NatGeo Prepper Facts

Episode 6

A four day provisions bag should have a 16 - 21 gallon capacity

Gasoline has a shelf life of 9 months to 2 years (depending on the blend)

German shepherds are the world premiere military, police, and guard dogs. Their bite force has been measured at 238 pound per square inch

Potassium Iodine tablets will keep for 5 years if stored in a cool dry place

To last more than 10 years, seeds must be kept at below 40F and away from moisture
note: when you pull packages out of your freezer, no matter how "air tight" you have them, condensation will begin to build up within the packaging from the product within it in most cases

The Millennium Seed Bank Project in England is the worlds largest seed repository and banked it's billionth seed in April 2007

Only HEIRLOOM seeds is guaranteed to give you seeds which will grow the same variety as you collected them from
ORGANIC deals with the way the plants were grown and collected but does not guarantee that the plant is not a hybrid which might NOT give you the same variety as the plant from which you collect the seeds from

"Survival Seeds" are both heirloom in nature and organic in harvest

Experts estimate that Fukushima released only 1/10th the radiation released by Chernobyl in 1986

Radiation from the Fukushima reactor reached the United States in March 2011 - exposure levels were small and did not cause any fatalities

note: beware of any product/company/person who "guarantees" that anything will last past doomsday - how would collect on that promise if it doesn't hold up?

In a recent survey, 49% of americas said that they were more likely to buy a house with a bomb shelter over one with high-end appliances

A study by the US Army shows that judgement becomes impaired beginning at 10,000 ft ASL
~•~•~•~•~
a few personal observations about this episode:

• while training your dog for security seems like a good idea, bare in mind that (a)certain breeds will raise your home owners insurance (b)if your dog does attack someone or even threaten to attack they can be subject to capital punishment and you will be held liable for medical bills and possible civil awards as well (c)you may have to report that your dog has had such training to your local law enforcement - check your local ordinances/laws

• a case in WI where a property owner set up a device to harm anyone breaking into his property (I want to say it was in 1990), the intruder was killed and he property owner charged and convicted of murder. In most cases, unless your life or another's is in IMMEDIATE peril - that is there is no question about it - you can NOT use deadly force. This means that if you've got a steel door which is 3ft thick between you and the intruder it would be UNLIKELY that they could actually do you harm

• if the "alarm bells" are going off before you leave your home - DON'T GO with the stranger who has called you up. Offer to call them a tow, have them. All a relative, but do not go with them with or without a weapon.

• I wonder what pressure you use at 11,000 ft for canning? I'm not even sure you could do BWB canning for fruits/jellies/jams ... Since the higher you go the lower the boiling point of water becomes.

NatGeo Preppers facts

Episode 4

(as an aside - I think it's interesting that the truck driver in this episode is a retired police officer, yet he says he hates the police - what's up with that?)

Most grocery stores would be empty in 3 days if there was a stoppage of trucks

In a recent survey, 45% of Americans say they collect and store canned food in preparation for a potential catastrophe

Diesel engines average 30% better gas mileage than their gasoline counter parts, and are made to withstand more punishment and last longer

A semi weighs around 105,000 lbs

The defense industry is developing "active camouflage" that detects and projects a vehicles surroundings onto its exterior, rendering it invisible

In 1920's Germany, hyperinflation devalued the currency so much that a wheelbarrow filled with cash wasn't enough to purchase a newspaper

There are 2 million truckers ... There are 2 million prisoners in the US ... Hmm

At 65 mph a semi is bigger and faster than a military tank, but it's weakness is in turns when it must slow down and has a very wide turn radius - 2 cars parked could stop it

In 2009, 859 truckloads were high jacked on American roads - worth almost $500million

(another side note here - they've done studies that have shown you have a better immune system if you do NOT have an immaculate home. Your immune system will already be active and ready. They also found kids who were allowed to eat dirt tend to have less illness growing up because their bodies fought off those germs at an early age and already had an immunity to it - as opposed to kids who were constantly washing their hands nd keeping clean)

Over half a billion passengers flew on US carriers in 2011 well I'm sure that it was only around half this number since one could assume that most of those people were making round-trips and would have been counted twice, if not more for frequent fliers

It would take less than 24 hours for a single infected passenger on a commercial airline to spread the disease to every populated continent of the world (this lets out Antarctica, since there is no native population there)

40% of Americans say they are not prepared for a catastrophe because they can't afford to stock up on certain supplies

