2018-06-01 American Survival Guide

How-to: Make Yourself Invisible
FOOD
WATER
SHELTER
SECURITY Vol. 7 Issue 6
COMMS
HEALTH
SECRET ANTHRAX LAB

LEAK KILLED SCORES
PANIC IN
PARADISE
Hawaii’s 38 Minutes in Hell
POCKET
TOOLBOX
POWERHOUSES
Swiss Army Knives—
Perennial Necessities
PULLING
THE PLUG
How to Go Silent
and Not Be Found
THE CARIBBEAN
CATASTROPHE
Timely Lessons for Surviving Hurricanes DIGITAL ISSUES AVAILABLE ON WWW.ENGAGEDMEDIAINC.COM
U.S. $8.99 JUNE 2018 DISPLAY UNTIL 5/22/18

06
0 71658 01319 3
ENGAGED MEDIA INC.
FEATURES
12 58
PANIC IN PARADISE HOW TO PREPARE FOR
38 minutes in hell HURRICANES
By Dana Benner Don’t be scared; be prepared.
By Brian M. Morris
40
DEATH FROM WITHIN 88
A Soviet government cover-up is DON’T KICK THAT CAN!
uncovered. Survival hacks for discarded
By Al J. Venter aluminum cans
By Christopher Nyerges
48
THE PREPPING PARADOX
Are survival preparations relevant REVIEWS 68
today? 22
By Michael D’Angona
PERFORMANCE AND PRICE 106 58
68 Bargain blades from Steel Will Knives
By Jim Cobb
LEARNING FROM THE
CARIBBEAN CATASTROPHE 98
Lessons and advice for surviving
hurricanes POCKET TOOLBOX
By Larry Schwartz
POWERHOUSE
Swiss Army Knives are practical and
106 multi-functional.
By Reuben Bolieu
PULLING THE PLUG
How to go silent and not be found
By Brian M. Morris
HOW-TO
30
MAKE YOURSELF INVISIBLE
Camouflage protection for all senses
By Larry Schwartz
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VOL. 7 ISSUE 06
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3
2
1
1 2 3 4
Peltor Sport Tactical 300 Benchmade 101 Follow-Up World Gone Silent HF RED Single Rifle Case
Electronic Headphones Neck Knife Radio Kit By Explorer
The Peltor Sport Tactical 300 hearing Designed to be worn where you need it the At just 12 pounds and nestled in its own RED cases comprise a new series made by
protector uses 3M SMART technology that most, the 101 makes a capable backup blade pack, the World Gone Silent HF Radio Kit Explorer Cases that addresses the need for
suppresses harmful gunshot noise above for many everyday tasks—and some you will go with you when it’s time to get out dependable weapon protection and transpor-
82 dBA. At the same time, it increases the hope you won’t encounter. The one-piece of Dodge. With everything you need to tation at prices that compete with mass-market
volume of low-level sounds so you can have tool is jimped at all contact points so you’ll get started, including a comprehensive, competitors. They are water-, dust-, crush- and
an enhanced awareness of your surround- always have a positive and confident grip. plain-English, kit-level “getting started” shockproof and have a purge valve like the ones
ings. The headphones feature user-friendly The skeletonized handle allows the knife to manual, you can be on the air before the grid you’ll find on high-end cases. The Single Rifle
controls and voice guidance for operation meld to your hand; this is especially good goes down and the rest of the world goes Case offers the choice of user-customizable
without removing the headset. Its noise when dexterity is of prime importance. The silent. The kit offers a 100-watt Yaesu FT- foam or a custom #114 Gunbag. Three strate-
reduction rating (NRR) is 24, and its recessed drop-point blade slips securely into the 857 transceiver with HF bands and VHF/UHF gically placed handles and heavy-duty wheels
microphones reduce wind noise. The head- Boltaron sheath that’s ready to be mounted frequencies and includes a high-efficiency with ball bearings make moving your gun easy.
band is vented and adjustable. These head- on a belt or breakaway neck chain. Its overall LiFePo battery. Antennas: SOTABeams Four locking points keep your gun secure and
phones are foldable to fit into a range bag. length is 5.99 inches, and it weighs 2.65 20/40 meter; VHF/UHF Slim Jim. Everything safe. Internal dimensions: 44.75x13.75x5.312
ounces. The blade length is 2.6 inches. This is contained in a high-quality nylon backpack inches; external dimensions: 46.82x16.312x6.25
MSRP: $149.99 knife is made of CPM-S30V stainless steel with room for additional gear. inches. The case weight (with foam) is 19.4
with a hardness of 58–60 HRC. pounds. It is TSA Travel Sentry-approved.
www.3M.com MSRP: $1,449
MSRP: $115 MSRP: $189.99
https://WorldGoneSilent.com
www.Benchmade.com www.ExplorerCases.net

T
he seasoned prepper has a lot of a diverse collection of gear and equipment. Both are
needs. You are aware of, concerned continuing challenges that American Survival Guide
about and, dare I say, prepared works hard to help you meet.
for many potential risks that can In this month’s “New Products,” we’ll take a look at
come your way without a moment’s some of the new gear we found at the 2018 SHOT
4 notice. To be ready means to be knowledgeable on

a multitude of subjects and properly outfitted with
Show that might help you fill some critical gaps in
your kit ... or simply trigger new pangs of desire.
7
5 6
5 6 7 8
Coast FL75R Rechargeable Shield Sights Close Shield Sights Reflex 5.11 Tactical XPRT 3.0
Focusing Headlamp Quarter Sportsight Mini Sight 6-Inch Boots
The FL75R headlamp runs on a lithium-ion The Close Quarter Sportsight is among the This mini red-dot sight is small enough to Specifically designed for optimal perfor-
battery that can be charged inside or outside smallest, lightest and most durable sights in its fit on any gun, tough enough to withstand mance on wet and dry surfaces in most any
the unit, and you can also use three AAA class and provides parallax-free, full field-of- recoil and light enough so you won’t notice terrain, the XPRT 3.0’s Vibram Megagrip
alkaline batteries. The beam is adjustable and view target acquisition. Built without a laser or it when you’re shooting. The lens has an outsole provides the grip you need whenever
twists from a wide flood to a tight, piercing radioactive materials, it uses a red LED as its light anti-reflective coating, provides no magni- you are on your feet. The full-grain leather
spot, depending on the task at hand. It also source. The single 3V lithium CR2032 battery has fication and is parallax-free. A wide range upper with stay-tied sausage laces provides
has a fixed red LED that enables you to see an expected life of up to three years when used of mounts is available. The light source is the support and fit you need on pavement
where you’re going without losing your night at night. Compatible with night vision equipment, LED with 4 and 8 MOA dot sizes. Its single or the trail. The Kevlar heel and side ankle
vision—in case you need to go dark in a pinch. the automatic brightness adjustment works 3V lithium battery lasts up to four years. abrasion protection reduce nagging foot inju-
Its lumen outputs are 530 (“high”) and 65 quickly and has a wide range. Red dot size This sight features an automatic brightness ries and extend wear life. The eVent Protect
(“low”), and the runtimes are 2 hours, 15 min- options are 1 MOA + 65 MOA ring, 4 MOA and 8 adjustment and is compatible with night BBP waterproof lining keeps feet comfort-
utes (“high”) and 11 hours (“low”). The beam MOA. This sight's matte-black anodized alumi- vision devices. It is manufactured of matte- able and less susceptible to wet weather
distances are 511 feet (“high”) and 177 feet num body weighs just 2.2 ounces. Its operating black aerospace aluminum. Dimensions: ailments. These boots are available in black
(“low”). A reflective head strap is included. temperature range is -51 to 120 degrees (F). It is 1.7x1.0x0.9 inches. and dark coyote.
not affected by heavy rain, mist, fog or salt spray
MSRP: $105 and is water-resistant at 1 meter for 30 minutes. MSRP: $495 MSRP: $209.99
https://CoastPortland.com MSRP: $479 www.ShieldPSD.com www.511Tactical.com
www.ShieldPSD.com

9
Stack-On Flex 14-Gun Cabinet
This welded-steel 14-gun cabinet is part of the new
FLEX line of cabinets being launched by Stack-On.
The steel grid system allows the user to customize
the interior to fit their needs. Storage bins, tactical
weapon stand-offs and the four-position handgun
rack can be positioned as desired, depending on
the owner’s current requirements. Exterior dimen-
sions are 21x16x55 inches; the cabinet weight is 85
pounds. Its three-point locking system is secured
by a double-bitted key lock. It features molded bar-
rel rests, a padded floor and comes in four colors.
This cabinet is approved by the California DOJ as a
firearm storage device.
MSRP: $179
www.Stack-On.com
10
Lalo Shadow Intruder 8-Inch
Boots
Built for and with the U.S. Special Forces, these boots
have features that improve comfort and durability
over the long haul. With patented bi-fit boards,
compression-molded, dual EVA midsoles and insoles,
and slip-resistant, lightweight rubber outsoles, these
boots offer both a cushioned fit and reliable, stable
rubber outsoles for confidence on almost any surface.
Their leather uppers have a breathable membrane
and moisture-wicking antimicrobial upper lining to
promote good foot health, especially in wet condi-
tions. These boots weigh 1 pound, 6.7 ounces per pair
and come in Ranger Green.
MSRP: $275
https://LALO.com
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13
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11 12 13 14
Morakniv/Mora Fishing SIG Sauer 48-Inch Coast HX5R Rechargeable Explorer 4 Gun Rolling
Knife Multipack Springback Dog Leash Flashlight Case
This handy set includes a fillet knife and This leash is a great way to keep your canine This new light is a rechargeable version of Ideal for the serious enthusiast or instructor,
de-scaler from Morakniv. Made in Sweden, companion close by, especially when you Coast’s dual-power HX5 light. It gets its power this case features a telescoping handle
these knives feature the highest-quality are in crowds or new environments. It is built through a USB connector housed inside the tail and two heavy-duty, ball-bearing wheels
Swedish steel. Whether you are building your with tough, 1-inch tubular webbing that is cap. Alternatively, you can use the included cord. for hassle-free mobility of up to four
first fishing kit or are already an avid fisher- essentially a double-thickness leash. The The light features a sliding head that adjusts handguns and accessories. It accommo-
man, this set is what you need if you plan internal bungee works like a shock absorber from a spot to a flood beam pattern. The switch dates guns as large as full-sized 1911s. This
to catch fish. The Fishing Comfort fillet 155 by allowing an additional 6-inch stretch and is located just behind the head on the aluminum box is water-, dust-, shock- and crushproof
knife’s Sandvik 12c27 stainless blade is 6.1 eases shocks when pulling. The padded, body, which also features a two-way pocket/hat and will keep your weapons secure with
inches long and is versatile enough for most breathable handle is comfortable, even on long clip. You can also use alkaline batteries, which two locking points. Internal dimensions:
fish. The Fishing Comfort scaler 098 is an excursions, and the accessory D-ring also has a reduce output but increase runtime. Lumen 20.38x10.88x8.56 inches; external
agile fish-cleaning knife with a serrated back bottle opener in case you or your wingman gets outputs: 340 (“high”) and 75 (“low”). Runtimes: dimensions: 21.5x13.69x9.75 inches. Its
for scaling. The high-friction grip confidently thirsty. This dog leash comes in black and gray 1 hour, 30 min (“high”) and 4 hours, 15 minutes weight with foam is 16.75 pounds. This case
keeps the knife where you want it. Each knife with a red handle. (“low”). Beam distances: 583 feet (“high”) and features a soft-grip rubber carry handle and
includes an easy-to-clean plastic belt sheath. 262 feet (“low”). This light includes a strobe is TSA Travel Sentry-approved.
The sharpener has a fine (600) diamond MSRP: $25.00 function and is water-resistant to IPX4 standard.
surface that will keep your knives sharp. MSRP: $249
www.SIGSauer.com MSRP: $29.99
MSRP: $69.99 www.ExplorerCases.net
https://CoastPortland.com
www.IndustrialRev.com
14
10

© GETTY IMAGES

HAWAII’S
RUDE
AWAKENING
38 MINUTES IN HELL
BY DANA BENNER

T
here are a few of us around › Right: Located near
the western edge of
who still remember the Cold Waikiki, Diamond
Head Crater is home
War. Starting in the 1950s and
to Hawaii’s Emer-
ending in December 1991, it was gency Management
Agency. Because of
a time of constant concern, the location’s prior
vigilance and tension. The threat of a nuclear role in the island’s
shore defense, it
attack from the Soviets was an omnipresent is one of the most
fortified places in
reality to most Americans.
the islands.
In school, we were taught to “duck and cover,”
and fallout shelters were commonplace in
larger cities such as New York, Los Angeles and
Boston. Most people today have no concept
of any of these things; so, unfortunately, the
events of January 13, 2018, should serve as a
wake-up call to all Americans.
At about 8:07 a.m. (local time), the people
© GETTY IMAGES
of Hawaii received an emergency alert on their
cell phones that said, “Ballistic Missile Threat
Inbound to Hawaii. Seek Immediate Shelter. › Below: A view of
This Is Not a Drill.” Honolulu on the
morning of January
These phone alerts were soon followed 13, 2018, just before instant panic and confusion, and many people, locals and tourists alike, had no idea what to do.
the erroneous alert
by alerts on highway signs, as well as on was transmitted
Although the authorities knew in fewer than 15 minutes that there was no threat, it wasn’t until
radio and television broadcasts. There was throughout the state 38 minutes later that the public learned the missile alert was a mistake.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HEED THE WARNINGS PUT OUT BY THOSE

WHO ARE THERE TO PROTECT US.
© GETTY IMAGES

‹ An SM-3 that was
launched from the
USS Hopper, an
AMERICA IS NORTH
Arleigh Burke-class
guided-missile
KOREA’S TARGET,
destroyer, successfully
engaged its target
AND THE MOST
during a training
exercise.
LOGICAL AMERICAN
TARGETS ARE
ALASKA, GUAM,
HAWAII AND THE
PACIFIC COAST OF
THE U.S. MAINLAND.
AMERICANS HAVE
GOOD REASON TO
BE CONCERNED.
© GETTY IMAGES
WHAT HAPPENED?
The world today is a very scary place. During
© GETTY IMAGES
the days of the Cold War, the threat came

mainly from the former Soviet Union. Today,
things are different. It seems every country
with an axe to grind has nuclear capabilities
or the ability to get them (see the sidebar on
page 18). Unstable governments with nuclear
weapons, coupled with unstable leaders acting
like schoolyard bullies, make the likelihood of
some kind of event a reality.
The fact that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un
and American President Donald Trump exchanged
“Who’s got the biggest missile?” rhetoric—with no
apparent concern for the potential results—has
‹ Tourists add to
Hawaii’s resident many people worried.
population and need
to be taken into The North Koreans won’t launch a missile,
consideration when particularly a nuclear missile, at South Korea
planning for any
emergency. or Japan, because these countries are too
close. They won’t launch at China, because
© GETTY IMAGES
China is North Korea’s main source of raw

materials. The same can be said for Russia.
America is North Korea’s target, and the
most logical American targets are Alaska,
Guam, Hawaii and the Pacific coast of the
U.S. mainland. Americans have good reason
to be concerned.
Many states, including Hawaii, have started
training for what could happen, running "in-
house” drills to make sure the systems are in
‹ Cruise ships are place, just in case the need arises. Currently,
constantly moving in
and out of Hawaii’s these drills are not supposed to be broadcast
ports. Large ships to the public without prior notice in an effort
provide a great
opportunity for to avoid panic. Rather, they are used to work
bringing dirty bombs
and other large-scale out any bugs in the system. In this particular
threats to shore. This case, human error—in the form of a worker
makes it difficult for
emergency manage- who pushed the wrong button—is what
ment agencies to caused this event.
protect people and
property. If the authorities knew there was no threat

‹ Left: This sign
marks the location of
a Cold War-era fall-
out shelter in New
York City. Tempo-
rarily viable options
in their day, many
former shelters are
no longer marked,
and most have been
converted to other
uses. Any survival
supplies were dis-
carded long ago.
‹ Below: Inside an
intact fallout shelter
in Washington, D.C.
These cases are full
of “all-purpose sur-
vival biscuits” that
were made in 1962.
‹ Bottom: One of many

emergency supply
kiosks in the subways
of Seoul, South Korea.
There are also more
than 3,300 shelters
in Seoul in case of an
attack.
FEAR AND TERROR ARE EXACTLY WHAT
© GETTY IMAGES
OUR ENEMIES WANT US TO FEEL. YOU
COMBAT TERROR WITH TRAINING AND BY
BEING PREPARED.
within a matter of 15 minutes, why did it take 38 minutes to call off the alert? Very simple:
The office of Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency (HEMA) did not have the software to
cancel such a warning loaded into its computers. It took 38 minutes to find the problem and
get the software loaded. Safeguards have since been put in place to keep such an incident
from happening again.
WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN REAL?

What if this were not a mistake? What if it had been an actual attack? What should you do?
These are all great questions; and the answers are some of the lessons learned from this event.
It has been a long time since the American people had a need to be concerned about a possible
© GETTY IMAGES
missile attack. This one error revealed flaws in our system. It created 38 minutes of pure terror for
the people of Hawaii.
Fear and terror are exactly what our enemies want us to feel. You combat terror with training
and by being prepared. Being prepared is not just something for our government or our military—
it is something all of us need to do in case something does happen.
First, everyone needs to realize that there are numerous warning systems and plans in place to
combat an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) attack. The local warning system is the last in
that long line. Every second of every day, the military and intelligence agencies monitor satellites
flying high above Earth. These satellites can pick up a missile launch within seconds, pinpoint the
launch site and calculate its trajectory and possible target.
Next, the missile will be picked up by both land- and ship-based radars, both U.S. and those of
some of our allies. Within a matter of minutes, a decision would be made to intercept the missile
or let it go. Interception could be made with either land-based systems or systems onboard U.S.
Navy ships anywhere in the world.

© GETTY IMAGES
STAY
IN PLACE
You might have an underground bug-out shelter nestled deep in the
mountains and stocked with endless supplies. That is great, but you
probably will not be able to reach it in the 15 minutes you have before
impact. That means you will have to shelter in place and hope for the
best. If you are at home and have taken the time to prepare for the
worst, you and those with you might survive this ordeal.
The amount of time you will spend sheltering in place could range
from a few hours to a few days or weeks ... or more.
What follows is a very short list of must-haves for basic survival.
Ideally, you will have these in place before a situation arises. Either
way, you’ll need—
• Water: Collect all the bottled water you have and also fill every clean
receptacle you can. You can never have enough water. After a nuclear
event, there is a good chance that water will be contaminated—which
means it has to be treated. A Sawyer S3 water purifier or similar device is
great to have on hand.
• Food: As quickly as you can, grab every can of pre-cooked food on
your kitchen shelves. Don’t take anything you need to cook or heat up
to eat, unless you will be using Sterno to heat it. Last, but not least,
‹ A Border Patrol agent uses a Geiger counter to check vehicles and freight entering the United States. grab a non-electric can opener. A military-issue P-38 should be on your
This is part of an effort to ensure no nuclear weapons are smuggled into the country through the
nation’s ports. keychain at all times.
• Communications: You need to have contact with the outside
Is all of this protection—as good as it is—a guarantee something won’t get through? Of course world. A crank-equipped radio, such as the Midland ER310 weather
not. And that is why all of us must pay attention to the emergency warnings, even if they do alert radio, will enable you to listen to emergency broadcasts. Take a
make mistakes every now and again. fully charged cell phone (although it might not work), along with a pair
North Korea’s Hwasong-14 ICBM is capable of reaching Alaska, Guam and Hawaii (and some say of portable, two-way radios to enable you to contact authorities. The
the U.S. mainland is also within the range of this missile). This is a land-based missile, and that is Midland GXT1050 is great, because this radio has a 36-mile range and
what we are talking about now. However, we also have to consider those other missiles that are can pick up 50 channels.
• First Aid Kit: It is likely there will be a great deal of trauma asso-
ciated with a nuclear strike. For that reason, before you head into your
basement, grab everything from your medicine cabinet. Concentrate
on prescriptions, bandages, antibiotics and pain-killers.
• Duct Tape: If everything else is complete—or while others are
collecting food, water and first aid items—take some time to block all
windows and doors. Use duct tape to seal any opening you can find.
© GETTY IMAGES
‹ These Belarusian soldiers are using a Geiger counter to monitor radiation levels in a town almost 19
miles outside the exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site. This disaster occurred in
1986, and an exclusion zone of about 1,600 square miles is still enforced.

