Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS): The License-Free VHF Radio Most Preppers Overlook

When preppers talk about radios, the conversation usually jumps straight to ham radio or GMRS. Ham needs an exam, GMRS needs an FCC license, and the cheap FRS walkie-talkies from the big-box store barely reach across a few blocks.

There is a quieter option sitting between them. The Multi-Use Radio Service, or MURS, gives you five VHF channels, no license to apply for, removable antennas, and far less chatter than the crowded FRS and GMRS channels.

This guide covers what MURS is, the FCC rules you need to know, how it stacks up against other radio services, where it shines for preparedness, and how to build a simple MURS setup for your family or group.

What Is the Multi-Use Radio Service?

According to the FCC, MURS uses channels in the 151 to 154 MHz range, and its most common use is short-distance, two-way communication with small handheld radios that work much like walkie-talkies. The FCC lists it alongside the General Mobile Radio Service and the Family Radio Service as similar services.

MURS did not start out as a consumer service. In its 2002 order, the FCC affirmed its decision to take five VHF frequencies that had been licensed for low-power industrial and business use and move them into a new personal radio service, where the general public is licensed by rule to use them for personal or business activities.

The FCC notes that these five channels were known as the “color dot” frequencies under the old business radio rules. You will still hear old-timers call two of them the Blue Dot and Green Dot channels.

What “Licensed by Rule” Means

MURS is not technically unlicensed. It is licensed by rule, which means you do not have to apply for or pay for an individual license as long as you follow the MURS rules and use certified equipment.

That is a big deal for preppers. Unlike GMRS, which covers a licensee and their family members, anyone in your group, your neighbors, or your mutual aid team can pick up a certified MURS radio and talk legally.

MURS Channels and the Rules You Need to Know

The MURS rules in 47 CFR Part 95, Subpart J are short and worth knowing before you key up. Here are the essentials.

The Five MURS Channels

• Channel 1: 820 MHz (narrowband)
• Channel 2: 880 MHz (narrowband)
• Channel 3: 940 MHz (narrowband)
• Channel 4: 570 MHz, the traditional Blue Dot channel
• Channel 5: 600 MHz, the traditional Green Dot channel

The FCC explains that MURS channels are either 11.25 kHz or 20 kHz wide, with the first three narrower than the last two. None of the channels belong to any one user, so everyone is expected to cooperate in choosing channels to reduce interference.

Power, Antennas, and Equipment

• Power limit: MURS transmitters are limited to 2 watts of transmitter output power.
• Antenna height: The top of a MURS antenna may not be more than 60 feet above the ground or 20 feet above the highest point of the structure it is mounted on, whichever is higher.
• Certified radios only: The FCC requires every MURS transmitter to be certified for the service, so check for MURS certification before you buy.
• No repeaters or boosters: The FCC’s personal radio services overview notes that MURS does not allow store-and-forward packet radio operation or signal boosters.
• No aircraft use: MURS is not authorized aboard aircraft in flight.

What You Can Send

MURS is more flexible than many people realize. In a 2010 FCC decision, the Commission described MURS as a two-way, short-distance voice, data, or image communication service for the personal or business activities of the general public.

The same decision confirms that the FCC prohibited connecting MURS stations to the public telephone network. In other words, you cannot use MURS to patch radio calls into phone lines.

MURS vs. FRS, GMRS, CB, and Ham Radio

Each personal radio service has a place in a preparedness plan. Here is how MURS compares.

• FRS is the license-free walkie-talkie service on UHF frequencies around 462 and 467 MHz. The FCC’s overview notes that FRS units have antennas integrated with the unit, so you cannot add a better antenna, which is one of the biggest advantages MURS has over it.
• GMRS shares frequencies with FRS but allows much more power, repeaters, and mobile and base stations. It requires an FCC license, currently $35 for 10 years with no exam, and the license covers the licensee and their immediate family, not your whole group.
• CB radio is license-free and uses much lower frequencies, around 27 MHz, with longer antennas. It is popular with truckers and in rural areas, but it can be noisy and is better suited to vehicles than pockets.
• Ham radio is by far the most capable option, with high power, repeaters, and long-distance bands. The trade-off is that every operator needs to pass an exam and get a license.

MURS fills a specific gap: license-free like FRS and CB, a removable antenna like GMRS, and VHF frequencies that tend to carry well over open, rural ground. Our SHTF survivalist radio list covers the full lineup of options.

