March 2020

DON’T MISS: HOW TO STAY HEALTHY WHILE TRAVELLING

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ONE STEP AHEAD

IN THIS ISSUE:

LIFE IN THE FALLOUT OF NUCLEAR WAR WOULD YOU SURVIVE A GLOBAL DISASTER STOCK UP ON THESE FIREARMS WHILE YOU STILL CAN

MARCH 2020

WHAT TO DO WHEN A GUNS PULLED ON YOU RESPIRATORS THAT PROTECT CORONAVIRUS PROTECT YOUR VALUABLE ASSETS FROM A FIRE and more…

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020

Contents FEATURED

HOW TO STAY HEALTHY WHILE YOU’RE TRAVELLING It’s been a pretty newsworthy topic in recent months, but the latest coronavirus pandemic has raised an all-important question. How to protect yourself from a viral disease, when you’ve…

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THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ONE STEP AHEAD If there’s one thing I’ve learnt since we moved to our homestead, is the importance of staying one step ahead. We’ve quickly become pretty self-reliant, but it’s been a steep learning curve…

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WHAT TO DO WHEN A GUNS PULLED ON YOU If you read any article about getting mugged, they all lean towards the same generic advice. You may have had a momentary distraction, from a phone call to something catching your eye…

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RESPIRATORS THAT PROTECT AGAINST CORONAVIRUS By now I’m sure you’ve seen it plastered all over the news, and it presents a rather frightening new reality. The coronavirus, also called the 2019-nCoV, is the latest plague to hit this planet…

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PROTECTING YOUR VALUABLE ASSETS FROM A FIRE Following a devastating bushfire season in Australia, with 18.6 million hectares burnt, 2,779 homes and 34 people losing their lives to the flames, it’s got me thinking about just how…

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LIFE IN THE FALLOUT OF NUCLEAR WAR It’s been years since we were really ever worried about bombs falling from the sky, but that doesn’t mean the threat has gone. There’re nations out there with more than enough…

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WOULD YOU SURVIVE A GLOBAL DISASTER With all the international press scrambling around the coronavirus outbreak, it’s plain as day that we’re still not ready for a threat of the kind of magnitude that’s currently hitting China. But…

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STOCK UP ON THESE FIREARMS WHILE YOU STILL CAN It’s no secret Americans are slowly being turned against guns. The general population is seeing tragedy after tragedy, almost every time the 6 o’clock news is turned on, and they’re starting to…

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BUILD YOUR OWN WALLS TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE There’s been a whole heap of talk about Trump’s Wall, but I see walls playing another important role in our family’s survival, a little closer to home. When you’re trying to keep people from…

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020

HOW TO STAY HEALTHY WHILE YOU’RE TRAVELLING It’s been a pretty newsworthy topic in r e c e n t m o n t h s, b u t t h e l a t e s t coronavirus pandemic has raised an allimportant question. How to protect yourself from a viral disease, when you’ve got no choice but to travel. Some of us have jobs that keep us on the road for weeks at a time, others are frequently in and out of airports, locally and internationally, and it’s important you know how to keep yourself healthy, so you’re not bringing any particularly nasties home with you to your family. Of course, the best defense against a viral pandemic like this is to limit your exposure to the outside world. If you’re not interacting or getting close to other people, the chances you’re going to get sick become almost zero. There’s still a chance of course, but for most of these cases, like coronavirus and the H1N1 flu before it, the virus spread through human to human contact. But sometimes, you’ve got no choice but to venture out in a pandemic, and your only option is to travel. You may have even found yourself stuck in a particular destination when the walls came down, as many Americans found

themselves quarantined after the Chinese government closed off first Wuhan, and then several other districts. Getting home safely is paramount in a crisis like this, and ensuring you don’t get infected yourself. Trouble is, confined spaces, like an airplane or riding a bus or a train give you a much higher chance of getting infected. What you need to learn how to do, is safely navigate your travels without getting sick yourself. KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN With every surface you touch, your fingers are picking up different germs and bacteria. Even the common flu virus can live on a surface for up to 24 hours. That means, if someone coughing all over your tray table, and you’ve been resting your hands on it. Congratulations, your hands may now be carrying the virus. What you need is an antibacterial sanitizer, a gel for your hands to keep them clean, and also some wipes to sanitize anything you may touch, like the arm rests, tray table or even the switches and vents above your head. Wipe it all down before you touch anything.

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DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE Now, even if your hands are infected, the virus is going to need an entry point into your body. If you can stop it gaining entry, you’re going to stay healthy. That means no touching of your face, your mouth, your eyes, your nose or even your ears. Try and make it a habit, and if you must do (like you’re going to eat something), make sure you sanitize your hands first. If the virus can’t enter your system, you won’t get sick.

