Homeland Security Warning: Russian Malware has infected Vital U.S. Infrastructure Systems

A bulletin from the Department of Homeland Security was issued this week warning that Russian Hackers have penetrated and inserted malware into some of the nation’s most vital infrastructure systems.
The Malware, which was inserted as part of a hacking campaign that dates back to 2011, has been found in software used to control industrial operations like oil and gas pipelines, power transmission grids, water distribution and filtration systems, wind turbines and even some nuclear plants. While sources say no attempts have been made to activate the Malware, cyber-security experts say the Malware is very advanced and could be used to trigger the shutdown of vital public utilities throughout the country.
Earlier this year, a similar attack infected computers at over 1, 000 energy companies in over 80 countries. That attack, which infected computers with a virus known as “Energetic Bear”, allowed hackers to take control of power plants and cripple their systems with the click of a mouse.
This new threat, allows hackers to take control of various industrial processes through infected computers. The hack became known to the industry last week when a DHS alert bulletin was issued by the agency’s Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team. The bulletin said the “BlackEnergy” penetration had been detected by several U.S. companies, and claimed it was the same malware used by a Russian cyber-espionage groups to target NATO and some energy and telecommunications companies in Europe earlier this year.

The Coming Cyber Wars

Last year I ran an article about the coming cyber wars; something U.S. officials have been quietly preparing for over the last couple of years. In 2013, the Obama administration conducted an internal review of how they could use cyber-warfare to preemptively attack countries who posed a threat to our “national security interests.”
President Obama is known to have approved the use of cyber-weapons on at least one occasion, when he ordered a series of cyber-attacks against Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities. The operation, which began under President George Bush, was accelerated as soon an Obama took office. Some experts see this current attack as an escalation of the coming cyber-wars; with one DHS official telling ABC News the Malware was probably placed “in key U.S. systems as a threat, and/or as a deterrent to a U.S. cyber-attack on Russian systems – mutually assured destruction.”

What Experts say about the Threat

The truth is this threat really isn’t anything new. If you ask most cyber-security experts they will tell you that we’re under constant attack 24/7, 365 days a year. In fact, in 2012 I interviewed Cyber-Terrorism expert and member of the US Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force, Damon Petraglia. In the interview Damon told me that “We have been attacked, and we are under attack 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Our military systems are probed in excess of hundreds of thousands of times per hour. Our private industry can claim similar statistics.”
He advised our readers back then to start taking steps to prepare themselves; including making preparations for extended periods of time without adequate food, water supplies and access to emergency services. If you haven’t taken steps to prepare for this threat, you need to consider how bad things might get if we ever face a full-scale attack.
According to Frank Gaffney, a spokesman for the Center for Security Policy, within a year of an attack that took out our power grid “nine out of 10 Americans would be dead, because we can’t support a population of the present size in urban centers and the like without electricity.” While that number may seem unbelievably high, former CIA Bureau Chief Claire Lopez has also warned that “Within one year, it is estimated that 9 out of 10 of all Americans would be dead.”

What can you do to Prepare for a grid-down attack?

In my book, The Ultimate Situational Survival Guide, I devote a lot of time to this specific topic. As we become increasingly dependent on technology, I believe it’s only a matter of time before we are all affected by our dependence.
Increase your Food & Water Supplies NOW: During a prolonged crisis, food and water are going to be some of the most important survival items you can have. Our entire food delivery system is incredibly dependent on computers and electricity; if something were to take down our vital infrastructure, almost instantly you will start to see major shortages and supply chain problems. Now is the time to stock up on long-term food and water.
Learn how to Cook from Scratch & how to do it without Power: If you’re serious about preparedness, learning how to cook from scratch is something you cannot afford to ignore. In order to successfully build a stockpile of emergency food, you’re going to need to learn how to cook, and you’re going to need to learn how to do it with basic ingredients.
Stock up on Firearms: During any type of crisis situation, security is going to be one of your top concerns. During a grid-down scenario people are going to be going crazy; social unrest will be one of the top threats you’ll face. The unprepared masses are going to be a threat to your safety.
Stock up on Backup Power. Small solar chargers, and battery backups, have all come down in price over the last couple of years. For a couple hundred dollars you can ensure you’re ability to power things like tablets (that can be packed full of survival books and essential files), Ham radios and emergency communication devices, flashlights, and a number of other helpful electronic devices.

http://offgridsurvival.com/homeland-security-warning-russian-malware-has-infected-vital-u-s-infrastructure-systems/

The End Of The West Coast? Strange Deaths Go Unreported! Media Hiding The Reason

By Susan DuclosThe truth is being hidden from the American people, it is an ugly truth and the mainstream media and US government, isn't even attempting to inform the public, but people are dying, found all around California obituaries, from brain tumors and brain aneurysms, which one of the main causes listed is radiation.

Below are the four causes for brain tumors listed at Barrow Neurological Institute - (Please note the portion of number 3, in bold print)

• Age. Your risk for developing a brain tumor increases as you age. Brain tumors are most common in older adults. However, a brain tumor can occur at any age. Certain types of brain tumors, such as medulloblastomas and juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas, occur almost exclusively in children.

