Stuff About Knives

“Mary gave him a bran-new "Barlow" knife worth twelve and a half cents; and the convulsion of delight that swept his system shook him to his foundations. True, the knife would not cut anything, but it was a "sure-enough" Barlow, and there was inconceivable grandeur in that - …”.   - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

       Knives have always been a part of American culture.  From a rite of passage for Tom Sawyer to today’s hi-tech blade systems and multi-tools.  Whether or not you carry a knife in your pocket or purse every day, you should have one in your kit. There are folding knives, non-folding knives, multi-bladed knives and all kinds of spring-loaded knives.  Big ones, little ones and in-between ones.  There’s a knife for every purpose and for every budget, and like most things, you get what you pay for.        

       Everyone knows about Swiss Army knives.  Understand that not all red plastic-handled knives are the genuine article.  There are only two companies authorized to market “Swiss Army” knives.  Victorinox and Wenger. Victorinox acquired Wenger in 2005 and they have decided to retain the Wenger nameplate.  To determine the brand of a knife, open the blade.  The brand is engraved on the ricasso (base of the blade).  If it simply says “China” or “Pakistan” or “stainless” then keep looking, that is unless you’re buying a cheap gift for your brother-in-law.

               Some of the best quality knives are made right here in Oregon.  Gerber, CRKT (Columbia River Knife and Tool), Benchmade, Kershaw and Leatherman, to name a few.  These companies offer a wide selection of quality products.  Most companies offer knives that appeal to the “survival” crowd.  Once again, use wisdom when choosing a knife. Some so-called survival knives wouldn’t help you survive a 30-second power outage much less a real emergency.  Let me tell you about a couple of knives I own and recommend.  First is a folding knife made by Tool Logic.  It features one-handed opening, a built-in whistle, an LED flashlight and a magnesium fire striker.  Cost is in the $50 range.  The other is marketed by Bear Grylls of Man vs. Wild .  Manufactured by Gerber, it is a fixed-blade knife.  Incorporated into the design is a whistle, a firesteel, and a sharpening stone.  The butt of the handle is designed to pound things like tent stakes, walnuts and even nails should the need arise.  Cost is also in the $50 range.

               Another must-have for your kit is a multi-tool.  Multi-tools were made famous by Leatherman and have been copied by several other knife makers.  All multi-tools have a knife blade, an assortment of screwdriver heads, a set of pliers and depending on the model, a saw, wire-cutter and mini-scissors.  As most men already know, a good multi-tool is a very valuable item to have.  

               I would be interested in hearing your knife stories or recommendations for outdoor equipment.  As always, email me at disasterprep.dave@gmail.com. Dave Robinson is the Postmaster in Bandon, Oregon, and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us.”

          

Sanitation

During a major disaster, water mains may break, the municipal water processing system may fail or plumbing may be disrupted.  At the same time, something we take for granted, a flushing toilet may not be available.  In the event of an earthquake, it’s not too much of a stretch to expect that your plumbing, both incoming and outgoing could be disrupted.

Human waste, if not disposed of properly, can not only cause a sanitation and hygiene mess but if not managed properly will spread disease.  This is known as a secondary disaster.

For those who live in rural areas and your waste is managed by a septic system, you may be in good shape, barring any damage to your plumbing. Some of the newer systems being designed are dependent on an electric pump or grinder.  If that’s the case, then a reliable generator needs to be a part of your plan.  Our disaster preparedness plan isn’t complete until we have considered some alternative way to dispose of waste.

Several solutions are available from a toilet seat that snaps to the top of a five-gallon bucket for $10, to a chemical porta-potty costing $200 plus.  If you opt for the five-gallon bucket solution, don’t forget to get some small trash bags to use as liners.  

The 2010 earthquake in Haiti taught responders several lessons.  In a region that was marginally sanitary in the best of times, it became painfully aware that in a post-event environment, the health climate deteriorated rapidly and drastically because of the lack of adequate sewage capability. Health officials are still battling cholera in Haiti.   

Any disruption of sanitary service poses significant health risks.  Every so often a major city experiences a shutdown of garbage services.  The mountains of accumulated trash are an attractive nuisance to all sorts of disease-bearing vermin, including rats, mice and dog packs.

On a different note, researchers are learning about compost piles and their drawbacks after a disaster.  Composting is basically managing the decomposition of certain biodegradable products.  In other words and in base terms:  it is simply a managed collection of garbage intended for a noble purpose, eventually.  (My apologies to all organic gardeners everywhere.)  The word of caution here is to insure that your compost pile is well-secured and does not get scattered nor become an attractant for disease-bearing rodents or other scavengers.  Communities will have their hands full with trying to restore basic services without worrying about the runaway rat population.

As always send your comments and questions to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.   Dave Robinson is the Postmaster in Bandon, Oregon, and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us.”

Going or Staying

    Whether you call it a Go-Bag, a Bug Out Bag or a Get Home Bag, the intent is the same; to survive when things get all shaken up.  Each of us packs a bag of things we think we will need when either forced to evacuate our home, or if there is a disaster while we are somewhere other than home.  

