Hot Disaster Preparation Posts
How To: Make an advanced fire starting kit and use it
A fire is the second most important thing you need to have in most survival situations, so having a good fire starting kit in your wilderness survival gear is crucial. This video will show you a variety of great fire starting tools you can include in your survival gear and how to use them best. These include tea light candles, waterproof matches, cotton balls, and ingenious combinations thereof.
How To: Take into account magnetic declination when using a compass to navigate
If you plan on using a compass as you sole means of navigation in a survival situation, you had better be familiar with magnetic declination and how it affects compass navigation. This video will teach you all about magnetic declination and how you need to take it into account when planning your route on a map with a compass.
How To: Find and use fatwood to start fires in the wilderness
Fatwood is an immense boon for any wilderness survival situation. It's a type of tree that has soaked up tons of nutrients from the ground and is perfect for starting fires. It can be broken down into kindling that will start fires for you time and time again. This video will teach you how to find fatwood and how to use it once you find it.
How To: Make charcloth for easy fire starting with a t-shirt and a metal tin
Charcloth is basically charred cloth (surprisingly enough) that doubles an an excellent tinder source for starting fires. This video will show you how to easily make charcloth out of an old t-shirt, a metal tin, and a fire. Now you'll be able to start fires much more easily at home and in the bush.
How To: Start a fire in the wilderness by using a Fresnel lens to magnify sunlight
The more ways you know to start a fire in the bush, the greater your chances of survival. This video will show you how to use a Fresnel lens, a specialized magnifying glass, to magnify sunlight and start a fire. A more refined application of the magnifying-glass-melting-ants-on-the-sidewalk principle.
How To: Make a wilderness shelter out of USGI poncho
The USGI poncho is a vital part of nearly every US soldiers gear, and can be used for more than just protecting you from the rain as clothing. It can also be fashioned into a shelter for wilderness camping, and this video will teach you how to do it.
How To: Make a durable piece of cord with a roll of duct tape
You're in the wild, without rope or string and you need something to tie down your tent. What do you do? Well, if you have that ever handy roll of duct tape you're in luck. This survival tip shows how to turn a piece of duct tape into a handy length of cord to use however you please.
How To: Use a ferro rod and steel wool to start a fire
Spark it up and learn how to light a fire with steel wool and a ferro rod. This is another method of fire starting which is simple, easy and effective. With your ferrocerium rod, some dry brush, leaves and a gentle breath you'll be on your way to heat, warmth and survival.
How To: Make and set an Asian monitor trap to catch small animals
If you're going to survive in the wild you're going to need something to eat. This video shows how to build what's called an Asian monitor trap, ideal for catching small animals. With a few tree branches, some cord and bait, you could be dining on squirrel tonight!
How To: Identify Flint and Other Types of Sparking Rocks to Light a Fire
If you're going to start a fire in the wild, you will need the right kind of rock. This great little video helps you identify the type of rock you'll need to light a fire in the wild successfully. You'll need some high-carbon steel for striking your sparking rock; then you'll be ready to make sparks.
How To: Make a bandana into a sling for wilderness hunting
You're out of ammunition, you've lost your knife and you need something to hunt with. If you've got a bandana you're still in luck. This short video shows you how to turn your bandanna into an improvised sling for hunting in the wild.
How To: Make a charcloth for lighting fires in the wild
Lighting a fire in the wilderness can be tricky, but having a piece of charcloth can make the task easier. Charcloth is carbonized cotton fiber, which lights easily when exposed to a spark, making your task of lighting a fire in the wild, much, much easier. You'll need a fire, a metal container with a lid and a piece of cotton fabric. Voila, charcloth!
How To: Use cotton wood bark to light a fire with a ferro rod
When building a fire in the wild you'll need some hard steel, a sparking tool, such as a ferrocerium rod and something to actually light on fire. If you have access to it, cotton wood is a great choice. It's dry fibers light easy when exposed to a ferro rod spark and this video shows you how it's done.
How To: Make a simple coyote well water filter
When you're trying to survive in the wild, clean water is an absolute must. This video shows you a simple and easy method to build a basic water's edge, water filter device called a coyote well water filter. Though this filter will NOT remove toxins or pathogens, in an emergency it's an effective way of filtering out the big, nasty stuff.
