American Survival Guide 2012 issue 2

132 Pages·15.593 MB·English

FROM THE EDITORS OF GUN WORLD
ISSUE 2 / WINTER 2012
U.S. $8.99
DISPLAY UNTIL: 12/25/12
CONNECT
KERSHAWKNIVES.COM
FACEBOOK.COM/KERSHAWKNIVES
(cid:48)(cid:36)(cid:39)(cid:40)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:56)(cid:54)(cid:36)
Cryo II 1556TI Funxion EMT 8100GRYST Tanto Blur 1670TBLKST
Blade: 3¼ in. 8Cr13MoV, Ti-carbo-nitride coating Blade: 3 in. 8Cr13MoV, black oxide coating Blade: 3 3 / 8 in. 14C28N, DLC coating
Handle: 4½ in. 401, Ti-carbo-nitride coating Handle: 4¼ in. aluminum, rubber insert Handle: 4½ in. aluminum, Trac-Tec inserts
SOME THINGS ARE JUST EXTREMELY HARD TO DESTROY. A QUALITY-BUILT KNIFE IS ONE OF THEM.
AVAILABLE IN A RANGE OF STYLES AND PRICES TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS, YOUR BUDGET,
AND YOUR BUG-OUT BAG, A KERSHAW IS AN INDISPENSIBLE PART OF YOUR
SURVIVAL GEAR. BE HARD TO DESTROY.
CHOOSE KERSHAW.
When disaster strikes,
will you have
what it takes?
Only
$499.99
FREE SHIPPING*
PLUS
Only
$69.95
2-Person, 1-month starter
emergency food supply
KATADYN Hiker Water Filter
Exclusively for American Survival Guide
Readers Only
(cid:23) Compact, lightweight and easy to pump
(cid:23) Eff ective and effi cient fi ltering up to one quart
per minute (cid:23) Nutritionally balanced food supply for two people for 30 days
(cid:23) .3 micron fi ltration eliminating bacteria providing over 2200 calories per person per day
and protozoa including Giardia and (cid:23) Excellent variety of freeze-dried and dehydrated items providing
Cryptosporidium both convenience and fl exibility in meal preparation
(cid:23) Go to www.BePrepared.com/ASG for full contents and nutritional
information.
Readywise II
2-Person Emergency Kit
(cid:23) A two-person, three day emergency kit
off ering a balance between portability and
functionality
(cid:23) Contains over 220 emergency supplies
(cid:23) Contains MRE’s (Meals-Ready-to-Eat),
quality backpacks, fi rst aid supplies, N95
Only masks, warmth, shelter, fl ashlight with cell
phone charger and more!
$195.95
$312.22 value

www.BePrepared.com/ASG
Go to and place your order today!
800-999-1863
Or call us at and mention code ASG2012
Expires Dec. 15, 2012. Pricing subject to change without notice. *FREE shipping to the continental US only (not Alaska, Hawaii, APOs, or FPOs)
S
T
N
E
T
N
O

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THESE
EDITOR’S CHOICEITEMS IN OUR
BUYER’S GUIDE SECTIONS...
16 27 36 44
C
4
FEATURES
EARTHQUAKE URBAN DESERT
PREPAREDNESS PREPAREDNESS PREPAREDNESS
12 INTRODUCTION 80 INTRODUCTION 120 INTRODUCTION
13 EARTHQUAKES 101 81 LAST RESORT 121 WATER, WATER
This earthquake “anatomy” class reveals the Colorado. Wisconsin. Columbine. EVERYWHERE
nation’s high-risk and low-risk areas to live in … Mass shootings are, unfortunately, Finding water in the desert is
and much more. part of society. Know how to react, what to do. easier than you may realize.
By Torrey Kim By Alon Stivi By Torrey Kim
22 BEFORE IT STRIKES 90 SURVIVAL FOOD 124 SURVIVAL CHECKLIST
Securing your home’s integrity is just one of Want to survive using the same skills that Navy Whether you’re spending a few days
seven critical steps you need to take before a SEALS employ every day? Consider these tips. in the desert or escaping a natural
quake. By Don Mann and Ralph Pezullo disaster, these are 10 essentials you
By Wendy Wilson must have.