• Family history of brain tumors. A small portion of brain tumors occur in people with a family history of brain tumors or a family history of genetic syndromes that increase the risk of brain tumors.

• Exposure to radiation. People who have been exposed to a type of radiation called ionizing radiation have an increased risk of brain tumor. Examples of ionizing radiation include radiation therapy used to treat cancer and radiation exposure caused by nuclear accidents or disasters. More common forms of radiation, such as electromagnetic fields from power lines and radiofrequency radiation from cellular telephones have not yet been proved to be linked to brain tumors. Conclusive studies will not be available for at least a decade.

• Immunosuppression. If your immune system is severely depressed due to disease (i.e., HIV) or powerful medications designed to shut down your immune system (i.e., those taken after an organ transplant), it can increase your chances of developing a brain tumor or other cancers.


I started looking into this after reading an alert over at Steve Quayle's website, the first paragraph of the alert shown below and the entire alert, including a warning from Romy, will be shown at the bottom of this article.

Steve, my wife and I attended the WSR conference and she was baptized by you and Pastor Lankford. On July 4 she collapsed with multiple ruptured brain aneurysms, followed by a massive stroke. She is only 33 with no medical history or prior symptoms. She is alive but severely disabled now, we have two small children. The reason I'm telling you all this is that since my wife's incident, 3 other women that we are friends with have had the same thing and died. In the last two months. Their ages are 22-40. None with pre existing conditions or symptoms. We all live in the bay area of California and I'm wondering if this is being caused by fukishima radiation or chemtrails??? Have you heard of any other incidents like this? Until my wife, I had never met anyone with a brain aneurysm, now 3 of our close friends are dead and my wife is struggling to survive. Coincidence? I don't think so.
John

For those that would wave away these concerns, consider the 28 signs that the West Coast is being fried with Fukushima radiation, after a devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused multiple nuclear meltdown's at Japan's nuclear power plant in 2011, and also take careful notice of the warnings and independent investigations which has shown for months that radiation levels on the West Coast are at dangerously high levels.

There is also ample evidence that not only is the media covering this up by refusing to report it or connect the dots right back to Fukushima, but as reported here at ANP in September then again in October, the US government (EPA) is actively attempting to remove evidence of radiation readings by removing filters supposedly to determine what is causing the high level readings and replacing the filters with new ones, thereby lowering the reported levels, the rising and repeating when those filters register dangerously high readings..... those two ANP reports are here and here and shown in the two videos below the first one, below.

Below the videos will be the entire Quayle Alert, which is a must read for everyone because these levels of radiation will cross the entire nation.

A huge thank you goes out to Mid America Land Restoration / Microbes / Probiotics Facebook page for their unrelenting reporting and saving relevant screen shots before the evidence disappeared.










Full Steve Quayle Alert Below:


California women developing brain aneurysms-3 DEAD IN LAST 2 MONTHS ONE PARALYZED

Steve, my wife and I attended the WSR conference and she was baptized by you and Pastor Lankford. On July 4 she collapsed with multiple ruptured brain aneurysms, followed by a massive stroke. She is only 33 with no medical history or prior symptoms. She is alive but severely disabled now, we have two small children. The reason I'm telling you all this is that since my wife's incident, 3 other women that we are friends with have had the same thing and died. In the last two months. Their ages are 22-40. None with pre existing conditions or symptoms. We all live in the bay area of California and I'm wondering if this is being caused by fukishima radiation or chemtrails??? Have you heard of any other incidents like this? Until my wife, I had never met anyone with a brain aneurysm, now 3 of our close friends are dead and my wife is struggling to survive. Coincidence? I don't think so.
John---- FROM ROMY--STEVE,IT IS NO COINCIDENCE,...AS I READ THIS THIS THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE TO ME AND SAID THAT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AND IT IS A DIRECT RESULT OF FUKUSHIMA AND NUCLEAR WASTE THAT HAVE REACHED THE WEST COAST! HIS WIFE AND THEIR THREE FRIENDS WHO DIED FROM THE SAME CONDITION HAVE BEEN QUIETLY POISONED BY WHAT HAS COME UPON THEM, BUT THE DOCTORS HAVE BEEN WARNED NEVER TO SHARE OR TIE THESE INCIDENCES TOGETHER OR IT WILL COST THEM THEIR JOBS AND REPUTATIONS! I GOT THIS IMMEDIATELY FROM THE LORD AS I READ JOHN'S EMAIL!

THE VERY AIR IS POISONED AS IS THE OCEAN AND ALL SEA LIFE. THEY MUST ALL BEGIN TO LEAVE THOSE AREAS AND FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS. IT HAS BEGUN TO SHOW UP AND PEOPLE WILL
PUT IT TOGETHER EVEN AS JOHN DID! THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE, THE DAYS HAVE ARRIVED. CHILDREN ARE BEING BORN WITH CANCERS AND DEFORMITIES AND STILLBORN, W/O THYROIDS AND BRAINS! I JUST WOKE FROM A DREAM/VISION THAT TOOK PLACE WITH STILL ASLEEP FRIENDS WHO ACTUALLY DO LIVE ALONG THE COAST IN PACIFIC PALISADES AND WE WERE THERE TO HELP PLOT OUT ON A MAP WHERE IT WOULD BE SAFEST TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE HIGHEST AREAS OF RADIATION!!!!

