Build a basic 2-person, 72-hour emergency kit for $115



When I recommend that people put together some emergency kits, no matter where they live, I often get replies like “Uhhhh, actually, some people are poor and can’t afford to be prepared.”

So I decided to go out and prove them wrong.

For $115 (minus the price of the rucksack, as you can use literally any bag without having to break the bank), I put together a very basic 72-hour emergency kit for two people.

This price does not include the plain household items you should have, like a change of clothes, extra socks, copies of all important documents, some basic toiletries, and a few other items.

Also, some of these picks are not “best in class,” given the strict budget. I’ll break down the choices below.

First up: Some basic survival items

  • 2 emergency blankets
  • Pack of 2 lighters — if for some reason those aren’t adequate, a pack of stormproof lighters. BiC lighters are some of the most useful yet forgotten survival items.
  • 2 emergency ponchos
  • Basic fixed-blade knife

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Now for the crucial matter of hydration

  • 3 liters of water: This is certainly not enough water for two people over three days, which is why we've also included a
  • Water filter: This filter is what they had at Walmart. There are certainly better options, but you’ll have to spend more money on them. While filters like these do work, I find them extremely inconvenient. I would have preferred tablets or a solution, but in the absence of those, this will have to do. You also have the option to boil water, using your matches or lighter and the metal mess kit. I would recommend the bottled water be used as a last resort.
  • Liquid IV electrolyte mixes are crucial to fending off dehydration.

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And food

Water may be more important, but food is still critical. These may not be the most palatable choices, but, again, we’re going for as cheap as possible.

We chose these specifically because you can cycle them into your regular food use before they expire, so you can always keep them up to date.

You can definitely add more food to your kit, but keep in mind that we’re on a budget here.

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Last but not least, some basic first aid supplies

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Again, there are better options, but this is fairly decent for an extreme budget: BleedStop and a basic first aid kit.

All in all, this is definitely a good start. No one says you have to buy it all at once, but this is obtainable very quickly for even those on the strictest of budgets.

If you’re interested in a medium ALICE rucksack, we currently have them in stock for only $49.99. This is a great ruck for a great price, but once again, an old backpack or duffel will do the job as well.

A backpack with everything I've listed above certainly isn't the be-all, end-all of emergency kits; then again, it''s only meant to tide you over for the first 72 hours until help arrives.

Don't hesitate to adapt this for your specific environment and circumstances, as nobody knows your situation better than you. And remember: There is no excuse for not being prepared.

Rob Konrad: Former Dolphin who swam for his family



In 2005, former Miami Dolphin Rob Konrad was fishing alone nine miles off the Florida coast when a wave knocked him overboard. He wasn't wearing a life preserver in 72-degree water — certainly cold enough to become a problem after a few hours. When he couldn't catch his boat (cruising east on autopilot at five mph), he decided to swim west until he reached land.

Sixteen hours later, he crawled on the sand at West Palm Beach, half-dead from hypothermia, dehydration, and rhabdomyolysis. He had swum 27 miles through the night, enduring jellyfish stings, a menacing shark, and two heartbreaking near-rescues.

Although relatively young at 38 and in excellent shape, Konrad was not an especially experienced swimmer. So, how did he manage this superhuman feat?

At the time, endurance swimmer Diana Nyad chalked it up to mindset:

"We're not really talking about a swimming story. We're talking about a survival story. I'm sure his background as an athlete — toughness, having resolve, knowing things are going to be painful — were the saving grace for him."

Konrad also had something else driving him:

“I have two beautiful daughters,” he said, his wife, Tammy, by his side as he spoke to reporters a few days later. “I was hitting that shore.”

We're all adrift, floating on the vast, unfathomable sea of existence, our only choice what to cling to. Becoming a family man might not save your life, as it seems to have saved Konrad's, but it could make it worth saving.

It also helps to have some solid swim training. Two-thirds of American adults cannot swim the length of a 25-yard pool.

The late Terry Laughlin's innovation was to understand this not as a lack of fitness, but as a lack of skill. His Total Immersion swimming program teaches swimmers of all levels to swim with efficiency and ease. Tim Ferriss offers a particularly detailed and grateful review here. Seventy-one percent of the Earth is covered by water; best to be prepared should you encounter some.

