DON’T MISS: HOW TO STAY HEALTHY WHILE TRAVELLING

THE IMPORTANCE
OF BEING ONE
STEP AHEAD

IN THIS ISSUE: MARCH 2020

LIFE IN THE WHAT TO DO

FALLOUT OF WHEN A GUNS
NUCLEAR WAR PULLED ON YOU

WOULD YOU RESPIRATORS

SURVIVE A THAT PROTECT
GLOBAL DISASTER CORONAVIRUS

STOCK UP ON THESE PROTECT YOUR

FIREARMS WHILE VALUABLE ASSETS
YOU STILL CAN FROM A FIRE

and more…
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020

Contents
HOW TO STAY HEALTHY WHILE YOU’RE TRAVELLING
FEATURED It’s been a pretty newsworthy topic in recent months, but the latest coronavirus pandemic has
raised an all-important question. How to protect yourself from a viral disease, when you’ve…

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ONE STEP AHEAD

page 4 If there’s one thing I’ve learnt since we moved to our homestead, is the importance of staying
one step ahead. We’ve quickly become pretty self-reliant, but it’s been a steep learning curve…

WHAT TO DO WHEN A GUNS PULLED ON YOU

page 5 If you read any article about getting mugged, they all lean towards the same generic advice. You
may have had a momentary distraction, from a phone call to something catching your eye…

RESPIRATORS THAT PROTECT AGAINST CORONAVIRUS

page 6 By now I’m sure you’ve seen it plastered all over the news, and it presents a rather frightening
new reality. The coronavirus, also called the 2019-nCoV, is the latest plague to hit this planet…

PROTECTING YOUR VALUABLE ASSETS FROM A FIRE

page 8 Following a devastating bushfire season in Australia, with 18.6 million hectares burnt, 2,779
homes and 34 people losing their lives to the flames, it’s got me thinking about just how…

LIFE IN THE FALLOUT OF NUCLEAR WAR

page 9 It’s been years since we were really ever worried about bombs falling from the sky, but that
doesn’t mean the threat has gone. There’re nations out there with more than enough…

WOULD YOU SURVIVE A GLOBAL DISASTER

page 10 With all the international press scrambling around the coronavirus outbreak, it’s plain as day that
we’re still not ready for a threat of the kind of magnitude that’s currently hitting China. But…

STOCK UP ON THESE FIREARMS WHILE YOU STILL CAN

page 11 It’s no secret Americans are slowly being turned against guns. The general population is seeing
tragedy after tragedy, almost every time the 6 o’clock news is turned on, and they’re starting to…

BUILD YOUR OWN WALLS TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE

page 13 There’s been a whole heap of talk about Trump’s Wall, but I see walls playing another important
role in our family’s survival, a little closer to home. When you’re trying to keep people from…

1
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020

HOW TO STAY HEALTHY WHILE YOU’RE TRAVELLING

It’s been a pretty newsworthy topic in
r e c e n t m o n t h s, b u t t h e l a t e s t
coronavirus pandemic has raised an all-
important question.
How to protect yourself from a viral
disease, when you’ve got no choice but
to travel.
Some of us have jobs that keep us on
the road for weeks at a time, others are
frequently in and out of airports, locally
and internationally, and it’s important
you know how to keep yourself healthy,
so you’re not bringing any particularly
nasties home with you to your family.
themselves quarantined after the
Chinese government closed off first
Wuhan, and then several other districts.
Getting home safely is paramount in a
crisis like this, and ensuring you don’t
get infected yourself.
Trouble is, confined spaces, like an
airplane or riding a bus or a train give
you a much higher chance of getting
infected. What you need to learn how
to do, is safely navigate your travels
without getting sick yourself.
KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN
DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE
Now, even if your hands are infected,
the virus is going to need an entry
point into your body.
If you can stop it gaining entry, you’re
going to stay healthy. That means no
touching of your face, your mouth,
your eyes, your nose or even your ears.
Try and make it a habit, and if you
must do (like you’re going to eat
something), make sure you sanitize your
hands first. If the virus can’t enter your
system, you won’t get sick.

Of course, the best defense against a
viral pandemic like this is to limit your
exposure to the outside world.
If you’re not interacting or getting close
to other people, the chances you’re
going to get sick become almost zero.
There’s still a chance of course, but for
most of these cases, like coronavirus
and the H1N1 flu before it, the virus
spread through human to human
contact.
With every surface you touch, your
fingers are picking up different germs
and bacteria. Even the common flu
virus can live on a surface for up to 24
hours. That means, if someone “Sometimes
coughing all over your tray table, and
you’ve been resting your hands on it. you’ve got
Congratulations, your hands may now
be carrying the virus. no choice
What you need is an antibacterial but to
sanitizer, a gel for your hands to keep

But sometimes, you’ve got no choice

but to venture out in a pandemic, and
your only option is to travel. You may
have even found yourself stuck in a
particular destination when the walls
came down, as many Americans found
them clean, and also some wipes to
sanitize anything you may touch, like
venture
the arm rests, tray table or even the
switches and vents above your head. out…”
Wipe it all down before you touch
anything.

2
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020

cont.

START WEARING A MASK

The surgical face masks lots of people

wear in Asia will block larger particles
in the air (like if someone coughs or
sneezes on you), however with
coronavirus in particular these types of
masks are giving you only a limited
amount of protection.

The virus particles are actually so small

they can pass through the masks. What
you need is to wear a N95 respirator,
these are a thicker and higher quality
mask, that when fitted properly will
remove 95% of all particles in the air.

