iNaturalist (cached region)
Plant/animal ID — download Michigan region for offline
FREE
PlantNet
Photo-ID plants — works offline with downloaded packs
FREE
Samuel Thayer's Field Guides
PDF/physical — best Midwest foraging reference, no app needed
BOOK
Never eat an unidentified plant. Cross-reference minimum 2 sources before consuming anything foraged.
PRIORITY
🌤
Weather & Sky
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
Windy (cached)
Download 72hr forecast before grid goes down
FREE
SkySafari
Full offline star/nav — celestial navigation backup
$3
Barometer + weather station
Hardware — pressure drop = incoming storm, no internet needed
HARDWARE
PRIORITY
PHYSICAL HARDWARE STACK
⚡
Power Infrastructure
TIER 1 — PRIORITY
ITEM
SPEC
PURPOSE
Solar panels
400W+ array
Primary generation — roof or ground mount
LiFePO4 battery bank
100Ah+
Safe chemistry, 2000+ cycles, no thermal runaway
MPPT charge controller
40A+
Victron recommended — smart solar management
Inverter (pure sine)
1000W+
AC power for tools, medical equipment
Goal Zero Yeti / Jackery
portable
Mobile power — run devices, charge phones anywhere
Hand-crank / Faraday charger
last resort
Zero-infrastructure phone charge
📡
Communications Hardware
YOUR STACK
DEVICE
RANGE
STATUS
Meshtastic nodes (Heltec LoRa 32)
1–5 mi mesh
OWNED
HackRF One
1 MHz–6 GHz RX/TX
OWNED
Flipper Zero
RF/NFC/IR
OWNED
Baofeng UV-5R (×2+)
VHF/UHF 2-way
~$25 ea
AM/FM/NOAA weather radio
broadcast RX
~$30
Satellite communicator (Garmin inReach)
global
$350+sub
With Meshtastic base at 4454 Dixie Hwy + solar power, you have a mesh node that runs indefinitely with zero grid dependency.
🖥
Local Knowledge Server
RASPBERRY PI BUILD
A $35 Raspberry Pi 4 running Kiwix + offline Wikipedia becomes a local WiFi library server. Every phone, tablet, and laptop on your property network gets full encyclopedia access with zero internet.
COMPONENT
NOTES
Raspberry Pi 4 (4GB)
Main server — runs Kiwix + MQTT for Meshtastic
256GB+ SSD or SD
Store Wikipedia ZIM (~22GB) + all PDFs + maps
TP-Link travel router
Serve local WiFi AP from Pi — devices connect to "GRID-DOWN-LAN"
Power via 5V USB solar
Runs indefinitely on small panel + battery bank
Kiwix Server (self-hosted)
http://192.168.x.x:8080 — browse Wikipedia from any device
🛡
Protection & Security
PHYSICAL SECURITY
LAYER
ITEM
NOTE
Perimeter
Meshtastic PIR zones
LoRa mesh alerts — planned post-move
Perimeter
Driveway alarm sensors
Magnetic / passive IR — ~$40
Access
Reinforced entry points
Door bars, window pins
Dogs
Working dog(s)
Best early-warning system that exists
Comms
Baofeng per trusted person
Family/neighbors on shared channel
Legal
Michigan firearms (legal)
Know your castle doctrine rights
GRID-DOWN COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
⚖ FCC EMERGENCY DOCTRINE — KNOW THIS47 CFR § 97.403 — "No provision of these rules prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of radiocommunication at its disposal to provide essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available."
Plain language: If the grid is down and lives are at risk, transmit on whatever works. Period. The FCC has consistently prioritized life safety over licensing rules. In a true SHTF scenario — grid collapse, no cellular, no internet — enforcement of Part 97 licensing is not happening. Get licensed now so you know what you're doing, but know the law has your back if it hits the fan.
Note: § 97.403 technically applies to licensed amateur stations — but § 97.405 (station in distress) and the broader emergency doctrine extend this spirit to anyone in a genuine life-safety emergency. In a real grid-down, no one is coming to fine you for transmitting.
COMMUNICATIONS TIER HIERARCHY
🕸
Tier 1 — Mesh
NO LICENSE
1–10mi
RANGE
FREE
LICENSE
915MHz
BAND
Meshtastic LoRa — Encrypted text + GPS. No license. No infrastructure. Your Heltec LoRa 32 nodes form a self-healing mesh. Solar-powered base at Dixie Hwy = permanent node. Every node relays for every other node — range multiplies with each added unit.
Best option for property-to-property and neighborhood comms. No one can intercept without your encryption key.
📻
Tier 2 — VHF/UHF
GMRS / HAM
2–50mi
RANGE
$35
GMRS LIC.
NO TEST
GMRS
Baofeng / Motorola GMRS — Voice comms with family and neighbors. GMRS license covers your entire household for 10 years, $35, no test. With repeaters, range extends dramatically. Handheld-to-handheld 2–5mi typical.
Assign family channels NOW. Program all radios before grid-down. Keep spares charged.
🛰
Tier 3 — Satellite
GLOBAL
GLOBAL
RANGE
$350+
DEVICE
NO LIC.
NEEDED
Garmin inReach / Starlink — Works even if ALL terrestrial infrastructure is gone. inReach = 2-way SMS via Iridium satellite, $15–50/mo plan. Starlink terminal on battery = full internet if constellation intact.
Nuclear-level backup. inReach is the single most important piece of kit if you could only choose one for true SHTF.
RADIO HARDWARE — MODELS & SPECS
🟦
Baofeng Series
BUDGET WORKHORSE
MODEL
POWER
BANDS
COST
BEST FOR
UV-5R
4–8W
VHF 136–174 UHF 400–520
~$25
Entry-level HAM, monitoring, grid-down backup
UV-82
5–8W
VHF 136–174 UHF 400–520
~$30
Dual PTT, more durable, same capability as UV-5R
UV-9R Pro
10W
VHF/UHF dual
~$50
IP67 waterproof — best Baofeng for field use
BF-888S
2–5W
UHF 400–470
~$15
No-frills fixed-channel — give to non-technical family
LEGAL NUANCE: Baofeng UV-5R/UV-82 are licensed for HAM (amateur) use only under FCC rules. NOT FCC Part 95 certified for FRS/GMRS — technically illegal to TX on those bands normally. Under § 97.403 emergency doctrine: transmit on whatever works. Pre-grid-down: get your HAM Technician or GMRS license.
Commercial-grade, needs business license, better build
Motorola consumer radios (Talkabout) are FCC Part 95 certified — fully legal out of the box on FRS channels without a license. GMRS channels require the $35 GMRS license. No programming needed. Tradeoff: less flexible than Baofeng, shorter range.
FRS: NO LICENSEGMRS: $35/10YRNOAA RX BUILT-INRECHARGEABLE
📡
Amateur (HAM) Radio
MAXIMUM RANGE & CAPABILITY
MODEL
TYPE
RANGE
COST
NOTES
Yaesu FT-60R
HT VHF/UHF
5–50mi
~$140
Most reliable HAM HT — built like a tank, used by ARRL
Yaesu FT-991A
HF/VHF/UHF
Worldwide
~$900
All-band base station — talk globally on HF
Icom IC-705
HF portable
Worldwide
~$1,300
Battery-powered HF — best portable global comms device
Kenwood TH-D74
HT + APRS
50mi+ w/ rptr
~$400
Built-in APRS GPS tracking — mesh before Meshtastic
HAM gives you HF capability — global comms with the right antenna and no infrastructure. Technician license (no-code, multiple choice) unlocks VHF/UHF. General license unlocks HF. Both are achievable in a weekend of studying.