THOSE WITH
© GETTY IMAGES
NUCLEAR
WEAPONS
Officially, per the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute,
as of 2015, there are nine nations that have nuclear weapons. Those
nine are the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom,
France, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea. Of the nine, five
countries—China, Russia, the United States, France and the United
Kingdom—deploy nuclear weapons to other countries. Because of
this massive amount of deployment, you can never be sure from
where a strike might be coming.
You’ll notice that this list doesn’t include any rogue nations or › After a nuclear, biological or chemical attack, everyone will need to discard contaminated clothing and
go through a decontamination protocol to reduce their chances of getting radiation sickness.
organizations that might be working on nuclear weapons on their
own without reporting them to any policing agency.
that this is more than triple what is normally recommended for most emergencies.
If you are home, stay there. If not, find a strong building to take shelter in. If there is a basement,
get in it. Close all windows, doors and other openings to the outside, and seek shelter in an inte-
rior room (in fact, Fox News interviewed a couple of tourists in Kona, on the Big Island, who said
on the numerous warships and submarines hotel staff told them to shelter in their hotel room).
sailing the oceans.
Experts say that a Hwasong-14, from launch
WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, THE THREAT
in North Korea to impact in Hawaii, would take
about 20 minutes. To reach Alaska and Guam OF BEING HIT BY AN ICBM IS REAL. IT IS JUST
would take less time. It is estimated that it AS REAL AS THE THREAT OF HURRICANES,
would take fewer than five minutes for radar
EARTHQUAKES AND OTHER NATURAL
systems in South Korea, Japan and from our
naval ships to pick up the missile and detect DISASTERS.
where it is going. This leaves about 15 minutes
© GETTY IMAGES
to prepare you for impact ... that is not a great
deal of time.
The one thing that most state agencies are
pushing is “Get inside, stay inside and stay tuned.”
Seeking cover inside a building is the best thing
you can do, because the greatest immediate
danger is from the fallout, whether from a
nuclear or conventional weapon. The next priority
is to have a means of staying in contact with the
outside world (for example, a portable radio to
listen for emergency broadcasts, along with a
fully charged cell phone).
More than likely, you will not be able to reach
your specially constructed survival bunker in
the woods in that scant 15-minute time frame
that you have. You are not going to have
time to pack things and run. You need to be
prepared to shelter in place (see the sidebar
on page 17). › Drills, such as this one
in Los Angles, prepare
Basically, officials recommend that you try first responders for the
to gather at least 14 days’-worth of supplies to possible aftermath of
attacks involving radio-
see you through this type of emergency. Note active materials.

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are titanium bonded and built to perform. No matter the challenge,
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YES, SOMETIMES MISTAKES ARE MADE, BUT I WOULD RATHER
LISTEN TO THEM AND HAVE THEM BE WRONG ABOUT A WARNING
THAN NOT LISTEN TO THEM AND HAVE THEM BE RIGHT.
‹ After an attack,
© GETTY IMAGES
everyone should
expect heightened
security for the fore-
seeable future.
‹ Below, right: A
good water filtration
system, such as this
Sawyer S3, should
always be on hand.
It can be especially
useful after a nuclear
attack.
‹ Still an industrial
center, Yekaterinburg
today is a busy city of
1.4 million residents,
making it the fourth
largest city in Russia.
Your car is not a safe alternative. If you are driving, pull over and follow the steps above. of hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural ‹ Above, left: Assum-
ing you’re not too
If you are prepared, you should have some supplies stockpiled for emergencies. As you head disasters. Consequently, it is very important to close to the fallout
for shelter, collect as much extra food and water as you can from your kitchen. Don’t run to, or heed the warnings disseminated by those who zone, solar panels
such as these can
stop at, the store on you way to shelter. There is no time for that! You must get to shelter and are there to protect us. help keep your gear
charged during an
be prepared to stay there for an indeterminate period of time. It could be hours or it could be Yes, sometimes mistakes are made, but I emergency.
days … maybe even weeks. Make sure you monitor the emergency broadcasts for the all-clear would rather listen to them and have them
sign or other updates. be wrong about a warning than not listen to
Whether we like it or not, the threat of being hit by an ICBM is real. It is just as real as the threat them and have them be right.

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22 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [MARCH
[JUNE 2018]
2018]
BUDGET-
FRIENDLY
BLADES
PUTTING THE STEEL WILL TENET F30 AND DRUID 260
KNIVES THROUGH THEIR PACES
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY JIM COBB

I
n 2012, Sport Manufacturing Group created a tactical knife division called Steel Will.
Over the last six years, this company has developed a reputation for innovative designs,
excellent workmanship and affordability. It does have several high-end knives in its
lineup, but many of its blades are within reach for those with limited budgets.
The Tenet F30 and the Druid 260 are both shining examples of affordable, high-quality blades.
TENET F30 FOLDER

The Tenet is a classically styled tactical folder. It has all the usual accoutrements: flipper
opener, liner lock, pocket clip, black-coated blade. It is in the execution of those elements that
the Tenet shines.
At a little more than 4 ounces, the Tenet isn't a lightweight knife. It isn't a boat anchor
Tenet F30 that's going to weigh you down, either. There's just enough heft to indicate the knife is ready
Specifications for serious work.
• Steel: D2 The G10 handle is comfortable, despite its angular design. There is just enough texturing to
• Handle: G10
give you a good grip without being uncomfortable.
• Overall length: 7.87 inches
• Blade length: 3.39 inches As with any knife that has a pocket clip, you know it’s there while you're holding the Tenet,
• Folded length: 4.0 inches but it never creates discomfort or hot spots during use. The pocket clip is removable via two
• Weight: 4.38 ounces small screws, but it is not reversible. It is set up to sit in the right-hand pocket with the blade
MSRP: $54.99 pivot pointed down (tip-up carry).
The Tenet has a flipper-style opener, which is all the rage these days. The action was just
slightly stiff right out of the box, but it did loosen up after a little use. I did find that opening it
was the fastest when I pressed just the very tip of the flipper.
I have seen a report or two of Tenet blades that weren't quite centered when folded into
the handle. That is not the case with mine. If the blade on this one is off, it is by such a small
amount that it is not discernible by the naked eye.
The D2 steel blade was extremely sharp right out of the box and required no touching up
prior to evaluating.
OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, [STEEL

WILL] HAS DEVELOPED A REPUTATION
FOR INNOVATIVE DESIGNS, EXCELLENT
WORKMANSHIP AND AFFORDABILITY.
‹ Above, left: The flipper on the Steel Will Tenet

F30 provides good leverage and makes a nice
guard in combination with the angular choil.
Druid 260
Specifications
• Steel: 9Cr18MoV
• Handle: Molded TPE
• Overall length: 11.0 inches
‹ Far left: The Steel Will Druid 260 has
• Blade length: 5.5 inches a classic and functional shape, and
• Blade thickness: 0.16 inch the grip texture instills confidence
• Weight: 6.7 ounces with every cut.
• Sheath: Leather
.
MSRP: $89.99

THE TENET HAS A FLIPPER-STYLE OPENER,
WHICH IS ALL THE RAGE THESE DAYS. THE
ACTION WAS JUST SLIGHTLY STIFF RIGHT OUT
OF THE BOX, BUT IT DID LOOSEN UP AFTER A
LITTLE USE. I DID FIND THAT OPENING IT WAS
THE FASTEST WHEN I PRESSED JUST THE VERY
TIP OF THE FLIPPER.
The Tenet has a bit of jimping on the spine, but it is so faint, you barely know it’s there. The
high, flat grind is great for slicing. Open or closed, there is absolutely no wiggle to the blade. The
liner lock snaps into place without trouble and really holds the blade perfectly.
The Tenet has a distinctive tactical appearance, yet it won't cause anyone's blood pressure
to skyrocket when it is used to open boxes at work. The current retail price for the Tenet on the
Steel Will website is $54.99 (www.SteelWillKnives.com).
EVALUATION
We decided to go with three basic tests to evaluate both the Tenet and the Druid.
Rope Push Cut. A push cut is what is normally used when cutting fruit and vegetables, as
well as carving. Even batoning utilizes the push cut, although that use would be limited with
a folding knife.
I had a length of ¾-inch rope bouncing around in the shop and volunteered it for use in testing.
The Tenet was used to make several push cuts, and it performed very well. Only the tiniest bit of
rocking was necessary to finish each cut. The blade was moved for each cut in order to use most
of the blade length by the end of the testing, rather than testing the same spot on the blade
multiple times. Score: 9 out of 10
Leather Slicing. Most cuts with a knife are made, of course, by pulling the knife edge across
the material. We use this motion when slicing meat and other materials.
‹ Above: As
with most
flipper-equipped
folders, the Tenet's
flipper forms a
guard when the
blade is open.
‹ Left: While very

angular in design,
the Tenet is quite
comfortable to use.

THE TENET WENT ‹ The Tenet made
short work of ¾-inch-
thick rope.
THROUGH THE
LEATHER LIKE A HOT
KNIFE THROUGH
BUTTER. THERE WAS
NO HESITATION,
NO DRAGGING OR
PULLING; JUST
SMOOTH SLICES
EACH AND EVERY
TIME.
Because I didn't have any dead animals
handy, I pulled out a few pieces of scrap ‹ The Tenet breezed
through leather
leather that were left over from various scraps without
projects. The Tenet went through the leather snagging.
like a hot knife through butter. There was

no hesitation, no dragging or pulling; just
smooth slices each and every time. Even with
the leather doubled up, the Tenet performed
exceptionally well. Score: 10 out of 10
Cardboard Cuts. Cutting corrugated
cardboard is actually a pretty rough test on a
knife. The glue used in corrugated cardboard
dries very hard. In addition, the cardboard
usually has a lot of contaminants in it, making
it a very abrasive material to cut.
The Tenet was thrust through a piece of
cardboard and then pulled down to cut
through the material. We did this several
times, making both short and long cuts. Never
‹ The Tenet per-

formed beautifully on
corrugated card-
board—a material that
can quickly dull lesser
blades.

‹ The Druid is a
true all-around,
user-friendly blade.
‹ Below: From tip

to butt, the Druid
is 11 inches of solid
utilitarian crafts-
manship.
THE SATIN FINISH ON THE BLADE MAKES

FOR A VERY HANDSOME KNIFE. THE STEEL
IS 9Cr18MoV, A CHINESE ALLOY THAT PER-
FORMS FAIRLY SIMILARLY TO 440C STAIN-
LESS STEEL. IT IS CORROSION-RESISTANT
AND HOLDS AN EDGE PRETTY WELL.
once did the Tenet falter, drag or “complain.” Score: 10 out of 10
DRUID 260 FIXED BLADE

The Druid 260 is a new addition to the Steel Will collection. The company offers several varia-
tions of the Druid, which differ primarily by size. The Druid is designed to be a universal outdoor
knife, suitable for bushcraft and other similar pursuits.
The Druid 260 is a large knife: 11 inches in total length. It weighs in just shy of 7 ounces, which I
felt was surprisingly light, given the overall size of the knife.
The satin finish on the blade makes for a very handsome knife. The steel is 9Cr18MoV, a
Chinese alloy that performs fairly similarly to 440C stainless steel. It is corrosion-resistant and
holds an edge pretty well. Some users report that it is slightly easier to sharpen than 440C; but
that's subjective, rather than an absolute fact.
I have fairly large hands, and the Druid’s handle fills my paw quite well. The handle is made
of molded TPE, a polymer material that is formed around the tang. It is tough, with just the
slightest give. The deep texturing on the handle provides a solid grip, even if wet. Unlike scales
or slabs, the handle cannot be removed. Nevertheless, there's no way water or debris is going to
get inside the handle.
The tang extends beyond the handle just slightly, forming a rounded glass-breaker or hammer
surface. There is also a lanyard hole at the butt end, allowing the user an easy place to add a
little cordage to the knife.
The handle has a slight palm swell type of curve along the back. This makes the knife comfortable
to hold for long periods of time.
A well-made leather pouch sheath is included with the Druid 260. The retail price is currently

‹ The Druid
pushed through a AS WITH THE
¾-inch-diameter
rope without pause
or drag.
OTHER TESTS, THE
DRUID PERFORMED
ADMIRABLY WHEN
CUTTING THROUGH
CORRUGATED
CARDBOARD. WE
MIGHT AS WELL HAVE
BEEN USING WET
RICE PAPER FOR ALL
THE DIFFICULTY THE
KNIFE HAD CUTTING
‹ Scrap leather
THROUGH THE
posed no trouble at
all for the Druid 260.
MATERIAL.
the Druid performed admirably when cutting
through corrugated cardboard. We might as
well have been using wet rice paper for all the
difficulty the knife had cutting through the
material. With long cuts, we ran out of card-
board (roughly 24 inches) before the knife
could hesitate or falter. Score: 10 out of 10
KEEP AN EYE ON STEEL WILL’S

KNIVES
The Tenet F 30 and the Druid 260 are both
excellent options for a wide range of common
‹ Below: Long and
short cuts through knife uses, including around the house, as well
cardboard were as out in the field. Both are very affordable—
simple with the Steel
Will Druid 260. without sacrificing quality.
$89.99, which is far below many other knives

in this category.
EVALUATION
The same tests we used on the Tenet were
repeated with the Druid.
Rope Push Cut. The entire blade was used
through the course of making several push
cuts through the rope. Each and every time,
the blade edge slid through the rope without
hesitation. Most of the cuts were clean, but
a couple required slight rocking of the blade
or pulling on the rope to complete the cut.
Score: 9 out of 10
Leather Slicing. The Druid sliced cleanly
through two, and even three, layers of leather
every time. We started using the belly at the
front of the blade and gradually worked our
way down the blade with each slice. There
were no drags or pulls; just excellent cuts
each time. Score: 10 out of 10
Cardboard Cuts. As with the other tests,

‹ Above: The Tenet
The Tenet did require a little breaking in of routine. Still, I can't imagine it would add that much to the manufacturing process to grind out F30 and Druid 260
make a great team for
before the flipper would perform acceptably. a spine that will scrape sparks. working around the
However, even after several hours of use, it With a sub-$90 retail price, the Druid 260 packs a lot of quality into an affordable knife. house, as well as out in
the field.
didn't have quite the snap I would have liked. Overall, Steel Will continues to be a manufacturer to watch. Its internal designers know what
It opened just fine, but it didn't fly into place they're doing, and they continue to bring interesting models to the marketplace.
like a few of my other flipper-style knives.
‹ Left: With the Tenet
I'd love to see other color options become in your pocket and
the Druid 260 on your
available for the Tenet. While green and black are hip, you’ll be ready for
great tactical colors, bright-blue or orange are far anything.
easier to spot if you drop the knife accidentally.
At under $60, the Tenet F30 is a great performer
made with quality components.
The Druid 260 is the third longest of the 16
Druid models currently available from Steel
Will. (Those other models include a couple of
folders—all the way up to the massive Druid
230 with a 14.5-inch overall length.) The 260
reviewed here is a great general-use knife, S O U R C E
suitable for any outdoor chore.
Sport Manufacturing
It lacks a true 90-degree spine. Therefore, Group, Inc.
it won't strike sparks with a ferrocerium rod, (877) 969-0909
www.SteelWillKnives.com
which is a drawback. This is mitigated easily
enough by ensuring you have a striker attached
to your ferro rod, as many of us do as a matter

CAMOUFLAGE AND OTHER TRICKS THAT
DEFEAT EACH OF THE LONG-RANGE SENSES
BY LARRY SCHWARTZ
© GETTY IMAGES
30 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE

[MARCH2018]
2018]
‹ Some people believe that mixing
camo patterns is useful because it fur-
ther disrupts the wearer’s outline.

› Equipment—especially large pieces
of equipment or a vehicle—can be
painted in a camouflage pattern. How-
ever, camo netting works even better,
because it adds a different texture and
shadows to help provide the illusion
that all camouflage tries to complete.
(Photo: www.Wikimedia.org)
O
n a cold November morning in
2016, I sat quietly on a metal
folding chair, recurve in my
lap, with a broadhead-tipped
arrow nocked on the bow-
string. I was in a friend’s backyard doing
some suburban bowhunting.
Forty-five minutes after I sat down, a doe and
her two fawns quietly entered the backyard,
looking for the ripe fruit that had fallen from
the persimmon trees in the corner of the yard.
She and the fawns browsed slowly toward me,
picking at the grass and fallen persimmons.
It took about 15 minutes, but they eventually ‹ Perhaps the best
indicates that something large made that sound, not a squirrel or rabbit.
moved into the range at which I was comfort- camouflage is the • Pushing your way through dense brush or other things that would rub on you or your clothing will
ghillie suit used
able taking a shot I knew would lead to a quick by military snip- make a sound as well. So, avoid densely grown areas, and wear soft clothing such as wool or polyester
and clean harvest. ers, scouts and fleece that doesn’t make a scratching sound when brushed against.
hunters. Its design
The ideal camouflage setup creates the addresses color, • Quiet fabric is a must, but quiet equipment is also important. Use tape, large rubber bands or pieces
shape and texture
illusion that you are not there, and I had done as no fixed cam-
of inner tube to hold pieces of equipment (such as a rifle sling) in place to keep parts from rattling.
everything right to defeat their senses. It was ouflage pattern • Of course, don’t talk. If you must, do it in a hushed whisper to someone who is right next
can. (Photo: www.
all perfect ... that is, until I drew my bow for the Wikimedia.org) to you. Hand signals such as those used in the military and by SWAT teams are a great way
shot and the arrow slipped and tapped against
the bow. That little sound was all it took for
the doe’s head to snap up, her eyes looking
straight at me.
As my sad, but true, hunting tale shows,
effective camouflage makes you invisible by
addressing all the long-range senses—hearing,
smell and vision. Picking just one won’t do; you
need to address them all. This is especially true
if you are in a hunting or a hiding situation.
To get a better idea of how to create that
illusion, let’s look at each sense in turn. We will
save vision for last, because it has the most
components to it.
HEARING
People use their sense of hearing all the time
to keep aware of what is going on around them.
If you can’t see something, the first sense to tell
you about it is usually your hearing. For animals,
it ranks right up there with vision as a primary
sense for detecting danger.
If you are going to defeat your opponent’s
sense of hearing, whether it is a person or
an animal, you need to keep a number of
things in mind:
• Watch where and how you walk. The snap of
a twig in the quiet forest by a carelessly placed
foot can be heard a long distance away, and it

› Near right: Mossy Oak’s Shadow Grass Blades
pattern makes you look like marsh grasses
and helps duck hunters blend in with their
environment when in a duck blind or out on the
marshes. (Photo: www.MossyOak.com)
› Far right: Flecktarn has been in use by German

armed forces since the 1980s. Its mix of colors
and small, blob-like shapes work well in the
dark forests of the European countryside and is
now deployed in several environment-specific
variants.
to communicate without sound.
SMELL
The opening scene of the 1985 movie,
Commando, has a bit that I love. Star Arnold
Schwarzenegger has just alerted to the
presence of danger:
John Matrix (Schwarzenegger): “Keep an eye
out. They'll be coming. You're downwind; the air
currents might tip them off.” WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO
Jackson (a Spec Ops guy): “Downwind? (He USE CAMOUFLAGE FOR UNIFORMS AND
looks at Matrix as if he's crazy.) You think I could
EQUIPMENT, THERE WERE TWO BASIC ‹ The movies might
lead you to believe that
smell them coming?”
John Matrix: “I did.” SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT: YOU CAN TRY TO a black ninja suit will
make you invisible, but
This brief exchange highlights the fact that we BREAK UP THE OUTLINE TO LOOK LIKE the reality is far from
that. Avoid black in
often don’t think about scents and odors when
NOTHING, OR YOU CAN PRETEND YOU ARE your camouflage color
palette, because it does
we consider situational awareness. We leave
telltale signs of our presence and passing all A TREE OR A BUSH AND TRY TO LOOK LIKE not appear in nature.
It is too dark and will
SOMETHING.
be out of place, just as
the time with things that can be detected by an white will be too light.

MAKE THE
ENVIRONMENT
WORK FOR YOU
If you are a Harry Potter fan, you know about the “cloak of
invisibility.” It made the wearer invisible by making them look
like their environment.
Although technology has not come up with one of these, GhostBlind
(a company in Marietta, Ohio) has created a mirror-based hunting
blind that comes very close. This company’s blinds comprise a set of
reflective panels you assemble in the field. These panels reflect the
environment back at anyone who is looking at it, making you blend ‹ This set of camouflage uniforms shows how the U.S. Army has adapted to the different environments
in which it has had to operate over the past several decades. The lighter-green pattern shown on the
in perfectly with your surroundings. (Find out more on the company right is from the Vietnam era of the 1960s and reflects the colors of the jungles there. The darker Wood-
website: www.GhostBlind.com.) land camo was used by U.S. and NATO troops in Europe and elsewhere in the 1970s and ’80s. The tan
pattern is the “chocolate chip” pattern used during the Persian Gulf War in the 1990s, while the pattern
on the far left is the U.S. Army’s UCP (universal camouflage pattern), developed in the 2000s as a single
pattern for use in multiple environments. Unfortunately, the Army forgot that one of the basic tenets of
camouflage is that nothing works well everywhere. (Photo: www.Wikimedia.org)
THE SIMPLEST FORM OF CAMOUFLAGE IS

animal or a person’s sense of smell. CONCEALING YOURSELF IN EARTH-TONE
If you are going to defeat your opponent’s
sense of smell, think through the following
COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE IN
before you put yourself in a situation where YOUR ENVIRONMENT.
camouflage is needed:
• Smoke carries a long way, especially if there
is a breeze blowing. It can be from your cigarette
or your campfire, but it carries, and it carries
with it the knowledge that someone is or has
been in the area. To avoid this problem, you
can quit smoking; if you can’t, try to blow your
smoke down into the ground so it doesn’t carry
on the breeze.
• Your clothing can also give you away. Most
laundry detergents and fabric softeners have
some kind of scent or fragrance added. Avoid
them like the plague, because they don’t help
you smell like nothing. The same goes for what
you clean your body with. Instead, look for prod-
ucts that are scent-free. Check the label and
› This picture illus-
sniff the package for signs of a fragrance. trates quite well the
• Gasoline is something that is present in our difference between
looking like something
everyday lives; it has a significant scent. Avoid and looking like
nothing. The hunter on
using it or filling your car while wearing some- the left, who is wearing
thing you want to keep scent-free. Even walking one of Mossy Oak’s
patterns, will be fine
around at the gas pump will put the scent on if he is next to some-
your shoes and perhaps on your clothing as well. thing that looks like
his camouflage. But he
will be a brown blob if
walking in the open or
VISION against a lighter back-
Now for the topic you have all been waiting ground. The shape of
the hunter on the right
for—visual camouflage. in KUIU’s Vias pattern
The easiest way for someone or something to will be broken up by
the contrasting mix of
pick you out of your surroundings is for you to light and dark colors.