“Sometimes you’ve got no choice but to venture out…”

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020 cont. START WEARING A MASK The surgical face masks lots of people wear in Asia will block larger particles in the air (like if someone coughs or sneezes on you), however with coronavirus in particular these types of masks are giving you only a limited amount of protection. The virus particles are actually so small they can pass through the masks. What you need is to wear a N95 respirator, these are a thicker and higher quality mask, that when fitted properly will remove 95% of all particles in the air. Which means there’s very little chance a virus will get through. COVER YOURSELF UP In an outbreak situation like this, I would be taking steps to ensure my entire body is as covered as possible. You don’t need to be walking the streets in a hazmat suit (though depending on the crisis people may be), but I would definitely recommend a jacket with the hood up, gloves on your hands, and some form of protection over your eyes. Airborne droplets from a cough or sneeze can make their way into your body if they hit your eyes. So your clothing and even a pair of big wraparound sunglasses becomes a protective barrier, just remember to wash it all thoroughly when you get home. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE Now this isn’t always possible, but if there’s any possible chance you can keep yourself as far from the other people you’re travelling with, do it.

CREATE YOUR BUBBLE

There’s an “effective infection area” around people with a virus like this, and each time they cough or sneeze they create a cloud of bacteria around them.

You’ve disinfected the area, but the last thing you can do is to reach up and turn all of the air vents on full blast, aiming them at your face.

You want to be at least 3 feet away from anyone showing symptoms, and if you have a choice, 3 feet away from all other people.

E ve n t h o u g h t h e a i r i s l i ke l y recirculated on a plane, it is still being filtered, and this breeze straight out of the air system will create a little bubble of air flow around you.

It’s worth paying the upgrade for a more expensive seat, or moving right to the back. Oh, and try to score a window seat too, this’ll help you to keep a distance from anyone walking the aisles.

Finally, you need to create your own little bubble and stay in it.

Helping to push any airborne nasties away, so you’re breathing what’s r e l a t ive l y c l e a n e r a i r. A n d I ’d recommend staying in your seat too.

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Getting up to use the bathroom is to be avoided at all costs, it’s one of the most bacterial-infected areas on all public transport. Make sure you go before you board. Being out in public during a pandemic is a scary thing. You never know who you’re going to come in contact with, and worst of all, whether or not they’re even sick. In the case of the coronavirus, you can go 14 days without showing any symptoms at all, while still being highly contagious to everyone around you. If you do need to travel, take these precautions and ensure you’ll stay healthy until you make it home.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ONE STEP AHEAD If there’s one thing I’ve learnt since we moved to our homestead, is the importance of staying one step ahead. We’ve quickly become pretty selfreliant, but it’s been a steep learning curve and I’ve definitely made my fair share of mistakes as we learnt the ropes out here on our land. But staying a step ahead is more than having thousands of gallons of water stored, or stockpiling 12 months’ worth of rice and beans in your cupboards. Of course, these two would be quite handing in a crisis, but putting yourself in a position of always thinking ahead gives you a number of advantages, both today and after the SHTF. SAVES YOU A SECOND TRIP Now I didn’t realize it until I started checking this with my fitness band, but I was spending a huge part of my day making trips to and from my home, my work shed, and our paddocks, which is about a mile and a half round trip between them. Getting a lot of steps in (and burning fuel in the truck), but wasting one to two hours a day because I wasn’t planning ahead. This last winter I decided to change that, decking my work truck out with all of the common bits of gear I was using to fix fences, bring down felled branches and every other task along the way. So, when I noticed something wrong, I had the equipment with me to fix it then and there, without needing to make a second trip. I actually feel like I’m on top of things now as we start heading into summer. SAVES YOU MONEY When you’ve got a good idea of the things you need to buy in the coming months, planning ahead helps you keep an eye out for the best deals that may crop up. We’ve listed out all the jobs that need doing around our house, from retiling the bathroom to fitting walls and furnishing our new guest house.

My wife actually enjoys scouring craigslist for the best deals, and we’ve picked up everything from a barely used sofa to a cheap-as-chips washing machine that was a definite upgrade to the one we had prior. Even Black Friday deals offer some amazing discounts if you know exactly what you’re looking for. I’m surprised at just how many deals we’ve found, and there’s been plenty more we’ve said “no” too because we simply don’t have the space. It’s amazing what people are almost giving away for free. SAVES YOU DOING WITHOUT I’ve got this rule when it comes to my gear, and it’s that two is one, and one is none. It’s a motto from the military but on the homestead, it definitely applies. Things break, things go wrong, and often (like this past winter when we were completely snowed in), you’re on your own. If you’ve not got a backup plan, a contingency or whatever you want to call it, you’re going to have to make do without unless you were smart enough to plan ahead. We lost power for almost a week, but were completely content as our solar system picked up the slack, which was a welcome relief to sitting in the dark the entire time. That’s a definite improvement over the winter before, where we were cooking outside during snowstorms as our gas went out and there was no other option. Plan for things to go wrong, and when they do, it won’t be an inconvenience at all. SAVES YOU SCREWING UP This is a lesson my dad taught me, and while he’s never been the fastest handyman around, the level of care he puts into his work is impressive. If you’re doing a job, always try to think two steps ahead. It’s more than just having the right tools and equipment on hand, my dad taught me that anything worth doing is worth doing right, and I still follow that rule to this day. Do your jobs well, so you’re not ever going to have to re-do it.