    I happen to live in rural, coastal Oregon.  Small towns, no traffic problems, no congestion and best of all, peace and quiet.  The bag I carry is specifically for getting home.  There is really very little need for folks in our area to have a bug-out plan.  The only reasons we might need to evacuate our homes would be wildland fires, flooding, or impending tsunami.  

    Now if I lived in a metropolitan area, my plan would be different.  The entire climate is different.  When there are more people, the dangers are increased.  Traffic gridlock contributing to frustration, road rage and downright panic. We only have to watch the looting and rioting when there’s a disaster to know people will misbehave when they know they can do so with impunity. Remember, scared people behave badly!  My entire plan would be to get out of the city to a pre-arranged location.  AND my plan would include a tipping point when certain factors dictated the prudent and swift egress of me and my family, before it was too late!

    If society collapses for whatever reason, riot, natural disaster, or governmental breakdown, it is usually to one’s benefit to get out of town!  This would not be the time to try to decide what to take, where to go and how to get there.  

    So lets make a list.  If I have to leave home in a hurry what do I take?  Start writing down all the things you would need if you only had minutes to get out. Rather similar to planning a camping trip.  If you have a destination in mind, good.  If not, then arrange for a place you can stay for the duration. There is a term for a person escaping from a bad situation with no plan or pre-determined destination.  The term is refugee!

Good ideas for your list can be found at www.ready.gov and www.redcross.org.  Both websites are excellent resources.  Then go online and Google “bug out bag”.  This will bring up dozens of websites who want to sell you a ready made kit.  Whatever you do, resist the temptation to buy a ready-made bag.  The guy who put it together knows nothing of your needs and besides, it is important you know what’s in it.  Remember many life-saving decisions are oftentimes made way before you ever leave home!

    If you’re like me and your concern is more about getting home, then your list will vary a bit.  It’s still a little like a camping trip, you just don’t know where you’re going to be.  I spend 10 hours a day working a half-hour from home.  In the event an earthquake closes the roads, I may have to get creative about perpetuating my well-being while making my way home.  

    Whether you’re an urban dweller or country boy (or girl) it’s important to plan for your survival.  Today is a great day to get started!

    As always send your questions and comments to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  

goTenna

Most folks these days carry a cell phone.  No one disputes that cell phones have completely changed our culture.  We stay in touch with our spouse, kids, grandkids, employees and the rest of the world for that matter.  Cell phones do, however, have one main drawback; not all locations have coverage.  Especially in my corner of the world we have remote mountains, canyons and valleys that simply don’t get coverage.  These outback locales are also where we hunt, fish, camp, hike and go four-wheeling!  

    Enter a new product: goTenna.  This Blue-tooth connected device enables your cell phone to send text messages to another “goTenna” equipped cell phone when there is no traditional cell service.  So lets say you are out hiking with your group and suddenly you realize you are no longer with your group.  “No problem,” you say, “I’ll just call them and we can re-connect.”  Oops, no service.  That’s when you pull the goTenna out of your backpack, sit on a log and calmly text your companions for assistance.  The device is about the same size and shape as the toothbrush holder I carry in my shaving kit.  Not only will it send text messages, but it will show a topographical map location on your phone (and that of your companion) pinpointing your location.  

    You might argue that similar technology is already available with a Garmin Rhino GPS radio.  This is true but FRS radios are limited in range, and unlimited in cost. The goTenna claims a range of 50 miles.  That is if you’re standing on a mountaintop and your friend is also on a mountaintop and if you’re holding your mouth just right.  Realistically, a one-to-six mile range is more like it considering actual terrain and conditions.   A Garmin Rhino with all the bells and whistles will set you back up to $450.00 per unit.  Two units are needed.  The goTenna is currently accepting pre-orders for $149.00 per pair.  I say “pre-orders” because they are not actually available for purchase, but orders taken now will be filled early in 2015 following final bureaucratic approval by the FCC.  At that point the cost will jump to $149.00 per unit.  If you’re interested, a four-unit family package is now offered for $289.00

    One additional feature is that your message is encrypted from end-to-end.  When the central server (cell phone tower) is bypassed there is no opportunity for eavesdropping.  Also you can opt for a “message destruction” feature that is also secure.  All of this means something to the folks who are concerned about the security of their text messages, even if you are in an area that has cell service.  Not only will this work when you’re out in the hills, but in the concrete jungle as well when you want to keep your messages private.

    The idea was hatched two years ago by a person who lived through hurricane/superstorm Sandy.  The prolonged power outages also meant prolonged communication blackouts as well.  The goTenna was developed to keep the communications flowing even when the power grid had failed.  

    So if you spend time in the out-of-doors and like to stay in touch with your family or companions, you might want to consider the goTenna to add to your backpack or get home bag.  I’ll update this once my pair of goTennas have shipped and I have a chance to actually use them.

    As always send your questions or comments to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  

If you're interested in purchasing the book, it is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Booklocker.com and Books A Million.  Purchase price is $14.95. 