1OO LIFE INSURANCE
By Torrey Kim
32 SURVIVE THE VIOLENCE From the economy to solar flares to a terrorist
At home. In a high-rise. Away from home. attack, there are all good reasons to build an
COLUMNS
Regardless of where you are when the quake underground shelter.
strikes, these tips are designed to keep you safe. By Suzanne Leder
6 FIRST WORDS
By Wendy Wilson
103 CRUCIAL TO SURVIVAL 8 TIPS, HISTORY, STATS
40 WHEN THE DUST SETTLES Preserving your own food will ensure a steady 130 CLOSING
The complete list of what to do after the supply of meals … during any disaster.
shaking stops. By Kristin Webb-Hollering
By Kristin Webb-Hollering
WILDERNESS
50 FALLOUT “SHELTERS”
PREPAREDNESS
A nuclear meltdown following a quake is a
reality. Remember Japan? These tips can
mean the difference between life and death. 106 INTRODUCTION
By Torrey Kim
107 UP IN FLAMES
60 STARK LESSONS How to start a fire, and make sure it keeps
The lessons we learned from other quakes are burning, every time.
plenty. By Abe Elias
By Andrew Luther
110 SURVIVAL 101
68 7.0 Learn survival from an elite instructor and
A dramatic day-by-day account of a author, Cody Lundin, at the one of the nation’s
survivor from the 2010 Haiti earthquake. top survival schools.
By Bryan Meyers THE COVER
114 NO PHARMACY, NO PROBLEM Photo: Main Image-Thinkstock Photo,
72 EMOTIONAL FIRST-AID KIT Plants and herbs can provide natural cures Cody Lundin - Courtesy of Cody Lundin
Designer: Eric Knagg
Stay calm and be productive during a quake. for a number of ailments.
Here are four surefire methods. By Kristin Webb-Hollering
BUYER’S GUIDES
By Thomas J. Nardi, Ph.D.
118 THE RIGHT TRACK
76 IT’S INEVITABLE When tracking an animal becomes a necessity
Tsunamis hit everywhere but the U.S., right? for survival, these are the essentials you need
Think again. Here’s the plan to keep you safe. to know. 16 FOOD AND WATER
O
HOT By Kristin Webb-Hollering By Garrett Kim 27 LIGHT SOURCES
P
CK 36 GENERATORS
O
T
KS 44 SHELTER
N
THI 55 BACKPACKS
64 MISCELLANEOUS
55 64 85 94 85 KNIVES
94 FIREARMS
5
FIRST WORDS
Clear vision ISSUE 2 / WINTER 2012
EDITORIAL
Editor: Doug Jeffrey
Managing Editor: Karen Wilhelmsen
Art Director: Eric Knagg
IBy Torrey Kim
CONTRIBUTORS
Abe Elias, Paul Hantke, Kristin Webb-Hollering, Garrett
T WAS 1996. Kim, Torrey Kim, Suzanne Leder, Cody Lundin, Andrew
M. Luther, Bryan Meyers, Thomas J. Nardi, Ph.D.,
I had just moved to Northern California Wendy Wilson
from Connecticut, and I had no prior West
ADVERTISING
Coast experience.
Gabe Frimmel - Ad Sales Director
I was in a San Francisco décor shop and [phone] - [email protected]
David Beckler - Outdoor Group Director
had picked up a handmade floor planter. I [phone]
Casey Clifford - Senior Account Executive
didn’t understand why it had gel-cushioned [phone]
Gennifer Merriday - Ad Traffic Coordinator
balls along the bottom of it so I asked the sales
person about it. OPERATIONS
“We quake-proof all of our delicate items,” Gus Alonzo: Newsstand Sales Manager
Celia Merriday: Newsstand Analyst
she told me. Amit Sharma: Newsstand & Production Analyst
Alberto Chavez: Senior Logistics & Facilities Manager
She could tell from the look on my face that John Cabral: Creative Graphic Designer
I didn’t know what that meant.
EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION
“When an earthquake hits, items like that, & SALES OFFICE
which are made of pottery, are at risk of break- 22840 Savi Ranch Parkway, #200
Yorba Linda, CA 92887
ing,” she explained. “So we add gel cushioning Ph: [phone]
Fax:[phone]
to the delicates. www.gunworld.com
“My mind That way, if the
AMERICANSURVIVAL GUIDE © 2012 by Beckett Media,
started to ground shakes, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from
this issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.
the item should
race. Would
stay intact.” CUSTOMER SERVICE
BECKETT MEDIA, LLC
I be on the That’s
4635 Mc Ewen Road. Dallas, TX 75244
when it hit me: though I had zero preparation, and the
Golden Gate SINGLE COPY SALES
I had just Internet was so new that resources were [phone]
Bridge when [phone] Foreign Inquiries
moved my fam- scant. [email protected]
it hit?” ily into an [email protected]
earthquake PLANNING BACK ISSUES
www.beckettstore.com
zone. IS CRITICAL BOOKS, MERCHANDISE, REPRINTS
[phone]
WHEN WOULD
I hate to think about other people who DEALER SALES
IT STRIKE? have no experience creating an earthquake [phone]
plan but who find themselves in the midst of NEW PRODUCTS OR TO CONTRIBUTE
A STORY OR PHOTO
I don’t know why I hadn’t realized it before, a quake. Unprepared, confused and terri- [email protected]
but it seemed that everyone except me was fied, they wonder what they could have
aware of the fact that the “big one” was immi- done differently.