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If I’m building something, it’s tough enough to survive a SHTF event. In fact, I think the chicken coop I built is tougher than the shed, but that’s neither here nor there. Building things to last is like giving your future self a break, as it takes a little longer yes, but you won’t have to circle back and fix it. Thinking ahead means doing it right the first time. SAVES RISKING YOUR NECK Finally, and this is important too. Being a step ahead with your survival planning means you don’t need to risk your neck when things go wrong. Because you’ve planned for the possible outcomes, you’ve already stockpiled the gear, equipment and food supplies you need. Because you’ve built your home to last, augmenting all of your preparations with systems that enable you to be entirely self-sufficient. We’ve gone months at a time without seeing a single soul. It’s surreal at times, but I see it as a definite advantage should there ever be a crisis in my local area. Because I know, we’ve got everything we need to survive, already in our home. We’ll never have to go out and risk our necks for a plate of food, or a key piece of equipment that’s broken and needs fixing. We’ve got our bases covered, and to me, that’s vital. I like to think of my whole survival mindset as being a step ahead. But more than just surviving, when you develop this kind of attitude in your life, it’ll save you time, money, and give you a distinct advantage should you ever need it in a SHTF event.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020 DON’T GO SOMEWHERE ELSE Now it’s worth mentioning here that this step is where things get tricky. Criminals know you’ve probably got more cash in your ATM cards than your wallet, and may insist you to head to a nearby ATM and withdraw more. I’d recommend doing it. But I draw the line at going further, like getting into a car or driving to a second location. In this scenario, your chances of being shot and getting dumped in a ditch skyrocket, especially if they’re taking you out of the city and somewhere remote. This is extremely risky. DRAW YOUR OWN WEAPON

WHAT TO DO WHEN A GUNS PULLED ON YOU If you read any article about getting mugged, they all lean towards the same generic advice. You may have had a momentary distraction, from a phone call to something catching your eye in a shop window and like that, you’re face to face with an opponent, intent on taking everything you have. What do you do when they’ve got a gun pointed right at your face? SEE IF YOU’RE REALLY ALONE Most criminals are looking for an easy score, and that doesn’t involve killing their intended targets. They just want to rob you, and get back to their day. Without drawing any unwanted attention on themselves. So, if you’ve let your situational awareness slip and someone has pulled a gun on you, check if you’re really alone. Other people in the nearby vicinity may be enough of a deterrent that you can walk away. Just quietly and calmly tell your opponent there are witnesses, and it doesn’t need to be like this. All we need to do is walk away and you can pretend this all never happened. GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT If there’s no one around to help, my advice is to just do what you’re told.

You can’t outrun a bullet, and even if you’re in close quarters, trying a fancy move to disarm your opponent is most likely going to wind up with you getting shot. I’ll say that again. Just give the mugger what they want, as most of the time, it’s going to be something easy. Your phone. Your wallet. But try to avoid getting too close, and if you can, toss your belongings over, or slide them on the ground. If they grab you you’re going to find yourself in a lot more trouble. STAY CALM WITH NO SUDDEN MOVEMENTS You’re going to be frightened, sure, but don’t forget the racing set of emotions going through your opponent. They may be high or using drugs, which can make them overly suspicious, edgy or even panicked. You need to stay calm, and make comforting controlled movements as you follow their instructions. The last thing you want to do is freak out the person with a gun pulled on you, and get a bullet for your thanks. Most armed robberies you will escape without injury, so long as you don’t do anything to further agitate your attacker. Be calm, and slowly give them what they want.

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If they’re insisting you come with them, you’ve really got little choice but to fight back. This is where having your own concealed carry firearm is a smart idea, as it helps to balance the scales. Of course, the winner is going to be the one who can get the short off first, so I wouldn’t immediately go for your weapon. Wait for the right moment, where you can catch your attacker off guard, perhaps they’ve been distracted by a passing car, or another passerby, and get your weapon out to fire before they know what’s what. FIGHT WITH ALL YOU’VE GOT Distractions here are critical, and use that lapse in concentration to attack with everything you’ve got. The first objective is the gun, either slam it down (or up) to change the trajectory, doing your best to knock it from their grip. Then attack with speed targeting all the delicate areas, like the groin, eyes and throat, and if possible, get control of the gun once your opponent is out for the count. This is highly dangerous and should only ever be done as a last resort, because there’s every chance they can take a shot before you get close. And that’s a risk you shouldn’t take unless you have no other option. Finally, if you do manage to escape unscathed it’s time to call the cops. Let them know what happened, the description of your attacker (things like their height, eye colors and any distinguishing marks) to help track this criminal down are all wor th remembering. Oh, and make sure you cancel your credit cards as fast as possible. And stay with a friend until you can get a locksmith in to change the locks on your home. You never know what crazy ideas your attacker may have when he knows where you live, and has the keys to your home.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020

RESPIRATORS THAT PROTECT AGAINST CORONAVIRUS By now I’m sure you’ve seen it plastered all over the news, and it presents a rather frightening new reality. The coronavirus, also called the 2019nCoV, is the latest plague to hit this planet.