 

The Journey

    Fall 1999.  Preppers everywhere were cautiously making plans for something called Y2K.  Some computer geek somewhere opined that computer chips everywhere were going to freeze up at one second after midnight, December 31, 1999. The idea caught on and spawned a movement to prepare for life without computers or chip-driven electronics.  I won’t go into detail but the concept made some sense.  Enough so that several folks considered the possibility of the electrical grid collapsing and knocking out every computer and electrical component on the planet.  As a result thousands purchased generators.  

    I made a call to my buddy who happens to be an electrical engineer.  My logic was that he was the best qualified person I knew who could answer my question.  The conversation went something like this:

Me:  I just bought a generator and would like to know the best way to hook it into my house.

Him: Why did you buy a generator, for Y2K?

Me: Yup.

Him: Well I’m glad you bought a generator, but you’re not going to need it for Y2K.

Me: Silence.

Him: You’re going to need it for the earthquake.

Me:  What earthquake?

At that my friend schooled me on the ongoing seismic activity of the Cascadia Subduction Zone and the very real likelihood of a major earthquake and subsequent tsunami impacting the coast of Oregon.  I learned due to the geographical structure and soils composition coupled with the several dozen bridges that would be damaged, our region would be completely cut off from any assistance for a considerable time.  

No electricity, no phone service, no trucks coming into the area carrying groceries or anything else for that matter.  Yes indeed, a generator was going to come in handy!  

Likewise a shortage of consumables like batteries, toilet tissue and other needed items   when stores can’t get resupplied.  Not only will our lives be disrupted, but first responders will be unable to respond.  Fire fighters, police officers and EMS (ambulance) personnel are going to be so overwhelmed that your emergency will be way down the list.  That’s when you will become someone’s hero.  Every neighborhood will need good Samaritans to check on the elderly, the injured and the stranded.  Mapping Your Neighborhood will become more than just a “feel good” exercise, but the reality that lives are being saved just because someone had the foresight to organize their neighborhood.

Not too long ago someone asked if there was some kind of warehouse with a stockpile of food supplies.  The answer is no.  The only supplies available are those each person has on their pantry shelves.  There are a few food banks serving the needy, but those supplies come from fragile streams of donations and some government programs and would soon be wiped out.

The best time to prepare is BEFORE the disaster!  Don’t be lulled to sleep by the gentle music of the “Procrastination Symphony”.  Next time you’re at the store, pick up just one extra non-perishable item.  Just one item!  Set it aside and then keep adding to it.  Just in case!

This column is a direct descendant of that conversation with my engineer buddy.  Maybe your preparedness will hinge on a similar pivotal moment, like reading this.

As always send your questions and comments to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.  

Dave Robinson is the Postmaster in Bandon, Oregon, and the author of “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us”.  

General Prep

    Winter weather is just around the corner.  Fire season has been lifted and long, cool evenings are ahead.  It seems earthquakes, hurricanes, blizzards and Ebola come to mind when we think of disasters, and those are the events that get all the attention, however residential fires are the most common disaster in the United States.  Every year more than 2500 people die (that’s seven (7) people per day) and nearly 13,000 are injured in home fires in our nation.

Deaths and injuries can be minimized when families establish and practice a home fire escape plan.  The American Red Cross says you only have two minutes to escape a structure fire.  F.E.M.A. recommends practicing your home fire escape plan twice a year.  

Here are some tips:

1. Find two ways to get out of each room.
2. If a primary exit is blocked, you will need an alternate escape route.  A second story room might mean using a ladder to get to safety.
3. Make sure windows aren’t stuck and screens can be easily removed.  If security bars are in place, make sure they can be properly opened.
4. Practice feeling your way out of the house in the dark or with your eyes closed.
5. Place smoke alarms on every floor of your home.  The Red Cross recommends placing one in each bedroom.
6. Replace your batteries every year, and replace your smoke alarms every 10 years.

Fewer and fewer households in our region are burning wood for heat anymore, but if you still enjoy the comforting warmth of a wood fire, make sure your chimney is cleaned and inspected each year.  Various kinds of wood burn in various ways.  Some burn slowly and some burn faster.  Different kinds of wood and different conditions leave various levels of creosote inside the chimney.  Every chimney should inspected for safety and to be cleaned, if necessary.  

Successfully preparing for the disaster of a home fire is no accident!  It just may save your life and the lives of your loved ones.

Disaster preparedness isn’t rocket science!  Simply consider a game of “what if” and then make plans for what can go wrong.  Lay in supplies, keep your gas tank on the upper half and always have a back-up plan.  Many years ago when I was a student pilot, my flight instructor told me that a pilot always keeps an emergency landing area in mind, just in case.  This is no small feat in Western Oregon where there aren’t a whole lot of flat, level wheat fields to set a plane down.  The point being, you’ve always got to have a plan in mind in the event the whole system collapses.  

There’s a lot of talk about Ebola right now.  Do you have a plan in place if this disease comes to our region?  Have you discussed with your family at what point do you keep the kids home from school?  At what point do you stay home from work?  In other words, have you considered the concept of a self-quarantine and what that may mean?  Having said that, do you have enough supplies on hand to get through a period of quarantine?  

This is never about causing fear, this is about stimulating some thought and preparing for the “just in case” events that may or may not come our way.

As always, send your comments and questions to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com.