THIS MAN HAS HEARD CLEARLY FROM THE LORD ABOUT THE EXACT THING THAT HAS FELLED HIS YOUNG WIFE AND KILLED THREE OF THEIR FRIENDS! This is "NO COINCIDENCE"!!!!

I WILL BEGIN PRAYING FOR THEM AND THEIR STILL VERY YOUNG CHILDREN RIGHT THIS MINUTE! THIS IS HUGE NEWS THAT WE'LL NEVER HEAR VIA THE MSM, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE HEARING ABOUT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE DYING FROM SIMILAR THINGS AND CHILDREN BEING BORN WITH TERRIBLE THINGS WRONG WITH THEM. EVENTUALLY, WE'LL BE HEARING ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS FROM THE BAJA PENINSULA TO THE COAST OF ALASKA ~ AND FROM THE GULF COAST AREAS OF THIS NATION HAVING TO DO WITH THE TEPCO OIL SPILL AND THE CHEMICALS USED TO KEEP IT DOWN BELOW THE OCEANS SURFACE AND THE THOUSANDS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN THOS AREAS WHO ARE DYING FROM SIMILAR POISONING!



NO ONE SHOULD BE TOUCHING SEAFOOD OR GMO PROCESSED FOODS AND "NO ONE" SHOULD BE GOING INTO THE OCEANS. SURFERS ARE GOING TO BE DIAGNOSED AND VERY ILL FROM MANY UNUSUAL AND RELATED ILLNESSES -YOU WILL BEGIN TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR BOTH COASTS AND THE GULF STATES. THIS TOO HAS CONTINUED TO BE A HUGE COVERUP BY THE ELITES AND THE POWERS THAT BE HAVE THREATENED EVERY DOCTOR INVOLVED IN REPORTING THE TRUTH (IF THEY HAVE PUT IT TOGETHER) NOT TO DISCUSS THESE BIZARRE INCIDENCES WITH THEIR PATIENTS.

FL IS BEING AFFECTED NEARLY JUST AS MUCH AS TX, LA, AL, GA, MS AND HAS NOW BEGUN MOVING WITH THE OCEAN CURRENTS UP ALONG THE EAST COAST AND KILLING PEOPLE AND UNBORN CHILDREN ALSO IF THEY ARE NOT BORN WITH HORRIFIC THINGS WRONG WITH THEM, NOT TO MENTION ALL THE SEA LIFE THAT HAS BEEN DYING OFF. THE OCEANS HAVE BEEN GROSSLY POLLUTED AND TPTB ARE SHUTTING MEDICAL PERSONNEL UP
AND THREATENING ALL OF THEM WHO DARE BRING THESE WEIRD NEW "COINCIDENCES" UP! THEY WILL "ALL" LEAVE THEIR STATES TOO IN TIME IF THEY HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD AND MOVE ON IT - THE SOONER THE BETTER.

I'M NOT CRAZY STEVE,...I'VE BEEN AWARE OF ALL OF THIS SINCE THE OIL SPILL, THE CHEMICALS USED, THE NEW SAND BROUGHT IN AND TV ADS TRYING TO GET PROPLE TO VISIT THE ABOVE STATES AS WELL. FUKUSHIMA WAS PART OF THIS PLAN ALSO. THE OCEANS ARE DYING QUICKLY! THE LORD WILL MAKE IT EXTREMELY CLEAR IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

THE NWO IS DEPOPULATING THE USA. AND NOW WE HAVE THE WEAPONIZED EBOLA, FLU AND ??? IT COMES ON LIKE A COLD OR FLU! IT'S TIME FOR THINKING PEOPLE LIKE JOHN TO FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS FAR AWAY FROM YHE COASTS AND TO LEAVE EVERYTHING AND TRUST THE LORD TO GUIDE THEM TO THEIR NEW SAFE PLACES TO SAVE THEIR LIVES! THIS IS A WAKE UP CALL IF THEY CAN AND WILL RECEIVE IT!