Why MURS Makes Sense for Preppers

• No license for anyone: Every member of a mutual aid group, retreat team, or neighborhood watch can use MURS legally, without paperwork.
• Better antennas allowed: Because MURS radios can use external antennas, you can mount a vehicle or base antenna and get much better range than a fixed-antenna FRS radio.
• VHF for rural ground: VHF signals tend to travel well over open land and rolling terrain, which suits farms, homesteads, and rural retreats.
• Quieter channels: With only five channels and fewer consumer radios on the market, MURS is usually less crowded than FRS and GMRS, though you may hear business users.
• Perimeter alerts: Some wireless driveway and perimeter sensors, such as Dakota Alert MURS motion sensors, transmit alerts on MURS frequencies, so a MURS handheld can double as your early-warning receiver.

The Limitations You Need to Plan Around

MURS is not a magic bullet. Two watts is not much power, and with no repeaters allowed, your range depends entirely on antenna height and terrain.

There are also fewer MURS radios on the market than FRS or GMRS radios, and fewer people listening. That is good for privacy from casual chatter but bad if you hope to reach strangers in an emergency.

Remember too that MURS is not private. Anyone with a scanner or MURS radio can hear you, and privacy codes only filter what your radio plays, they do not stop anyone else from listening.

Choosing a MURS Radio

When shopping, look for these features:

• MURS certification: The radio should be marketed and certified specifically for MURS.
• A detachable antenna: This is the main reason to choose MURS over FRS, so make sure the antenna unscrews.
• Battery flexibility: Radios that accept AA batteries in a pinch, paired with rechargeable AA batteries and a solar charger, keep you on the air during long outages.
• Durability: Look for a rugged, water-resistant body if the radio will live in a bug-out bag or on a tractor.

Good starting points include the budget-friendly Radioddity MU-5, the Retevis RT27V, and the BTECH MURS-V2. For a more rugged, business-grade option, the Motorola RMM2050 is a popular MURS workhorse.

A Warning About Ham Radios on MURS

Many preppers own inexpensive dual-band ham radios that can be programmed to MURS frequencies. Because the FCC requires every MURS transmitter to be certified for MURS, transmitting on these channels with a radio that is only certified for amateur use breaks the rules, even though the frequencies are close by.

Use your ham radio for listening if you like, but transmit on MURS with a MURS-certified radio. It keeps you legal and avoids the overpowered, wide signals some ham handhelds put out.

How to Get the Most Range From MURS

With a 2-watt cap, your antenna does most of the work. Small changes can make a big difference:

• Get the antenna up: Height beats power with VHF, so stand on high ground or mount the antenna as high as the 60-foot rule allows.
• Use a vehicle antenna: A VHF magnetic mount antenna on the roof of a truck gets you up above the brush and out of the vehicle’s metal shell.
• Set up a base station: A VHF base antenna mounted on a mast at the homestead turns MURS into a solid link between the house, barn, and back forty.
• Keep cable runs short: Long runs of cheap coax lose signal, so use good cable and keep it as short as practical.
• Mind the terrain: Hills, dense woods, and buildings block VHF signals, so test your setup in the real places you will use it.

Building a MURS Comms Plan for Your Group

A radio without a plan is just a noisemaker. The FEMA family emergency communication plan reminds families that mobile phones and other networks may be unreliable during disasters, which is exactly when your MURS plan needs to be ready.

• Pick a primary and backup channel: Everyone should know which MURS channel to use first and where to go if it is busy.
• Set check-in times: Agree on regular check-ins, such as the top of every hour, so radios can stay off between calls to save batteries.
• Keep it brief: Short transmissions save power and keep the channel clear for others.
• Assume someone is listening: Do not broadcast where your supplies are or when your home will be empty.
• Practice regularly: Run monthly drills so every family member knows how to turn on the radio, find the channel, and make a call.

Pair MURS with other signaling tools for when radios fail. Our guide on 10 ways to signal SOS covers mirrors, lights, and other low-tech backups.

Ask a Prepper may earn a commission on purchases made through the Amazon links in this article, at no extra cost to you.

Common Questions About MURS

How far can a MURS radio reach?

There is no single answer, because range depends far more on antenna height and terrain than on the radio. Handheld to handheld in hilly or wooded country may only cover a mile or two, while a base antenna on a mast talking to a vehicle antenna across open ground can reach much farther.

Can MURS radios talk to FRS or GMRS radios?

No. MURS runs on VHF frequencies around 151 to 154 MHz, while FRS and GMRS share UHF channels around 462 and 467 MHz, so the two cannot talk to each other unless you carry a radio for each service.

Do I need to identify myself on MURS?

Unlike ham radio and GMRS, MURS does not assign call signs. It is still good practice to use names or simple tactical call signs so everyone in your group knows who is talking.

Can kids use MURS radios?

Yes. Because MURS is licensed by rule, there is no age requirement, which makes it a good option for teaching children basic radio habits around the homestead.

Is MURS legal outside the United States?