T H E I M PA C T O F T H E CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

PROTECTION WITH A SURGICAL MASK

Right now, there are several cities in China on lock down, with quarantines and strict border controls in place.

Over the last decade these types of masks have become popular in Asia.

We’ve seen pandemics before, and they’re always a challenge because they throw a curve-ball at even the best-laid plans. Because you’re fighting a microscopic enemy.

The virus is already international (and this is different to many similar pandemics we’ve seen to this day), because coronavirus is contagious before any symptoms present.

It’s not people you have to keep at bay, but tiny particles hiding in the very air we breathe.

That’s right, you can be infected, and spreading the coronavirus for up to 14 days before you get the first signs of any symptoms.

The good news (at least for us here in the United States), is that there are still only a handful of cases, and the chances of you contracting this particular strain of the disease are still quite low.

That’s how it spread so fast. People simply didn’t know they were sick, so they acted normally. Infecting more and more people.

Across the ocean however, the situation has already become rather dire.

That’s why the local governments have made it mandator y (in several jurisdictions) to wear face masks while being out in public. Because it spreads through us. When we cough, sneeze, or simply breathe, we send tiny droplets of moisture into the air.

And it’s not hard to imagine if there were to be a breakout on American soil, just how rapidly things can take a turn for the worse. It’s critical now (more than ever) that you’re ready.

Likewise, you breathe these in whenever you take a breath. Wearing a face mask then should be a form of protection, but how much do the masks actually offer?

So low in fact, the CDC doesn’t recommend taking any precautions at this stage, unless of course, you’ve recently visited China.

The crowds of people, especially on public transport, have made it a necessity to protect yourself against everything from colds and flus, to more serious illnesses, and it’s quite common to see people of all ages wearing surgical masks (some companies now even offer fashionable masks, with certain styles and fancy prints to cater to this demand).

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“People simply didn’t know they were sick…”

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020 cont. Trouble is, surgical masks don’t really do a heck of a lot. In fact, they’re mostly designed to stop large droplets from a surgeon’s mouth or nose from infecting the person they’re operating on. But because they’re quite loose fitting, and the coronavirus particles are microscopically small, these masks do very little to stop you breathing the virus in. At least, that’s what the team over at the CDC are saying, and I’m inclined to trust the experts. Where these masks do help is preventing an infected person from spreading the virus further. Because you’re containing the droplets and moisture that comes with every cough them make, limiting the exposure risk they present to everyone around them. When you, or someone in your party is sick (even with just a respiratory illness), it’s good common sense to get them wearing a surgical mask as a precaution against infecting everyone else. PROTECTION WITH A N95 MASK What the CDC does recommend, is the use of a N95 mask. In fact, they’ve released guidelines for any healthcare professional working around patients who have coronavirus to wear these specific respirators. Now they’re not perfect, but worn correctly, a N95 mask will filter out 95% of all particles in the air, which greatly reduces the chances you will breathe in an airborne virus, like the coronavirus. Of course, it’s not completely foolproof, for these specific respirators to work properly they need to have an airtight fit around your nose and mouth (doctors are actually trained every year on the correct ways to fit these masks, that’s how important it is), and I can tell you from my own personal experience, you don’t want to be wearing these for a long period of time. It’s harder to breathe, and it very quickly gets hot and sticky as you wear it. But it’s the best form of air protection you can hope for in a pandemic.

REMEMBER TO STOCK UP EARLY Now, we talk about this a lot when it comes to prepping, but the best time to get your house and your stockpile in order is before the SHTF. It’s almost impossible to buy N95 respirators in Asia at the moment, and the price has skyrocketed from $10 for a pack of 10, to anywhere from $6 to $10 a piece. You read that right, people are profiting from those who didn’t prepare, because there simply isn’t enough supply to meet the demand. China (who manufacture the vast majority of these masks) have even asked the international community to donate more. To me, that’s crazy.

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They’re the biggest producer yet even with factories scaling up production, back to back shifts and machines working 24/7, they can’t simply produce enough masks to protect their people. Even in the United States and i n E u r o p e, s t o ck s a r e a l r e a d y disappearing from stores as people stock up. If you’ve not got respirators in your stockpile, it’s going to be worth looking for these on your next supply run. You’ll never know how fast the stores will run out, and if the pandemic continues to gets worse, or the infected rates in the United States continue to rise, having your own supply of masks could very well be the thing that keeps your family from getting sick. It’s a must-have piece of gear in my eyes, and I highly recommend you sort this out sooner (rather than later).