… EFFECTIVE CAMOUFLAGE MAKES YOU INVISIBLE BY
ADDRESSING ALL THE LONG-RANGE SENSES—HEARING,
SMELL AND VISION.
‹ Left: The United
States Marine Corps'
MARPAT pattern can
even be adapted for
a snowy environ-
ment, as shown here
in use by this sniper
team in the moun-
tains. (Photo: www.
Wikimedia.org)
‹ Below: Don’t walk

or stand anywhere
that enhances your
outline—as these
soldiers are doing.
The rising sun at
dawn causes them to
stand out against the
much-lighter back-
ground. The same
thing can happen if
you walk along the
top of a ridgeline
or anyplace that
is higher than the
surrounding area.
(Photo: www.Media.
Defense.gov)
move. As sharp as any set of eyes is, the thing both predator and prey key on is movement. They
notice movement before they notice shape or color.
After movement, the next thing people, animals, reptiles, birds and even fish key on is something
that looks out of place. This is where camouflaging your body and equipment comes into play.
THE SIMPLEST AND EARLIEST FORMS OF CAMOUFLAGE

The simplest form of camouflage is concealing yourself in earth-tone colors that are similar
to those in your environment. American irregular troops, Rogers’ Rangers, for instance, wore the
same browns, tans, greens and grays they wore when hunting to keep themselves hidden from
British troops during the French and Indian War. Although it took close to a century for them to
adopt the lesson, the British army, starting around 1850, began to use khaki-colored uniforms
in India to help blend in with the colors of the environment. This continued with the Brits’ cam-
paigns in Africa. By the end of the 1800s, the entire British army was wearing khaki as the field
uniform during campaigns.
World Wars I and II and even Korea and Vietnam saw the use of earth-tone-colored uniforms on
both sides of the battlefield. It wasn’t until the late 1970s and ’80s that the major militaries of the
world began to issue a camouflaged uniform as their standard field uniform.
When the decision was made to use camouflage for uniforms and equipment, there were two
basic schools of thought: You can try to break up the outline to look like nothing, or you can pretend
you are a tree or a bush and try to look like something.
Let’s look at how each approach works.
LOOKING LIKE SOMETHING

Created in the late 1970s, TreBark was the first camo pattern designed to look like “something.”
Jim Crumley, the inventor of the pattern, used the grays and browns of the U.S. eastern woodlands
as his color palette and added them to an abstract pattern based on the bark of a pine tree. It was

‹ Near left: While this
pattern from Mossy
Oak is designed to
look like a tree trunk
with leaves on it, the
blending of light and
dark colors gives it
the characteristics
of both the “look like
something” and “look
like nothing” schools of
thought. (Photo: www.
Defense.gov)
detect you or your equipment from the environ-

‹ Above, left: Predator
Camo's camouflage is THE IDEAL CAMOUFLAGE SETUP CREATES ment. There are patterns available to make you
probably one of the
best outline-breaking THE ILLUSION THAT YOU ARE NOT THERE … look like an oak tree, pine tree, marsh grasses
patterns available. It
exemplifies the three
or pretty much any type of flora you could find
tenets of 1) matching designed for hunters rather than soldiers—and it was a hit! where you operate.
the colors of your
environment; 2) using After the success of TreBark, other hunting entrepreneurs came out with new patterns. There are This strength is also its weakness: If you are not
irregular shapes to literally dozens of companies now marketing their own “look-like-something” patterns that are tai- standing in front of what you are mimicking, you
break up the form; and,
above all, 3) having a lored to specific environments or seasons. The most popular and well-known are Realtree and Mossy look like a large, brownish-gray blob, especially if
light background as
the majority of the
Oak. Both started out with artwork that looked like a drawing of a tree or bush. About a decade ago, you are moving across an open field or against a
pattern. (Photo: www. with Realtree in the lead, manufacturers started making highly detailed photorealistic patterns that background with a different color palette.
PredatorCamo.com)
looked like an actual leafy tree trunk rather than a drawing of a leafy tree trunk.
The strength of this type of camouflage shows best when you are sitting still, leaning up against LOOKING LIKE NOTHING
what you are trying to look like. You blend into your immediate background, which makes it hard to Camouflage patterns designed to break
up your outline, often called “disruptive
patterns,” were first seen in World War II and
‹ Effective camouflage does not have to be a pattern; the
use of muted earth tones in clothing and equipment works Korea with the German dotted pattern and
extremely well, especially when you are moving slowly or the Marine Corps’ blotchy tan, green and
standing still in light cover.
brown camo pattern.
But, it wasn’t until the 1980s that modern
armies started fielding camouflage uniforms
and equipment to all personnel. And they
each used some kind of blotchy, disruptive
pattern. Their mix of the right colors and
shades, combined with the different shapes,
› Shark conserva-
tionist Sijmon de made them effective. The U.S. Army’s wood-
Waal's photo of a
diver with a juvenile land pattern is still used in nations all across
whale shark the globe. It is not only effective in its green,
marsh tan, black and brown form for forest
and woodlands; by changing the color palette
to tans and browns, it is also used in arid hab-
itats. In addition, a white-and-gray palette is
effective in snow-covered and urban terrains.
It took the hunting community to push
the envelope with patterns that used larger
shapes to better break up the hunter’s out-
line. Patterns such as All Season All Terrain
(ASAT) and Predator Camo's Fall Brown
started to appear, also in the 1980s, to com-
pete with Realtree and Mossy Oak. Hunters
who didn’t hunt by sitting in one place took
to them quickly.
This kind of camouflage has two basic design
characteristics. First, it has a light background

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‹ To avoid looking
like a blob of the
same pattern from
a distance, you can
mix camouflage
patterns to further
break up your
silhouette and to
better match your
environment. The
U.S. Army did this in
Iraq and Afghanistan
by pairing woodland
body armor vests
with desert camou-
flage clothing.
POPULAR
with medium to dark elements overlaid on it. The light background makes it seem as if you are
looking past the darker elements that appear to be in the foreground. This gives the pattern an
illusion of depth.
Second is the use of high contrast in colors in a variety of abstract shapes. This is very effective in
breaking up your outline—you don’t look like a human shape, and you don’t look like a large blob of
CAMOUFLAGE
COMPANIES
brown, green or gray. Also, the larger the shapes, the better your outline is broken up. That is why
patterns such as the more-recent Vias from KUIU are so effective in a wide range of terrains.
Looking like “nothing” works best in two situations. First, when you are moving in the open with,
for example, a forest or a hillside rising up behind you. The ability to break up your outline and
blend in with the colors of your environment lets you look like an unstructured shape that is part
of the landscape. The following companies make or license many of the
The second scenario is when you are moving or stationary with something in front of you and behind more-popular camouflage patterns.
you. The lighter background simulates the foreground and background that is seen in the rest of the
environment. So, as you can see, this approach certainly has its advantages. Nevertheless, it also has a
disadvantage: If you are sitting still in front of something, you will not look like it and might even stand
1ASAT
(406) 559-0098
WWW.ASATCAMO.COM
5MOSSY OAK
(662) 494-8859
WWW.MOSSYOAK.COM
out. So, if you need to be stationary, your best bet is to have something in front of you, even if it is just
some brush between you and what might see you.
Another thing to remember is that the color black is not your friend. You will find dark grays, dark
2FIRST LITE
(208) 806-0066
WWW.FIRSTLITE.COM
6 PREDATOR
(608) 787-0500
WWW.PREDATORCAMO.COM
browns and dark greens in nature, but you will not find black. It might work for ninjas in B movies,
but it doesn’t help in the real world.
If you are going to defeat your opponent’s sense of vision, keep these tips in mind:
3 KRYPTEK
(855) 717-9104
WWW.KRYPTEK.COM
7RANCHO SAFARI
(760) 789-2094
WWW.RANCHOSAFARI.COM
• Movement is the easiest way to let someone see you. It can be as little as moving your head or
hands while standing still. So, if you are stationary, don’t move your head or arms quickly. If you
need to, do it slowly and smoothly. Also avoid skylining yourself on ridges, and try to stay concealed 4 KUIU
(800) 648-9717
WWW.KUIU.COM
8 REALTREE
(706) 569-9101
WWW.REALTREE.COM
in wooded areas or by using shadows, ravines or other terrain features that hide your movements.
9
• Pick the right approach to camouflage to fit your needs: Either look like your surroundings or SITKA GEAR
break up your outline. (877) 748-5247
WWW.SITKAGEAR.COM
• Select colors and textures of your clothing and equipment to match those in your environment.
• Use texture when possible and when it makes sense.
One lesson to learn and remember is that there is no one perfect pattern or color scheme. You need
to adapt your camouflage strategy and color combinations to what you will be doing and where you
will be doing it.

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DEATH
FROM
WITHIN
HOW A BIOTOXIN FROM A FACTORY THAT
"DIDN’T EXIST" KILLED SCORES OF PEOPLE
BY AL J. VENTER
40 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [APRIL

[JUNE 2018]
2018]
I
n April 1979, scores of people near little as one gram of the anthrax spores being
the Soviet city of Sverdlovsk fell ill to manufactured inside the facility.
an unknown ailment. Within weeks, Considered the biggest modern exposure
the death toll had reached between to anthrax produced for biological warfare
66 and more than 100. (The actual (BW), the Sverdlovsk disaster provides a
number is unknown because the hospital and frightening lesson on the topic of bioweap-
other records were destroyed in a cover-up.) ons. In the words of one of the survivors, “The
The official government explanation was event was cataclysmic.”
that those who fell sick had eaten tainted It wasn’t until more than a decade later that
meat ... including the several vegetarians who Moscow permitted access to a small group
perished. Another odd fact is that the victims of Western academics to investigate the
were located in an area about 30 miles long catastrophe—and then only under duress.
that ran in a straight line from a secret factory This event is of supreme importance to the
along the same direction as the prevailing West, because a short while before, Moscow
winds that day. By one account, these people had agreed to terminate BW work. Appar-
succumbed to the inadvertent release of as ently, this never happened; we now know

an acute lapse in Soviet security resulted in a
discharge of anthrax spores into the atmo-
sphere after a still-unexplained accident at a
military BW facility.
SHROUDED IN SECRECY
What is worrying is that the amount of
anthrax aerosol discharged was miniscule.
Also, the disease was disseminated by a
steady wind, randomly infecting people and
livestock for 30 miles. The first victim died
after four days; the last, more than six weeks
later. Under wraps, characteristic of Moscow,
even today under Putin, the Soviets mustered
a huge security force to counter the impact in
this city of 1.2 million people that lies just east
of the Ural Mountains.
Secrecy was so effective that a visiting
American academic, Professor Don Ellis
of Northwestern University, who was in
Sverdlovsk with his wife and children as
an exchange visitor from the U.S. National ‹ Above: This This is what we know today: First, there were 79 civilian cases. Military figures were never
illustration shows
Academy of Sciences (and who could speak the anthrax bacteria released, because the event took place at a secret military biowarfare research establishment
Russian), was never aware of the drama as arranged in chains. (so there were almost certainly significantly more cases). Second, all civilian casualties were
it unfolded around him. By the time it was ‹ Below: A scientist downwind of the base, and third, some victims were infected with multiple strains of anthrax.
over, approximately 100 people are known to analyzes a blood It is interesting that long after Professor Ellis had returned home, the CIA was oblivious
sample for anthrax.
have been infected. (Photo: Getty Images) to the fact that he had spent months in this most sensitive Soviet region. In retrospect,

THEN, AS NOW, ANY
PRODUCTION OR
DEVELOPMENT
OF BIOLOGICAL
WEAPONS WOULD
BE A VIOLATION OF
THE BIOLOGICAL
WEAPONS
CONVENTION OF
1972, A TREATY TO
WHICH BOTH THE
UNITED STATES
AND RUSSIA ARE
PARTIES—AS
WAS THE SOVIET
UNION BEFORE THE
BREAKUP.
because of a lack of interplay between

government departments, the West was
deprived of what might have been a break-
through intelligence opportunity.
A DIFFICULT INVESTIGATION
FROM A DISTANCE
From an historical perspective, much has
been learned from the incident, due to the
work of another American, Professor Matthew
Meselson, who has devoted a good part of his
professional career to trying to piece together
exactly what happened. When I visited his
office, he told me that should the disease ever
be used as an instrument of terror, Sverdlovsk
might offer a valuable insight into the con-
sequences. The consensus is that an anthrax
epidemic that is not countered by the most
aggressive medical countermeasures is likely
to result in horrendous consequences.
Meselson, former head of Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology at Harvard University,
had been interested in Sverdlovsk from the
start. He read the first reports (attributed
to an anonymous source) in Possev, a Rus-
sian-language magazine based in Frankfurt,
in January 1980.
Reconstructing the event, Possev stated
‹This information
sheet shows some of that the anthrax outbreak was attributed to
the key facts to know a cloud of bacteria produced by an explosion:
about the potential
dangers associated “The first victims were hospitalized two days
with exposure to, later and died not very long afterwards.” West
and infection by,
anthrax. Germany's Bild Zeitung later published a

IN LIGHT OF WHAT FOLLOWED, IT IS
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THE DYNAMICS OF THE SVERDLOVSK
DISCLOSURES WERE LARGELY POLITICAL.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD DIED IN AN
UNEXPLAINED ACCIDENT NEAR A SECRET
MILITARY INSTALLATION ...
similar account: “A Western intelligence agency had determined that the alleged explosion had
occurred in a factory for bacteriological bombs.”
Then, as now, any production or development of biological weapons would be a violation of
the Biological Weapons Convention of 1972, a treaty to which both the United States and Russia
are parties—as was the Soviet Union before the breakup.
In a hasty attempt at whitewash, the Soviets produced a sketchy report by two eminent
Moscow physicians in the journal, Microbiology, Epidemiology and Immunology, in May 1980. It
declared that there had been an outbreak of anthrax among farm animals and that the people ‹ Above: This child has an anthrax infection on his neck.
infected succumbed because they had eaten contaminated meat.

Meanwhile, in early 1980, Meselson was invited by the CIA to become an outside consultant
in a bid to establish the truth. He worked closely at Langley with the late Julian Hoptmann, the
CIA’s longtime biological weapons analyst. Although not yet able to prove it, the CIA perception
was that everything pointed to an airborne outbreak ... but the professor was not convinced.
Shortly afterward, Meselson contacted his cousin, Martin Kaplan, secretary general of the
Pugwash Conferences on Science and International Affairs in Geneva. This led to a series of
unsuccessful attempts to obtain Soviet permission to bring independent scientists to Sverdlovsk
to investigate. Then, in 1986, he was invited to go to Moscow to meet with doctors who had been
in Sverdlovsk at the time of the epidemic (as well as Dr. P.N. Burgasov, deputy minister of Health
in the Soviet government).
What resulted from three days of meetings in Moscow was a lopsided trade-off—a tour of
› Above: This lesion

was caused by an
anthrax infection.
‹ Left: Working with

anthrax and other
biological warfare
agents requires great
attention to safety and
security. As we have
seen, any error can be
fatal to those who are
around these agents.
(Photo: Getty Images)

American academic institutions by a group of
Soviet scientists who were set on elaborating
fake details surrounding the original account
(that is, that infected animals had been the
cause). And because their reasoning was both
plausible and consistent under fairly rigorous
cross-questioning by just about every security
agency in the land, nobody was able to
argue convincingly otherwise.
There were some persistent gaps, including the
fact that the Americans were aware that Sverd-
lovsk (as well as Zagorsk and Aralsk) had been
identified by satellite imagery as BW installations.
Photos had exposed their distinctive chimneys
and refrigeration equipment.
So, Meselson needed to know more. Again, he
asked to be allowed to visit Sverdlovsk; another
rebuff followed. Then came the collapse of the
Soviet Union—and the Russian people, themselves,
started to ask questions.
RESTITUTION FOR VICTIMS then, the city (which had been renamed after the commissar who had murdered the Romanovs ‹ This U.S. Army
soldier is shown pre-
In light of what followed, it is important to in 1917) had reverted to its original name, Yekaterinburg. paring for an exercise
understand that the dynamics of the Sverd- simulating a situation
in which he will be
lovsk disclosures were largely political. A lot AMERICAN RESEARCHERS VISIT THE SITE exposed to anthrax
of people had died in an unexplained accident State Counselor for Ecology and Health Alexei Yablokov was tasked by Yeltsin to expose this or a similar biological
weapon.
near a secret military installation; many had horrific can of worms. Fortuitously, this was the same man Professor Meselson had hosted a few
been bread-winners. In some cases, there was years before on a visit to the U.S. Army's biological defense center at Fort Detrick, Maryland.
severe economic hardship. If anyone were to Once details had appeared in Moscow's Literaturnaya Gazeta in 1991, Meselson was able write
blame in Russia's newfound “open” society, to his acquaintance and raise the issue once more. On that basis, Yablokov granted Meselson
the cry from the bereaved was that someone permission to visit Yekaterinburg with a research team of his choice.
had to be made responsible. The team centered its work on a succession of interviews with families and friends over a ‹ Below: While anthrax
commonly comes up as a
Sverdlovsk's Peoples' Deputy L.P. Mishustina two-year period. Although most of the files relating to the incident had been removed by suspected tool of terrorists,
(then a member of the Supreme Soviet) shot the KGB, its work had been sloppy, and there was much left for the Americans to go through. its history as a weapon of war
between "civilized" nations is
off a letter to Boris Yeltsin stating that his To begin with, Meselson obtained a list of all the victims just as they had been submitted in older. (Photo: Getty Images)
government needed to make good, she
declared. Families of those who died wanted
to know if the anthrax outbreak was the result
of government activity that had gone wrong. If
so, surely they were entitled to extra pensions.
It should be noted that during the time of the
disaster, Yeltsin was the party chief (roughly
equivalent to a governor) of the province in
which Sverdlovsk was located.
For his part, Yeltsin could hardly ignore
Mishustina. Sverdlovsk—always a closed city
to foreigners in an oblast (administrative
district) the size of France—was an important
political and economic entity. It had become
the focus of a large number of defense-related
industries and educational establishments.
More pertinent, it was one of the towns Yeltsin
had lived in as a youth.
As a result of Mishustina's initiative, Yeltsin
had a law passed granting more money to
those who had lost family. He also instructed
that Sverdlovsk's story be revealed in full. By

‹ Cipro (Ciprofloxacin) and Doxycylin (a form of
Tetracyclin) are both effective antibiotics for the
treatment of anthrax infections. If they are taken
as soon as possible after exposure, the chances of
getting sick and dying are decreased.
the pension claim. This showed where they

lived in 1979, as well as their dates of birth
and death. Over the two-year period, it was
possible to do the rounds of the homes of
most of the families. With one exception,
THERE WERE SOME PERSISTENT GAPS, INCLUDING every family cooperated in full.
THE FACT THAT THE AMERICANS WERE AWARE THAT The principal findings and conclusions of
SVERDLOVSK (AS WELL AS ZAGORSK AND ARALSK) Professor Meselson and his team include
HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED BY SATELLITE IMAGERY AS BW the following:
INSTALLATIONS. PHOTOS HAD EXPOSED THEIR DISTINCTIVE • The workplaces and other daytime locations
of the victims were determined mainly from
CHIMNEYS AND REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT. family interviews. These locations clustered
‹ A researcher at along a straight line extending southward
Sandia National Lab-
oratories compares a
from a military microbiology facility known as
dish with untreated Compound 19 (located in the southern part of
anthrax on the left
and one with anthrax the city) to the southern city limit.
that was treated with • According to Soviet veterinary records, and
a decontamination
formula on the right. corroborated by interviews with villagers,
sheep and cows died of anthrax in six villages
south of the city out to a distance of 30 miles.
All these settlements lie in a straight line that
is an extension of the path along which the
human victims were mapped.
• According to meteorological records obtained
by Meselson for Sverdlovsk's Koltsovo Airport,
during most of the day, Monday, April 2, there
was a steady north-northwest breeze. The first
cases of human and animal anthrax appeared
two to three days afterward.
• Pathoanatomical evidence is consistent
with expectations for inhalation anthrax. The
evidence was obtained and later published in
Russian by two Sverdlovsk pathologists.
These observations constitute unusually rigor-
ous proof that the Sverdlovsk anthrax outbreak
was caused by an aerosol discharged from a
military installation and not, as claimed initially,
from contaminated meat (remember, some of
the victims were vegetarians). Although Boris
Yeltsin stated to the press in 1992 that it was
the result of military activity, the Russian gov-
ernment has provided no further information,
nor have Western observers ever been allowed
into Compound 19.
Some further observations and conclusions
reached by Meselson are also significant:
‹ Anthrax (Bacillus
anthracis) is shown • Using data from studies of experimental
being grown in this inhalation anthrax in non-human primates,
petri dish in a research
laboratory. Meselson calculated that the amount of

CONSIDERED THE BIGGEST MODERN EXPOSURE TO ANTHRAX
PRODUCED FOR BIOLOGICAL WARFARE (BW), THE SVERDLOVSK
DISASTER PROVIDES A FRIGHTENING LESSON ON THE TOPIC OF
BIOWEAPONS.
anthrax spores in the aerosol that was discharged could have been as little as several thousandths these horrific weapons. ‹ Still an industrial
center, Yekaterinburg
of a gram and probably less than 1 gram. The anthrax strain that was released today is a busy city of
• Almost half of those who succumbed to the disease—29 of 66—were dead within the first 10 from the clandestine factory was not 1.4 million residents,
making it the fourth
days of the outbreak. The last victim showed signs of onset on day 42. He died four days later. enhanced to reduce the effects of largest city in Russia.
• The youngest victim was a 24-year-old elementary school teacher who contracted the disease existing treatments. The efficiency of the
on the eighth day after the fateful release. She died after 72 hours. toxin was remarkable. However, newer
• Not a single child, adolescent, teenager or young adult was afflicted, even though it has strains that have been specifically devel-
been established that there were many about that day. (Curiously, according to Meselson, oped for use as weapons are expected to
this ties in with some of the anthrax outbreaks earlier this century. The young appear to be be even more lethal.
resistant to inhalation anthrax.) We cannot depend on protection from
• The bodies of the victims were covered in lime and quickly buried in an area separate from the governments to protect us from this insid-
rest in Sverdlovsk's main cemetery. ious threat. In fact, if a determined adver-
While speculation over the events and effects of this event continue—and will likely never be sary is intent on using this weapon, there
satisfied—there are some simple lessons to be learned from this historic event. is little we can do to protect ourselves.
Perhaps the most disconcerting is that treaties and bans on the development and use of BW Awareness of the menace, vigilance and
weapons are not worth the paper they’re printed on. As we’ve seen in this example and others, decisive action after we suspect exposure
there is little reason to expect parties to come to an agreement to limit or end their work on are our primary defenses.

