Safecastle | One Shop For All Emergency Essentials: May 2014

Food Storage, Emergency Preparedness, MRE's, Freeze Dried Food, Water Storage, Dehydrated Food, Survival tips

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Ready for a Nuclear Event?

by JC Refuge

Revisiting a very practical and handy Rand Corporation book, "Individual Preparedness and Response to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks," we can be reminded of some of the basic how-to’s  involved with nuclear readiness.
To see the entire monograph in pdf form, go to:  http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1731/index.html

Excerpt - Nuclear Attack
"A nuclear detonation has several immediate effects: a powerful blast that knocks over buildings, high-energy prompt radiation from the nuclear reaction, a strong flash of light and heat, and an electromagnetic pulse that may interfere with electronic equipment. The distance those effects are felt from the detonation depends on the size of the weapon and how high above the ground the detonation occurs. In the Cold War, attacks were expected to have involved many strikes with very large weapons (hundreds of kilotons). While it is not possible to predict the characteristics of future terrorist attacks, they are probably more likely to use a single smaller weapon that ranges from less than a kiloton to 10 kilotons and are likely to detonate the nuclear device on the ground, not in the air. A ground burst will have reduced blast effects but will produce a larger footprint on the ground of the highly radioactive fallout cloud, extending possibly tens of miles. This fallout could be lethal to those in its path who are not well protected. Nuclear attacks will also significantly damage infrastructure, not only to buildings but also to utilities, electronics, and other services.
"Timelines. The prompt effects of nuclear weapons are essentially instantaneous—they last for a minute or less. The fires caused by the heat from the detonation start soon after but are not likely to become a broad fire for 20 minutes or more. Radioactive particles from the fallout cloud begin to fall to the ground 10–15 minutes after the detonation near the spot of the detonation. Farther away, the radioactive fallout begins to land soon after the cloud passes overhead. After about 24 hours, all the fallout is deposited. The radioactivity in the fallout is extremely high early on. However, after two days, it will have decreased in intensity significantly (by a factor of 100 compared to one hour after the blast).
"Detection. A nuclear detonation will be unmistakable from the moment it occurs. The bright flash, the widespread physical destruction, the searing heat, and the mushroom cloud are unique. During the Cold War, the attack would have been detected as satellites tracked missiles on their 30-minute journey to the United States from Russia, which would have given individuals a chance to get to a fallout shelter. Terrorists are much more likely to deliver the weapon surreptitiously, perhaps by a truck or ship, rather than by missile. Hence, there would be little chance for early detection and warning.
"Support from Officials/Governments. Government officials would be unlikely to provide support until well after the detonation. Initial activities would include providing medical care to survivors, rescuing people from areas that are safe enough to enter briefly, and informing individuals when the fallout radiation was low enough that individuals could leave their shelters and the contaminated fallout area."

Response Strategy
"In a surprise attack, an individual cannot avoid the initial effects of a nuclear detonation—blast, heat, and prompt radiation. However, the dangers from exposure to the radioactive fallout from the cloud that will form shortly thereafter can be reduced significantly. This will require that an individual locate the area of this radioactive cloud and act quickly. The individual’s overarching goal would be to avoid fallout by either quickly evacuating the fallout zone or seeking the best available shelter.