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020

PROTECTING YOUR VALUABLE ASSETS FROM A FIRE Following a devastating bushfire season in Australia, with 18.6 million hectares burnt, 2,779 homes and 34 people losing their lives to the flames, it’s got me thinking about just how prepared my home is to battle a fire. Of course, there’s not much you can do when the winds are sending giant walls of bushfires burning towards your home, but there’s a few things you can do to protect your valuable assets from a fire. P R E PA R E F I R E - F I G H T I N G SUPPLIES For starters, it’s a good idea to have basic fire-fighting supplies on hand. Things like fire blankets should be kept in close proximity to danger areas (like the hotplates in your kitchen), because for most people, this is where a fire is most likely to start. We’ve also got two different kinds of extinguisher, both in the kitchen and in the garage in my workshop, to help contain any smallblaze that may start. It’s not much, but being able to stop a fire from spreading further could make all the difference in keeping your house from burning. CLEAR THE AREA AROUND YOUR HOME Now, we’ve actually done this for two reasons. It gives the kids plenty of room to play around out property (we’re out in the boondocks so there’s no shortage of space), but it’s also for security. There’s no way to approach our home unseen, it’ll all get caught on the spotlights (at night), or trigger our cameras and alarms during the day. But for bushfire prevention this is a good practice to follow, as there are no trees or other material (except for our actual home) that could add fuel to the fire. FLAME-PROOF YOUR HOME Obviously, our bug out cabin that’s built out of pine logs is going to be one

of the first things to go in a fire, but that’s neither here nor there. We’ve taken steps to keep our home as flameproof as possible, opting to build it from a steel frame and brick instead of a cheaper timber frame and boards, and installing flame-resistant roofing tiles. Every external door is metal, and we’ve even got steel shutters to fortify our windows. Not only does it make our home more secure against other disasters, we’ve done our best to ensure it doesn’t go up in flames during a fire. REMEMBER THE AIR QUALITY With the surrounding areas burning, you’re going to be inhaling smoky air which can cause a whole host of problems, especially if you’ve younger children. Keep all of your windows closed, doors shut, and ensure any cracks are sealed to stop the smoky air getting in. Keeping an air conditioner running is a good idea (if you’ve got the grid capacity to power it), just remember to block off the intake valves so it’s not pulling in smoky air, just recycling the clean air you’ve got inside. Oh, and we’ve got an air purifier too that we can run, just in case. It doesn’t get used much, but it works wonders when there’s smoke in the air. UNDERSTAND YOUR ABILITY TO FIGHT We’ve drilled a well on our property and also have a large dam we use for both water storage and irrigation, and as part of our desire to go “off-grid” we’ve installed a pump house in our back shed that brings this water up to our home for use. So, there’s plenty of water, and last summer I picked up a rolling sprinkler system designed for the cornfields. It makes watering our meager crops a breeze, but it also gives us the ability to spray a ridiculous amount of water on and above our home as a last line of defense.

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PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES We’ve actually invested in a fireproof safe, it’s much smaller and designed for documents only, and we keep that inside our normal safe. I think of it as the double-walls of protection, but it helps set my mind at ease that if a fire were to take our home, all of our important documents, passports, and the few family heirlooms we have would be safe from the flames inside. HAVE AN ESCAPE PLAN Finally, it’s important to consider your last resort. How you plan to get out of dodge should the fire take a turn for the worse and start heading directly to your house. Leaving it too late to leave can be a death sentence, as the heat and the smoke can be almost impossible to survive in a bushfire, so make sure you’re monitoring the situation carefully, and you know exactly where you’ll be headed. We use a pre-packed crate system to speed up our bug outs, but in a highrisk fire scenario like this, you can bet my car will be packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice, should we ever need to evacuate. Fighting to protect your home is not a smart idea, if you lose your life in the process. Protecting your valuable assets in a fire is all about forward thinking. Having the means to fight back against a smaller fire that may present, keeping your valuables in a fireproof safe, and taking steps to ensure you’ve got the best possible chances to survive. Sometimes that may mean you do need to evacuate, and if that’s the case, don’t hesitate to do so. The most important asset you need to protect, is your life. So be careful with it.

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020 THE OZONE LAYER DIES Using just 0.3% of the world’s nuclear arsenal could destroy 50% of the world’s ozone layer, making even basic farming an incredible challenge as the harsher beams from the sun burn all of the crops growing underneath. It’s a dangerous cycle once it starts. THE PEOPLE STARVE Without the ability to grow crops, we can expect the vast majority of the population to starve as there will simply not be enough food to go around. Yields will drop as the punishing UV radiation kills good farming lands, and the lower temperatures shorten the growing seasons. Even the oceans would suffer, as fish are contaminated and become dangerous to eat. THE PREPARED SURVIVE

LIFE IN THE FALLOUT OF NUCLEAR WAR It’s been years since we were really ever worried about bombs falling from the sky, but that doesn’t mean the threat has gone. There’re nations out there with more than enough capabilities to launch an attack on U.S. soil, and in my opinion, one topic that never really gets enough play is what life would look like in the aftermath of such a disaster. Here’s what you can expect in the aftermath of a nuclear attack. THE RAIN TURNS BLACK As the ash from the nukes hits the atmosphere, it’ll darken the rain that begins to fall, turning everything a nasty shade of black. It’s radioactive fallout, and once it starts falling it’s highly radioactive, contaminating everything it touches, from the plants in the ground to the people it falls on. It’s like a sticky, black mess, that ultimately leads to radiation poisoning, in all of the areas it falls. And these clouds can travel hundreds of miles before releasing their payloads on the unsuspecting people below. THE GRID GOES DOWN The pulse of electromagnetic radiation that shoots out from the blast of a nuke has another devastating effect, working to fry the circuits of any electrical device in the blast radius.

