old timers! Everyone did awesome and did a great job. I am 100% sure everyone walked away with a better outlook on their gear and their physical abilities.
Those that missed the camp out,hike or day hike really did miss an excellent opportunity to network and test their gear. Hope to see many new faces at the next event!

Delta

Central Florida Camp out

2010-01-22T09:42:00.000-08:00

Well, well,well.....

It is that time again fellas. I have decided to change things up a bit. No we arent gonna plan on a 150f in the summer hike this year.
We are however gonna do one during a time when the weather is all nice a perfect for those who are climate control challenged.

Here is the gory details and then some....

Dates- March 20-21st

Location-
Florida trail, Ocala north section , Ocala national forest,Florida. Start point Juniper springs 9am .

Distance- total distance will equal to about 20 miles over a two day period.

support- as always we will have some sort of "base" camp for those wanting to camp with the creature comforts and to be our safety net.This normally is on a half way point or our end point for sat nights camp. The base camp will be located in an area that allows people to just show up Sat. mid day and mingle with other base campers or hikers as they come off the trail. As well as let those not wanting to hike to just camp and network. Folks may also set up at base camp and hike towards the main hiking group,making for a short 2-4 mile day hike vs the 8-10 miles.There is a rather large number of "preparedness" types in central florida, This would be a great time to network with those who are active in this area.

Now about the hike for those that have never been or want more info.

I have been hosting and co-hosting hikes on and off the web in the ONF since early 2003. Over the years we have grown from 2-5 core hikers to over 20 at one point. We have a well established base camp/support structure in place to keep track of us,pick up those wanting to day hike and or to ferry us all back at trips end and worse case rescue us from zombies.
There is no requirements for these hikes. You dont need fancy gear, you dont need to go the whole distance. day hikers are welcome as always.

Our goal for this hike is a little different than our previous ones. Normally we would aim for only going 5-6 miles the 1st day, 3 the next to be ferried back to the springs.
To be honest,while that is a nice walk it hinders the majority while catering to the minority. Our goal is to reach a pre assigned point, hook up with base camp, stay the night and hike back to our starting point on Sunday.To do this we will need to walk at the minimum 8 miles the 1st day. The positive of this is our position to a trail head. This will allow day hikers that only wish to walk a few hundred yards to meet/greet and network the chance to do so with the hikers and the base camp. This will also allow those not willing to hike the chance to camp out with everyone as well. There is a well known educational loop trail near by that connects to the FT close to where base camp will be for those wanting to shake down gear on their own or to just kill time until hikers arrive.

This will be a skill based hike. Meaning you will be on your own for the most part, or with others that can hold your pace or vice versa. Those that have backpacked know we all have a different pace. In hikes past this has caused issues. So to curb that.
People will all be given a map of the trail. I do however feel that you should have your own anyway ( you know being prepared and all) directions on where base camp should be, the chosen radio freqs for this event ( we will have both a HAM and frs/grms radio net up). This will let those with faster paces or lighter packs to continue without feeling bogged down by "slower" hikers. This will also let the non runners the chance to learn their pace,walk at their own speed and in general not feel pushed to "go so fast" . So as i said, it will be up to you to get to the base camp.This means if you haven't hiked before or walked farther than a mile you need to start preparing for it, but working out,pre testing your gear etc.
Of course as always we take safety precautions and will have runners, the radio net up, and more than likely there will be others that know the area mixed in with each pace group to help guide the way.

The terrain/trail. The above makes it sound harsh. But in reality it is not. This section of trail is the most maintained and used. Due to its closeness to trail heads, spurr trails and natural springs. Water sources are everywhere, and with the weather during that time of year. Dehydration issues should be a NON issue if folks are staying hydrated. expect typical Florida sand scrub habitat, the ever so dreaded sugar sand we cry about, wide open clear cuts/burn outs, deep lush oak hammocks and open pine flats. This is a nice hike for experienced hikers as well as new folks wanting to network or shake down their kits.

To make it easier and help me plan with the support side of this event. Please email me at flasurvival@hotmail.com any questions you may have.

further details will be posted as time goes on. Start prepping now if you plan to make this your 1st BOB shake down.This is the trip to do it while netwokring some of the most active people in the south east.