How to survive the end of the world in 6 easy steps



While prepping for minor emergencies is stressful enough, a disaster is outright overwhelming.

That’s why Glenn Beck has made it a lot less complicated and laid out the “6 basic steps to prepping.”

“Most people quit before they even begin, but it’s actually really easy and inexpensive,” Glenn explains, adding, “Start with what the government is now ignoring, the basics.”

The first step is building a solid personal finance and health foundation.

“The best way to insulate yourself in an economic crisis is to get as debt-free as you can. We also need to get into the financial position where we can dedicate a few extra dollars every month to advance our prep plan,” Glenn says.

“We also need to make sure that bad health won’t get in the way of surviving when it’s needed,” he adds, noting that being able to walk a considerable distance and carry what you need is paramount.

The second step is getting your home ready for two weeks of self-reliance. This means you’ll need 15 gallons of water per person, 23,000 calories per person, and sources of light. You’ll also need a gun, ammo, indoor heating, a USB powered fan, and medical supplies.

Another incredible tool is a ham radio, which Glenn plans to learn and get licensed on.

The third step is having a bug-out bag, which includes everything from 32 ounces of water, a tarp, a field knife, and very important: cash.

The fourth step is preparing for emergencies away from home. “Exercise your Second Amendment right to protect yourself,” Glenn says.

The fifth step is practicing the skills it would require to protect yourself, like shooting a gun. Last but definitely not least comes number six, which is sharing and building a base with others.

“Share what you’ve learned, build a base of like-minded friends and family,” Glenn says.


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Doctors blown away after Italian man survives being buried under an avalanche for 23 hours



An impressively fit 54-year-old Italian skier managed to do the impossible by surviving almost a full day buried beneath an avalanche, according to Mirror. Not only has the man had to relearn how to walk, he even has his sights set on getting back out on the slopes.

Physicians cannot understand how Carluccio Sartori did not die after an avalanche collapsed on top of him while he was out skiing in the Val Badia mountains in Italy's South Tyrol range. After he was discovered, he was both conscious and able to talk.

The New York Post reported that after 14 months of recovery, Sartori has managed to start walking again and started a careful return to the mountains again.

"I've done a few ski mountaineering trips this year but I continue to be treated by the same doctors, we're friends now. I have some problems with my right hand, but otherwise I'm fine. Not even the doctors can explain how it's possible," Sartori said.

"My right foot had small problems, but it is on the mend. In short, the right hand still suffers from changes in temperatures, even if I manage to close it completely: I am happy to still have it intact."

Sartori's medical team have struggled to understand how he survived beneath the snow for that long. It seemed like a big miracle.

"Not even the doctors can explain it," the 54-year-old said. "I should have died after the first eight or 10 hours."

"When they found me I was conscious and with a body temperature of 23 degrees, everything was working perfectly." In other words, his body temperature was about 73 degrees Fahrenheit, which represents the third "severe" stage of hypothermia.

"For them it was inexplicable. The doctors have said that I have a perfect physique. I play sports, I go mountain biking, but I'm not a fanatic about healthy eating. I don't smoke, it's true, but every now and then I drink wine and beer."

The Sierra Avalanche Association reported that most deaths caused by avalanches are due to asphyxiation, which is heavily dependent on time.

The chances of surviving after 15 minutes is about 95% but the likelihood dramatically decreases to just 37% after just 35 minutes.

Sartori mentioned that there was a funnel that led to the surface of the snow, which allowed him the ability to breathe while physically restrained beneath the avalanche.

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Plane containing a couple and a 2 year old crashed into the woods. A single parachute made all the difference.



A small plane containing a husband, wife, and their 2-year-old daughter took off Friday for Santa Rosa from Shelter Cove Airport in Humboldt County, California. The plane never made it to its destination.

Upon receiving a report of a possible airplane crash nearby Usal Road in Whitethorn around 1:15 p.m., Mendocino County Sheriff's Office deputies — joined by deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, the California Highway Patrol, and other first responders — raced to the scene.

First responders scoured the hilly timberland and found an aircraft torn asunder. While the plane was in pieces, the Santa Rosa family was still together. What's more: the child and her 38-year-old parents made off with only minor cuts and scratches.