Which means there’s very little chance a

virus will get through.

COVER YOURSELF UP

In an outbreak situation like this, I

would be taking steps to ensure my
entire body is as covered as possible.

You don’t need to be walking the

streets in a hazmat suit (though
depending on the crisis people may be),
but I would definitely recommend a
jacket with the hood up, gloves on your
hands, and some form of protection
over your eyes.

Airborne droplets from a cough or

sneeze can make their way into your
body if they hit your eyes. So your
clothing and even a pair of big
wraparound sunglasses becomes a
protective barrier, just remember to
wash it all thoroughly when you get
home.

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE

Now this isn’t always possible, but if
there’s any possible chance you can
keep yourself as far from the other
people you’re travelling with, do it.
There’s an “effective infection area”
around people with a virus like this, and
each time they cough or sneeze they
create a cloud of bacteria around them.
You want to be at least 3 feet away
from anyone showing symptoms, and if
you have a choice, 3 feet away from all
other people.
It’s worth paying the upgrade for a
more expensive seat, or moving right to
the back. Oh, and try to score a
window seat too, this’ll help you to
keep a distance from anyone walking
the aisles.
CREATE YOUR BUBBLE
Finally, you need to create your own
little bubble and stay in it.
You’ve disinfected the area, but the last
thing you can do is to reach up and
turn all of the air vents on full blast,
aiming them at your face.
E ve n t h o u g h t h e a i r i s l i ke l y
recirculated on a plane, it is still being
filtered, and this breeze straight out of
the air system will create a little bubble
of air flow around you.
Helping to push any airborne nasties
away, so you’re breathing what’s
r e l a t ive l y c l e a n e r a i r. A n d I ’d
recommend staying in your seat too.
Getting up to use the bathroom is to be
avoided at all costs, it’s one of the most
bacterial-infected areas on all public
transport. Make sure you go before you
board.
Being out in public during a pandemic
is a scary thing. You never know who
you’re going to come in contact with,
and worst of all, whether or not they’re
even sick.
In the case of the coronavirus, you can
go 14 days without showing any
symptoms at all, while still being highly
contagious to everyone around you.
If you do need to travel, take these
precautions and ensure you’ll stay
healthy until you make it home.