NOTE-

day hikers/base campers.
Please email me to confirm( head count reasons) if you are going to show.
Due to the closeness of the base camp to a trail head ,the general location of the base camp/actual trail head will only be emailed to those that confirm with me via email!
If you do not email me i will not be able to give you the information you will need to locate camp.
While some may take offense to this it is for the security of the base camp and our privacy- we are all survivalist and should all recognize the need for this step!!

Got the Chills

2010-01-06T04:47:00.000-08:00

Well the coldest day in central Florida is upon us according to the local media. Gasp, we may hit the mid twenties and even snow flurries!So i figured it would be a good time to go over some cold weather tips that are relevant to our AO.
Right now would be a good time to put any gear and yourself to the test. Even if it is in a controlled environment , like your back yard. This way you are near the "warmth" and safety of home before running out to the woods to freeze to death!

Florida is not known for it's cold weather. However we do see temps well into the 20 and 30F range yearly. As of later for over a week now.This leads to a notion that it is "never" cold here by some. Since we are a state is plagued by the constant influx of "northern" folks, they seem to always be the ones who have the most issues adjusting to our ever changing climate.

Cold weather clothing.

Wet is dead. Some say cotton, I like to keep it simple. Wet is dead. Always remember this when setting up your gear( BOB,line 2 ,GHB or home kit) and your clothing choices for outdoor activities. Your 1st line of defense against the cold is the base layer. This is the wicking layer that you wear closest to your skin. In my opinion if your being active outdoors ( hunting,camping,backpacking etc) you should go with a silk weight synthetic or actual silk base layer. These can be purchased everywhere, even places like target,walmart and online.
Your next layer is your insulating layer. This layer will change per the weather. You dont want to wear a 300+ wt fleece if its only 55f out and your going trail running! Again wet is dead. You want to have either a synthetic,down or poly/fleece layer here.Last is your outer shell. This can be made of gore tex,nylon, or similar brand fabrics. This is the layer that keeps the wind,rain and snow off of you. The whole set up should look like this when set up as an example.
base layer - silk weight pants and LS shirt
insulating layer- 200/300 fleece jacket
outer shell- gore tex jacket
You can opt out now days and buy a complete 3-4 way system already made from most outdoor clothing vendors or military surplus.
Layering is key to this whole system. What is it I have said already? Wet is dead. As your activity level raises you will then peel away layers to maintain a level that keeps perspiration to a minimum.

Camping when it is cold

Besides building a fire that can heat Uranus, you can do quite a few things to stay warm once you settle in for the night when it is cold. First off, again do not underestimate mother nature. A night with temps into the 60's may very well be your coldest night if you haven't prepared for it. To have a nice "warm" nights rest you should have the following gear.
sleeping bag- This bag should be rated to at least the avg winter temp of your AO. For Florida a 20f to 30 f bag should work. I personally would lean more towards the 20f bag. The reason behind this is that a bags rating is the max comfort rating for that bag over a 4-6 hour time period while in a tent on a ground pad. That is how they obtain their "comfort" rating. My comfort is different than your comfort. Which is why i recommend going lower in the rating and to be quite honest manufacturers tend to rate lower than what their bag can handle.In other words that 30 f may only be a 40f! The bag can be of any design and weight, but chose one that fits you (yes some are sized to the user) and your outdoor applications best. I wouldn't suggest a 9 lb two person -20f bag to fit on your Bug Out Bag if you get the drift.

Ground pad/sleep pad- This is a must no matter where you will be camping. The ground will suck the warmth right out of you. This pad can be of closed cell. Which will be the cheapest and lightest or an air pad/self inflating pad. Now that i am not 18 anymore i like the thermarest brand of self inflating pads. They are well made, light weight and are pretty darn comfortable when compared to a closed cell. Both work well, but have one,either one. If not you'll freeze.