Five minutes after takeoff, the 2004 Cirrus SR22 single-propeller plane's engine apparently lost power. According to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, the pilot attempted to figure out what killed the engine but quickly realized the "plane's altitude was too low for recovery."

Fortunately for the family, the plane was equipped with a Cirrus Airframe Parachute System.

"It sounded like it was a last-resort effort," Captain Quincy Cromer of the MCSO told the Press Democrat.

This whole-plane ballistic parachute recovery system, which has come standard on Cirrus aircraft since 1998, fires out a canopy attached to the fuselage that slows an ill-fated plane's descent in the interest of preserving its crew.

Sure enough, the CAPS worked for the family Friday, carrying their plane over to a heavily wooded and mountainous area straddling the Mendocino-Humboldt County line. While their descent was slowed, it was not arrested altogether. The plane ultimately crashed upside down onto the forest floor, losing its tail in the process.

Shelter Cove Fire Department, among the local departments that responded to the crash, emphasized that "even with the parachute the parties involved were extremely fortunate to only receive minor injuries."

SCFD also expressed gratitude "to Cal Fire Fortuna ECC, Whale Gulch Volunteer Fire Company, Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team, USCG Sector Humboldt Bay, City Ambulance, and the quick acting witnesses who aided in locating the victims."

The MCSO suggested that the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident.

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US household incomes have fallen precipitously under Biden, down 2.3% from 2021



The U.S. Census Bureau revealed Tuesday that American household incomes have dropped for a third consecutive year amid decades-high inflation and dwindling purchasing power.

The bureau's new report, "Income in the United States: 2022," indicated that real median household income after taxes fell 8.8% over the first two years that President Joe Biden was in office, while Democrats still controlled Congress.

During the same period, the poverty rate after taxes skyrocketed from 7.8% to 12.4%, and a significant number of Americans slid into the lowest quintile of earners. Over 37.9 million souls are presently living in poverty.

"We saw big increases in poverty across every sociodemographic group," Luke Shaefer, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan, told Marketplace. "The biggest was among children. We saw child poverty more than double."

The report further revealed that before taxes, median household income dropped last year by 2.3% to $74,580, $1,750 less than the median in 2021. That accounts for a 4.7% fall from where it stood in 2019, just prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China.

These estimates are inflation-adjusted.

The report indicated that Boomers and older generations were largely unscathed by the drop, whereas householders under 65 saw a decline in median household income of 1.4% from 2021.

From 2021 to 2022, non-Hispanic white householders saw a 3.6% decline in median household income, while black householders and Hispanic householders saw a 1.5% and 0.5% increase, respectively.

Although all regions saw a drop, the Midwest was most adversely impacted, with a 4.7% decline.

The Census Bureau claimed that this worsening state of affairs "can be attributed to key changes in federal tax policy," specifically the lapsing of the Biden administration's pandemic policies like Economic Impact Payments, which helped drum up inflation in concert with supply chain disruptions and rising energy costs.

Biden rushed to blame congressional Republicans Tuesday for the results detailed in the bureau's latest reports, even though Democrats controlled the House during the years in question.

"The rise reported today in child poverty is no accident," Biden was quoted as saying in a statement. "It is the result of a deliberate policy choice congressional Republicans made to block help for families with children while advancing massive tax cuts for the wealthiest and largest corporations."

Despite the bleakness of the bureau's report, Bill Adams, chief economist at Comerica Bank, told the Wall Street Journal there is cause for hope.

"Shifting into the present and into the future, the prospects are better for wages to make up for some of the ground lost during the last couple of years," said Adams.

As of December 2022, wage growth began to overtake inflation and inflation-adjusted wages reportedly rose by roughly 3% in July, according to data from the Atlanta Fed Wage Tracker and the U.S. Labor Department.

Inflation, while a remaining problem, appears to have slowed somewhat in 2023, going from an annual rate of over 9% last summer to roughly 3% in July.

Notwithstanding the optimism of some forecasters, others fear the president's "Bidenomics" will compound Americans' suffering under his watch.

Milton Ezrati, writing for Forbes, recently cast doubt on whether Biden's proposed "watered-down version of China's Marxist, centrally planned approach to economic organization" will turn out to be anything other than a disaster.

