preparedness

Why Doomsday Bunkers Aren’t As Safe As You Think

In 1961, Business Week magazine posed the question that was on many Americans’ minds: “to dig or not to dig?” President John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev of the Soviet Union were sparring, and a nervous world watched as the superpowers loomed on the brink of nuclear war. Publications as diverse as Yale Review and Good Housekeeping ran articles on fallout shelters.

As an article in Time Magazine put it, “At cocktail parties and PTA meeting and family dinners, on buses and commuter trains and around office watercoolers, talk turns to shelters.”

Fast forward nearly 60 years, and people still talk about shelters. While we may have replaced the term “fallout shelter” with the term “doomsday bunker” or simply “bunker,” we still struggle to find ways to keep ourselves and our families safe during and after a catastrophic human-made or natural disaster.

Is building a doomsday bunker a good idea? Let’s look at the pros and cons.

Doomsday Bunker Pros

A Place Of Safety – While some people advocate having a remote bug out location away from your home, traveling that distance in a time of quick upheaval could be a serious problem. You may have little or no warning, and roads may not be accessible. Building an underground shelter near your home means you can get to a place of safety quickly and easily.

Storm Protection – A doomsday bunker can offer below-the-ground protection from severe weather events such as hurricanes and tornadoes, which are becoming more commonplace these days.

Fire Protection – Sometimes fleeing by foot or by vehicle is not an option with a fast-moving fire. An underground bunker could save your life in this quickly-changing and deadly situation. (See below for the con of this one.)

More Privacy – While some communities offer public shelters for their residents, many people panic at the idea of being cooped up in close quarters with a bunch of strangers.

Storage for Food and Supplies – You can stockpile food, clothing, ammunition, medicines, and supplies in an underground bunker all year round. Properly constructed and insulated underground bunkers can provide stable temperatures and humidity.

Peace of Mind – Knowing you have a plan for your family’s whereabouts in the event of an emergency can lower your stress levels.

Doomsday Bunker Cons

Now, let’s examine the other side of the issue. In certain scenarios, doomsday bunkers could actually cause more harm than good. Consider the location of your shelter carefully. Two important don’ts to keep in mind are:

Don’t build a shelter below sea level or on a flood plain or flood fringe, otherwise, you could be in serious danger of water damage or even drowning.
Don’t build in areas with fault lines or where earthquake activity occurs.

Here are some other cons of doomsday shelters to think about.

Weak Entryway – By its very nature as an entrance and an exit, your main door is a weak spot. Although you can strengthen this entryway with locks and bars, it still is more vulnerable than the rest of the bunker.

Emergency Exit – Most bunker exits (if they even have one) are in close proximity to entrances. If an intruder has discovered your bunker, you may not have the chance to escape unobserved.

Getting Enough Oxygen – Most underground bunkers use an above-ground air tube to provide oxygen. The problem with these air tubes – sometimes called snorkels – is that they can be a visual giveaway to the shelter. Another drawback is that an intruder can block the airflow or, worse yet, send poisonous gas down the tube.

Gas Leaks – A sophisticated air filtration system is needed for protection from chemicals, radiation, and biological agents. Events that could cause you to use your underground shelter in the first place are the same ones that can produce the lethal gases that could build up and kill occupants due to a shelter’s poorly ventilated environment.

In an underground shelter, you need two air ventilation systems — one to filter the air and another to protect from dirt, debris, birds, rodents, and weather elements.

Not Defensible – Yes, an underground bunker can protect you from certain natural elements, but it is hard to defend from human attack. If your entryway is blocked, you could be trapped. In most cases, you will be unable to survey the terrain above you without revealing your hidden location. Surveillance systems are a possibility, but they add greatly to your overall costs and upkeep.

Water Damage – In addition to the potential of flooding from the underground water table, underground shelters are susceptible to sewer leaks or septic tank overflow.

Mold – A moist environment often means the potential for mold growth. In some cases, breathing in molds is toxic to humans.

Cave-In Potential – Surviving underground is not as simple as using an unused mine shaft or burying a shipping container. Subterranean structures are at risk of caving in with the potential of lethal results.

Fire Weakens Steel – Staying warm underground is a real concern. However, building a fire underground not only affects your oxygen supply, but it can weaken the integrity of steel construction over time.

Fire Risks – Living in close quarters with many flammable substances can pose a significant fire risk. Even if you have fire extinguishers on hand, you can lose precious oxygen putting out a fire in an underground shelter.

Additionally, using an underground shelter during a forest fire can be both a blessing and a curse depending on the shelter’s construction. An underground bunker that can withstand the intense heat of a fire requires specific design considerations. An improper design can create a deadly oven rather than a safe haven.

Corrosion – Wood shelters can deteriorate underground, and steel can corrode without proper procedures in place.