THE
PREPPING
PARADOX
ARE SURVIVAL PREPARATIONS RELEVANT TODAY?
BY MICHAEL D’ANGONA
© GETTY IMAGES

[APRIL2018]
2018]
‹ At present, there is little fear
from widespread “end-of-the-
world” predictions.

around with a survival bracelet secured around their wrists? From colorful patterns to a jet-black
color that matched their leather jackets, these bracelets were worn by a great number of people
just a few years back. However, did all of those who wore them truly understand how a survival
bracelet works? And did they really wear them as a survival aid during an emergency situation?
The short answer to both questions is: No.
From hardware stores to pharmacies and even gas stations, survival bracelets (or cheap
imposters, as was the case with most) littered the countertops next to bubble gum and lip balm.
In addition to these fashionable bracelets, backpacks, shoulder bags and deluxe, fanny-style
pouches began selling faster than ever during the same period. People of all genders and all ages
followed these new fads.
But how did this all begin? For that, we have the Maya to “blame,” or, more appropriately, the
Maya culture from centuries ago.
When the year 2012 approached, so did the chatter about the ancient Maya prophecy that the
world would end during that year—specifically, on December 21. As one would expect, media
outlets exploded with an onslaught of television programs, magazines and books aimed at every
aspect of “the end-of-the-world” scenario. And one of this genre’s most successful movies, 2012,
helped ramp up the interest when it was released at the end of 2009.
No stone was left unturned when it came to self-reliance and overall survival preparations— from
creating bug-out bags to popularizing underground bunker living to storing foods and other life-sus-
taining supplies. Then, December 21, 2012, came and went, and with it, the need to continue to prep
THE VAST SEA OF INFORMATION THAT

MANY HAVE USED TO LEARN ABOUT
SURVIVAL LOGICALLY ALSO PUSHES
OTHERS IN THAT DIRECTION THROUGH
FEAR AND REPEATED WARNINGS OF
© GETTY IMAGES
IMPENDING DOOM; AND WHAT WE’RE
Y
EXPOSED TO IS NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE.
‹ Above: It might
2K has long passed, be unlikely, but a
the Maya calendar’s tsunami could dec-
imate coastal areas
predictions have once across the globe—
again been shown to be but few prepare
for their possible
incredibly inaccurate, arrival.
and the threat of a full-on foreign invasion of
American soil is far from anyone’s mind. All of
this brings up a perplexing question: Is survival
preparation still needed today?
Although it appears to be a simple question,
the answer is not so obvious to everyone. The
prepping activities of over a half-decade ago
were not the same as they are today. But what
changed, and why? The vast sea of infor-
mation that many have used to learn about
survival logically also pushes others in that
direction through fear and repeated warnings
of impending doom; and what we’re exposed
to is not always accurate.
› Right: Pan-
Because of that, it’s time to update the state demics don’t
of survival—but more importantly, we need to always create
“flesh-eating”
understand how the situation affects you and zombies.
your family’s well-being. Outbreaks of
new viruses can
occur—some-
times without
IT WAS “IN” TO PREP warning. (Photo:
Remember seeing nearly everyone walking Bigstock)

THE WORLD OF SURVIVAL, AS SHOWN
‹ Below: End-of-
for the ultimate worst-case scenario. the-world panic has
Bracelets were left at home, supply bags subsided within the
were thrown in the basement or re-tasked

THROUGH THE MEDIA DURING THE past few years, but
when the next big pre-
for other purposes, and survival rations were BEGINNING OF THE SECOND DECADE OF THE diction occurs, fear
will once again take
shoved to the back of the pantry. To many, CENTURY, WAS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD. over many people’s
minds.
prepping had been a “cool” and “in” thing to
do, but it was no longer. Many of those who
got on the bandwagon have gotten off and
moved on to another “flavor of the month.”
Unfortunately, this could come back to haunt
them in the near future, when things both
natural and man-made go bad.
MEDIA INFLUENCE
The world of survival, as shown through the
media during the beginning of the second decade
of the century, was a double-edged sword. On
one hand, it introduced to many people, espe-
cially those who had no idea of what "prepping"
was, the idea that being prepared for both man-
made and natural emergencies was a very smart
thing to do. On the other hand, because media is
a business, it portrayed survival to an unrealistic
extreme by exaggerating potential world-ending
scenarios and creating personal dramas that
didn’t serve any useful purpose—other than to
entertain and sell commercials.
© GETTY IMAGES
Panic, as it usually does, got people off their

couches and into the Army surplus stores,
camping sections of department stores and
‹ Although not as
popular as it once
was, preparation
for a zombie-like
apocalypse was a
very real “thing” about
five years ago. (Photo:
Bigstock)

› When the media
was fanning the
flames of survivalist
scenarios, it was an
all-or-nothing prop-
osition: We would
either be safe and
comfortable, or the
world would devolve
into a barren and
hostile wasteland.
© GETTY IMAGES
anywhere else supplies could be purchased
to survive the imminent end of the world. ... THE VERY FACT THAT SOMETHING
From top-10 lists of what would end life on HASN’T OCCURRED IN A WHILE, WHETHER
our world to survival-based reality shows, the
IT’S A HURRICANE, EARTHQUAKE OR
trend toward survivalism and prepping in any
form was at an all-time high. EVEN A DOMESTIC TERRORIST ATTACK,
But then, the planet ignored the Maya predic- INCREASES THE PROBABILITY THAT IT WILL
tions and continued to exist. So, after 2012, the OCCUR SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
number of television shows about survival were
steadily disappearing from the promotional
© GETTY IMAGES
schedules. The one-shot “self-reliance” magazine
specials were now rarely seen on the newsstands,
and the plethora of mainstream survival supplies
was gone from the countertops of the local
pharmacies and home-supply stores.
Although the “buzz” began to fade, the
media had done some good by converting a
large number of people who were previously
ignorant about prepping, influencing them to
continue this practice long after the “survival”
explosion dissipated. For this, the media, in its
various forms, should be commended.
› An urban terrorist
attack is a very real,
present-day scenario. FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY
Consequently, proper “Out of sight, out of mind” is a slogan many
preparation and
use of caution are people unknowingly follow throughout everyday
prudent. life. Unfortunately, it affects prepping as well.

A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY CAN TOP END-OF-WORLD
CAUSE MANY TO PROCRASTINATE
PREPARING FOR A NATURAL OR PREDICTIONS THAT
MAN-MADE DISASTER OR QUIT IT
ENTIRELY.
WERE WRONG
From thousands of years ago to the present day, these top world-end-
ing predictions talked a big game. But, in the end, they fizzled out as
nothing more than unsubstantiated panic-inducers. Catch up on these
failed doomsday predictions:
NOSTRADAMUS—16TH CENTURY
The “king” of predictors, this French prophet predicted the end of the
world would occur on numerous occasions. However, his predictions are
so vague that nearly any scenario could be interpreted. From fires to
earthquakes to world war, the possible outcomes are nearly endless ...
and, as yet, unsubstantiated.
THE GREAT FLOOD, PART 2—FEBRUARY 1, 1524
Astrologers agreed that a second “great flood” would occur, starting from
the Thames River. Panic ran wild as thousands of people fled to higher
ground—and returned to their homes when no such flood ever occurred.
© GETTY IMAGES
HALLEY’S COMET—1910
Every 75 years or so, this comet streaks across the dark sky. However,
in 1910, it was predicted that its tail, which was 24 million miles long,
would “impregnate the atmosphere and possibly snuff out all life on
A false sense of security can cause many to procrastinate preparing for a natural or man-made disaster the planet,” according to National Geographic.‹ The comet
Below: came and
A tampon
left without incident. is an important sur-
or quit it entirely. This comes from the mindset that “it hasn’t happened in ‘X’ amount of years, so why vival item. Use it
be worried about it?” THE RAPTURE—SEPTEMBER 11, 1988 to stop blood flow
from a wound, as
This statement is contradictory on many levels. First, the very fact that something hasn’t This date marked the possible return of Christtinder
... andtowith
starthim,
a firethe end
occurred in a while, whether it’s a hurricane, earthquake or even a domestic terrorist attack, of the world as we know it—as told by Edgar C.or as crude filtering
Whisenant. His
material for turbid
book,
increases the probability that it will occur sometime in the near future. It’s a shift in the odds that 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could Be in 1988, water.
sold more than 4 million
as more years pass without incident, a possibly life-changing event is on the horizon. copies. Alas, Christ didn’t return; the world survived; and Whisenant
Second, if an emergency situation of some sort does occur, but not within one’s general vicinity, continued to make predictions about the second coming of Christ (which
the perception that it “wouldn’t happen here” comes into play. This is a very nonchalant way of were largely ignored).
Y2K—JANUARY 1, 2000
© GETTY IMAGES
Because most computers only used the last two digits of a year, it was
widely predicted that computers, as well as everything they controlled,
would misinterpret the year 2000 as 1900 and cease to work properly at
the start of the new millennium. As a result, everyone prepared for the
worst. And, while nothing happened in the end, the computer techs who
safeguarded computers with new programs to protect against the Y2K
“bug” made a killing.
ALIGNMENT OF THE PLANETS – MAY 5, 2000
On this date, all the planets were to be in alignment, and the result
would be great earthquakes and volcanic eruptions throughout the
world. The planets did align, but nothing catastrophic occurred. (The
fact that the planets aligned similarly about 20 years earlier without
harm was overlooked.)
THE MAYA CALENDAR—DECEMBER 21, 2012
This was one of the most-recent doomsday predictions and the most
talked about. The end of the Maya calendar was said to indicate the end of
the world. You are reading this now, so even though the calendar ended, life
continues as normal on the planet.
‹ Natural disasters occur randomly over the years. Just because a hurricane or flood hasn’t occurred in a
long time doesn’t mean it won’t happen in the very near future.

REVISITING YOUR CORE-4
SURVIVAL ESSENTIALS
Whether you are a hardcore survivalist or a beginning prepper who is some- ‹ Without water, a
person could perish
what concerned about a possible crisis or emergency in the near future, there in just three to four
are four basic categories of emergency gear that must be collected and stored. days. Be sure to
always keep extra
These are known by many as the “Core-4.” This group includes food, water, shel- water, as well as
ter and fire items. When used in tandem, items from these groups can enable a water purification
items, stocked in
person to survive for a number of days—as determined by the quantity of these your supply kit.
(Photo: Bigstock)
supplies in their stores.
To many, these categories are a bit vague, so we have provided some specifics
below to enable them to better dial in their needs.
WATER: A person can survive no longer than three to four days in moderate
environments and situations without water, so this is a crucial category. Water
supplies can be broken down into two main areas: pre-packaged drinkable water
that a person physically stocks with their gear, and items or equipment that make ‹ Dehydrated and
freeze-dried foods
“questionable” water acceptable to drink by ridding it of harmful contaminants.
should make up a
Packaged water is available in cans, bottles and Mylar pouches, and you can large portion of your
survival food supply.
store water you process in containers that range from 1 to thousands of gallons, (Photo: www.
most of which are easy to use. Just be sure to always check the expiration dates LivePrepared.com)
and rotate your stock accordingly. Filters, water purification tablets, common
household bleach, iodine tabs and desalinators (used to remove salt from
seawater) can all make contaminated water safe. Of course, the most common
method of purifying water is to boil it.
FOOD: Although a person won’t starve within a week or two, their physical and
mental capabilities will be extremely crippled by lack of calories, so food in your
supply bag is an absolute must. Survival food comes in many forms—freeze-
dried, dehydrated, canned and military MREs to simple, block-form ration bars.
‹ Fire provides
The mindset to maintain with survival food is not necessarily taste (although multiple benefits—
heat for cooking and
the flavor of some survival foods is very good these days) but shelf life, ease warmth, light and
of transport and simplicity of preparation. The food needs to have a long shelf comfort during the
darkness of night.
life, because it will be stored for an unknown length of time. The bulkiness of (Photo: Bigstock)
the items can weigh a person down when traveling, so trim the excess weight.
Self-contained and ready-to-eat meals trump any others that require the use
of heat or water—both of which might not be available to you at the time you
experience hunger pangs.
FIRE: Fire is a multiple-purpose category. Fire provides heat for warmth and
cooking, light, and comfort and peace of mind when a person is alone in the
dark. As such, fire is crucial. It is recommended to stock at least five methods
of creating fire. Such diverse items can include a flint and steel, ferro rod and
‹ Even if it is just a
striker, magnifying glass, waterproof matches and finally, the easiest and most simple tent, shelter
inexpensive method—a disposable butane lighter (or better yet: a handful of should be part of
your everyday
them stored in pockets, bags, glove compartments or just about anywhere). survival supply list.
SHELTER: Mother Nature can be nasty when she wants to be, so preparation (Photo: Bigstock)
for harsh outdoor conditions should go without saying. Shelter materials can
range from a complete, ready-to-go tent or a versatile tarp to shelter-building
tools such as an axe or saw and plenty of cordage. It will all depend on an
individual’s needs, their present environment and their ability to store or carry
the items. The difficulty level of constructing a shelter should also be carefully
considered: When weather conditions change constantly, a person doesn’t want
to be out in the cold, rain or high winds for an extended period of time, because
this could result in life-threatening results.

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living; and when the worst does come to your LIKE OTHER DAILY ROUTINES, PREPPING
town, lack of preparation could mean the
difference between life and death. SHOULD BE JUST ANOTHER TASK THAT
Finally, many people assume that during a REQUIRES YOUR PERIODIC ATTENTION.
crisis, the local, state or national governments
will be there to keep the peace, distribute food shopping. As a result, it will always stay on your to-do list and not allow you to run into problems
and water, and make sure things remain status if an emergency occurs. This is the best and easiest way to prevent prepper "fails"—such as dead
quo. This is false security at its finest. batteries, expired food, water and medicines, and/or missing key items from your bug-out bags
The truth is that relying on others for your because you forgot you had removed them for other mundane uses.
well-being is not recommended or responsible Remember, fads come and go, and those who treat prepping as a fad and think that it is cur-
behavior. Significant destruction of the infra- rently unnecessary will, unfortunately, receive a nasty wake-up call when an emergency or critical
structure, governments dealing with multiple survival situation comes knocking at their front doors.
crises or the effects of an economic collapse
will cripple most attempts to reach all the CHOOSE YOUR OWN PATH
affected citizens, and you don’t want to be on “Prepping” means different things to different people. Consequently, following others step by
the list of those “waiting for supplies.” step is not always the wisest thing to do. Yes, the experts do have tips, tricks and solid, accumu-
lated experience behind them, and their advice should be considered. Even so, they also treat
A PART OF LIFE, NOT A FAD prepping, or survival in general, as a way of life.
One aspect of prepping on a regular basis, The majority of the “average Joes” in the world do not share this way of life. Instead, they are
or at least reviewing your preps and adjust- working at their jobs, raising their families and spending the weekends at the mall, the movies
ing/replacing as needed, is that preparing or anywhere that gets the family away after a long week of work and school. A “way of life?” No,
for any unexpected emergency should be a but everyday people can prep, within their means, to give themselves and their families an edge
constant of everyday life and not a fad that if/when the worst comes to their town.
rises and falls with the popularity of a new By simply having bug-out bags stocked and ready, they have an advantage over those who do
movie or television series. nothing. The amount, and more importantly, the extent a person preps for disasters is totally up
› Below: A pre-
Like other daily routines, prepping should be assembled bug-out to that person, as well as their estimations as to how much is enough and what they can afford
bag is perfect for
just another task that requires your periodic those not versed in to invest in their plan.
attention. Setting a monthly schedule to choosing survival If one is aware of the realistic threats they might face and they feel comfortable with their
gear but who want
review your plans, gear and stocked supplies some basic pro- preparations, they are more likely to survive local threats than many of their neighbors. Being
should be right up there with cleaning out the tection if things go prepared, they can separate panic-style fiction from true facts and realistic scenarios. Best of all,
badly. (Photo: www.
garage, mowing the lawn or doing the grocery TotalPrepare.com) concerns about how to handle the unknown will not overwhelm them.

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CELL NETWORK COLLAPSE

You may be used to seeing cell phones everywhere, but when things go
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SURVIVE A
HURRICANE
DON’T BE SCARED; BE PREPARED.
BY BRIAN M. MORRIS
P
eople often think that if its subordinate organization, the National
they don’t live in a hurricane Hurricane Center (NHC).
evacuation zone, where storm It’s important to remember that while you
surge, high winds and flooding might not live in a zone that’s being evacu-
have been known to occur, they ated, that doesn't mean you are not at risk
are not at risk from the storm’s effects and do from the storm or its secondary effects. The
not need to make preparations for the annual reality is that while hurricanes directly cause
hurricane season. This belief is actually not massive flooding, drenching rain, damaging
accurate or prudent. The decision to stay and winds, powerful lightning and destructive hail,
“ride out” a hurricane by those who live within a there are also many lethal secondary effects
hurricane evacuation zone and are not properly that come from these behemoths. Tornadoes
prepared can be a fatal error in judgment. can appear at the larger storm’s periphery, and
Hurricane evacuation zones are designated flooding can occur down- or upstream from a
by the Department of Homeland Security hurricane whose eye made landfall hundreds
(DHS) through the National Oceanic and of miles away. These “remote” effects can
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and potentially put millions of other lives at

[MARCH2018]
2018]
risk, even though they live well outside the ‹ Hurricanes, also
known as cyclones and
evacuation zone. In fact, these secondary typhoons, are one of
storm effects often play significant roles the most powerful and
destructive natural
in determining the levels of casualties and weather phenomena
on Earth.
destruction the storm leaves in its wake.
Tertiary storm effects, such as ongoing power
outages and substandard living conditions that
last weeks or months after the storms pass (as is
the case in Puerto Rico), can cause the greatest
long-term health risk and loss of life.
Now that you have a better understanding of
how widespread the influence of these storms
can reach, what can you do to prepare for the
upcoming hurricane season?
Keep reading, and you will learn how to greatly
reduce your risk of becoming another hurricane
statistic after one of Mother Nature’s most
ferocious and deadly natural phenomena.
your area. You should also designate which room in your home, if any, is best suited to be your “safe”
BE PROACTIVE room. Generally speaking, a safe room is normally an interior room with no windows, preferably on
Determine whether or not you live in an area the ground floor or in your basement—assuming the latter is not prone to flooding. Bathrooms
that can be affected by a hurricane. Hurricanes often meet these criteria as well. If you plan to use your bathroom as your safe room, consider
(also known as "cyclones" and "typhoons") occur dragging a mattress into the bathroom prior to the storm’s arrival in your area so you can get into
throughout the world. The areas of the United the tub and pull the mattress over you in the event that your home begins to come apart from
States at the greatest risk of being affected by the ravages of the storm.
hurricanes are the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), “A safe room is a hardened
Caribbean islands and the Hawaiian islands. structure specifically designed to meet the criteria and provide near-absolute protection in
Gather information about how to respond to extreme weather events, including tornadoes and hurricanes. Near-absolute protection means
hurricanes in your area. Once you have deter- that, based on our current knowledge of tornadoes and hurricanes, the occupants of a safe room
mined that you are in a risk area, you should find built in accordance with FEMA guidance will have a very high probability of being protected from
out the locations of the local storm shelters in injury or death.”
‹ A pickup drives past

utility poles downed
by Hurricane Maria in
San Juan, Puerto Rico,
on November 7, 2017.