3
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020
THE IMPORTANCE
OF BEING ONE
STEP AHEAD
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt since we
moved to our homestead, is the
importance of staying one step ahead.
We’ve quickly become pretty self-
reliant, but it’s been a steep learning
curve and I’ve definitely made my fair
share of mistakes as we learnt the ropes
out here on our land.
But staying a step ahead is more than
having thousands of gallons of water
stored, or stockpiling 12 months’ worth
of rice and beans in your cupboards.
Of course, these two would be quite
handing in a crisis, but putting yourself
in a position of always thinking ahead
gives you a number of advantages, both
today and after the SHTF.
SAVES YOU A SECOND TRIP
Now I didn’t realize it until I started
checking this with my fitness band, but
I was spending a huge part of my day
making trips to and from my home, my
work shed, and our paddocks, which is
about a mile and a half round trip
between them.
Getting a lot of steps in (and burning
fuel in the truck), but wasting one to
two hours a day because I wasn’t
planning ahead.
This last winter I decided to change
that, decking my work truck out with all
of the common bits of gear I was using
to fix fences, bring down felled
branches and every other task along the
way. So, when I noticed something
wrong, I had the equipment with me to
fix it then and there, without needing to
make a second trip.
I actually feel like I’m on top of things
now as we start heading into summer.
SAVES YOU MONEY
When you’ve got a good idea of the
things you need to buy in the coming
months, planning ahead helps you keep
an eye out for the best deals that may
crop up. We’ve listed out all the jobs
that need doing around our house,
from retiling the bathroom to fitting
walls and furnishing our new guest
house.
My wife actually enjoys scouring
craigslist for the best deals, and we’ve
picked up everything from a barely used
sofa to a cheap-as-chips washing
machine that was a definite upgrade to
the one we had prior.
Even Black Friday deals offer some
amazing discounts if you know exactly
what you’re looking for. I’m surprised
at just how many deals we’ve found,
and there’s been plenty more we’ve said
“no” too because we simply don’t have
the space.
It’s amazing what people are almost
giving away for free.
SAVES YOU DOING WITHOUT
I’ve got this rule when it comes to my
gear, and it’s that two is one, and one is
none. It’s a motto from the military but
on the homestead, it definitely applies.
Things break, things go wrong, and
often (like this past winter when we
were completely snowed in), you’re on
your own.
If you’ve not got a backup plan, a
contingency or whatever you want to
call it, you’re going to have to make do
without unless you were smart enough
to plan ahead.
We lost power for almost a week, but
were completely content as our solar
system picked up the slack, which was a
welcome relief to sitting in the dark the
entire time.
That’s a definite improvement over the
winter before, where we were cooking
outside during snowstorms as our gas
went out and there was no other
option. Plan for things to go wrong,
and when they do, it won’t be an
inconvenience at all.
SAVES YOU SCREWING UP
This is a lesson my dad taught me, and
while he’s never been the fastest
handyman around, the level of care he
puts into his work is impressive.
If you’re doing a job, always try to
think two steps ahead. It’s more than
just having the right tools and
equipment on hand, my dad taught me
that anything worth doing is worth
doing right, and I still follow that rule
to this day.
Do your jobs well, so you’re not ever
going to have to re-do it.
4
If I’m building something, it’s tough
enough to survive a SHTF event.
In fact, I think the chicken coop I built
is tougher than the shed, but that’s
neither here nor there.
Building things to last is like giving your
future self a break, as it takes a little
longer yes, but you won’t have to circle
back and fix it. Thinking ahead means
doing it right the first time.
SAVES RISKING YOUR NECK
Finally, and this is important too.
Being a step ahead with your survival
planning means you don’t need to risk
your neck when things go wrong.
Because you’ve planned for the possible
outcomes, you’ve already stockpiled the
gear, equipment and food supplies you
need. Because you’ve built your home
to last, augmenting all of your
preparations with systems that enable
you to be entirely self-sufficient.
We’ve gone months at a time without
seeing a single soul. It’s surreal at times,
but I see it as a definite advantage
should there ever be a crisis in my local
area. Because I know, we’ve got
everything we need to survive, already
in our home. We’ll never have to go out
and risk our necks for a plate of food,
or a key piece of equipment that’s
broken and needs fixing. We’ve got our
bases covered, and to me, that’s vital.
I like to think of my whole survival
mindset as being a step ahead.
But more than just surviving, when you
develop this kind of attitude in your
life, it’ll save you time, money, and give
you a distinct advantage should you
ever need it in a SHTF event.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020
WHAT TO DO WHEN A GUNS PULLED ON YOU
If you read any article about getting
mugged, they all lean towards the same
generic advice. You may have had a
momentary distraction, from a phone
call to something catching your eye in a
shop window and like that, you’re face
to face with an opponent, intent on
taking everything you have.
What do you do when they’ve got a gun
pointed right at your face?
SEE IF YOU’RE REALLY ALONE
Most criminals are looking for an easy
score, and that doesn’t involve killing
their intended targets. They just want to
rob you, and get back to their day.
Without drawing any unwanted
attention on themselves. So, if you’ve
let your situational awareness slip and
someone has pulled a gun on you,
check if you’re really alone. Other
people in the nearby vicinity may be
enough of a deterrent that you can
walk away. Just quietly and calmly tell
your opponent there are witnesses, and
it doesn’t need to be like this. All we
need to do is walk away and you can
pretend this all never happened.
GIVE THEM WHAT THEY
WANT
If there’s no one around to help, my
advice is to just do what you’re told.
You can’t outrun a bullet, and even if
you’re in close quarters, trying a fancy
move to disarm your opponent is most
likely going to wind up with you getting
shot. I’ll say that again.
Just give the mugger what they want, as
most of the time, it’s going to be
something easy. Your phone. Your
wallet. But try to avoid getting too
close, and if you can, toss your
belongings over, or slide them on the
ground. If they grab you you’re going
to find yourself in a lot more trouble.
STAY CALM WITH NO SUDDEN
MOVEMENTS
You’re going to be frightened, sure, but
don’t forget the racing set of emotions
going through your opponent.
They may be high or using drugs, which
can make them overly suspicious, edgy
or even panicked.
You need to stay calm, and make
comforting controlled movements as
you follow their instructions. The last
thing you want to do is freak out the
person with a gun pulled on you, and
get a bullet for your thanks. Most
armed robberies you will escape
without injury, so long as you don’t do
anything to further agitate your
attacker. Be calm, and slowly give them
what they want.
5
DON’T GO SOMEWHERE ELSE
Now it’s worth mentioning here that
this step is where things get tricky.
Criminals know you’ve probably got
more cash in your ATM cards than
your wallet, and may insist you to head
to a nearby ATM and withdraw more.
I’d recommend doing it. But I draw the
line at going further, like getting into a
car or driving to a second location. In
this scenario, your chances of being
shot and getting dumped in a ditch
skyrocket, especially if they’re taking
you out of the city and somewhere
remote. This is extremely risky.
DRAW YOUR OWN WEAPON
If they’re insisting you come with them,
you’ve really got little choice but to
fight back. This is where having your
own concealed carry firearm is a smart
idea, as it helps to balance the scales.
Of course, the winner is going to be
the one who can get the short off first,
so I wouldn’t immediately go for your
weapon. Wait for the right moment,
where you can catch your attacker off
guard, perhaps they’ve been distracted
by a passing car, or another passerby,
and get your weapon out to fire before
they know what’s what.
FIGHT WITH ALL YOU’VE GOT
Distractions here are critical, and use
that lapse in concentration to attack
with everything you’ve got. The first
objective is the gun, either slam it down
(or up) to change the trajectory, doing
your best to knock it from their grip.
Then attack with speed targeting all the
delicate areas, like the groin, eyes and
throat, and if possible, get control of
the gun once your opponent is out for
the count. This is highly dangerous and
should only ever be done as a last
resort, because there’s every chance
they can take a shot before you get
close. And that’s a risk you shouldn’t
take unless you have no other option.
Finally, if you do manage to escape
unscathed it’s time to call the cops. Let
them know what happened, the
description of your attacker (things like
their height, eye colors and any
distinguishing marks) to help track this
criminal down are all wor th
remembering. Oh, and make sure you
cancel your credit cards as fast as
possible. And stay with a friend until
you can get a locksmith in to change
the locks on your home. You never
know what crazy ideas your attacker
may have when he knows where you
live, and has the keys to your home.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020