Considering tests have shown this to reach devices up to 1,000 miles away, even one blast would have a farreaching effect, as computer systems, refrigerators, it all goes dark. In the movies they call devices that do this an EMP, and it’s a phenomenon that occurs with every nuclear device that goes off. It’ll send anything in the blast radius back to the stone age. THE FIRES WILL START The amount of energy hitting the blast area is enough to cause almost everything inside to burst into flames. Homes, forests and everything else will be incinerated, sending up huge clouds of toxic smoke into the atmosphere. With each blast creating a thick black cloud almost 10 miles wide, the combined effect will temporarily black out the sun. Launch enough nukes, and the combined smoke will send the entire country dark. THE WORLD GETS COLD In a total nuclear holocaust, with multiple nuclear attacks launched, the combination of the thick clouds that block the sun will quickly start dropping temperatures. It’s been estimated the global temperatures could drop as much as 36 degrees in a worldwide nuclear apocalypse, turning our prime growing seasons into winter.

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There’s a reason we tell people to stockpile food, and even during a nuclear apocalypse your supplies should remain fit to eat. If it’s tinned, bottled, in jars or has been effectively sealed in tight packages will mean it’s generally safe to eat, even in the aftermath. THE RADIATION KILLS Anyone not immediately killed by the bombs will face a far scarier disease, as cancer rates skyrocket amongst the survives. All of the radioactive particles released from the explosions will enter the atmosphere, falling all over the earth. If you breathe or consume these particles, there’s a good chance you will get bone cancer, and any second generations will have a whole host of different birth defects and shorter life spans. It’s not an immediate killer, but it’s also not a good outcome for us humans either. THE PEOPLE SURVIVE In the aftermath of a nuclear war we can expect billions to die. They simply aren’t prepared enough, haven’t had the foresight to plan ahead, and lack the supplies, skills and ability to survive in the new world we’ve created for ourselves. If we can make it 20 to 30 years, the temperatures should start returning to normal, and life will begin again. But it won’t ever be the same, and neither will the survivors. But there is hope, because even the experts expect small core pockets of humanity to survive. The question, is whether or not you’ll be one of them. Isn’t it time you started getting prepared?

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020

WOULD YOU SURVIVE A GLOBAL DISASTER With all the international press scrambling around the coronavirus outbreak, it’s plain as day that we’re still not ready for a threat of the kind of magnitude that’s currently hitting China. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have to be. In fact, there’s a few things you can cater to in your plan to help your family survive a real-life pandemic. STOCK UP ON CRITICAL SUPPLIES It’s a no brainer, but a particular subject that far too many people fail to implement in their day-to-day lives. If there was an announcement, right this very minute, that a virus was spreading and from 6pm tonight every person will be under a strict curfew to stay in their homes. What do you think would happen? Absolute pandemonium as people rush out to buy “just a few more things” before the shops close. Right? We see it almost every time there is a disaster or a localized emergency. Your job is to prepare in advance, stocking up on the supplies you need now, before the SHTF. So that if the worst does happen, you’re not fighting the crowds or facing empty supermarket shelves. You can simply head straight home and take care of your family. The last thing you want is to be one of the tens of thousands of people in a complete panic, because you’ve not got enough food to survive.

“Other people are your worst enemies in a crisis like this…”

BE AS SELF-SUFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE In addition to a couple of months’ worth of food and water (at a minimum), it’s a smart idea to have plans in place should you be facing a disaster that goes on longer than this. Eventually, even if you’ve got a year’s supply of food, this will run out if you’ve got no way to replenish what you’re consuming. Small things, like rain catchment systems, gardens and even raising animals like rabbits for food can help you to be more self-sufficient. And that’s before we even talk about the grid. For the vast majority of us we rely on the city grids for power, water, and even sewage disposal. In a crisis, there’s no guarantee these services will continue to run, especially if all the maintenance workers have left to go take care of their families. Put plans in place to ensure your home is completely self-sufficient, so that no matter what, you’ve got lights, heat, and a means to stay sanitary. AVOID CROWDS OF PEOPLE Depending on what’s happened, probably the scariest element you will face is other people. In a pandemic like coronavirus, there are people right now, going around trying to infect others. Coughing, spitting and infecting every public surface they can. It’s disgusting to watch, but it highlights a particularly scary fact. People are your worst enemy, and in a crisis, other people should be avoided at all costs. You never know what they’re planning. That’s why I want you to be stocked up on supplies, and be as self-sufficient as you can in your own home. Because in a crisis you can simply hunker down inside, riding out whatever pandemic you are facing without needing to venture out into the world. Other people are your worst enemies in a crisis like this. GET READY TO FIGHT BACK Once a few days have passed this is when things will get particularly dangerous, as that’s when everyone who hadn’t made plans will start getting very, very hungry. They’ll be looking to scavenge and steal whatever they need to keep their own families fed, and you ultimately are going to have to make a call. You’ll need to be ready to fight back to keep your family safe. Now is the time to start preparing your weapons stockpile, getting the firearms, ammunition and all of the other tactical gear that will give you any advantage you can.