Recommended Actions
"1. Move out of the path of the radioactive fallout cloud as quickly as possible (less than 10 minutes when in immediate blast zone) and then find medical care immediately.
"Individuals can best protect themselves by evacuating the area where the radioactive fallout is likely to land. This is the case because evacuation provides protection that is full and indefinite and is appropriate for wherever the attack occurs and for different variations in an attack. It makes possible access to medical care, which will be critical to individuals in the blast zone who may have absorbed a high dose of prompt radiation from the detonation or sustained injuries from the blast and heat. It is also low in cost and requires little preparation. The fallout zone is defined as that area in which the fallout will generate 100 rad over 24 hours.
"Evacuation affords such protection because the onset of the radioactive fallout is not immediate but is expected to begin 10–15 minutes after the detonation in the vicinity of the blast and extend for hours as the radioactive cloud moves downwind. Thus, a shortcoming of evacuation in attacks involving chemical or radiological weapons—that it cannot be done quickly enough to provide adequate protection—does not hold in this case.
"Evacuation also protects against the hazard of large fires that may emerge in the blast zone within 20 minutes or so after the detonation and could endanger individuals in shelters.
"The distances an individual must travel to evacuate the fallout zone are not large. Even for a 10-kiloton weapon, a person located anywhere in the region between the blast site and up to about 10 kilometers (6 miles) downwind of the blast site would need to travel less than 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) to evacuate the most dangerous fallout area. Even where the radioactive cloud is at its widest, some 20 to 50 kilometers (10 to 30 miles) downwind, an individual would only need to travel at most about 5 kilometers (3 miles). In this latter case, more than 10 minutes would be available for evacuation because it would take some time for the cloud to reach that distance. Because roads are likely to be impassable for automobiles in many areas because of damage, debris, or traffic, individuals should evacuate on foot.
"The primary considerations for this action are knowing whether one is in an area that may become contaminated by radioactive fallout and, if so, knowing which direction to take. Fallout is likely to cover a portion of the blast zone. Thus, anyone in the blast zone, which will be characterized by severe damage and broken windows even at its outer periphery, is in danger of contamination from radioactive fallout. The fallout zone will extend some 20– 80 kilometers (10–50 miles) downwind, depending on the weapon’s size and the local winds. The downwind fallout zone will be less clearly delineated than the blast zone, but its approximate location can be determined by observing the mushroom cloud and the direction in which the wind seems to be blowing.
"To evacuate from the blast zone, individuals should move directly away from the blast center until they are clear. The location of the center will be apparent from the initial bright flash and subsequent vertical rise of a mushroom cloud. If the location of the detonation cannot be determined quickly, individuals should walk in the direction of less damage, where more buildings are standing and where there are fewer broken windows.
"Individuals outside the blast zone who are in the radioactive cloud path (including those who evacuated in a downwind direction from the blast zone) should move in a cross-wind direction until out from underneath the path of the developing radioactive cloud. To determine the wind direction, individuals should look for the direction that the mushroom cloud or smoke from fires is going and go perpendicular to it. If they can feel the wind, they should walk with the wind in their ears.
"Although individuals may not feel any symptoms, those in the blast zone may have absorbed a high dose of prompt radiation from the detonation. Thus, we highly recommend that such individuals receive immediate medical care once outside the fallout area because such care could be essential for survival.
"2. If it is not possible to move out of the path of the radioactive fallout cloud, take shelter as far underground as possible or if underground shelter is not available, seek shelter in upper floors of a multistory building.
If evacuation is impossible, shelter is essential for anyone remaining in the path of the radioactive fallout cloud. Radiation from local fallout can be intense, delivering a lethal dose to an unprotected person in an area up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) downwind of the detonation within an hour, depending on the size of the weapon. To protect against this radiation, individuals should get as much solid material (dirt, concrete, or masonry) and space as possible between themselves and the fallout, which collects on the ground and roofs of buildings. The best shelter is well below ground level, in the sub-basement of a building, a subway tunnel, or the lowest level of an underground garage. These shelters can reduce exposure levels by factors of 1,000 or higher.
"If an individual cannot get to an underground shelter within the timelines of the arrival of the radioactive fallout, the next best shelter would be in the upper floors of a multistory building (greater than 10 stories) but at least three stories below the roof to avoid the fallout deposited there. Protection is best as far as possible from the outside walls. Such a shelter can provide protection factors of 100 or higher, but it could be significantly less if the windows or structures have been damaged.
"Ordinary house basements provide inadequate protection in areas of intense radioactive fallout because they provide protection factors of only 10–20. However, at distances greater than about 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the detonation, where the levels of radiation will be much less, they could be sufficient. Nevertheless, because it could be difficult to know where you are in relation to the detonation and because the yield of the weapon is not known, the more shelter the better. In all cases, once inside the shelter, shut off all air circulation systems and close off doorways and windows. The room should not be sealed completely, because enough air will be needed to breathe for at least 48 hours. Individuals should remain in the shelter and await guidance from officials about when it is safe to leave, which could take 24 to 48 hours. Individuals should attempt to gain access to their emergency supply kit for use while in the shelter, but it is better to reach a good shelter in time without the kit. The ideal shelter would be prestocked with supplies to support occupants for two to three days.
"3. Find ways to cover skin, nose, and mouth, if it does not impede either evacuating the fallout zone or taking shelter.
Although radioactive fallout will not begin to land in the blast zone and surrounding areas for at least 10 minutes, some radioactive particles and dust are likely to be present from the detonation. Therefore, individuals should take the precautionary step of protecting themselves from this radiation. Respiratory protection can be achieved by using particulate filter masks or other expedient measures, such as covering the nose and mouth with clothing or towels. (See the discussion in radiological attack section.) It is important to note that, in contrast to a radiological bomb, the primary hazard from radioactive fallout is radiation absorbed from outside the body. Respiratory protection steps, therefore, will provide only limited protection. As a result, we recommend that respiratory protection be retrieved and donned but only if this causes no more than a few moments delay in evacuating the fallout zone or finding shelter.
"The radiation in nuclear fallout consists primarily of gamma emitters but also includes beta radiation. Protective clothing provides no protection from gamma radiation, although it can provide significant protection from beta radiation.
"We therefore recommend covering exposed skin but again only if it does not impede evacuating or taking shelter. In this context, any clothing that covers exposed skin and the head is considered protective clothing. Thus, most fully dressed individuals would only need a hat or hood. Protective clothing has the additional advantage of facilitating decontamination by providing a layer that can be quickly removed to dispose of any fallout material that may have accumulated on a person during evacuation or prior to sheltering.
"4. Decontaminate as soon as possible once protected from the fallout. Decontamination can provide protection for anyone who has spent time in the area of the nuclear blast or the radioactive fallout zone by eliminating exposure from radioactive particulates (dust) that have adhered to the body. Decontamination should initially focus on removing outer clothing, including shoes, and securing it in a bag or other container. Individuals should minimize contact of radioactive material with skin and eyes by rinsing exposed skin, removing contact lenses, and showering as soon as possible. Contaminated clothing should be treated or disposed of in accordance with official guidance. Decontamination should be undertaken as quickly as possible but only after an individual is protected from exposure to fallout by evacuation or sheltering.
"5. If outside the radioactive fallout area, still take shelter to avoid any residual radiation. Because uncertainty exists about exactly where the radioactive cloud will travel and where the fallout will land, it is important for individuals outside the apparent fallout zone to take shelter. House or building basements should provide sufficient protection."
__________________________________________
One note on RAND's recommendation to evacuate if at all possible, rather than sheltering ...
If you have a well-built, well-stocked fallout shelter within easy reach, I believe reaching that protection is preferable to evacuation. Why? Because of the uncertainty of what awaits in areas where you might flee to. In my view, it's far better to take the certain safety of your shelter over the uncertain circumstances that await evacuees over the horizon.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Folding Bikes + Free Case + Free Shipping + Huge Savings (up to 30% off), Need we say more ?