Large inflatable mattresses- You all know these ones. The king sized use an air pump to blow them up types. These will not insulate you from the ground. The cold air and ground temps will radiate up into the mattress and right into you. I suggest you use a foam pad between you and the mattress or some sort of thermal barrier under the mattress and the ground.

clothing- See it comes up again. Wet is Dead.
Before you crawl into your -65f bag to battle the 30f temps. Make sure you put on dry clothing. This doesn't have to be 2 layers of sweat pants and shorts. In reality a dry silk weight base layer,dry socks and a watch cap will help you stay alot warmer than putting on 20 layers then laying down to sleep. Doing so only traps in your body heat and doesn't allow it transfer to the bag. The bag itself is a layer of clothing. It is your "insulating" layer when you compare it to you clothing system we spoke of earlier. Make sure you change into dry clothes!

Outer shell- Yes,even your sleep system should have one. This pertains more to those camping outdoors,in small bivy tents or under a tarp. You will want a barrier between you and the elements. Just like your clothing layers this layer should keep rain,wind etc . off you and your insulating layer. These can be simple bivys made of treated nylons and similar fabrics to fully water proof gore tex ones.Make sure it is breathable either way. Trapping in moisture between this layer and your bag means a wet bag and a cold camper!

Liners/systems- some folks like to add second bags,liners or use a 3-4 part sleep system to match the season. This is a good way to match any type of weather year round. The only downfalls i see is the weight factor when using such systems for backpacking or a bug out bag. But you can tailor these systems. For example. My "cold" weather set up is. Zero F rated slumberjack bag,50+f ultra light bag and h20 proof bivy bag. In spring/early summer i run the 50f rated UL bag, the bivy. In summer i run a poncho liner and 1.5 oz ripstop nylon "blanket". The one item that doesn't change is my ground pad! Just like your clothing it is all in layers that you can shed if need be per the season.

So layer up, get out there and test yourself and your gear. Some of the best camping and outdoor activities our state has to offer can be had over the next few months. You know before its 100F out and the bugs carry you away!

2009-11-16T12:19:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone received an email from SH, pointing out a survival forum dedicated to the state of Georgia. Here it is, enjoy!!

http://www.gasurvivalforum.com/

If you have any links or web sites dedicated to survivalism in the south east please send the up to us at
flasurvival@hotmail.com

D69A

Meeting other's that DO walk the walk

2009-11-10T04:56:00.000-08:00

Hello viewers-

Just a heads up to stay tuned for some Florida area meets/get togethers that are in the works for the upcoming few months.

Hope to meet some of you soon.

( The above pictures and many more you will see here are all from Central Florida survival hikes,camp outs and greets! Dont miss out!!!

D69A

flasurvival@hotmail.com )

2009-11-09T03:26:00.001-08:00

Hey where have you all been? No part 2 to your dehydrating film? or new blog post? What gives...?

Ted from Nc.

****
****

Hello Ted, were still here and kicking!

Sorry for the delay on postings/replies and loading films.
Recently I had to leave town for 10 days for work and personal issues.

We should have regular postings and films up shortly.
Thanks for the email Ted!

D69A

Retreat arrangements

2009-11-09T03:16:00.000-08:00

*** From RH ,thank you RH for this entry ***

Retreat arrangements

OK, so you don't have 40 acres on a mountain in Idaho, or 20 acres in the swamps of southern Georgia, you live in the suburbs and your convinced that you must stay there. What to do?First and foremost I'd be amiss if I didn't call "bravo sierra" on the fact that you "have" to stay in the suburbs. In case you didn't get the memo, "bravo sierra" stands for BS.

I'm convinced that ANYONE serious enough can make it out of the suburbs/city and move to the country, usually within 6 months IF motivated enough. Some want it bad enough, most don't however. So let's consider some Retreat Arrangements other than living full time at your retreat. First off, let's consider the absentee owner route. This is where you own a retreat property in a safe area as well as maintaining a "normal" residence in suburbia. The high costs involved with keeping up essentially two households usually becomes overwhelming for the average survivalist. Even a modest cabin with 2 acres can set one back $10-20,000. in some areas of the country now a days. We won't even consider the costs of property taxes, mowing, general upkeep, etc. Another disadvantage is the fact that it's highly likely that a lone unoccupied residence will be broken into, sometimes repeatedly. We have some neighbors in our area that purchased a house here but remained in another state. The house was repeatedly broken into. So much so the wife would come up unexpectedly, hide her vehicle and sit in the house with a rifle and the lights off! She was determined to catch whoever was breaking in. For them the theft of items was a nuisance. If you are depending on having key items in place and you arrive at your retreat to find them gone, it may cause you slightly more discomfort. Especially if you only become aware of the loss when the items are truly needed.