PEOPLE MUST LEAVE THOSE GULF STATES AND
FLOIDA AND THE ENTIRE EDGE OF THE EAST COAST UP THROUGH NOVA SCOTIA, AND PARTS OF CANADA AS WELL, OR THEY WILL EVENTUALLY DIE PREMATURELY FROM POISONING OF VARIOUS SORTS! THE CHILDREN BORN SINCE THE OIL SPILL AND EVEN MORE SINCE FUKUSHIMA IN THESE TWO COASTLINES WILL BE AFFECTED MOST! THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD! ~ROMY

I DID NOT PLAN TO GIVE YOU THIS WORD, BUT I KNOW THAT I MUST, AS I'M JUST WRITING IT AS IT'S COMING TO ME FROM THE LORD. THIS IS HORRIBLE AND I WISH IT WAS NOT TRUE BUT IT IS FROM THE LORD GOD. MY DREAM/VISION AND WAKING THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID, CHECK YOUR EMAIL AND THIS IS WHAT I FOUND! ~R.

http://www.allnewspipeline.com/The_End_Of_California.php

Six Preparedness Tips for the Mobility Challenged

If you have ever had an injury that limited your mobility, you will understand why knowing how to deal with mobility challenges following a disaster is important. A sprained ankle, a broken leg, a fractured arm; all of these can severely restrict your ability to dig your way out of or evacuate in the aftermath of a disaster.
These temporary disabilities are annoying and inconvenient at best. Now put yourself in the shoes of an individual with a permanent disability; someone who requires a walker, a wheelchair, crutches, or a scooter to move around.

Clearly, getting out of harms way will be slow as ordinary objects such as furniture, stairs, curbs, and doorways become obstacles or even barriers to escape. Add to this the challenge of moving about during chaos and panic and you can understand why planning advanced survival tactics is important.
Today I share six preparedness tips for the mobility challenged. But please take note. These tips are for everyone because when and if the time comes, it may be you with the challenge and not your neighbor, your spouse or your friend.
Having an awareness of the obstacles that a person with mobility issues faces will make you a better prepper.

The Basics of Prepping Apply to the Mobility Challenged

Regardless of any physical challenges, the basics of prepping still apply. Accumulate food, water, first aid, self defense and the other items to get by under dire conditions. Have the gear you will need to stay warm and the means to cook your food when the grid is down. Practice your homesteading skills and develop a community of like minded people to watch your back as you will watch theirs.
These are basic tenets of preparedness and things you will do because these are the things that all preppers do.

Six Preparedness Tips for the Mobility Challenged

1. Store Your Stuff

Store emergency supplies in a pack or backpack that can be attached to crutches, a walker, a wheelchair, or a scooter.
Store the needed mobility aids (canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs) close by in a consistent, convenient and secured location. If possible, keep extra aids in several locations.
Keep specialized items ready, including extra wheelchair batteries, oxygen, catheters, medication, prescriptions, food for service animals, and any other items you might need.

2. Put Together a Specialized Emergency Supply Kit

Keep a pair of heavy gloves in your supply kit to use while wheeling or making way over glass or debris.
If you use a motorized wheelchair or scooter, consider having an extra battery available. A car battery can be substituted for a wheelchair battery, but this type of battery will not last as long as a wheelchair’s deep-cycle battery. Check with your wheelchair or scooter vendor to see if you will be able to charge batteries by either connecting jumper cables to a vehicle battery or by connecting batteries to a specific type of converter that plugs into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter in the event of loss of electricity. And if so, get some of these cables to keep in your emergency pack.
If your chair does not have puncture-proof tires, keep a patch kit or can of “seal-in-air product” to repair flat tires, or keep an extra supply of inner tubes.
If possible, store a lightweight manual wheelchair.

3. Know your surroundings

Arrange and secure furniture and other items in a manner that will provide a clear path of travel and barrier free passages.
If you spend time above the first floor of a building with an elevator, plan and practice using alternative methods of evacuation.
If you cannot use stairs, determine in advance which physical carrying techniques will work for you. Understand that there will be instances where wheelchair users will have to leave their chairs behind in order to safely evacuate a structure.
Sometimes transporting someone down stairs is not a practical solution unless there are at least two or more strong people to control the chair. Therefore, it is very important to articulate the safest mode of transport if you will need to be carried. As an example, for some, the traditional “fire fighter’s carry” may be hazardous due to respiratory weakness.
Plan at least two evacuation routes; you never know when your primary means to exit will be blocked or inaccessible.

4. Communication Skills are Important

Practice giving clear, concise instructions regarding how to move you. Take charge and quickly explain to people how best to assist you. Determine in advance how much detail will be needed and drill your “speech” with a trusted friend that will give you some feedback.
You know your abilities and limitations and the best way that someone can assist you or ways in which you can assist them. Again, practice giving these instructions clearly and quickly, not in four paragraphs but a few quick phrases, using the least amount of words possible.

5. Community

Create a network of neighbors, relatives, friends, and coworkers to aid you in an emergency. Discuss your needs and make sure everyone knows how to operate your equipment.
Discuss your needs with your employer.
If you live in an apartment building, ask the management to mark accessible exits clearly and to make arrangements to help you leave the building during a disaster. The more people who know where you are and the need for assistance the better.

6. Other Important Items

Be sure to make provisions for medications that require refrigeration.
Keep a list of the type and model numbers of the medical devices you require.
Wear medical alert tags or bracelets to identify any disabilities that may not be visually obvious to a stranger.
Just like any other survival skill, it is important to practice your emergency plan through regular drills. Imagine the worst and practice for that.

