PREPAREDNESS SOURCE LIST

The following lists Aton's favorite sources for emergency preparedness-related equipment and some of the harder to find items listed in Preparedness Now!

One Stop Preparedness Shopping

Most goods needed for E-Kits, Grab-and-Go Bags, food, first aid, sanitation, shelter, lighting, power, heating, emergency communication and self-defense can be found all from one vendor, making their acquisition a simpler task. Several are shown here:

Nitro-Pak Preparedness Center
Tel: 1.800.866.4876 - Fax: 1.888.648.7672
www.nitro-pak.com

Nitro-Pak is the largest mail-order company in the country that specializes in emergency preparedness supplies and freeze-dried food. You can use Nitro-Pak to purchase nearly everything that you need in your survival equipment package.

Major Surplus and Survival
Tel: 1.800.441.8855 - Fax: 310-324-6909
majorsurplusnsurvival.com

Major Surplus and Survival is a good source for hard to find items that can enhance your total preparedness package. Major Survival has extensive experience in the preparedness field and is another "one-stop" company where you can purchase all of your primary survival items.

EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports)
1.888.463.6367
www.ems.com

EMS is one of my favorite sources for stoves, tents, rappelling equipment and other types of camping supplies. The employees are knowledgeable and friendly.

Cabela'a
1.800.237.4444
www.cabelas.com

Cabela's is a mecca of hunting, camping, fishing supplies and most items you need for the Grab-and-Go Bag.

One Stop "Mil-Spec" Gear

The following outlets specialize in clothing and gear for police and military who already need to keep Preparedness in mind. Items for E-Kits, Grab-and-Go Bags, self-defense, food, personal protective equipment, sanitation and emergency communication are available from the merchants below.

Brigade Quartermasters
1.800.388.4327
www.actiongear.com

Brigade Quartermasters is the place to go for equipment manufactured to military specifications and important preparedness items.

Tad Gear, Inc.
1.415.318.8252
www.tadgear.com

Tad Gear carries top quality products used by military personnel and serious outdoorsmen and women.

U.S. Cavalry
Tel: 1.800.777.7172 - Fax: 1.270.352.0266
www.uscav.com

A good source of mil-spec equipment.

Shomer-Tec
www.shomer-tec.com

Shomer-Tec carries hard-to-find self-defense items.

Cheaper Than Dirt
1.800.559.0943
www.cheaperthandirt.com

A mix of camping supplies and shooting sports gear.

E-Kit Pouches

Your E-Kit items, as described in Chapter 3, need to be held in a secure way attached to your person. Here are your best options.

Civilian Labs
civilianlabs.com
1.626.744.0772

I recommend Civilian Labs' Covert Harness Bags as the best choice for an E-Kit Pouch. They can be worn discreetly, breathe well and carry a lot of gear.

Nite-Ize
www.niteize.com

Pock-Its are sold by many hardware and camping stores. The Mini Pock-Its and Hip Pock-Its hang less discreetly from your belt, but hold your E-Kit items securely.

Grab-and-Go Bags

How to carry the items described in Chapter 4: The 72-Hour Grab-and-Go Bag.

Battery-Free Flashlights and Radios

You'll want to have these in your Grab-and-Go Bag, also in your home and car.

Applied Innovative Technologies, Inc.
1.303.857.1405
www.appliedinnotech.com

Makes NightStar shake to recharge flashlights.

Freeplay
www.freeplayenergy.com

Freeplay makes the Free Charge Weza step treadle to jump start a car, cell phone or other battery-dependent things. Freeplay is an inventive leader in non-battery technology for emergency radios and flashlights.

Lentek Dynamo Torch
1.407.857.8786
www.lentek.com

Battery-Powered Flashlights

You'll need a powerful mini-flashlight for your E-Kit and other non-incendive varieties to supplement the shake or wind-up non-battery versions for the power of their beam. Remember to stock up on extra batteries for your homestead.

Streamlight
www.streamlight.com

Manufactures and sells industrial-quality flashlights.

Water Purification

For inside and outside the home. See Chapters 4 and 7 for further information.

Katadyn
1.800.755.6701
www.katadyn.com

Excellent lightweight devices that purify questionable water sources on camping trips or during emergencies. Available from Brigade Quartermasters among many camping websites and stores.

