Kyle Harrison | Preparedness Post

Kyle Harrison

Stories That Stick When the Lights Go Out

This week I want to talk about a set of books that surprised me and then flat out refused to let me put them down. These stories hit close to home for anyone who thinks about preparedness, trust, and what really matters when systems fail.

Kyle Harrison

Dec 18, 2025

The Maple Syrup Shortage That Wasn't

I had myself half convinced that I was staring down a pancake crisis this week after a neighbor mentioned some trouble up in Vermont, but it turned out to be nothing more than a mix up over tapping permits and a bit of local gossip. Still, it got me thinking about how quickly little ripples can turn into waves if we are not paying attention. In this issue I walk through how I sort through rumor, fact, and that funny space in between that every prepper eventually learns to navigate.

Kyle Harrison

Dec 8, 2025

Cold Fronts and Full Pantries

I was topping off the kerosene cans this week when that sharp Missouri chill settled in, the kind that gets into your bones and reminds you to double check the pantry before the roads glaze over. It got me thinking about how small habits keep a family steady when the weather or the world gets a little sideways. So this week I pulled together a mix of stories and tips from my own place here outside Sedalia that I hope will help you feel a little more ready for whatever rolls in next.

Kyle Harrison

Dec 1, 2025

The Creek Still Rises Before Dawn

Most mornings here in Missouri I can smell the river mud long before the sun decides to show itself, and this week that scent got me thinking about the small things we overlook until they jump up and bite us.

Kyle Harrison

Nov 24, 2025

Bitterroot Pass is Published!

You can get it for free today...

Kyle Harrison

Nov 13, 2025

Bitterroot Pass Gets Released This Week!

My first novel...

Kyle Harrison

Nov 10, 2025

The Night the Power Went Out at 2 AM in February

I was half asleep when the house went dark and the furnace sighed to a stop. It is funny how quiet a house can get when everything turns off at once. This week I want to talk about what happens in those first ten minutes and why they matter more than the big flashy gear folks like to brag about.

Kyle Harrison

Nov 3, 2025

A Dry Mouth Teaches Fast

Last weekend our well pump decided to take a nap right when Darlene was making her famous chili, and let me tell you, nothing humbles a man faster than standing there with a sink full of beans and no water. Got me thinking about how most folks don’t give a second thought to where their water comes from until the faucet coughs air. This week I’m talking about getting ahead of that problem before it gets ahead of you.

Kyle Harrison

Oct 28, 2025

So...the Lights Went Out in Missouri

You never really think about how much noise your house makes until the power goes out and you can hear the refrigerator stop humming. I had one of those quiet nights this week when a storm rolled through and knocked us off the grid for six hours. Darlene lit candles like she was setting the mood for a fancy dinner, and I was just trying to remember where I put that hand-crank radio I swore I’d never need.

Kyle Harrison

Oct 21, 2025

When the Power Flickers and the Coffee Stops Brewing

I was pouring my first cup of coffee Saturday morning when the lights did that little flicker thing. You know, the one that makes you stop mid-pour and just stand there for a second, wondering if you’re about to lose your freezer full of venison.

Kyle Harrison

Oct 14, 2025

A Generator, a Cup of Coffee, and the Sound of the Storm

I’ve got to tell you, there’s nothing quite like that moment when the lights flicker, and you realize you might actually have to use all that gear you’ve been bragging about to your buddies. This week I’m talking about generators, power prep, and what happens when your coffee maker suddenly becomes useless in the middle of a thunderstorm. Grab a mug and settle in, because I learned a few lessons the hard way.

Kyle Harrison

Oct 8, 2025

When the Heat Goes Out

This week I am writing about the one thing that can knock out your comfort faster than anything else, and that is losing your heat in the middle of a Missouri cold snap. I will share what Darlene and I keep on hand, what I learned from a neighbor’s frozen pipes, and why my son in law Steve out in Oregon thinks he has it easier but really doesn’t.

Kyle Harrison

Sep 30, 2025

Pancakes and Propane

If you are standing in your kitchen one morning and the power flicks off right in the middle of flipping pancakes, you will know pretty quick whether you are prepared or not. This week I want to share some thoughts about backup cooking setups, propane storage, and the little tricks I have learned over the years here in Missouri that keep Darlene from giving me that look when breakfast is on the line.

Kyle Harrison

Sep 23, 2025

A Little Breather...

After a long week of smokehouse duty and food storage chores, I am giving myself a short break. But I still have a few quick tips to keep your pantry and gear squared away until I am back next Monday.

Kyle Harrison

Sep 17, 2025

When the Power Goes Out in the Middle of Dinner

Nothing will remind you how fragile daily life is quite like standing over a half-cooked pot roast when the lights flicker off. This week I am talking about old-school tricks and modern backups for keeping supper on the table when the grid decides to take the night off.

Kyle Harrison

Sep 9, 2025

Stockpiling More Than Just Beans

This week I’m talking about the less glamorous side of prepping, the stuff that is not shiny gear or buckets of rice but the everyday items that turn into gold when you suddenly can’t find them. Around here in Missouri, I have learned the hard way that the smallest things can make or break your comfort.

Kyle Harrison

Sep 3, 2025

The Cold Snap That Woke Me Up

Last week’s frost rolled in a lot quicker than I expected and it reminded me of a few gaps in my own setup here in Missouri. I want to share some practical steps that helped me get back on track so you don’t end up scrambling like I did.

Kyle Harrison

Aug 26, 2025

Storing Water the Right Way

This week I’m talking about water, and not just the kind you turn on at the tap. I’ll share exactly how I store mine down in the basement here in Missouri, what containers I trust, and the little mistakes I’ve made that you can skip right over.

Kyle Harrison

Aug 18, 2025

Stocking Up Without Looking Like a Lunatic

Sometimes getting prepared means buying beans, rice, and flashlight batteries without the neighbors thinking you’re building a bunker in the backyard. This week I’ll tell you how I’ve managed to squirrel away months’ worth of supplies here in Missouri while keeping Darlene from rolling her eyes too hard.

Kyle Harrison

Aug 11, 2025

How I Finally Figured Out the Right Way to Store Gas Without Stinking Up the Whole Barn

A deep dive into stabilizers, safety cans, rotation schedules, and why my wife Darlene banned me from using the laundry room for fuel experiments.

Kyle Harrison

Aug 4, 2025

Raccoons in the Attic and Why I Keep Extra Peanut Butter

This week I am talking about the night I learned raccoons can open a cooler better than I can, how that led to me stocking up on peanut butter, and a few things I have been stashing away in the basement that Darlene swears I will never use but I know better.

Kyle Harrison

Jul 29, 2025

A Generator is Not a Plan

Folks think buying a generator makes them prepared, but I’ll show you why that’s just the start of the story.

Kyle Harrison

Jul 21, 2025

When the Lights Go Out (For Real)

This week I’m diving into what really happens when the power goes out and stays out, and how folks like you and me can be ready for everything from a two-hour flicker to a two-week outage without losing our minds or our meat in the freezer.

Kyle Harrison

Jul 14, 2025

Beans, Bullets, and Grandma’s Green Beans

Getting Started the Right Way: Building a Pantry That’ll Actually Feed Your Family

Kyle Harrison

Jul 7, 2025

The Cold Snap in June

A look at oddball weather, busted routines, and why comfort will fail you if you let it

Kyle Harrison

Jun 30, 2025