Identify courses of action (COA); then
choose a COA and prepare for the storm
IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE THE EVACUATION
and its aftermath. The three possible COAs ZONE AND YOU DECIDE TO WEATHER THE
for reacting to an approaching hurricane STORM IN YOUR HOME, IT IS IMPERATIVE
are staying in your home; relocating to an
emergency shelter in your area; or evacu-
TO HAVE A PLAN FOR PROTECTING
ating to an area not affected by the storm. YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES DURING
Each of these COAs requires planning and THE STORM, AS WELL AS HOW YOU WILL
preparation. You should have a plan for each
of the COAs so you’re prepared, regardless of
SURVIVE IN ITS AFTERMATH.
changes in the situation. This allows you to
‹ Left: Evacuated
adjust your response and ensure the highest residents carry their
probability of survival if the hurricane’s path belongings at the New
Orleans Convention
changes as it approaches. Center on their way to
being airlifted out of
the city on September
COURSES OF ACTION 7, 2005. (Photo by
Mario Tama/Getty
COA 1: Riding out the storm in your home. Images)
While it is highly recommended that you
leave your home if you live within the evacu-
ation zone and an evacuation order is issued,
the decision is ultimately yours to make.
What you need to remember when making
this choice is that first responders and other
emergency rescue crews will almost certainly
not be able to help you while the storm is ‹ Below: Police use a
small boat to rescue
active in your area; they might be unable to people in New Orleans,
Louisiana. They
get to you for days, weeks or longer after the were stranded when
storm has dissipated. levees broke after
being overwhelmed by
If you live outside the evacuation zone and Hurricane Katrina in
you decide to weather the storm in your August 2005. (Photo by
Marko Georgiev/Getty
home, it is imperative to have a plan for Images)

› Right: The damage
left behind by
hurricanes can
often resemble that
of a war zone, with
houses and vehicles
picked up off the
ground and dumped
into piles of rubble
hundreds of feet
from where they first
stood.
› Below: Using
common remotely
operated weapon
station (CROWS) optics
systems, soldiers from
the Florida National
Guard's Delta Compa-
ny, 1st Battalion, 124th
Infantry, 53rd Infantry
Brigade Combat Team
patrol areas for
suspected looters four
days after Hurricane
Irma struck Stock
Island, Florida.
› Bottom: A soldier
patrols a street to
prevent looting on
September 22, 2017, in
Roseau, the capital of
the Caribbean island
of Dominica, four days
after the passage of
Hurricane Maria.
protecting yourself and your loved ones during the storm, as well as how you will survive in its
aftermath. Consider that you might not have access to electricity, food, clean water or adequate
shelter, and you might need protection from stray or wild animals and looters taking advantage
of the situation.
While the specific numbers vary, you should keep 3,000 to 5,000 calories of nutritious,
shelf-stable food per person per day on hand for as long as you plan to stay in your home after
the storm passes by. You should also have at least 2 gallons of potable water per person per day
for consumption and personal hygiene. If possible, you should have plenty of 4x8-foot sheets of
plywood, multiple large tarps, nails, and other tools and supplies necessary to temporarily repair
any storm damage that might have left your home an unsuitable shelter.
Unfortunately, it is common for pets to be left behind to fend for themselves before a storm
touches down. After time has passed, these once-domesticated animals can become quite
vicious and desperate in their search for food. You also need to consider that dangerous wildlife
might move into areas normally inhabited by people, thus further complicating your decision to
shelter in place.
Additionally, one of the harsh realities of hurricanes is that criminals are notorious for taking
advantage of a bad situation and looting empty homes and businesses in the area. Conse-
quently, you must also consider both nonlethal and lethal means of protecting yourself and
your property. (If you plan to build your own safe room, or you just want to determine which
room in your dwelling is the safest place to go during a storm, you can visit this link provided by
FEMA: www.FEMA.gov/media-library/assets/documents/2009.)
Also consider purchasing a generator powerful enough to run your essential appliances for an
extended period of time. Don’t forget to have a supply of fuel and oil, as well as fuel extension
additives, for your generator, as well as other secondary or backup sources of power (such as
solar, wind and crank technologies). In this way, after you run out of fuel, at least you can still
produce enough electricity to keep lights on at night and to charge a radio and cell phone.
COA 2: Relocating to an emergency shelter in your area. If relocating to a shelter is in your
plan, you should know where the closest local shelters are. Investigate two or three routes to

TIPS FOR
RIDING OUT THE
STORM AT HOME
• Never run your generator indoors, because carbon monoxide and
other lethal exhaust components will lead to severe illness or death.
• Contrary to popular belief, taping windows and glass doors will
not prevent glass from breaking. It will simply allow it to break
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TIME YOU HAVE into larger pieces that will still wreak havoc inside the building.
Consider covering all windows and glass doors with plywood,
NOW AND BE READY WHEN THE WARNINGS security window film or having storm shutters installed prior to the
START COMING. DON’T BE ONE OF THE start of the season.
MANY WHO SHUDDER IN PANIC BECAUSE • Hurricane clips and straps can be purchased at your local home
center or hardware store and installed as a means to help prevent
THEY PROCRASTINATED. the roof from being blown off your house.
• If you live in a mobile home, install a secure anchoring system
that helps reduce the damage to your home. Florida, for example,
requires all mobile homes to have such systems—although the
specific type of required anchoring method depends on the type of
soil under the home.
• Perhaps the ultimate form of protection at home during a
hurricane would be an underground shelter. However, you’ll still
need to consider the flooding aspect of hurricanes when looking
into this option.
‹ Above: You should

identify local storm
each shelter in case heavy traffic or other
shelters in your impediments prevent you from using your
area (such as this
public storm shelter primary route. (During an emergency, you can
at Coldwater City locate all the open FEMA-approved emergency
Park in south central
Kansas). shelters in your area at this link set up by the
American Red Cross: www.RedCross.org/get-
help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-
‹ Left: If you live in
an area often threat-
an-open-shelter. This website also gives you
ened by hurricanes, some information about what to expect when
invest in sheets of
plywood to cover you arrive at the shelter.)
your windows. The COA 3: Evacuating to an area not affected
plywood will help
protect your home by the storm. Well before leaving your
and minimize
flying glass when the
home and your town when a mandatory
storms pass through. evacuation order has been issued, you need
to identify where you are going to go. Try to
have two or three alternate locations, such
as a friend or relative’s home and a hotel, in
case the first location falls through for any
reason. Plan two or three routes to both your
primary and alternative locations. Consider
using a paper road atlas or printing out a
copy of your routes in the event that the cell

‹ Near left: Evacuation
of refugees at the New
Orleans Convention
Center in the after-
math of Hurricane
Katrina on September
3, 2005 (Photo by Lau-
rent van der Stockt/
Gamma-Rapho via
Getty Images)
› Residents post a towers, Internet and GPS technologies are

warning to looters
as they recover overwhelmed or not functioning.
from damage Never let the gas in your car drop below
to their homes
after torrential rains half a tank. If you have enough forewarn-
caused widespread
ing, you should top off your fuel tank,
flooding during
Hurricane and Tropi- because it is very likely there will either be
cal Storm Harvey on
September 1, 2017, in extremely long lines at the pumps or the
the Atascocita sub- pumps will be empty.
division in Humble,
Texas. Have a group reunification plan in place
before the season starts. Begin with a rally
point at a location known by the people in
your immediate party, as well as anyone
else you plan to be with at the destination.
Depending on your circumstances, your rally
point might be the final destination or any
point on the way to it.
‹ Hurricane survivors receive food and water being distributed by volunteers and municipal police as
they deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, on September 28, 2017.
DEFINITION Gather all the supplies you will need to take with you. Remember that anything can happen once
OF TERMS you leave your home, so you need to pack in a way that will allow you to be flexible. You could end up
moving from your car to public transportation or possibly even foot travel. Therefore, everything you
bring should fit into a backpack you are physically capable of carrying for moderate distances.
TROPICAL STORM WATCH: Don't forget the essentials: food, water, shelter, security, communications, health, navigation
Sustained winds of 39 to 73 miles per hour are possible within and fire. Additional things to remember would be prescription medications, personal hygiene
the next 48 hours. essentials, phone chargers and cables, entertainment for long, boring days if you are possibly
confined to a shelter, along with a contact book with the names and numbers of friends and
TROPICAL STORM WARNING: relatives across the country and beyond to whom you might need to reach out in a time of
Sustained winds of 39 to 73 miles per hour are likely within the need. You should also have copies of important papers—insurance policies, contacts (including
next 36 hours. doctor contact information) and other key pieces of information you might need when you
return to a devastated home.
HURRICANE WATCH: If you have pets, you should specifically search for pet-friendly evacuation destinations, because
Sustained winds of 74 miles per hour are possible within the that can be a challenge in even the best of times. Many shelters will only accept pets that are
next 48 hours. registered service or support animals. Be sure you investigate this topic before you set your sights
on specific shelters so you won’t have this barrier to entry at the last minute. (You can get more
HURRICANE WARNING: information and register your dog at these, and other, organizations: https://USServiceAnimals.org
Sustained winds of 74 miles per hour are likely within the next and http://USDogRegistry.org.)
36 hours. Let the storm pass, assess the damage, and implement contingencies as necessary. After the
storm passes, your next move will be directly related to the COA you chose.

ASG-1806-Kensington Publishing 2/22/18 7:47 AM
ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY

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TERTIARY STORM EFFECTS, SUCH AS ONGOING POWER
OUTAGES AND SUBSTANDARD LIVING CONDITIONS THAT LAST
WEEKS OR MONTHS AFTER THE STORMS PASS ... CAN CAUSE
THE GREATEST LONG-TERM HEALTH RISK AND LOSS OF LIFE.
‹ A child scrapes
mud from the front of
a house damaged by
Hurricane Maria in Toa
Baja, Puerto Rico, on
October 5, 2017.
STAYING HOME AFTER THE STORM RETURNING HOME AFTER THE STORM
If you decided to stay in your home, you can Regardless of whether you evacuated to a local shelter or you left the state to stay with a distant
begin to pick up the pieces and determine if relative, you will eventually want to return home to assess the damage and try to salvage and pro-
your home is still a viable option to shelter tect what is left of your property. This can be a very frustrating time, because local, state and federal
you and your family. You’ll need to ensure authorities will have most likely sealed off the areas most seriously affected by the storm. Chances
there is no structural damage to your home are, they will not allow access until they complete a comprehensive safety inspection and all the
that can put you at risk and that none of the damaged infrastructure necessary to support the local populace is brought back into working order.
surrounding homes is indirectly putting you in With winds ranging between 74 mph and up to, or exceeding, 156 mph, hurricanes are not to be taken
harm’s way (for example, such as because of a lightly. These blasts are strong enough to toss vehicles like toys, uproot trees, lift houses and shred
natural gas leak). buildings as if they were made of cardboard. The massive waves and storm surge that can come with
You should also consider the condition of the the wind could travel several miles inland, inundating and scooping up everything in their path.
infrastructure that keeps your home func-
tioning—utilities, water and sewage, public PLAN AHEAD
services—and other community assets—fuel On the plus side, advancements in meteorological science have made predicting and tracking these
stations, grocery stores and the disposition of swirling monsters more reliable than ever before. We are now able to receive notifications days, and
emergency first responders. maybe even a week, in advance of landfall. This allows us to make an informed decision and have
A consistent concern after a hurricane is the enough time to get to a safe location ... as long as we plan ahead.
availability of potable water, because water Take advantage of the time you have now and be ready when the warnings start coming. Don’t be
systems are often contaminated by overspill of one of the many who shudder in panic because they procrastinated. At a minimum, this will give you
sewage and flooding that brings a wide variety the peace of mind and confidence that come from knowing your loved ones will be taken care of in
of contaminants into these facilities. times of emergency.

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‹ A resident stands at
her doorstep as she
looks at strong waves
in Saint-Pierre, on the
French Caribbean
island of Martinique,
after it was hit by
Hurricane Maria on
September 19, 2017.
Martinique suffered
power outages but
avoided major damage.
© GETTY IMAGES

LEARNING
FROM
MARIA LESSONS AND ADVICE FOR SURVIVING HURRICANES
AND OTHER MAJOR DISASTERS
BY LARRY SCHWARTZ
D
uring 2017, the islands in organizations that support them cry that they are overcome by what has happened. They must
the Caribbean and the U.S. rebuild from scratch and are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the tasks they face.
states along the Atlantic In the 2107 hurricane season, storms made the seaports useless for the first several days after
and Gulf coasts experienced landfall. Supplies were coming into the ports, but they were not able to move anything inland,
storms and natural disasters because debris and damage to the roads prevented drivers from getting to their trucks. When
of almost biblical proportions and impact. they did get to their trucks, they could not get to the ports. These, and other such lessons, should
Category 4 and 5 hurricanes Irma and Maria be gleaned each time a natural disaster strikes a community. And those lessons might be useful in
hit Cuba, Puerto Rico and Florida within nine influencing policies and actions in areas far from hurricane zones. Unfortunately, many commu-
days of each other, giving local governments nities, or at least their governments, have not taken these lessons to heart or have not integrated
a devastating one-two punch. them into existing plans.
Telecommunications, transportation routes, Here are some things they might consider to speed their recovery and to get the vital services back
water supplies, sewage systems and power into operation more quickly.
grids were hit especially hard this time around,
and they are all critical infrastructure. Fed- DOING THINGS BETTER
eral, state and local governments and NGOs The Caribbean gets hit every year in some way or another. Residents should know by now the
normally respond as quickly as they can in range of what they will be facing, and they (and the rest of us) should be paying attention to the
situations such as this, but the local authorities lessons learned from past disasters.
on the Caribbean islands didn’t seem to be able Here are a few of the key things that local governments should consider.
to get their acts together, even when resources Put plans into place now. With decades of experience in reacting to hurricanes and tropical storms,
were being made available to them. the governments at all levels know what needs to be done before and after storms hit. They, along
with their constituents, should take the initiative and develop plans to proactively prepare for
A DAUNTING SET OF CHALLENGES future storm seasons. Some of the actions that should be considered are shown in this article.
These natural disasters were traumatic to Don’t depend on supplies coming in afterward. To avoid the logistics nightmare of bringing in
those who found themselves in their paths. Every emergency supplies of water and fuel, these, and other necessary supplies, should be stockpiled in
year, governments and the non-government various areas near the people who will need them—therefore, in urban areas.

Pre-positioned vehicles to distribute sup- ‹ The power of 2017’s
Caribbean hurricanes
plies. The people who will drive them should was devastating.
be sent there before the emergency hits so that This emphasizes
the importance of
getting them there after the storm won’t be people taking steps
to address their basic
an issue. Depending on commercial trucking needs while they wait
companies to provide the resources to transport for more supplies
and services to come
supplies after the storm has been shown to be from government and
ineffective, but if vehicles and drivers are sent to NGO sources. (Photo:
WikiMedia.org)
the necessary locations beforehand, commercial
firms could be effective.
Mobile backup equipment for key services.
Relief workers working with companies (such as
AT&T) that donated equipment, as well as the
military, which brought its capabilities to bear,
put equipment into place that replaced the
capability to provide power, telecommunication
and drinking water.
Instead of waiting for it to arrive, these porta-
ble systems should be pre-positioned around
the island in locations that can be reached by exercised on a regular basis at least once a year. By exercising the plans, they ensure the plan will
ground or air transportation so they can be work in the current environment; that people are trained to perform their part in the plan; and that
put into service once the storm passes. They equipment and other resources are functional and available should they be needed.
should be in place year round, not just before For example, is the evacuation route still workable, or did new construction make it impossible? Is the
the anticipated storm. ‹ Below: Earth-mov- fuel that has been in storage for three years still usable, or has it been corrupted with water or other
ing equipment should
Practice makes perfect. Businesses have disas- be pre-positioned at contaminants? Would it be better to create a rotation plan that limits storage to shorter time periods?
ter recovery plans to help them ensure they can supply depots so they Are the people who were trained to provide emergency medical services still available, and do they
can clear roads from
continue to provide services and products to the depots to where remember their training? Are the airlift assets that are intended to move supplies still available?
their customers. Governments can, and should, the supplies need Depots everywhere. Depots need to be located all over the island, not just in a few centrally
to be. (Photo: Media.
do the same. These disaster recovery plans are Defense.gov) located positions. Just as positioning snow-removal equipment and supplies is done in northern

THE LESSON FOR
INDIVIDUALS IS TO
TAKE THEIR OWN
STEPS TO PREPARE
FOR CATASTROPHIC
EVENTS.
HOUSEHOLDS
SHOULD HAVE
EMERGENCY
PROVISIONS AND
EQUIPMENT IN
PLACE TO TAKE
CARE OF THE BASIC
NEEDS OF LIFE.
‹ Above: Flood dam-
age was extensive mainland states, putting smaller depots in
in all parts of Puerto
Rico, delaying repair
many places around the island works much
and restoration ef- better than large depots in a few places.
forts until the waters
receded. (Photo: This provides two critical advantages. First,
WikiMedia.org) if one of a few depots is not accessible, larger
amounts of supplies are lost to the disaster
relief effort. With more, smaller depots, this
impact is minimized. Second, a critical factor
in any disaster relief effort is the time and/
or distance needed to get the supplies to the
‹ Left, top and people who need them. Having the supplies
bottom: Search-and-
rescue teams, both
closer to those who need them will speed up
from the island and recovery efforts. It might be easier to manage
the U.S. mainland,
were kept busy in the a few depots, but it isn’t as effective—and
more-remote areas effectiveness should be the main consideration
of the island. (Photo:
WikiMedia.org) in this scenario.
That said, there is a point of diminishing
returns, so those living in remote areas should
be aware that they should invest in more of
their own emergency stores, because they’ll be
among the last to be served after a catastrophe.
Mobilize personnel early. As mentioned
above, getting people in place before the storm
hits is going to be vital to the success of disaster
recovery plans. The biggest challenge author-
ities have faced are logistical, so proactively
getting their workers to where they need to be
will mitigate much of that risk.
Plans and transportation need to be prepared
to get people to where they will be working. The
military does this well with deployments: They
have facilities in place for people who report for
duty. They are then transported to where they

› Access to func-
tioning medical and
surgical facilities,
such as those shown
here aboard the USNS
Comfort, are critical
during and after
serious hurricanes
and need to be
planned for ahead of
time. (Photo: Media.
Defense.gov)
need to be. This also includes the ability to feed them and facilities for them to sleep and bathe. Provisions should be in place to take the
The facilities model used at many interstate truck stops would work well in this situation. families to a safe location if their homes are
Take care of your people ahead of time. However, people living in potential natural disaster areas damaged or destroyed. Communicating that
have families, and many will want to stay with them instead of going to where they are needed. information to the workers will enable the
This has happened on the mainland, with some police officers and firefighters who, in more-normal workers to do their jobs without worrying
situations, are very dedicated to their jobs. For this reason, steps should be taken to ensure their fam- about their families.
ilies are ready for the possible effects of a hurricane. Emergency supplies should be in place so these Self-sufficient supply trains. Another
workers don’t have to worry about leaving their families in order to serve the community. logistical challenge after the 2017 hurricanes
was getting the road system cleared and func-
tional. If the roads are not passable, supplies
cannot be moved to the people who are in
need. To address this challenge, each depot or
port should also have equipment designed to
clear the roads.
If possible, they should also have the capa-
bility to make basic repairs to the roads or to
make temporary roadways around damaged
sections. Trucks with plows, bulldozers and
other earth-moving equipment could do the
lion’s share of this kind of work. The supply train
would follow the maintenance vehicles as they
clear the roads ahead.
Drones to survey the damage. Yet another
logistical challenge was assessing the status
of infrastructure, such as roads and the power
grid. Areas that need repairs must be identified,
and the repairs should then be prioritized. More
drones equipped with video cameras should
‹ Personnel from the USNS Comfort provided

medical services on the island of Puerto Rico to
supplement those provided on board. (Photo:
Media.Defense.gov)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS,
TRANSPORTATION ROUTES, WATER
SUPPLIES, SEWAGE SYSTEMS AND POWER
GRIDS WERE HIT ESPECIALLY HARD THIS
TIME AROUND, AND THEY ARE ALL CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE.
be used to do this survey and assessment faster than in the past. A number of power companies in
mainland states are already piloting programs that use drones for this very purpose.
Experimental balloons and tethered drones were deployed in October and November, respectively,
over Puerto Rico to provide cellular service in some areas. Quicker and more-comprehensive use
‹ Above: President Trump visited Puerto Rico to get a firsthand look at the of these assets in the future would enhance the speed and thoroughness of damage estimates
relief efforts that originated on the U.S. mainland. More needs to be done
on the islands to make them more self-sufficient in dealing with the annual and mitigation activities.
challenge of hurricanes and tropical storms. (Photo: WikiMedia)org)
Make better use of the National Guard. The Puerto Rican National Guard, composed of both air
and ground assets, did an excellent job of helping the people of Puerto Rico and the neighboring
islands. They were limited, however, by the capabilities that are part of their organizational structure.
The ground assets are mainly infantry units with some military police and their organic support
companies that can provide water purification, communications, transportation and engineering
support. The air assets are C-130 heavy airlift aircraft that can move massive amounts of supplies or
people on short or rudimentary airstrips.
The infantry units were able to provide trucks and manpower throughout the island. The air assets
were able to move bulk people and supplies. But the real benefit came from units that could provide
the basics of life—purifying water, re-establishing communications, and repairing or building bridges.
Imagine how much more they could do if their table of equipment and organization were modified
to reflect their local disaster relief mission with the addition of more of these support resources!
Also, adding new units with the following capabilities would greatly magnify the existing civilian
emergency resources already in place:
• A helicopter battalion to get people and supplies into areas the C-130s and ground vehicles could
not get to.
‹ Above: Functioning
telecommunications
infrastructure, such
as these microwave
towers, is critical to the
restoration of normal
activities following
damaging hurricanes—
and they are also vital
to effective delivery
and management of
emergency services.
(Photo: Media.Defense.
gov)
› Right: Engineers
from the Puerto Rican
National Guard repair
power lines as part of
the effort to restore
the electrical power
grid on the island.
These activities were
some of the most
beneficial uses of the
PRNG. (Photo: Media.
Defense.gov)

