| Getting Started |
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The hardest part of any project is starting it. If you feel like you don't know where to begin
to prepare yourself and your family for emergencies, you've come to the right place.
You'll need a plan to get you from where you are now - maybe completely helpless - to
where you want to go - a state of confident self reliance.
One good place to begin is www.ready.gov. This is a website that our government's
Department of Homeland Security has put together to help people prepare for the worst.
There are lots of good ideas there. Remember, you don't have to go out and buy a
month's supply of food (or whatever) all at once. An extra canned good here and there,
set aside, will really add up. Water can be stored in containers you already have e.g. 2
liter bottles or you can buy some when it goes on sale and again - set it aside. Before you
know it, you'll have weeks worth of extra food. Approach everything this way and you'll be
sitting pretty in no time.
We think your plan should include firearms. If you own a gun, you're already there! The
best gun is the one you have when you need a gun. If you need to buy a gun, talk to
certified instructors and gunshop owners that care about more than just making the sale.
You might not want to rely completely on "Uncle Bubba" for advice, but family members
may be a place to start too.
Here again, you don't have to spend a fortune. For example, a 12 gauge shotgun like the
Mossberg 500 can be gotten for about $240.00 or so brand new! You can shop for used
guns at gun shows and in the papers and spend even less. Another great choice is the
Ruger 10/22. Always less than $200.00. Whatever you choose, get educated about safe
gun handling from a qualified instructor. You can go to www.NRA.org for help. Can't
afford $200.00 right now? Put away 60 cents a day and you'll have that gun by the end of
the year!
We think you should eventually come out to a Michigan Militia FTX (field training exercise).
Nobody will laugh at your .22 (folks have qualified up to Level 2 with a Ruger 10/22), and
you'll be surprised at how "normal" everyone is. You can find schedules and directions at
www.michiganmilitia.com. This website offers good advice on gearing up too. You'll want
some good outdoor clothing and some way to carry the things you'll need in the field. A
comfortable backpack is a good place to start. You'll find lots of good uses for it every day
too. Don't spend too much on fancy gear until you know what you need. That comes from
experience and the trusted advice of others who "been there".
Last but not least, don't underestimate the value of physical fitness to your survival plan.
Talk to your doctor first, then go for a long fast walk every day - take your dog - you'll be
healthier, happier, stronger and better able to take care of anything life throws at you.
Your dog will behave better too.
to prepare yourself and your family for emergencies, you've come to the right place.
You'll need a plan to get you from where you are now - maybe completely helpless - to
where you want to go - a state of confident self reliance.
One good place to begin is www.ready.gov. This is a website that our government's
Department of Homeland Security has put together to help people prepare for the worst.
There are lots of good ideas there. Remember, you don't have to go out and buy a
month's supply of food (or whatever) all at once. An extra canned good here and there,
set aside, will really add up. Water can be stored in containers you already have e.g. 2
liter bottles or you can buy some when it goes on sale and again - set it aside. Before you
know it, you'll have weeks worth of extra food. Approach everything this way and you'll be
sitting pretty in no time.
We think your plan should include firearms. If you own a gun, you're already there! The
best gun is the one you have when you need a gun. If you need to buy a gun, talk to
certified instructors and gunshop owners that care about more than just making the sale.
You might not want to rely completely on "Uncle Bubba" for advice, but family members
may be a place to start too.
Here again, you don't have to spend a fortune. For example, a 12 gauge shotgun like the
Mossberg 500 can be gotten for about $240.00 or so brand new! You can shop for used
guns at gun shows and in the papers and spend even less. Another great choice is the
Ruger 10/22. Always less than $200.00. Whatever you choose, get educated about safe
gun handling from a qualified instructor. You can go to www.NRA.org for help. Can't
afford $200.00 right now? Put away 60 cents a day and you'll have that gun by the end of
the year!
We think you should eventually come out to a Michigan Militia FTX (field training exercise).
Nobody will laugh at your .22 (folks have qualified up to Level 2 with a Ruger 10/22), and
you'll be surprised at how "normal" everyone is. You can find schedules and directions at
www.michiganmilitia.com. This website offers good advice on gearing up too. You'll want
some good outdoor clothing and some way to carry the things you'll need in the field. A
comfortable backpack is a good place to start. You'll find lots of good uses for it every day
too. Don't spend too much on fancy gear until you know what you need. That comes from
experience and the trusted advice of others who "been there".
Last but not least, don't underestimate the value of physical fitness to your survival plan.
Talk to your doctor first, then go for a long fast walk every day - take your dog - you'll be
healthier, happier, stronger and better able to take care of anything life throws at you.
Your dog will behave better too.