The Mobility Challenged are Not Helpless

Let me be clear on one very important point.
While mobility challenges are real, the mobility challenged are not helpless. If they are preppers, they garden, tend farm animals, preserve food, practice self-defense, teach, sew, entertain, and embrace self-sufficiency with gusto.
Whereas in an emergency, the mobility challenged may need some extra assistance, at the end of the day it is the grey matter between their ears that counts. The ability to think, reason, and take appropriate action is a key component to being a prepper. Do not lose sight of that when working with your mobility challenged neighbor and comrade as you pursue your preparedness journey.

The Final Word

Mobility challenges is not an area where I have first-hand experience. Sure, I nursed family members who had temporary mobility challenges following an operation but I never had to deal with mobility challenges during an emergency. That said, as part of my interaction with Backdoor Survival readers and during my own research, I have come to realize that certain, mobility-related strategies could become important when we least expect it.
Fortunately, also while researching this article, I found that there are some really good resources available from government agencies, senior centers and just plain folks that are willing to help formulate preparedness strategies for people with mobility challenges.
One of the better resources I found was the free booklet Emergency Evacuation Preparedness by the Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions. You can download a copy by clicking on the link and I encourage you to do so.
The life that gets saved just might be your own.
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye

http://www.backdoorsurvival.com/six-preparedness-tips-for-the-mobility-challenged/

NASA Warns California Drought Could Threaten U.S. Food Supply: “There will be some definite changes”

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has sounded a stark warning over California’s sustained drought, publishing its latest findings where satellite surveys show a rapidly depleting groundwater supply.
And with California as the United States’ most valuable agricultural state, and thus key to America’s food supply (and much of the world’s as well) that could mean drastic consequences for food commodity prices and potential shortages.
The Nature Climate Change journal carried the report, which Think Progress summarized:

A new Nature Climate Change piece, “The global groundwater crisis,” by James Famiglietti, a leading hydrologist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, warns that “most of the major aquifers in the world’s arid and semi-arid zones, that is, in the dry parts of the world that rely most heavily on groundwater, are experiencing rapid rates of groundwater depletion.”
The groundwater at some of the world’s largest aquifers — in the U.S. High Plains, California’s Central Valley, China, India, and elsewhere — is being pumped out “at far greater rates than it can be naturally replenished.”
The most worrisome fact: “nearly all of these underlie the word’s great agricultural regions and are primarily responsible for their high productivity.”

NASA’s sattelite map shows the loss of weight height just in the past three years:

According to NASA:

“California’s Sacramento and San Joaquin river basins have lost roughly 15 km3 of total water per year since 2011 — more water than all 38 million Californians use for domestic and municipal supplies annually — over half of which is due to groundwater pumping in the Central Valley.”

Yes, of course, California is a desert. So, that isn’t helping things. But it was reformed into a thriving economy by controversial and historically corrupt irrigation scheme, and is now vital to U.S. food security.
The result of these dangerous conditions is, not surprisingly, higher commodity prices – including food and water – creating higher profits for the companies that provide these services. Privatized water could drive prices even higher.
There are storm clouds gathering, so to speak, but they aren’t bringing rain.
In July, California’s state government economic report was already warning of losses in the billions for farmers feeling the weight of drought conditions, though it claimed the national food system would be little impacted.
However, time has made that claim ring hollow. In August, Bloomberg reported on the “global reverberations” occurring because of the drought in California:

“It’s a really big deal,” Sumner said. “Some crops simply grow better here than anyplace else, and our location gives us access to markets you don’t have elsewhere.”
[…]
The success of California agriculture was built in large part on advances in irrigation that allowed the state to expand beyond wheat, which flourishes in dry climates. It’s now the U.S.’s top dairy producer and grows half the country’s fruits, vegetables and nuts.
“Water has allowed us to grow more valuable crops,” Sumner said. “Now, we have fruits and vegetables and North Dakota grows our wheat. Without irrigation, we’d be North Dakota.”
[…]
“There will be some definite changes, probably structural changes, to the entire industry” as drought persists, said American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman. “Farmers have made changes. They’ve shifted. This is what farmers do.”

Locals in California are now reporting everything from reduced availability of produce, to higher prices in restaurants and reduced hours and activity at farmer’s markets and local stores.
Most farmers have cutback on what they are growing. In many cases, that means chopping down trees, orchards and not planting as many fields:

“I was just talking to a farmer today who grows olives and almonds. Expect prices of almonds to skyrocket because they’re cutting the trees down because they don’t have enough water to keep them alive,” said Helstrom.

California is by no means the only place facing life threatening shortages. There are similarly alarming trends having all across the globe, particularly in arid and semi-arid places.
Texas ranchers and farmers have been dealing with returning dust bowl conditions in the panhandle and surrounding regions, with very difficult drought conditions and conflicting urban competition for water which strain supply.
Elsewhere, too.
The 20 million people in Brazil’s Sao Paulo are facing a stark 5 percent reserves in their municipal water reservoir, with Brazil’s Public Ministry recently acknowledging that the Sao Paulo water supply might last only another 100 days.
Further shortages in rain could easily be the makings of a disaster that could deprive its residents of the basic necessities of life, particularly the swelling poor populations. Already, rationing has crept in, and water used for cooking, bathing and cleaning has been restricted.

