When I first started the Yahoo Group SurvivalRetreat in late March of 2004, I tried to set forth my goals in an outlined form of what I wanted to accomplish. The goal of course is survival, and in order to survive, the necessities of live must be maintained for life to continue. Thus, I started with the old “Food, Shelter, Clothing” standard, and expanded on that, attempting to prioritize them best I could logically. My updated list is now as follows:

1 AIR

2 WATER

3 FOOD

4 SHELTER/LOCATION/ENERGY

5 CLOTHING

6 DEFENSE/SECURITY

7 MEDICAL/HEALTH

8 COMMUNICATION/NEWS/INFORMATION

9 TRANSPORTATION/FUEL

10 TOOLS/SUPPLIES

11 LIBRARY/EDUCATION/SKILLS

12 RECREATION/ENTERTAINMENT

You will notice air is first, since you can only live a minute or two without breathable air, something we all take for granted, unless you have experienced something like smoke inhalation. Next is drinkable safe water, which you can only last a few days without. Food, is actually something you can go without for weeks if you are healthy with at least a little extra weight, while shelter and clothing are completely dependent upon weather. For instance, if it is below freezing, clothing and shelter are now more urgent than even water if you are freezing.

Going forward, I will devote an article to each of these 12 categories as it relates to a survival retreat (or secure home). I take some comfort in the fact Joel Skousen, in his “Secure Home” and “High Security Shelter” books and on his website also incorporates his survival philosophies, and I think you simply can’t separate the two.

Designing a good survival retreat/secure must take all this into consideration. Thus in entering into this endeavour, I believe it is necessary to present it comprehensively with my outline, which I briefly describe as follows:

1 AIR

Breathable air (smoke, gas, CO detectors), mobile (gas masks) to Retreat forced air filtered system with backup power (HEPA, charcoal, UV, positive pressure directional flow)

2 WATER

Water purification, mobile and fixed, well or water collection/storage system, and a sanitary system goes hand in hand.

3 FOOD

First storage (best types to buy, best system to store your own), then production (seeds, livestock, square foot gardening to small scale farming) and foraging (to the extent you can hunt/trap/fish).

4 SHELTER/LOCATION/ENERGY

Location matters, you must be in a survivalable area. Design (built to survive the most likely threats in your area). Energy (off-grid, generation of electricity mainly) and heat (heating while being able to maintain your air tight system).

5 CLOTHING

Not just regular, but also specialty clothing appropriate for outdoor use for your region, such as boots, military and hunting gear, etc.

6 DEFENSE/SECURITY

Security and defense is to keep others from taking what you have, and includes surveillance systems, perimeter defenses, alarm systems, firearms, other weapons for defense (notice this is #6, not 1, 2, or 3)

Under this section is also some limited “command” and who’s in charge structure.

7 MEDICAL/HEALTH

Medical cabinet and supplies you should have, first aid kit, drugs, etc.

Health – besides food, what else can you do for preventive medicine, herbs, etc. Don’t forget women’s health products and special needs of children here.

Women and needs of children taken into account.

8 COMMUNICATION/NEWS/INFORMATION

TV, radio, digital and analog, cell phones, Ham radio, short wave, CB, satellite, internet, hard line telephone, scanners

9 TRANSPORTATION/FUEL

How will you move around, and trade. Do you have fuel stored?

10 TOOLS/SUPPLIES

Tool chest – do you have everything you need to fix everything you have?

11 LIBRARY/EDUCATION/SKILLS

Survival skills are somewhat unique, hence to have a library or resource center for information would be a good idea. This also includes various domestic skills like sewing, etc.

12 RECREATION/ENTERTAINMENT

Psychological and sociological needs do become and issue over time, especially with children. From toys to sporting goods/exercise equipment, you do need to have this for long term survival.

Over the years I have heard a lot of suggestions that I have tried to fit in, but as you can see from the list, this is really a listing of tangible means you need to survive, of actual stuff you need to have, buy, or build. Many people want to put “survival skills” at the top of the list, but I instead keep that and things like “survival planning” and other mental intangibles off the list. This list presumes you are doing that, and is intended to serve as a comprehensive checklist that you have adequately considered, planned, and stocked for these areas. Remember this is for comprehensive long term survival, so I don’t bother with a bug-out-bags or things of that nature. I don’t talk about skill sets, such as having people training in different professions and trades. Now that that is clear, I hope, we’ll start next week with the first topic, and go week by week through them.

-R Rourke