Waste Disposal – It is not fun to think about, but waste – both human waste and other garbage – disposal is a big problem with emergency bunkers. If you plan to bring it up for disposal, you run the risk of drawing attention to your location. If you keep it in your shelter, you are dealing with the possibility of infection.

Mental Distress – Claustrophobia is the fear of enclosed spaces, and it affects about seven percent of the world population. However, when combined with the fear that accompanies an emergency situation, anxiety can be a disastrous component of an emergency shelter. Keep in mind that you will be in close contact with others, with a lack of fresh food, sunlight, the ability to exercise and other familiar comforts.

Sunlight helps govern our circadian rhythm, which is essential for proper sleep and well-being. Being confined to a small space can lead to panic, which can result in increased heart rate, dizziness, and shortness of breath. These feelings can lead to poor judgment, which can affect your safety in a survival scenario.

When considering a doomsday shelter, it is critical to consider your purpose. While you can use a doomsday shelter for short-term emergencies, such as during a hurricane or tornado, it should be designed for the long haul – hence the word “doomsday” in the name.

You will need a sustainable water source and a long-term method for waste removal. You also will need a plan for power and, yes, for entertainment. Too often, doomsday planners, forget books and board games or even paper and pencil and a deck of cards. We humans go nuts without something to occupy our minds. Consider some forms of entertainment a need, not just a want, for a long-term survival situation.

If, after weighing the pros and cons, you decide to take the next step, check out these resources for determining your purpose and then your design.

Of course, if money is no roadblock, there are ways to get around most, if not all, of the problems listed in this article. Take a look at this underground fortress in Germany, for example.

According to a 2016 article in The Hollywood Reporter, an increase in mass shootings, terrorism, and divisive politics has spurred the desire for home security in general – and emergency shelters in particular – among the wealthy. The article describes the new emergency shelter of the 21st century as being thousands of square feet in size and 10 feet or more underground.

“Those who can afford to pull out all the stops for so-called self-preservation are doing so — in a fashion that goes way beyond the submerged corrugated metal units adopted by the reality show “preppers” — to prepare for anything from nuclear bombings to drastic climate-change events,” according to the article.

The upscale end of the bunker market includes actors, professional athletes, and politicians. The article reports that these high-end emergency bunkers can reach more than $8 million in design and building costs and include underground lighting for gardens, fitness rooms, and even theaters.

preparedness

4 No Cook Meals For Surviving The Pandemic And Food Supply Shortages

When it comes to your food supply, you just can’t risk not having enough. These no cook meals will be a great addition to your food supply planning. Check out the recipes below!

No Cook Meals to Help You Through the Pandemic

As of the writing of this article, there are 20 meat processing plants that have been shut down due to COVID-19 infections. We have been worrying about these types of effects on our food supply for months now, and this is the first real sign of how infections can affect the food supply.

When you walk into a supermarket, you might not see all the choices you had in the past. An empty meat case is a humbling thing for your eyes to fall upon. It’s the shocking realization that the seemingly infinite supply of chickens, pigs, and cows that are butchered for us has begun to run dry!

To deal with this issue, we are going to present four no cook meals that will help you create dinners at home that will feed your family without worrying so much about what’s available, or unavailable, in the meat case.

1. Smashed White Bean, Avocado and Salted Pork Sandwiches

Smashed White Bean, Avocado and Salted Pork Sandwiches | No Cook Meals for Surviving the Pandemic and Food Supply Shortages

As preppers we get beans. There are a bunch of ways to use beans and this a great example of how you can pack a sandwich with great nutrition and protein.

Serving: Makes 4 sandwiches

Ingredients:

Can of White Beans
Olive Oil
1 Avocado
8 Slices of Whole Grain Bread
8 Slices of Salted Pork (Prosciutto, Ham, Virginia Ham)

Instructions:

Begin by draining your beans in a colander then smashing them up in a bowl add a few glugs of olive oil, salt, pepper. This little mix is delicious. If you add some minced rosemary, you can even turn this into a delicious dip.
Pit your avocado and cut it in half and then quarters lengthwise. Leave the skin on.
Lay the bread out on a clean work surface for assembling the sandwiches.
Spread your mashed bean mix onto one side of the bread.
Peel your avocados and slice 1 quarter for each sandwich. Spread slices over the bean spread.
Add a few slices of your pork to over the top of the avocado.
You can finish this sandwich with some lettuces, fresh sprouts, or just eat it as is.

2. Delicious Crab Salad

Canned crab is a protein option that will likely be around through much of this meat crisis. It does have to be kept in refrigeration, but it’s delicious and this chipotle mayo salad is great in the spring and summer.

Ingredients:

1 Can of Crab Meat
1 Bunch of Asparagus
Chipotle Mayo
1 Bunch of Green Onions
1 Bunch of Cilantro

Instructions:

Drain your crab in a colander and set it in the sink.
Slice your asparagus into 1-inch pieces. Throw them into a bowl.
Thinly slice your onions and your cilantro and throw that into the bowl, as well.
Gently toss in the crab meat.
Squirt on enough Chipotle mayo to coat everything and toss gently not to break up the crab meat.
Chill in the fridge and serve.