“Suffering from its worst drought in over 84 years, the city of Sao Paulo is in the midst of a crisis. For as of this weekend the city’s primary reservoir — the Cantareira — had dropped to just 5 percent capacity putting millions at risk of losing access to water.”
“The fall prompted the city’s governor — Geraldo Alckmin — to again ask for permission to draw emergency water supplies from below flood gates to alleviate catastrophic losses from the Cantareira and ensure water supplies to the region’s 20 million residents. The move would tap a river system that feeds two other states also facing water shortages — Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. But the draw is only a temporary stop gap and, without rain, the Cantareira will continue to fall — bottoming out sometime this November.”

Large swaths of the immense Amazon region are enduring drought, while various hotspots across South America are also drastically below average precipitation levels.

NASA has also tracked serious aquifer depletion in “the North China Plain, Australia’s Canning Basin, the Northwest Sahara Aquifer System, the Guarani Aquifer in South America … and the aquifers beneath northwestern India and the Middle East,” as Think Progress notes. Parts of Northern China are also seeing their worst drought in 60 years.

That’s pretty harsh news, and the long term impact could be pretty serious, and just one more reason to prepare a reserve food supply and prepare a plan to deal with anything that may come.
There have been many other warning signs about the food supply and commodities markets – not the least of which include the billions in losses that corn farmers are facing due to market rejection in China and other countries as a result of GMO contamination.

http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/nasa-warns-california-drought-could-threaten-u-s-food-supply-there-will-be-some-definite-changes_11042014

Make Rope from Plastic Bags (without tools)

Ten Non-Food Items That will be in Short Supply After TEOTWAWKI

The following is a list of ten non-food items that are currently inexpensive and easy to get, but will be in demand after TEOTWAWKI.
Matches – You cannot have enough of these. They are cheap and easy to get. Stock all you can they will be a good trade item and a real convenience. You can start a fire without them but it takes more effort.
Cloth diapers – Today it seems like everybody use splastic throwaways. When these run out you will need cloth diapers.
Water filters – Most families do not own a good quality water filter. If you have extras they will be very valuable. Bad water will kill large numbers of people.
Nails and screws – After TEOTWAWKI you will have to keep your property repaired and you won’t be able to run to the store. Stock up on nails and screws now. Make sure you have enough lying around while you still can.
Batteries – These will disappear fast, I recommend that you have good quality rechargeable batteries like the Enloop’s and the equipment to recharge them. A review of the Eneloop NiMH Batteries
Tape - All kinds of tape including duct, masking, electric. These have many uses. Duct tape is great for repairing equipment and even for medical uses like making splints.
Books – Both fiction and nonfiction. Nonfiction for educating your children and to use for reference. Fiction books will provide some entertainment, even if you just sit down as a family and read a chapter or two in the evening. If you are religious don’t forget the scriptures.
Sewing supplies - Your clothes won’t last forever. They will need to be repaired or replaced.
Canning supplies - A good stock of canning supplies will help you preserve food that you are able to grow or hunt. Especially stock up on canning lids.
Blankets - Over my years in law enforcement I got to serve many search warrants and I was always amazed at how few blankets were in many homes. Often there was only an electric blanket. Blankets may be a good trade item.
These are just a few items that came to mind today. As you know there are many more and we all have different priorities on what is most important. But for me and my family these are important ones.
Howard