nent. That’s why a clear vision of how to
My mind started to race. weather a quake should be at the top of
Would I be on the Golden Gate Bridge everyone’s mind. Consider where you
BECKETT MEDIA, LLC
when it hit? Would I be on the BART subway would take cover during a quake, how you’d
Nick Singh: SVP Newsstand & Operations
system? get in touch with loved ones afterward and Bridgett Hurley: VP Editorial & Subscriptions -
[email protected]
It didn’t matter, because one thing was cer- what lessons you would take to heart. Erin Masercola: Business Unit Editorial Director
tain: my planters and cabinets may have been Prepare completely using the advice in Jen Kahn: Circulation Director
quake-proof but I was not. this issue, so you can take that information
O This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the
I would have to create a plan to prepare with you as you develop your plan and OT understanding that information presented is from
myself, my home and my family for what could ensure that you are prepared for whatever K PH voar rrieosupso snosuibrcileitsy fbroy mB ewchkiectht Mtheedreia c, aLnL Cb ea sn oto w tahrer alengtya lity,
C
possibly be a catastrophic earthquake, even may come your way. TO completeness or technical accuracy.
S
K
N
HI
T
6
Take advantage of our
NEW, LOWER PRICE and subscribe today!
Save 70%
Get 12 issues for
only $17.95
is the perfect gift this
Holiday Season
Save $41.93 off the cover price!

Call 800-764-6278 today!

at www.BeckettMedia.c
Or visit us online
Don’t forget to mention promo code A823K011 to take advantage of this special off er
Allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of fi rst issue. Outside US, add $26 postage per year and prepay in US funds only.
TIPS, HISTORY, STATS
Free Weather Apps …
That Could Save Your Life
Y
3. AccuWeather
OU CAN’T BEAT FREE. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT
MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE. This app goes far beyond its most basic use (giving the weekly fore-
One item that you’re likely to have with you if disaster cast), also showing radar, satellite and interactive maps. Plus, you’ll get
strikes is your mobile phone. What you may not realize is that severe weather updates, ranging from high wind warnings to tornado
your phone can also serve as a signal to tell you when bad alerts to snow and ice predictions.
weather is coming your way. Consider downloading these apps all of
4. Earthquakes!
which are free to your mobile device so you can stay up-to-speed on
impending weather changes.
Warning: This app is addictive. Once you fire it up and load the map,
1. The Weather Channel
you’ll see all the places that had recent quakes. Click on any town and it
will give you the magnitude of the quake, the time it hit, and the exact dis-
Still considered one of the premiere sources of weather information, tance between you and that location. It can also send notifications to your
The Weather Channel shares its expert advice in this free app, which phone when quakes occur nearby, which is essential for those in an earth-
shows you your local weather, the upcoming forecast and how to share quake zone.
your personal weather-related photos with the online community using
5. Hurricane by American Red Cross
your phone’s camera.
2. NOAA Now
This app features crucial location-based alerts for those in the path of
a hurricane, gives you tips on what to do during a storm and explains
Following the path of a storm has never been easier than this. Tell the where you can find an American Red Cross shelter nearby. Be ready for
app which part of the country you’d like to search, and it will show you upcoming severe weather and monitor conditions in your area or
every storm in that area and what’s on the way there. With real-time throughout the storm track, with NOAA weather alerts. Another great
updates showing exactly when a storm will make landfall, you can’t live feature is the “I’m Safe” alert, which messages your family that you are
without this app if you’re in a storm zone. okay via e-mail, text, Facebook or Twitter.
1. 1. 2. 3. 4.
45
“Seeing yourself as a survivor
THE NUMBER OF STATES AND
greatly increases your chance
TERRITORIES THROUGHOUT
of surviving [an earthquake or
THE UNITED STATES THAT
any disaster].”
ARE AT A MODERATE TO HIGH —Thomas J. Nardi,
RISK FOR EARTHQUAKES. clinical psychologist
8
Track Disaster
Zones Online
ACCORDING FEMA, 15 STATES WERE IN
“ACTIVE DISASTER ZONES” AS OF SEP-
TEMBER 2012.
Ranging from massive wildfires in Colorado to
flooding in Vermont and Hurricane Isaac in
Louisiana, the damage clocked well into the mil-
lions of dollars, and left scores of families without Improve Your Survival Odds:
power for days on end.