3. Simple Greek Salad

Simple Greek Salad | No Cook Meals for Surviving the Pandemic and Food Supply Shortages

The combination of simple summer ingredients makes for an incredible quick salad that you could add other proteins, too, if you wanted. These could be canned meats.

Ingredients:

2 Large Tomatoes
1 Cucumber
1 Red Onion
¼ Cup of Feta Cheese
A Few Sprigs of Fresh Mint
½ Cup of Kalamata Olives
Balsamic Dressing

Instructions:

I like to cut the tomatoes in large chunks and have them kind of be the main course in this salad. Peel and slice your cucumber in half. Remove the seeds and either dice or slice in half-moons.
Peel and slice your red onion in half. Julienne your, or thinly slice, your half onion.
Add all these ingredients to a bowl. Finely slice your mint.
Add your olives, crumbled feta, and mint to the bowl and add enough dressing to coat everything.
Stir it up and allow this to chill for at least an hour for the flavors to really blend.

4. Mediterranean Tuna Lettuce Wraps

Mediterranean Tuna Lettuce Wraps | No Cook Meals for Surviving the Pandemic and Food Supply Shortages

Using some similar ingredients and adding a protein like tuna, you can create some delicious lettuce wraps. The key to a good lettuce wrap is to have most of the items around the same size. So, consider that when you are preparing this dish.

Ingredients:

Iceberg or Butter Lettuce
Canned Artichokes
Canned roasted Red peppers
Fresh Cucumber
Feta Cheese
Minced Olives ¼ Cup
2 Cans of Tuna
Green Onions
Basil

Instructions:

Start by peeling all the full leaves from your lettuce. Set them on a plate either cover them with a wet paper towel or put them back into the fridge.
Dice the peppers, artichokes, and cucumbers into cubes. Go no larger than ½ an inch.
Thinly slice your green onions and basil and add them to a bowl with your diced vegetables. Add your loves to this bowl and mix them thoroughly.
Crumble your feta cheese over the mixture.
Drain your tuna thoroughly and then add that to the bowl, as well.
Gently toss this mixture. Try not to break up the tuna and the cheese too much but incorporate it thoroughly.
If you want, you can add some olive oil to the mix or a few glugs of balsamic vinegar. It’s also delicious just how it is.
Scoop a few tablespoons into a lettuce leaf, wrap it up and eat up!

These no cook meals should help lessen the stress you feel when thinking of what to feed your family. If you don’t have the specific ingredients, use your creativity, and use what you have. You might discover a new recipe while you’re at it!

What’s your favorite no cook meal recipe? Please share it with us in the comments section!

Up Next:

This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

preparedness

Billionaire Whistle Blower: Wuhan Coronavirus Death Toll Is Over 50,000

Exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui recently revealed leaks from Wuhan crematoriums. He claims based on the number of bodies their furnaces are burning, the death toll could be as high as 50,000.

A Chinese billionaire and whistleblower who lives in U.S. exile says Wuhan crematoriums have burned 50,000 coronavirus victims. | Credit: Chinatopix via AP

The official coronavirus death toll in China is a little over 800. But an exiled Chinese businessman says crematoriums are leaking the real figure.
A billionaire whistleblower alleges Wuhan has crematoriums working 24/7. He claims they’ve cremated some 50,000 coronavirus victims.
Guo Wengui is a Chinese billionaire living in exile in the United States.

The official coronavirus death toll is some 800 people in China. The current official death toll worldwide, outside of China, is 774. But a Chinese billionaire with a history of blowing the whistle on his former government says the real figure is much higher.

Exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui recently revealed leaks from Wuhan crematoriums. He claims based on the number of bodies their furnaces are burning, the death toll could be as high as 50,000. Wengui made the bombshell allegations in an interview with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon.

Whistleblower: 1.5 Million Coronavirus Cases In China, 50,000 Coronavirus Deaths In Wuhan

He also claims to have inside information that there are 1.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases in China. Wengui is emphatic that these are not merely quarantined or “under observation” but confirmed cases of coronavirus infection:

China has struggled to contain the coronavirus. But it has also struggled to contain public outcry against censorship and tight control of information. Dr. Li Wenliang, who sounded the alarm about the disease, succumbed to an infection and died this week. The Chinese government arrested him for blowing the whistle.

Then officials tried to suppress news of his death. Afterwards, millions of Chinese citizens saw the hashtag #IWantFreedomOfSpeech on Mandarin language social media. But the Chinese government censored that too.

Are Wengui’s Crematorium Claims Credible?

Watch VICE’s 2017 profile on Guo Wengui. At the time, he published bombshell documents alleging corruption in the Chinese government. He got the attention of the media and reportedly the U.S. State Department.

(more…)