Be Ready is a spinoff from Shotgun News. This is the second issue of this publication. The first issue came out last summer so I’m guessing the plan is for this to be an annual sort of magazine.

As with most of the other magazines in this niche, the price point is $8.99. Given that it is a once per year thing, at least as it stands right now, that’s not too bad. However, it is also a bit thinner than others, coming in at 96 pages. Each of the 14 articles is heavily illustrated. What is nice, too, is that the articles aren’t broken up by several pages of advertising. There are ads, of course, as that is the lifeblood of any magazine. But, the content vs. ad ratio seems pretty decent.

Here are some of the articles I particularly enjoyed.

Data Storage: Keeping Your Documents Safe by Timothy Yan
Honestly, this is one of the best articles I’ve seen on how to best protect your data and documents in the event of a disaster. This is an area that hasn’t been discussed a whole lot in survival literature and is very important. Great job, Timothy!

Master of Disaster: The Chainsaw by Don Grover
As Grover notes, the chainsaw can be a vital tool in the event of a disaster. A tree landing in a bad spot could prevent you from getting help or receiving supplies. The chainsaw is an important addition to any prepper’s toolbox and Grover goes to great lengths to explain what is needed, what isn’t, and how to use the tool properly. This is an excellent primer on the subject.

Emergency Welding with Car Batteries by Doug Streeton
I will readily admit that welding is not among my current skill sets. Further, I’d not given much thought as to how welding might be done without proper equipment. In this article Streeton explains in very simple terms how to rig up expedient welding gear using car batteries and a few tools. This could prove to be vital information in a long-term grid down scenario.

Life Has Its Twists by Robert W. Hunnicutt
In this cover story, Hunnicutt details exactly what happened when an EF-4 tornado ripped through his neighborhood. First perspective articles like this are excellent for learning the real life applications of prepping–what worked, what didn’t, and why.

Overall, I feel this issue of Be Ready Magazine is worth the read. It is a bit thin, at least as compared to other publications in this niche, but the information provided is solid.