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Once a crisis hits it’ll be too late to prepare, and if you’ve not got the weapons you need to keep your family safe, you’ll struggle finding them at all when a disaster strikes. DON’T RE-INFECT OTHER PEOPLE Right now there’s a growing list of countries which are restricting entrants for any visitors who have been in China within the last 14 days. And for good reason, the coronavirus can infect p e o p l e a n d l e ave t h e m h i g h l y contagious, during the initial 14 day incubation period. In a pandemic like this, you need to be ready to create your own quarantines. We’ve got an ample supply of medical equipment, but also the plastic sheeting, and procedures in place that can quickly turn our garage into a “quarantine zone,” on the off-chance someone in our family does get sick, we can still keep them close to care for them, without putting the rest of the family at risk. For a pandemic like coronavirus, this is a very smart strategy, because when you run the numbers, it’s been family members of those infected who have been given the virus. I for one, would never want my kids to suffer like this, and it’s critical you’re not reinfecting other people. Of course, surviving a global pandemic like this does have an element of luck. For all of the people who were unfortunate enough to be in Wuhan when coronavirus broke, it is indeed an unfortunate turn of events. But following these guidelines, minimizing your contact with the outside world while living off your stockpiled supplies, is going to be your best chance to surviving a disaster like this, if you find yourself in the epicenter of the dead zone.

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STOCK UP ON THESE FIREARMS WHILE YOU STILL CAN It’s no secret Americans are slowly being turned against guns.

(hint: it’s not going to be any good for you at all, or me either for that matter).

The general population is seeing tragedy after tragedy, almost every time the 6 o’clock news is turned on, and they’re starting to demand something be done, and be done quickly.

But I can tell you this, now’s the time to start stocking up on the firearms you actually need.

This tide is being felt in politics, and while there are groups of us pushing back, like the thousands of us who marched in Virginia at the end of January, there’s no question times are a changing. And it’s because of this shift, that I’m writing this article today. Because I know, when the SHTF we’re going to be left on our own. We’re going to be the ones who need to defend ourselves when the police, the army, and the general population are hungry, and demanding what’s rightfully ours. And without a means to fight back, well, you can quickly imagine what this is going to look like for the people who can’t defend themselves.

AR-15S AND OTHER SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLES It’s quite clear the AR-15 is one of the most popular rifles in the United States and for good reason. It’s easily modifiable and simple to maintain, and despite what they tell you, they’re hardly ever used in homicides (handguns are more easily concealed, and what most criminals choose). Now is the time to buy the rifles you need for your weapons stockpile. LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES Another item on the chopping block is the magazine size.

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Most firearms in the United States can accommodate large capacity magazines, even law enforcement officers have 15 or 17 round magazines in their duty sidearms. The new laws would make these magazines illegal.

“The AR-15 is one of the most popular rifles in the USA…”

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020 WHAT’S HAPPENING TO THE GUN LAWS? In an attempt to curb mass shootings, or at least, limit the amount of damage one person can inflict on a crowd, the politicians are trying to push through some quite draconian changes to our gun laws (and they’re moving ahead quite fast in Virginia). Primarily, a total ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Trouble is, they’re looking to overturn decisions made decades ago. Today, since AR-style automatic weapons first came on the market back in the 60’s, there’s been an estimated 8-million of these bad boys sold. In the market, in the hands of the general population, just waiting to be used. And even if the laws change, making it harder to buy the ammunition or even the assault rifles, I won’t bet the safety of my family on the fact the guys who will actually use these weapons of war to do terrible things – that they’ll just give their assault rifles back. The ones who are going to get screwed with all this are the guys like you and me, who want to abide by the laws. We’re disarmed (at least as far as the boys in blue know). This is the crux of the issue, the changes they’re proposing will make us felons for having guns and accessories that are commonly available today. With that in mind, and assuming the tides of change don’t swing in our favor, there’s a few different firearms and accessories that may be worth sourcing now, before they’re impossible to buy if these changes go ahead.

cont. Now I don’t know about you, but in a firefight, every time I reload is an opportunity for my opponent to gain the upper hand. I do not want to be reloading more than necessary, so I will be getting all of the magazines I need now, before you can no longer buy them. SILENCERS AND SOUND SUPPRESSORS I n a s i m i l a r l i n e o f th i n k i n g , suppressors are being targeted because they have the potential to quiet gunshots and give someone with bad intentions a better ability to go unnoticed. But if you’ve ever shot with a suppressor you know you can’t really silence a gun. The sound is unmistakable, and these particular devices are already heavily regulated and quite difficult to obtain already. But in a disaster, being able to go hunting without your shots ringing clear over an entire valley is definitely a good thing,

so I’d recommend equipping yourself with at least one of these as well, just in case. Of course, just buying these three is just the starts. Policymakers are also trying to tack on a bunch of other restrictive laws to this rising trend, that are going to make it much more difficult to buy the firearms you need to keep your family safe. Like making background checks on all firearm transactions a requirement (which makes person-to-person deals far harder), and the reinstatement of a law previously thrown out, where we could only buy one handgun a month. These kinds of checks are not going to stop the determined, or the criminals. It simply makes it harder for working class people like us to arm and protect our families. Oh, and there’s also the one giving law enforcement officers the ability to take your guns away if “they believe” you’re an immediate threat to yourself, or others.