MURS is a U.S. service regulated by the FCC. Other countries have their own rules and frequencies, so check local regulations before using MURS radios abroad.

When the Cell Towers Go Down, Will Your Family Know What to Do?

A MURS radio can help you stay in touch when cell service fails. But communication is only one piece of surviving a serious emergency. What happens when the power stays off, clean water becomes difficult to find, grocery stores run out of supplies, and the modern conveniences your family depends on suddenly disappear?

That’s when the old-fashioned skills our grandparents relied on become more valuable than any expensive piece of survival equipment.

The Lost Skills of Independence brings back practical, time-tested knowledge that can help you become more self-reliant, better prepared, and less dependent on fragile modern systems.

Discover how to:

• Prepare for life without electricity: Learn practical ways to handle everyday needs when the power grid fails.
• Become more self-sufficient: Rediscover traditional methods of growing, preserving, and managing essential resources.
• Reduce your dependence on stores: Explore forgotten skills that help you make better use of what you already have.
• Build a more resilient household: Develop practical knowledge that remains useful even when modern infrastructure stops working.
• Pass valuable survival knowledge to your family: Keep the skills of earlier generations alive instead of relying entirely on technology.

Your MURS radio might help you coordinate with neighbors, check on loved ones, or call for assistance. But knowing how to take care of your family’s basic needs when help isn’t coming is just as important.

The best time to learn these skills isn’t during a blackout, supply shortage, or widespread emergency. It’s now, while you still have the time and resources to practice.

Don’t wait until modern conveniences disappear to discover how much you’ve forgotten.

Discover The Lost Skills of Independence and Start Reclaiming Your Self-Reliance Today

The Bottom Line

The Multi-Use Radio Service is one of the most underrated tools in prepper communications. It gives every member of your group legal, license-free VHF radio access, external antennas for better range, and channels that are usually far quieter than FRS and GMRS.

It will not replace ham radio for long-distance contact, and 2 watts has its limits. But for a homestead, a retreat, or a neighborhood team that needs reliable local talk without paperwork, a few MURS radios and a good antenna belong in your kit. Buy them now, practice with them often, and they will be ready when the cell towers go quiet.

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The post Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS): The License-Free VHF Radio Most Preppers Overlook appeared first on Ask a Prepper.

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How to Make an Herbal Band-Aid

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

^{Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor and nothing in this article should be taken as medical advice. Please talk to your doctor before using any of the herbs and/or remedies mentioned in this article.}

While some may scoff at the idea of healing an injury, settling a stomach, or treating an illness with plants and herbs, others are greatly benefiting from doing just that. For thousands of years, people from a wide variety of cultures and countries have turned to gardens and forest floors to treat injuries and sicknesses the way we now turn to the medicine cabinet.

Manufactured medicine is a critical part of taking care of a variety of ailments, but it is comforting to know that there are other options as close as our backyards.

Though herbs and plants can be a great option for improving your health, be sure to consider how a plant may interact with any other medication you might be using. Many herbs and natural remedies have not been adequately tested to ensure safety for those most vulnerable.

Herbal remedies are a wonderful first line of care for minor injuries, but it's important to know their limits. An herbal band-aid is good for:

• Small cuts and scrapes
• Minor burns and sunburn
• Skin irritation, rashes, and mild inflammation
• Insect stings and bites

However, you should seek professional medical care for:

• Deep wounds that won't stop bleeding after 10–15 minutes of firm pressure
• Puncture wounds, especially from rusty objects
• Animal bites
• Signs of infection like increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or red streaking around a wound
• Burns larger than 3 inches or burns on the face, hands, feet, or joints
• Any injury in a young child, elderly person, or someone with a compromised immune system

When in doubt, err on the side of caution. Herbal remedies work beautifully as a complement to modern medicine but aren't always as a replacement for it.

One other thing: Always test your reaction to a plant before using it widely. Now here's what you'll need to make an herbal Band-Aid.

Aloe Vera

For centuries, aloe vera has been used for medicinal and healing properties dating back at least 6,000 years. Aloe vera gel is something many people use to soothe sunburned skin or minor scrapes.

Typically, the green gel is what most people think of when they hear the name aloe. In fact, aloe vera is one of the most used botanical medicines in Western society today.

Owning the aloe vera plant offers you more medicinal benefits than just the gel, and it is easy to care for. As a part of the succulent family, you will want to keep your plant inside unless you live in a regularly warm climate.

Aloe vera is a hardy plant that will do well if it has sunlight and you don't over-water. If you have a young plant or have not purchased one yet, some grocery stores carry aloe leaves in their produce department for a few dollars.