British Berkefeld Water Filtration Systems
1.888.803.4438
www.newmillconcepts.com

The website above is for the American distributor of what I believe is the best home water filtration system.

Epets.com
www.Epets.com

Sells automatic food and water dispensers for your pet.

Emergency Cooking / Heating

See Chapters 4 and 7 for further information.

Four Dog Stove
763.444.9587
www.fourdog.com

Fine handcrafted stoves that can be used for emergency heating and cooking in the field and at home.

ZZ Manufacturing, Inc.
www.zzstove.com

The lightweight and reliable Sierra Stove uses charcoal, twigs, pine cones, shredded paper and other solid fuels to produce its flame. Its battery-powered fan can generate over 18,000 BTU/hr, enough heat to boil a quart of water in four minutes.

Solar Chargers

You should have a solar charger in your Grab-and-Go Bag in preparation for a time when batteries are too heavy, cumbersome and rare. See Chapters 4 and 10 for further information.

Sundance Solar
www.sundancesolar.com

Has Power Film solar battery chargers.

Solar Power Universal
www.onlybatteries.com

Self-Defense Products

To protect yourself and your family from the two and four-legged beasts in frantic times. See Chapter 5: Self-Defense.

Shomer-Tec Inc
www.shomer-tec.com

TBO Tech
www.tbotech.com

Pepper Spray Training

The Center for Self-Preservation Training
www.demibarbito.com

Fight Fire With Fire video and manual.

The Survival Staff
www.crawfordknives.com

Handmade metal staff with blade in its interior. A good survival tool.

Smoke Escape Hoods / Gas Masks / Respirators

Respirators are must have items for your E-Kit and Grab-and-Go Bag. Smoke Escape Hoods are especially necessary for your E-Kit if you work in a multi-storied office building. Gas Masks are good preventive items to have for chemical accidents and terrorism. You need one that seals and filters properly; avoid old models from Army supply stores. For more information on these items, see Chapter 6: Personal Protective Equipment.

Buy Pepper Spray Today
http://www.buy-pepper-spray-today.com/

Assorted Peppersprays

Aramsco, Inc.
Tel: 1.800.767.6933 - Fax: 1.856.848.0802

Essex PB&R
1.618.659.9070
www.smokehoods.com

Makes the Essex +10 Smoke Escape Hood.

X-Caper Smoke Mask
1.888.777.7078
www.myxcaper.com

Safer America
1.866.SAFER.99
www.saferamerica.com

Safer America sells gas masks, even pet emergency respiratory equipment.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
1.800.35.NIOSH
www.cdc.gov/niosh/respinfo.html

Gas Mask Safety Information can be found here.

3M
www.3M.com

3M respirators are sold at most hardware and drug stores.

Water Storage

Three gallons per person per day for at least three days is a recommended minimum to prepare for any situation that cuts off your water supply. See Chapter 7: Water and Food.

Aquatank
www.aquaflex.net

American Tanks Company
www.watertanks.com

Backpacks, Tents and Outdoor Gear

These manufacturers and merchants sell emergency shelters, outdoor gear and backpacks to carry them around in. These items are primarily discussed in Chapter 8: Shelter.

Kelty
Tel: 1.800.423.2320 - Fax: 800.504.2745
www.kelty.com

Kelty makes high-quality tents and backpacks.

The North Face
1.800.447.2333
www.thenorthface.com

North Face manufactures great winter clothing.

Coleman
1.800.835.3278
www.coleman.com

Coleman offers a large selection of preparedness-related items, including tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, flashlights, generators, lanterns, and inflatable boats.

Generators

If the grid goes down, you will want to be able to generate electricity. One short-term solution is a gas generator that runs by lp gas (liquid propane gas). Long-term solar solutions to grid problems are detailed further below. Also see Chapters 8 and 22 for more information.

Home Depot
www.homedepot.com

Generator Joe
707.539.9003
www.generatorjoe.net

A one-stop source of information about all types of generators.

Northern Tool
www.northerntool.com

Sanitation Engineering

Read Chapter 9: Sanitation and Hygiene and the following books:

The Humanure Handbook by Joseph Jenkins

How to Shit in the Woods by Kathleen Mayer (A great book to keep in your Grab-and-Go Bag.)