http://preparednessadvice.com/

100+ Ways for Preppers to Spend a Buck at the Dollar Store

Written By: David (Dok-The El Cheapo Schlock Prepper) Amberson
You never know when hyper-inflation might kick in and the Dollar Stores become the $10 Stores! So take advantage of the situation now, and while things are still reasonable. The buck stops here with over 100 ways to spend a dollar at your local dollar stores. Consider this as a semi-complete list of dollar stores emergency supplies for your preparedness.
Shopping the dollar stores is the cheapest and fastest thing you can do for your survival. Grab some things today!
Following is an alphabetical list of prepper essentials you can find at your friendly, local dollar store.
1.8-quart dish pans. For off grid dishwashing. You’ll need three dishpans. One for a water rinse, one for warm soapy water, and one for bleach rinse (one capful for the pan).
2.Pain Reliever. For your medicine cabinet and Bug-Out-Bag.
3.America’s Almanac. Available seasonally, the almanac provides useful tidbits of information and a spring planting guide.
4.Automotive Repair Kits. Hose clamps, zip ties, extra fuses, and many other useful gadgets for you.
5.Baking Soda. Useful for many different applications
6.Baking tins. Many preppers choose a steel baking tin for cooking in their do-it-yourself camping equipment, particularly the bread size is popular for bug out bags. We’ve also seen preppers file down a cooling rack to create grill to fit into a bugout bag. I have even seen mechanics and technicians use muffin pans to separate nuts and bolts.
7.Bandages. Buy different sizes, and make sure to look for quality brands.
8.Bandannas. Preppers have dozens of uses for bandannas. If you’re lucky enough to find them, get them.
9.Bars of Soap. These can be used for cleaning. Soap bars can also be cubed and used for bait for catfish.
10. BIC Lighters. Have extra firestarters on hand. Ideal for starting fires in high wind conditions, when matches just won’t do.
11. Bottled and Canned Foods. Salsa, pickles, olives, asparagus, peppers and anything else you can think of.
12. Bottled Water. Why pay more than a buck for water? Look for Crystal Geyser Alpine Spring Water by the jug or bottles.
13. Brown Sugar. Look for Domino or C&H pure cane sugars.
14. Bungee Cords. Often an overlooked item, but ideal for bugging out to strap equipment.
15. Camping Fuel in a Can. Canned fuel is available seasonally or online.
16. Candles. Emergency candles come packed 6 and each last for 5 hours, look also for jar candles and tea light candles. These can be used for light, heat, and as fire starters
17. Canned Heat. Available seasonally, Canned Heat is just a dollar!
18. Clothesline for the wooden clothes pins. Paracord is a better material, but this works in a pinch, and will last nearly as long.
19. Brushes and Combs. Think of brushes and combs as bartering or replacements.
20. Compact Mirror. Useful as a signaling device, or as a standard mirror.
21. Condiments. These include mustard and ketchup. Look for the brands without high fructose corn syrup
22. Cookie Tins. Useful for making your own home-made charcoal.
23. Cordage. Look for braided cord that you can break down into smaller strands.
24. Cotton balls and cotton rounds. Useful in your first aid kit and for fire-starting when used with petroleum jelly.
25. Dental Floss & Tooth Brushes. These can be used for Hygiene, cleaning those hard-to-reach areas (toothbrushes), and as twine (floss).
26. Dish Towels. You’ll need more than you think for cleaning up in a life off grid. Buy a plastic container and fill it up! Look for super absorbent car towels as well.
27. Disposable Razors. These are great to have for shaving, and for emergency surgery preparation.
28. Drop Cloth. Plastic drop cloths for sealing windows and doors on concern of pandemics, also has a myriad of camping uses. Unfortunately, there is a limit of 4 per person.
29. Duct Tape. Seen multiple times on the MythBusters TV show, this versatile item is a must have for your bug-out-bag, vehicle, purse, backpack, or anywhere else you can think of.
30. Ear plugs. Ear plugs for discreet comfort while manning firearms. They also have the added benefit of letting you sleep comfortably when there is someone who snores nearby.
31. Elastic hairbands. These will last you much longer than rubber bands.
32. Elastic support bandages. Look for latex-free spandex
33. Epsom Salts. Great for soaking your feet after a long hard day on guard duty.
34. Eyeglass cleaning cloth. Eyeglass cleaning cloths are also for sunglasses!
35. Eyeglass repair kit. Eyeglass repair kit.
36. Feminine Hygiene Products. We used tampons in the Army to seal bullet holes. We also used pads as makeshift bandages. All this, despite their normal function.
37. First aid tape. for use with gauze.
38. Flashlights. There are many inexpensive options for flashlights at the dollar stores and it’s essential to have extras throughout your home, so long as you can maintain the batteries!
39. Foot Powder, Body Powder, Baby Powder: These are great for personal hygiene
40. Funnel: Useful for canning, and food storage.
41. Garbage Bags (30 Gallon Size): These can be used for garbage, storage, emergency shelters and ponchos
42. Gardening and work gloves. For tending to your crops, collecting wood and other chores.
43. Gauze. For your first aid kit, available in different sizes.
44. Gum. Where else can you get for or five packs of gum for a buck? Look for gum that contains real sugar.
45. Hairbrushes. It’s always good to have extras.
46. Halls Cough drops. For your medicine kit
47. Hand Crank Radio. This can help keep you entertained, as well as keep you in constant communication with the Emergency Broadcasting System
48. Hand sanitizer. Unfortunately, most of the stock comes from China, but hand sanitizer is a necessary for survival and it comes inexpensively at the dollar stores!
49. Handkerchiefs. These can be used for cleaning. You can also soak them and use them as a head covering, or around your neck to help cool you off. They can also be used for first aid.
50. Hard candies. Useful to boost morale and provide energy burst for your bug-out bag.