To use your aloe plant medicinally, take one of the aloe leaves and slice it down the middle. The inside is gelatinous, and this is the material that is in the gel previously discussed. It is easy to remove from the skin of the leaf, and there is a yellow liquid below the gel that you will not use topically. This liquid will usually seep out after you have removed the gel.

The aloe gel can be used on minor skin abrasions, inflammation, minor burns, or even dry skin. Aloe has been proven to help cells rebuild for minor healings of wounds, and it acts as a natural moisturizer.

You can rub the gel directly on the affected area, or you can also place the removed gel piece directly on your skin and gently wrap it with gauze for a couple of hours. Replace the application a couple of times per day for direct healing of a minor injury or burn.

Herbal Poultices for Wound Care

Many plants and herbs can be made into a poultice. A poultice is a wet ground paste concoction of herbs that is directly applied to the skin and wrapped in gauze or bandage.

When warmed, the poultice can feel good simply in the application and add to the healing process by promoting blood flow to the injured site. In other instances, a cold poultice can likewise soothe inflammation and offer cooling relief.

A poultice is perfect to apply and wrap well before bed to allow the herbs to be in place for several hours; though like most herbal remedies, fresh application a couple of times per day yields the most benefits.

Great herb options for a poultice:

• Plantain leaves – One of the best all-around wound herbs. Draws out splinters, stingers, and toxins, and helps reduce swelling and stop minor bleeding.
• Calendula flowers – Excellent for slow-healing wounds, rashes, and inflammation. Known for its gentle antibacterial and antifungal properties.
• Dandelion leaves and root – Good for skin irritations and eczema-like conditions. The root has mild antibacterial properties, while the leaves can soothe inflamed skin.
• Burdock root – Traditionally used for boils, abscesses, and skin infections. Helps draw out impurities and reduce swelling in deeper tissue.
• Chickweed leaves and stem – Best for itching, rashes, and minor burns. Very cooling and soothing on irritated or inflamed skin.
• Yarrow flowers – One of the oldest wound herbs known. Helps stop bleeding, fight infection, and speed up the healing of cuts and scrapes.
• Mullein leaves – Softer and more fibrous than most herbs, mullein leaves can act as a natural bandage material on their own while also reducing inflammation.

Depending on what type of injury you are treating, research the specific herb you are interested in using before you create your poultice to ensure you have aligned your ailment with the appropriate plant.

Specific issues like skin healing, gout, mastitis, boils, and abscesses can all be successfully treated with herbs through treatments like poultices with a variety of plants.

What you will need:

• Herbs of your choice.
• Gauze or bandage to wrap the area.
• It is helpful to have a food processor, blender, or mortar and pestle.

Instructions

Simply crush the herbs in the blender or with a mortar and pestle until the plant breaks down and is releasing its natural liquids.

If you need to add a little water to the blender to have it adequately break down (or if you're using dry herbs), that's okay, but make sure to maintain a pasty consistency.

Apply the crushed herbs to the affected skin and wrap with gauze or cloth. For best results, replace the poultice a couple of times a day and leave on for extended periods of time.

Storing Your Poultice Materials

If you've made more poultice than you need for one application, you don't have to throw it out. Fresh poultice can be stored in a small covered container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Beyond that, the plant material begins to break down and lose potency.

For longer-term storage, consider drying your herbs and keeping them on hand in labeled glass jars. Dried herbs can be rehydrated with a small amount of warm water when you're ready to use them. Most dried herbs stay potent for one to two years when stored in a cool, dark place away from moisture.

If you grow your own medicinal plants, late summer and early fall are typically the best times to harvest and dry a supply to carry you through the colder months when fresh material isn't available.

Final Thoughts

In an urgent situation, picking a couple of leaves from a plant like the plantain and crushing it in your hands is enough to begin the breakdown process, and layering them over a wound is all you’ll need to reap some of the healing benefits from these plants.

Many of our modern luxuries can potentially lure us into a place of comfortable complacency, but the first line of defense is always being equipped with knowledge. Understanding the natural world around us and the intrinsic value of plants and herbs lessens the chances of a small incident, like a cut or a burn, turning into something more substantial. You can always be prepared, even when you’re not.

Originally published on Homestead Survival Site.

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The post How to Make an Herbal Band-Aid appeared first on Urban Survival Site.

from Urban Survival Site

The Best Snacks and Treats to Keep in Your Pantry

The Best Snacks and Treats to Keep in Your Pantry! When most of us think about food storage, we picture buckets of wheat, cases of canned vegetables, and bags of rice. Those staples are the foundation of any good pantry, and I would never tell you to skip them. But I’ve learned over the years that a well-stocked pantry needs something more. It needs a little comfort, a little joy. It needs snacks and treats.