Emergency Transportation

Various options regarding getting away from disasters are discussed in Chapter 13.

Bicycles

Montague Corporation
1.800.736.5348
www.montagueco.com
www.civilianlabs.com

The Montague folding bicycle is my choice of emergency transportation. It is lightweight, durable and reasonably priced. West Coasters can purchase them from Pasadena's Civilian Labs.

Dahon Bicycles
www.dahon.com

Dahon manufactures high quality and durable folding bikes.

Bicycle Tires, Airless

Air Free Tires, Inc.
1.800.771.9513
www.airfreetires.com

Air Filter Masks for Bicyclists

Respro (UK) Ltd
www.respro.com

Crosskates

Crosskate
www.crosskate.com

These unique and expensive skates allow you to move over any terrain that a bicycle can.

Solar Car Battery Charger

Real Goods
www.realgoods.com

You can also get a foot-crank FreeCharge Weza from Freeplay that can get the job done without waiting for a solar charge:

Freeplay Energy
www.freeplayenergy.com

Wheelchair Bags

Medaid
1.800.743.7203
www.sportaid.com

Wheelsource
1.415.456.6134
www.wheelsource.com

Custom Mini-Prybars

If you live in a city with subways or work in a high-rise building, mini-pry bars are a must have item to carry in your E-Kit; this item is also discussed in Chapter 14: Subway Escape. You can always buy a $3 mini-prybar from a local hardware store, but Peter Atwood's costly tools are designed to be easily carried and they perform flawlessly.

Peter Atwood
Tel: 1.413.537.0472
www.phlaunt.com/atwoodknives/

Fire Escape

For further information, see Chapter 15: Fire Prevention and Escape.

Fire Blankets

Firesafetysource.com
www.firesafetysource.com
1.877.520.9080

Fire Escape Ladders

Bold Industries
1.203.334.5237
www.boldindustries.com

The 50-ft. Res-Q-Ladder will get you out of the fifth or sixth floor of a building.

Emergency Parachutes

Aerial Egress, Inc.
1.909.940.1324

This is a last resort option for people stuck in high-rise fires or accidents above 50 stories. Escape parachutes are risky, but the advantages may outweigh the drawbacks if you are ever caught in a high-rise with no other options.

Protective Clothing

Euclid Garment Mfg. Co.
1.330.673.7413
www.euclidgarment.com

This is industrial grade gear and footwear that might make you look like you belong in the band Devo, but will protect you against chemical, biological and radiological difficulties. See Chapter 19: Chemical and Biological Warfare for further information.

Atropine Auto-Injectors

If you're particularly prepared, you'll have one of these to protect against Nerve Gas. Discussed in Chapter 19: Chemical and Biological Warfare.

Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc.
800.638.8093
government@meridianmt.com

Alternative Electrical Solutions

Solar Electricity

Here's a long-term solution to power grid instability. See Chapter 22: The 21^st Century Home for further information. I suggest that you subscribe to Home Power magazine, an invaluable resource regarding solar and renewable energy systems. www.homepower.com

Real Goods
1.800.762.7325
www.realgoods.com

Excellent site for neophytes interested in learning about emergency solar power systems. Back in 1978, Real Goods primarily served rural homesteaders in what was once called the "back to the land" movement. Since then, they have strived to seek out environmentally friendly technology for its customers. Their experience in renewable energy technology is extensive and they are willing to share it with all who are interested.

SolarSense.com
www.solaresense.com

Solarsense markets products good emergency power systems, including a portable power pack called Nomad. The 300 unit can be used to power small devices. The 1500 unit can power up larger appliances.

Kyocera International, Inc.
www.kyocerasolar.com

Sierra Solar Systems
www.sierrasolar.com

Backwoods Solar electric systems
www.backwoodssolar.com

Wind Turbines

Ampair
www.ampair.com

This British firm has reliable and durable products. The Pacific 100 Hawk is one of the best units available for emergency battery charging.

Composting Toilets

The time has come to help the earth flower and at the same time preparing for sewer and water supply problems. See Chapters 9 and 22 for further information.