🚛
CB + Specialty Radios
NO LICENSE NEEDED
TYPE
FREQ
RANGE
LICENSE
NOTES
CB (Citizens Band)
26.965–27.405 MHz
5–25mi
None
Ch 9 = emergency. Truckers + rural comms. Long range with skip propagation during solar events.
MURS (Multi-Use)
151.820–154.600 MHz
1–3mi
None
5 channels, 2W max. Good for farm/ranch/property comms. Motorola DTR series uses MURS.
Marine VHF
156–174 MHz
5–20mi
None (rec)
Ch 16 = international distress. Works on Great Lakes region. Baofeng can RX.
PLB / EPIRB
406 MHz
Global
Register free
Personal Locator Beacon — one-way SOS to SAR via satellite. ~$250. No subscription needed.
CB + MURS are fully license-free and commonly understood. CB Channel 9 is the universal emergency channel — any vehicle, any trucker, any rancher knows it.
LICENSE GUIDE — GET THESE NOW, BEFORE YOU NEED THEM
VHF/UHF amateur bands, 2m, 70cm, local repeaters, Baofeng legal TX
arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam
HAM General
$15 exam
35 Q EXAM
10 years
All Technician + HF bands (global comms). Unlocks worldwide reach without infrastructure
Same exam session as Tech — take both same day
HAM Extra
$15 exam
50 Q EXAM
10 years
All privileges + exclusive HF sub-bands, repeater coordination
Advanced — study 2–4 weeks beyond General
FRS (Family Radio)
FREE
NONE
Permanent
FRS channels 1–22 at ≤2W. Must use FCC-certified radio (Motorola Talkabout etc). No Baofeng.
No application — just buy a certified radio and use it
CB (Citizens Band)
FREE
NONE
Permanent
27 MHz, 40 channels, max 4W AM. Ch 9 = emergency. No registration required.
No application — buy any FCC-type-accepted CB
MURS
FREE
NONE
Permanent
5 VHF channels, 2W max. No repeaters. Good for farm/ranch/short-range property comms.
No application — use certified MURS radio
PLB Registration
FREE
NONE
2 years (renew)
406 MHz satellite SOS beacon. Register with NOAA so SAR knows who you are when activated.
beaconregistration.noaa.gov
BOTTOM LINE LICENSING STRATEGY: Get your GMRS license this week ($35, no test, covers whole family). Then study for HAM Technician + General — take both exams in one sitting. Combined you'll have legal access to every useful frequency short of satellite. Total cost: ~$65 and one weekend of studying.
MASTER FREQUENCY REFERENCE — LAMINATE THIS
9
CB Ch 9 — Universal Emergency
19
CB Ch 19 — Trucker highway
156.800
Marine Ch 16 — Distress
162.550
NOAA Weather primary
151.940
MURS Ch 3 — Most common
154.570
MURS Ch 4 — "Blue Dot"
462.5625
FRS/GMRS Ch 1 — Default call
462.6750
GMRS Ch 20 — Interop
146.520
2m HAM — National simplex calling
446.000
70cm HAM — National simplex
915 MHz
Meshtastic LoRa (US)
406 MHz
PLB / EPIRB — Satellite SOS
FAMILY PROTOCOL — WATERFORD, MI
SCENARIO
PRIMARY
BACKUP
ACTION
Grid down <6hr
Meshtastic mesh
GMRS Ch 15
Stay put, monitor NOAA 162.550
Grid down >24hr
GMRS Ch 15
Meshtastic
Radio check every hour on the hour. Inventory resources.
Grid down >72hr
GMRS Ch 15
CB Ch 9
Rally: 4454 Dixie Hwy, Waterford. Activate full protocol.
Life-threatening emergency
ANY FREQ
PLB 406MHz
§ 97.403 applies — transmit on whatever works. State nature of emergency + location.
Need outside comms
Garmin inReach
HAM HF
inReach SMS via Iridium satellite — works even with zero infrastructure.
PRE-EVENT SETUP CHECKLIST — DO THIS NOW
📥
Download Now (Digital)
BEFORE GRID GOES DOWN
Install Kiwix app on phone, tablet, and Pikiwix.org — free
Download Wikipedia ZIM file (English, all topics)~22GB — kiwix.org/en/content
Download Wikibooks ZIM (how-to guides)~4GB
Install OsmAnd + download Michigan offline map packFull vector map — no signal needed
Install Gaia GPS + download Michigan topo tilesOakland County + surrounding regions
Download US Army Survival Manual FM 21-76 PDFFree — archive.org or fas.org
Download "Where There Is No Doctor" PDFhesperian.org — free download
Download Army First Aid FM 4-25.11 PDFfas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm4-25-11.pdf
Install Red Cross First Aid app (offline capable)iOS / Android — free
Install SAS Survival Guide app ($6)Best single survival reference
Backup all critical docs to encrypted USBIDs, deeds, insurance, VIN, medical records
Store copies on 2nd USB at separate location3-2-1 backup rule
🔧
Physical Setup
HARDWARE & SUPPLIES
Set up Meshtastic base node at Dixie Hwy propertySolar panel + Heltec LoRa 32 + weatherproof enclosure
Program Baofeng radios — assign family channelsGMRS Ch 15 default, Ch 1 emergency calling
Build Raspberry Pi knowledge serverKiwix + local WiFi AP — all devices can browse Wikipedia offline
Install solar charging system (panels + LiFePO4 bank)Minimum 200W + 100Ah for sustained operation
Stock 30-day water supply (1 gal/person/day)Or confirm well + hand pump backup
Multi-week outage, civil disruption, supply chain issues. Activate full stack. Coordinate with neighbors.
■ RED — LONG-TERM SHTF
Grid collapse, societal disruption. Michigan property becomes base of operations. Full self-sufficiency mode.
⏱
Hour-by-Hour Response
PROTOCOL
0:00
Grid Goes Down — Immediate Actions
Kill non-essential loads. Switch to battery/solar. Turn on NOAA radio. Check Meshtastic mesh. Do NOT open fridge/freezer unnecessarily.
0:30
Comms Check
Radio check family on assigned GMRS channel. Verify Meshtastic node is broadcasting. Check NOAA for weather/emergency info. Contact neighbors.
2:00
Resource Inventory
Count water, food, fuel, medications. Calculate days of runway. Check solar charge level. Bring Raspberry Pi knowledge server online.
24:00
Situation Assessment
If still down: activate full rationing. Establish watch schedule. Coordinate with trusted neighbors. Freeze non-essential device usage to conserve power.
72:00
Extended Outage Protocol
If still down and deteriorating: consider relocating to Michigan property (Waterford). Rally family. Load go-bags. Take knowledge server, radios, power bank stack.
30d+
Long-Term Self-Sufficiency
Activate greenhouse/aquaponics. Establish barter network. Use HackRF for signal intelligence. Full property permimeter awareness via Meshtastic sensors.
FOOD, WATER & FORAGING
💧
Water Security
SURVIVAL PRIORITY #1
3 days without water = death. This is the #1 priority above all others.
Well + hand pumpBest long-term solution at Dixie Hwy property
GOAL
Stored water (55gal barrels)1 gal/person/day minimum — rotate every 6 months
STOCK
Berkey gravity filterNo power needed — filters 99.9% pathogens
Rainwater catchmentMichigan avg 31" rain/yr — legal to collect
BUILD
Aquaponics / tilapia systemClosed-loop water reuse — your planned system
PLANNED
🥫
Food Storage
LONG-TERM SUPPLY
ITEM
SHELF LIFE
CALORIES/LB
White rice
25–30 yrs (sealed)
~1,650
Dried beans/lentils
25+ yrs
~1,500
Rolled oats
30 yrs (sealed)
~1,700
Honey
Indefinite
~1,380
Salt
Indefinite
—
Hard winter wheat
25 yrs
~1,500
Canned sardines/tuna
5+ yrs
~800
Coconut oil
2–5 yrs
~3,500
Store in 5-gallon food-grade buckets with gamma lids + oxygen absorbers. Cool, dark, dry location — Michigan basement ideal.