Think about the last time your power went out or a storm kept your family indoors for a few days. What did the kids reach for first? Probably not a can of green beans. During stressful times, a familiar snack can calm nerves, lift spirits, and make a hard day feel a little more normal. That’s why I believe snacks and treats deserve a real place on your food storage shelves.

Today I want to share the best snacks and treats to keep in your pantry, along with why each one is a smart choice for stocking.

Why Snacks and Treats Matter in Food Storage

Before we get to the list, let me explain why I take snacks so seriously. In an emergency, your family will be dealing with stress, disrupted routines, and possibly limited cooking options. Snacks help in several ways. They provide quick energy without cooking. Some are easy to grab and portion out. They give children something familiar when everything else feels uncertain. And honestly, they help grown-ups too.

There’s also a practical reason. Many snacks are calorie-dense, which means they pack a lot of energy into a small space. When you’re working hard to clean up after a storm or caring for your family without electricity, those calories matter.

The key is choosing snacks that store well, that your family already enjoys, and that you’ll actually rotate through before they expire.

1. Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is at the top of my list for good reason. It is full of protein and healthy fats; it fills you up, and nearly everyone likes it. An unopened jar of commercial peanut butter typically keeps well for many months in a cool pantry, and the best-by date on the jar is a good guide. Harry taught me we can freeze peanut butter inside FoodSaver bags.

Peanut butter is perfect for stocking because it pairs with so many other pantry items. Spread it on crackers, stir it into oatmeal, or eat it straight from a spoon when you need a quick boost. If someone in your home has a peanut allergy, sunflower seed butter is a wonderful alternative.

2. Crackers

Crackers are a pantry workhorse. Saltines, graham crackers, and whole-grain crackers all store well when kept sealed and dry. They’re easy on upset stomachs, which makes them especially valuable when someone in the family is feeling unwell.

Crackers are perfect for stocking because they turn other foods into a meal. Add peanut butter, canned chicken, or cheese spread, and you have something satisfying with no cooking at all. Buy them in sleeves so you only open what you need and the rest stays fresh. I admit I love Cheese Whiz!

3. Hard Candy

Hard candy is one of the longest-lasting treats you can store. Because it’s made mostly of sugar and contains very little moisture, it holds up well over time when kept in a cool, dry place away from humidity.

Hard candy is perfect for stocking because a small piece goes a long way. It can soothe a dry throat, give a quick sugar boost, and bring a smile to a worried child. Lollipops, peppermints, and butterscotch discs are all good choices. Keep them in an airtight container so they don’t get sticky.

4. Chocolate

I couldn’t write a post about treats without including chocolate. Dark chocolate generally stores longer than milk chocolate because it contains less milk fat. Kept in a cool, dark spot, a good bar of chocolate can last many months.

Chocolate is perfect for stocking because it’s a true morale booster. A square of chocolate after a long, hard day can feel like a gift. You may notice a whitish coating on older chocolate called bloom. It’s caused by temperature changes and is safe to eat, though the texture may be a bit different. Avoid storing chocolate in a garage or attic where it can get hot.

5. Granola Bars and Protein Bars

Granola bars and protein bars are individually wrapped, portable, and ready to eat. They’re a favorite in our 72-hour kits and our car kits for that reason.

These bars are perfect for stocking because they’re portion-controlled and require nothing more than opening the wrapper. Look for bars with a longer shelf life and check the dates when you buy. Bars with chocolate coatings may melt in heat, so plain or oat-based varieties are often the better choice for car kits.

6. Nuts and Trail Mix

Nuts are a powerhouse of protein, healthy fats, and calories. Almonds, cashews, peanuts, and mixed nuts all make excellent pantry snacks. Trail mix combines nuts, dried fruit, and sometimes chocolate for a sweet-and-salty treat.

Nuts are perfect for stocking because they offer serious nutrition in a small package. Keep in mind that the oils in nuts can go rancid over time, so they do best in sealed containers in a cool place. Vacuum-sealed cans of nuts will last longer than bags. Rotate them regularly and store extras in the freezer if you have room. Dicorain Vacuum Sealer

7. Dried Fruit

Raisins, dried apricots, dried cranberries, prunes, and dried apple rings are sweet, chewy, and full of fiber and natural sugars.

Dried fruit is perfect for stocking because it gives your family some fruit nutrition when fresh produce isn’t available. It also satisfies a sweet tooth in a more wholesome way than candy. Keep it sealed tightly so it doesn’t dry out or absorb moisture.

8. Freeze-Dried Fruit

Freeze-dried fruit deserves its own spot on this list. Strawberries, bananas, apples, and peaches that have been freeze-dried are light, crunchy, and surprisingly flavorful. When properly packaged in sealed cans or mylar pouches, freeze-dried foods can last for many years.