Fast Facts About Wildfires
That ranking changes from day to day, as disas-
ters eventually touch one state or another
throughout the year. No state is completely
“ … destruction
immune from problems, so everyone should pre- PRIVACY. IT CAN fires if they get
pare for the issues most likely to impact their BE COSTLY. can happen near your home.
quickly and on a
regions. If you want a home • Prune away dead-
massive scale.”
In the Midwest? Get your tornado plan ready. with total privacy, branches that cover
The northeast needs to buckle down for a poten- beyond the intrusion of your roof, and cut
tial winter snowstorm. The South is still on edge neighbors but offering and on a massive scale. tree branches that
for hurricanes, and the West Coast is always on the beauty of nature all If you’re surrounded by come within 15 feet
high alert for earthquakes. around you, you’re trees, consider these of a chimney outlet.
You can be sure to know which disaster zones probably looking at a tips to improve your • Maintain a 10-foot
exist at any given time by checking www.fema.gov rural setting with trees survival odds should a border around
and scrolling down to the map. surrounding your home. fire ever hit your area: propane tanks
As serene as this and grills.
picture is, the fact • If possible, create a • Don’t store flammable
“ … disasters even-
remains that homes 30- to 100-foot safety items such as newspa-
tually touch one bordered by forestry zone surrounding pers in your living
are at risk of wildfires your house to keep area or garage.
state or another
and you should always it away from the • Keep gasoline,
throughout the be prepared for what nearest trees. propane and other
you will do if one ever • Always rake and flammable materials
year. No state is
strikes your area. immediately remove in safety cans and
The fires in Col- dead leaves, limbs and away from the base
completely immune
orado last summer were twigs from your yard. of your building.
from problems …” a reminder that destruc- These flammable
tion can happen quickly items will only stoke Source: FEMA
155
ONE YEAR
Hydration In the Desert
“ … IF YOU SEE AN ANIMAL NEARBY, THE LENGTH OF TIME SELF-PRE-
and ABOVE
YOU KNOW THAT WATER ISN’T FAR SERVED FOOD WILL LAST FOR YOU.
O
OT AWAY.” — BRANDON GARRETT OF THE
H Remember This
K P READY STORE THE WIND SPEED
C
TO OF A CATEGORY
S Active shooters and terrorists are human. As such,
NK FIVE HURRICANE. they have weaknesses that can be exploited by a
THI group of people committed to survival.
9
TIPS, HISTORY, STATS
Profit By Disaster
wear a photo ID and will never ask
AVOID FRAUDSTERS WHO you to pay them a fee.
WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE • Avoid “middlemen” who
OF YOU promise you disaster relief if you give
them an upfront payment.
Following Hurricane Isaac’s path of • Check the credentials of every-
destruction this past summer, many one who gives you an estimate for
residents of the storm zone found that repairs. You can do this via the Better
they were not only facing thousands of Business Bureau or local Chamber of
dollars in home repairs, but they also Commerce.
had to contend with scammers who • Agree on expected repairs with
wanted to profit off of the destruction. your contractor via a written contract
If you ever experience a disaster, that outlines the work that should be
keep these tips in mind when dealing performed, a projected completion
with strangers. This information might date and expected costs.
just save your life savings: • Pay by check or credit card so
you can trace your payments and ver- KNOW THIS
Government workers always wear a photo
• Government workers always ify that you made them. ID and will never ask you to pay them a fee.
Source: FEMA
Top Sellers, Top Advice
Read Your Way to Preparedness
CURLED UP. READING A GOOD BOOK. NOTHING
ELSE MATTERS.
If that sounds like you, consider one of these favorites. The
following are the top-selling books in the survival skills category
on Amazon as of press time:
1. “Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag:
“Have you ever Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit”
wondered what
by Creek Stewart
separates the You may already have your bug-out bag packed
survivors from and ready to go, or you may still be getting ready to
those who don’t gear up. Either way, consulting this comprehensive
make it through checklist will help you, because it offers explanations of
a disastrous what you need and why for various disaster scenarios.
experience?”
2. “The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook:
Learn the Survival Techniques and
Strategies of America’s Elite Warriors”
by Don Mann and Ralph Pezzullo
Ask anyone who the most elite “super soldier” is, and the
answer will inevitably be the Navy SEALs. If you’ve ever pon-
S
O
dered exactly how the SEALs survive the dangerous and extreme OT
H
circumstances that they must endure, this book will be your K P
C
guide. You’ll be able to think like a SEAL after reading it and TO
S
K
reviewing its 150 color photographs. N
HI
T
10