With absentee ownership there is also the real possiblity that you will arrive to find your retreat already occupied. Serious thought, planning and preparation should be given to how you would have to re-take it. Some would argue that you could hire a "caretaker" to live on the property and watch over it while you are away. I would argue that there is a 90% chance that your "caretaker" will not take too kindly to being booted out when the time comes for you to occupy the retreat. The mere implications of bringing the proverbial "wrong person" with him to your property could wreck your security for years to come. Probably the biggest factor against this sort of retreat arrangement would be the experience factor. Living at your retreat full time teaches you an immense amount of information that you will not get with monthly or even every weekend trips.

When we left Florida in November of 1999 I honestly felt pretty confident in my ability to raise food. I had raised rabbits and chickens in my backyard in suburbia, had a small garden, etc. I had read, studied and consumed hundreds of books on growing food, raising animals, ponds and orchards. In retrospect, I didn't have a clue!!!I realize now that I was waaaaay behind the learning curve for most subjects dealing with true long term survival. Sure I had plenty of food storage, which could have given me a lot of time to learn, however I likely would not have had specific items I needed, time to develop soil, or even just the correct varieties of fruit trees that would produce in my area. I really do pity the folks that think homesteading will be a "piece of cake." I would highly suggest that if you do not have credible, real life, year to year experience growing 50% or more of what you currently eat yourself, that you absolutely forget the notion of a 1 year supply and work towards a 2 year and preferably a 3 year supply. Having this much food storage will be a "cushion" to allow you time to develop the skills to raise your own food.

The only way I would advise the "absentee" ownership move would be if you have a short time frame- less than a year- until you can and will actually move to your retreat. At the very least your going to have to start thinking outside the box, using a lot of psy-ops techniques and do a good amount of midnight gardening in you choose absentee ownership. One other possible retreat arrangement would be the group retreat. I've spent a lot of time and bandwidth in previous blogs going over how and why this type of thing usually does not work. Suffice to say in my encounters with literally thousands of survivalists over the last 20 years, I've seen a total of 1 of these types of arrangements that worked. The reason it worked? The group was already a "group" before it purchased the land. Common bonds were formed decades before, it was essentially one big family. Meeting JoeBob and Cleetus on the net and making this work with them is pretty much an impossiblity. Getting financially knit together with people you do not know well is never a good idea.

Other arrangements-

Occassionaly in corresponding with and consulting with like minded folks I met survivalists that have already made the move out of the cities. It's not uncommon for them to realize the need for a group of people to depend on- a retreat group or survival group- to up there own chances of survival. It doesn't take much time to figure out that a lone family will not have the manpower to post a 24/7 security, let alone all the skill sets necessary for long term survival.
Many times I had advocated to these rural survivalists that they network and develop a retreat group for the purpose of having extra folks for help and security at their retreat when the time comes. If done correctly, this sort of arrangment can be beneficial to both parties. The city bound survivalist now has a bug out location or run to spot where he can escape to in time of trouble. The country bound survivalist now has extra help around for security, food production efforts, etc. Of all the "group" retreat arrangements I've seen, this type is the one that usually works best and makes it long term.

There are some serious disadvantages to this. First and foremost the country survivalist must be VERY careful in selection of prospects. You are potentially going to be living around- if not directly with- these people for a long period of time. If you can't stand to be around Jimmy for a weekend, guess what, he's going to be impossible to be around for an extended period of time. Herein lies the problem- most people will "fake it" during the first initial meetings. Children will be warned to be on there best behavior. What happens when you committ to them and then find out there is serious family issues? To me, time is the only factor that's going to allow these things to be seen. You may see some warning signals during the first initial meetings. It would be wise to use caution and take your time if and when these signals arise. Be ready to communicate effectively.
I've advocated for years a list of requirements for a group. This doesn't have to have specific information that isn't pertinent or could cause OPSEC problems. A general guideline of "what's expected" should be the general theme. This will likely have to be revised from time to time. If you just talk about these things someone can always claim "I don't remember talking about that." If you have it in written form AND discuss it, there should be none of that. Well at the very least, you can always refer them to the list of guidelines.