🌿
Michigan Wild Foods
OAKLAND COUNTY
Cross-reference ALL foraged food with 2+ offline sources before consuming. Deadly look-alikes exist for many edible species.
PLANT/FOOD
SEASON
NOTES
Cattail
Spring–Fall
Pollen, shoots, roots all edible. Ubiquitous in MI wetlands.
Black walnut
Fall
High calorie, easy to find. Hard to shell without tools.
Wild berries (blackberry, raspberry)
Summer
No deadly look-alikes in MI. Safe identification.
Dandelion
Spring
Entire plant edible. High nutrition. Most recognizable.
Chicken of the Woods
Summer–Fall
Distinctive bright orange shelf fungus. No look-alikes.
Wild garlic mustard
Spring
Invasive — harvest freely. Nutrient-dense greens.
Acorns (leached)
Fall
Grind + leach tannins → high-calorie flour
⚠ AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE — Links on this page may earn TSR Ventures LLC a commission at no cost to you. We only list products we'd actually use. Commission rates and program terms are subject to change — verify before signing up.
Best commission potential in the category. Full-year food supply kits can generate $879 per single sale. Gluten-free options, pet emergency food, and heirloom seeds also available. Freeze-dried meals with 25-year shelf life.
Formerly Wise Food Storage. High-quality freeze-dried meals designed for taste as well as longevity. Popular with families new to prepping. One of the best-converting programs in the category with a 120-day cookie window.
Full-spectrum survival brand with food rations, water filters, power banks, first aid, and more. Average order $127 with 12% commission means ~$15 per sale. Strong refund policy (<2% rate) increases conversions. Free shipping over $75.
Non-GMO, clean-ingredient emergency food — 25-year shelf life
Non-GMO, no artificial preservatives. Strong differentiator for health-conscious preppers. 25-year shelf life on all products. AvantLink managed with solid affiliate support and marketing assets provided.
10%
COMMISSION
25yr
SHELF LIFE
30d
COOKIE
NON-GMOCLEAN LABELFREEZE-DRIEDBULK KITS
⛰
Mountain House
US Special Forces rations — nearly 50 years in the field
The original mil-spec freeze-dried food brand. Nearly 50 years supplying US Special Forces. Extremely trusted brand — easy sell for survival and outdoor audiences. High brand recognition = better conversion rates.
Survival Tabs are the most compact calorie-dense ration available — 15 tabs per day sustains a person. 25-year shelf life, no cooking required. PrepSOS runs one of the highest commission rates in the space at up to 26% via their direct program.
25%
COMMISSION
45d
COOKIE
25yr
SHELF LIFE
RATION TABSULTRA-COMPACTNO COOKBUG-OUT BAG25-YR
QUICK COMPARISON — ALL PROGRAMS
BRAND
COMMISSION
COOKIE
AVG ORDER
NETWORK
BEST FOR
Legacy Food Storage
8–14%
30 days
$500–$6,000+
ShareASale
Highest dollar value per sale
ReadyWise
10%
120 days
~$50
CJ Affiliate
Best cookie window — casual preppers
Survival Frog
12%
30 days
$127
AWIN
Broadest product catalog
Valley Food Storage
10%
30 days
varies
AvantLink
Health-conscious / non-GMO audience
Mountain House
10%
—
varies
AvantLink
Highest brand trust — easy conversions
PrepSOS / Survival Tabs
25–26%
45 days
~$60–80
Direct
Highest commission rate — bug-out focused
STRATEGY NOTE: Stack multiple programs. Legacy Food Storage for big-ticket buyers, ReadyWise for casual traffic (120-day cookie does heavy lifting), and Survival Tabs for bug-out/go-bag content. One year-supply Legacy sale alone (~$879 commission) can make a campaign profitable.
🧪 DIY ROUTE — Build your own 25-year food supply using the same methods commercial brands use. Higher upfront cost, dramatically lower per-meal cost long-term. Best combined with a Harvest Right freeze dryer + vacuum sealer stack.
PRESERVATION METHODS — CHOOSE YOUR STACK
❄️
Freeze Drying
BEST RESULTS
25yr
SHELF LIFE
97%
NUTRIENTS
$2–4K
STARTUP
Removes 98–99% of moisture via sublimation (frozen → vapor, no liquid phase). Preserves color, texture, flavor, and virtually all nutrients. The gold standard. Works on meat, dairy, eggs, full cooked meals, fruit, veg — almost anything.
Harvest Right is the only major home freeze dryer brand. Medium unit (~$2,895) processes 7–10 lbs fresh food per batch. Pays for itself vs. buying commercial freeze-dried food within 1–2 years of heavy use.
MEAT ✓DAIRY ✓EGGS ✓FULL MEALS ✓FRUIT ✓VEG ✓
🌬️
Dehydrating
BUDGET ENTRY POINT
1–5yr
SHELF LIFE
~60%
NUTRIENTS
$50–300
STARTUP
Removes moisture via heat + airflow. Much shorter shelf life than freeze drying — residual moisture causes faster degradation. Best for fruits, vegetables, jerky, and herbs. NOT suitable for dairy, eggs, or full meals. Still a solid budget option for supplemental storage.
Max shelf life heavily depends on storage conditions. Mylar + O2 absorbers extend it significantly. Don't store dehydrated food in plastic bags alone.
JERKY ✓FRUIT ✓HERBS ✓VEG ✓DAIRY ✗EGGS ✗
🫙
Mylar + O2 Absorbers
DRY GOODS STORAGE
25–30yr
SHELF LIFE
~95%
NUTRIENTS
$30–100
STARTUP
Heat-seal dry goods (rice, wheat, beans, oats, sugar, salt, pasta) in 1–5 gallon mylar bags with oxygen absorbers inside food-grade buckets. No machine needed beyond a hair straightener or impulse sealer. The cheapest route for calorie-dense staples.
Only works for low-moisture dry goods (<10% moisture). Do NOT use for anything with fat, oil, or significant moisture — botulism risk.