RESPIRATORS THAT PROTECT AGAINST CORONAVIRUS

By now I’m sure you’ve seen it T H E I M PA C T O F T H E PROTECTION WITH A

plastered all over the news, and it
presents a rather frightening new reality.
The coronavirus, also called the 2019-
nCoV, is the latest plague to hit this
planet.
We’ve seen pandemics before, and
they’re always a challenge because they
throw a curve-ball at even the best-laid
plans. Because you’re fighting a
microscopic enemy.
It’s not people you have to keep at bay,
but tiny particles hiding in the very air
we breathe.
The good news (at least for us here in
the United States), is that there are still
only a handful of cases, and the
chances of you contracting this
particular strain of the disease are still
quite low.
So low in fact, the CDC doesn’t
recommend taking any precautions at
this stage, unless of course, you’ve
recently visited China.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Right now, there are several cities in
China on lock down, with quarantines
and strict border controls in place.
The virus is already international (and
this is different to many similar
pandemics we’ve seen to this day),
because coronavirus is contagious
before any symptoms present.
That’s right, you can be infected, and
spreading the coronavirus for up to 14
days before you get the first signs of
any symptoms.
That’s how it spread so fast.
People simply didn’t know they were
sick, so they acted normally. Infecting
more and more people.
That’s why the local governments have
made it mandator y (in several
jurisdictions) to wear face masks while
being out in public. Because it spreads
SURGICAL MASK
Over the last decade these types of
masks have become popular in Asia.
The crowds of people, especially on
public transport, have made it a
necessity to protect yourself against
everything from colds and flus, to more
serious illnesses, and it’s quite common
to see people of all ages wearing
surgical masks (some companies now
even offer fashionable masks, with
certain styles and fancy prints to cater
to this demand).
“People
simply
didn’t

Across the ocean however, the situation

has already become rather dire.
And it’s not hard to imagine if there
were to be a breakout on American soil,
just how rapidly things can take a turn
for the worse. It’s critical now (more
than ever) that you’re ready.
through us. When we cough, sneeze, or
simply breathe, we send tiny droplets
know they
of moisture into the air.
were
Likewise, you breathe these in
whenever you take a breath. Wearing a sick…”
face mask then should be a form of
protection, but how much do the masks
actually offer?

6
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020

cont.

Trouble is, surgical masks don’t really

do a heck of a lot.

In fact, they’re mostly designed to stop

large droplets from a surgeon’s mouth
or nose from infecting the person
they’re operating on.

But because they’re quite loose fitting,

and the coronavirus particles are
microscopically small, these masks do
very little to stop you breathing the
virus in. At least, that’s what the team
over at the CDC are saying, and I’m
inclined to trust the experts.

Where these masks do help is

preventing an infected person from
spreading the virus further.

Because you’re containing the droplets

and moisture that comes with every
cough them make, limiting the
exposure risk they present to everyone
around them.

When you, or someone in your party is

sick (even with just a respiratory
illness), it’s good common sense to get
them wearing a surgical mask as a
precaution against infecting everyone
else.

PROTECTION WITH A N95

MASK

What the CDC does recommend, is the

use of a N95 mask.

In fact, they’ve released guidelines for

any healthcare professional working
around patients who have coronavirus
to wear these specific respirators.
Now they’re not perfect, but worn
correctly, a N95 mask will filter out
95% of all particles in the air, which
greatly reduces the chances you will
breathe in an airborne virus, like the
coronavirus.
Of course, it’s not completely
foolproof, for these specific respirators
to work properly they need to have an
airtight fit around your nose and mouth
(doctors are actually trained every year
on the correct ways to fit these masks,
that’s how important it is), and I can tell
you from my own personal experience,
you don’t want to be wearing these for
a long period of time. It’s harder to
breathe, and it very quickly gets hot and
sticky as you wear it.
But it’s the best form of air protection
you can hope for in a pandemic.
REMEMBER TO STOCK UP
EARLY
Now, we talk about this a lot when it
comes to prepping, but the best time to
get your house and your stockpile in
order is before the SHTF.
It’s almost impossible to buy N95
respirators in Asia at the moment, and
the price has skyrocketed from $10 for
a pack of 10, to anywhere from $6 to
$10 a piece.
You read that right, people are profiting
from those who didn’t prepare, because
there simply isn’t enough supply to
meet the demand.
China (who manufacture the vast
majority of these masks) have even
asked the international community to
donate more.
To me, that’s crazy.
They’re the biggest producer yet even
with factories scaling up production,
back to back shifts and machines
working 24/7, they can’t simply
produce enough masks to protect their
people. Even in the United States and
i n E u r o p e, s t o ck s a r e a l r e a d y
disappearing from stores as people
stock up.
If you’ve not got respirators in your
stockpile, it’s going to be worth looking
for these on your next supply run.
You’ll never know how fast the stores
will run out, and if the pandemic
continues to gets worse, or the infected
rates in the United States continue to
rise, having your own supply of masks
could very well be the thing that keeps
your family from getting sick.
It’s a must-have piece of gear in my
eyes, and I highly recommend you sort
this out sooner (rather than later).