Just what sort of things should you lay out?*What's required for group participation- This should include all time requirements (i.e, we meet one weekend ever other month) as well as all monetary requirements (i.e, each group member is required to pay $50.00 per person per year to help cover the costs of materials for training events). Gear and supply requirements should also be laid out succintly (i.e, by the end of the first year with the group a member should have X amount of food, 2,000 rounds of ammuntion and Requirements A through C on the gear list completed). * Unacceptable behavior amongst the group- here's where I'll probably lose most people. Some will say that this is being dictatorial, that you "can't legislate ethics", etc. Both statements are true to an extent. Let me be blunt and painfully honest- some folks just don't know how to act now a days.
Experience with most people now a days clearly is in line with how the apostle Paul described how people would be in the end times. To surmise; selfish, worldly POS's (my description, not Paul's). To think that anyone is better than this without firsthand long term experience with them is simply naive. There was a reason the Lord Himself taught the "golden rule." Basically if you can't stand to be around anyone that spits, then you aren't going to make it in a group of folks that chew. If you can't stand lieing, then you aren't going to make it around a group of liberals :)Again, the reasoning behind laying out what is and isn't acceptable in this realm is the fact that you may very well be living with, near or amongst these people for an extended period of time if TS ever does HTF. Are blowups gonna happen? Yes of course. Are people going to get irritable and upset with one another? Yes of course. It's how this is handled during and after the fact that needs to be addressed. The last thing you want is someone harboring resentment against you for a long period of time for eating the last twinkie in the box. Be slow to speak, quick to listen and ready to forgive. When you are forgiven, be ready to do the same next time.

Really a group situation is no different than any family organization. Like most families, sometimes things "come to a head." Above all it needs to be brought up, dwelt with and forgiveness given. Sweeping it under the rug, accepting bad behavior or just ignoring it is NEVER the answer and will send a wrong signal to the perpetrator. Hope this helps.

RH

**Thank you RH for that email!!**

*** please send all blog entries to
flasurvival@hotmail.com
So we may be able to post them for you.

D69A
******

BOL where?

2009-10-29T09:29:00.000-07:00

"Enjoy the site, thanks. I was wondering what part of the sunshine state did you feel would be the best place to established a bug out location at or to bug out to." Jack

Hello Jack, Thanks for the question. Florida has a lot going for it now as far as a place to live. However it has a lot going AGAINST it when you consider a TSHTF type situation. High population density, dozens upon dozens of nuclear targets, very little agricultural base, a largely urban and system dependent population, all of these are just a few of the things going against Florida as a retreat location. That being said, the only areas I personally would consider would near- didn't say IN- the Ocala National Forest in the center of the state and the north central section of the state far enough away from Tallahassee and far enough away from Jacksonville, PREFERABLY above Interstate 10. If I-10 was shut down, closed, blocked, etc. no one could leave the state by vehicle or foot. Something to consider in Florida. That's the short, sweet, simple answer :)

Thanks for posting. RH-

As always send your questions and entries to
flasurvival@hotmail.com
and we'll asnwer/post them for you!
Bob-

Some sites

2009-10-28T04:47:00.000-07:00

***
sent by Astro67

as always please send your blog entries to
flasurvival@hotmail.com
for us to post for you- D69A-
***

hey fellas, found some sites that i think will help others.

www.ar15.com- survival/general outdoors forum
www.frugalsquirrels.com
http://thesurvivalpodcast.com/forum/index.php
www.vikingpreparedness.com
http://www.equipped.org/

Hope these help someone out. They seem to be the most active. I see frugs/arf always having networking camp outs,meets and range days. Hope to meet yall one day.
Astro

****
Thank you Astro for the links!!!

of course you forgot
www.flasurvival.com
LOL

Thank you again .
D69A

****

2009-10-26T16:32:00.000-07:00

Proceed with caution!