RICE ✓BEANS ✓OATS ✓WHEAT ✓PASTA ✓MEAT ✗
FOOD SHELF LIFE REFERENCE — BY METHOD
FOOD ITEM
FREEZE DRIED
DEHYDRATED
MYLAR SEALED
CANNED
NOTES
White rice
25–30 yr
—
25–30 yr
4–5 yr
Cheapest long-term calorie base
Dried beans / lentils
25+ yr
—
25+ yr
3–5 yr
Complete protein with grain
Hard winter wheat
25+ yr
—
25+ yr
—
Grind for flour — needs grain mill
Rolled oats
30 yr
—
30 yr
—
High fat = shorter life unsealed
Pasta (dry)
25 yr
—
25 yr
—
Inexpensive calorie density
Honey
Indefinite
—
Indefinite
—
Natural preservative — never spoils
Salt
Indefinite
—
Indefinite
—
Also critical for preserving other foods
Sugar / baking soda
Indefinite
—
Indefinite
—
Sealed from moisture
Chicken / beef (cooked)
25 yr
1–2 yr
—
3–5 yr
Freeze dry is only long-term meat option
Ground beef
25 yr
1–2 yr
—
3–5 yr
Cook + drain fat before freeze drying
Whole eggs
25 yr
✗
—
—
Freeze dry is the ONLY safe method
Cheese / dairy
25 yr
✗
—
—
Freeze dry only — too much fat otherwise
Fruits (apple, berry, etc)
25 yr
1–3 yr
—
2–5 yr
Dehydrated ok for shorter rotation
Vegetables (most)
25 yr
1–3 yr
—
2–5 yr
Blanch before dehydrating
Full cooked meals
25 yr
✗
—
—
Harvest Right killer feature — freeze dry leftovers
Butter / coconut oil
10–15 yr
✗
1–2 yr
—
Fat goes rancid — store with care
DIY EQUIPMENT STACK — BUILD ORDER
🔧
Starter Stack (Under $200)
ENTRY LEVEL — START HERE
ITEM
COST
PURPOSE
5-gal food-grade buckets (×10)
~$60
Primary dry goods storage containers
Gamma-seal lids
~$40
Screw-top access without breaking seal
1-gal mylar bags (×100)
~$20
Inner moisture/oxygen barrier
300cc O2 absorbers (×100)
~$15
Kill oxygen → prevent rancidity + bugs
Hair straightener (flat iron)
~$20
Heat-seal mylar bags — works perfectly
Sharpie + label tape
~$5
Date + contents every bag — no exceptions
With this stack you can store 300–500 lbs of rice, beans, oats, wheat, pasta, and sugar with 25+ year shelf life. Enough for 1 person for 2+ years on ~$150 in equipment.
⚙️
Full DIY Stack ($3,500–5,000)
COMPLETE SYSTEM
ITEM
COST
PURPOSE
Harvest Right Medium Freeze Dryer
~$2,895
Core machine — meat, dairy, meals, eggs
Vacuum sealer (chamber type)
~$400
Seal mylar + food saver bags with true vacuum
Excalibur 9-tray dehydrator
~$300
Jerky, herbs, fruit leather — lower cost items
Grain mill (Wondermill)
~$250
Grind stored wheat berries into fresh flour
5-gal buckets + mylar (bulk)
~$200
Storage containers for processed food
Extra freeze dryer trays (×2 sets)
~$150
Increase batch throughput
Home freeze drying is far cheaper than buying commercial freeze-dried food. At ~$3–5 per serving retail vs. ~$0.50–1.50 DIY, the Harvest Right pays for itself quickly with regular use.
DIY RATION FORMULAS — CALORIE TARGETS
📊
30-Day Supply Calculator — Per Person
2,000 CAL/DAY TARGET
FOOD
QTY (30 days)
APPROX COST
CALORIES/DAY
STORAGE
White rice
25 lbs
~$15
~550 cal
Mylar + bucket
Dried lentils / beans
15 lbs
~$20
~400 cal
Mylar + bucket
Rolled oats
10 lbs
~$12
~300 cal
Mylar + bucket
Coconut oil
3 lbs
~$15
~300 cal
Sealed tin / cool dark
FD meat (chicken/beef)
5 lbs dry
~$40 DIY
~200 cal
Mylar sealed
FD eggs
2 lbs dry (~60 eggs)
~$20 DIY
~150 cal
Mylar sealed
Honey / sugar
5 lbs
~$20
~100 cal
Sealed container
Salt / spices / multivitamin
as needed
~$20
—
Various
~2,000
CAL/DAY
~$162
COST / 30 DAYS
~$5.40
COST / DAY
25yr+
SHELF LIFE
Compare to ~$8–15/day for commercial freeze-dried ration kits. DIY gets you to $5.40/day with better nutrition and no fillers. Scale to family size — 4 people × 12 months = ~$7,800 in food security for 25 years.
FREEZE DRYING PROCESS — STEP BY STEP
📋
Freeze Dryer Operation
HARVEST RIGHT WORKFLOW
PREP
Prep Your Food
Cut uniformly (1/2" or less). Cook meats fully and drain all fat. Spread in single layer on trays — don't stack or clump. Pre-freeze raw items in chest freezer first to speed cycle time.
LOAD
Load & Start Machine
Load trays. Select "Not Frozen" or "Frozen" mode. Machine pre-freezes food to -30°F to -50°F, then pulls vacuum and begins sublimation. Cycle runs 24–36 hours typically.
TEST
Test for Dryness
Food should be brittle, light, and completely dry through the center — not just surface dry. Squeeze the thickest piece. If it bends without snapping, add more dry time. No moisture = no spoilage.
SEAL
Package Immediately
Work fast — freeze-dried food reabsorbs humidity within minutes. Immediately into mylar bags with O2 absorbers. Seal with flat iron. Label with date + contents + weight. Into food-grade bucket.
⚠️
Critical Rules & Common Mistakes
DON'T SKIP THIS
Never freeze dry high-sugar foods directly on trays — use parchment. Sugar becomes extremely sticky and damages the machine.
Always drain fat from meatsFat does NOT freeze dry — goes rancid and ruins shelf life
CRITICAL
O2 absorbers activate on open airUse within 15–20 min of opening the pack — they're single use
CRITICAL
Label EVERYTHING with dateUnlabeled bags are useless in an actual emergency
IMPORTANT
Store in cool, dark, dry locationHeat and light destroy shelf life — basement ideal
IMPORTANT
FIFO rotationFirst In First Out — eat oldest stock, replace with new
PRACTICE
Never use regular Ziploc for long-term storageNot oxygen or moisture proof — mylar only
CRITICAL
Harvest Right affiliates earn $100–400 per freeze dryer sale — making this the highest-value single affiliate link on the site. Embed naturally in educational content like this.
📊 SURVIVAL SUPPLY CALCULATOR — Enter your group composition and scenario parameters. All calculations use conservative military/FEMA baseline figures with adjustments for activity, climate, and age. Results update in real-time.
GROUP COMPOSITION
SCENARIO PARAMETERS
3d1wk1mo3mo6mo1yr
DOGS
CATS
LARGE DOGS
RESULTS — LIVE
—
CAL / DAY (GROUP)
—
WATER / DAY (GAL)
—
DAYS COVERED
🥫
Food Supply Required
WITH BUFFER
FOOD ITEM
QTY NEEDED
CALORIES
COST EST.
METHOD
💧
Water Supply Required
TOTAL STORAGE
👤
Per-Person Breakdown
INDIVIDUAL NEEDS
PERSON
AGE GROUP
CAL/DAY
WATER/DAY
NOTES
💰
Cost Summary & Storage Footprint
PLANNING
🗺 PAPER MAPS DON'T NEED BATTERIES. When your phone dies, your offline app crashes, or your tablet gets wet — a laminated topo map and a compass still work. This tab covers physical atlases to buy, free government topo downloads, and how to build a waterproof map kit.
WHY PAPER MAPS — THE CASE FOR ANALOG BACKUP
0
BATTERIES NEEDED
∞
OFFLINE BY DEFAULT
$0
USGS TOPOS (FREE)
25yr+
SHELF LIFE (LAMINATED)
FREE GOVERNMENT TOPO DOWNLOADS — USGS
🏛
USGS TopoView
FREE — ALL FORMATS
The gold standard. Browse and download USGS topographic maps completely free of charge — includes both current US Topo series and the full Historical Topographic Map Collection dating back to 1884. Maps are viewable and printable as PDFs, with layered format allowing you to toggle data layers on or off.
FORMAT
USE CASE
SIZE
GeoPDF
Print full-size, view on tablet with GPS overlay
~5–20 MB
GeoTIFF
Load into GIS apps (OsmAnd, Avenza, QGIS)
~20–50 MB
KMZ
Import into Google Earth or Garmin GPS units
~5 MB
JPEG
Quick print or phone wallpaper emergency map
~2–5 MB
Michigan coverage: Download Oakland County quad sheets now. Search "Waterford MI" or "Pontiac MI" in topoView. Print at 11×17 or larger at any print shop, then laminate.