The CDC estimates that a pandemic flu outbreak could last up to 8 weeks, infect over 100 million people, and cause death in 1 million of them

When fitted properly N95 masks can filter out 95% of small particles in the air, and are 75% effective against flu germs

80% of infectious diseases, including the common cold, are spread by physical contact

Flu germs can survive for as long as 48 hours or more on some surfaces

According to a recent study, 29% of Americans say they think a pandemic might happen in the US over the next 25 years

For much of geologic history FL was actually under water my brother used to install fences in FL - he says that houses do not have basements there nor do they dig down to set their posts for fences in cement because most of the state is either at sea level or below ... This also explains why hurricane do such big time damage to it

Rice has a shelf life of 2 years when stored properly in air tight containers, in a cool dry place

According to industry sources, 200,000 US homes use some form of solar technology

NatGeo Doomsday Preppers

Hey - where did the Preppers Facts for episode 4 go???

I'm asking the same thing - not only is it not on my blog bit it's not in my draft section either ...

I will have to check my other blogs and see if I accidentally posted the facts on one of them ...

I'll be back!

UPDATE
Not on my other blogs ... Hmmm ... Where did it go?

I will have to see if the episodes are being put OnDemand ...

Sorry

UPDATE
I found where episode 4 went ...

COMCAST ATE IT

Actually the service they use to update their on-air schedule mislabeled the episode as #5 instead of #4 ...

It took a trip to the NatGeo DP website to learn about the mistake though since IMDB didn't have any episode beyond #1 listed ...

What's up with that?

NatGeo Prepper facts

Episode 3
In 2009 the Pentagon admitted to testing body armor by strapping it on live pigs and blowing them up
{on a side note not given on the show, when asked why recruits join the military the number 1 answer was "to blow stuff up" - I got that from a 1990 documentary on PBS}

Shipping containers are a popular proper accessory. They're durable and can carry up to 67,000 lbs, empty it weighs about 10,000 lbs on it's own

According to a recent survey, 20% of Americans have planned an escape route to leave their neighborhoods or towns

Yellowstone Super Volcano facts:
• has erupted 3 times over last 2.5 million years
• average 71,000 years between eruptions
• last eruption 640,000 ago

Scientists estimate that the threat to human life would likely extend as far as South Dakota

There are over 250 million PRIVATELY owned guns in the US (don't know if this includes rifles/shotguns/etc)

according to a recent survey, 25% of Americans say they have done nothing to prepare for a potential catastrophe

A yellowstone eruption would have devastating short And long term effects, but scientists believe the ash fall on NY would be minimum {note: remember the DustBowl, guys!}

MREs are about 1,200 calories and are eaten for a maximum of 21 days

MREs have a shelf life of 5 years

A typical Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) can provide oxygen for 30-60 minutes at rest

in the US, a family of 4 spends on average $200 a week on groceries

The average US family spends over $3000 a year on gasoline {where are they living? That sounds like just afew months up here}

Biodiesel works in any diesel engine with little or no modification to the engine or fuel system

Vodka can reduce irritations caused by poison ivy and jelly fish stings. It's also an insect repellent

Alcohol in general does not have a "shelf life"

Preppers like it as a bargaining tool, as a fuel, as a wound disinfectant, weaponry, and it gets you drunk

According to a recent Gallop poll, 47% of American adults have a gun on their property

Illinois is the only state that does not allow concealed firearms

NatGeo Prepper facts

Episode 2
EMP = Electrical magnetic Pulse

A solar flare could cause a nation wide EMP

1859 an EMP hit the US and Europe, it caused a world wide failure of the telegraph system

In January 2012 (hey that was just last month!) a massive solar storm hit the earth, disrupting communications and causing flights to be rerouted ... when the heck did that one happen? I don't remember this


By weight, trucks move 70% of freight in the US

Three days without trucking would leave the US grocery stores empty ... Probably less than tat as people ran out to hoard things

Hand Warner's contain fine iron filings that deplete oxygen in the air (can be substituted for the oxygen depletion packs for food storage)

dsarti1 is the former truck driver/Prepper in this episode ... Check him out ... His ham radio code id is WC2V

In 2009 the US switched from analog to digital broadcasting freeing up airwaves for emergency personal. oh everyone knows they did it so that people would buy the newer more expensive TVs!