Freeze-dried fruit is perfect for stocking because of its long shelf life and kids’ tendency to love its crunchy texture. It’s a little more expensive than other options, but a few cans make a wonderful addition to your long-term storage.

9. Canned Fruit and Fruit Cups

Canned peaches, pears, pineapple, and mandarin oranges are classic pantry items. Single-serving fruit cups and applesauce cups are especially handy.

Canned fruit is perfect for stocking because it provides moisture along with sweetness. If water is limited, the juice or syrup in canned fruit can help with hydration. Fruit cups are also easy for little ones to manage on their own. Just remember to keep a manual can opener in your pantry. My favorite is tapioca pudding in cups, but it has to be refrigerated.

10. Pudding Cups

Shelf-stable pudding cups are often overlooked, but they’re a treat my grandchildren always appreciate. They need no refrigeration until opened, and they come in single servings.

Pudding cups are perfect for stocking because they feel like a real dessert, which can be a big comfort during a stressful time. They’re also soft and easy to eat for young children, older adults, or anyone who’s not feeling well.

11. Beef Jerky

Commercially packaged beef jerky is a savory snack full of protein. Turkey jerky and meat sticks are good options too.

Jerky is perfect for stocking because it offers protein without cooking or refrigeration. It’s lightweight, which makes it ideal for go bags. It can be pricey, so watch for sales and buy a few packages at a time. Once opened, eat it within a few days or follow the package directions.

12. Popcorn Kernels

Plain popcorn kernels store very well in a cool, dry place in an airtight container. They’re inexpensive and take up little space.

Popcorn is perfect for stocking because it’s a whole grain snack that can feed a whole family for pennies. If you have a camp stove or a way to cook on the grill, you can pop it in a pot with a little oil. Popping corn together can turn a stressful evening into a family movie night, even if the movie is a board game by lantern light.

13. Pretzels

Pretzels are low in fat, which helps them stay fresh longer than many chips. They’re salty, crunchy, and satisfying.

Pretzels are perfect for stocking because they help replace salt your body loses when you’re working hard or sweating. They also pair nicely with peanut butter for a simple, filling snack.

14. Honey

Honey is one of the most remarkable foods you can store. Properly sealed honey keeps essentially indefinitely. If it crystallizes, simply set the jar in warm water to soften it again.

Honey is perfect for stocking because it’s both a sweetener and a treat. Drizzle it on crackers, stir it into tea, or use it in baking. Please remember that honey should never be given to babies under one year old.

15. Hot Cocoa Mix and Drink Mixes

Hot cocoa packets, flavored drink mixes, and powdered lemonade may not seem like snacks, but they belong in your treat stash.

These mixes are perfect for stocking because they make stored water more appealing to drink, which helps your family stay hydrated. A warm mug of cocoa on a cold night without power can bring real comfort.

Tips for Storing Snacks and Treats

Now that you know what to stock, here are a few tips to keep your snacks fresh and ready.

Store what your family eats. This is the golden rule of food storage. If no one in your home likes dried apricots, don’t buy them. Stock the snacks your family already enjoys.

Rotate regularly. Snacks generally have shorter shelf lives than staples like wheat and rice. Use the first-in, first-out method by placing new purchases at the back and pulling older items forward.

Keep them cool and dry. Heat, light, moisture, and pests are the enemies of food storage. A cool, dark pantry or a basement shelf is ideal.

Use airtight containers. Once a package is opened, transfer the contents to a sealed container or jar to keep them fresh and keep critters out.

Think about special diets. If anyone in your family has food allergies, diabetes, or other dietary concerns, plan your snack storage around those needs.

Buy a little at a time. You don’t need to stock everything at once. Add a few items to your cart each time you shop and watch for sales. Your snack supply will grow before you know it.

Hide a few for emergencies. In my experience, snacks have a way of disappearing. Set aside a special bin that’s opened only during true emergencies, so you always have a backup.

Best Snacks to Take With You When SHTF

Peanut Butter: Why I Store It

Final Word

Snacks and treats may seem like a small part of food storage, but they make a big difference when times get hard. They provide quick energy, comfort, and a sense of normal when life feels anything but normal. When you stock the best snacks and treats in your pantry, you’re not just storing food. You’re storing comfort for the people you love.

Start with a few favorites from this list, rotate them often, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from being prepared. What snacks does your family love to keep on hand? I would love to hear your ideas. May God bless this world, Linda

The post The Best Snacks and Treats to Keep in Your Pantry appeared first on Food Storage Moms.

from Food Storage Moms

Holding A Family Council – Bringing Everyone Into The Preparedness Conversation

I count it as a blessing that everyone in my home shares my interest in preparedness and that we all participate in preparedness activities as a family. That hasn’t always been the case, and it can be a tough row to hoe when some or all of the other members of your family don’t share […]

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How Google Maps Became a Weapon for Looters

Back in 2011, police in Indian Head Park, a small suburb west of Chicago, arrested a man tied to as many as nine break-ins. When they asked how he picked his targets, he said he simply searched Google for expensive homes along highways. Then he switched to the satellite view and studied each house from above before he ever set foot on the street.

