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(11) Bowie Knife - A good knife is an essential, and is going to cost some money. When choosing a knife, look for one where the blade runs to the bottom of the handle; and make sure that the store that you're buying it from understands that you intend to do a lot of wood carving with it, so you absolutely need a knife with a handle that won't fall apart with repeat use. (If by chance you have to flee your home and community at some point, a good Bowie knife – also called a "Survival knife" – can be used to carve a long bow, for bow and arrow hunting like the Indians of early America. For this reason, as well as for cutting up and carving game that you've killed (such as deer or elk), it is very important that the handle of your knife be exceptionally durable.) Gerber LMF 2 Folding Knife Infantry w/ Black Blade The Gerber LMFII was designed in conjunction with military and military instructors to be used in any survival situation.
(12) Hiking Boots - Like your bowie knife, expect to spend some money on hiking boots. You want a pair that are going to last you, and not fall apart if by chance you end up wearing them for two years or more straight. When selecting a boot, let the store know that you need a pair that is built to withstand heavy hiking, and that is the least likely to need any repairs on the trail. You want a boot where the bottom sole is "stitched" to the rest of the boot, instead of simply glued to it, which is how most cheaper boots come. (13) Compass - If you have to flee your community, or if you've simply taken to nearby forests to hunt and fish for food, a good compass and knowing how to use it is an important tool to have. Some compasses even come with a built in thermometer and signaling mirror, which can help you out in a survival situation. (14) Bear Pepper Spray - Whether it's wild dogs that have gotten loose, or cougars or bears that have strayed down into your community – pepper spray that's strong enough to ward off Grizzly bears – called "Bear Pepper Spray" for it's strength – can prove to be a life saver. Consider buying 3 - 5 large bottles, or one for each member of your family. You can also use it to fend off looters (as long as they're not pointing a gun at you).
Guard Alaska Bearspray - Bear Protection - Self Defense
(15) Cold Weather Sleeping Bag - To make sure that you're protected by any exceptional drop in temperature, you should consider buying a sleeping bag that can hold up with repeat use, and will keep you warm to twenty degrees below zero. Depending on where you live in America – you'll probably want to go even colder than that.
-22º Nato Military Issue Antarctica Sleeping Bag
(16) Cold Weather Parka and Snow Pants - Since you might find yourself out in cold weather during the day time, as you collect firewood, help out neighbors, and hunt and fish for food, it's important to have the right coat and pants that can withstand the elements, especially snow and slush. As an added bonus, if you have to flee your community, you can even sleep in your coat and pants, if they're layered right and / or rated to keep you warm enough. (17) Personal Hygiene Items - In preparation for a widespread disaster, and the possible collapse of government and our entire economy, you should be aware that the next time you go shopping at a supermarket, it could be your last. If the economy falls, stores are going to fast run out of food and supplies, and without new shipments coming, there will be no more stores to buy from. Not only is your money likely to be useless, but the items that you do need are going to be in high demand, which probably means very hard to come by. Stock up now on toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss (the last thing you want to have happen is a dental emergency, when there are no more dentists available), bar soap for bathing, shampoo, bleach, bleach wipes (very handy), and laundry detergent. If you minimize your use of these items, you can make them last many months. (18) Outdoor Clothing - If disaster strikes, there's a good chance you won't be reporting to work in an office downtown, but you may find yourself helping out neighbors and others in your community by building shelters and reparing houses that may have been damaged. With this in mind, be sure to have clothing that can handle being outside in the elements. Consider stocking up on clothing that's geared for heavy use, such as that sold by outdoor clothing stores, such as Carhart. Have an assortment of pants, sweat pants, sweatshirts, hooded sweatshirts, thermal underwear, and a few pairs of wool socks. If you can afford to buy more than the average person, don't hesitate to do so. When preparing for a natural disaster or large scale terrorist attack (such as a nuclear detonation in a nearby city), there's no such thing as being over-prepared. Buying More than You Need - Helping out other people in need – especially in an emergency, such as a widespread natural disaster – is the right thing to do. Be generous with what you have, and generous with what you know. Be prepared to teach your neighbors some of the methods you should start teaching yourself, such as how to distill water from contaminated sources, as well as how to make home-made water filters (which I link to at the top of this article) for procuring water that's safe to drink. While you're taking steps toward preparing for disaster, most people aren't, and when disaster strikes, they are simply not going to be prepared. Many are going to be without food and water and other items essential to survival. Helping Friends, Family, and Neighbors - Please keep that in mind, and as much as possible, consider buying more than your family needs, so you can help out your neighbors (in addition to friends and family that may live nearby) when disaster finally strikes. They're going to need food and water also. Consider sharing this article with them, and talking about some of the basic steps every person should take in preparing their home for an extended emergency, where the electricity is down indefinitely, and there is no tap water, grocery store, or gasoline available for transportation. (19) Hiking Backpack - Things might get bad. Really bad. You and your family might have to flee the area; in fact you might have to flee the entire state. If you still have a vehicle, and you have a full tank of gas, and there's still a road to drive on – great, you're in luck. Start driving and get out of dodge. But at some point you're going to run out of gas, and any gas station you come to is likely to be closed and out of operation. When that happens, strap on your hiking backpack, and start walking. Have a detailed map of the state, and a detailed map of the U.S. and Canada. No More Road? Just Follow the Railroad Tracks - If for some reason it's not safe to travel by road, you can always travel by walking alongside railroad tracks. Make sure you have a specific map that includes railroad track routes, and then consider following one or more (make sure you have a good compass, and know how to use it before hand). Railroad tracks criss-cross the continent (many in North-South and East-West directions), and may provide a safe passage should roads ever be un-safe to travel by. No matter where you are in the United States, the smartest destination for fleeing the nation is to go North, and into Canada, and head for the foot hills of the Canadian Rockies; you may even make it to Alaska. In a worst case scenario, that's why it's important to have a full size backpack, as commonly used by hikers and the military for multi-day hikes. If in a disaster situation you ever have to flee your community – and have to leave your car behind – having a hiking backpack means you and your family can strap essential survival gear onto your backs, and make your way to safety. When Disaster Strikes - Have you ever wondered why insurance companies call natural disasters an "act of God"? Because, quite a few people still go to church, and recognize that "acts of God" have been occurring more and more frequently in the world. Around the world, the weather has gotten worse, and natural disasters have gotten bigger and killed more people. (Hurricane Katrina wiped out New Orleans, a modern day Sin City, and the 2004 Tsunami killed over 300,000 people in South Asia). Most recently, the California wild fires forced the evacuation of over a million people from their Southern California communities, as thousands watched their homes and the surrounding hills go up in flames. This winter, over a million people were left without power across the Midwest states, as much of the nation suffered a deep freeze and a large amount of snowfall where temperatures plunged well below zero. Without electricity to power there homes, many of these people had no heat, no light, no way to cook, no hot water, and a few lost their lives. Luckily, the power came back on a few days later. But what if the next disaster is so widespread that the power doesn't come back on? This question brings us to the most important item on this top 20 list of items essential for survival – (20) Holy Bible -