Folding Bikes Mega Sale !!  

Members save additional 10% 

Montague folding bicycles are popular, robust, folding street and off-road bikes that trace their 25-year technological lineage to M.I.T., DARPA, and the USMC. 



Not only do you get a folding bike, you get a free case with every purchase (retails $122.00) 









As always you get Free shipping in lower 48 states. 





Add Bike & case to cart, use "FREECASE" at checkout.
Offer Expires 06/10/2014.
Paratrooper !! 




The Paratrooper is one of the many folding mountain bikes that Montague offers. Its patented folding design was developed and designed to allow airborne soldiers to drop out of airplanes and helicopters into combat. 
The 24-speed Paratrooper is advanced with front and rear mechanical disc brakes with brake pad adjustment. 




$849.95 (20% off)


$659.95 (20% off) 

Montague Crosstown Pavement Folding Bike !! 

Spring is finally in the air and it's the time when bikers of all types are getting back on the roads and trails all across the land.

We offer some of the best folding bikes available ­­ made by Montague for pavement or off­road. And right now, prices across the board on all our folding bikes, all the accessories, and even the Quik­Pak folding bike trailer are discounted. 


The new 2010 Crosstown is a one of a kind pavement bike that is perfect for practical
commuting. 

It's an easy to use folding bike offering 7­speeds, 700c tires, and the CLIXTM Wheel Release System. 



Paratrooper Pro Folding Bike !! 


Take your off­road riding to the next level with the Paratrooper Pro. With plenty of gears for climbing and 100mm of travel in the front shocks to absorb the bumps of off­road trails, you'll be ready to tackle the toughest terrain. 




$995.00 (20% off)

Clever integration of the patented CLIX System allows for the Paratrooper Pro to be folded in under 20 seconds without the use of tools. A flip of the CLIX quick release lever on the top tube and the bike folds to a compact size 

This design eliminates the need to break the frame in order to fold the bike. Not only does this make folding easier but it makes this bike the strongest folding bike on the market 
Accessories !! 

FREE    ||   FREE   ||    FREE with purchase 
Carrying Case !!
  
Montague's soft­sided bicycle carrying case, made of 420 Denier nylon, provides great protection at an affordable price. The carrying case features an inner pocket for the front wheel, a direct mount shoulder strap, two side handles, double­layered nylon bottom and the heaviest YKK zipper available. 