ONLINE RESOURCES
FOR HURRICANE
EMERGENCIES
The following resources and websites contain useful information regarding what
to do prior to, during and after a hurricane:
• The Hurricane page at Ready.gov: www.Ready.gov/hurricanes

• FEMA’s “How to Prepare for a Hurricane” pamphlet: www.FEMA.gov/
media-library-data/1494007144395-b0e215ae1ba6ac1b556f084e190e5862/
FEMA_2017_Hurricane_HTP_FINAL.pdf
• AccuWeather’s hurricane preparedness article: www.AccuWeather.com/en/
weather-news/six-ways-to-prepare-for-tropical-storms-hurricanes-
atlantic-season/46771146
• Hurricane Safety from the Red Cross: www.RedCross.org/get-help/how-to-
prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/hurricane#About
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page on hurricane
preparedness: www.CDC.gov/features/hurricanepreparedness/index.html
› Right: Coordina-
tion of emergency
• A telecommunications battalion to
responses involves quickly re-establish communications for
dozens of organi-
zations from many command and control of disaster recovery
regions. Advanced efforts—but not to re-establish normal
planning and
practice exercises telephone service (although this might be
provide major ben-
efits to local emer-
an additional capability or mission).
gency-management • An engineering battalion to help with
agencies. (Photo:
WikiMedia.org) road clearance and repair, operating as
snow removal departments do in the
mainland’s northern states.
• A battalion of field hospitals (the
‹ Below: Debris
that blocked roads 21st-century equivalent of the Korean War
comprised more than
MASH units) to serve two purposes: first,
just limbs and brush. It
included trees, building to provide medical services in more-remote
materials and landslide
rubble. (Photo: Media. areas; second, to provide civilian medical
Defense.gov) staff a place to do their work while hospitals
‹ Near left: Clearing

roads often requires
more than just moving
debris. In this case,
the roadbed and water
lines were undercut
by flood waters. The
Puerto Rico National
Guard engineering
battalions were able
to make field repairs
to get the road oper-
ational again. (Photo:
Media.Defense.gov)

THE CARIBBEAN GETS HIT EVERY
YEAR IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER.
CNC mill
RESIDENTS SHOULD KNOW BY NOW for any size shop,
THE RANGE OF WHAT THEY WILL located anywhere
BE FACING, AND THEY (AND THE
REST OF US) SHOULD BE PAYING × Machine parts from
ATTENTION TO THE LESSONS aluminum or steel
LEARNED FROM PAST DISASTERS. × Precision manufacturing
in your garage
are getting power restored or are being repaired. × Compact footprint

IT’S NOT JUST FOR GOVERNMENTS
× Plug in anywhere
In reality, governments and local municipalities can only do so much. With with 120 Vac
these disasters in the Caribbean, we have seen that it can take weeks for help to
reach many people and months to repair serious damage to infrastructure.
The lesson for individuals is to take their own steps to prepare for catastrophic CNC
events. Households should have emergency provisions and equipment in place to mill
star
ting
take care of the basic needs of life. Based on past response times, these should at
$4
be able to support you and your family for at least 15 days—and preferably, 30
days. These include:
• Food—Enough nonperishable food for each person in the family. Focus
950
on canned or dehydrated foods, packaged rice- or pasta-based meals, because
they are easy to prepare and easy to store for at least several months. The food
stocks should be rotated out every three to six months, using them for your TORMACH.COM
regular meals and replacing them with fresh supplies. (And, of course, don’t
forget a can opener.)
• Water—Enough water for each person in the family. Plan on 2 gallons of
potable water per person each day. This should cover what you need to drink,
what you need for cooking and some left over for cleaning and bathing. The best
approach is to store drinkable water in a mix of large and small containers to
simplify storage and usage. If you don’t have the space to store that much water,
invest in water filters or pumps you can use to purify local sources of water.
Products also exist for purifying sea water if that is your main local option.
• Food Preparation—Simple pots and pans for cooking and a way to cook or
prepare the food. Because what you are preparing will normally just need to be FOLLOW US ON
heated or rehydrated, you don’t need anything fancy. Things you already have at
home that you can put into use during an emergency include propane or biofuel
camp stoves, or gas or charcoal grills.
• Electricity—A way to meet your electrical needs. This should only be for
communications devices such as cell phones and in order to stay aware of what
is going on. This need can be met with batteries, solar panels, electric generators
or hand-crank generators.
• Communications. Your two-way communication needs can be handled with cell
phones or a variety of radios—depending on the coverage distance desired—that do
not require cell phone tower infrastructure to be up and running. Multi-power emer-
gency radios have the ability to receive AM and FM bands in addition to weather
and emergency broadcasts.
Bringing you everything you want to
• Shelter. There are many ways to keep your family sheltered from the weather. know about Concealed Carry…
Depending on the situation, this could range from emergency blankets or
sleeping bags to debris shelters or a cave. In the event your roof is damaged but
and more.
the building is not dangerous, you can set up a tent in a room and sleep in there.
Another approach is to have the tools on hand to make temporary repairs.
facebook.com/
• Health. Have equipment and supplies on hand to meet your medical needs.
Also know how to use it! This can be a basic first aid kit with enough supplies for ConcealedCarryMagazine

› Near right: To increase their chances of receiving
assistance, residents of this home painted "HELP"
on their roof so it could be seen by rescue aircraft.
(Photo: WikiMedia.org)
› Far right: Drinking water is one of the most

critical needs, especially in a disaster situation.
Units of the Puerto Rico National Guard were
able to provide water purification services in
areas where bottled water supplies could not be
delivered. (Photo: Media.Defense.gov)
the number of people you need to support.

Getting a family-sized kit will ensure you
have enough for your needs and, if needed,
to help others around you. Another thing to
remember is to have at least one refill of your
› Right: Getting
prescription drugs on hand in case you cannot supplies to remote
refill them after the storm hits. areas, especially in
the mountainous
• Sanitation. Most people don’t think about areas of Puerto Rico,
was difficult. When
sanitation until it’s too late. You need a way to roads were not
clean your cooking utensils, handle human and passible for weeks
after the hurricanes,
pet waste, and keep your hands clean. Your focus the only option was
is to keep your gear and yourself as free of germs helicopters. (Photo:
Mediad.Publicbroad-
as possible, because illnesses spread more broadly casting.net)
and quickly in unsanitary environments.
‹ Above: When supplies were delivered to distribution points, they were

passed out by members of the Puerto Rico National Guard and emergency
personnel. (Photo: Media.Defense.gov)
‹ Left: Hurricane winds and rains ripped the tops off of trees, flooded roads
and tore the roofs off of homes and buildings. (Photo: WikiMedia.org)

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SIDEKICKS
EXPLORING THE VARIETY OF
SURVIVAL’S #1 TOOL
BY MICHAEL D’ANGONA
U
nquestionably, the num- numerous when it’s go time.
ber-one tool/weapon for In addition, a knife is also a personal defensive
any survivalist would be a and offensive weapon. Silent, maneuverable and
knife. Although some people deadly, a sharpened knife at your side can aid you
might debate this for certain during an unprovoked attack from either man or
circumstances, this statement stands true for beast. And, when starvation is knocking at your
a multitude of reasons. door, a knife will help you secure sustenance from
First, a knife acts as a multifunctioning tool. It both the plant and animal kingdoms.
can carve diverse shapes, such as a spoon or fork, As diverse as their uses, knives are available in
from irregular chunks of wood. It can sharpen extremely varied forms and materials. They differ
and notch saplings to construct animal traps, in length, size, shape, weight, components and
an overnight shelter or a makeshift fishing pole a number of other factors. Your job is to find the
or spear. When fire is needed, it can be used best knife, or knives, to fit your particular needs.
to create sparks with a companion ferro rod or Luckily for you, there are plenty of good ones
other metallic fire-starter. Its uses are diverse and from which to choose.

Creek Stewart’s Whiskey Bolo
Overview Specifications
The Whiskey Bolo is the first machete in • Overall length: 15.25 inches
Creek Stewart's “Whiskey” line of knives. • Blade length: 9.875 inches
Its tip-heavy design makes it a devastating • Steel: Reptile-A36Carb
tool for clearing brush and chopping. The • Upcycled white oak handle
rounded, sharpened tip is also perfect for • Handmade in Kentucky
trenching or digging out a fire pit. The white
MSRP
oak whiskey barrel scales are hot-dipped in
$180
paraffin wax for a lifetime of protection. The
Whiskey Bolo comes with a highly durable URL
stapled leather sheath that has been dipped www.CreekStewart.com
in a hot paraffin bath for weatherproofing.
Creek Stewart’s Whiskey Mule

Fixed Blade
The Whiskey Mule is a true working woods • Overall length: 9.5 inches
knife. The trailing point design makes for a • Blade length: 5 inches
beautiful, yet extremely functional, blade. • Steel: Reptile-A36Carb
The white oak scales and forged thumb • Upcycled white oak handle
ramp give the Mule a comfortable grip, even • Handmade in Kentucky
in the worst of conditions. This knife also
MSRP
features an integrated ferro rod scraper and
$135
a unique lanyard hole that is perpendicular
to the full-tang handle. URL
www.CreekStewart.com

CRKT Minimalist Bowie
The perfect all-around knife, this little • Overall length: 5.13 inches
number cuts through nearly any material • Blade length: 2.13 inches
with ease. Equally useful in both urban • Blade steel: 5Cr15MoV
and rural settings, the Minimalist Bowie • Bead-blasted blade finish
features an extra-sharp, plain-edged blade; • Glass-reinforced nylon sheath
easy-to-grip, resin-infused handle; and an • Weight: 1.6 ounces
attached lanyard for confident retention.
MSRP
Big jobs are no problem for this compact,
$39.99
yet incredibly versatile, knife.
URL
www.CRKT.com
CRKT Shinbu Fixed Blade

Superior penetration and maximum • Overall length: 14.75 inches
slashing power are the trademarks of this • Blade length: 9.25 inches
awesome blade. Featuring a dual-grind, • Blade finish: Satin
tanto-style blade, this makes short work • MOLLE-compatible Kydex sheath
of any cutting operation. Constructed of • Weight 13.3 ounces
YK-30 high-carbon steel, the Shinbu is the
MSRP
go-to weapon-of-choice during entry and
$350
search operations when firearms cannot be
used. A traditional cord-wrapped handle URL
provides a sure grip and exceptional energy www.CRKT.com
transfer to your strikes, making the Shinbu
a force to be reckoned with.

CRKT Septimo Folder
Designed by a seasoned Green Beret, the • Open length: 8.188 inches
Septimo is a straightforward, compact, • Blade length: 3.622 inches
tactical folder that performs as an all-around • Blade finish: Black oxide
knife, as well as a strap cutter, utility knife • Veff Serration strap cutter
and personal-defense tool. For use in nearly • Liner locking mechanism
all environments, the Septimo is your lifeline • Flipper opener
when it’s only you against both man and nature. • Handle: 6061 aluminum with
Its sure-grip, ergonomic handle prevents thermoplastic rubber inlays
slipping and accidents while transferring your
MSRP
power through its razor-sharp blade.
$59.99
URL
www.CRKT.com
Wazoo Ceramic Mini-Knife

Version 3
This extremely compact ceramic folder is • Open length: 2.8 inches
ideal for cutting through leather, cardboard, • Closed length: 1.7 inches
fabric, cordage or even a fresh kill. Con- • Blade length: 1.1 inches
structed from ceramic, brass and plastic, • Blade: Nonmagnetic zirconia
and with a stainless steel chain, this pocket ceramic
essential offers precision slicing, as well as • Weight: 0.1 ounce
a great replacement for a fire steel scraper. • Includes EPDM O-ring for secure
This new Version 3 offers an even-hardened closure
black blade and a thicker spine, which creates
MSRP
a shower of fire-starting sparks. Stores just
$15
about everywhere with ease.
URL
www.WazooSurvivalGear.com

Schrade Extreme
Hollow Handle Survival Knife
This hollow-handled knife is the real deal; no • Overall length: 12.7 inches
more broken handles found on cheap, imita- • Blade length: 7.5 inches
tion varieties. This survival knife, constructed • Blade and handle are 1070
of one-piece high-carbon steel, will take a high-carbon steel
beating out in the field and will come back • Weight: 17.8 ounces
for more. Its roomy handle’s compartment • Includes 12-piece hex bit kit
comes with a multi-piece tool set that can • Reinforced nylon sheath
be removed and replaced with any sort of
MSRP
pocket-sized survival gear that your mission
$106.66
or weekend in the woods dictates. Includes a
lanyard and sheath. URL
www.BTIBrands.com
TOPS Fieldcraft 154CM

Stainless Fixed Blade
The Fieldcraft can be your go-to blade during • Overall length: 10.0 inches
crucial survival situations or when you are • Blade length: 4.75 inches
exploring, camping or hiking. Its high-quality • Blade finish: Subdued tumbled
stainless steel blade maintains sharpness, finish
even under the harshest conditions. Sporting • Weight without sheath: 10.5 ounces
a hardness of RC 58-60 and given a full cryo • Black Kydex sheath
treatment, the 154CM blade is ideal as a
MSRP
striker or for a variety of scraping and cutting
$275
tasks. The Fieldcraft blade is available with a
variety of handles and comes complete with URL
a durable Kydex sheath, magnesium ferro rod www.TopsKnives.com
and a signal whistle.

SOG Pillar Fixed Blade
This American-made, all-around knife • Overall length: 9.9 inches
features a full-tang CPM S35VN steel blade • Blade length: 5.00 inches
and canvas Micarta handle. Constructed for • Blade finish: Subdued stone wash
durability and ease of handling, this knife • Canvas Micarta handle
offers improved toughness, better edge • Black Kydex sheath
retention and higher resistance to wear and
MSRP
chipping—all while maintaining ultimate
$254
ease of sharpening. In both wet and dry
conditions, your grip won’t fail while per- URL
forming everyday or survival-level tasks. This www.SOGKnives.com
knife comes complete with an adjustable,
low-profile locking mount.
SOG Spec Arc Folder

Lightweight and easily concealable in your • Blade length: 4.0 inches
front or back pocket, the Spec Arc features • Closed length: 4.80 inches
a VG-10 blade and Arc-Lock construction • Bead-blasted finish
for smooth opening and strong lockup. The • Ambidextrous Arc Lock keeps blade
Spec Arc’s blade offers clean and consistent secure
slicing. It is easy to maintain a sharp edge on • Reversible low-carry belt clip
this knife. Its glass-reinforced nylon handle
MSRP
is both abrasion- and impact-resistant, and
$160
the entire unit is secured deep in your pocket
with its reversible low-carry clip. URL
www.SOGKnives.com

TOPS Al Mar Mini SERE Operator
Fixed Blade
Sporting the title of one of the most well- • Overall length: 8.75 inches
known tactical knives ever fielded—and with • Blade length: 4.00 inches
the performance to back it up—the Mini • Blade steel: 154CM
SERE Operator is ready to be your EDC. The • Blade finish: Subdued tumbled
Operator’s classic design, mixed with proven finish
ergonomics, makes this knife perfect for • Weight with sheath: 4.5 ounces
slashing or stabbing. Its handle is thin and • Includes Kydex belt sheath
comfortable in both forward and reverse grips,
MSRP
allowing multiple positioning options across
$210
your body. The Operator is an iconic knife that
walks the walk! URL
www.TopsKnives.com
SOG Kiku Assisted Folder

This knife represents the incredible collab- • Blade length: 3.50 inches
oration between SOG and Japanese knife • Closed length: 4.60 inches
maker Kiku Matsuda. Balancing class and • Blade steel: VG-10 stainless
comfort with durability and functionality, • Weight: 5.6 ounces
this stylish workhorse is ideal for carry, • Button lock blade-locking mechanism
no matter where you go. Its ingenious coil • Integrated stainless steel handle
spring-assisted technology allows for an liners
almost effortless opening, while its blade
MSRP
sports the trademark grinds of its Japanese
$174
creator. The linen Micarta handle makes it
ultra-strong, lightweight and highly resistant URL
to wear, chemicals and heat. www.SOGKnives.com

Kershaw Deadline Folder
Both classy and tactical, the Deadline offers • Open length: 7.5 inches
the perfect balance between a secure, • Blade length: 3.25 inches
closed knife and an easy-to-open flipper. • Weight: 4.6 ounces
The detent ball allows a just-right-feeling • Steel handle with titanium carbo-nitride
opening mechanism that operates smoothly coating
time after time. The 8Cr13MoV plain-edge • Frame lock mechanism
Wharncliffe blade features a top swedge,
MSRP
while its handle is composed of two-toned
$49.99
steel with a cold-forged textured grip. Glass-
filled nylon backspacers add rich detail URL
and a clean, polished finish. A deep-carry, https://Kershaw.KaiUSAltd.com
reversible pocket clip allows the knife to
rest low in your pocket. The Deadline is an
exceptional EDC weapon.
Mykel Hawke’s Tacti-Tool

Designed by renowned survivalist and • Open length: 7.375 inches (with
former U.S. Special Forces operator Mykel main blade open)
Hawke, the Tacti-Tool performs a multitude • Blade length: 3.125 inches
of functions while still serving as your go-to • Closed length: 4.25 inches
knife while out in the field. The razor-sharp, • Weight: 6.4 ounces
straight-edged blade is joined by flat and • Quick-release carabiner clip
Phillips screwdrivers, a bottle opener with • Integrated belt clip
sharpened belt-cutter, and both carabiner
MSRP
and belt-clip carrying points. The ergonomic
$29.99
handle features G-10 scales and is specially
designed to be held firmly in your grasp. URL
www.HawkeBrand.com

DON’T
KICK THE
CAN!
SURVIVAL HACKS FOR A DISCARDED
ALUMINUM CAN
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER NYERGES
W
e’ve all been walking in the pristine wilderness,
and suddenly, we see that someone left their
beer cans lying scattered on the ground. Some
of my hiking partners utter some pretty coarse
profanities at the “modern barbarians” who left
a pile of their aluminum cans for someone else to clean up.
I must admit that litter of any sort bothers me. After all, shouldn’t we
all adhere to the rule, “Pack it in; pack it out”? Aluminum cans are also
so light and can be crushed so easily that they don’t take up a lot of
space on the hike out. Don't litter! Period.

OK, now that I’ve gotten that out of my ... YOU’LL PROBABLY COME UP WITH SOME
system, here’s another perspective.
Did you see the movie, The Gods Must Be
OTHER USES FOR ALUMINUM CANS, SUCH AS
Crazy? In it, a bush pilot drops a soda bottle A COLLECTOR FOR A SOLAR STILL, A SOURCE
out of the plane, and it falls into the midst FOR MAKING SOME BASIC CUTTING TOOLS
of a tribe of Bushmen. They have never seen
such an object before, and they all use it for a
OR FIELD-EXPEDIENT FASTENERS, AND MANY
dozen or so practical uses. As far as they are OTHERS.
concerned, the gods in heaven dropped them
‹ Discarded alumi-
this new tool to make life easier. num cans are easy
to find everywhere.
An aluminum can is one of those multipur- Even when you’re
pose objects that can literally be a lifesaver if on a remote trail,
it’s possible to find
you’re lost or stranded. some of these signs
What good is an aluminum can, you say? Well, of human presence.
with an aluminum can, a bit of skill and your

Swiss Army knife, you can make a fire, purify
water, cook, signal and do a number of other
things. That makes the discarded aluminum
can a “multipurpose tool.”
Let’s take a look at the many uses of an
aluminum can that you might happen to find.
MAKE A FIRE
I was a bit skeptical when I first heard
about making a fire using the bottom of an
aluminum beer or soda can, but it actually
works. That is, it works if you prepare the can
properly ... and if you have a lot of patience.
‹ To make a fire with

an aluminum can, first
polish the bottom.
Steel wool works
great, but you can also
use other means to
bring a shine to the
aluminum.