🏗
USGS topoBuilder
FREE CUSTOM MAPS
topoBuilder lets you create custom topographic maps centered wherever you choose — an exclusive feature not available in other USGS tools. Select your area, pick your layers, and get a custom PDF delivered free. Perfect for generating a map centered exactly on 4454 Dixie Hwy with your property at center.
OPTION
DETAIL
Center point
Any location — put your property dead center
Scale
1:24,000 (7.5 min quad) — shows every road, trail, structure
Layers
Toggle roads, contours, hydrology, structures, land cover
Delivery
Free PDF, usually within 24 hours
Generate your property-centered map NOW while you have internet. Print 3 copies — one laminated for the wall, one in the go-bag, one in each vehicle.
PHYSICAL ATLASES TO BUY — AFFILIATE LINKS
BUY FIRST
📖
DeLorme Michigan Atlas
Full-color topo — 104 pages — 15.5" × 11" — all of Michigan
Full-color topographic maps covering everything from cities and towns to historic sites, scenic drives, trailheads, boat ramps, and prime fishing spots. Includes a handy latitude/longitude grid overlay for GPS navigation, plus inset maps for major cities and state lands. The definitive Michigan backcountry reference.
USA + Canada + Mexico — every highway, every state
The classic road atlas. Not a topo map, but covers every highway, back road, and city in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Essential for bug-out routing over long distances when GPS and phone navigation are dead. Large-scale edition recommended for readability without glasses.
3
COUNTRIES
~$20
PRICE
ROADS
TYPE
ALL 50 STATESCANADAMEXICOMILEAGE CHARTS
🏕
DeLorme Illinois Atlas
Bug-out route south — covers I-90/I-94 corridor from Chicago
Given your Illinois-to-Michigan move, having the Illinois atlas covers your bug-out route north on I-94/I-96. If you need to move fast from Chicago metro, this shows every back road, forest preserve, and alternate route when highways are gridlocked.
~$30
PRICE
TOPO
TYPE
BUG-OUT
USE
BACK ROADSFOREST PRESERVESALT ROUTES
🧭
Brunton TruArc 3 Compass
A map without a compass is just paper
A topo map and compass is the oldest nav system that exists — works in EMP, zero battery, zero signal. The Brunton TruArc 3 is the best value baseplate compass for navigation. Global needle works in both hemispheres. Declination adjustment for Michigan (~6° west).
~$30
PRICE
0
BATTERIES
GLOBAL
NEEDLE
BASEPLATEDECLINATION ADJGLOBAL NEEDLE
🗂
Waterproof Map Case + Laminator
Protect your maps — rain destroys paper fast
A laminated map or a waterproof map case turns a $30 atlas page into a permanent field tool. For USGS PDF topos: print at 11×17, laminate at Staples (~$2/sheet), or use a waterproof map case. For the atlas: a home laminator ($30) protects the most-used pages.
~$30
LAMINATOR
~$12
MAP CASE
25yr+
PROTECTED LIFE
LAMINATORWATERPROOF CASECLEAR POUCHES
⚡
Avenza Maps (offline PDF maps)
Use your USGS topo PDFs on your phone — GPS dot, no data
The bridge between digital and paper. Import your USGS GeoPDF topos into Avenza Maps — shows your GPS location as a dot on the map with zero data connection. Free for up to 3 maps, $30/yr unlimited. Pairs perfectly with downloaded USGS quad sheets.
FREE
3 MAPS
$30/yr
UNLIMITED
OFFLINE
GPS WORKS
USGS GEOREF PDFGPS DOTNO DATA NEEDED
BUILD YOUR MAP KIT — WHAT TO PRINT & PREP NOW
MAP / DOCUMENT
SOURCE
FORMAT
COPIES
STORE WHERE
Oakland County topo quad
USGS topoView — free
Print 11×17, laminate
3
Wall / go-bag / vehicle
Property-centered custom topo
USGS topoBuilder — free
Print 11×17, laminate
2
Wall + go-bag
Michigan DeLorme atlas
Amazon ~$30
Physical book
2
Home + vehicle
Illinois DeLorme atlas
Amazon ~$30
Physical book
1
Vehicle (bug-out route)
Rand McNally US road atlas
Amazon ~$20
Physical book
1
Vehicle
Family rally point card
Print from this site
Laminated card
5
One per person + go-bag
Frequency reference card
Print from Comms tab
Laminated card
5
Inside each radio
Michigan road map (gas station type)
Gas station or AAA free
Physical fold map
3
Each vehicle + go-bag
MICHIGAN MAGNETIC DECLINATION: ~6° West. When navigating with a compass and topo map in Michigan, subtract 6° from your magnetic bearing to get true north. Mark this on every laminated map.
🛠 THE STUFF NOBODY TALKS ABOUT — Vacuum sealers, oxygen absorbers, Faraday cages, sanitation, barter goods, hand tools, fire, and the mental side of long-term grid-down. The gaps in most prepper plans that only become obvious when it's too late to fix them.
🫙
Vacuum Sealers & Oxygen Absorbers
FOOD PRESERVATION
The combo of vacuum sealing + O2 absorbers is what actually gives food its 25-year shelf life. Each does a different job:
TOOL
REMOVES
COST
BEST FOR
FoodSaver V4840
~99% air
~$100
Everyday items, sealed bags, vacuum jars
Chamber vacuum sealer
~99.9% air
~$400
Liquids, mylar bags, bulk items — professional grade
Impulse bag sealer
Heat seals only
~$30
Sealing mylar bags after O2 absorbers added
Hair straightener
Heat seals only
~$20
Budget mylar sealing — works perfectly
O2 ABSORBERS: 300cc absorbers remove oxygen from 1-gallon mylar bags. 2000cc for 5-gallon. They activate on contact with air — use within 15 minutes of opening the pack or they're wasted. Buy in packs of 100, store unused ones in a mason jar with a tight lid.
An EMP (electromagnetic pulse) — from nuclear detonation, solar CME, or targeted attack — can fry unshielded electronics instantly. Your Baofengs, HackRF, Flipper Zero, phone, comms gear are all vulnerable. A Faraday cage blocks the pulse.
OPTION
COST
EFFECTIVENESS
STORE WHAT
Steel ammo can
~$20
Good if gasketed
Handheld radios, USB drives, small electronics
Faraday bag (Mission Darkness)
~$20–60
Excellent
Phones, tablets, individual devices
EMP-shielded box (commercial)
~$80–200
Best
Full comms kit — radios, HackRF, laptop
DIY trash can Faraday
~$15
Good (lined)
Medium electronics, power banks
Store at minimum: 2× Baofeng UV-5R, USB drives with offline docs, power bank, spare phone. Everything in the Faraday cage that you'd need if every other electronic on your property stopped working.
YOUR HACKRF → FARADAYFLIPPER ZERO → FARADAYSPARE MESHTASTIC NODE
🚿
Sanitation & Hygiene
KILLS MORE PEOPLE THAN BULLETS
Historically, more people die from sanitation failure in disasters than from violence or starvation. This is the most-skipped prep category.
ITEM
QTY / PERSON / MO
NOTES
5-gal bucket toilet
1 per 4 people
Pool noodle seat lid, heavy duty bags, kitty litter for waste
WAG bags / waste bags
30+ per person
Double-bag, seal, dispose safely — do not bury near water
Hand sanitizer
1 gal
When water is scarce — before eating, always
Bleach (unscented)
1 gallon
8 drops per gallon = purified water. Also surface disinfect.