Ham radios run just on the radio frequencies already in the air and can run completely on battery or solar power without dependence on Internet or phone lines -- it will however need some sort of transmitter/receiver antenna

A Faraday cage would protect electronics from an EMP

Massive solar events happen every 150 years - ones he size of the 1859 event occur about every 500 years they think ... that will put the next one in 2359 ... I think we're safe for now ... Unless he Mayans were right

At the end of 2011 cocoa prices went down 30%

Tte foodie Prepper claimed that cheese dipped in food grade wax will keep without refrigeration for 20 - 25 years

A "Pea Shooter" is a firearm with weak fire power

According to NatGeo most economists do not think the US is at risk for hyper-inflation or economic collapse ... I think they need to change their experts

The New Madrid seismic zone is 120 miles and covers several states : MIssouri, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi (or is that Alabama ... The one next to Louisana), Arkansas

During the New Madrid quake of DEC1811- MAR1812, shocks were felt in New York and Washington DC ... there were 1000s, 20 were above 6.5

If stored properly wheat, dried corn, instant coffee, and pasta will stay fresh indefinitely

If a 7.7 mag quake hit the New Madrid fault line, 200 electric/oil/natural gas facilities will be damaged - leaving millions without power
*****
There is a 1:50 chance that a large quake will hit the New Madrid fault every 50 years (there have been several small rumblings lately that people are asking if it's from the frack-drilling happening in he area, if so, this will likely change these odds to even greater likelihood)
*****
The total value of US currency currently in circulation is around $2 trillion, including money in checking accounts ... what they aren't telling you is that the "money" in the checking accts is numbers only, there isn't any real physical money there ... Also this number is a bit off because it does not take into account money in collections that while held off he market, still carries a cash value

The best firewood is a combination of soft wood which ignites easily and hardwood which burns longer

In 2010 CO had over 3500 fires ... They did not say if these were all wildfires or if it included structure fires as well

51% of Americans think a financial collapse may happen in the USduring the next 25 years ...if history is any indication, we won't have to wait that long

NatGeo Prepper Facts

Episode 1
.22 caliber rifle is one of the most common guns in America (makes sense since its a hunting weapon)

North & south poles move each year by as much as 25 miles each year (sometimes massive earthquakes like that experienced by Japan and Sumatra will shift the poles to the point of where airports needs to adjust the GPS systems)

Every 300,000 years, scientific surveys have shown, the north and South poles switch ends ... But they have not determined if the earth completely shifts or if the poles just shift positive/negative forces ... They think the last shift happened 780,000 years ago. Oh oh!

2010 & 2011 saw a spike in magnitude 7+ quakes but fewer total quakes than in recent years

A buildings strength, flexibility, and location all effect it's ability to resist an earthquake

A used shipping containers (like those used on ships) cost about $4000 each

Shipping containers are made to carry 58,000 and stack 8 containers high, so 1/2 million pounds can be stacked in one area.

25 pounds of chicken will sustain 4 people for 6 days (assuming there is nothing else and they eat the minimum requirements)

8 gallons of fresh foods = 1 gallon dehydrated ... Lasts 10 years ... and is a 2 week supply for 4 people

A single for could feed 22 people for a week when properly preserved

FEMA suggests you have 3 days worth of food in your home in case of natural disaster

41% of Americans fell preparing for a catastrophe is a smarter investment than saving for retirement

About 750,000 households in the US are "off the grid"

"Bug out" dates back to the Korean War when soldiers used it to signal a retreat

For general emergencies, FEMA recommends having an evacuation destination that can be reached with one tank of gas

Within the next 30years experts believe there will be a 6.8 mag earthquake along the San Andres fault in CA

In 2011 nearly 9 million people took part in the great CA Shake out, a drill which helps residents prepare for "The Big One"

FEMA recommends that a bug out bag for general emergencies have enough supplies for lasting at least 72 hours

Southern CA experiences about 10,000 earthquakes each year. Most go unnoticed

A key ingredient in aspirin, salicylic acid has been used since the 5th century to reduce aches and pains. Willow tea is often used to treat headaches and pain, willow bark has high concentration of salicylic acid

Other terms in a Go-bag, include bug out, 72-hours and GOOD (Get Out Of Dodge)

INCH bag = I'm Not Coming Home

Cooking does NOT reduce the nutrients in fish but it does kill the parasites!

*****
There is no evidence that a swap of polar energies would effect the Earths tilt/rotation/seismic activity

There has never been a COMPLETE cut off of FORIEGN oil to the US, most of our oil comes from Canada and Mexico ... 1/2 oil the US consumes comes from the US ... There is more than 1 months supplies in the Federal Reserves

There is less than a 3% chance that the earthquake expected in CA will be above a 8.0