People get excited about meeting others of like mind but the caution is always there that you want to meet the RIGHT people to network with. Their is always a danger in meeting the WRONG PEOPLE also.
We received this email just a few days ago from a friend on a small forum

"Dave and Bob- I saw you both a while back at the FLORIDA FORUM NAME DELETED campout. I concerned about the people we meet their. Some are not far from me and with what I witnessed at the campout, I wish I lived in "Idaho" also. That old thread were the owner of that forum said he was going to take over peoples compounds or farms during a disaster really made me think. Now seeing how he acted in person and after the campout, I'm not sure I should be on that board. I might be paranoid but I think Fred is gathering infomation so he can steal supplies from people during a disaster."

Name withheld.

Well honestly, it's been a concern of more than a few folks. Any time someone posts their INTENTIONS of stealing supplies from others if TSHTF they are someone to watch and guard yourself around. That being said, I was there and saw that person, they don't stand much of a chance of pulling off what he previously wrote-

Posted by "Fred" the owner and admin of http://www.flsurvival.com/index.php?board=1.0

in this thread -

http://www.flsurvival.com/index.php?topic=844.30

"Fellas, I am an amateur at this! That's why I'm here, is to learn and network for resources in those other areas to "Make It" when the SHTF!EMP's, not prepared yet for that, working on it! Communications, Vehicle's etc. still working on it.Sustainable long term food? Nope, not to that degree yet! Gardens going, nope, not that either!Showing up in a desolate "Eden" with a caravan of folks with arms and supplies: This is still being worked out, but yes, going to show up and put my hands up, walk over and talk to those folks held up in arms. Tell them who/what we are and have to offer, try to make a plan of banding together. At that point they can't just turn down an opportunity to join forces as things are getting rough out there. I'll try everything possible to barter my way in. If that don't work, I fall back and the group makes a plan on the circumstance to over take it or move on.
Let's put this into a real scenario; 4-6 days after the SHTF, people won't be that organized, and that's the time to make those travel plans if needed. Less of desperation, organized gangs from lawlessness, etc. etc.People are survivalist, no matter what type of situations you put them in, sit back and reflect around the world and think about some of our history in a real perspective for a second. People have overcome and survived through some real crap!I don't have all the answers for what we will and will not encounter on the road, or what if situations to a multiple amount of things that can go wrong. Not a pro survivalist, psychic or anything else that would give me a sense of security in what is coming."

You can see why the person in the email showed concern. People who state that they are going to come to an established retreat and "negotiate" their entrance in, if that doesn't work they will "take it" you would be foolish not to show some concern around people of that character. I attended the campout the email mentions, I met Fred and although I'm not at al concerned that a guy like that could actually pull that plan off, it further reveals his character.
When you couple that with the manipulation techniques that were clearly being used both at the gathering and on his little site, well it serves as a warning to others. Furthermore, a close examination shows that Fred himself never seems that interested in the threads relating to food storage, long term survival skills, etc.
A real survivalist or "prepper" who IS preparing wants to know about things like that. Someone who's plan is to "take it" from others sees little need in storing food, etc. ahead of time. Certainly just meeting the fellow and watching him for the weekend as well as reading numerous posts of his, shows that he is ALWAYS looking for the easy way out.

In this case, he has already stated his easy way out, it is-

"Showing up in a desolate "Eden" with a caravan of folks with arms and supplies: This is still being worked out, but yes, going to show up and put my hands up, walk over and talk to those folks held up in arms. Tell them who/what we are and have to offer, try to make a plan of banding together. At that point they can't just turn down an opportunity to join forces as things are getting rough out there. I'll try everything possible to barter my way in. If that don't work, I fall back and the group makes a plan on the circumstance to over take it or move on."

and also

"Upon arrival at the new land frontier, the land will be taken, claimed, negotiated into joining or bartered with the occupants. The caravan should be at least twice the size it was when it left South FL by that point, and most will be turned into a security force."

Anyone who IS actually preparing would be smart to steer clear of these types of folks. Certainly on REAL survival forums like Frugal Squirrels, AR15.com and others, people who talk like this are chastised quickly and people avoid them like the plague.
So yes, their is a REAL DANGER in meeting the "wrong people." When you see someone surrounding themselves only with people they can CONTROL, then utilizing clear MANIPULATION techniques on their little site, then STATING OPENLY that they plan to "take it" from others instead of actually PREPARING on their own, well Sherlock Holmes would call that "a clue!"