7
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020
Following a devastating bushfire season
in Australia, with 18.6 million hectares
burnt, 2,779 homes and 34 people
losing their lives to the flames, it’s got
me thinking about just how prepared
my home is to battle a fire. Of course,
there’s not much you can do when the
winds are sending giant walls of
bushfires burning towards your home,
but there’s a few things you can do to
protect your valuable assets from a fire.
P R E PA R E F I R E - F I G H T I N G
SUPPLIES
For starters, it’s a good idea to have
basic fire-fighting supplies on hand.
Things like fire blankets should be kept
in close proximity to danger areas (like
the hotplates in your kitchen), because
for most people, this is where a fire is
most likely to start. We’ve also got two
different kinds of extinguisher, both in
the kitchen and in the garage in my
workshop, to help contain any small-
blaze that may start. It’s not much, but
being able to stop a fire from spreading
further could make all the difference in
keeping your house from burning.
CLEAR THE AREA AROUND
YOUR HOME
Now, we’ve actually done this for two
reasons. It gives the kids plenty of
room to play around out property
(we’re out in the boondocks so there’s
no shortage of space), but it’s also for
security. There’s no way to approach
our home unseen, it’ll all get caught on
the spotlights (at night), or trigger our
cameras and alarms during the day. But
for bushfire prevention this is a good
practice to follow, as there are no trees
or other material (except for our actual
home) that could add fuel to the fire.
FLAME-PROOF YOUR HOME
Obviously, our bug out cabin that’s
built out of pine logs is going to be one
PROTECTING YOUR VALUABLE
ASSETS FROM A FIRE
of the first things to go in a fire, but
that’s neither here nor there. We’ve
taken steps to keep our home as flame-
proof as possible, opting to build it
from a steel frame and brick instead of
a cheaper timber frame and boards, and
installing flame-resistant roofing tiles.
Every external door is metal, and we’ve
even got steel shutters to fortify our
windows. Not only does it make our
home more secure against other
disasters, we’ve done our best to ensure
it doesn’t go up in flames during a fire.
REMEMBER THE AIR QUALITY
With the surrounding areas burning,
you’re going to be inhaling smoky air
which can cause a whole host of
problems, especially if you’ve younger
children. Keep all of your windows
closed, doors shut, and ensure any
cracks are sealed to stop the smoky air
getting in. Keeping an air conditioner
running is a good idea (if you’ve got
the grid capacity to power it), just
remember to block off the intake
valves so it’s not pulling in smoky air,
just recycling the clean air you’ve got
inside. Oh, and we’ve got an air purifier
too that we can run, just in case. It
doesn’t get used much, but it works
wonders when there’s smoke in the air.
UNDERSTAND YOUR ABILITY
TO FIGHT
We’ve drilled a well on our property
and also have a large dam we use for
both water storage and irrigation, and
as part of our desire to go “off-grid”
we’ve installed a pump house in our
back shed that brings this water up to
our home for use. So, there’s plenty of
water, and last summer I picked up a
rolling sprinkler system designed for
the cornfields. It makes watering our
meager crops a breeze, but it also gives
us the ability to spray a ridiculous
amount of water on and above our
home as a last line of defense.
8
PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES
We’ve actually invested in a fireproof
safe, it’s much smaller and designed for
documents only, and we keep that
inside our normal safe. I think of it as
the double-walls of protection, but it
helps set my mind at ease that if a fire
were to take our home, all of our
important documents, passports, and
the few family heirlooms we have
would be safe from the flames inside.
HAVE AN ESCAPE PLAN
Finally, it’s important to consider your
last resort. How you plan to get out of
dodge should the fire take a turn for
the worse and start heading directly to
your house. Leaving it too late to leave
can be a death sentence, as the heat and
the smoke can be almost impossible to
survive in a bushfire, so make sure
you’re monitoring the situation
carefully, and you know exactly where
you’ll be headed.
We use a pre-packed crate system to
speed up our bug outs, but in a high-
risk fire scenario like this, you can bet
my car will be packed and ready to go
at a moment’s notice, should we ever
need to evacuate. Fighting to protect
your home is not a smart idea, if you
lose your life in the process.
Protecting your valuable assets in a fire
is all about forward thinking.
Having the means to fight back against
a smaller fire that may present, keeping
your valuables in a fireproof safe, and
taking steps to ensure you’ve got the
best possible chances to survive.
Sometimes that may mean you do need
to evacuate, and if that’s the case, don’t
hesitate to do so. The most important
asset you need to protect, is your life.
So be careful with it.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020
LIFE IN THE FALLOUT OF NUCLEAR WAR
It’s been years since we were really ever
worried about bombs falling from the
sky, but that doesn’t mean the threat
has gone. There’re nations out there
with more than enough capabilities to
launch an attack on U.S. soil, and in my
opinion, one topic that never really gets
enough play is what life would look like
in the aftermath of such a disaster.
Here’s what you can expect in the
aftermath of a nuclear attack.
THE RAIN TURNS BLACK
As the ash from the nukes hits the
atmosphere, it’ll darken the rain that
begins to fall, turning everything a nasty
shade of black. It’s radioactive fallout,
and once it starts falling it’s highly
radioactive, contaminating everything it
touches, from the plants in the ground
to the people it falls on. It’s like a sticky,
black mess, that ultimately leads to
radiation poisoning, in all of the areas it
falls. And these clouds can travel
hundreds of miles before releasing their
payloads on the unsuspecting people
below.
THE GRID GOES DOWN
The pulse of electromagnetic radiation
that shoots out from the blast of a
nuke has another devastating effect,
working to fry the circuits of any
electrical device in the blast radius.
Considering tests have shown this to
reach devices up to 1,000 miles away,
even one blast would have a far-
reaching effect, as computer systems,
refrigerators, it all goes dark. In the
movies they call devices that do this an
EMP, and it’s a phenomenon that
occurs with every nuclear device that
goes off. It’ll send anything in the blast
radius back to the stone age.
THE FIRES WILL START
The amount of energy hitting the blast
area is enough to cause almost
everything inside to burst into flames.
Homes, forests and everything else will
be incinerated, sending up huge clouds
of toxic smoke into the atmosphere.
With each blast creating a thick black
cloud almost 10 miles wide, the
combined effect will temporarily black
out the sun. Launch enough nukes, and
the combined smoke will send the
entire country dark.
THE WORLD GETS COLD
In a total nuclear holocaust, with
multiple nuclear attacks launched, the
combination of the thick clouds that
block the sun will quickly start
dropping temperatures. It’s been
estimated the global temperatures could
drop as much as 36 degrees in a
worldwide nuclear apocalypse, turning
our prime growing seasons into winter.
9
THE OZONE LAYER DIES
Using just 0.3% of the world’s nuclear
arsenal could destroy 50% of the
world’s ozone layer, making even basic
farming an incredible challenge as the
harsher beams from the sun burn all of
the crops growing underneath. It’s a
dangerous cycle once it starts.
THE PEOPLE STARVE
Without the ability to grow crops, we
can expect the vast majority of the
population to starve as there will simply
not be enough food to go around.
Yields will drop as the punishing UV
radiation kills good farming lands, and
the lower temperatures shorten the
growing seasons. Even the oceans
would suffer, as fish are contaminated
and become dangerous to eat.
THE PREPARED SURVIVE
There’s a reason we tell people to
stockpile food, and even during a
nuclear apocalypse your supplies should
remain fit to eat. If it’s tinned, bottled,
in jars or has been effectively sealed in
tight packages will mean it’s generally
safe to eat, even in the aftermath.