Ezrati is not the only one doubting Biden's capabilities as it pertains to handling economy.

A recent Quinnipiac Poll revealed the majority of Americans think the nation's economy is getting worse, and 58% of registered voters polled disapproved of the job he was doing on the economy.

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Australian man and his dog rescued after floating adrift in the Pacific for nearly 3 months: 'I didn't think I'd make it through the storm'



An Australian man and his dog who were lost at sea for over two months on a busted-up catamaran are now back on dry land following a rescue by Mexican fishermen.

Retired sailor Tim Shaddock, 51, and Bella, the steadfast dog he recently adopted, set out on an ambitious voyage from La Paz, Mexico, in April on his catamaran, the Aloha Toa. His stated aim was to reach French Polynesia, some 3,700 miles away, reported DW.

The idyllic French islands proved to be a dream too far.

A couple of weeks into the trip, a storm battered his ship, destroying its electronics and sending it over 1,000 miles off course in the Pacific Ocean.

Shaddock and Bella survived on rainwater, fish, and hope. The shaggy captain passed the time making repairs on the boat, swimming, and fishing, all the while doing his best to stay out of the sun.

Having "lost [his] cooking along the way," the stranded sailor, whom News.com.au indicated once worekd as a tech specialist for IBM, indicated he resorted to eating plenty of tuna sushi.

The Aloha Toa was ultimately spotted 1,200 miles offshore by a helicopter that was conducting surveillance for a Mexican tuna trawler, reported the Telegraph.

The trawler, named the Maria Delia, pulled up on the lame catamaran to find its skinny captain sporting two hats and a long beard.

In video of the encounter with rescuers, Shaddock can be seen tearfully welcoming the help, clearly overjoyed to see friendly faces.

— (@)

Bella and Shaddock were brought aboard the trawler and given medical attention, then taken ashore Tuesday to Manzanillo, Mexico.

Shaddock was later deemed to be in stable condition despite his dehydration.

"I have been through a very difficult ordeal at sea," he told Australia's 9News. "I’m just needing rest and good food because I have been alone at sea a long time. Otherwise, I’m in very good health."

Ocean survival expert Mike Tipton of the University of Portsmouth told "Weekend Today," "It's a combination of luck and skill. ... And also knowing, for example, as Tim did, that during the heat of the day you need to protect yourself because the last thing you want when you’re in danger of becoming dehydrated is to be sweating."

Tipton likened the chopper spotting the Aloha Toa to finding a "needle in a haystack," adding, "People need to appreciate how small the boat is and how vast the Pacific is. The chances of someone being found are pretty slim."

Shaddock stressed the virtues of his shipmate Bella, which he gave to a crew member of the Maria Della.

"She's amazing, that dog is something else, I'm a bit biased but yeah," said Shaddock. "Bella seemed to have found me in the middle of Mexico, she's Mexican, she is the spirit of the middle of the country and she wouldn't let me go. ... I tried to find a home for her maybe three times and she just kept following me out into the water. She’s a beautiful animal and I’m just grateful she’s alive."

Shaddock added, "She’s a lot more braver than I am, that’s for sure."

The sailor also expressed his deep gratitude for the shipping company whose trawler saved him, noting, "I didn't think I'd make it through the storm, but now I'm really doing good."

According to the company, Grupomar, the trawler was likely headed for retirement, but this way it got a "marvelous farewell, saving human lives," reported the Post.

Antonio Suarez, the owner of Grupomar, told reporters, "Thank God for putting us in the path of a man who could have died."

Shaddock joked with reporters that for his meal celebrating his rescue, he was looking forward to more "tuna sushi."

Rescued Australian sailor and dog finally touch landyoutu.be

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Miracle newborn rescued from earthquake's rubble survives with umbilical cord intact; family perishes



A newborn was rescued from the rubble of her family's home in Syria after one of the deadliest earthquakes in a century, NPR and other outlets reported Tuesday.

"We heard a voice while we were digging," a cousin, Khalil al-Suwadi, told Agence France-Presse. "We cleared the dust and found the baby with the umbilical cord, so we cut it and my cousin took her to hospital," NBC News reported.

The baby and her deceased mother were reportedly still attached via the umbilical cord when rescuers freed the infant from the rubble.