Quik-Pak Trailer !! 


When you need quality in a bicycle cargo trailer, one that is ready for a world tour or simply a trip to the market without options, The Quik­
Pak is the one that rises to the top, performance and price wise. 


The 2011 model is beautiful! It comes with quick­release hubs and axle support system, a tighter turning radius, a modified cargo hold, an internal map pocket, a nicer looking cargo lid, plus all the goodies from before. 


$280.00 (20% off) 
 



Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Change is inevitable … Are you ready?

By JC Refuge

Change is inevitable. It's always been so, yet rarely has "progress" been so strenuously dramatic as what we are experiencing in the 21st century.
Change in and of itself causes fear and resistance in most people. We are creatures of habit and we all develop our own little comfort zones from which we view and interpret the world around us. Normally, we can remain largely in control of at least that personal space so that the changes which otherwise encroach all around us are taken on at a manageable pace.
The key to the success of that kind of personal dynamic is that others out there are not too aggressive or insistent on us to change our ways before we are ready to. This allows us to feel that we retain our freedom of choice ... even if the only choice is whether to get on board now or later.

History Suddenly Morphs
Yet personal choice is not always a given. Human history tends to periodically convulse, usually in the form of violent conflict. These historical mile markers show up when the world as it was, is no longer. Contemporary populations are forced to adapt to explosively overpowering realities. World War II comes to mind as a fairly recent example.
Today, revolutionary levels of technological advancement, global access to the new technologies, resulting oppressive multi-cultural compression, and good-old-fashioned human nature in the form of resistance to change, create a volatile mix that seemingly must ignite and explode before it will clear off.
Virtually nothing today in the world is as it was 25 years ago--certainly not international ethnic attitudes, with emerging hatreds of every flavor competing daily for highest-casualty head-count--sometimes literally. And can my recollection be so bad as to be candy-coating memories of not that many years ago when America had many trusted allies and most border crossings were routine and more welcoming than threatening?
It's one big, hot kitchen today. Pots are simmering on all burners and there are plenty of cooks in line to stir them. Tension and mistrust, pride and envy are a few of the base human ingredients being allowed to fold into each other. Worst of all, emotionally rooted belief systems are at odds with each other, being forced into the same recipe--one that is supposed to be suitable for all palates.
We are living this socio-culinary experiment without a plan B. The only satisfaction being found is for those with a taste for violence, and that is being served up in many parts of the world.
Niche groups pushing aggressive, intolerant agendas and imperial despots looking to expand horizons are leading the way. Keeping global order will require a popular level of resolve that quite simply is not in place among the masses who are instead determined to remain familiarly comfortable for as long as possible. Surely, the vast majority of people in the world want to opt for peace, but given the malleable passivity of the various large majorities, significant various violent causes have little to fear, and their momentum becomes virtually unstoppable at some point. Resisting or not resisting that momentum ... either way, the global dynamic is changing radically, in short order.

What Endures?
The question that has no sure answer--what will become of the world? Those of us who prepare for potential crises would like to believe that our own existence will be a positive experience.
But can we be sure? We cannot even forecast with assurance the variables that will determine new realities. But those who feel there is radical change ahead in some form are likely on track.
How comfortable can we hope to be? Will cultural traditions such as family holidays, baseball, and Boy Scouts endure? Will institutions such as freedom to worship and precedence of family continue unaltered? Will representative government and personal liberties remain possible? Will public utilities and food supplies be dependable? Will neighbors open their doors to each other?
There are certainly lots of opinions on outcomes, causes, and effects. In the end, what matters is the moment. Be ready to adapt and make choices quickly based on your values and your position of readiness. At crunch time, you may not have the opportunity to think through options, so it might be best to solidify your philosophical outlook now. I can't spell that out for you and no one else should either.
But one suggestion to take into consideration:  death and suffering is not the worst-case outcome to seek to avoid. It may very well be that a just cause or position of belief is larger than any of us.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Clarified butter (Ghee) is back in Stock !! Limited Supplies.

Clarified Butter (Ghee) ... (supplies limited, place your order now)

We have made a great discovery for your long term food storage - clarified butter (Ghee)!! Many of you have probably heard of Ghee before, as it has been touted for years as an excellent long-term storage item in lieu of butter. 
 
What customers are saying about Ghee 
 
"I never tried Ghee before even though it was recommended to me. When you cook with it, it is butter without the burn and has a heartier flavor than butter. I use it anywhere I would use butter and feel the taste is superior." 