THE RADIATION KILLS
Anyone not immediately killed by the
bombs will face a far scarier disease, as
cancer rates skyrocket amongst the
survives. All of the radioactive particles
released from the explosions will enter
the atmosphere, falling all over the
earth. If you breathe or consume these
particles, there’s a good chance you will
get bone cancer, and any second
generations will have a whole host of
different birth defects and shorter life
spans. It’s not an immediate killer, but
it’s also not a good outcome for us
humans either.
THE PEOPLE SURVIVE
In the aftermath of a nuclear war we
can expect billions to die. They simply
aren’t prepared enough, haven’t had the
foresight to plan ahead, and lack the
supplies, skills and ability to survive in
the new world we’ve created for
ourselves. If we can make it 20 to 30
years, the temperatures should start
returning to normal, and life will begin
again. But it won’t ever be the same,
and neither will the survivors. But there
is hope, because even the experts
expect small core pockets of humanity
to survive. The question, is whether or
not you’ll be one of them. Isn’t it time
you started getting prepared?
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020
WOULD YOU
SURVIVE A GLOBAL
DISASTER
With all the international press
scrambling around the coronavirus
outbreak, it’s plain as day that we’re still
not ready for a threat of the kind of
magnitude that’s currently hitting
China. But that doesn’t mean you don’t
have to be. In fact, there’s a few things
you can cater to in your plan to help
your family survive a real-life pandemic.
STOCK UP ON CRITICAL
SUPPLIES
It’s a no brainer, but a particular subject
that far too many people fail to
implement in their day-to-day lives. If
there was an announcement, right this
very minute, that a virus was spreading
and from 6pm tonight every person will
be under a strict curfew to stay in their
homes. What do you think would
happen? Absolute pandemonium as
people rush out to buy “just a few more
things” before the shops close. Right?
We see it almost every time there is a
disaster or a localized emergency.
Your job is to prepare in advance,
stocking up on the supplies you need
now, before the SHTF. So that if the
worst does happen, you’re not fighting
the crowds or facing empty
supermarket shelves. You can simply
head straight home and take care of
your family. The last thing you want is
to be one of the tens of thousands of
people in a complete panic, because
you’ve not got enough food to survive.
“Other
people are
your worst
enemies in
a crisis like
this…”
BE AS SELF-SUFFICIENT AS
POSSIBLE
In addition to a couple of months’
worth of food and water (at a
minimum), it’s a smart idea to have
plans in place should you be facing a
disaster that goes on longer than this.
Eventually, even if you’ve got a year’s
supply of food, this will run out if
you’ve got no way to replenish what
you’re consuming. Small things, like rain
catchment systems, gardens and even
raising animals like rabbits for food can
help you to be more self-sufficient.
And that’s before we even talk about
the grid. For the vast majority of us we
rely on the city grids for power, water,
and even sewage disposal. In a crisis,
there’s no guarantee these services will
continue to run, especially if all the
maintenance workers have left to go
take care of their families. Put plans in
place to ensure your home is
completely self-sufficient, so that no
matter what, you’ve got lights, heat, and
a means to stay sanitary.
AVOID CROWDS OF PEOPLE
Depending on what’s happened,
probably the scariest element you will
face is other people. In a pandemic like
coronavirus, there are people right now,
going around trying to infect others.
Coughing, spitting and infecting every
public surface they can. It’s disgusting
to watch, but it highlights a particularly
scary fact. People are your worst enemy,
and in a crisis, other people should be
avoided at all costs. You never know
what they’re planning. That’s why I
want you to be stocked up on supplies,
and be as self-sufficient as you can in
your own home. Because in a crisis you
can simply hunker down inside, riding
out whatever pandemic you are facing
without needing to venture out into the
world. Other people are your worst
enemies in a crisis like this.
GET READY TO FIGHT BACK
Once a few days have passed this is
when things will get particularly
dangerous, as that’s when everyone who
hadn’t made plans will start getting very,
very hungry. They’ll be looking to
scavenge and steal whatever they need
to keep their own families fed, and you
ultimately are going to have to make a
call. You’ll need to be ready to fight
back to keep your family safe. Now is
the time to start preparing your
weapons stockpile, getting the firearms,
ammunition and all of the other tactical
gear that will give you any advantage
you can.
10
Once a crisis hits it’ll be too late to
prepare, and if you’ve not got the
weapons you need to keep your family
safe, you’ll struggle finding them at all
when a disaster strikes.
DON’T RE-INFECT OTHER
PEOPLE
Right now there’s a growing list of
countries which are restricting entrants
for any visitors who have been in China
within the last 14 days. And for good
reason, the coronavirus can infect
p e o p l e a n d l e ave t h e m h i g h l y
contagious, during the initial 14 day
incubation period. In a pandemic like
this, you need to be ready to create your
own quarantines.
We’ve got an ample supply of medical
equipment, but also the plastic sheeting,
and procedures in place that can quickly
turn our garage into a “quarantine
zone,” on the off-chance someone in
our family does get sick, we can still
keep them close to care for them,
without putting the rest of the family at
risk. For a pandemic like coronavirus,
this is a very smart strategy, because
when you run the numbers, it’s been
family members of those infected who
have been given the virus. I for one,
would never want my kids to suffer like
this, and it’s critical you’re not re-
infecting other people.
Of course, surviving a global pandemic
like this does have an element of luck.
For all of the people who were
unfortunate enough to be in Wuhan
when coronavirus broke, it is indeed an
unfortunate turn of events. But
following these guidelines, minimizing
your contact with the outside world
while living off your stockpiled
supplies, is going to be your best
chance to surviving a disaster like this,
if you find yourself in the epicenter of
the dead zone.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020
STOCK UP ON THESE FIREARMS WHILE YOU STILL CAN
It’s no secret Americans are slowly
being turned against guns.
The general population is seeing
tragedy after tragedy, almost every time
the 6 o’clock news is turned on, and
they’re starting to demand something
be done, and be done quickly.
This tide is being felt in politics, and
while there are groups of us pushing
back, like the thousands of us who
marched in Virginia at the end of
January, there’s no question times are a
changing. And it’s because of this shift,
that I’m writing this article today.
Because I know, when the SHTF we’re
going to be left on our own.
We’re going to be the ones who need to
defend ourselves when the police, the
army, and the general population are
hungry, and demanding what’s rightfully
ours. And without a means to fight
back, well, you can quickly imagine
what this is going to look like for the
people who can’t defend themselves.
(hint: it’s not going to be any good for Most firearms in the United States can
you at all, or me either for that matter). accommodate large capacity magazines,
even law enforcement officers have 15
But I can tell you this, now’s the time to or 17 round magazines in their duty
start stocking up on the firearms you sidearms.
actually need.
The new laws would make these
AR-15S AND OTHER SEMI- magazines illegal.
AUTOMATIC RIFLES
It’s quite clear the AR-15 is one of the
most popular rifles in the United States
and for good reason.
“The AR-15
It’s easily modifiable and simple to
maintain, and despite what they tell
you, they’re hardly ever used in
is one of
homicides (handguns are more easily
concealed, and what most criminals the most
choose). Now is the time to buy the
rifles you need for your weapons
stockpile.
popular
LARGE CAPACITY MAGAZINES
rifles in the
Another item on the chopping block is USA…”
the magazine size.
11
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020