That was fifteen years ago, with tools that look clumsy next to what’s on every phone today. So picture what a desperate crowd could do with the same map after a collapse, when nobody is answering 911 and every pantry in town is a target.

Burglars Have Been Doing This for Years

The Chicago burglar wasn’t some computer genius. He typed a search, zoomed in on the houses, and hit them between 8 and 10 at night. In one of those homes, he opened a bedroom door and came face to face with the owner.

And he’s far from the only one. Back in May, police in Howell County, Missouri, arrested two Chilean men accused of running a multi-state burglary ring. One of them told investigators they left Miami with no real plan other than going after homes that looked wealthy on Google Maps. From there, they worked their way up toward Chicago, and along the way investigators tied them to seven break-ins in Alabama, Mississippi, and Missouri in less than ten days, with about $122,000 in cash and valuables gone. 

Then, earlier this month, police in Arizona arrested a 41-year-old Scottsdale man accused of picking luxury homes by following his victims’ vacation posts on Instagram. According to police, he cut the power at the breaker box late at night so the security cameras would go dark before he went in. Worse, investigators believe he may be linked to more than 20 home burglaries. 

A former military survival trainer, writing as Jonathan Riker, saw the same pattern and built his home defense plan around it. So he advises every prepper to follow his protocol against online home scouting before a burglar ever drives down their street. It shows you how thieves read your location from maps and listing photos, and how to shut those openings around your own house.

Even so, a thief might still get inside, like the man who opened that bedroom door in Chicago. For that moment, the security protocol also covers close quarters moves that work without a weapon.

What Your Roof Tells a Stranger

Anybody who has served knows how much an overhead photo tells you before you ever leave the wire. Now that same view is free, and anyone with a phone can study your property for as long as they like.

For a prepper, that’s a real problem, because a good homestead looks rich from above. A stranger can spot the garden rows, the chicken coop, the greenhouse, and the solar panels on the shed roof in a few seconds. A big propane tank or a line of rain barrels tells them even more.

Worse, Street View keeps old photos too. Anyone can scroll back through the years and see when you put up the fence or built the new shed. In a long crisis, a backyard pool is also a few thousand gallons of water, and it shows up bright blue from space.

So the first fix sits right over your head, since one roof color blends into the ground so well on satellite photos that your house gets hard to pick out. Find out which roof color hides your home from satellite cameras and why the finish matters just as much as the shade.

Still, the roof only covers the house, while the garden, the coop, and the rain barrels sit right out in the open. Everything you do around your yard has to stay hidden in plain sight, and a good place to start is how to hide a working homestead in plain sight, so a stranger scrolling the map sees nothing worth the drive.

What Street View Shows From the Curb

The satellite photo shows what you’ve got, but Street View shows how well you guard it. From the curb, a stranger can count your cameras and check whether the side gate has a lock on it. He can also see if there’s a doghouse in the yard, and whether the back of the house faces woods or a busy road.

On top of that, the photo shows what you park outside. A camper or a trailer stacked with firewood tells him this family has more than enough to share. And every Street View image carries the date it was taken, so he knows how old the picture is and whether he should drive by to see what’s changed.

In the service, we’d have called that reconnaissance, and it took days of crawling past fence lines. Now the whole job takes five minutes on a couch.

When the Stores Run Dry

Google Maps already tells anyone where every grocery store and pharmacy sits, along with their hours. In a collapse, those places get stripped first, usually within a day or two. Pharmacies tend to go early, since pain pills fetch a high price on the street. During the riots in the summer of 2020, drugstores in several big cities were broken into and cleaned out within hours.

Once those shelves are bare, hungry people start looking at houses instead.

That’s when the map turns into a shopping list. A neighborhood full of bare backyards gets skipped, while the one house with a big garden and a full woodpile stands out like a lit window. And unlike a burglar, a looter in a crisis doesn’t worry much about getting caught.

The Maps Nobody Thinks About

Google isn’t the only map a stranger can pull up. In a lot of counties, the assessor’s office runs a free online map that shows property lines, building outlines, and the owner’s name on every lot. Some of them even list outbuildings like a barn or a detached garage, along with their size.

Apple Maps has its own street-level photos, called Look Around, and they’re separate from Google’s. So if you blur your house on one, it can still show up clear as day on the other. Apple takes blur requests by email at MapsImageCollection@apple.com, so send one there too while you’re at it.