‹ Polishing the con-
cavity at the bottom
of the aluminum can
with steel wool works
best, but you can also
use other materials,
such as toothpaste.
‹ Below, top image:

Face the bottom of the
can toward the sun
and place your tinder
in the “hot spot” until it
catches fire.
‹ Bottom image:
Patience pays off as
the tinder begins to
smolder.
The very bottom of an aluminum can is not a true parabolic dish, but when highly polished, it
can be used to focus the sun’s rays to a point and ignite tinder.
Because the surface of the bottom of the aluminum can is not polished, you need to give it a
high polish in order for it to sufficiently focus the sun’s rays. When I first heard about this, peo-
ple were suggesting that you should polish the bottom of the can with chocolate (a suggestion
I have never fully understood to this day. Maybe that suggestion was made because a hiker is
likely to have some chocolate in his pack. But it is clearly not the best way to polish the can—or
to use the chocolate). The best polishing agent I’ve found for this is fine steel wool.
However, it’s always good to know several ways to do each task. So, if you don’t have steel
wool, try toothpaste.
Polish the bottom of the can for about 10 minutes or until you have a bright and highly reflec-
tive surface. Once the bottom of the can has the high polish, you are ready to make fire.
Experimenter Eric Zammit of Altadena, California, discovered via practice that he could
quickly get a coal if he had polished the bottom of the can with the finest steel wool (0000)
for about 10 minutes. Then, using a small bit of rolled-up mugwort for tinder, he would have it
smoking within three seconds and have a coal within 10 seconds.
Point the bottom of the can toward the sun; then, move your tinder near the bottom of the
can, watching for the point on the tinder where the light focuses to a point. When you find that
point, keep your tinder there until you get your coal. This is akin to making a fire with a magni-
fying glass, except you are not focusing the light through the lens; rather, you are focusing the
THE VERY BOTTOM OF AN ALUMINUM CAN

IS NOT A TRUE PARABOLIC DISH, BUT WHEN
HIGHLY POLISHED, IT CAN BE USED TO
FOCUS THE SUN’S RAYS TO A POINT AND
IGNITE TINDER.

‹ Left: The can is
held in place over
light back up to a single point.
the fire with a cord
tied to the opener
tab. PURIFY WATER
One of the most important skills in the
‹ Right: The author backcountry is the ability to purify your water.
gets a fire going so
he can boil the water If you’re just out for the day without all your
in the can to make it normal equipment, you might not have a water
safer to drink. (Photo:
Helen Nyerges) filter or purification pills. Fill the aluminum can
with your suspect water and bring it to a boil
over a fire. Boiling will kill any biological con-
taminants that might make you sick. Of course,
if the water has “stuff” in it, by all means, first
pour the water through a cloth.
‹ Left: All biological

contaminants are COOK YOUR SOUP
killed by the time
the water boils. A You can take the top off the can and use
discarded can such it as a small coffee or soup pot. Punch two
as this might prevent
a lost hiker from holes in the rim at the top so you can add a
drinking contami- wire and suspend it over the fire.
nated water or be-
coming dehydrated. Even if you don’t have your Swiss Army knife
for cutting the top off the can, aluminum is so
soft that you could actually use a sharpened
stick or pointed stone for this job.
WATER FILTER
If, for some reason, you can’t get a fire going, or
if a fire would reveal your whereabouts, you can
use that aluminum can for a makeshift water fil-
ter. Punch little holes into the bottom of the can
and cut off the top of the can. A variety of filter
materials have been tested, such as packing the
can with clean socks.
‹ Below, left: To
make a water filter, As a result of experiments that were done in
begin by cutting off
the top of the alumi-
Great Britain by Stefan Kallman in the 1980s,
num can so you can he found he could create a reasonable water
fill it with your filter
media. filter with an old aluminum can. He cut the
top off the can, punched holes in the bottom
‹ Below, right: Using
an awl (or nail), punch
and added sphagnum moss to the bottom. He
small holes in the bot- then filled the bulk of the can with a blend of
tom of the can to let the
filtered water out. charcoal, peat and more sphagnum and added
WITH AN
ALUMINUM CAN,
A BIT OF SKILL
AND YOUR SWISS
ARMY KNIFE,
YOU CAN MAKE
A FIRE, PURIFY
WATER, COOK,
SIGNAL AND DO
A NUMBER OF
OTHER THINGS.

‹ Stuff the can with
available filter mate-
rials that will give you
the best chance of
removing at least the
large contaminants. In
this case, cotton fabric
is used. If possible, put
fine sand or crushed
charcoal in the fabric
to enhance its filtra-
tion properties.
‹ Slowly pour your

suspect water through
the “filter” to improve
your chances of
avoiding a waterborne
illness. If necessary,
you should consider
doing this process
multiple times.
a thin layer of small pebbles to the top. These

AN ALUMINUM CAN IS ONE OF THOSE
ingredients are available in the U.K but not
necessarily everywhere. Hopefully, you’ll be MULTIPURPOSE OBJECTS THAT CAN
able to find suitable substitutes. Other filters LITERALLY BE A LIFESAVER IF YOU’RE LOST
could be clean sand mixed with a bit of
OR STRANDED.
charcoal or the aforementioned clean socks
(or other porous fabric that can be packed
into the can).
A filter such as this cannot be expected to
be 100 percent effective, but it can help to
remove some contaminants from the water.
CANDLE HOLDER LANTERN

I have seen several versions of candle
lanterns that use a beer can, but the easiest
is to simply cut two “doors” into the can and
set a candle into the can securely with a bit
of hot wax. You then use the pull tab on the
top to hang the lantern wherever you want
it. The doors can be adjusted so that the
light reflects where you want it. This will also
help protect the candle from the wind.
Another version is to punch a hole in the
bottom and push a regular candle through
‹ Above: To make a
that hole. As it burns, you periodically candle lantern from
push it upward. an aluminum can, first
mark the can as shown
(left). Then, cut the
SIGNALING MIRROR can along the line—a
vertical cut from top to
It’s easy to make an emergency signaling bottom and horizontal
slits at the top and
mirror from an aluminum can. Just cut a bottom of the vertical
circle or a square from the can. Aluminum is cut (right).
soft, and you can do this with the scissors on
your Swiss Army knife or with any knife.
If you’ve ever used a regular signaling
mirror, you know that it helps to have a little
hole in the middle of the mirror to sight
through. Make a small hole in the piece of
aluminum so you can attempt to observe
your intended target. If the sun is in the
‹ Left: Thread a wire
ideal spot in the sky, and if the person flying or string through the
overhead happens to be looking your way, opener tab to hang the
can lantern where you
they will hopefully notice your signal and need it.

ANOTHER VERSION ‹ Left: This can has
two “doors” for the
IS TO PUNCH lantern. They can be
used as reflectors or
A HOLE IN THE to protect the candle
from the wind.
BOTTOM AND PUSH ‹ Right: You can place
A REGULAR CANDLE a votive or other small,
long-burning candle
THROUGH THAT in the lantern and
hang it where needed.
HOLE. AS IT BURNS, Be sure to fix it to the
bottom of the can with
YOU PERIODICALLY hot wax so it won’t

become a fire hazard
PUSH IT UPWARD. if the wind upsets the

lantern.
send someone to your rescue.

Your makeshift aluminum can signaling
mirror doesn’t have to be round, but at least
round off the corners if it’s a square. Roll the ‹ Left: If you only have
longer candles, cut an
edges so you’re not holding a piece of metal
“X” into the bottom
that could cut your hand. of the can and push
the candle up into the
lantern as it burns
WHISTLE down. The X will make
it easier to adjust the
A little whistle can be made from two rectangular hole to the diameter of
the candle.
pieces cut from an aluminum can.
Each piece should be about ¼ to ½ inch wide,
with one piece about 1½ inches long and the
other about 3 inches long.
Place the shorter piece perpendicularly across
the long piece near one end, as for a cross.
Then fold the shorter piece backward to wrap
it around the longer piece. Be careful to allow
some space for your breath to flow between
the two pieces.
Then, fold about ¼ inch of the end of the
longer piece back toward the wrapper you
just made without covering it. You’ve now
created the little slot through which you
blow for a whistle.
Fold the long piece at a 90-degree angle
‹ Left: Cut a rectangu-

lar piece of aluminum
out of the can for a
makeshift signaling
mirror. Put a small
sighting hole in the
piece of aluminum so
you can track your tar-
get more accurately.
‹ Right: Flatten the

piece of aluminum
to use it like a regular
signal mirror. The hole
allows you to sight
the plane or potential
rescuer when trying
to reflect sunlight at
them with the shiny
aluminum.

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› Left: With these two small strips of
aluminum and some effort, you can make
a little whistle that can be heard at greater
distances than your voice.
› Center: Place the shorter strip over the

longer strip in a cross shape.
› Right: Bend the top of the vertical strip

back on itself. This is the rear view. This
folded section becomes the mouthpiece
where you blow through the pieces of
aluminum.
just behind the wrapper. Then, fold it in the

opposite direction into segments about ½
inch long at 90-degree angles. When you’re
finished, the entire piece should look like the
letter “P” from the side (study the accompa-
nying pictures on this page). Make sure the
little opening is big enough to blow through
and tweak it until it works—being careful
about how you put this piece up to your lips.
If you practice with this a bit, you have a
good chance of creating a functional whistle.
On the other hand, acorn caps and grass
blades also make serviceable whistles. The
sound of the whistle travels much farther
than the human voice, and this can be a life-
saver in an emergency. (You knew you should
have included a whistle in your survival kit—
but you didn’t. Now is the time to improvise.)
‹ Above: Roll the lower flap back so that its end meets the mouthpiece.
LEAVE A NOTE
‹ Above, right: The
You’re lost, with nothing to write on—but author’s friend, Seth,
you have an aluminum can. You can cut a tries the whistle. Note
its shape and that he’s
piece out of it and write a note on it for other very careful when
people to read. You don’t need a pencil; just putting the whistle up
to his lips.
find a solid, thin stick or pointed stone to
emboss your message or drawing into the
aluminum. Hang your note in a prominent
place for others to see whatever you need to
communicate. The piece of aluminum will be
shiny and more obvious than a paper note,
which might get blown away or rained on.
This is akin to the aluminum tags gardeners
use to mark their trees and other plants.
To increase its chances of being seen, tie
some other pieces of the can to the string so
they bang together in a breeze or wind.
In your travels, you’ll probably come up
with some other uses for aluminum cans,
such as a collector for a solar still, a source
for making some basic cutting tools or
‹ Need to leave a note?
field-expedient fasteners, and many others. Cut a piece of alumi-
Ultimately, the point of this article is to get num, scratch your
note on it, and hang it
you thinking about all the secondary uses to in a conspicuous spot.
which raw materials such as aluminum cans It won’t blow away like
a piece of paper, and
can be applied. rain won’t damage it.

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PRACTICAL AND MULTI-FUNCTIONAL
SWISS ARMY KNIVES
BY REUBEN BOLIEU
98 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [APRIL

[JUNE 2018]
2018]
T
he iconic little red knife with ‹ A decision between
the corkscrew or
a cross and shield, known as Phillips screwdriver
is what most model
the Swiss Army knife (SAK), choices come down
has been around for more than to. Each has its
uses, although the
130 years. No matter how big corkscrew is more
or small, a SAK has always been considered versatile and holds a
Victorinox eyeglass
a multi-tool of sorts, even though it is more screwdriver.
knife-based than a typical Leatherman-style
multi-tool. Featuring a broad array of sizes and
tool options, there definitely is a SAK—possibly
two or three—for everyone!
FAMED SAK
The popular reality TV show, Survivorman,
showed star Les Stroud using a Victorinox
Huntsman knife for most of season 2 in harsh
environments on some very intricate projects.
He made shelter, fire, traps and all sorts of
‹ Below: Quite
camp craft with only his Swiss Army knife. possibly the most gave it away and, in the next episode, he is shown using a Traveler model from Wenger.
MacGyver's Swiss Army knife went through a recognizable knives In 1986, after a previous procurement of the Master Craftsman by NASA for official use by its
in the world, Vic-
few changes over the early episodes. His first torinox Swiss Army astronauts, Victorinox started manufacturing the Astronaut model with the same tool configu-
and most-often-used knife was a Tinker model knives are renowned ration. This model was also later sold with special handles that featured a metal inlaid image of
for their quality and
from Victorinox. In "Thief of Budapest," he versatility. the space shuttle, causing some to refer to the knife as the “Space Shuttle” model.
... THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE (SAK), HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN
130 YEARS. NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL, A SAK HAS ALWAYS BEEN
CONSIDERED A MULTI-TOOL OF SORTS ...

VICTORINOX
AND WENGER
Until about 10 years ago, Wenger and Victorinox operated as
separate entities; both companies made Swiss Army knives
for decades before merging under one corporate ownership.
It was announced some time ago that Wenger’s brand
will no longer be seen on Swiss Army knives. Instead, about
two-thirds of its active knife models would be rebranded
as Victorinox. The remaining knives, many close cousins to
Victorinox models, were retired from the line.
The brands are merging as “the global fight for survival is
getting increasingly fierce,” said Victorinox CEO Carl Elsener
‹ The author first fell in love with the Victorinox flagship knife, the Swiss Champ. The Swiss Champ in a statement about the business decision. “Many consum-
does it all and is well worth the weight and bulk.
ers can hardly distinguish between the knife products from
Victorinox and Wenger. That’s why we are joining forces
The Victorinox Master Craftsman is a 91mm Swiss Army knife with Cellidor (organic thermoplas- and focusing on one brand.”
tic) scales. It's one of the smaller knives to contain both the metal file/hacksaw, as well as the
wood saw. The last-known variations offer five tools on the back of this medium-sized package,
resulting in a very high tool density.
Astronaut Chris Hadfield used his Master

Craftsman to break into Russian space station
Mir, because the last crew had sealed up the
‹ The Swiss Bianco hatch “just a little too enthusiastically.” The
One-Handed Trekker
swaps out the Phillips
Master Craftsman has been discontinued but is
head screwdriver for very similar to the Huntsman.
the corkscrew, as well
as yellow Stay Glow
scales that remain CORKSCREW OR PHILLIPS?
illuminated long after
the sun goes down. Often, the deciding factor between two
otherwise similar Swiss Army knives is to go
with the corkscrew, as on a Camper, Hunter,
Huntsman, or with a Phillips screwdriver, as on
a Hiker, One-Handed Trekker or Fieldmaster.
It is really a matter of taste and which knife
does more for you or your company. Most Swiss
Army knives have a can opener that is already
suited for Phillips-head screwdrivers—but only
surface screws, because any screws set deeply
inside a project require the slim length of the
dedicated Phillips screwdriver. This means
having a knife with a Phillips might be more
‹ One of the author’s conducive to office and workshop use.
personal favorites is
the Camper. It has all Corkscrews are on the official “Boy Scout”
the tools the larger model—the Huntsman. (This isn’t to suggest
One-Handed Trekker
has, except that it that Boy Scouts will be popping corks while
swaps out the Phillips earning their merit badges.)
screwdriver for the
corkscrew. By itself, the corkscrew has many uses that

› The Victorinox
Hunter is a larger,
111mm model with a
locking main blade,
wood saw and a
special serrated gut
hook. It also features
a combo tool for
opening bottles and
cans.
BY ITSELF, THE CORKSCREW HAS MANY carrying packages, bags with twine handles and
USES THAT COULD EASILY FILL AN ENTIRE firewood tied together with cordage: wrapping
them around the corkscrew and using the knife
ARTICLE. as a comfortable way to tote things.
could easily fill an entire article. I will share three common uses that really make it my first choice Victorinox makes a small mini-screwdriver
over the Phillips these days. that is perfect for adjusting screws on most
For untying knots that are too tight or frozen, a corkscrew can’t be beat. Some people use the eyeglasses and sunglasses. It nestles perfectly
awl, but it cuts a bit of the cordage while untying knots. In addition, I found an obscure way of in the corkscrew, thus adding yet another tool.
Those reasons, as well as the obvious
intended use of opening wine bottles (and
making friends while traveling by providing
a way to get their celebration going) make a
corkscrew a viable tool.
REAL-WORLD USE
I have been using Swiss Army knives for more
than 20 years in the woods, at home and on
my travels to more than 60 countries. They are
super easy to sharpen, widely recognizable by
officials abroad, easy to replace, are afford-
able, pocketable—and, most of all, practical.
Swiss manufacturing just can’t be beat when
it comes to slip-joint folding knives, watches ...
and chocolate (in my opinion).
I was first exposed to the practical, real-world
applications of Swiss Army knives by watching
‹ The One-Handed Trekker has been with the

author on at least three Amazon jungle trips, as well
as countless backpacking trips. It has all that the
Hiker has but is larger and has a locking flathead
screwdriver and one-handed blade.

› Near right: A little work with the small
SAK saw and main blade is usually all that
is necessary to make preparations for a fire.
› Far right: Here, the types of tasks a

Swiss Army knife awl, saw and main
blade can do, including drilling into
wood and sawing branches for making
splits and trap notches. The main blade
can make long, fine, curly fuzz sticks.
the late Ron Hood of the Woodsmaster series

on VHS. Ron and his wife, Karen, used a
Huntsman and Rucksack for camp crafts such
as drilling through wood, antler and bone with
the awl. They sawed through bone and wood
with the famed SAK saw, cleaning fish and
TRAVELING WITH A
making traps, and did all things for camp
and survival. In addition to Ron’s large knife
and handy, smaller fixed blade, he used a
Swiss Army knife.
I followed suit. Of course, I went big! I opted
for the thick Swiss Champ for woods use and to
SWISS ARMY KNIFE
accompany me on my trips abroad. It has served
me well for many years. In my travels, I have never seen an officer or government official look sideways at me
However, for woods use, the thickness was too for using or having in my possession a Swiss Army knife. Even in countries where knives
much like holding a deck of cards, only thicker. I are not allowed in checked luggage that is coming in, they are widely accepted. For
‹ Below: While camp-
went with the smaller, more-manageable Hiker/ ing in the eastern some reason, the red knife and shield instantly disarm people, putting them at ease.
Camper models for real woods use, for which a Sierra Mountains, the In the Philippines, where knife carry is not permitted in cities, I asked a police officer
author used only his
main blade, saw and awl were the most useful Swiss Army Hiker if my Wenger Traveler knife was OK.
tools for me. Light weight and the ability to be during the entire trip.
He said, “Of course it’s OK. It’s not a weapon; it’s a Swiss Army knife! All travelers have them.”
It proved to be all that
stashed are important considerations during was needed. Some countries have X-ray machines located inside the airport entry for departures.
These machines are used to screen for weapons and drugs. Even so, I have never been
singled out for having a Swiss Army knife—only for small fixed blades, which are considered
weapons (daggers) by them.
‹ Above: In the extreme winter, the author forgoes a fixed blade and uses the heavier H&B Large
Camp Axe, along with a bow saw and Swiss Army knife. It keeps weight down and relies on the axe’s
many uses for some fixed-blade work. The SAK does all the food prep and utility, along with the wood
feathering for a fire.

THE LITTLE, RED KNIFE THAT CAN DO
ALMOST ANYTHING HAS TURNED INTO
A GLOBAL ICON WITH AS MUCH STAYING
POWER AS ITS UTILITY.
woods travel. On my first trip down and up the Grand Canyon, my first and second climbs of Mount
Whitney, through the deserts of Arizona, Nevada and the Middle East, as well as on every jungle
trek through the Philippines, Thailand and the Peruvian rain forest, a Swiss Army knife was always
with me. As a matter of fact, there is one in my pocket as I write this.
A PLETHORA OF USES
Here are some useful ways I have used Swiss Army knives that have proved them to be all-purpose
woods, survival and fieldcraft knives over the years.
‹ The larger, 111mm SAK knives feature a 3½-inch wood saw that is second
to none for utility at its size. It is always sharp and doubles as a fire steel Starting with the super-sharp main blade, the edge is thin and narrow, making it ideal for intricate
striker on the spine of the saw.
carving and whittling.
This one tool is responsible for making more fires possible than any other knife I own. Its thin
edge makes the curliest, thinnest, longest fuzz sticks for tinder and kindling for starting a fire. I list
these as two separate elements, because they are. Tinder must be thin and have lots of surface
area to catch a spark from a ferrocerium rod. The SAK blade can do that—with a lot of control. The
main blade (91mm and up) is perfect for stirring coffee, slicing meat and vegetables for stews,
spreading butter, cleaning fish and game, as well as carving cooking utensils. And, it requires
nothing more than a quick dunk and whooshing around in a creek to clean it.
The large bottle opener/flathead screwdriver does a lot of work, not only popping caps off bottled
beverages, but also serving as a light pry bar tool (within reason). Another place it proves to be
useful is for splitting small, dry rounds of wood—from finger to broomstick thickness. By jamming the
flathead into an existing crack and giving it a twist, it splits the wood to help it burn better.
The bottle opener is also a natural hook for carrying hot pots and kettles by their bales. I had a
friend modify the straight portion of my flathead to a 90-degree flat edge for striking a ferro-
cerium rod. On some larger 111mm models, the flathead/bottle opener actually locks into place,
making it better for all the tasks mentioned.
‹ Above: The awl/reamer

is drilling a hole into a
can of refried beans to
hang over the fire with
a length of wire. By
using a baton and the
can opener blade, the
author was able to cut
the wire.
› Right: The perfect

tinder- and kin-
dling-maker—the
Camper model—basks
in a sea of fuzz sticks
created with its large
main blade. The
“V-grind” is perfect
for this task because
of the thin edge
geometry.