WHAT’S HAPPENING TO THE GUN LAWS?

In an attempt to curb mass shootings, or at least, limit the amount of damage one person can inflict
on a crowd, the politicians are trying to push through some quite draconian changes to our gun laws
(and they’re moving ahead quite fast in Virginia).
Primarily, a total ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Trouble is, they’re looking to
overturn decisions made decades ago. Today, since AR-style automatic weapons first came on the
market back in the 60’s, there’s been an estimated 8-million of these bad boys sold. In the market, in
the hands of the general population, just waiting to be used.
And even if the laws change, making it harder to buy the ammunition or even the assault rifles, I
won’t bet the safety of my family on the fact the guys who will actually use these weapons of war to
do terrible things – that they’ll just give their assault rifles back. The ones who are going to get
screwed with all this are the guys like you and me, who want to abide by the laws. We’re disarmed (at
least as far as the boys in blue know). This is the crux of the issue, the changes they’re proposing will
make us felons for having guns and accessories that are commonly available today.
With that in mind, and assuming the tides of change don’t swing in our favor, there’s a few different
firearms and accessories that may be worth sourcing now, before they’re impossible to buy if these
changes go ahead.

cont.
Now I don’t know about you, but in a
firefight, every time I reload is an
opportunity for my opponent to gain
the upper hand.
I do not want to be reloading more
than necessary, so I will be getting all
of the magazines I need now, before
you can no longer buy them.
SILENCERS AND SOUND
SUPPRESSORS
I n a s i m i l a r l i n e o f th i n k i n g ,
suppressors are being targeted because
they have the potential to quiet
gunshots and give someone with bad
intentions a better ability to go
unnoticed.
But if you’ve ever shot with a
suppressor you know you can’t really
silence a gun. The sound is
unmistakable, and these particular
devices are already heavily regulated
and quite difficult to obtain already. But
in a disaster, being able to go hunting
without your shots ringing clear over an
entire valley is definitely a good thing,
so I’d recommend equipping yourself
with at least one of these as well, just in
case.
Of course, just buying these three is
just the starts. Policymakers are also
trying to tack on a bunch of other
restrictive laws to this rising trend, that
are going to make it much more
difficult to buy the firearms you need to
keep your family safe.
Like making background checks on all
firearm transactions a requirement
(which makes person-to-person deals
far harder), and the reinstatement of a
law previously thrown out, where we
could only buy one handgun a month.
These kinds of checks are not going to
stop the determined, or the criminals. It
simply makes it harder for working
class people like us to arm and protect
our families.
Oh, and there’s also the one giving law
enforcement officers the ability to take
your guns away if “they believe” you’re
an immediate threat to yourself, or
others.
Now, I don’t know about you, but these
are some pretty draconian limitations
that are being planned, and while they
may not all make it to law, you can bet
there will be changes coming.
We’ve seen it already…
Remember the bump stocks? I
f you don’t know what these are, it’s a
replacement for the standard stock on
your rifle, allowing you to use the recoil
from a shot to rapidly accelerate your
firing rate. Effectively turning a semi-
automatic weapon into one that fires
like a machine gun.
Perfect if you need to defend yourself
against a group of people, but as of
now, owning one puts you at risk of
breaking the federal gun laws. What’s
going to be taken away from us next?
My advice, stock up on the firearms
you need to keep your family safe now,
before it’s too late.