N95 masks
30+
Disease, dust, smoke — all three likely in grid-down
Latex/nitrile gloves
100 pairs
Medical, sanitation, food handling
Female hygiene supplies
6 month supply
Menstrual cups = reusable, zero waste, washable
Toothbrush / paste / floss
6 month supply
Dental infection can be life-threatening without antibiotics
🔥
Fire & Heat Without Grid
MICHIGAN WINTERS KILL
METHOD
COST
FUEL
NOTES
Wood stove (cast iron)
$300–800
Wood
Best long-term. Heats + cooks. Indefinite fuel from property.
Propane heater (Mr. Heater)
~$80
Propane
Fast, clean, indoor-safe model. Stock 100lb tank minimum.
Kerosene heater
~$100
Kerosene
Higher BTU than propane. Store 20+ gallons with stabilizer.
Rocket stove (DIY)
~$20
Twigs/wood
Burns tiny fuel for big heat. Build from cinder blocks.
Fire starters (multiple)
~$30
—
Ferrocerium rod + fatwood + waterproof matches + Bic lighters
Your planned hot compost system generates real heat — external north wall placement can passively heat the greenhouse. This is an underrated grid-down heat source that gets better over time.
🪚
Hand Tools — No Power Needed
WHEN BATTERIES DIE
Every power tool has a hand-tool equivalent. Build this kit and you can construct, repair, and maintain the property indefinitely with zero electricity.
TOOL
REPLACES
PRIORITY
Hand saw (crosscut + rip)
Circular saw
HIGH
Hand drill + brace
Power drill
HIGH
Axe + hatchet
Chainsaw (partial)
HIGH
Adze + draw knife
Router/planer
MED
Sharpening stones + strop
Grinder
HIGH
Manual grain mill
Electric mill
HIGH
Push reel mower
Gas/electric mower
MED
Scythe
String trimmer
MED
🤝
Barter Goods
WHEN MONEY MEANS NOTHING
In a prolonged grid-down, fiat currency may become worthless. These items become high-value trade goods — stock extras beyond your own needs.
ITEM
BARTER VALUE
WHY
Alcohol (sealed liquor)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Antiseptic, morale, universal want
Cigarettes (sealed)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Addicts will trade anything
Medications (OTC)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pain, infection, fever — critical
Seeds (non-GMO, heirloom)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Food production = perpetual value
Ammo (common calibers)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Universal currency in rural areas
Fuel (treated, stored)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Generators, vehicles, chainsaws
Coffee / tea
⭐⭐⭐
Morale item — wildly underrated
Skills (medical, mechanical)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Can't be stolen, never runs out
🩹
Physical Medical Supplies
BEYOND THE APP
The Red Cross app tells you what to do. You need the actual supplies to do it. This is a trauma-level kit — not a box of bandaids.
Bank account numbers + emergency cash ($500+ small bills)ATMs die when grid dies
Medical records + prescriptions + vaccination historyAll family members
Contact list (printed — phone dies without power)Family, doctor, lawyer, neighbors, trusted contacts
TSR Ventures LLC docs + key contractsBusiness continuity if records go offline
Ham/GMRS license copiesKeep with each radio
Crypto wallet seed phrases (offline, encrypted, physical)Ellipal Titan Mini backup — never digital only
🧠
Mental Health & Morale
THE LONG GAME
The body lasts weeks without food, days without water. The mind starts failing in days without purpose, connection, and hope. This is what separates people who survive long-term from those who don't.
NEED
SUPPLY
NOTES
Entertainment / distraction
Books, cards, board games
Kindle with solar charger + physical books
Music / audio
Battery/solar radio, instrument
NOAA radio doubles as morale tool
Creative outlet
Journals, art supplies
Your fiction writing — keep a paper journal
Purpose / routine
Task structure
Daily schedule prevents psychological spiral
Community
Neighbor network
Know your neighbors BEFORE you need them
Physical exercise
Body weight + manual labor
Built in with homestead tasks — key to mental health
Alcohol / coffee
Stored supply
Morale items are legitimate preps — judge-free zone
ADHD in a grid-down scenario is actually an asset — high novelty, high adaptability, high problem-solving under pressure. The hypervigilance that feels exhausting in normal life becomes an advantage when actual vigilance is needed.
🚗 YOUR VEHICLE IS YOUR LIFELINE — Most people think "grid-down" means staying home. The reality: you may need to evacuate fast, get home from work 30 miles away, or resupply from distance. Your vehicle is both your bug-out platform and your first line of mobile infrastructure. Most people have a tank of gas, a phone charger, and nothing else.
THE GET-HOME SCENARIO
THINK ABOUT THIS: You're at State Farm in Bloomington. Grid goes down at 2pm on a Tuesday. Cellular: jammed or dead. ATM: offline. Gas pumps: require power. Interstate: parking lot as everyone tries to leave at once. It's January — 18°F outside.
Your car has half a tank. You have your work laptop, your phone at 40%, no cash, no paper map, a sport coat, and dress shoes. How do you get home to Waterford?
This is why vehicle prep exists. It's not about zombie apocalypse — it's about a Tuesday afternoon in winter.
🎒
Get-Home Bag (GHB)
LIVES IN YOUR TRUNK — ALWAYS
Not a bug-out bag — a get-home bag. Purpose-built to get you from wherever you are back to your base. Smaller, lighter, car-specific.
Water (1 gal + LifeStraw filter)Don't rely on finding a gas station
2,400 cal emergency food barsDatrex or Mainstay — 5yr shelf life, heat-stable
Baofeng UV-5R + programmed channelsAlready know what channels family is on
Laminated paper maps (state + local)DeLorme Michigan + Rand McNally US atlas
Walking shoes / boots + warm socksIf you have to abandon the vehicle
Warm layer (coat, gloves, hat, thermal base)Michigan winter will kill you in 2 hours on foot
Cash ($200 in small bills)20s, 10s, 5s, 1s — many won't make change
Headlamp + extra batteriesIf you're walking after dark
Fire starting kit (lighter + ferrocerium + tinder)Hypothermia prevention
First aid kit (trauma level)CAT tourniquet + QuikClot + bandages
Mylar emergency blankets × 4$2 each — fold into wallet, weight nothing
Multi-tool (Leatherman Wave or similar)Glass breaker, blade, pliers
Printed contact list + rally point cardPhone battery dies — you need this on paper
Power bank (20,000 mAh, kept charged)Charge from car — extend phone life significantly
🔧
Vehicle Mechanical Prep
KEEP IT MOVING
Gas pumps require electricity. Repair shops may be closed. Know how to keep your vehicle running without outside help.
ITEM
PURPOSE
NOTES
Full tank — always
Range + generator fuel
Never let it drop below half. This is rule #1.
5-gal jerry can (treated)
Emergency reserve
PRI-G fuel stabilizer — store up to 1 year
Tire plug kit + inflator
Flat repair without jack
STF plug kit + 12V compressor — 5 min fix
Jumper cables (heavy gauge)
Dead battery
Or lithium jump starter pack — no second car needed
Fix-A-Flat × 2
Emergency run-flat
Not permanent — gets you to safety
Tow strap + D-rings
Stuck in mud/snow
Michigan mud season is real
Spare fuses (full set)
Blown fuse = dead car
$5 kit — check your vehicle's fuse chart
Basic hand tools
Field repairs
Ratchet set, pliers, zip ties, duct tape, JB Weld
Coolant + oil quart
Fluid top-off
Overheat kills engines in slow traffic
Ice scraper + small shovel
Michigan winter
Folding military shovel is compact + digs, chops, shovels
MICHIGAN SNOW RULE: Keep a small bag of kitty litter in the trunk Oct–Apr. Traction under spinning tires when you're stuck — works better than sand.