How To: Ignite a piece of charcloth with a knife and flint
Building a fire in the wild is key to survival. A simple way to get the job done is with a piece of charcloth (carbonized cotton fiber). Charcloth makes for a highly effective piece of tinder to ensure you'll have a warm fire tonight. You'll need your hardened steel, your sparking stone, dry leaves or sticks and of course your piece of charcloth. Get cooking!
How To: Make and use an improvised bola using a cord and 2 lug nuts
Originally used by Spanish cowboys for rounding up cattle, the bola is a simple and effective hunting tool. This video shows how to construct and use this weapon so that you can defend yourself, or hunt something, while trying to survive in the wild. You'll need a piece of cord and two equal weights, like some heavy lug nuts.
How To: Construct and set an Asian bird trap from Laos
Here is a clear, step-by-step guide for building and setting a an Asian bird trap from Laos. This simple and effective trap requires some seeds, a small piece of bamboo, 4ft of cordage, and a young sapling. This trap can catch everything from small birds up to a jungle chicken.
How To: Construct and set up an Asian trail spring trap
When you're surviving in the wild there's no running to 7-11 to grab some snacks. It's all up to you. This excellent instructional video teaches you how to build and set an Asian trail spring trap. Primarily, this trap would be used for medium sides animals as they make their way along a forest trail. The trap requires a heavy object near the trail (ideally a rock, or fallen log), a length of fine, strong cordage, a 4ft piece of sapling and several small branches for this device's triggering ...
How To: Use your flashlight's parabolic lens to start a fire in the wild
OK, your flashlight just died, but wait, don't throw it out! In this quick and simple video, you can learn how to use the parabolic lens from that dead flashlight to start a fire in the wild. You'll need a parabolic lens, some dry ignition material for kindling and you'll need a bright, sunny day.
How To: Make and set an Asian bird trap snare
All North American birds are edible and therefore a good source of meat if you're trying to survive in the wild. This detailed video shows how to construct and bait an Asian bird trap snare. You'll need some 150lb test bankline, some twigs, an available young sapling and something to bait your trap, such as wild berries.
How To: Put together a 10-piece emergency survival kit
Wilderness survival requires smarts, know how and a well equiped emergecy kit to make sure you stay dry, warm and fed. This excellent video tells you what you need to know to put together the essential items of your personal emergency/survival kit. The items include:
How To: Use the dog-bone trigger system for setting various traps
There are a multitude of traps you can set when hunting in the wild, but you've got to understand proper trigger theory or you won't be bringing home the bacon, or the grouse. This informative how to introduces you to the dog-bone trigger, which can be used in ten or more different traps. You'll need a sapling, some bankline cordage, a t-bone stick and a handful of twigs. Learn it up your chances of survival.
How To: Prepare a bug out bag for escaping a disaster
A bug out bag, or BOB, is a prepared bag, usually a backpack, designed to sustain you for up to 72 hours while your escape wherever you are in case of a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or other catastrophe. This video will teach you everything you need to know to prepare an effective BOB that will help ensure your survival.
How To: The FBI on How To Sniff Out Satanic Cult Members
Below, learn to detect the markings of a Satanic cult member. Hard to believe, but yes, this is a bonafide HowTo (truly, it's on the FBI's official list of resources on “Beheadings & Ritual Murders").
News: Rule #1 for Surviving Somali Pirates: Lay Off the Doobie
Though it's unlikely you'll ever have a need for hostage survival skills, it never hurts to take in a few tips on what to do in the event of being accosted by Somali pirates off the Horn of Africa. Wired has tracked down a HowTo guide that addresses such a scenario. Though most of the advice is fairly general, one important point addresses the dangers of lighting up with the enemy:
How To: Save your life by sawing your trapped arm off à la Danny Boyle's 127 Hours
How far would you go to save your life? For James Franco, who plays real-life hiker Aron Ralston in Danny Boyle's "127 Hours", staying alive means cutting off your own arm with a dull pocketknife. If you've seen the movie (or even heard about all the people who fainted and threw up after watching it), you know that it presents one of the most grueling self-amputation and bone breaking scenes in movie history.