"..this was a great find for us; a good tasting ghee at an affordable price!" 
 
Members get additional $10 off on Ghee, members who signup for our Loyalty program save even more. 

What you get in each Case? 
6 cans of 24 oz each. 

Extremely long Shelf Life !
High Quality pure clarified butter for cooking and Flavor!! 

Ghee does not need to be refrigerated. In the unopened can, the shelf life is 15 to 20 years. Once opened, it will stay fresh for 10-12 weeks at room temperature if you use the plastic lid, and 12+ months if refrigerated. The ghee will stay fresh for a longer period if you use clean, dry spoons whenever touching the ghee so you don't introduce contaminants or other flavors. 


Ghee is healthier for you than almost all cooking oils. Like any clarified butter, ghee is composed almost entirely of saturated fat. Ghee actually has been shown to reduce serum cholesterol in several US case studies. Recent studies have even revealed that Ghee can actually reduce cholesterol. 
 
$109.99 Only
Members get it for $99.99 only 



Tuesday, May 13, 2014

How Prepared Do You Need to Be?

by JC Refuge

“How prepared do I need to be?” That's the question folks who are new to the crisis preparedness avocation ask over and over again.

Typically, they are looking for some kind of mathematical formula ... presumably incorporating some combination of risk factors, household size, skill sets, geography, and tea-leaf analysis.

I have to suggest that the perspective one should take is a bit more philosophical and personal.

Easy Does It

Those I know out there who are very rational and comfortable in their preparedness-related activities have almost unanimously come to one conclusion. That is, prepare until you feel good. The proverbial "zen" of readiness is of course attaining that narrow comfort zone where all suddenly becomes well with the world, at least in your own frame of reference.

Perhaps that's a bit obvious, but really, so many well-meaning preppers get swept way out there, becoming focused on how their worlds might devolve, implode, or disintegrate. In fact, some get so wrapped up in the gloom and doom, that interestingly, they end up subconsciously (or even overtly) hoping for realization of a catastrophe and losing a firm grip on their day-to-day obligations and blessings.

There are no two ways around it ... mathematically, the odds are long against any one of us being flattened by the fickle fist of fate. Potential is always there, but I certainly would never bet the mortgage on a lottery drawing.

Stay real. Stay cool. Being ready is more about daily peace of mind than about obsessing over gaps in your contingency planning.

No one is ever going to be fully positioned for all potential dangers. Just prepare till it feels about right, staying within your budget. Growing peace of mind is the guaranteed payoff we can all reap if we just keep things in perspective.

You decide what level of preparedness feels right, but in my book, feeling right is defined as being in balance.

Thursday, May 08, 2014

Cheese, Butter, Special High-Calorie Storage-Food Value Bundle and more ..up to 30% off

Canned Cheese, Butter and more... 

For those of you familiar with the Kraft canned cheese, you will be real happy with this new cheese from Bega - made in Australia. Although the Kraft cheese is called cheddar too, most customers say it reminds them more of a white American cheese than a cheddar.

Red Feather Real Canned Butter from Ballantyne's in New Zealand
If you have been looking to add REAL butter, not powdered or freeze dried, to your long term food storage program, then look no further!

We have worked out some great deals, check them out and please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions..

Don't forget our Loyalty program which allows you to save even more as a Safecastle customer.

Bega Cheese, Butter up to 25% off 
If you have been looking to add REAL butter, not powdered or freeze dried, to your long term food storage program, then look no further!

We have found a canned butter that is imported from New Zealand that actually tastes better than any gourmet butter we had ever tried - and with an indefinite shelf life, no refrigeration is necessary!!


Red Feather Canned Butter

$195.00 $146.25 (25% off) 



Menu C Military MREs w/ Heaters
 
 
$128.75 $99.00 (23% off)


Bega Cheddar Cheese(Case of 36 - 7oz cans)
  
$160.00 $120.00 (25% off)

High-Calorie Storage-Food Value Bundle (30% off)        

Two cases of canned Bega Cheese (both single serving and 6-serving cans), a case of Red Feather butter, and a case of Menu C MREs..all at maximum discount. 
If you're serious about preparedness, you know your larder needs some quality items that are rich in calories, fat, and protein.  

We're offering the best-value fast fix for that need right now and only for a short time.
 
 
                               
What You're Getting
 
In the four cases, you'll have a total of 108,000 calories! Broken down to 2000 calories a day, that's almost two full months worth! Of course, you want to use these products to supplement the other foods in your storage already. What a way to stretch those foods out and build a healthy, tasty pantry of food that stores for years and years!