⚡
Vehicle as Power Station
MOBILE GRID
Your alternator generates power while driving — and a running car engine can power a surprising amount of gear. With the right adapters, your car becomes a mobile charging station and radio hub.
GEAR
POWER SOURCE
USE
12V power inverter (400W)
Cigarette lighter
Power laptops, charge anything via AC outlet
1000W+ inverter (hardwired)
Direct battery
Power tools, larger loads — hardwire to battery with fuse
USB-C hub (car mount)
USB-A car port
Charge 4 devices simultaneously
Ham radio (mobile mount)
12V direct
Yaesu FT-7900R — 50W mobile, huge range vs handheld
Dash cam (always recording)
ACC power
Evidence, situational awareness recording
Magnetic roof antenna
PL-259 to radio
Dramatically extends Baofeng/GMRS range from vehicle
Idle your engine 30 min/day to charge a deep-cycle battery via the alternator. A 12V car battery runs a Baofeng for 200+ hours on receive. Running the car for comms/charging is a legitimate strategy for days 1–7.
🗺
Bug-Out Routes — Michigan-Specific
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Primary routes will be gridlocked. Know your alternates before you need them. Drive them in normal times so you know what's on them.
ROUTE
FROM → TO
NOTES
Primary
Chicago → Waterford via I-94 N / I-96 E
Fast in normal times — first to jam in emergency
Alternate 1
US-12 / Michigan Ave → Ann Arbor → M-59
Slower, avoids Detroit metro, stays south of gridlock
Alternate 2
I-94 → M-52 N → M-59 W
Cuts through rural mid-Michigan, less traffic
Alternate 3
US-23 N → I-96 E → M-59
Western bypass — avoids Dearborn/Detroit entirely
On-foot fallback
Follow rail lines / river corridors
Railroad beds = passable on foot in any weather
Mark all routes on your DeLorme Michigan atlas NOW with a highlighter — primary in yellow, alternates in orange. Mark fuel stations, water sources, and rest points on each route.
Rain poncho × 2, mud-rated tow strap, extra dry bags, insect repellent, tick removal kit
MED
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Extra water (heat kills faster), sunscreen, electrolyte packets, tick kit, bug spray, dust mask for wildfire smoke
MED
Year-round base
GHB, maps, cash, radio, jumper cables, tire kit, first aid, fire kit, multi-tool, power bank
ALWAYS
DIXIE HWY PROPERTY TIP: Once you're at 4454, your 10-acre property gives you staging, fuel storage, and alternative exits that most suburban preppers don't have. Mark the property perimeter on your topo quad.
THE ONE YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT — STUCK OFF-ROAD
IF YOU DRIVE INTO THE WOODS AND GET STUCK
✅ Stay with the vehicle — it's shelter, it's visible, it's warm
✅ Run engine 10 min/hr for heat — conserves fuel, prevents CO buildup
✅ Crack a window 1 inch — CO can build up even outside in snow
✅ Tie bright fabric to antenna — visibility for searchers
✅ Signal mirror in daylight — visible for miles to aircraft
✅ Activate PLB if life-threatening — that's what it's for
✅ Meshtastic ping — if any node in range, location goes out
✅ Baofeng Ch 9 call — CB, GMRS, anyone in range listening
OFF-ROAD SPECIFIC ADDITIONS TO CAR KIT
ITEM
USE
Hi-Lift jack
Lift vehicle out of mud/ruts — also a winch
Recovery boards (MAXTRAX)
Traction under wheels in mud/sand/snow
Snatch block + recovery rope
Self-recovery anchored to a tree
Chainsaw (in truck bed)
Tree across road — 10 min vs 10 hours
Signal mirror
Reflects sun to aircraft up to 10 miles
Bright orange tarp
Ground-to-air signal, emergency shelter
🖥 THE GRID-DOWN SURVIVAL NODE — A self-contained offline intelligence server that fits in your pocket, runs for days on a battery bank, broadcasts its own WiFi, and serves this entire site plus Wikipedia, maps, medical references, and survival manuals to every phone, tablet, and laptop in range — with zero internet required. Anyone can build one. Total cost: $35–80.
CHOOSE YOUR BUILD TIER
📦
Tier 1 — Pi Zero 2W
POCKET NODE
$35
TOTAL COST
~1W
POWER
24hr+
ON POWER BANK
65mm × 30mm — literally the size of a stick of gum. Runs on any USB power bank. Built-in WiFi hotspot. Serves this site + Kiwix Wikipedia to 5–8 simultaneous devices. Best for: go-bag, vehicle, cache deployment.
Limitation: 512MB RAM — can run Kiwix OR this site, not both simultaneously at peak load. Fine for 1–5 users.
RECOMMENDED
🖥
Tier 2 — Pi 4 (2GB)
BASE STATION
$55
BOARD COST
~3–5W
POWER
20+
SIMULTANEOUS USERS
The sweet spot. Runs full Kiwix server (Wikipedia 22GB + Wikibooks + medical ZIMs), this entire survival site, and has headroom for n8n, Grafana, or Meshtastic MQTT bridge. Pair with 256GB USB SSD. Best for: home base, shelter, property installation.
This is the build described in the Hardware tab. Optimal balance of cost, performance, and power.
📱
Tier 0 — Android Phone
NO HARDWARE NEEDED
$0
EXTRA COST
2–4hr
HOTSPOT BATTERY
1–3
USERS
Any Android phone can serve this site + Kiwix via hotspot using the Termux app + a tiny Python HTTP server. No extra hardware. Great for "I need this NOW" deployment. iPhone works too with different approach. Best for: individual use, testing, emergency deployment.
Battery drain is significant — keep plugged in. This is a stopgap, not a permanent solution.
Samsung 64GB Endurance or SanDisk Max Endurance. A2 = faster random I/O.
Micro-USB power cable
$0
You have one
Any 5V/1A+ micro-USB. Runs from any USB power bank.
Micro-USB to USB-A OTG adapter
$4
Amazon
Optional: attach USB thumb drive for extra content storage.
Mini-HDMI to HDMI cable
$6
Amazon
Optional: only needed for initial setup if no other Pi. Can skip with headless setup.
20,000mAh USB power bank
~$25
Amazon
Runs Zero 2W ~18–24hrs at ~1W draw. Already in your GHB kit.
📐
What It Serves
ALL OFFLINE
SERVICE
URL
SIZE
This survival site
http://survival.node
<1MB
Wikipedia (Simple English)
http://survival.node:8080
~600MB
Wikibooks (how-to guides)
http://survival.node:8080
~500MB
Wikipedia Full EN
http://survival.node:8080
~22GB (optional, needs 64GB SD)
US Army Survival Manual
http://survival.node/docs/
~5MB PDF
Where There Is No Doctor
http://survival.node/docs/
~3MB PDF
USGS Topo PDFs (local area)
http://survival.node/maps/
~50–200MB
WiFi SSID: SURVIVAL-NODE / Password: griddown (change after setup). Captive portal auto-opens browser on connect.
🟧 TIER 2 BUILD — RASPBERRY PI 4 BASE STATION
🛒
Bill of Materials
~$100–130 TOTAL
PART
COST
NOTES
Raspberry Pi 4 (2GB)
$45–55
Pi 4 end-of-life 2034. 2GB plenty for this use case.
USB-C power supply 5V/3A
$10
Official Pi PSU recommended. Or power from 12V via buck converter in vehicle.
MicroSD 32GB (OS only)
$6
Samsung 32GB A2 — OS boots from SD, data on SSD.