How To: Drink water while wearing a Guy Fawkes mask without showing your face
If you've ever participated in a Anonymous protest against scientology or celebrated Guy Fawkes day, you probably know that drinking through a Guy Fawkes mask is tough, especially if you're keeping your identity a secret. Watch this video to hear an Anonymous member explain how to drink water without compromising your anonymity.
How To: Tie the "Asheley's flower knot" flower knot variation
In this how-to video from the TyingItAllTogether Channel, learn how to tie Clifford W. Ashley's flower knot. Ashley is the author and illustrator of a book he wrote about tying various types knots, including ones that he created himself. In his book, Ashley shows how to tie this knot, but does not show in his illustrations how to actually hold and tie the knot in one's hand. This video tutorial seeks to clarify those steps. You will need to begin with a piece of rope folding it in half to eff...
How To: Tie an emperor's hat knot with paracord
For all of you who are knot fans, here comes a video tutorial showing step by step and in detail how to tie an Emperor's hat knot that realistically resembles one of the hats worn by Chinese emperors in the old days. In this video, a white piece of rope hanging from a hook is used against a black background. You will see each one of the twists and turns in slow speed (not in slow motion) so that you can easily follow what is being shown. The final result is a complex knot done in less than fi...
How To: Tie an elastic Solomon bar bracelet with paracord
In this handy knot-tying tutorial from JD of Tying It All Together, we learn how to tie an elastic Solomon bar bracelt with parcord. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started tying round stitched switchback yourself, watch this video guide.
How To: Tie bush bar and belt (alternating KBK bar) knots with parcord
In this handy knot-tying tutorial from JD of Tying It All Together, we learn how to tie bush bar belt and belt knots with parcord. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started tying these knots yourself, watch this video guide.
How To: Tie a perfect "good luck" knot
In this knot-tying tutorial, we learn how to fasten a perfect "good luck" knot—a knot so named because it is said one requires quite a lot of luck to tie it properly. Not so, says video creator TyingItAllTogether. For all of the relevant details, and to get started tying this knot yourself, take a look.
How To: Tie a knarr viking merchant ship knot
In this handy knot-tying tutorial from JD of Tying It All Together, we learn how to tie a knarr knot. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started tying perfect knarr knots yourself, watch this video guide.
How To: Tie a KBK bar fusion knot
In this handy knot-tying tutorial from JD of Tying It All Together, we learn how to tie a KBK bar fusion knot. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started tying KBR bar knots yourself, watch this video guide.
How To: Tie a stitched switchback strap
In this handy knot-tying tutorial from JD of Tying It All Together, we learn how to tie a stitched switchback strap. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started tying round stitched switchback yourself, watch this video guide.
How To: Tie a round brocade or six-flower knot
In this handy knot-tying tutorial from JD of Tying It All Together, we learn how to tie a round brocade or "six-petal" knot. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started tying round brocade knots yourself, watch this video guide.
How To: Survive a Deadly Tornado (Preparation Tips, DIY Safe Rooms & Aftermath Secrets)
Deadly natural disasters can happen at any moment— earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, fires and especially tornadoes. That's why you have to be prepared.
How To: Survive falling into icy waters on seemingly frozen lakes
The normal body temperature in humans is 98.6 degrees. At 95 degrees, hypothermia has already set in. At 86 degrees, you're unconscious. Next, is death. So, when you're on an frozen-over lake, use extreme caution on that seemingly solid ice, because if you fall through, it just might be your last swim.
How To: Make dogbane cordage or Indian hemp
In this tutorial, we learn how to make dogbane cordage. Dogbane is also known as Indian hemp, which is a plant which is used to make cordage. Once you identify the plant outside, you can process it into a raw and finished product. First, you will simply peel the bark off of a branch of the dogbane. After this, you will squeeze along the inside of it and start to peel the layers back. You will then get a bushy type of wood that looks like it's hair. After this, you can tie these together or br...
How To: Prepare for an earthquake (before, during and afterward)
Earthquakes are one of the most dangerous natural disasters in the world, especially in states like Alaska, California, Hawaii and even Oklahoma. And you never know when a quake will hit your area, so being prepared is essential for survival. This short animation details what you will need to be prepared for an earthquake, along with what you'll do during and afterward.