BioLet USA, Inc.
1.740.498.4073
www.biolet.com

Clivus Multrum Composting Toilets
www.clivusmultrum.com

Sun-Mar Corp.
www.sun-mar.com

Envirolet Composting Toilet Systems
www.envirolet.com

Nuk-Alert

KI4U Inc.
1.830.672-8734
www.ki4u.com

KI4U Inc. is a licensed Radiological Laboratory in Texas that manufactures the NukAlert radiation monitor, the most practical radiation dose rate meter available to citizens. During a nuclear emergency of any type, your survival will depend upon your ability to detect radiation levels. Consider a NukAlert detector as a first line of protection against nuclear terrorism and "dirty bombs." The NukAlert will also confirm for its owner when and where the most dangerous levels of radiation are not present--a vitally important piece of knowledge.

KI4U is also a good source for recalibrated radiation dose rate meters, potassium iodide and iodate tablets and even nuclear event survival information. See Chapter 20: Nuclear and Radiological Events.

Storm / Emergency Shelters

With a mind paid to riding out extreme weather conditions of the 21^st Century.

Radius Engineering
1.972.552.248 - Fax: 1.972.552.2485
www.bombshelters.com

Radius Engineering was founded by Walton W. McCarthy, author of The Nuclear Shelterist and the Principles Of Protection, considered to be the bible of emergency shelter engineering.

Storm and Tornado Shelters of Texas
www.shelters-of-texas.com

Disaster-Resistant Homes and Steel-Reinforced Concrete Domes

Monolithic Domes
1.972.483.7423
www.monolithic.com

Monolithic Domes of Italy, Texas specializes in the construction of steel-reinforced concrete domes of any size and shape. Highly disaster-resistant, they're completely fireproof and energy efficient.

Formworks Building Co.
1.970.247.2100
www.formworksbuilding.com

Gene and Dale Piercey created some of the world's most disaster-resistant homes. Called "Nest Eggs," they're designed to be earth-covered to add to disaster resistance and amazing energy efficiency. Strong and energy efficient, Nest Eggs are said to have a life span of two hundred to one thousand years.

Geodesic Domes (Steel-reinforced Concrete)

American Ingenuity, Inc.
www.aidomes.com

American Ingenuity produces traditional style Geodesic Dome kits that are the inexpensive and easy to build.

Quick and Inexpensive Geodesic Domes

Pacific Domes
1-888-488-8127 or 1-541-488-7737
www.pacificdomes.com

Pacific Domes has been in the Geodesic dome building business for nearly three decades. They're durable, inexpensive, and aesthetically pleasing, designed to blend into nature.

Shelter Systems
1.650.323.6202.
www.shelter-systems.com

These geodesic structures have their own tarp fasteners called "Grip Clips," and they make great temporary emergency disaster shelters.

Wood Frame Geodomes

Timberline Geodesics
www.domehome.com

Oregon Dome Inc.
www.domes.com

Natural Spaces Domes
www.naturalspacesdomes.com

Alternative Homebuilding Books

The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling by Dan Chiras

Home Work: Handbuilt Shelter by Lloyd Kahn

The Complete Book of Underground Houses by Rob Roy

Do Your Own Wiring by K. E. Armpriester

Do it Yourself Plumbing by Max Alth

The Home Water Supply by Stu Campbell

The Independent Home by Michael Potts

Wells and Septic Systems by Max Alth

The Home Water Supply by Stu Campbell

Natural Home Heating by Greg Pahl

Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan

Emergency Preparedness and Survival Websites

Mother Earth Magazine
www.motherearthnews.com

There is no better resource to help you assemble all of the information and materials you need to build an independent homestead.

ModernSurvival.net
www.ModernSurvival.net

ModernSurvival.net is considered the bible of modern emergency preparedness practitioners. The online magazine is chocked full of information about all aspects of emergency preparedness and survival. You must subscribe for full access.

EquippedToSurvive.com
www.EquippedToSurvive.com

This site reviews the best outdoor equipment, and posts useful emergency preparedness, search and rescue and survival information.

Survival.com
www.Survival.com

This site has great "real deal" information about emergency preparedness and outdoor survival.

SurvivalRing.org
www.SurvivalRing.org

The Survival Ring is a group of disparate websites grouped together to provide up-to-date and practical information about all aspects of emergency preparedness and survival.