Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadOn September 1, 1859, auroras lit up the night sky. Telegraph lines sparked. Operators were shocked at their keys. The world had just experienced the Carrington Event—the most powerful solar storm ever recorded. If that same storm happened today, we wouldn’t be talking about fried telegraphs. We’d face the potential loss of the power grid and nearly every aspect of modern life that depends on electricity. That’s why, on this Carrington anniversary and the kickoff of National Preparedness Month, I’m re-releasing my conversation with NASA engineer and EMP expert Dr. Arthur Bradley. Dr. Bradley…

The Department of Veterans Affairs is developing a tool that will analyze veterans’ disability claims applications for fraud — a program VA officials say could identify providers or companies that abuse the system. The tool will not, however, be used to pursue potentially fraudulent past claims, a concern that arose recently among veterans following a congressional hearing that divulged the program’s development. Using a Microsoft data analytics program, the VA program will use information gleaned from forms known as Disability Benefits Questionnaires to identify patterns in language or omissions that could indicate fraud. VA Press Secretary Pete Kasperowicz said the…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadCrisis doesn’t just hit the grid, the grocery store, or the gas pump. It hits the people around you. It hits your home. And for parents, especially those with young kids, the biggest challenge isn’t the gear and supplies. It’s helping your family adjust mentally and physically to the new normal, whatever that craziness might be. This article was inspired by a question from Dustin in South Carolina, a longtime listener who asked: As a husband and father of two elementary school-aged kids, what are your thoughts on how to best help families…

This article was originally published by Garrison Vance at Natural News.  Iran Warns of $200 Oil as Hormuz Blockade Threat Intensifies A senior Iranian military spokesperson warned on March 11, that global crude oil prices could surge to $200 per barrel if ongoing U.S. and Israeli military operations in the region continue. The statement from Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command, followed a major Iranian drone strike on Oman’s largest oil storage facility and a direct threat to block all oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz [1]. Oil markets reacted violently to the escalating threats, with Brent…

WASHINGTON, March 17 (Reuters) — The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, deployed in operations against Iran, is expected to temporarily pull into port after a fire on board, U.S. officials said on Tuesday, the 18th day of the war with Tehran.The carrier, America’s newest and the world’s largest, is currently located in the Red Sea. It is expected to temporarily go to Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete, the two officials said.The warship has been deployed for nine months, including taking part in operations against Venezuela in the Caribbean prior to arriving in the Middle East.…

Sign up for the Quick Strike Newsletter The hottest fishing news, tips, and tactics The beef got real when they cut the lines on our boats and sent them drifting down the Alagnak River toward Kvichak Bay. Fortunately for us, the boats didn’t make it very far before spinning out of the main current and jamming up broadside against a beaver lodge. The two unmanned skiffs were spotted the following morning by our chief pilot, who was flying a load of cargo back from King Salmon. While another pilot might’ve worried if there were any fishing guides to rescue, he…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis episode came from a recent Mind4Survival listener survey, where I asked: What’s the one thing you need help with most right now in your preparedness? One response stood out: “Having a plan for when things actually HTF. Being prepared is one thing. Planning the steps to start with is another thing.” That’s a good question because while many people focus on the obvious aspects of preparedness, such as gathering supplies, they haven’t thought through the steps they’d actually take if the wheels fall off. Ask anyone who has worked/lived in some sort of…

As missile and drone attacks intensify across the Middle East, U.S. forces are leaning heavily on air defense systems like the Patriot missile battery to intercept incoming threats. The Patriot system is widely used to defend against incoming missiles and drones using radar and interceptor missiles — such as the Patriot Advanced Capability-3, or PAC-3, interceptor — to engage incoming threats. The system has become a key tool for protecting bases and infrastructure from aerial attacks, but at a high cost. PAC-3 interceptor missiles cost millions of dollars each, making them especially expensive when used against cheaper threats like drones.…

Sign up for the Outdoor Life Newsletter Get the hottest outdoor news—plus a free month of onX Hunt Elite. Oregon lawmakers passed new legislation this month that establishes a new revenue stream for fish and wildlife conservation. The law, which goes into effect next year, raises the statewide transient lodging tax (also known as a hospitality tax) by a nominal 1.25 percent and directs this revenue toward programs that will benefit Oregon’s fish and wildlife resources. Local hunters, anglers, and conservation groups have long supported this idea, and they are now celebrating the landmark legislation. The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSometimes the best questions don’t come from experts—they come from people living real lives, trying to get it right. That’s what this is. In this article, I’m answering three listener-submitted questions that get to the heart of what practical preparedness looks like in the real world: Is a crossbow worth it? How do you handle guilt over prepping expenses? And how do you stay in touch with family when the normal communication methods fail? Let’s walk through each question clearly and practically, just like we would if we were sitting at the kitchen table…

An unidentified outbreak, likely bacterial, has killed two people and sickened 11 others in the United Kingdom. One student who died was a University of Kent student. The outbreak is thought to be linked to a party held in Canterbury that some of the students who became sick attended, according to the BBC. Multiple invasive meningococcal disease cases near the school were reported to the U.K. health officials. As of Sunday, two of the individuals have died. One of them was a student, a university spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE. From Friday, March 13th, to Sunday, March 15th, 13 different cases of…

WASHINGTON, March 17 (Reuters) — The war on Iran has not delayed shipments of weapons to Taiwan or changed U.S. policy toward the island, officials from President Donald Trump’s administration told members of Congress on Tuesday, despite the demands of the intense air campaign.“Have we delayed moving things to Taiwan? We haven’t,” Stanley Brown, principal deputy assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, told a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee hearing.The U.S. and Israel began airstrikes against Iran on Feb. 28, a campaign that has raised concerns among some U.S. officials that the U.S. defense industry would be unable…