› Near right: Here is a
quick and easy spatu-
la made with the Swiss
Army Camper. Camp
craft is never as easy
as when you have the
right tools.
› Far right: The author

used the SAK saw to
cut into some thick
wood for splitting.
Sawing one-third to
one-half of the way
through a branch will
help split the wood
when it is banged
against a stump or
boulder.
FAVORITE FEATURES
One of the most-loved features on any SAK
is the awl/reamer positioned on the back of
most models. It has made many holes for me
on leather belts and axe sheaths over the
years. When making cooking utensils and some
traps (mainly Ojibwe bird traps), a hole is a
must, and the awl is the first step in achieving
this. From there, the hole can be widened with
the small and larger blades.
Drilling through antler, wood and bone for
making buttons is best done with the awl.
I have also used the awl for poking holes in
bamboo and plastic water bottles for making
water filters during survival classes.
When cooking containers are scarce, I will
cook in a food can, itself, especially if I am
making beans or soup. I use the awl to drill
holes on either side of the can and then run a
small length of wire through to make a bale
for hanging it over the fire or sitting it in the
coals. The wire bale is an easy way to lift and
reposition the can.
In some cases, the awl makes a good striker
‹ Above: In the camp
for a ferrocerium rod, but the awl is often posi- dead tree stump. It will create a split and expose the drier wood inside. This is a good technique for kitchen, the author
tioned on the back middle, which is a strange splitting damp wood for a fire and to get at some dry kindling. used only the Camper
model to make a stew
place for it to be used in such a way. The On the topic of fire: The saw teeth are very good at fraying out tinder such as poplar bark, cedar of chicken, potatoes,
Farmer, Pioneer and Electrician models feature bark and cotton, especially when treated with Vaseline, because it needs to be frayed out to create onions, tomatoes and
carrots. The stainless
the awl at the end of the tool, much like the surface area to catch a spark. steel makes it easy to
clean, too.
can opener (which is in the perfect position for As if the saw weren’t amazing enough, it just happens to be the best striker for a ferrocerium rod
use as a striker). I have come across. However, it doesn’t lock and can be a dangerous way to cut yourself if it is not
For me, no Swiss Army knife is “woods-worthy” used at the correct angle. I use leather gloves when holding the SAK and using its saw blade as a
unless it has a wood saw. It is small and very striker. However, here is a tip to help stay safe: Place a small stick in the palm as a safety lock while
effective. I compare every folding saw to the SAK doing this; either perpendicular to, or parallel with, the handle will work.
saw, which is usually only 2¾ to 3¼ inches long
on 91mm and 111mm SAK knives. The utility of a GLOBAL ICON
small saw for making notches and fine, precise Arguably the most well-known family of knives in the world is able to build a raft, perform camp
S O U R C E
cuts cannot be overstated. crafts, clean fish and game, maintain the workplace and do so much more.
I found a great way to split wood by making The Swiss Army knife has shown no sign of slowing down in popularity. There is no reason why
Victorinox Swiss Army
a series of cuts on a length of wood about one shouldn’t be in everyone’s utility drawer, glove compartment, survival kit or pocket. The little, (800) 442-2706
one-third to one-half the way through the red knife that can do almost anything has turned into a global icon with as much staying power www.Victorinox.com
wood and then whacking it over a large rock or as its utility.

© GETTY IMAGES

GO SILENT AND BE UNFINDABLE.
BY BRIAN M. MORRIS

Y
ou often hear about people ... I WOULD MOVE TO A REMOTE LOCATION DEEP
saying they are going to go
off the grid where nobody IN THE WILDERNESS AND LIVE OFF THE LAND,
will find them. But how does SUPPLEMENTED BY THE SURVIVAL GEAR AND
one go off the grid in today’s
SUPPLIES I WOULD TAKE WITH ME.
technologically advanced, interconnected
world without being found?
I will start by saying that to do it successfully,
disappearing off the grid will take time. You
need to slowly distance yourself from friends
and family until there is no expectation on
anyone’s part that you are going to try to con-
tact them anytime soon. This will help reduce
the chances of anyone coming to look for you.
Generally speaking, on the upper end of the
capability spectrum, only agencies or entities
in the various levels of government, both
American and foreign, and some corporations
have access to the technology to find you from
any sort of electronic or technological signa-
ture you might be emitting. On the lower end © GETTY IMAGES
of the spectrum, anyone can use social media

and Internet sites to find out more about you
and see things such as where a phone call ‹ Below: Not every-
originated from. So, as a rule of thumb, the one has the skillset If someone told me I needed to get off the map and disappear immediately, the first thing I would
or the desire to iso-
more you are “connected,” the more chances late themselves from do is pull the proverbial “plug.” I would close all my social media accounts and disconnect every
there are that you will be found through the society or to leverage electronic device I own to remove any source of power to those items. Next, I would move to a
natural resources in
use of technology. order to stay alive. remote location deep in the wilderness and live off the land, supplemented by the survival gear and
© GETTY IMAGES

supplies I would take with me.
Additionally, if you own your off-grid location,
or if someone you know owns the property, it
can lead a persistent pursuer to you.
But not everyone has the desire to isolate
themselves from society or the skillset to
leverage natural resources in order to stay
alive and thrive in a completely new way of
life. Even for me, a former U.S. Army SERE
instructor, it would take a lot to resort to such
extreme measures, drop everything and totally
© GETTY IMAGES
© GETTY IMAGES
disconnect from everyone I know and love.
GO ... WHERE?
If you truly don’t want to be found, your
‹ Above, left: Go
off-grid location can’t belong to you or be the only real alternative would be to do the best job you can at disguising your appearance and identity
rural early. Between
associated with your name or any of your and then stay away from anything that requires you to use your real name. Unlike living in the bush, cameras at corporate
and small businesses,
family or close friends. I would suggest you’ll need to buy things to keep going. This means you’ll need to stick to cash to make your purchases traffic and security
relocating to remote state or federal forests/ or figure out how to discreetly trade for your necessities. street cams, and home
security cameras, you
protected land, because it is often best to would be smart to stay
THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE

away from built-up
hide right under your adversary’s nose. But
areas. And if you’re
you have to go deep in and leave a low “sig- not careful, you might
nature” of your presence. Beware of making LOCATIONS COVERED BY VIDEO even be caught in
someone else’s photo
any contact with park rangers and anyone SURVEILLANCE HAS INCREASED SO or video.
else, because contact with anyone can lead

MUCH THAT IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE ‹ Above, right: Change
to your being found.
Not everyone is skilled enough, or even willing, TO GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT BECOMING your appearance as
much as possible if
PART OF A VIDEO RECORD.

you don’t want to be
to live alone in the wilderness. Consequently, recognized.
‹ If you’re able to
work around secu-
rity cameras in train
and bus stations,
© GETTY IMAGES
these modes of
transportation can
be good ways to go
longer distances in
relative anonymity.

In a dire emergency that requires you to EVERY TIME YOU USE AN ATM MACHINE OR BUY
contact someone, you can use prepaid cell
phones—but remember that they can be SOMETHING IN A STORE, YOU LEAVE A VIDEO AND
traced back to the closest cell tower to where ELECTRONIC FOOTPRINT THAT YOU WERE THERE. THIS
you made your calls. Another option might be
ALLOWS ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE SEARCHING FOR YOU
to use a “cut-out,” or mutually trusted inter-
mediary, to be your connection with others so TO DRAW A VIRTUAL ROAD MAP OF YOUR TRAVELS AND
there is no direct link to your location. IDENTIFY THE LOCATION OF YOUR LATEST TRANSACTION.
HACKS FOR HIDING
Here are some do’s and don’ts, as well as
some of the items you should ditch prior
to going off the grid and for as long as you
intend to stay off the grid:
Keep your mouth shut! Two people can
keep a secret—if one of them is dead—so
severely limit to the absolute minimum
people who know where you are going. Even
then, unless your confidant is joining you,
don’t tell anyone where you are going or
› You need to stay
what your plan is. away from credit
or debit cards and
Cash money. Assuming you have time, stick to cash for all
slowly withdraw cash from all your purchases you make
if your intent is to
accounts until they are empty. Then, close not be found. Using
© GETTY IMAGES
them. You need to understand that part plastic is like provid-
ing a road map that
of going silent is to be a “cash-only” per- leads directly to you
for anyone who is
son from that day forward. That means if looking.
you receive a pension or get settlement
money, child support or an inheritance, cameras and save money while paying cash for everything.
none of those funds will be available to Surveillance cameras. Facial recognition technology has come a very long way since it was
you. This is one of the reasons going off first introduced. The number of public and private locations covered by video surveillance has
the grid and disappearing is so difficult increased so much that it is nearly impossible to go anywhere without becoming part of a video
to do these days and why making this record. Because video files can be analyzed with facial recognition software, try to stick to routes
decision is such a hard thing to do. Unless and areas where you’ll be less likely to encounter this equipment. If you have to go to areas that
one moves to the boonies, the amount of have cameras, disguise or distort your appearance so that if/when you are captured on video, it
time a person is capable of staying off the will be difficult, if not impossible, to recognize you.
grid is directly proportional to the amount Private transportation. If you have a later-model vehicle, you might not realize it has
of cash in their possession. certain anti-theft and/or emergency alert hardware that allows it to emit a signal giving the
Debit and credit cards. Every time you
use an ATM machine or buy something in
© GETTY IMAGES
a store, you leave a video and electronic
footprint that you were there. This allows
anyone who might be searching for you to
draw a virtual road map of your travels and
identify the location of your latest transac-
tion. That’s the reason your best bet is to
plan your disappearance in as much detail,
and as far in advance, as possible.
You should purchase your gear and supplies
from multiple locations with cash. Spread
those purchases out over weeks or months,
if feasible. Again, time is your friend in this › Just like smart
watches and smart
case, because buying the gear you need phones, laptops and
slowly over time won’t leave as pronounced other devices that
transmit and receive
a signature as if you spent $5K in one trip to external data are
susceptible to hav-
REI. Cruising garage sales and flea markets
ing their locations
is a great way to get what you need, avoid tracked.

› Right: You’ll need a
dependable way to
find your destina-
tion and maneuver
in the area after you
abandon modern
conveniences. Basic
navigation skills
will be a minimum
requirement if you
are to succeed in the
bush.
© GETTY IMAGES
© GETTY IMAGES
‹ Above, left: Most
vehicle’s exact location. In some cases, it also new cars and some
old ones have
has the ability to let others talk or listen to tracking devices
you—theoretically without you knowing about installed in them.
Some are factory
it. If you don’t know how to disable or remove installed, and some
were placed there
that hardware but you’re concerned that this
later. Do a thorough
technology will lead to your discovery before inspection of your
vehicle. Know what
you can be found by a simple vehicle descrip- features it came with
tion and your license plate number, I suggest and how to disable
anything you don’t
you leave the loaded SUV behind. Find a want working.
dependable older vehicle that fits your needs › Right: If your plan
but pre-dates the “big brother” package. is to disappear into
the wilderness,
Of prime importance is to make sure your make sure the area
you choose and
vehicle is in good running condition. Reduce its challenges fall
the chances of a traffic stop by having all the within your scope of
© GETTY IMAGES
wilderness survival
lights and other things that make it street skills.
© GETTY IMAGES
© GETTY IMAGES
‹ Above: Until you can build a more permanent shelter, a good tent that is big enough for you and all
your gear is a smart investment. Because tents are not normally constructed for long-term use, be
prepared to make repairs.
‹ Left: The type and amount of gear and supplies you bring will have a critical impact on your chances
of survival if you plan to spend an extended period of time in the wilderness.

‹ Right: A picture is
worth 1,000 words—
and it often reveals
clues that either lead
to you or to people
who know you. If
you don’t want to
leave a trail, destroy
all the pictures you
don’t take with you.
© GETTY IMAGES
‹ Far left: Public
transportation
may be relatively
inexpensive and
convenient, but you
might as well be on a
movie set, what with
all the cameras in
the stations and the
vehicles.
‹ Near left: If you are

concerned about
someone having
the capability of
© GETTY IMAGES
© GETTY IMAGES
tracking the location

of your smart phone
or watch, these are
the first items you
should get rid of.
legal operating at 100 percent. If practical, The level of concern about being traced is dependent on the level of capability possessed by the
travel with enough fuel to get you to where person or people from whom you are trying to disappear.
you are going with minimal stops. Also, Watches and smart phones. “Smart” phones and watches do a great job of keeping you
use back roads; main roads, toll plazas and connected with friends, family and the world. They provide a plethora of other useful functions,
overpasses often possess cameras that will including GPS technology. That’s all well and good for the connected person, but the GPS can
record you and your license plate number and help others zero in on your location, whether you want them to or not. If your plan allows you
indicate your direction of travel. to have access to the cell system, and you can’t bear to live without their "smart" capabilities,
Public transportation. I’ll assume you acquire a phone that won’t have your identity attached to it. And it would still be a good idea to
won’t be using taxis or Uber because of the know how to counter its GPS capabilities to reduce the chance your device will be traced.
cost and intimacy with the driver, so let’s talk Internet. Accessing the Internet will provide a knowledgeable pursuer with a path to your
about subways, trains and buses. You’ll have doorstep. Tablets, laptops, PCs, smart phones and any electronic device that enables you to
to pass more cameras to access all of these, connect to the Internet can undo all the efforts you made to prevent others from finding out
and many of these vehicles have cameras where you are.
as well. If you’re able to work around the Photographs. You need to consider the “five Ws”—who, what, where, when and why—when it
cameras, then subways, trains and buses are comes to photographs. If anything in a photo of you at your new location answers one or more
good ways to go longer distances in relative of these questions, it can be used to locate you or others who might know where you are. If you
anonymity. It is much harder to leave a trail don’t want to leave that "breadcrumb" behind, try to eliminate any traces of that picture. The
to follow when traveling on a bus or a train. best policy is to not take photos of yourself or leave any photos you’ve taken on devices over

ASG-1806-Harvey Austin 3/16/18 10:39 AM Page 1
which you might lose control.
DISAPPEARING AND STAYING GONE

Summing it up: If you are determined to go silent and not be found, your first
step should be to develop a detailed plan that outlines how you will change
every aspect of your life into your new identity. Then, steadily disconnect
yourself from all services, systems, and electronic gadgets and tools with
connections to the Internet or electronic databases and avoid being filmed by
all cameras and other surveillance systems.
Once you’re satisfied that’s been achieved, you have a choice to either travel
deep into the wilderness and live off the land, leaving as low a signature as
possible, or find someplace to live where you can pay cash to live and do your
best to stay under the numerous types of “radar” associated with even basic
civilization. If the latter is your choice, investigate and execute ways to change
or disguise your appearance as much as possible. Wigs, clothing, makeup, pros-
thetics, posture and other creative methods will help you do a decent job of this
without spending a fortune.
The information in this article is a good start, but there is a lot more to disap-
pearing— and staying gone—than most people have ever thought of, and each
situation is unique.
I hope nothing in your life is ever so catastrophic that you have to vanish
and not be found. Nevertheless, if this is the case, I hope this article helps you
accomplish your goal.
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‹ Becoming skilled enough to survive in the wilderness requires getting out there and doing WORLD GONE SILENT.................................................................................................................57
it. If necessary, attend a wilderness survival school in your chosen area to develop the skills
you’ll need. The better you are at bushcraft, the better your chances in the wild will be.
(Both photos above: Christopher Nyerges) The Advertiser Index is provided as a service to American Survival Guide readers.
American Survival Guide is not responsible for omissions or typographical errors on names or page numbers.

PREPARE FOR THE
WINDS OF CHANGE
BASIC READINESS ADVICE FOR HURRICANE SEASON
BY BRIAN MORRIS
A
hurricane is a massive, rotating, low-pressure weather the start of the season—before hardware stores run low on, or out of, vital
system. These cyclonic giants can grow to more than 120 materials needed to protect your home and property.
miles wide and move along the ground with speeds from 0 If possible, you should pre-cut sheets of 4x8 plywood for boarding up your
to more than 34 mph and rotation speeds from 74 to more windows to speed the process when the time comes. Other materials to have
than 157 mph. on hand include plastic sheeting, screws, bolts, tarps, chainsaw blades and
Hurricane season is an annual occurrence where these tropical mon- lube, and other essentials.
sters are formed in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The Additionally, if you own pets, you should have a plan to take them with
Atlantic and Central Pacific hurricane seasons officially begin on June you when you evacuate. Finally, before you leave, secure loose debris, lawn
1 and run through November 30. The Eastern Pacific typhoon season, furniture and anything else that can become a lethal projectile. When you
which covers the Pacific coast of the United States, runs from May 15 are about to evacuate, make sure you turn off your natural gas supply prior
through the end of November. to leaving your home.
When it comes to dealing with hurricanes, the key is in the preparation. If People who do not live in evacuation zones are not out of harm’s way.
you live in a hurricane-prone area, you should have a standard evacuation Hurricane paths are not readily predictable and can be quite destructive, even
plan, a go-bag with the necessities you’ll need while you’re away from home hundreds of miles from where they make landfall and meander over land. They
for a prolonged period of time, escape routes, multiple safe destinations, a are capable of producing heavy rains and flooding, as well as lightning storms,
dependable vehicle that’s ready to make the trip and a link-up plan for loved hazardous winds and even tornados over a wide area. These storms can knock
ones who need to evacuate from other locations. out power for millions of people who live within the affected area.
If you live in an area that has been designated as an evacuation zone, you Once the storm passes, you might not be able to get back to your home to
are most likely aware of the risks to your choice of domicile. High winds, assess the damage right away. Depending on the level of damage, it could take
flying debris, storm surge and flooding are among the greatest dangers your some time for local, state and federal emergency responders to inspect the
home will face. path of destruction. To ensure the safest possible environment, they need to
While no one can physically force you to leave your home, it is highly advised determine that there are no structural issues, downed power lines, gas leaks or
that you take seriously a mandatory evacuation order. If one is called for your other public safety hazards the storm might have created.
area, prepare your home for the storm and leave the area for a safe destination In most cases, there will be a period of time when there is no electrical
© GETTY IMAGES
as quickly as possible. power, gas service or potable water in the area of impact, so include some
Nothing in your home is worth dying for. Those who live in areas that can extra time for the local situation to improve when you plan your return
be affected by hurricanes should start the preparation process long before trip home.

[APRIL2018]
2018]
0350 SERIES
ZTKNIVES.COM
BOLDLY BUILT
BOLDLY CARRIED
How many 0350s can a guy reasonably own? As
many as it takes. This perfect knife comes in an array
of blade variations. BlackWash? Yes. Stonewashed
blade? Yes. Serrated and plain edge? Yes and yes.
Each 0350 features a razor-sharp blade of S30V,
SpeedSafe® assisted opening, and a sturdy locking
liner. With ZT’s 4-position pocketclip, carrying the
0350 is equally versatile.
WHAT ARE YOU

GO BOLD 0350TSST
CARRYING?

2018-06-01 American Survival Guide

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How-to: Make Yourself Invisible

SECRET ANTHRAX LAB

U.S. $8.99 JUNE 2018 DISPLAY UNTIL 5/22/18

4 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE 2018]

Some articles in this issue might include stock

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 5

EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION & SALES OFFICE

6 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE 2018]

8 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE 2018]

4 notice. To be ready means to be knowledgeable on

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 9

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 11

12 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE 2018]

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 13

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HEED THE WARNINGS PUT OUT BY THOSE

14 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE 2018]

the days of the Cold War, the threat came

China is North Korea’s main source of raw

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 15

‹ Bottom: One of many

FEAR AND TERROR ARE EXACTLY WHAT

WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN REAL?

16 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE 2018]

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18 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE 2018]

Expertly designed for all of my outdoor adventures, Camillus knives

Canada in the Rough

NEW GUARDIAN3.5 EDC

20 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE 2018]

/ (*)  .),#( (*) !* ,-! ,) (.

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 23

TENET F30 FOLDER

OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, [STEEL

‹ Above, left: The flipper on the Steel Will Tenet

24 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE 2018]

‹ Left: While very

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 25

like a hot knife through butter. There was

‹ The Tenet per-

26 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE 2018]

‹ Below: From tip

THE SATIN FINISH ON THE BLADE MAKES

once did the Tenet falter, drag or “complain.” Score: 10 out of 10

DRUID 260 FIXED BLADE

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 27

KEEP AN EYE ON STEEL WILL’S

$89.99, which is far below many other knives

28 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE 2018]

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 29

30 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 31

32 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE 2018]

› Far right: Flecktarn has been in use by German

to communicate without sound.

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 33

THE SIMPLEST FORM OF CAMOUFLAGE IS

34 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE 2018]

‹ Below: Don’t walk

THE SIMPLEST AND EARLIEST FORMS OF CAMOUFLAGE

LOOKING LIKE SOMETHING

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 35

detect you or your equipment from the environ-

36 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [JUNE 2018]

HIGH QUALITY OUTDOOR PRODUCTS FOR RECREATION AND SURVIVAL

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