51. Hydrogen Peroxide. This can be used to treat wounds, and for water purification. Just make sure to watch the expiration dates
52. Instant ice packs. Great for your medical kit, useful to treat heat injuries too.
53. Facial tissues. Always just $1 at the local dollar store, but more than double the price elsewhere.
54. Knives. Not something for your bug-out bag, these are usually poor quality, but work wonders with simple small tasks. Your best buy is the un-serrated edge, as it will last longer.
55. Latex Dishwashing Gloves. For dishwashing.
56. Latex Medical Exam Gloves. Useful for dealing with medical emergencies and pandemics, provided your prepping household does not have any allergies. They can also be used for vehicle repairs to keep grease off your hands.
57. Lip balms. To retain moisture in your lips when water is in short supply. Look for name brand names, as they tend to work best.
58. Liquid soaps. Look for quality brands.
59. Lotions. To help you keep moisture in your body when water is in short supply.
60. Magnifying glass. Again, a fire starter option and available inexpensively at the Dollar Stores.
61. Manual can opener. Buy extras to stash with your preps. They won’t be the best quality, but it’s always good to have extras around with your #10 cans.
62. Matches, Lighters, Lighter Fluid: These can be used for starting fires, and as short term lighting (matches)
63. Moleskin. This can be used to treat blisters. Of great importance when there are no vehicles, and walking is the only way to get around.
64. Nail cutters. Pack one in your bug out bag.
65. Nail polish. An unusual prepper item, and not for vanity’s sake! Preppers will find loads clever uses for nail polish. Personally, I used black nail polish for
66. Nails and screws. Useful for your tool box. How else are you going to repair items without the right things to repair them with?
67. Petroleum jelly. For use as a fire starter with cotton. Petroleum jelly is the same as the name brand, Vaseline.
68. Plastic dish rack. Also for off grid dishwashing and ideal for camping.
69. Plastic food containers. Look for Rubber maid, which is at least 100% cheaper than the same thing at the grocery stores.
70. Plastic shoebox containers. Make your own Dollar Store Kit for the car. Be sure to look for boxes that seal well, as some are flimsy.
71. Playing Cards & Other Games. You’ll need something to do so you won’t get bored. Read more about board games for the bunker.
72. Potted meats. Be sure to buy only the brands made in the United States. Tuna for example, is unregulated in many countries.
73. Pure Cane Sugar. Look for name brands.
74. Rain poncho. for the bug out bag.
75. Rubbing Alcohol. Look for the highest percentage of alcohol you can 80-90% is best.
76. Safety pins. Get 100 safety pins for $1 when elsewhere they will cost you three times as much. Safety pins are a prepper favorite for bug out bags and key rings.
77. Salt with iodine. Salt has many uses for preppers, from a flavor enhancer to a preservative.
78. Scrub brushes. Great for dishes, and general cleaning.
79. Scrub buddies. Metal scrubbers, for scouring pots and pans.
80. Sharpie markers. For identifying expiration dates of your food storage.
81. Shoe laces or leather strips. Good to have replacement shoe laces, as well as useful for traps, and tying things to your bug-out-bag if necessary.
82. Small cutting boards. Look for the red cutting boards from Betty Crocker. These are ideal for camping or for your bug out bag.
83. Small pack facial tissues. Great for the car or the bug out bag.
84. Socks. We are going to have to do a lot more walking should the end of the world happen, so socks will be a highly prized commodity after a few months. Personally, I would use cheap dollar store socks for trade items, and keep my good socks for me
85. Solar lights. Great for lighting at your bug-out location.
86. Spices. The dollar stores are ideal for purchasing chili powder, cinnamon, oregano, basil and parsley.
87. Sponges. Useful for cleaning, and keeping cool in the summer heat.
88. Sturdy tote bags. Yet again, this is one of the 37 unusual items for preppers to hoard!
89. Sun hat. For just a buck you can cover your head. Ideal to stuff in a bug out bag and forget about.
90. Super glue. To fix an innumerable things you’ll inevitably break when you won’t be able to buy it again.
91. Thumb-tacks. Use thumb tacks home defense.
92. Tiny first aid kit. For the kids’ backpacks, the glove compartment, your bug-out-bag, or your purse.
93. Tiny sewing kit. Ideal for bug out bags, and they may include tiny scissors.
94. Toilet Paper. These can be used for Toilet Paper, and Facial Tissue
95. Travel bottles. Mark with a sharpie the contents: rubbing alcohol, bleach, and dish soap.
96. Triple Antibiotic Ointment. Perfect for your first aid kit, and your bug-out-bag.
97. Tums antacids. Ideal for first aid kits, and bug-out-bags (especially if you aren’t used to easting MRE’s).
98. Twine. You’ll use twine for the garden, choose paracord for outdoor survival.
99. Utility bags. Ideal for bug out bag to collect wood or forage for foods.
100. Utility Knife. Tool bench utility knives (inexpensive Exacto knife).
101. Vegetable peelers. Vegetable peelers.
102. Washcloths. These can be used for cleaning. You can also soak them and use them as a head covering, or around your neck to help cool you off. They can also be used for first aid.
103. Wet Wipes. These can be used for Bathing & Cleanliness, Baby Diaper Changing, and Toilet Paper
104. Wooden clothes pins. For hanging your laundry in an off grid world.
105. Zip ties, also sometimes called Cable ties. Zip ties are ideal for tying gear (keeps bicycle wheels in place), household repairs, camping to keep raccoons out, hanging utensils to dry), lashing sticks together, and so much more.
So there you have it: Over 100 ways to spend bucks. It’s prepping on the cheap! Print this list and take it with you next time you shop for essential prepping items. You only need a few bucks in your hand for emergency supplies at the Dollar Stores.

http://americanpreppersnetwork.com/2014/11/100-ways-preppers-spend-buck-dollar-store.html