Then there’s Google Earth, which shows many towns in 3D. In those areas, a stranger can tilt the view and look at your house from almost any angle, including the side the street can’t see.

The Military Learned This the Hard Way

In 2018, a fitness app called Strava published a world map of where its users went running. It didn’t take long for people to notice the glowing jogging loops inside American military bases overseas. Those soldiers never meant to give anything away, yet small bits of data added up to a map of their bases.

So the Pentagon moved fast, and that August it barred troops at sensitive bases and in high-risk war zones from using fitness trackers and phone apps that reveal their location. The order covered GPS features on trackers, phones, tablets, and smartwatches, and troops got extra training on the risks those gadgets carry. In the end, the military learned that an enemy doesn’t need to send a scout when a soldier’s own phone points the way. 

Terry Schappert, a Green Beret who retired with 25 years of service, brought that same caution home with him. He says that if you want your home truly secure, you need to know the loophole that hides your house from Google Maps before a stranger ever zooms in on your roof. On top of that, Terry explains how to sweep your car for a hidden AirTag, since criminals use those tiny trackers to follow you right to your driveway.

Still, your own phone can do to your home what Strava did to those bases. Photos you post may carry the exact location they were taken, unless you turn that setting off. And reviews you leave on Google, or a family location-sharing setting you forgot about, can point a stranger right back to your door.

How to Blur Your House Off the Map

The good news is that a few simple changes can pull your place out of a stranger’s view, and most of them cost nothing.

• Street View blur: Google lets you blur your home on Street View for free. You find your house, click “Report a problem” at the bottom of the screen, and then choose to blur your home and explain why.
• A permanent change: The blur stays for good once Google applies it, so you can’t change your mind later.
• Satellite view: Google doesn’t take the same requests for photos from above, so anything that shows from the sky has to be hidden with your own hands.
• Water and fuel: Rain barrels can sit under the eaves or behind the shed, while fuel cans belong inside a closed building where no camera overhead can count them.
• Woodpile and generator: Shade cloth or camouflage netting over either one makes it look like ordinary clutter from the air.
• Old listing photos: If your house sold in the last few years, the inside pictures may still be online. So it’s smart to ask the listing site or your old agent to take them down, just like the Riverside police suggest.

Look at Your Own House the Way a Burglar Would

The same map can work for you, too. Pull up your own property on satellite view and look at it the way a stranger would. Whatever catches your eye in five seconds will catch theirs too.

When you look, pretend you’ve got a hungry family at home and a pickup truck with an empty bed. Then ask yourself which house on your street you’d pick first, and be honest if the answer is yours. In that case, the fix is usually cheap, like moving the woodpile behind the house or letting the hedge along the road grow a little taller.

Then again, a taller hedge only hides so much, and a looter who walks past it will try your doors next. Think back to that Scottsdale burglar, who cut the power at the breaker box so every security camera on the house went dark. Worse, the cameras you paid good money for can fail in seconds, while the man outside keeps working on your back door.

So you need more than hedges and cameras. A home study course called Secure Your Home Forever covers that ground, and it was built from military manuals and the experience of dozens of seasoned preppers. The idea behind it is simple. Running for the woods gets older folks killed, so the house you already own has to become the safest place you can be.

Here’s what you get from these online classes: 

• Your house seen the way an intruder sees it. The course teaches you to look at your own walls, doors, and windows from a tactical point of view, which is the same shift in thinking you just used on that satellite photo.
• Security shaped around your own house. The plan accounts for your square footage, your climate, who lives with you, and any medical conditions under your roof, so an older couple doesn’t get the same advice as a family of six.
• Protection that follows you out the door. You’ll also learn how to stay protected when you leave the property, whether that’s a trip to the flea market or walking out to the truck at night.
• Apartments and small lots included. Staying put in a building full of strangers takes a different approach, and the course covers how to hunker down there without a yard or a fence to work with.
• Civil unrest and martial law. Both get their own chapters, since a mob moving down your street calls for different decisions than a single burglar at your back door.
• Getting home before you can lock up. A bonus booklet walks you through reaching your family and your front door when trouble starts while you’re out.

Most disasters keep you inside for at least three weeks, and that’s the stretch when a dark camera and an unlocked back door decide everything. So enroll now and start turning your house into the hardest target on your street, before a stranger finishes studying it from his screen.

It also makes sense to download offline maps of your area while the internet still works. That way, you still have every back road and creek crossing on your phone when the cell towers go quiet. And don’t forget the advice that Riverside detective gave, which is to get to know your neighbors. A good neighbor who notices a strange car on your road is the best security system ever invented

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The post How Google Maps Became a Weapon for Looters appeared first on Ask a Prepper.

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