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Cabela’s Spring Classic is one of the easiest ways to save a boatload of cash on all the fishing supplies you’d ever want each year. And this year’s savings amount to many hundreds to thousands off regular prices, including saving $200 on this Ascend kayak, and $400 on this Garmin fish finder, so get all your gear ahead of the season and sit blissfully on your boat come spring. Kayaks Save 20% on Ascend 128X Sit-on-Top Kayak with Yak-Power Save 20%…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWhen disaster strikes, there’s no room for guesswork. That’s where the Survival Pyramid comes in. It strips things down to the essentials. It cuts through the noise and helps you focus on what actually keeps people alive—and what keeps them moving forward when everything else has gone sideways. This is the framework I developed after decades of responding to emergencies—from lifeguarding and EMS calls to war zones, natural disasters, and real-world collapse scenarios. It’s built for people who want to have a solid framework from which to effectively prioritize their survival preparedness—without wasting time…

The U.S. Navy is taking steps toward remedying ongoing maintenance delays by enlisting the help of artificial intelligence and robotic systems, the service announced. The sea service reached an agreement with the Pittsburgh-based Gecko Robotics, the company confirmed Tuesday, to deploy tech capable of streamlining repairs and reducing maintenance delays for a surface fleet that continues to be stretched thin.The contract will begin as a 5-year, $54 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity deal that will soon see Gecko begin work on 18 ships assigned to the Navy’s U.S. Pacific Fleet. To expedite what has in recent years become a headache…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWhen people start thinking about emergency preparedness, they usually have concerns about food, water, and physical supplies such as toilet paper and first aid. But there is another aspect that is just as important: your data.  This could include family photos, tax records, and records such as banking and medical records. Just losing your contact list stored on your phone could present a major problem. Natural disasters are not the only threats to worry about.  Cyberattacks are happening to more and more people and establishments, and they can be just as damaging as a…

The U.S. Marine Corps is hosting celebrations to honor the Harrier aircraft and its service members as it reaches its end of service life. The Harrier Sundown celebration will “honor the legacy of the aircraft and the Marines who served with it,” according to a Tuesday Marine Administrative message. The sundown celebration will be hosted by the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, from June 1 to 4, the memo states.The AV-8B Harrier II+ will reach the end of its planned service life in fiscal year 2026, per the message. The last…

Sign up for the Outdoor Life Newsletter Get the hottest outdoor news—plus a free month of onX Hunt Elite. This story, “Back to the Bogs,” appeared in the June 1972 issue of Outdoor Life. “Do you know the bogs at all, Mr. Riley?” asked a member of the Garryricken Club in Kilkenny as he sent me out on my first shoot in Ireland. “I’ve heard the bogs can be treacherous,” I ventured. “It’s not their treachery I was thinking of. I was thinking you’d best have a look in them for the snipe.” “Snipe?” I was frankly puzzled. A few…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadPreparedness isn’t just about stockpiling supplies. It’s about mindset, experience, and the lessons we carry from one generation to the next. A recent New York Post report highlights a troubling gap: while 90% of Americans believe it’s important to prepare for natural disasters, less than half—just 46%—actually have a plan in place. Even more concerning, baby boomers (born 1946–1964) are the least prepared, with only 39% reporting any kind of disaster plan. TL;DR: Baby boomers are the least prepared for disasters, despite rising extreme weather and growing awareness across generations. Quick Look at What…

Europe has warned Israel that continued strikes on Lebanon will result in “devastating humanitarian consequences.” The Israeli military announced “limited and targeted ground operations against key Hezbollah strongholds” in its northern neighbor on Monday after the group attacked in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In a joint statement issued Monday, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Canada said they were “gravely concerned” by the escalating violence and called for “meaningful engagement by Israeli and Lebanese representatives to negotiate a sustainable political solution,” urging “immediate de-escalation.” WAR ALERT: Israel Invades Lebanon United Nations peacekeepers have added…

PARIS — European NATO allies pushed back against demands by U.S. President Donald Trump to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz by force, weeks after Iran shut down the majority of shipping through the critical trade artery in response to the American-Israeli war against the country.British Prime Minister Kier Starmer said on Monday the United Kingdom “will not be drawn into the wider war,” while German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said “this is not our war.” Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, said member states have no appetite to expand their maritime-security operation in the Red Sea to…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadIf you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by preparedness and life in general, you’re not alone. I received a message from someone in the Mind4Survival community that said: “I feel so overwhelmed by everything I need to do, and it keeps me from doing anything.” That kind of overwhelm—the kind of overwhelm that keeps you from doing things because it paralyses your ability to take action is more common than you might think. And it makes sense. You’re juggling family, work, stress, life in general—and on top of that, you’re supposed to plan and prepare for…

More than 600 service members and crew members aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford are without a bed after a fire aboard the ship Thursday, The New York Times reported.The fire took upwards of 30 hours to douse, according to the publication, and it damaged sailors’ sleeping arrangements so badly that they’re having to sleep on floors and tables.The Navy announced Thursday that the world’s largest aircraft carrier experienced a non-combat fire that originated in the main laundry room, but the service did not provide further information as to the source of the fire.“There is no damage to the ship’s…

Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadYou’ve probably heard it before: that 90% of Americans would die within a year of an EMP attack. It’s one of the most quoted numbers in all of preparedness. But that number didn’t come from a study or model. It came from a single sentence in a 2005 Senate hearing. It wasn’t a forecast—it was one extreme of a range, from no deaths to full collapse. Still, over time, the 90% death rate became gospel. And too many people now treat it as an inevitable outcome, especially in the prepper community. I’m not an…