12
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020
BUILD YOUR OWN WALLS TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE
There’s been a whole heap of talk
about Trump’s Wall, but I see walls
playing another important role in our
family’s survival, a little closer to home.
When you’re trying to keep people
from accessing your property, a wall is
one of the best deterrents you can
have. But it also presents a challenge,
because to a scavenger looking for their
next meal, a large, defensive wall could
be an indication there’s something of
value on the other side.
So, the challenge then becomes, how do
you build your own walls, to keep your
family safe during a crisis. In our
survival planning we’ve got a few
different strategies in place, to keep us
secure but without raising undue
attention.
Let me tell you how we’ve done it.
BUILDING THE OUTER WALLS
My goal here was to basically be a
deterrent, shielding our property from
view from the road, without making it
p a i n f u l l y o bv i o u s t h e r e wa s a
flourishing homestead in behind. The
key to doing this well, has been fast
growing pines.
But instead of planting these in
obvious rows along the fence line,
we’ve intentionally created large
thickets, obscuring the view so it almost surprisingly effective.
looks like it’s simply thick forest behind.
We’ve got another internal gate with a
Exactly what we want a passer-by to remote sensor (it opens with a click
think. Five years on this is doing a button), but as you drive in there’s a
remarkable job, and it really just looks rather large hole covered by steel grates.
like a thicker patch of forest within the
surrounding woods. I didn’t imagine This is effectively one of our foxholes,
this would be so perfect. as the cover can be easily removed to
stop cars being able to drive in (should
BUILDING THE ENTRANCE they make it through), and we could
GATE also position ourselves in there under
cover to fire at anyone approaching.
Our entrance to the property has been
designed at an angle, and currently
there’s a gate that we keep latched, set
back from the road so it’s almost too
easy to be missed.
We lose mail all the time because of
this, so we started using a post-box in
the next town over instead.
“keep us
Its practical for us now, but it is very secure
easily barricaded in a SHTF event as all
it would take to cut the road access without
completely would be to fell a few of the
trees along the drive. With this down,
there’s no possible way for a car to
raising
approach our property, so anyone
intent on closing in would need to be undue
on foot.
BUILDING THE INNER GATES
attention…”
Now this was actually a design I had
seen when I travelled Australia and it’s
13
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - MARCH 2020
cont.
This connects to the inner fence line,
which runs off into the trees on either
side and is completely out of view (if
you haven’t realized it yet, we do have
quite a bit of land we’re working with,
but it was cheap as it was out in the
sticks).
BUILDING THE INNER FENCE
Our inner fence presented a challenge,
because we wanted something that
wouldn’t look too industrial, but would
provide a level of security from an
approach on foot from all sides.
We ended up clearing a large path that
runs around the entire perimeter of our
“inner land” as we like to call it, which
is about the width of two cars wide.
The fence running through here is
topped with razor wire, but obscured
through the trees so you don’t see it.
It’s also electrified, and there’s alarms
on it so we know if anyone approaches.
So far, it’s alerted us to two deer, and
that’s been it. Nothing crazy (at elast
not yet, but I like to be prepared).
In an ideal world we’d have a clear line
of sight to this fence, but as I see it
that’s not a must-have right now.
Should the SHTF hit, we would
definitely take the tractor and clear it
out so we’ve a direct line of sight. But
I’d rather not look at this out of my
windows unless I have to.
BUILDING THE HOME FENCE
As we cleared the area around our
home we shifted quite a bit of dirt,
which I’ve used to create what I call the
“home fence” – or in other words, a
natural little bit of a lip that forms
around about 70 percent of our home.
We’ve left the view down to our pond
unobstructed, because, it’s an excellent
view and highly unlikely we’re
approached from that direction. But the
rest is a combination of earthworks and
patio bricks stacked up almost three
feet high, creating another sheltered
area around our home.
If it ever comes to it I’m a tad
concerned the approaching enemy
would have slightly higher ground as we
make a last stand, but at the same time,
these works as almost perfect natural
fortifications we can use to hold off
any attackers at bay.
14
Plus, it gives us a whole heap of
additional privacy when we’re sitting
around in our yard, while giving us
plenty of space as well.
I know, I know, my plans are always a
little overkill but even with all of the
fortifications we put in, I’ve made it
work while being relatively cost
effective.
Plus, by choosing natural solutions over
man-made, we’ve ultimately generated a
similar result, without feeling like we’re
living in a place like Guantanamo Bay.
And I’m confident we’ll not only have
plenty of advance warning against
anyone trying to sneak up, that they’re
more than likely going to give up and
go find an easier target when they see
all of the walls we’ve built.
What about you, what walls have you
built to keep the bad guys at bad?