But don't get disheartened. This small group of people, which was really just Fred and his family represent a VERY SMALL MINORITY in the survival community. Certainly most of the other attendees of the meet were decent folks. The nice thing about meeting others is that it cuts through the hype. They might act or seem 6 foot 4 and 200 lbs. super survivalist on the internet but when you meet them and their family is screaming and cussing at each other all weekend, their kids are out of control and act dangerously and what they SAY doesn't match up with what they DO, well you get the REAL PICTURE then. I personally have no interest in hanging around folks into the drug culture either.

Liberals and new agers like them always cry 'tolerance' but they themselves show little tolerance for folks that don't want to surround themselves with drugs. Don't feel bad about your decision to come to that get together. I knew better myself but went anyways. :( Thankfully about a month ago I made the decision that my family would NOT attend with me. Some campouts, like the ones from Frugal Squirrels forums ARE TRUE family friendly campouts. My decision to not bring my family to the drugfest campout was based on seeing so many drug references on that small forum- Flsurvival/a survivalist community forum.

Honestly I think the bigger danger is not that Fred will come and "take" what he wants from people he knows, the bigger danger is with his manipulation skills. He's the kind of guy that if not "put in check" early on would become such a leech to you that eventually you would have to fight him to get him gone. You always have to wonder about folks that SAY they want to "build a community" but have NOTHING to bring to the "community." Especially when their ACTIONS clearly are NOT about community building but are ALL ABOUT control and manipulating people.

It's not hard to connect the dots- 1. He has shown little actual want to prepare. 2. Yet he has shown a want to "network" with others. 3. He has clearly shown his manipulation techniques. 4. He surrounds himself with people he can control. 5. He has sought information on those that are preparing. 6. He has set that forum up so he has total control over what goes on. I don't have a cookbook for it, but that definitely appears to be the recipe for a LOOTER.

On that same little forum, we were bashed for talking about OPSEC- i.e, not giving out too much info on yourself, where you live, etc. NOW people realize why keeping quiet about yourself, where you live and what you have is important. Be careful out there! Some folks that claim to be survivalists are little more than drug abusers looking to "take it" (supplies) from real preppers and survivalists if something happens.

RH

2009-10-22T15:00:00.000-07:00

One question that was asked was how to go about FINDING a survival group. This one is always a tough question. I've always considered the best route to be forming your own group, starting first and foremost with your own family. Why your family? They are going to be with you, even if some are not currently "preparedness minded." It's YOUR job to bring them around to that. NOT through coercion, bullying or deception. Your next possible recruiting pool would be close friends. These are the folks you've known for the better part of your lifetime, or at least for many years. Why these folks? Simple. These are the folks that most likely KNOW that your a survivalist. These are the folks that WILL come to your house if something happens. Why not take the time to convert them now and have them be USEFUL to the overall survival effort rather than being a BURDEN to you when the time comes?Take your time and move slow. Giving these folks a comprehensive list of preps needed right off the bat will intimidate them. Start small.Another method of finding like minded people is via some of the online message boards and forums. Attending some of the campouts, meet and greets, BBQ's, shooting matches, gunshow gatherings, etc. are all good ways of meeting other like minded folks. From there, it's just a question of sifting through them to see who is truly serious and meets any qualifications you may have. We have covered this extensively in the past and will continue to cover related subjects regularly. RH

Welcome

2009-10-22T09:32:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Florida Survival !

Florida Survival was created to allow survivalist and outdoor enthusiast from the state of Florida and the south east to network and exchange information. Here at Florida Survival we welcome our fellow bloggers and viewers to contribute any information that they see valuable to being better prepared. This can range from How To articles, your movies from youtube or announcing a meet/greet camp out in your area.

This blog is a means for all like minded people in Florida to communicate freely with out the constraints of a web forum. The only moderation will be to ensure that your comments, and articles are family safe and survival related.

To help you get started please our other sites across the web-
http://www.flasurvival.com/

http://www.bucketpacking.com/

http://www.survivalreport.net/

http://www.homesteadingandsurvival.com/

and of course our

PAW productions blog here on blogger
and our youtube channel where you will find most of our information in movie format.
http://www.youtube.com/user/delta69alpha

So if you want something posted here be it a meet/greet or blog entry
please email us at
flasurvival@hotmail.com

Bob