Tiny Pallet House

Wool has long been the choice fabric for staying warm in extreme conditions. Its natural ability to breath and stay warm when wet (unlike cotton) has contributed greatly to wool’s popularity. In fact wool has been so effective for survival, humans have been using it since about 10,000 B.C.. But it has also developed a reputation for being itchy and uncomfortable to wear directly against the skin although some wool varieties are very comfortable. Merino wool (from Merino Sheep) is actually much finer than other varieties of wool and provide the benefits without the discomfort. Read more about building a modern survival wardrobe with merino wool. Continue Reading »

Ultralight backpacking is an advanced style of backpacking. It emphasizes carrying the least amount of the lightest weight gear needed to survive. Often these backpackers carry no more than 10 pounds of gear, not including food. The simple lesson this sport teaches is how to survive on just a few essentials which in an emergency might also be a very useful set of skills. It’s worth mentioning that ultralight backpacking should not be attempted by inexperienced hikers. Learning these skills takes time and progressing toward a lighter and lighter pack is a very personal and careful process. Continue Reading »

Sometimes in an emergency you just have to get out of town. People who live in areas regularly hit by fires and storms know this better than most of us and have found a few factors essential for a bug-out vehicle. I’m using the term bug-out vehicle loosely because most people don’t have dedicated vehicles for evacuation, that would be a bit extreme. Most people simply choose a day-to-day vehicle that can also serve them well in an emergency. Here’s what to look for: Continue Reading »

Emergency radios range in price from $30 to as high as $300. The American Red Cross offers a radio made by a company named Eton that combines several good features in one $60 radio. The Eton FR400 American Red Cross Multi-Purpose Radio is powered by an internal rechargeable NiMH battery pack that can be recharged by a built-in dynamo hand crank or an included AC adapter. It also has a built-in cellular phone battery charger which allows you to transfer some of that hand cranked electricity back into your phone. It can pick-up all 7 NOAA weather radio channels, features an ”Alert” function to keep you up-to-date of significant weather changes and receives FM/AM radio. It even has a built-in flash light and flashing emergency beacon and siren. Continue Reading »

If you’ve done little to prepare for disaster and want to get a jump-start on shopping for essential items, this affordable emergency kit from REI might be a really good place to start. It’s a lightweight backpack filled with the things two people need for a 3-day emergency. In fact the price is so right it seems like a handy little pack for the trunk of anyone’s car, including those who are really serious about disaster preparedness. Here’s what this kit includes: Continue Reading »