256GB USB SSD (Samsung T7)
$30–40
Kiwix ZIM files live here. Much faster + longer life than SD for large files.
TP-Link travel router (TL-WR902AC)
$25
Optional but recommended — better WiFi range than Pi's onboard radio.
Case with fan
$8
Argon Nano or Flirc aluminum case. Pi 4 needs airflow under load.
📐
Full Service Stack
ALL OFFLINE
SERVICE
PORT / URL
DESCRIPTION
This survival site
:80 / survival.node
Full 14-tab site, search index, calculator
Kiwix server
:8080
Wikipedia EN full 22GB + Wikibooks + medical ZIMs
Document server (nginx)
:80/docs/
PDFs: Army FM, WTINAD, first aid, USGS topos
File manager (optional)
:8888
FileBrowser — browse/download any file from phone
Meshtastic MQTT (optional)
:1883
Bridge Meshtastic mesh to local network dashboard
Full Wikipedia + this site fits on a $35 256GB Samsung T7. Entire stack uses ~3–5W — runs 24/7 from a small solar panel.
📱 TIER 0 — ANDROID PHONE SERVER (NO HARDWARE)
ANDROID — TERMUX METHOD
# Install Termux from F-Droid (not Play Store) # Then in Termux:
pkg update && pkg upgrade -y
pkg install python nginx -y # Copy survival site to ~/www/
mkdir -p ~/www/docs # Drop offline-survival-system.html here
# Start web server
cd ~/www && python -m http.server 8080
# Enable phone hotspot in Android Settings # Others connect and browse: http://192.168.43.1:8080
KIWIX FOR ANDROID
Install Kiwix app from Google Play or F-Droid. Download ZIM files (Simple English Wikipedia ~600MB is the fast option). Enable Kiwix's built-in server mode — it broadcasts on your local hotspot automatically.
Running a hotspot + web server + screen will drain most phones in 2–4 hours. Keep plugged in via 12V car charger or power bank. This is a short-term solution.
IPHONE — WORKING COPY METHOD
Use Working Copy or a-Shell on iOS to host files locally. More limited than Android/Termux. iPhone hotspot + Kiwix iOS app works well for Wikipedia serving.
🔧 AUTOMATED SETUP SCRIPT — COPY + RUN ON FRESH PI OS LITE
⚡
setup.sh — One-Command Install
BASH — RUN AS ROOT
Flash Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit) to your SD card using Raspberry Pi Imager. Enable SSH in the imager settings. Boot, SSH in, then run this script. Everything installs automatically.
# --- Download free reference documents --- echo"[6/8] Downloading reference documents..." # US Army Survival Manual FM 21-76 (public domain)
curl -fsSL "https://www.bits.de/NRANEU/others/amd-us-archive/fm21-76%281992%29.pdf" \
-o ${CONTENT_DIR}/docs/army-survival-fm21-76.pdf # Where There Is No Doctor (Hesperian, free license)
curl -fsSL "https://store.hesperian.org/downloads/wtnd-en.pdf" \
-o ${CONTENT_DIR}/docs/where-there-is-no-doctor.pdf
# --- Download Kiwix ZIM files (Simple English Wikipedia default) --- echo"[7/8] Downloading Wikipedia ZIM (Simple English ~600MB)..." echo" For full English Wikipedia (22GB) set FULL_WIKI=1 before running"
Raspberry Pi Zero 2W ($15) or Pi 4 2GB ($55). 64GB microSD A2 card (~$10). Micro-USB cable. That's it to start. Order from raspberrypi.com, Adafruit, or PiShop.us — avoid Amazon counterfeits for the board itself.
STEP 2
Flash Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit)
Download Raspberry Pi Imager (free, raspberry.org/software). Choose: Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit). Before writing, click the gear icon → set hostname: survival-node, enable SSH, set username/password. Write to SD card.
STEP 3
Boot and SSH in
Insert SD card, connect Pi to power. Wait 60 seconds. On your laptop: ssh [email protected] (or the IP from your router). Default password is what you set in Step 2.
STEP 4
Run the one-line setup script
Once SSH'd in, paste this single command: curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tsrventures/survival-node/main/setup.sh | sudo bash Watch the output. It downloads, configures, and starts everything automatically. Takes 10–30 minutes depending on internet speed (Wikipedia ZIM is large).
STEP 5
Disconnect ethernet/internet — test offline
Unplug from your router. On any phone or laptop, connect to WiFi: SURVIVAL-NODE (password: griddown — change this). Open a browser. You should be redirected to the survival site automatically. Navigate to :8080 for Wikipedia.
STEP 6
Add optional content
Copy additional ZIM files to /var/www/survival/zim/ via SCP or USB drive. Copy USGS topo PDFs to /var/www/survival/maps/. Copy reference documents to /var/www/survival/docs/. All accessible from phones on the WiFi.
DONE
Deploy, cache, share
Node runs headless forever. Powers from any USB source. No screen, no keyboard, no mouse. Just power → WiFi → browser. Build multiples. Cache one at each property. Give one to trusted neighbors.
📚 RECOMMENDED ZIM FILES — FREE DOWNLOAD
ZIM FILE
SIZE
CONTENTS
TIER
DOWNLOAD
Wikipedia Simple English (mini)
~600MB
All topics, readable at any level
Zero 2W ✓ Pi 4 ✓
download.kiwix.org/zim/wikipedia/
Wikipedia English (full)
~22GB
Complete English Wikipedia
Pi 4 only (SSD)
download.kiwix.org/zim/wikipedia/
Wikibooks
~4GB
DIY guides, how-to, skills, recipes
Pi 4 ✓
download.kiwix.org/zim/wikibooks/
Wikivoyage
~1.2GB
Travel guides, regional maps, local knowledge
Both ✓
download.kiwix.org/zim/wikivoyage/
iFixit
~2GB
Repair guides for 10,000+ devices — tools, teardowns
Pi 4 ✓
download.kiwix.org/zim/ifixit/
Project Gutenberg
~65GB
60,000 free ebooks — literature, reference, history
Pi 4 + large SSD
download.kiwix.org/zim/gutenberg/
Kiwix Medical (MDWiki)
~400MB
Medical reference, drug interactions, first aid protocols
Both ✓
download.kiwix.org/zim/mdwiki/
All ZIM files are free. Browse the full library at download.kiwix.org/zim/ — there are 1,000+ available including Stack Overflow, Khan Academy, TED Talks, and more.
🐙 GITHUB REPO — SHARE THIS BUILD
REPO STRUCTURE
survival-node/
├── README.md# build guide
├── setup.sh# one-command install
├── setup-zero.sh# Pi Zero 2W optimized
├── setup-pi4.sh# Pi 4 full stack
├── offline-survival-system.html
├── docs/
│ ├── army-fm21-76.pdf
│ ├── where-there-is-no-doctor.pdf
│ └── README.md
├── maps/
│ └── README.md# add your USGS topos here
├── zim/
│ └── .gitkeep# ZIMs too large for git
└── config/
├── hostapd.conf
├── dnsmasq.conf
└── nginx-survival.conf
DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY
FORMAT
USE CASE
GitHub repo
Technical users — clone, run setup.sh, done
Pre-built SD image (.img.gz)
Flash-and-go — no SSH, no commands, just power on
Single HTML file
This site — works on any device, USB stick, or phone storage
USB thumb drive kit
16–32GB drive with site + docs + small ZIM — plug into any Pi
TSR Ventures angle: The GitHub repo + pre-built SD image is the open-source community hook. The prepared USB kit or pre-configured hardware node is a product. Domain survivalnode.io or similar worth grabbing.