The baby's family, including her mother, father, four siblings, and aunt, did not survive, the cousin told AFP.

The family home in Jinderis, Syria, near the Turkish border, collapsed after the earthquake struck early Monday morning.

Another child whose name is Nour was rescued from beneath rubble and twisted rebar in the same small town in Northwest Syria, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

Nour, who appears to be a toddler, had been trapped the whole day. In the AP's video, a silent-but-alert Nour is carefully extracted from the collapsed building by a rescuer who, at that point in the video, was digging her out by hand.

Tens of thousands of people were injured by the quake, and more than 7,000 people have died, CNN reported Tuesday.

The powerful earthquake hit the region Monday around 4 a.m. local time. The 7.8-magnitude quake struck near Nurdağı in Turkey, along the border between Turkey and Syria, according to the United States Geological Survey. USGS says a 6.7-magnitude aftershock rocked the region just 11 minutes later.

According to USGS' observations, the initial earthquake and aftershocks occurred within the East Anatolian fault system. The area is a tectonically active junction where three tectonic plates touch and interact.

As of Monday evening at 10:30 pm local time, around 30 aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 and larger had been recorded in the area.

Only three earthquakes of magnitude six or larger were registered in the region in the past half-century, USGS says.

“It’s difficult to watch this tragedy unfold, especially since we’ve known for a long time that the buildings in the region were not designed to withstand earthquakes,” said USGS scientist David Wald in a statement.

“An earthquake this size has the potential to be damaging anywhere in the world, but many structures in this region are particularly vulnerable," Wald added.

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Elderly couple survives 2 nights stuck in a swamp without food or water: 'They're going to find bones someday'



An elderly couple in Michigan found themselves in a desperate situation recently when they got stuck in the mud without food, water, or a working cell phone.

On a Monday morning late last month, Butch and Janice Duncan — who are believed to be from Blanchard — were headed to Mecosta County, Michigan, about a half-hour away. However, the couple took a wrong turn down a dirt road, and as they attempted to find their way back, their truck became stuck.

Butch Duncan left to look for help, and Janice stayed in the truck, waiting for him to return.

"It got dark, and I thought, 'He should be back here any time now,'" Janice Duncan told WZZM-TV. "And he didn't come back."

Janice ending up spending the night in the truck. When Butch, who had left without a cell phone, still hadn't returned several hours later, Janice became worried. She quickly scribbled a note about her situation and her general location, left the note in the windshield of the truck, and went out looking for her husband.

She found him stuck in some mud without his shoes. She tried to rescue him but ended up falling in herself.

"You can't walk in. You take one step, and you fall," said Janice. "I'm trying to get to him, and I kept falling and falling and falling."

Her cell phone was apparently falling too. At that point, it had become so submerged in the water that it was no longer operational. All they could do was hope, pray, and yell for help.

"I screamed, I screamed, and I screamed to call 911, get us help get us help," said Janice, "and nobody came."

The husband and wife, who are both in their 70s, ended up spending two frigid nights in the mud without food or potable drinking water, and both began to fear the worst.

"He was getting real shaky," recalled Janice. "He's trying to go to sleep, and I said, 'Butch, wake up! Don't go to sleep!' I told him, 'I think we're done. I think we're going to lay here, and they're going to find bones someday.'"

However, their prayers were answered Thursday morning. A nearby landowner had discovered the abandoned vehicle, read Janice's hasty note, and called police. Authorities then conducted a search for the couple, found them in the swamp, and pulled them to safety. They had been out in the elements for nearly three whole days.

"Thank you, God!" Janice recalled saying.

The Duncans were then placed in an ambulance and taken to a nearby hospital in Mount Pleasant, where they remained for few days recovering from dehydration, exposure, and some infections. They are now doing well.

"The ambulance driver told me, he said, 'If you would have been out there one more day, you'd be dead,'" Janice explained. She warned everyone who hears her story to make sure they always share their whereabouts with friends or loved ones, just in case an emergency arises.

Butch offered other, lighthearted advice: "Don't get old."


Here’s How To Butcher A Chicken In Your Backyard For Dinner

What practical steps can you take to protect your family’s food supply? Here's a short guide to keeping and killing chickens.