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Now, I don’t know about you, but these are some pretty draconian limitations that are being planned, and while they may not all make it to law, you can bet there will be changes coming. We’ve seen it already… Remember the bump stocks? I f you don’t know what these are, it’s a replacement for the standard stock on your rifle, allowing you to use the recoil from a shot to rapidly accelerate your firing rate. Effectively turning a semiautomatic weapon into one that fires like a machine gun. Perfect if you need to defend yourself against a group of people, but as of now, owning one puts you at risk of breaking the federal gun laws. What’s going to be taken away from us next? My advice, stock up on the firearms you need to keep your family safe now, before it’s too late.

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BUILD YOUR OWN WALLS TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE There’s been a whole heap of talk about Trump’s Wall, but I see walls playing another important role in our family’s survival, a little closer to home. When you’re trying to keep people from accessing your property, a wall is one of the best deterrents you can have. But it also presents a challenge, because to a scavenger looking for their next meal, a large, defensive wall could be an indication there’s something of value on the other side. So, the challenge then becomes, how do you build your own walls, to keep your family safe during a crisis. In our survival planning we’ve got a few different strategies in place, to keep us secure but without raising undue attention. Let me tell you how we’ve done it. BUILDING THE OUTER WALLS My goal here was to basically be a deterrent, shielding our property from view from the road, without making it p a i n f u l l y o bv i o u s t h e r e wa s a flourishing homestead in behind. The key to doing this well, has been fast growing pines. But instead of planting these in obvious rows along the fence line, we’ve intentionally created large

thickets, obscuring the view so it almost looks like it’s simply thick forest behind. Exactly what we want a passer-by to think. Five years on this is doing a remarkable job, and it really just looks like a thicker patch of forest within the surrounding woods. I didn’t imagine this would be so perfect. BUILDING THE ENTRANCE GATE Our entrance to the property has been designed at an angle, and currently there’s a gate that we keep latched, set back from the road so it’s almost too easy to be missed. We lose mail all the time because of this, so we started using a post-box in the next town over instead. Its practical for us now, but it is very easily barricaded in a SHTF event as all it would take to cut the road access completely would be to fell a few of the trees along the drive. With this down, there’s no possible way for a car to approach our property, so anyone intent on closing in would need to be on foot. BUILDING THE INNER GATES Now this was actually a design I had seen when I travelled Australia and it’s

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surprisingly effective. We’ve got another internal gate with a remote sensor (it opens with a click button), but as you drive in there’s a rather large hole covered by steel grates. This is effectively one of our foxholes, as the cover can be easily removed to stop cars being able to drive in (should they make it through), and we could also position ourselves in there under cover to fire at anyone approaching.

“keep us secure without raising undue attention…”

VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020 cont. This connects to the inner fence line, which runs off into the trees on either side and is completely out of view (if you haven’t realized it yet, we do have quite a bit of land we’re working with, but it was cheap as it was out in the sticks). BUILDING THE INNER FENCE Our inner fence presented a challenge, because we wanted something that wouldn’t look too industrial, but would provide a level of security from an approach on foot from all sides. We ended up clearing a large path that runs around the entire perimeter of our “inner land” as we like to call it, which is about the width of two cars wide. The fence running through here is topped with razor wire, but obscured through the trees so you don’t see it. It’s also electrified, and there’s alarms on it so we know if anyone approaches. So far, it’s alerted us to two deer, and that’s been it. Nothing crazy (at elast not yet, but I like to be prepared).

In an ideal world we’d have a clear line of sight to this fence, but as I see it that’s not a must-have right now. Should the SHTF hit, we would definitely take the tractor and clear it out so we’ve a direct line of sight. But I’d rather not look at this out of my windows unless I have to. BUILDING THE HOME FENCE As we cleared the area around our home we shifted quite a bit of dirt, which I’ve used to create what I call the “home fence” – or in other words, a natural little bit of a lip that forms around about 70 percent of our home. We’ve left the view down to our pond unobstructed, because, it’s an excellent view and highly unlikely we’re approached from that direction. But the rest is a combination of earthworks and patio bricks stacked up almost three feet high, creating another sheltered area around our home. If it ever comes to it I’m a tad concerned the approaching enemy would have slightly higher ground as we make a last stand, but at the same time, these works as almost perfect natural fortifications we can use to hold off any attackers at bay.

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Plus, it gives us a whole heap of additional privacy when we’re sitting around in our yard, while giving us plenty of space as well. I know, I know, my plans are always a little overkill but even with all of the fortifications we put in, I’ve made it work while being relatively cost effective. Plus, by choosing natural solutions over man-made, we’ve ultimately generated a similar result, without feeling like we’re living in a place like Guantanamo Bay. And I’m confident we’ll not only have plenty of advance warning against anyone trying to sneak up, that they’re more than likely going to give up and go find an easier target when they see all of the walls we’ve built. What about you, what walls have you built to keep the bad guys at bad?